GViderius, y ^e first son of Cunobelinus, was ordayned Kyng. 21 Flores Historiarū This man was valiaunte, hardie, wealthie, and trusted muche in his strength. And for that he thought the Romains had their tribute wrongfullye, he of great courage denyed to pay the same.

Wherefore Tiberius the Emperour purposed to come hi­ther in person, but death preuented him. Guiderius raygned Geffrey Mo [...]. 23. yeares. Aruiragus, or rather (as the Brytaynes tearme Humfrey L [...]yd. him) Monrigus, the yongest sonne of Cunobelinus, and brother of Guiderius was ordayned King of Brytaine: he slew G. Mon. Hamon neare to a hauē of the sea, & threw him gobbet meale therin, it is now called South-hampton. He strēgthned the Ca­stell C [...]r [...]. Douer. of Douer, and also the Castle of Richbourgh, neare vnto Sandwich in Kent. He raigned. xxviij. yeres, and was buried at Gloucester.

ALbeit the Brytaine Historie doth here place Aruiragus, yet 40 it is probable y ^t Cunobelinus as yet liued, for about, 40, yeares after Christ: Admimus the sonne of Cunobeline bani­shed Suetonius. out of Brytaine by his Father, was receiued into pro­tection by Caius Caligula the fourth Emperor, who was thē Dio. lib▪ 59. set forwarde with greate preparation againste Brytaine, but when he came into the partes of Holland against Norffolke hée stayed, writing vaunting letters to y ^e Senate, that al Brytain was yéelded vnto him, bycause Admimus had so done. After­warde The ridiculo [...] expedition of Caligula into Brytaine. as though he would immediately fight a fielde, he cast his men into battayles, and squadrons vppon the sea coaste, disposing all hys Engines in most warlike manner (no man knowing what he ment): this done he hymselfe in a Gallye launched into the sea, and immediately returning, he caused the Trumpets to sound to battayle, & sodainly commaunded them to gather cockles and muscle shelles, and therewith to fill theyr helmets, saying they were spoyles due to the Capi­toll, and in these spoyles he greatlie triumphed, as thoughe he had subdued the Ocean. He rewarded his souldiours, and retourned to Rome, after he had built a hygh watche Towre in token of his victorie against the sea, the ruines wherof are [Page 37] great remaining in Holland, but ouerflowed by the water, and is to thys daye called the Brytons house, in remembrance of this ridiculous expedition against Brytaine, by the persuasion Brytaine house in Holland. of Bericus banished out of Brytaine.

CLaudius the Emperoure dispatched Aulus Plantius wyth 45 an army into Brytaine, wher after dinerse conflicts whē he had receyued part of the Bodunni into hys tuition▪ and hadde slaine Cataracus and Togodumus sonnes of Cunobeline, & therby had made the Brytains more eagre to reuēge, he sent for Claudius himselfe, who with great preparation and Ele­phants, Dio. Suetonius. came into Brytanne to his army, then encamped nere the Thames, with which he passed ouer into Essex, fought with the Brytanies, obtained the victorie, tooke the chiefe Cittye of Cunobeline, and all weapons from the Brytaynes, and so retourned to Rome the sirthe month after he sette forth from thence, where hée triumphed, surnaming hys sonne Brytanicus: to whiche triumphe he permitted not onely the presidents of prouinces, but also certayn banished prisoners to repayre to Rome: and amidst the spoyles taken from the Brytains, he fixed on the top of hys Pallace a crown of gold beset with stemmes and foreparts of shippes, in token he had vanquished the Brytish Ocean. He behaued himselfe verye courteously towards diuerse of his friendes, in so muche that when Plantius (a notable man) who in his voyage whych he made into Brytaine atchieued diuers notable actes, and shold triumph for the same, the Emperour himselfe accompanied him, and (the vse being suche that with his triumph he shold go vp into the Capitoll) Claudius gaue him the preheminence▪ and went on the left hand.

At this time Vespatian who was after Emperor, was sent by Claudius into Brytain, wher he fought 30 times with the Brytaines, subdued to the Romane Empire two worthy na­tions, aboue 20. townes, and the Ile of Wight.

OStorius was appointed lieuetenaunt in Brytaine for the 50 Romans who at his first entry in the beginning of Win­ter assayleth the Brytaines, & purposeth to pen them vp and [Page 38] include thē with riuers & fortificatiōs, wherfore y ^e Ioeni made an insurrectiō, which whē he had pacified w ^t some slaughter, he marched against y ^e Gangi, for raging al the Cuntries as he passed, but was forced by new tumults to tourne from them against y ^e Brigants, whō with some slaughter, & promise of par­don, he pacified. Thē he made prouisiō against y ^e Silures which inhabited South-wales, bearing thēselues bold vpon y ^e puissāce of Caratacus a valiant Brytain, who being skilful of y ^• Coun­trey, remoued y ^e war into Shropshire, wher he fortified amōgst craggie mountaynes a place strong by situation, where ne­uerthelesse the Romanes preuayled. The wise daughter, and brethren of Caratacus were taken, and he flying to Cartismā ­dua a q. ruling in Yorkshire, was by hir deliuered captiue to his enemies. ix. yeares after the warres began, who sending him to Rome, was ther in open assembly brought before Clau­dius, with his wife, daughter, brethren, and friendes, and such spoyles as had bin taken frō him, wher he (nothing dismay­ed in spirit or countenance,) spake after this sort to Claudius:

If my moderation of prosperous successes had bin corre­spondēt to my state and nobilitie, I might haue come to this Citie, rather a friende than a Captaine: neyther you haue disdayned to admit me into league, being descended of noble parentage, and soueraigne ouer many nations. This present state of mine, as it is villanous toward me, so it is honorable to you. I had horsse, men, money, munition, & what wonder is there, if I had lost them vnwillingly? For if you will rule and raigne ouer all, of necessitie all must come into slauerie: if I had yéelded at the first, neyther my fortune nor thy glorie had bin renoumed, & the obliuion of me had ensued immedi­ately after my execution: but if you saue my life, it shall be an euerlasting example of your clemency. At these words Clau­dius remitted his offence, graunted him life, & the Senate ad­iudged In Ostorius time certaine Cities vvere giuen to Cagidunus a Brytish king, and a Colonie of Ro­manes vvas placed here. Ostorius worthy to triumph: but in the mean time the inhabitaunts of South-wales, to reuenge Caratacus captiuitie intercepted & discomfited certain bands of y ^e Romans, amidst which new wars, Ostorius tired w ^e trauel, departed this life.

CLaudius sent Didius to supply the place of Ostorius nowe 52 [...]ac [...]us. 3. H [...]sto. departed, but in the mean time y ^e Silures fought fortunatly against the legions which was vnder the conduct of Manlius Valens. In this time war brake out betwéene Cartismanda Q▪ of the Brigants, & Venutius hir husband, whom she refused, & matched hir self with Vellocatus his Esquire: wherevpon Venutius fauored of the people, assayled hir territory, and she succoured by y ^e Romains, after she had intercepted by treche­ry Venutius brother & allies, fought with him. Wher after a sharp fight, she by the ayde of y ^e Romaines, preuayled, as also Caesius Nasica did w ^t his legion against the Brytans in an other place: for Didius vsed others in these matters, bicause he was aged, & onely kept y ^• which others had heretofore conquered.

CLaudius being now poysned by Agrippina his wife, Nero 61 hir son obteyned y ^e Romain▪ Empire▪ & about the. 7. yeare of his raigne Verennus was appointed lieutenant here, who died within y ^e first yere of his gouernmēt, saying y ^• he would haue subdued prouinces, had he suruiued but. ij. yeares, but about this time great slaughter was here of the Romaines.

SVetonius Paulinus was thē sent hither, who at his arriual purposing to subdue Anglesey, whither many Brytains had 62 w ^e drawne thēselues, he invessels w ^t flat kéeles ferried ouer his footmē, bringing ouer his horsemē by some fourdes, wher as on y ^e shores stood closely togither great nūbers of Brytās, & among thē women gadding vp & down frantickly in mour­ning wéedes, their haire hanging about their ears, & shaking firebrāds: y ^e Druydes also casting vp their hāds toward heauē thundred out cruel execrations, w ^t which vncomely sightes y ^e Romaines at first stoode dismayed, but after encouraged by y ^• Dion. Casstus. Generals perswasion▪ they brust in among thē, made greate slaughter, got y ^e possession of y ^e Ile, & felled down y ^e woods▪ cō ­secrated to supersticious vses: two Citties belōging to y ^• Ro­mains wer takē. 80▪000. of their people slaine, & the whole I­lād reuolted, & to the Romanes reproch, the slaughter was cō ­mitted by a womā, being foretold thē by many strange signes & tokēs. For in y ^• court was heard a noise w ^t much slaughter. [Page 40] In the Theatre a greate tumulte and muche wondering, when there was no man ther, that either spake or mourned. Besides, in the riuer of Thames certaine houses or buildings were séen. The Image of the goddesse Victoria in the Tem­ple of Camulodunum tourned hir backe as though she had yéel­ded to hyr enimies: the women ranne as madde here and there, saying, and singing, Destruction is at hande.

Finally, betwixt the Iland & Fraunce, the Ocean sea ap­peared as it flowed with bloud. The occasiō of this war was a cōfiscation of the Brytains goods, which being remitted by Claudius the Emperoure, Decianus Catus then Procurator of the Ile, saide that it ought to haue bene renued. To this cause was added, that wheras (against theyr wils Seneca had lent them fourtie Sestercies vpon great vsurie) he now wyth greate force and all kinde of violence compelled them to paye all the whole summe at one payment, and also persua­ded them to make warre on the Romaines.

Bunduica of Brytaine, a woman of noble byrth, not onely wyth muche honour ruled amongst them, but also was the soueraigne in theyr wars, & had in déed a stomack more mā ­ly than womanlike: who hauing gotten togyther an armye of 120000. men, gotte hir vpon hyr seate made of Marrishe turues, after the manner of the Romaines, and being a tall woman, of comely shape, and seuere countenāce, sharp voice, with yealowe haire hanging downe to hyr skyrtes, ( Ponti­cus Virunius saith to hir thyghes) she ware a great chayne of Ponticus Virunius golde, and hadde on hyr backe a coate of sundrye colours, & a playted Kirtle. Whē she was thus apparelled, and had in hir hands a gret speare, she spake vnto them to this effect.

First she commended libertie, shewing them, how pouer­tie wyth libertie, was farre better than great riches in mise­rie and bondage: on the other side, wyth great eloquence shée declared the mischiefes and calamities they suffered at the handes of the Romaines, who exactyng Tributes of paymentes, so oppressed them, that muche better it were once to dye, than long to lyue in suche extreame slauerie.

[Page 41]Secondly, she reproued them, for not expelling their eni­mies, as their forefathers had done Iulius Caesar, Claudius, and Caligula: And againe, she praised them for their present readinesse to helpe hir, and recouer their auntient state.

Thirdly, she disabled the Romaines, for that they were fewe, combred with armoure, and so faint of courage, that they had rather fight a far off, than encounter with them by hand strokes: she cōmended the Brytaines, to be more in nū ­ber, of greater valor, and farre more able to abide hunger, colde, thirste, raine, winde, heate, &c. shée added the vantage of the place, as being at home, where the Wooddes and Ry­uers, Lakes, and all other things were well knowne to e­uery one of them.

Lastly, she exhorted them to shewe themselues as Dogs and Wolues among fearefull Hares and Foxes: where­withall, she let out of hir lap a quicke Hare, thereby to learn the euent of hir enterprice. The Hare hauing a prosperous passage, all the multitude gaue a greate showte, and Bun­duica clapping hir handes, gaue thankes to hir Gods, that she ruled not the Romaines, as did Nero, (who, though hée were a man, yet was in déede but a woman, for that he sang VVhat the Brytaines vvere­giuen to. and playde on the Harpe) but the Brytans, who estéemed it better to be Warriours than Ploughmen, who, as they had all things in common, so had they both wiues and children, and that hauing a kingdome amongest suche a kinde of peo­ple, she prayed their deuine aydes agaynste a spitefull and wicked kinde of men, if they were to be called men, who v­sed Nicenesse of the Romaine [...]. hote bathes, dainty fare, wine, ointmentes, laye in softe beds, and were vassalles to such a wanton Minstrel as their Emperor Nero was.

Bunduica hauing spoken these and suche like amongst hir people, with all hir hoste she sette forward agaynste the Ro­mains, who at that time were without head or gouernor, for that Paulinus was gone with his army into Anglesey, (as is before rehersed,) which is an Iland nere Brytaine, by meanes whereof Bunduica tooke two of their Cities, and committed [Page 42] the notable slaughter before remembred.

She exercised all kinde of crueltie on suche men as shée tooke. As for the noble women that she gat, she hanged them vppe, and cutte off their paps, and sewed them to their mou­thes: besides this, she stretching their bodies oute at length, thruste sharpe stakes cleane throughe them: al which things were done in despighte, when they sacrificed and feasted in their Templas, but specially in the woodde called Andates.

Paulinus, who had now subdued Anglesey, hearyng of the foresaide slaughter, returned to Brytaine, yet woulde hée not aduenture the fortune of battaile with them, fearing theyr number, but when he wanted victual, and that his enimies approched, he was compelled to abide the battell Bunduica▪ who had in hir army 230000. men, was hir selfe placed in a Chariot, and ordered hir men at length: but Paulinus coulde not stretche his company so long, for that they were not of any suche number, but at length he deuided his army into thrée partes, so that at one time they mighte fighte in sundry places, exhorting them not to be abashed at the mul­titude of their enimies, for bothe they and their forefathers, hadde wyth lesse number atchieued greater matters, and gotten greater victories. Adding, that now was the time to play the men, to enioy that in quiet, which before their aun­cestours had woon, and recouer that whiche they had loste, or else to liue for euer in misery and shame. Againe, he shewed what crueltie their eyes had séene, by those barbarous peo­ple, to suche as they had ouercome, exhorting them in re­uenge thereof to fighte manfully, and there was no doubte but the Gods (who were alwayes fauourable to such as had suffered crueltie) woulde helpe them: and better it were to die fighting valiantly, than with reproche to be taken, and die in their enimies handes like Dogges. Finally, (sayeth he) whether we liue or dye, Brytaine shal be ours, for, though the other Romaines lose it, yet shall our bones continually kéep it. When he hadde thus spoken, the signe of the battel was giuen, and ech part prepareth himselfe: the Brytaines [Page 43] with great and strange noise, the Romaines in silence came to neare, that they might throwe their dartes to them: and perceiuing their enimies to approche, with greate violence, rushed in amongest them, and brake their āraye: but after being compassed with the multitude of their enimies, the battel waxed doubtfull. The lighte harnessed men beganne to smite eache other, and those of heauy armoure togither with the horsemen encountred, and the Romaine Ar­chers foughte againste the Britishe Chariots. They whiche foughte withoute breast-plates, were slaine with Dartes. This encounter was made in thrée seueral places, and was foughte with greate courage on bothe sides. At the laste the Romaines departed Conquerours, many were slaine in the battaile, and many were taken. Greate numbers whych es­caped, prepared to fight againe, but in the meane space Bun­duica died of a dissease which she had, and they mourned, and buried hir verye honorablye. After, those that remayned were easily ouercome and dispersed.

Tacitus saith, that Prasutagus King of the Iceni, a Prince Corneli [...] Tacitu [...]. of greate wealth, appointed, that Caesar and his owne twoo daughters shoulde inherite his landes, hereby thinking all his life to be more quiet: and being deceassed, his wife and daughters shoulde be the more safer by meanes of such pro­tection, but it fell oute farre otherwise, for the Centurions gat his Realme, theyr seruauntes spoyled hys house, beat hys wife, and deflowred his daughters: besides, the chiefest men of his lande were displaced of their inheritaunces, and handled extremely. In reuenge whereof, Bunduica ray­sed the warre, and committed the slaughter before remem­bred, and at laste hir army once ouerthrowne by Paulinus, being afraid to fall into hir enimies hands, she poisoned hir selfe.

Policletus then a seruannt of Nero, was sente hither to suruey the state of Brytaine, who discharged Paulinus Sueto­nius of the gouernement.

PEtronius Turpilianus was sent into Brytaine as a manne 64 Petronius Tur­pilianus. easie to be entreated, and being not altogither acquainted with offences of the enimies, was the readier to receiue thē to grace: who setting matters in their former staye, and at­tempting no further, deliuered the Prouince vnto Trebelli­us Maximus. Trebellius being both faint-harted and too slug­gishe, and also vtterly vnacquainted with experimentes of armes, ruled the prouince▪ with a certaine mildenesse of go­uernement. Nowe had the barbarous people also learned to wincke at inticing vices, and the ciuil warres of the Ro­maines then happening, was a cloake to his cowardise: but there presentlye arose discorde betwéene Roscius and Caelius, legates of the. xx. legion, when the souldiors (accustomed to be employed in expeditions) gaue themselues to lasciuious­nesse: wherevppon Trebellius tooke his flighte, and hid hys head, to auoyde the furie of the army, and in moste base and beastly maner, gouerned (as it were) by entreatie, so as they mighte séeme to haue compounded, that the souldiours shoulde liue in all libertie, and the Generall at hys safetie. This time for a yeare and halfe there was deadly ciuil war amōg the Romaines for the Empire, betwéen Galba, Otho, and Vitelius.

VEctius Volanus, then was sent hither by Vitelius, he did 69 Vectius Vo­lanus. not vse any discipline or correctiō in Brytaine, so as there continued the like slouth and cowardise in the souldioures, toward their enimyes, and the Campe still as full of wan­tonnesse, sauing that Volanus was a good and milde man, and thereby made himselfe beloued where hée shoulde haue béene feared. In this time Vitelius aduaunced many Soul­dioures in the Brytaine legions, and Herdonius Flaccus broughte vnto hym 80000. chosen men of warre oute of Tacitus. Brytaine. The Brytans séeing y ^e Romaines thus encombred with ciuil war, began to trouble them, wherefore Volanus would send no succour to Vitelius at his commaundement, when Vespasian warred againste him for the Empire, and all the Brytaines fauored Vespasian.

WHen as (with the rest of the world) Vespasian had reco­uered 70 Brytaine, thē were there placed great Captaines, and notable armies, the enemyes hope abated, and Petilius Cerealis broughte greate feare vppon the Brytaines. The Petilius Cerealis. Citie of the Brigantes (which was accounted one of the grea­test of the lande) beyng by hym assayled, he hadde manye encountres, and some not withoute slaughter, whereby hée eyther conquered or assayled a greate part of their country.

Iulius Frontinus a man as worthye and valiaunt as was Iulius Frontinus possible, tooke then the charge vpon him, & subdued the nati­on of the Silures, being both valiant & warlike notwithstan­ding the valor of the enemy and difficulties of the places.

This was the state of Brytaine, and course of the warres, whych Agricola found arriuing in the middest of Sommer, Iulius Agricola. the Souldiors euen then beginning to retire to their stren­gthes, and the enimye searching for his most aduantage.

The Citie of the Ordouices fewe dayes before hys arri­uall almoste wholly defeated a company lying vppon their bordures. This beginning stirred vp the prouince, seruing for an example to them, who coueted the warres, and yet de­sired to sée what was in their newe Gouernor. Agricola, al­though the Sommer were nowe well spent, the bandes dis­persed all aboute the prouince, the souldiours had determi­ned to reste for that yeare, the time being late and incommo­dious to commence the warre, thinking it woulde be better to manne the péeces moste suspected: yet he determined ne­uerthelesse to preuent daunger, and gathering togither the Standards of the Legions, with a few of his forraine aides, for that the Ordouices durst not take the field, marched foorth agaynste them hymselfe in the vauwarde of his armye, that others might take like courage in the same danger, and put almoste that whole nation to the sworde: then followyng hys good successe, he inuaded Anglesey, (whiche Suetonius had before attempted) causing certaine Brytaines that ser­ued him, and knewe the shallows and maner of swimming, wyth horse and harnesse to passe ouer into the Isle on a so­daine, [Page 46] wherewith the inhabitauntes were so amazed (who Tacitus: feared nothing bycause they sawe no nauie) that they sub­mitted the Ile vnto him, immediately. Nowe hauing some quietnesse, and perceyuing that warre would little preuaile againste the Brytaines, if they were iniuriouslye handled, he purposed to cut off al causes of quarrel, and first reforming his owne familie, did nothing partially, onely respected the vertue of men, loosened tributes, and behaued himsefe moste honourably. And thus muche the firste yeare.

When the Sommer beganne, he assembled his armies, trayned his souldioures, forrayed the enimies Countries with sodaine inuasions to their greate feare, and yet so fauo­rably, as many Countries willingly yéelded vnto him, and suffered Castelles to be builte among them. The Winter following he spente in ciuill administration, counsayling the people priuately, and helping them publikely, to builde houses, Temples, and Courte houses. He procured noble mens children to study liberall Sciences, and then beganne the Brytaines to conforme themselues to Romaine fashi­ons and attyre.

The thirde yeare he discouered people in the Northe hi­therto vnknowne, euen as farre as Tau, terrifying the peo­ple, and placing fortresses moste wisely to the annoyaunce of the enimie,

The fourth Sommer he employed getting those Coun­tries whiche hitherto he had passed throughe, euen to the E­denborough Frith, and Cluid, the narrowe space betwéene the whych waters he fortified.

The fifth yeare by Sea he discouered and vanquished fur­ther nations in the North, and placed garrisons in the coast towarde Irelande, wherevnto he also aspired, and to that end reteyned an Irish Prince with him, that was driuen oute of his Country by ciuil dissention.

But in the Sommer whiche beganne the sixt yere of hys gouernement, he searched the Hauens by a nauie for that purpose sent to the Sea, fearing leaste all those nations be­yonde [Page 47] had vnited themselues and kept the passages by land: but afterward he marched forward, his nauie coasting with his army by land, so as sometime in the same Campe, he had horsemen, footemen, and Seamen, lodged togither. It was reported by suche as were taken prisoners, that the sighte of the nauie much astonied the Brytaines as men from whom all refuge was cutte off, the secrets of their Seas being dis­couered, wherefore determining to trie it with hand blowes the inhabitantes of Calidonia with greate preparation, al­though the reporte thereof were greater (as it often hapneth in vnknowne matters,) of their own accorde, assayled some Castelles, and séeyng themselues rather to bée assaylantes than defendauntes, putte the Romaines in some doubte: wherevpon the [...]owards pretending pollicie, aduised to re­tire on this side Bodotria, rather than to be driuen thereto by force, when as in the meane while, Agricola knowing that the enimye woulde charge hym in seuerall troupes and companyes, and fearing to bée ouermatched and couped in wyth number, or deceyued by the ignoraunce of the place, diuided his army into thrée battailes, and so marched for­warde: whiche order marked by hys enimyes, made them alter their purpose, and in the night killing the watch, brake in vpon the ninth legion, halfe asléepe and halfe afrighted, which (as they tooke it) was the weakest, & so the fighte con­tinued within the Camp til it was day light, at which time the Romaines began to gather courage, and the Brytaines were discomfited, so as, hadde it not bene for the woodes and bogges, that victorie had ended the whole strife, after which battaile the Romain souldiors grew to be of hautie corage, crying out to pierce the country of Calidonia, that they might finde oute the vttermoste portes and boundes of Brytaine. The Romaynes on the other side, ascribing the prayse of this victorie, not to the prowesse of the Romaine soul­dioure, but to Fortune, and the wilinesse of their Ca­pitaine, vsed al meanes possible, to hearten vppe and arme their Youth: bestowing their wiues and children in place [...] [Page 48] of safegarde, and by sacrifices and holy assemblyes vnite all their Cities togither, vpon these resolutions they remoued.

In the beginning of the next Sommer which was y ^•. viij. yere of his charge, Agricola seding his fléet before him, which often put a land and spoyled the Countreys, thereby cau­sing a great and vncertaine feare: himselfe with a picked ar­my, whervnto he added of the valiantest Brytains, came to y ^• mountain Grampius, whereon his enimies had encamped, (for the Brytaines nothing quailed by the successe of the for­mer encounter,) and expecting nothyng but a reuenge, or bondage, learning at length, that common daunger is on­ly to be resisted with common consent, by leagues and em­bassages hadde stirred vppe the mindes of all the Cities a­boute. Nowe were there to be séene in armes thirtie thou­sande and vpwarde, vnto whiche number, the Youth, and all such as were of strong and lustie yeares, euery man bea­ring his tokens of prayse about him, continually repayred from al sides. When amongest manye other Capitaines, Calgacus a man bothe in nobilitie and valor aboue the rest, spake to the assembly in this manner: As often as I behold the causes of this warre, and oure necessitie, my minde gy­ueth me greate hope, that this day and youre mutuall con­sent shal be the beginning of libertie to all Brytaine, for, eue­rye one of you hauing tryed seruitude, and hauing no other land nor sea, whiche can saue vs (the Romaines nauie being at our elbowes) the verye warre and weapons whyche are the honoure of the worthy, muste be the onelye safetie of the faint-harted. With these and manye suche reasons drawne from the calamitie of their future seruitude, the pride & tirā ­ny of their Gouernoures, the fickle friendship of the stran­gers, seruing in their enimies Campe, ready to change vp­on anye highe occasion, and the presente remedye of all mi­sery, whyche, as he sayde in the beginning, was onely vali­ancie, he so stirred vp all mens mindes, that they applau­ded his Oration after theyr manner, with songs and diuers kinde of noyses. This Oration being ended, as also Agrico­la [Page 49] hys spéeche to hys Souldioures, the twoo armies beganne to encounte [...] ▪ Agricola placed hys battayles in this order: he made his mayne battayle of the straungers (his aydes) whiche were in number▪ viij. thousand, on eche side wherof, for wings he placed hys horssemen to the number of thrée thousande, and his legions he caused to guard the trenches of his Campe, that if it were possible, the victorie mighte be gained without the sheading of Romaine bloude, or if his maine battel were broken, they might be gathered againe, and the fighte restored by hys legions. The battaile of the Brytaines (to terrify their enimies, as also to make their brauest shew,) stode on higher ground, so as their vawarde beyng come vppon the playne, the reste were on the foote of the hill, their Chariots, in the meane tyme, galloping vp and downe the fielde, making greate showtes and cries. Then Agricola perceyuing the number of his enimes to bée greater than his owne, and fearing to be charged bothe on the face and [...]lanke of his battayle at one time, and that ma­nye thoughte necessary to haue the legions aduannced for­warde, remayned notwythstanding, firme in his firste re­solution, causing his battaile to be somewhat drawn in len­gthe, himselfe alighted from his horse, and stoode on foote before his Standerdes. The first fighte was with shotte of Arrowes and Dar [...]es, during whiche time, the Brytaines, both skilfully and couragiouslye with their huge Swordes & small Bucklers, eyther bare or brake the Romaines shotte, and answered them with an infinite number of the like, vn­till Agricola was perswaded by bandes of Holanders, and Brabanders, that the matter mighte be broughte to swordes and hand-strokes, whiche kinde of fight they [...]re acquain­ted withall, by long haunting the warres, and the same was very incommodious for their enjuries, bearing but small shieldes, and vnmeasurable Swordes: For the pointlesse Swords of the Brytaynes, were vnfi [...]te for a throng, and where they wanted roomth. Wherefore the Holanders strake thicke togither, and thrust them ouer the Bucklers, woun­ding [Page 50] them in the faces, and hauyng broken that battell, passed forward towarde them whiche kepte the hill, whiche séene by the reste of the Romaine bandes, they partelye mo­ued by enuye of the others glorye, and partelye by heat [...] of their owne courages, cutte in péeces those that they firste encountred, leauing notwythstanding, some halfe deade, and others not touched, for haste, to obtaine a per­fecte victorie. In the meane whyle, the troupes of the Brytaine horsemenne, dydde take their flighte, but the Chariots putte themselues péece-meale among the foote bandes, whyche kinde of fighte, (at firste) séemed somewhat terrible to their enimies, but it long serued not their tournes, being assayled wyth a thicke prease of their ennimyes, and the grounde not commodious for the Chariots, nor their ryders all of the beste. So as at the laste, theyr Chariot horses, coursing vppe and downe the field without guiders, ouer-ran manye of their owne company, as they fled for feare from one place to another. The Brytaines, whiche al this while kepte the hill, & came not to y ^e fight, making little reconing of the smal num­ber of the Romaines, beganne by little and little to descend, entending to hem them in, in the middest of their conquest, which surely they had done, if Agricola, suspecting the same, hadde not dispatched foure companies of horsemen (whiche he kept for all sodaines) to encounter with them, who, the more fiercely they assayled, so much the more sharply repul­sed them, and sent them to flight: wherevpon the deuise of the Brytaines turned to their owne harme. Moreouer, by Agricola his cōmandement the wings of horsemen were ta­ken from the front of his battel, & were made to charge vpon the battel of his enimies, standing ouer against them. Then might you beholde in the open field, a gréeuous and lamen­table spectacle, some folowed the chace, some tooke prisoners, and after killed them to take others. Now the enimies as e­uery one thoughte beste, fledde, some in heapes and armed [Page 51] fledde from a smaller number: other, thoughe vnarmed, tarryed and were slaine: euery where laye weapons, [...]r­casses, and lymmes, out of the ground all bloudy: sometime the vanquished approching neare to Woodes, woulde make hed, and entrap the héedlesse followers, so as, if Agricola hadde not caused certayne lusty bandes in the manner of a search, and also diuers horsemen▪ leauing their horse where the Wooddes were thicke, and other on horsebacke, where the Wóoddes would suffer, to raunge them all aboute, there might haue béen some detriment receiued by too much hardinesse▪ But when the Brytaines sawe themselues pur­sued in order of battaile, they tooke againe their flight, not in companies, as before, nor tarrying one for an other, but here and there, euen as men glad to escape, sought long, and by wayes. Night & wearinesse of slaughter ended the chase. There were slaine of the Brytaines about tenne thousand: of the Romaine army, thrée hundred and fortie, among whome Aulus Atticus, Capitaine of aband, whom the heat of his youth, and corage of his horse broughte into the hands of his enimies. That night the victors made mery wyth the spoyle, but the Brytaines wandering vppe and downe, men and women lamenting togither, reléeued, and fetcht awaye their hurte men, assembled togither the whole, forsooke their houses, and for anger sette fire on them, choosing themselues lurking places, which straite they forsooke againe▪ sometime▪ conceyuing good hope, whyche straighte waye quayled agayne: and some were knowen to kyll theyr wyues and chyldren, as thoughe they hadde therein taken com­passion vppon them▪ The nexte daye made the victorie more manifest, in which there was nothing but silence, the hilles being then forsaken, and also the houses smoking a far off.

Agricola sendyng abroade his espialles, coulde finde no ennimye to make [...]ed, wherefore Sommer being too farre spente to procéede any further in the warre, he hadde his Souldioures into the coastes of the Horest [...] ▪ and there [Page 52] taking hostages, caused his nauie to coaste aboute Brytaine, whiche at laste arriued at the Hauen called▪ Trutulensis, after­warde hauing bestowed his souldioures in their wintering places▪ departed Brytaine, and lefte the prouince in quiet to his successor.

Diuers s [...]uthours affirme, that about this time, the Go­spell Firste Christians in Brytaine. of Christe our sauiour was first preached in this Iland. Nicephorus a Gréek Author, in his second book the. 40. Cha­hiter, Nicephorus. hath as foloweth. Simon borne in Cana Galilei, who for his feruent affection to his Maister, & the greate zeale hée tooke by al meanes to the Gospell, was surnamed Zelotes, he hauing receyued the holy Ghoste from abone▪ trauayled through [...] Aegip [...] and Affr [...]k [...] ▪ then through Mauritania and all Lybia, preaching the Gospell. And the same Doctrine he brought to the Occidentall sea, & the Iles called Brytani [...], &c. And in the third Booke the first Chap. he saith. The holy A­postles (like as we haue declared already) béeyng dispersed throughout the whole earth, did diuide the prouinces amon­gest them by lot, to preach the Gospel in▪ Peter vndoubted­ly first at Hierusalem, then in Galatia, By [...]inia, with the higher Asia, Capadocia, and all Italie, taught the Gospell: Iohn in A­si [...] ▪ who ended his life there: To Andrew fel the Prouinces on the co [...] of [...] all Scythia, Byzans, Ma [...]edonia, and the [...] of Greece: Thomas amongst the Parthians▪ Indians, [...] the [...] of Tap [...]b [...] did publishe the Gospell: Another chose Aegipt and Lybia: another the vttermoste coastes of the Ocean, with the Iles of Brytaine, &c. Do [...]otheus wry­teth thus▪ Simon Zelotes passing through Mauritania, & Do [...]otheus. Affrica preached Christ, at length was crucified, slaine and buried in Brytaine▪ Also he saith, A [...]bulus, whom y ^e Apo­ [...]le to the Rom. remēbe [...]th, was ma [...]e [...]a Bishop in Brytaine▪ George Maior writeth in a preface, that immediately after Christs r [...]surrection vnder Claudius the Emperor, the light of y ^• Gospel wa [...] [...]dled in Brytaine by Ioseph of A [...]hia that bl [...]ed the body of Christe. [...] writing against the Jewes of those times▪ sayth▪ The Brytaines inhabitāts [Page 53] of places vnknown to the Romaines, yet did obey and were subiect to the kyngdomes of Christ. William of Malmesbury, Antiquities of Gla [...]tenb [...]r [...]. Freculphus. in his Book of the Antiquities of Glastenburie, alleageth Fre­culphus to wryte in his second Book and fourth Chapter, as followeth: Philip the Apostle, preaching the worde of God in Gaule (nowe called Fraunce) chose oute. xij. amongest his Disciples, whome hée sent into Brytaine to preache the word of life, and vpon euery one of them, he most deuoutly stret­ched out his right hande: ouer these he appointed for chiefe, his deare friende Ioseph of Aramathie, that buried our Lord. Glastenbury first Church of Christians in Brytaine. These (saieth Iohn Capgraue, who alleageth Melkin and Merlin) came into this lande the yeare of Christes incarna­tion, 63. in the tyme of Aruiragus, who gaue to them the Ile of Aualon, where they builded an Oratorie of wrythen Iohn Capgraue. Melkin and Merlin. wandes, and after there were buryed: whiche place beyng since encreased, and newly builded by diuers Princes, was named Glastenburie. For confirmation whereof, Kyng Hen­ry Chart [...] Regi [...]. the second hauing diligently perused the Priuileges and Charters, which he caused to be presented and read, not on­ly of William the first, of William the seconde, and Henry the first his Grandfather: but also the Charters of the Prin­ces his predecessours, of more antient time, to wéete, of Ed­gar, Edmond, Edward, Elfred, Bringwalthius, Kenthwin, Bal­dred, Ina, Arthur, and that noble man Cudred, and many other Christian Kings beside, also of Kenewalla, sometyme a Heathen and Pagan Kyng, concerning the house of Gla­stenburie▪ found, that in some of those Charters it is called the Mother of Saintes, of some other, the Graue of the Saints, and that the sayde place was firste builded euen by the very Disciples of Christe themselues, and by them dedicated to oure Lorde, as the firste place whiche he chose to himselfe in this Realme: al which the foresaid King Henry established by his Charter.

MArius sonne of Aruiragus, an excellent wise man, was 73 Galfr [...]d [...]. ordayned King of Brytaine. At this season Rodrike King [...]f the Pictes, (whiche were people of Scythia) accompanyed [Page 54] with the Scots inuaded Brytaine, & spoyled the country with sword & fire, against whom Marius with his knights assēbled in al hast, & gaue thē sharp battel, wherin Rodrike was slain, Flores Historiarū. with a great number of his souldiors vpon Stansemore, in to­ken of which victorie, there was a stone not far from Carleile erected, with this inscription, In token of Marius victorie. To thē which remained Marius gaue inhabitance in the further part of Scotland. And forsomuch as y ^e Brytaines disdained to Ran. Hig. Henry Bradshaw. Chester re­payred. giue to thē their daughters in mariage, they acquainted thē with y ^e Irishmen, & maried their daughters, & grew in pro­cesse of time to a gret people. He repaired, walled, & fortified y ^e city of Caerlegion, now called Chester. He rained. liij. yeres.

DOmitianus the Emperor sēt Salustius Lucullus into Bry­taine, 94 Suetonius. whom he shortly put to death, for that he suffred cer­taine lawes to be called Lucullen, after his name. Some write, that Cneus Trebullius was now Gouernor héere.

What Lieutenants were in Brytaine for the time of Nerua & Traiane, I find not recorded: but when Adrian was posses­sed Iulius Seuerus. in the Empire, Iulius Seuerus gouerned here vnder him, whō Adrianus called out of Brytaine, to war against y ^e Jews, 120 & came hither himselfe in person, pacified the tumults, rea­red a wall, which shoulde separate the barbarous from hys Spartianus. subiects, and returned to Rome.

COilus y ^e son of Marius was ordeined King, he was brou­ghte 124 Galfridus. Colchester builded. vp euē frō his youth in Rome among y ^e Romaines, & therfore fauoring thē, paid y ^e tribute truly: he builded Col­chester, and raigned. lv. yeares, and was buried at Yorke.

ANtonius Pius succeded Hadrianus in y ^e Empire, & gouer­ned 139 Capitelinus. this prouince by Lollius Vrbicus, who ouercame the Brytaines, and raysed another wall of turffes to kéepe oute the inroades, the Northern Brytaines.

ANtonius Philosophus now ruled the Romaine Empire, 162 and Calphurnius Agricola was sent hyther with autho­ritie against the Britaines then repining at the Romaines, but with what successe it is not specified.

LVcius y ^e son of Coilus, was ordained King, who in all hys 179 Florent. Vig [...]r [...]. acts & déeds followed the steps of hys forefathers, in such [Page 55] wise as he was of al men loued & dread. He sēt his two Am­bassadors Eluanus & Meduuinus▪ twoo learned mē in y ^t scrip­tures, with his louing letters to Elutherius Bishop of Rome, England recey­ued the faith▪ [...]eda. Asser. Flores Historiarū. Record of Saint Asaphs Church▪ Iohn Capgraue. Marianus Scotus. desiring him to sende some deuout & learned men, by whose instruction both he & his people might be taught y ^e faith & re­ligiō of Christ: wherof Elutherius being very glad, baptized these two messēgers, making Eluanus a Bishop, & Meduui­nus a teacher, & sent also with thē into Brytaine two famous Clarks, Faganus & Deruuianus, by whose diligence Lucius & his people of Brytaine were baptized & instructed in y ^e faith of Christ. 28. Temples were made Cathedral churches, & By­shops placed, where Flamins before had bin: at Lōdon, Yorke▪ & Carlein, (which is now S. Dauids in Wales) were placed Archbishops: London, Yorke and Carlein, Archbishops. The Epistle of Eleutherius to Lucius King of Brytaine. Lib. constitut. Lon. & now foloweth an Epistle of Elutherius, sente to Lucius K. of Brytain, as I find y ^e same recorded in a Booke of y ^e Constitutions of London▪ pertaining to y ^e Guild Hall of London▪

The yeare after Christs birth 202. Pope Elutherius did write to Lucius king of Brytaine, for y ^e amendment of y ^e kings & the nobilitie of Brytaine as foloweth. You required that we should send you the Romain & Imperial laws, y ^e you might vse thē in your kingdom of Brytaine, but those laws we may disproue, & not the lawes of God. You haue receiued lately through Gods goodnes in your kingdom, y ^e faith and law of Christ: you haue there in your kingdom both Testaments, out of thē by Gods grace, & the aduice of your realme take a law, & thereby patiently gouern y ^e kingdom. You are y ^e Ui­car of God in your kingdom, according to y ^e kingly prophet. The earth is y ^e Lords, & his fulnesse is y ^e whole world, & al y ^t Psalm. 45. dwel therin: & again, Thou hast loued righteousnes, & hated iniquitie, wherfore God (euē thy God) hath annoynted thée with y ^• [...]ile of gladnes aboue thy fellows. They are y ^e kings children, christian nations, & people of your kingdome that liue & consist vnder your protection, peace, & kingdom accor­ding to the Scripture, as an Hen gathereth chickens vnder hir wings, the people, & nations of the kingdome of Brytaine is youres, suche as are diuided you shoulde gather them [Page 56] togither to the lawe of Christe: his holy Churche, to peace & concorde: and cherishe, maintaine, protect, gouerne, and de­fend them from the iniurious, malicious, and their enimies. Woe be to that kingdome, the King whereof is a childe, and the Princes eate earely in the morning. I doe not call a King a child for his youth or minoritie, but for his follie, ini­quitie, Psalm. 55. and madnesse, according to the Kingly Prophet. The bloud-thirsty and deceitfull menne shall not out-liue halfe their dayes. By eating we shall vnderstande Gluttonie, by Gluttonie, Luxurie, by Luxurie, all filth, wickednesse, and mischiefe, according to King Salomon: Wisedome will not Sapience. [...]. enter into a spitefull soule, nor inhabite in a body subiecte to sinne. A King hathe his name of gouerning, and not of hys Kingdome, so long you shall be a King, as you rule well, o­therwise, you shall not be so named, and lose that name, (which God forbid) God graunt that you maye so rule your Realme of Brytaine, that you may raigne wyth hym euerla­stingly, whose Uicar you are in the saide Kingdome. To whome with the father, &c.

There remayneth in the Churche of Saint Peter vpon Cornhil at London, a Table, wherein is written, that Lucius foūded the same Church to be an Archbishops sea, and made it the Metropolitane and chiefe Churche of hys Kingdome, whych so endured the space of 400. yeres, vnto the comming of Saint Augustine.

Ioseline of Fornes, in his booke that he wrote of the Brytish Ioseline of Furneys. Bishops, saith, that Thean, who was first Archbishop of Lō ­don, in the time of Lucius, builded the said Church of S. Peter Archbishops of London. 13. in a place called Cornhil in London, by the aide and help of Ci­ran, chief Butler to King Lucius, & also that Clauus, the secōd Archbishop there, builded a Librarie to the same church ad­ioyning, & conuerted many of the Erwydes (learned men in the Pagan Law) to the Christian faith. The third Archby­shop was named Cadar, the fourth Obinus, the fift Conan, y ^• sixt Paladius, the seuenth Stephan, the eighte Iltut, the ninth Dedwin, the tenth Thedred, the eleuenth Hillary, y ^• twelfth [Page 57] Guidilinus, the thirtenth Vodinus, who was slain of the Sa­rons that came first into this lande. Lucius raigned 12. yere, and was buryed at Gloucester.

COmodus after his father Antonius Philosophus succeded 181 Dion. in the Empire with most cruel tyranny. In his time the Northerne Britains burst in through the wall, forrayed the Countrey, and slew the Romaine Generall with his souldi­ours, wherfore Vlpius Marcellus was appointed here a care­ful vigilant Captaine: he sore annoyed the Brytains, which were enemies to the Romain state, and purchasing enuie by his vertue, was shortly dismissed▪

Then Ceronnis who ruled all vnder Comodus, appointed Lampidi [...] ▪ Dion. certaine men of base estate to gouerne the Romain enemies here, wherewith the souldiours being gréeued, sent. 1500. chosen men out of theyr number to Rome, who accusing hym before Comodus to compasse the Empire, for his sonne was deliuered vnto them, who immediatelye mangled hym and slew his wife with his two sonnes.

Comodus thē sent Holnius Pertinax into Brytain, and sur­named Lampridi [...] ▪ himselfe Brytanicus, thervnto perswaded by flatterers, when the Brytaines were so euill affected toward him, that they woulde haue nominated some other Emperour against Capitolinus. him, and namely Pertinax: but these tumults were appeased by the Wisdome of Pertinax, to his great danger, for he was wel-nere slaine in tumulte, and left among the dead, whiche iniurie he after seuerallye reuenged, & sued for his discharge, being afterwarde preferred to the Empire.

Clodius Albinus was then sente hyther by Comodus▪ who Capitolinus. at the first so greatlye estéemed of him, that he honored hym with y ^• title of a Caesar▪ which Clodius refused: but afterwards when a false rumor was dispersed, y ^t Comodus was slain, he made an Oratiō to the legions of Brytain, impeaching y ^t go­uernement of Emperours, and preferring the Senate, whervpon Commodus being sharpned againste hym, sente Iunius Seuerus to rule héere, and shortly after Comodus was slaine. slaine.

PErtinax then was chosen Emperour, & within. iij. months 194 was slaine throughe the per [...]wations of Didius Iulianus, who enioyed the Empire two monthes, and the practice of Clodius Albinus, which then returned into Brytain, and (as it séemeth) recouered his former gouernement.

SEuerus after the death of Pertinax was saluted Emperor: 194 he immediately slewe Didius Iulianus, and bycause he fea­red Clodius Albinus with his Brytain legions, he created him Caesar, and partaker of the Empire, and sente Heraclitus to gouerne this Ile: but after he had subdued Niger who also vsurped the Empire, he moued warre against Albinus, who passing hence into Fraunce with the Brytish army, encountered with Seuerus neare Lions, and was there slaine. Henceforthe Seuerus quietly enioyed the Romaine Empire, & made sharp wars into the Easterne partes of the world, with great glo­rie.

But returning to Rome, he vnderstoode of a war raysed in 209 Brytaine. Wherefore he hasted hyther with his two sonnes Bassianus and Geta [...]at his arriuall peace was offered, whithe he refused, and leauing his yonger sonne Geta to gouerne the prouince, (being the hyther part of the Ile) he with Bas­sianus hys eldest sonne entred into the Northe, and passed y ^• further parte of thys Ilande without any resistaunce: yet by ambushes, difficultie of the way, & other inconueniences, he lost. 50000. men, and then returned, enforcing the enemies to conclude a league, and yéelde some parte of theyr Coun­trey.

At conclusion of which league, when he and his sonne rid to treate with the Caledontans or Northern Brytains, Bassi­anus his sonne drawing his sworde in the sighte of the ene­mie, was ready to haue slaine him, and had done it, had not some of the company made an outcry: yet this fault was re­mitted.

After this league, the Brytaines of the North resorted to the Emperours Courte, wher Iulia, Seuerus wife, obiected to a womā of Brytaine, the wife of Argentorix the Caledonian, that [Page 59] the Brytish women accompanyed wyth men dishonestlye, ye [...] quoth the Brytishe woman, we satisfy the naturall luste in better sorte than you Romaynes, for we accompanye our selues openly wyth the beste menne; and you committe ad­ulterie closely wyth moste vyle persons. But after this league there was a generall reuolte of the Brytaynes againste the Romaines, which yet was pacifyed with great slaughter, and then he builte a Wall of Turfe, to inhi­bite S [...]uerus vvall. the Northern Brytaines, from whence when he retour­ned, at the nexte lodging, a blacke Moore that serued him, a notable scoffer, mette him wyth a Crowne of Cypres: hée moued with the colour of the man and the Cypres (whiche was then vsed at all burials,) as with signes of euill lucke, commaunded the manne to be sente awaye, wherewyth he cryed: Thou haste bene all in all, and hast banquished all, and now of a couquerour be thou a GOD. Then com­myng to the Citie of Yorke (as it is supposed,) he was by Spartia [...]. mistaking brought to the Temple of Bellona: blacke beasts also being ordayned▪ for sacrifice, followed him home to hys Pallace: which things these then dyd accōpt to be ominons.

Shortly after he departed▪ out of this life at Yorke, partly through sicknesse, and partly through griefe conceiued of hys sonnes euill demeanoure. At his last gaspe he vttered these words: I found the state troublesome euery where, and leaue it quiet euen to the Brytaines.

Herodian writeth, that in these wars of Seuerus against y ^e Herodian North Brytains, he founde their Country full of watry Ma­rishes: by those marishes did the Britains swim and skirmish with their enemies, being couered with water vp vnto the Nauell, not caring that men saw the priuie partes of theyr naked bodyes. Neyther dyd they knowe the vse of apparel, but accustomed to compasse theyr bellyes and neckes onely w ^t Iron, which they estéemed an ornament & token of riches, as other barbarous people supposed of Gold. They paynted their bodyes with diuerse pictures and formes of beastes, and therefore ware no garmente, leaste the painting should [Page 60] be hidden, being a nation very valiaunt, and warlyke, gréedy of slaughter, and content only with a small target, a speare, and a skayne hanging by their naked sides, ignoraunt of the vse of shyrtes of mayle and helmets, for they reckned y ^e same comberous vnto them, when they shoulde swimme ouer the lakes &c.

A gréetious disease came vpon Seuerus, being sore appal­led with age, so that he was constrained to kéepe his chamber and sende Antonius vnto the warres: but Antonie not regar­ding the businesse of Brytaine, endeauoured by all meanes he coulde, to winne the hartes of the souldiours vnto hym, deprauing hys brother, to the intente they shoulde only aide him to the attayning of the soueraintie. The long maladie of his Father, caused him to perswade Phisitions to rid the olde man out of the worlde, vntil that Seuerus, being consu­med, ended his life, who was the moste famous of all Empe­rours in war like affayres: For none other had obtayned so many victories and conquests, either ciuil against his aduer­saries, or for rayne against the barbarous nations. Thus de­ceased he, after he had gouerned the Empire the space of xviij. yeares, leauing his sonnes for successours in the same: vnto whom he left also greate aboundaunce of riches, as none of his previcessours had before hym done. When Antony had gotten the supreme authoritie, he put to death the Phisitiōs, bycause they obeyed not his commaundemente in hastnyng hys Fathers deathe: and slewe all his owne, and brothers bringers vp and instructers, for that they wente about to re­concile them, leauing none aliue, that was eyther of dignity, or had reuerenced his Father. The Captaines of the army, he enticed, to perswade the souldiours to proclayme him on­ly Emperour: imagining dayly manifold mischiefes against his brother: but he could not win the souldiours good willes. Wherefore Antony, hauing taken truce with the Britans, remoued towardes his mother and brother. Their mother laboured to bring them to agréement, wherein also, manye prudente Counsellours earnestly trauelled. Antony thereby [Page 61] was enduced, rather of force, than good will; to counter­faite loue. After which done, the two brethren gouerning y ^• Empire with equal honour, launched out of Brytaine, and sayled with the reliques of theyr Father toward Rome. For when they had burned the bodye (as was the custome of the Romaines) they carryed the ashes, (intermedled with plea­saunt odours, in a Boxe of Alabaster) to Rome, that it mighte be ther enterred amongst the monuments of other Princes. Themselues led thus their army, as conquerors of Brytain, & passed ouer y ^e Ocean vnto the next coaste of Fraunce, and so hasted towards Rome. When they were entred into Rome, all the people crowned with Laurel, receyued, and the Senate welcomed them. Formost roade the Emperors themselues, clothed in Emperial purple. And nexte vnto them followed the Consuls, bearing the vessel with Seuerus reliques. Whi­che vessel, the people, after they had saluted the newe Em­perour, did reuerently worshippe. The Emperours & Con­suls being thus accompanyed wyth Princely pompe, [...]aryed the saine into the Temple, where the deuine monuments of Marcus▪ and other Emperors, are séene. After they had fini­shed the solemne sacrifise, and according to y ^e auntient vsage, celebrated the Funerall ceremonies, both the brethrē depar­ted into the Emperiall palace: which they deuided betwéene them, closed vp all backe dores, and priuie posterns, & mette togither only at y ^• outter gates. They chose besides eyther of thē vnto himselfe a soundry guarde, & neuer came togyther vnlesse it were sometime for a little whyle to be séene of the people. Neuerthelesse, firste of all, they accomplished the due Funerals of their Father. For the Romaines accustome to consecrate with immortalitie, such Emperours; as at theyr death, lea [...]e eyther children, or successoures in the Empire behinde them. And those which are endued with that honor, they canonize [...]ongst the Gods. There is through the Cit­tie, a certaine▪ dolefull lamentation, mixed with fearefull i [...]. And they vse to enterre the dead corpse very sumptuous­ly. But then, they haue an Image, made as like the deade [Page 62] Emperour, as may be. The same, within the Porche, of the Emperial Pallace, they lay in a gret and high bed of Iuorie, couered ouer with cloth of gold. The same Image looketh ve­ry pale, like a diseased patient. About the bed on eyther side, a great part of the day, do certayne persons sit. That is to wit on the left side, the Senate, clothed in blacke garments: and on the right side, many matrones. None of these are séene to weare any ouches, or chaynes of golde, but being clad wyth thinne white vestures, they shew the countenaunce of mour­ners. And thus doe they continue the space of seauen dayes: during the which, euery daye the Emperours Phisitions do repayre vnto the bed, and, as though they had felt the patiēts Pulses, declare that he waxeth more sicke than before. Fi­nally, when it séemeth that he is deceased, certain of the most noble and worthye yong men, of the orders of Knightes and Senators, doe take vp the bedde on theyr shoulders, and ca­ry it through the stréete, called Sacra via, vnto the olde market place, where the Romain magistrats are accustomed to ren­der vp their Offices. There on both sides, are certaine stages made with steppes, vppon the whiche, on the one side, is a queare of Boyes, being noble mens sonnes, and on the other side are many beautiful women, singing Himnes and Bal­lades, in prayse of the deade Emperour, measured with di­uerse lamentable verses. When these are finished, the yong men do take vp the bedde againe, and beare it out of the Ci­tie, into the fielde called Campus Martius, in the broadest part whereof, there is erected a Towre foure square, with sides of equall height builded of great Timber, like vnto a Taber­nacle. The same within forthe, is filled wyth drye chippes, and Réedes: And on the outter side, it is hanged wyth Arras clothes of golde, and decked with▪ Images of Iuorie, and sundry painted pictures. Within it also, is another lesse Towre, but like in forme, with doores and Portals opened. And ouer that, the third and fourth, with many other roomes ascebdubg continually, vntill they retche vnto the highest, which is lesse than all the other. A man maye compare thys [Page 63] building vnto Towres, whyche are sette in hauens, wyth fire on the toppes, to directe shippes whiche sayle by nighte on the Seas, into theyr perfecte portes. The same are com­monly called Phani. Nowe when they haue putte the bed in the seconde Tabernacle, they gather all kyndes of spi­ces and perfumes, wyth diuerse odoriferous fruites, Hearbes, and iuyces, the whyche they throwe on heapes in the Tabernacle. Neyther is there anye Nation, Citie, or Person, whyche excelleth in honoure, or dignytie, but at that tyme, wyll to the vttermoste of hys power, most ho­norablye celebrate the laste Funeralles of the Empe­rour.

When they haue couched a greate heape of Spices togi­ther, and stuffed the building therewyth, all the Romayne Knightes doe ride aboute the Towre, with a iuste course and order too and fro: Chariots are also drawne aboute, wherein manye doe sitte, clothed in purple, representyng the persons of all noble men being Magistrates and Cap­taines of Rome.

The Ceremonies being throughly ended, the successour in the Empire, taketh a brande of fire in his hande, and fi­reth therewith the Tabernacle. After whome, all other that are present, doe throwe fire likewise into the same. And im­mediately, all the building being filled with those drye stickes and spices, beginneth to burne vehementlye. Then out of the highest and leaste Towre, as out of a hygh stéeple, is let forth an Eagle, the which they beléeue, doeth beare the Emperours soule into Heauen. And from thence­foorthe is that Emperour worshipped as the other Gods.

From this time to the raigne of Dioclesian, for the space of. 72. yeares, there is nothing recorded in our Histories hy­thereto published concerning Brytaine: but where as it is manifest that the soueraintie of Brytain rested in y ^e Romain Emperours al that space, I wil set them here downe succes­siuely.

After Seuerus, Bassianus surnamed Antonius Carracalla, 212 Herodian. murdering his brother Geta, succeded in the Empire. Hée was cruel to his people: he founded the Bath in Rome, which is called Antonians: he was out of measure giuen to sensuali­tie, and carnal concupisence in so much, that he espoused his mother in law Iuba▪ He was murdered by Martialis when he had gouerned by yeares.

Macrinus one yeare. 218

Antoninus Elagabalus. iij. yeare.

Seuerus Alexander, who was slayne by his souldiours here 223 Lampridius victor. 236 238 239 245 250 252 252 254 in Brytaine, in a vyllage called Sicila, but other save in Fraunce. xiij. yeares.

Iulius Maximus. iij. yeares.

M. Antonius Gordianus j. yeare.

Antonius Gordianus the sonne▪ vj. yeare.

Iulius Philippus the first Christian Emperour. v. yeare.

Decius▪ ij. yeares.

Trebonianus Gallus▪ and Vibius Hostilianus ij. yeares.

Iulius Aenilianus. 4. monthes.

Licinius Valerianus vj.

Licinius Gallicinus▪ xv.

At this time there arose in diuerse Countreys. 30. Usur­pers; which are called the. 30. tyrants, of the which Lollianus Posthumius, Victorianus Tetritius, as it is supposed, kep [...]e Brytaine from Gallicinus.

Flauius Claudius. ij. 269

Aurelianus. 5.

Tacitus▪ vj. monthes. 276

Florianius. iij. monthes.

Aurelius Probus. v. yeares. In whiche time Bonefus a Bry­taine 277 borne, but brought vppe in Spaine, fearing least he shold be executed bycause the Germaines had burnte certaine ves­sels in the Rhene, whereof he had charge, vsurped the Empire with Proculus at Colen▪ and woulde haue exempted from the Vopisens. Romaines, Brytaine, Spaine, and part of Fraunce: but being ba­quished by Probus in a long and sore battaile, he stangled [Page 65] himselfe: some sedition was then raised in Brytaine, and ap­peased by Victorinus a Moore, by whose motion Probus had made him regent of Brytain, whiche was causer of this trou­ble. Thys Probus permitted the Brytaines and others, that they might haue vines and make wine. After he had raigned fine yeares, he was slaine by the souldiours.

CAius then succéeded him, with his two sonnes Numeria­nus, 282 Vopisens. and Carinus, to whiche Carinus he assigned Brytaine Gaule, (called Fraunce) Illiricum, Italie, and Spaine, but all thrée within thrée yeares space lost their liues.

VAlerius Dioclesianus was then chosen Emperour, 284 who adioyned Maximianus vnto hym in lyke gouerne­ment.

Aboute thys tyme, holy Alban for professing Christ, be­ing Vita Albani. ledde from the Cittie of Verolamium, vnto Holmehurst, where nowe the towne of Saint Albans is builded, suffered martyrdome, who is specified to be the first Martyre of Bry­taine: and shortly after to the number of one thousande Chri­stiās, were martyred at Lichfielde, where Amphabole, instru­cter Liber Lichfielde. of Alban, was taken, broughte to Verolamium, and there tormented to death.

Carausius was appointed to be admirall of the Brytaine Seas, whyche were sore troubled by the Pyracies of the Franckes and Saxons: but when he had oftentimes apprehen­ded the Pirates, and neyther reserued the prizes, or was Reserued. accountable for it, neyther to the Emperours, nor his depu­ties, it was suspected that of set purpose he permitted these Rouers to haue recourse through those Seas, to the ende hée mighte rifle them, and inrich himself. Maximianus therfore sent part of his armye to suppresse him, in which were ma­nye of the Thebane legion, who in thys iourney were slayne, by his commaundemente, and made martyres bycause they professed Christ.

Carausius vnderstanding of the preparatiō made against him, passed out of Gaule into Brytaine, where bringing the Countrey to hys obeysaunce, he vsurped the Roabe of [Page 66] an Emperour: wherevppon they whiche were sente to sur­prise him, retourned to Maximianus, who then was en­combered with newe warre in Gaule agaynste the Pea­santes.

In the meane time Carausius built shippes in Brytayn, intercepted certayn cōpanyes of souldiours, assembled a gret number of barbarous people with spoyle, with hope of whō he purposed to trouble the sea coastes of Gallia & Spaine. Hol­land (also then holden by certayne Frankes) reuolted to Carau­sius.

THen purposed Maximianus the seconde tyme to make 288 warre agaynste Carausius, but by stormye weather, and wante of Pilotes, hée was enforced to deferre hys purpose, leauyng the gouernement of thys Ile to Carau­sius.

Shortlye after, the two Emperours elected two Caesars, 291 Valerius Maximus and Constantius Chlorus, to which Con­stantius they committed the recouerie of Brytaine. Hée im­mediatelye passing through Gaule hytherwarde, sodaynely surprised Gesseriacum, nowe called Bullen, (whiche Carausius had manned,) and so stopped the Hauen, that it could stande Carausius in no stéede. Then building shippes to passe ouer Paneg. Constan­tius dictus. hither, he first assayled luckily the Hollanders, whiche had re­uolted to Carausius: and then staying for conuenient winde, he houered a while on the sea coaste, and in the meane tyme Carausius was traytorously slayne by Alectus his familiar friende.

ALbertus then vsurped the Empire here in Brytayne, 292 agaynste whome Constantine wyth hys former prepa­ration made readye for warre, and launched out in haste, thoughe the winde was contrarie: Whyche when hys souldiours vnderstoode, they sette out also wyth side windes out of the Seyne and other Ports, in suche foggie and mystie Seyne. weather, that they passed by Alectus Nauie, then honering for them aboute the Ile of Wighte, not séeing one the o­ther.

[Page 67]The Romaines as soone as they landed burnte theyr shippes, determining either to winne, or lose their liues, which when Allectus vnderstoode, he left the shore, and pre­pared himselfe for battaile with his Mercenarie barbarous souldiours, in which he was slaine, by Asclepiodatus Lorde greate maister of the Emperours house.

In thys fight none of the Romaynes perished, but here al the fielde was ouer-spred with deade bodyes of the enimies, among whom lay Alectus himselfe, without any Imperiall ornamentes, and scantly knowen.

Other Romaine souldiours also whiche had loste theyr companye in the myste, arriued at London, slewe in the Ci­tie greate number of barbarous people whyche escaped from the battaile, and purposed to haue sacked London.

Then when Constantius came a lande, the Brytains with their wiues and children flocked vnto him, and submit­ted themselues ioyfully, being nowe deliuered out of a long thraldome.

Thys expedition of Constantius into Brytain, is ascri­bed by some to Maximianus, into which error a false inscrip­tion of the Panegirike hath led them.

ASclepiodatus▪ as is before touched, recouered Brytaine, 290 Galfridu [...]. he belayde the Citie of London with a strong siege, where­in was Liuius Gallus the Romaine Captaine: and ere it wer [...] long, by Knightly force and violence, entred the Citie, and slew the forenamed Gallus, neare vnto a brooke there at that daye running, into whiche brooke he threwe him, by reason wherof, it was called in Brytish Nant Gallon, since in the Sa­xon tongue Gallus or Wallus brooke: and thys daye, the stréete where some-time the brooke ranne, is called Wal­brooke.

COill after Asclepiodatus toke on him the Kingdome of 301 Brytaine.

COnstantius begā his Empire with Gallerius, the Empire 305 was deuided betwéen them: so that Constantius shoulde possesse Affrica, Italie, Fraunce, and Brytaine: Gallerius [Page 68] shoulde haue Illirica, Asia, and the East partes: whiche done, they substituted vnder them two Caesars. Cōstantius holding himselfe content with the dignitie of Augustus, refused to su­staine the trouble whiche he shoulde haue endured through the administration of the affaires of Italie and Affricke: hée sought by all meanes howe he mighte enriche the people of the Empire. He abolished the superstition of the Gentiles in his dominions, so that afterwarde Brytaine felt no persecuti­ons. The yeare following he passed out of Fraunce hyther a­gainst the Pictes, at whiche time his sonne Constantine, who then serued Galerius, perceyuing his destructien to be com­passed, posted to his Father in al haste, howghing & killing the post horsses, whych way so euer he passed, that he mighte not be pursued, and came to his Father the verye houre that he wente aboorde to come into Brytaine: but Constantius as Panegiricus. soone as he came to Yorke, sodainely sickned, and perceyuing his daye to drawe neare, when he was asked to whome hée woulde leaue the Empire, aunswered, to Constantine, and shortly after departed.

COnstantine surnamed the great, sonne of Constantius by 306 Helena, first consecrated, hys Father being nowe deade, and with so great sorrowe and sheading of teares, solempni­zed his burial, that the souldiours hoping he would resemble hys Father, saluted him Emperour at Yorke against his wil: but when the Romaine Senate had confirmed hys election with theyr consent he willingly accepted it. And the yere fo­lowing setting the affayres of Brytaine in order, he passed hence wyth manye Brytaines, firste agaynste the Frankes whome he vanquished, then agaynste Maxentius an U­surper, whome he slewe: and afterwarde agaynste Lici­nus who named hymselfe Emperour, whome also he sub­dued. Many barbarous nations also were by hym discom­fited. He establyshed the Gospell in hys Empyre, and after hym all Emperoures were Christians. In the firste beginnyng of hys raygne, hée was worthye to haue bene compared wyth the beste and chiefest Princes of [Page 69] the Romaines that euer were: and at the ende thereof, to be resembled to such as were of the meaner sort. He was much giuen to purchase prayse and fame by feates of cheualrie: hée had good fortune in battaile, and yet not so good, but that his industrye excelled it farre.

After he had repressed the ciuill warres, he vanquished the Gothes in diuerse places: and wanne greate memorie of prayse among the Barbarians: He applyed himselfe wholly to the studye of the Liberal artes: he endeauored to gayne the loue of the people, through his well deseruings, séeking the same by his great liberalitie. The Cittie whiche he builte, he made it able to compare (in manner) with Rome it selfe. Constantinople And as he made prepation for battaile against the Parthians, he died at Nicomedia.

Eusebius writeth that Constantine was baptised firste in Eusebius. the last dayes of his life in Gracia, in the Cittie of Nicomedia, of the Bishoppe there.

Also Sozomenus & Theodoritus write, that he was bapti­zed Sozomenus. in his latter dayes a little before his death, when he wist he should dye, in the xxxj. yere of hys Empire.

He left behinde him thrée sonnes, to witte Constantinus Constans, and Constantius, to succéede him in the Empire. Theodoritus.

Helen y ^e mother of Constantine the great at Ierusalem foūd the Crosse on the which Christ suffered his passion, she repai­red the Citie of Ierusalem, and adorned it with manye fayre Churches. She builded walles aboute London and Colche­ster.

About this time Octauius whom Constantine had left go­uernour▪ Octauius. Simon Dunelmen­sis. in this Ilande, rebelled, against whom Constantine sent Traherne wyth a legion of Romaines, who (after diuerse conflictes) was slaine. Gratianus surnamed Funarius, was at this time gouernour of the Romaine legions here.

COnstantinus beganne his Empire and raigne ouer Bry­tain: 337 w ^t him his Father Constantine had appointed by his laste will, that hys two brethren Constans and Constantius shoulde participate and haue theyr portion of the Empyre, [Page 70] but not long after, when Constantinus attempted warre agaynste hys brother at Aquileia, and demeaned hymselfe vnaduisedlye therein, he was slayne, and then was the Empire reduced vnder the gouernement of the two brethrē only.

COnstans then ruled Brytain, which he administred with 340 greate iustice: but after when he fayled of hys health, he associated vnto him in stéede of friendes, euil desposed persōs to assist him, throughe whose euill counsell he declyned into horrible vices, by meane whereof, waxing scant tollerable of the inhabitantes of the prouinces, he was slaine by Mag­nentius who vsurped the Empire in France, Spaine, & Brytaine also as some write.

COnstantius then had the regiment of Brytaine, who sent 353 hither a Spaniarde called Paule, a notarie by profession, to bring out certaine men of warre whiche had conspired wyth Amianus. Magnentius: but he vpon false surmises grieuously molested the guiltlesse, fettering and manacling whome hée pleased. Martinus. Wherevpon▪ Martinus, then lieuetenant in Brytaine, being moued with compassion, desired hym to forbeare the harme­lesse: but he was so rigorous, that he also charged Martinus himselfe of conspiracie with Magnentius and was earnest to bring him before the Emperour: wherevppon Martinus dra­wing his sword s [...]it at him, and bycause he coulde not slaye him, he sodainely slewe himselfe, and Paule embrued with bloud, haled a gret company (linked in chaynes) to the Em­perours presence, which were eyther banished, executed, or attainted.

Constantius after this appointed Iulianus to gouerne Amianus Marcellinus. Gaule (or Fraunce) at whiche time greate spoyle was made in Brytaine by the Scottes and Pictes, wherefore Iulianus busied with warre against the Almains, sente Lupcinus hyther with an armye, in whose absence Iulianus vsurped the Empyre: whereof when Constantius hearde, he retourned from the warre (against the Parthians,) against Iulianus, and dyed in the way.

IVlianus (called the Apostata) began his raign ouer Brytain 362 & the Empire, a mā séen passing wel in the Liberal sciēces, but an earnest aduersarie of Christian religion: he banished Ammian [...]. Marcellinus. Palladius a gret and honorable person into Brytain, vpon a suspition: he sent Alipius who had bin lieuetenaunt of Bry­taine to repaire Ierusalem, but terrible flashes of fire issuing out of the Earth, when they layde the foundations, enforced them to leaue theyr purpose. This Iulian, with great prepa­rations made war vpon the Parthians, he spoyled Assiria, and retournyng from thence a conqueror, he was slaine by hys e­nimies, as he preased vnaduisedly into the battels. After him succéeded in the Empire Ieninian, and held it. ix. monthes.

VAlentinian was then chosen Emperor by the souldiours. 365 The Pictes, Scottes, Attacots, and Saxons, grieuously mole­sted the Brytaines. Nectaridius who had the charge of the Sea Marcellinus. coastes here, was slaine by them, and Bulchobandes a greate Captain was enclosed by them: wherfore after diuerse Cap­taines; Theodosius was sent hither, who discomfiting the [...] nimie, and recouering the spoyle, entred triumphantlye into London, and the next yeare wēt into the North, suppressed the enemies, recouered the prouince, and repaired Cities & for­tresses: hée oppressed Valentinus an Hungarian, who being ba­nished hither, practised new tumults, deliuering him to Dul­citus Dulcitus. to be executed, without any enquirie of his confederats, bycause he would not renew the tumult: whiche done, he re­turned to Rome. Shortly after Valentinian sente hither Frao­marins (which he before had ordayned king of the Buccenobats in Germanie) to be marshall of the Almaines whiche serued in Brytain. And not long after Valentinian dyed.

GRatian with his brother Valentinian was then created 375 Emporour. He to the entent he might better repaire the decayed state of the Empire, made Theodotius a copartener with him in it.

MAximus a valiaunt & worthy man was shortly after for­ced 383 here in Brytain to take the Empire vpon him, who passed into Fraunce, and immediately al the Germaine legions [Page 72] and Romaine souldiours reuolted vnto hym from Gratian, so that hée being destitute of men of warre, fledde to Lyons, where he was slayne by treason: for Maximus gaue out that Gratians wife was comming to hir husbande, whiche Grati­an intierly louing hys wife, lightlye credited, and therfore accompanyed wyth a few, wente forthe to méete hyr: but in the Coache where he supposed to haue founde hys wife, was Andragatius a desperate man, who leaping out of the Coache killed Gratian.

Then Maximus created his sonne Victor a Caesar, and Zozimu [...]. vsed some crueltie against Gratians Captaines. Valentinian being herewith terrifyed, sent S. Ambrose vnto him to treate a peace, which he accepted, and Theodotius permitted him to vse the title of Augustus. Then he setled himselfe at Trier in Sige [...]ertus. Germanie, empouerished the Countryes rounde about hym, executed certaine Hereticks called Priscillianists, and then en­tred into Italie, breaking the peace, and thought to haue inter­cepted Valentinian, but he with his mother fledde to Theo­dotius, and persuaded him to take reuenge of Maximus. In the meane time Maximus came to Aquileia, all Italie and Affrica submitted themselues vnto him, when sodainelye Theodotius comming from Constantinople, moued warre a­gainst him, corrupted his souldiours with brybes, and after one or two skirmishes enforced Maximus to flye to Aquileia, where his owne souldiours deliuered him to Theodosius, by whose commaundement he was shortly after beheaded. An­dragatius also who kept the Seas, vnderstanding this, drow­ned himselfe, and Victor the sonne of Maximus was slaine in Fraunce by Arbogustes. The Brytaines which serued him retourned into Fraunce, and setled them in the Countrey there, which is now called Brytaine, so was Brytaine recoue­red Giraldus. againe to the Romaines Empire.

Saint Vrsula, with the 11000. Uirgins, whiche were sente The. 11000. Virgins. Flores Historiarū. into Brytaine to be married to Conon and hys Knyghtes, were slaine and martyred of the barbarous people being on the sea. But, as some write, by Attila King of the Hu [...]es.

HOnorius, the sonne of Theodosius, succéeded in the Em­pire, 365 Bede. Pelagius Heresie. in whose time Pelagius, a Brytaine borne, disparckled the venome of his faithlesse Doctrine very farre abroade, holding, that a man might liue well without the help of the grace of God: vsing héerein the ayde of Iulianus of Campania, who was intemperately stirred with the losse of his Bishop­rike, to whome Saint Austen, and other Fathers also haue answered in most ample maner, but yet they would not be a­mended thereby, but being conuicted of their falsehoode, they rather would encrease it by defending and maynteyning it, than amend it by returning to the truth.

This time Marcus was chosen Emperoure by the Soul­dyoures L [...]zi [...]. in Brytaine, fearing the inuasion of the Vandales, but immediately they slewe him, and elected Gratianus, whome also they murthered within foure monethes.

Then Constantine, a Souldiour of base estate, onely vp­on confidence of his name, was elected héere Emperoure, who passing hence into France, with all the youth of Brytaine, gote all the men of warre there to take part with him. Ho­norius sent therefore Sarus to withstand him, who in a fough­ten field slew Iustinian, Constantines Captayne, and so pur­sued Constantine, that he made him take Valentia, wherein he sharply beséeged him, vntill Gerentias with his Brytaines, and Edebrichus with the francks raysed the séege.

Then Constantine fortifyed the Alpes, and Rhene with Garrisons, sent Constans his sonne (whome of a Monke he had made a Caesar) with a great Armie into Spayne, where he tooke, and afterward slew certayne noble personages a [...]lyed to Honorius, and returning to his Father, left Gerontius to gouerne Spayne. Constantius himselfe then craued pardon of Honorius for vsurping the Empire, saying, that he did it by compulsion, which when Honorius heard, he so wel liked, that he sent an Imperiall Roabe vnto him.

In these troubles, Brytaine was greatly endangered by Pictes and Scottes, and sued to Honorius for succoure, but he sending them only Letters, willed them to looke to their [Page 74] owne state. Shortly after Constance, that was Monke, was slayne by Gerontius his owne Captayne, at Vienna in France: and Constantine himselfe being beséeged at Arles by Honorius Souldiers, entred into holy orders, and fled into the Church, thinking thereby to saue himselfe, but was dra­wen out from thence, and slayne. Gerontius who had tray­terously killed his Maister, was besette rounde aboute with Nicephorus. Spanyards in his Lodging, wherefore he first slew Allanus his tryed friend, then Nunichia his wife, and lastly himselfe, and now Honorius recouered Brytaine. In his time (saith Beade) Beade. Rome was destroyed of the Gothes, the 1164. yeare after it was buylded: after which time the Romanes left to rule in Bri­taine, after almost 470. yeares, that Iulius Caesar first entered the sayd Ile. The Romanes dwelt within y ^e french, which as we haue sayd, Seuerus drew ouerthwart y ^e Iland at y ^e South part, which thing may appeare by y ^e Cities, Temples, Brid­ges, & paued stréetes to this day remayning, notwithstāding they had in possession, & vnder their dominiō y ^• farther parts of Britaine, and also the Ilands which are about Brytaine. By meanes (as is afore sayd) y ^e Romanes had vsed to trāsport with them ouer into France the floure of al the youth of Brytaine, to serue thē in their foraigne warres, their men of warre were consumed, & was not now able to defende thēselues against the inuasions of their enimies: wherevpon many yeares to­gither they liued vnder the oppression of two most cruel Na­tions, the Scottes, & Pictes, which were of y ^e circuite of Britaine, but deuided from the lande of Britaine by two armes of the Sea, running betwixt them, of the which one from the East Sea, the other from the Weast, runneth in farre and wide into the land, though they may one reake to the other. In the middle of the East créeke, there is a Citie builded called Guidi. Aboue the Weast créeke toward the right hand stan­deth a Citie called Alcluith, which in their language is as Alcluith. much to say, as the Rocke Cluith, for it standeth by a Floud of the fame name. The Britaines then being thus afflicted by the said nations, sent their Embassadors with Letters vnto [Page 75] Rome, with lamentable supplications, requiring of them ayd and succour, promising them their continuall fealtie, so that they would rescue thē against y ^e oppression of their enimies: wherevpon there was sent vnto them a legiō of armed soul­diers from Rome, which comming into the Iland, & encoun­tring with the enimies, ouerthrew a great number of them, & draue the rest out of the frontiers of the countrey, & so setting them at liberty, & frée from the miserie with which they were before so gréeuously ouercharged, counselled them to make a wall betwéene the two Seas, which might be of force to kéep out their euill neyghbours: and y ^t done, they returned home with great triumph. But the Britaines building y ^• wall which they were bid to make, not of stone as they were willed, but of turffe, as hauing none amōg thē that had skil therin, made it so slender, y ^• it serued thē to little purpose. This wall they made betwene y ^e two said armes or créekes of the Sea, many miles long, that where the fence of the water lacked, there by the help of y ^e trench they might kéepe their country from y ^• breaking in of their enimies, of which péece of worke, there remayneth euen vnto this day most assured tokens yet to be séene. This trench beginneth about two miles frō the mona­stery of Abercuring, in a place which in the Pictes language is called Penuahil, and in English is called Panwell, and running Penuahil. out Westward, is ended by the City of Alcluith. But the for­mer enimies, whē they had once perceiued y ^t the Romane Le­gion was returned home againe, forthwith being set on land by boates, inuaded the borders, ouercame y ^e countrey, & as it were beate downe all before thē: whervpon Embassadors be sent again to Rome, beséeching thē they would not suffer their miserable countrey to be vtterly destroyed. Againe, there is sent another legion, which cōming vpon a suddaine, made a great slaughter of y ^• enimies, & chased thē ouer into their own country. Then y ^e Romanes told the Britaines, y ^t it was not their ease to take any more such trauellous iourneys for their de­fence, and therefore bade thē to practise their armoure them­selues, and learne to withstand their enimies.

[Page 76]They builded vp a Wall of hard stone from Sea to Sea, right betwéene the two Cities, whiche there were made to kéepe out the Enimie, in the selfesame place where Seuerus before had cast his Trench with publike and priuate char­ges: the Brytaines also putting too their helping handes, they then builded it eyght foote broade, and twelue foote high, right as it were by a line, from East, to Weast, as it doth to this day appeare, which being perfected, they giue the people straight warning to looke well to themselues, they teach them to handle their weapen, and instruct them in warlike feates. Also by the Sea side Southward, where their Shippes lay at harbor, least their Enimies should land there aboutes, they made vp Bulwarkes along, one some­what distant from another, and this done, bid them farewel, Gildas Sapiens. as minded no more to returne. At this time almost all the treasure of Brytaine was hidde vnder ground, or transported ouer into France.

As soone as they were gone, the Scottes and Pictes hauing intelligence that they had made promise they woulde come no more, they taking heart of grace, returne agayne to their businesse: and first, all that was without the wall, they tooke for their owne. After that, they giue assault vnto the wall, where the Britaynes were with Graples pulled downe, and otherwise so assaulted, that they leauing both the Cities and the wall also, were dispersed and put to flight, the enimies following, killed and slayed more cruelly, than euer they did before, wherevpon being driuen out of their owne hou­ses, and possessions, they fall a robbing and spoyling one the other of them, so farre foorth, that all the whole Countrey was brought to that exigent, that they had none other suste­nance, but that they gote by hunting, and killing of wilde Beastes.

THeodosius the yonger, sonne of Arcadius, succéeded his 408 Uncle Honorius, and appoynted Valentinianus his Cou­sin, Emperour in the Weast partes.

At this time, Timotheus héere in Brytaine, vnder a pretence Sigebertus. [Page 77] of Religion, and great continencie, drew many into a dan­gerous Heresie.

Chrisanthus, the sonne of Byshop Martian, a Consull of Socrates Lib. 7. Italy, was made Uiceroy, and Lord Deputie of Britayne: he was afterward made Bishop of Constantinople.

Now the poore remnant of the Brytaines directed letters to Aetius, whereof this was the beginning: To Aetius thrice 446 Consull, the mourning of the Brytaines. In the processe of which Epistle, they thus set foorth their pitifull estate. The barbarous enimie driueth vs vpon the Sea: the Sea agayne vp­on the enimie: betweene these twayne riseth two manner of deathes, eyther we are killed or drowned And yet for all their suite, they could obtayne no ayde of hym, as he whiche had then both his hands full of businesse and battayle at home with Bleda and Attila, Kings of the Hunnes.

The Pelagian Heresies being brought in by Agricola, Pelagian Heresie. the sonne of Seuerianus, a Pelagian Bishop, about this time did fore corrupt the faith of the Brytaines, but the Brytaines bée­ing neither willing to receyue their lewde Doctrine, as blas­phenrous againste the grace of God, neyther able to refute their wilie and wicked persuasions, they deuised this whol­some counsell, to séeke for ayde of the Bishops of France, a­gainst these their spirituall enimies. And they calling a com­mon counsell, consulted among themselues, whome of them all it were best to send to help their neighbours fayth. By the assent of them all there was chosen two woorthie Prelates, Germanus Altisiodorensis, and Lupus, Bishop of the Citie Germanus and Lupus. Trecassa, whiche shoulde passe ouer into Britaine, to confirme them in the Faith, whiche with readie obedience, accepting the commandement of the Sinode, tooke shipping thither­ward, and had prosperous windes, which set them ashore in place where they themselues desired. Thither a great mul­titude of people being assembled, receyued the Priestes of God, and the word of God was preached by them, not onely in their Churches, but also in the open stréetes, and in the Countrey, in such sort, that in all places both the sound and [Page 78] faithfull were confirmed, and they that before swarued out of the right faith, were amended. The Authoures and head professors of this heretical error, lay lurcking all this while, and much spited to sée the people dayly to fall from them. Af­ter long aduisement vsed, they take vpon them to trie the matter by open disputation, which being agréed vpon, they come foorth richly appoynted, gorgeously apparelled, accom­panyed with a number of flattering fauourers. The people were present both to sée and iudge the matter. The parties were farre vnlike of condition: on the one side was the faith, on the other mans presumption: on the one side méekenesse, on the other pride: on the one side Pelagius, on the other Christ. First of all Germanus and Lupus gaue their aduersa­ries leaue to speake, which vaynely occupyed both the tyme and eares of the people with naked words, but after the re­uerend Bishops poured out their words cōfirmed with scrip­tures, out of the Gospels and Apostles. Thus the vanitie of Heretikes was conuicted, and falsehoode confuted, so that at Pelagians Heresie confuted. euery obiection, they were forced to confesse their errour, not being able to aunswere them: but after their departure, the Heresie began againe to reuiue. Wherefore Germanus returned into Britaine with Seuerus, banished the Heretiques with banishment, and restored the faith.

VOrtiger raigned in Brytaines, in whose time hunger more 447 Beade. preuayling against the Brytaines, droue many of them to [Page 79] yéeld themselues vnto the hands of their enimies. Other there were, which could neuer be brought therevnto, but from the hils and brakes where they lurked, many tymes inuaded their enimies, as trusting so much the more in the help of God, how muche the lesse hope they had of ayde of men, and by such meanes, first of all both resisted and ouer­threw them, which many yeares togither had liued by the spoyle of the Countrey, whereby for the time they drewe homeward with shame ynough, contending not long after to returne. The Pictes then, and long time after, kept them selues quiet at home, saue onely they would now and then make inuasions into the land, and driue away booties of Cattell. After that they drew to a quietnesse, there ensued such plentie of graine, as neuer was séene the like before, as farre as any man could remember, whereof the people grew to loose and wanton liuing, whereof all manner of lewde­nesse followed, specially crueltie, hate of truth, and loue of lying, in so much, that if any were gentler and more giuen to truth than other, the other would worke him all the hurt Riot and euill life the destru­ction of the Brytaines. and spite they could: this did not only the seculars, but also the Cleargie, and the heads thereof, giuing themselues ouer to drunkennesse, pride, contention, enuie, and such other, ca­sting from them the yoke of Christ.

In the meane season a bitter plague befell among them for their corrupt liuing, consuming in short time such a mul­titude of people, that the quicke were not sufficient to burie the dead: and yet for all that, the remnant remayned so hard­ned in sinne, that neyther their friendes death, nor feare of their own, could cure the morrein of their soules, which day­ly perished through their sinfull liuing: whereby a greate stroke of Gods vengeance ensued vpon the whole sinnefull Nation: for being now infested againe with their old neigh­bours the Scottes and Pictes, they deuised with themselues what was best to do, and where they might séeke reskue to withstand and repell the feare of the Northren nation: and they agréed all with their King Vortiger, to demand ayd of y ^e [Page 80] Saxons beyond the Seas, which thing doubtlesse (sayth Bede) was done by Gods owne appoyntmente, that the people mighte be thereby plagued, as by the ende it manifestly ap­peared.

The people of the English or Saxons, being sent for of the Saxons sent for into Brytaine. sayd King into Brytaine, landed héere in thrée long Shippes, and by the Kings commandement, are appoynted to abide in the East part of the Land. And the Isle of Thanet was gi­uen to them, they to defend the Countrey like friendes, but Wil. Malmesberie. in déede, as it proued afterwarde, minding to destroy the Countrey as enimies. Wherefore encountring with y ^e Nor­therne enimie, the Saxons had the better, whereof they sen­ding word home into their Countrey, as also of the fruite­fulnesse of the Land, the Saxons sente ouer a greater Nauie and number of men better appoynted for the Wars, which being now ioyned with the former band, drew to a stronger Armie than all the power of the Brytaines was able to ouer­come. These by the Brytaines were allowed a place to dwell among them, with that condition that they should warre for them against their enimies, for wages of the Brytaines. These Saxons, English, and Iuits, that came from beyonde the Seas, Beade. were thrée of the strongest nations in Germany. That is, the Saxons, English, and the Vites, or Iuites. Of the Iuites, came the people of Kent, and the Ile of Wight, and they in the prouince of Weast Saxons, are called of Iuites, right ouer against the Ile of Wight. Of the Saxons (that is of that Region now called old Saxons) descended the East Saxons, the South Saxons, and the Weast Saxons. Of the English, descended the Easte En­glish, the Mercies, and the Northumbers. The chiefe Captaines of the Saxons are sayd to haue bin two bréethren, Hingest, and Horsus: this Hingest prepared a great banquet, appoynting Wil. Malmesberie. his Daughter ( Rowan as some write) to attend at the table, to the ende she might delight the Kings eye as he sate: which thing was not done in vayne, for as the King was alwayes desirous to behold the beautie of Women, so was he straight wayes taken with the beautie and elegant behauiour of [Page 81] this mayden, and without farther delay, desired to haue hir to his Wife, and woulde compell hir Father to consente therevnto, who in his heart was willing ynough withall, but for a subtiltie sayd nay, alleaging that so base a mariage was not méete for the King, and holding himselfe as agrée­ued and not willing. All Kent was giuen him for a reward, to consent therevnto, in which countrey, all equitie and iu­stice was decayed, vnder gouernement of one called Gno­rongus, who notwithstanding was subiect vnto Vortiger, as all the rest of the Princes of the Iland were.

For the loue that Vortiger bare to Rowayne the Saxon, he was deuorced from his lawfull Wife, by whome he had thrée sonnes, for which déede, welnéere all the Britans forsooke him.

Vodine Archbishop of London, a man of singular deuotion Archbishop of London repro­ueth the King. and good life, by the aduise of Vortimer, wente to Vortiger, and sayd to him, that he had not done as a Christian Prince, in departing from his lawfull wife, and taking another wo­man, whose Father was an enimie to the Christian fayth, and also wente aboute to conquere the Crowne of Britaine: Then sayde Vortiger, I was not wise when I brought the Saxons to help me against mine enimies, but I was more vnwise, when I was taken with the mordinate lust of the daughter of Hengist: I knowe that mine Empire will bée terrible, except I repent me with spéede and turne to God.

Hengist hearing Vortiger make this lamentation, bla­med him, for that he beléeued the perswasions of a profane man, of fayned life (as he tearmed him) and forthwith slewe the good Archbishop Vodine, and many other Priestes, and Archbishop of London slayne. Religious persons. All the Churches in Kent were polluted with bloud, the Nunnes, with other religious persons, were by force put from their houses and goodes, and constrayned to polution of their bodies.

The Britaines considering the dayly repaire of the Saxons into this Realme, shewed to their King the ieoperdy that might thereof ensue, and aduertised him of the danger, but [Page 82] all was in vaine: for Vortiger, by reason of his wife, bore such fauoure to the Saxons, that he woulde in no wise heare the counsell of his subiects, wherefore, they with one minde de­priued him of his royall dignitio, when he had raigned sixe yeares, & ordeined to be their king Vortimere his eldest son.

VOrtimere pursued the Saxons, and by his martiall knight­hoode 454 fought against them foure battailes, besides diuers skirmishes, vntill at length he was poysoned by the meanes of Rowa [...]he his stepmother, after he had raigned vj. yeares.

The first battel, Hēgest & Horse fought with Wirtigerre (or Marianus Scotus. I loriacen. Wigor­nieu. Vortimer as others haue) was in a place called Aeglestrop, & notwithstanding that Horse was slayne in this battell, yet Hengest caried away y ^e victorie. The second battell Hengest & Eske fought with y ^e Britaines, in a place called Crecanford. Of the Britaines many perished by the sword, the rest of thē aban­doned Kent altogither, and with great feare fled vnto London.

The third battell Hengest & Eske fought with the Britans néere vnto a place called Weppedes fleete, that is to say, y ^e Fleete of Wepped, where they slew xij. Dukes or Captaynes of the Britaines, with many other, where as on the part of y ^• Saxons, there was one only man slaine, whose name was Wepped.

The fourth battell was fought by Hengest & Eske against the Britaines, who obtaining the victory gote an innumerable spoile, in whiche battell the Britaines fledde from the Angles.

VOrtiger obteined againe the Kingdome, and shortly after 460 Hengest, which was chased into the Ile of Thanet, entred the land with a number of Saxons, but when he hearde of the great assembly the Britaines had made against him, he treated W. Malme. for peace, which in fine was cōcluded. Shortly after Hengest (by a guile which before he had deuised) bid his son in law, & iij. C. of his Nobles vnto a feast or banquet, where when he The Barons of the Britaines slaine at a ban­quet. had ouerlaid his guests with ouermuch Wine, he fel to qua­relling, & with taunting talke, pinched euery one of thē, and straight fel to fighting, wherthrough the Britaines were slaine euery one. The King was taken prisoner, and forced to giue The King ta­ken prisoner. for his ransome, Kent, Sussex, Suffolke, & Northfolke. This mur­ther of the Britans, was on y ^t plaine of Salesbury. Then Hengest [Page 83] began his dominion ouer Kent, & Vortiger, fled into Wales, & Hengest King of Kent. builded there a Castel, of which building, & lōg let of y ^e same, and of his Prophet Merlin, Geffrey Monmouth, and others speake many things. Great cōpanies of y ^e Saxōs dayly flocked Beade. into this Iland, & grew so strong, y ^• the people of y ^• Countrey which sent for thē, stoode in great feare of their puissance, for those Saxons had taken league with the Picts, & began to turne their force vpō the Britaines: and to be short, the fire once kin­dled A miserable state of the Britaynes. in y ^t lands of the Paganes there, tooke iust reuenge of y ^• wickednes of the people, raging first vpō the Cities & Coun­trey next adioyning, after from the East sea to the Weast, o­uerwhelming all the whole Iland without resistance: both publike & priuate houses were ouerthrowne to y ^e groūd: the Priests were slaine standing at the altare: the Bishops with their flocke were murthered, without respect of their dignity, nor there was any that woulde bury the slaine: some of the miserable leauings being takē in the hilles, were there kil­led: other being sterued with hunger, were faine to créepe out of their caues, & buy their victuall at their enimies hāds with sale of their libertie for euer, if yet they were not killed out of hand: other fled ouer the Seas with an heauie hearte: other tarying stil in their coūtrey in feare of death, & lacke of foode, liued ful miserably in y ^e Mountaines, woods, & Cliffes.

Aurelius Ambrose, and Vther (bréethren of Constantine y ^t was before slaine in France) landed with a Nauie of Ships at Totnes, made war vpon Vortigerne, and buried him in his Castell in Wales, when he had secondly raigned vj. yeares.

AVrelius-Ambrose was ordeined king of Britaine, in whose time, the Britaines by little & little began to take strength 466 Beade. Wil. Malme▪ and courage vnto thē, comming out of their caues in whiche they lucked before, and with one consent, calling for heauēly help, that they might not for euer be vtterly destroyed, they had then for their Captaine a Romane, called Ambrosius Au­relius, a gentle natured man, which only of all the bloud of the Romanes remayned then aliue (his parents being slayne) whiche bare the name of King of the Countrey.

This man being their Captayne, they assembled them­selues [Page 84] togither, and prouoking the victors to the fighte, through Gods assistance atchieued the victorie, and from that day forward, now the men of the Countrey, now the e­nimie had the victorie, vntill the yeare that Bathe was besée­ged; where they gaue their enimies a greate ouerthrowe, which was about the xliiij. yeare of their comming into the land: but of this we shall speake more héereafter.

This Ambrosius caused the Churches to be repaired, Brute Booke. whiche had bin spoyled by the Saxons. He caused the greate Stonehenge be­sides Salesburie. Gadeasins Tilbe­riensis. stones to be sette on the playne of Salesburie, whiche is called Stonehinge, in remembrance of the Britaines that were slaine and buryed there in the time of Vortiger, at the banquet and communication of Hengist with the Saxons.

A Saxon named Cella, with his thrée sonnes, and a com­pany Kingdome of the South Saxons. Agar [...]a Scot. Brute Booke. of Saxons, landed in the South part of Britaine.

A Saxon named Porth, landed with his two sonnes, Byda and Meagla, at an Hauen in South-hamptonshire, after whome the Hauen is named Portesmouth.

The third Kingdome of the East Saxons, began in Britain, Kingdome of the East Angles. vnder Duke Vffa. Aurelius Ambrosius being poysoned, dyed when he had raigned 32. yeares, and was buryed at Stonehinge called Chorea Gigantum.

VTher Pendragon, so called, for that he caused alwayes a 498 Gafrid. Arbor Succes. Dragon to be borne before him in his battels, was crow­ned King of Britaine: he vanquished Otta and Oza at Wind­gate by Coquet Riuer. He was enamored vppon Igren, the Dukes Wife of Cornewall, and to obtayne his vnlawfull lust, made warre vpō hir husband Goilen, and slew him in battell at Duvilioc. On hir he begat Arthure. He raigned eyghtéene yeare, and was buryed at Stonhinge.

ARthure the sonne of Vther borne in Cornewall, at the age 516 of fiftéene yeares was crowned King of Britaine, as some say at Caerleon, other at Winchester: one old namelesse pam­flet saith at Cilicester, by Dubritius Archbishop of Legions. Nene [...]iu [...].

This Citie of Cilicester in British is called Caier segent, and was scituate néere Reading. It was so called, for [Page 81] that Constantius, the sonne of Constantine the great dyed Sea. Cr [...]. there: his Sepulture might once haue bin séene there besides the Citie, as the Letters engranen on it in stone did de­clare. He tooke to Wife Guinouer, Cousin to Cador Duke of Cornewall, and Daughter to the King of Biscay.

Of this King there be many fabulous reportes, but cer­tayne, Wil. Malmesbery he was a Prince (as Malmesberie saith) more worthy to haue aduancement by true Histories, than false Fables, being the only proppe and vpholder of this his Countrey.

In the beginning of his raigne, Lotho and Conradus his Aurea Histor. allies, enuying his prosperitie, made Warre against him, but he valiantlye vanquished them with their Pictes and Scottes, at his pleasure, and appoynted them a Gouernoure Sea. Cr [...] ▪ Neni [...]. named Anguisell. He fought twelue fieldes against the Sax­ons, and alwayes bare away the victorie, of whiche, the last was fought at Bath, where by his owne prowesse and man­hoode, he vanquished nine hundred. Afterward he raysed the Malmesberie. séege which the Saxons had planted about Lincolne, and slewe them in great numbers.

Thus hauing abated the rage of the Saxons, and reduced his Countrey to quietnesse, he constituted the order of the Round Table. round Table, into which order, he only receyued such of his nobilitie as were most renowmed for vertue and chiualrie. This round Table he kept in diuers places, but especially at Cairleon, Winchester, and Camalet in Somerset-shire.

There is yet to be séene in Denbigh shire, in the parish of Leyland. Llansanan, in the side of a stonie hill, a place compasse, where­in be foure and twentie seates for men to sit in, some lesse, and some bigger, cut out of the maine Rocke by mans hand, where children and yong men, comming to séeke their Cat­tell, vse to sitte, and play: they commonly call it Arthures round Table.

So hauing established all things well at home, he with his nobilitie made an expedition into Norway, where he at­chieued Norway subdued. sundry notable, and maruellous exploytes, and sub­dued the same, with all the Regions thereabout, to Russia, Leges S. Edwardi. [Page 86] placing the limite of his Empire in Lapland.

He caused the people of those Countreys to be Bapti­sed, and receyne the Christian Religion.

He also obtayned of the Pope to haue Norway confir­med to the Crowne of this Realme, calling it the Cham­ber of Britaine. Norway the Chamber of Britaine.

Then sayling into France, he forced Frolo (Gouernoure there for the Romaynes) to flighte, and afterward in Combate manfully slew him.

Shortly after, he addressed deadlye Warre againste Gaufridus. Lucius Hiberus, who claymed a Tribute of Arthure for Britaine, and had assembled greate powers to ouercome Ar­thure, but Arthure encountring with him, after a long and bloudye fighte, discomfited his Armie, killed him, and sente his body to the Senate of Rome for the Tri­bute.

While Arthure was thus valiantly occupyed in his warres beyond the Seas, and had conquered thirtie King­domes Flores Historiar. (such as they were in those days) Mordred to whome he had committed the gouernement of Britaine, confedera­ting himselfe with Cerdicus first King of the Weast Saxons, trayterously vsurped the Kingdome, of which treason, when Battayle at Douer. relation came to Arthure, he spéedily returned into Britaine, and at Richborow néere to Sandwich, gaue battell to him, and wanne the fielde. Anguisell of Scotland, Gawin and Ca­dor were there slayne: then pursuing him into Cornewall, gaue him battell there agayne by the Riuer of Alaune, of some histories called Cablan, where Mordred was slayne. Wal. Conu [...]. Mordred slayne. Ann. Glasco. And Arthure béeing deadly wounded, was conueyed to Glastenburie, where he dyed, and is buryed, after he had most victoriously gouerned this Realme sixe and twentie yeares.

COnstantine, kinsman to Arthure, and sonne to Cador

Duke of Cornewall, was ordeyned King of Britayne, and 542 B [...]te Booke. raigned thrée yeares.

[Page 87]Thys man was by the two sonnes of Mordred grée­nouslye vexed, for they claymed the Lande by the righte of theyr Father, but after many Battayles, they fledde, the one to London, the other to Winchester, whyche Cities they obteyned, and tooke them: but Constantine Mordreds chil­dren slayne. followed, and subdued, and tooke the foresayde Cities, and one of the yong men hée founde in an Abbey at London, and slewe hym néere the Aulter cruelly, and buried hym nigh Vter Pendragon, at Stonehinge. The o­ther Gildas. Arbor successio. young manne hée founde at Winchester, and slewe hym, flying into the Churche of Saincte Amphiba­lus.

Aurelius Conanus, a Britayne, raysed mortall warre a­gainst Constantine the King, and after sore fight slew him in the field, when he had raigned thrée yeares, and was buryed at Stonehinge.

A Vrelius Conanus, Nephew to Arthure, was Crowned 545 King of Britaine.

He cherished such as loued strife and dissention within his Realme [...] and gaue light credence to them which accused other, were it right or wrong.

He emprisoned by strength his Uncle, whiche was right heyre to the Crowne. He raigned thrée and thirtie Flores Historiarū. yeares.

The Kingdome of Northumberland began first in Britaine The fifth Kingdome of the Saxons. 578 Gildas. Gaufrid. vnder a Saxon named Ida.

VOrtiporus, the sonne of Conanus, was ordeyned King of Britayne, a vicious King, and cruell tyrant, who put from him his Wife, and kept hir daughter for his Conc [...]bine. In diuers battels he discomfited the Saxons. He raigned foure yeares.

MAlgo pulcher Canonus of Northwales, beganne his 581 raigne ouer the Britaynes, and gouerned them fiue yeares.

This Malgo was in proportion of body, greater than all the Dukes of Brytaine, but he delighted in the soule sinne of [Page 88] Sodomie. He slewe his first wife, and then tooke to wife his Gildas. owne brothers daughter.

CAreticu [...] began to rule the Brytaines. This man loued ci­uill 586 Warre, and was odible both to God and to his sub­iects. They moued the Saxons (being accompanied with Gur­mundu [...] King of Ireland) to make warre vpon Careticus, in such wise, that he was sayne to take the Towne of Cicester, where they assaulted him so sore, and fired the Corne, by ty­ing fire to the wings of Sparrowes, that he with his men fledde from thence into Wales: by whiche meanes, he lefte a great part of his dominion, and ended his life, when he had raigned thrée yeares. Sea. Cro.

This Gurmund burned vp the land of Britaine from Sea to Sea, and the more part of that Ile called Leogrea he gaue to y ^e Saxons. The Britaines gaue place, and fled into the Weast parts of Cornewall, and Wales. Theanus Archbishop of Lōdon, & Thadeocus Archbishop of Yorke, whē their Churches were al destroyed to the ground, they with their Cleargie fledde into Wales, & many of them into little Britaine. This plague came on the Britaines for their couetousnesse, cauine, and [...]echerie.

Gurmund builded Gurmondchester. Gurmunchester buylded. 61 [...] Paulus Diaconus.

CAdwane Duke of Northwales, was made soueraigne of the Britaines, who gaue strong battell to Ethelfride King of Northumberland, and forced him to intreate for peace: After which concord being made, they continued al their life time louing friends. He raigned xxij. yeares.

The Kingdome of the East Saxons beganne vnder Er­chenuin [...]s, Sixt Kingdome of Saxons. about the yeare of Christ, 614.

The Kingdome of Mercia, or middle England, began vn­der Seauenth King­dome of Saxons. 635 Penda▪ 626.

CAdwalin, the sonne of Cadwane, raigned ouer y ^e Britaines: he warred strongly vppon the Saxons, and made Penda King of Mercia. tributarie to him▪ He raigned xlviij. yeares, and was buryed at London, in a Church of S. Martine néere vnto Ludgate, whiche Churche was then new founded and buylded by the Britaynes, in Anno. 677.

CAdwalladar was ordayned king of the Brytaines, and 685 ruled only thrée yeares: he vanquished and slew Lothier king of Kent, and Athelwold king of south Saxons: and thē forsaking his kingly authoritie, he went to Rome, there to be christened, who after became a Monke, and was buried in S. Peters Church at Rome. He was laste king of Brytain. After which time the Brytaines were called Walshmen, whiche name was giuen them by the Englishmen, or Saxons, who vsed to call all men Walshmen, that be straungers vnto them.

NOw are we come to y ^e time wherin God (who for y ^e sins of the people translateth kingdomes) dispossessed the Brytaines of theyr auntient habitation, & rule of this land, who by the victorie of Saxons were enforced, eyther to mi­serable seruitude, or driuen into the Westerne partes of the Ile, now called Wales & Cornewall, (where they now in­habite,) or else to their countrymen the Brytains in France. But the Saxons enioying the fertile soyle of this Realme, parted it in processe of time into seuen kingdomes: Kent, Southsex, East-angles, East-saxons, Mercia, Northumberlād, and West-saxons, whych the learned call the Heptarchie of the Saxons, of which kingdomes, I purpose (for auoiding of confusiō) to treat seuerally, setting down the limits of these Countries, with the succession, actes, and ciuil battayles of their pettie Kinges, vntil the time that this Heptarchie, or gouernement of seauen, was reduced to a Monarchie, or re­giment of one.

HEngest the sonne of Widgils, the sonne of Victa, the son of Wecta, the first son of Wodē and Fr [...]a, was the first of the Saxons that made himself king of Kent, as before yée haue hearde, [...]yght yeares after his firste entring into thys Ilande in the yeare from Christes byrth 456. He raygned xxxiiij. yeres, & dyed honorably (sayth Marianus Scotus) but Peter de [...]kham and others say, that by the counsel of E [...]dad Bishoppe of Gloucester, Edel Duke of Glocester, caused hys Marianus, Petre de l [...]k [...]. Floria▪ Wigor. 490 514 536 562 heade to be cut of at Cones [...]orow.

ESke or Vske, succéeding his father Hēgest, raigned peace­ably. xxiiij. yeares.

¶ Otta sonne of Eske raigned. xxij▪ yeares.

¶ Ermericus the sonne of Otta raigned. xxv. yeres.

EThelbert the son of Ermericus had the gouernemente of that Kingdome, by the space of. liij. or after Beade. lvj. yeares. This Ethelbert in the beginning of his raigne W. [...]alme. being but a child, was troubled with warres on euery side, so that he coulde hardly defende his own coastes. In hys first battaile against Ceauline king of the Weste Saxons and Cuthe his son, he was forced to make his flighte into Kent, hauing two of his Dukes Oslaue and C [...]eb [...] ano slayne in a place called Vuibbadune▪ but when he came to more age, and was more cunning in warre, in short space he ouercame all the Kingdomes of the Saxons rounde aboute him, saue the Northumbers. And to the end he would haue acquaintance with forraine Princes, he made affinitie and alliance with the King of Fraunce by marrying of his daughter Berta, a Christian woman, to whom he permitted to vse the lawes and rytes of hir Countrey, and to haue a Bishoppe, whose name was Letardus, to remaine with hir, for hir better in­struction in the lawes of GOD. By thys▪ meanes the bar­barous and Heathen Saxons kéeping company with y ^• Frēch▪ and agrée to haue all one lawe and like customes: besides [Page 91] this, the chast and vertuous life of Letardus the Bishop, and the other French whiche came with the Quéene, chaunged the Kings minde vnto the knowledge of Christ, whereby it came to passe, that afterwards he did so sone giue place to y ^e preaching of Augustine. At thys time (saith Beade) the Bry­taines Beade. being at quiet, little regarding the stormes paste in theyr fathers dayes, and hauing respect onely to the present prosperous éstate in the which they then liued, were so set to breake all good orders of truth and iustice, that scante anye token or remembraunce thereof remayned, but onelye in a fewe, among many other of their doings, which their own Gildas. Historigrapher Gildas, doth lamētably set forth in writing, (he sayth of them thus) that they neuer toke care to preache the Gospel of Christe vnto the Angles and Saxons, which in­habited the land among them. But yet the goodnesse of God prouided for the sayde nation of the Angles, muche more worthy preachers, by whome they might be brought to the faith

POpe Gregorie moued of godly instinction in the hundred 596 Marianus. Floriacen. Beade. fortie and seuen yeare after the arriuall of the Angles in Brytaine, sent Augustine, Melitus, Iustus, & Iohn, with sun­dry other Monkes that liued in the feare of God, to preach the Gospell, to the nation of the Angles in Brytaine, whi­che Austē came into Brytaine. Ethelbert vvas the first Christiā King of the Saxons. landed in the Ile of Thanet, and were first receyued by E­thelbert king of Kent, whom they conuerted to the Christi­an Faith with diuerse of his people in the. xxxiiij. yere of his raigne: and king Ethelbert delaying no time, gaue vnto Augustine the Cittie of Canterbury, who furthered thus by the King, receiued at his handes an old Church, sometyme founded there by the faythfull Romaines, and dedicated y ^• same to our sauiour Jesus Christ, whiche since was called Saint Austins.

Augustine consecrated Melitus and Iustus Bishops, and Saint Augustins at Canterbury builded. appointed Melitus to preach vnto y ^• East Saxons, who wyth theyr King Sebert the nephew of Kyng Ethelberte, at the preaching of Melitus receyued the worde of lyfe. [Page 92] King Ethelbert founded the Church of Saint Paule in Lon­don. Saint Paules in London. S. Andrevves at Rochester builded. Iustus was made Bishoppe of Rochester, wher Ethelbert builded for him and his successours the church of S. Andrew. Augustine ordayned Laurence to succéede him in the Arche­bishopricke, and shortely after departed this life. Ethelbert raigned. lvj. yeares and was buried with Berta his wife at Saint Austens by Canterbury.

AThelboldus the sonne of Ethelbert, not onely refused the 616 [...]ayth of Christ, but also toke to wife his mother in lawe. He was oftentimes grie [...]ed with woodnesse and distraught, but by Laurence the Archbishop of Canterbury, he was con­uerted to leaue his Idolatrie and vnlawful sinne, and was turned again to the Faith. He founded the Priory of Fulke­stone in Kent, and raigned xxv. yeres.

ERcombert the sonne of Adbold by Emma his wife, hée 640 first suppressed the temples of the Idols, and bycause his people were giuen to excesse, commaunded a solempne fast of. xl. dayes long, to be obserued throughout all his King­dome, and raigned xxv. yeares.

About this time Henorius Archbishop of Canterbury de­uided his prouince into Parishes.

EGbert his sonne succéeded, whose quiet gouernement for 667 a long season was after defaced by the cruell murder of Ealbert, and Egelbright his cousins Germās, whom eyther W. Malme. he slewe himselfe, or procured to be slaine: he raigned nine yeares.

LOtharius succéeded his brother Egbert, who being assaul­ted oftentimes by Edrike the sonne of Egbert, in a cruel 674 fight was shot through with a dart, whereof he dyed vnder his Surgeons handes, when he hadde raygned thirtéene yeares.

EDricke the sonne of Egbert, within the space of two yeres 686 lost both life and Kingdome. After his death y ^• kingdome being sometime gouerned by vsurpers, and sometime by forreners, beganne to decay.

The Kentishmen, by casting of fire, did cruelly burne [Page 93] Moll the brother of Cedwal King of the West Saxons, and twelue of his Knights with him: wherewith Cedwal being moued to fury, did miserably harry and spoyle all Kent, so that by the space of sixe yeares, there was no King in that Country.

VVIthredus the sonne of Egbert purchasing peace wyth 698 money, was then established king, in which state he behaued himselfe very honorably, both in peace and warre. He founded the Priory of Saint Martin at Douer, and raig­ned xxxi [...]j. yeres, with whō king Swebhearde raigned ioynt­ly in one part of his kingdome.

EDbert the sonne of Withred walked in his fathers ordi­naunces, 731 and had like successe, and raigned thrée & twen­tie yeare.

EDelbert his brother succéeded, in whose time the Citie of 754 (Canterbury as is to be thought) was burned by chance: he raigned. xj. yeares.

ALricke the thirde sonne of Withred ruled Kent after hys 765 brethren, and was vanquished in a fought field againste the Mertians: he raigned xxxiiij. yeares.

EDelbert or Egbert otherwise called Pren, thē vsurped the kingdome, and leauyed warre against the Mertians, by 799 whom he was taken prisoner, and not long after resisted, but the Kentishmen woulde not receiue him, Cuthred then vsurped, & bare a title of a Kentish king for the space of. viij. yeares.

BAlbrede then toke on him Princely dignity, but Egberte 807 Kyng of West Saxon so discomfited him in battayle, that hée fled and forsoke hys Kingdome, when he had raig­ned xx. yeare, whereby thys kingdome of Kent was vnited to the Kingdome of the West Saxons.

AEle the eight from Woden, with his thrée sonnes, Cimē 478 Plencing, & Cissa, came into Brytaine with. itj. ships, & landed in a place called Kimenesore, & there slew many of the Brytaines, and forced the rest to make their flighte into a woodde whiche is called Andredsleage. Afterwarde fighting wyth the Brytaines in a place néere vnto Marerodes burne, slew many of them, and put the reste to flight. Then he and Cissa his sonne after long siege, brake into the Citie of An­dreds Cester, and slewe the inhabitantes from the greatest to the smallest, and so beganne the Kingdome of Southsex: hée raigned. xxxvj. yeares.

CIssa hys sonne succéeded, he builte the Citie of Chiche­ster, 514 and named it after hys owne name, he raygned lxxvj. yeares.

EThelwulfus (whom Bede nameth Edelwach) was christe­ned 590 Eeade. First Christened King in South­sex. in the prouince of the Mercies, in the presence and at the exhortation of King Wulfhere, who also at the font was his godfather, and in signe of that adoption, gaue him two prouinces, that is to saye, the Ile of Wight, and the prouince of Manures, in the West part of England.

Wilfride the Bishop came to the prouince of the South-Saxons, vnto them did he minister the worde of Faith, by the permission and gret reioysing of the King. This Bishop Christened the chiefe Lordes and Knightes of the Coun­trey: and the rest of the people at the same time, or sone af­ter were Christened by other Priestes. The Quéene Ebba was christened in hir Ile, which was in the prouince of the Vicctans: for she was the daughter of Eanfride, who was Eanheres brother, whiche were both Christian men, and all their people. But al the prouince of South Saxons had neuer before that time hearde of the name of God, nor the faith.

[Page 95]This Wilfride preached the Gospell, and not onelye deliuered the people from the perill of damnation, but also from an horrible moraine of temporall death. For in thrée yeares before, it had not rayned in all those quarters, whereby a famine destroyed the people by heapes, in so­much that diuerse tymes fortye or fiftie in a companye, bée­ing famished for hunger, woulde goe togyther to some rocke or Sea bancke, and caste themselues all downe, eyther to be killed with the fal, or drowned in the Sea: but on the same day they receyued Baptisme and Faith, there fell a plentifull shoure of rayne, wherewith the Earth flou­rished againe.

Thys Bishop also taught the people there to get their sustenance by fishing.

Edilwach gaue vnto Byshoppe Wilfride the lande of fourscoure and seauen tenements, where he might place his companye, the name of the place was Seolesey. In thys Selsee Monesta­rie in Southsex. place he founded a Monasterye, to be hys Episcopall Sea.

CEadwall a valiaunt yong manne of the Weaste Sax­ons, being banished from hys Countrey, came wyth an hoste of men and slewe King Edilwach, wasted that prouince, cruelly murdered and spoyled euery where. Edil­wach raigned. xxv. yeares.

And soone after Ceadwall was driuen out by two Cap­taines of the Kings, Bertham and Anthun, which from that tyme dyd holde and kéepe the Dominion of that pro­uince: the chiefe of whyche two, was afterwarde slayne of the same Ceadwall, (being then King of the Weast-Saxons,) and the prouince subdued: and the latter was slaine by Ina.

VFfa the eight frō Woden, first king of East Angles, raig­ned 492 vij. yeares.

¶ Titulus raigned. xx. yeares. 499

REdwaldus the tenth from Woden, as men write: this is he that for the fauour of Edwin, killed Edelfride king of 519 W. Malme. Northūberland. The same Redwalde was by y ^• perswasion of Edwyne baptised, but after by his wiues coūsel he fell frō the fayth agayn, but his sonne Dorwaldus in pure and vn­corrupted Christianitie was slaine by the heathen Roch­bert. Redwaldus raigned xxv. yeares.

¶ Gerpenwalde raigned xij. yeares. 554 566 East Angles baptised.

SIgebertus being broughte vp in Fraunce, when he fled the enmitie of Redwald, was there baptised, wherevpon after his retourne comming to the Crowne of the East Angles, and desiring to followe the godly order whiche he had séene in Fraunce, set vp a Schole to bring vp children, by the helpe and ayde of Byshop Felix, whom he toke out of Kent for that purpose, appointed them maisters and teachers, after the manner of Kentishmen.

This Felix [...]orne in Burgonia, was made Bishop of Dun­mock, Falix Bishoppe of Donwich. now called Donwich, an auntiente Citie, sometime of great fame, gouerned by a Maior and thrée Baylifes, nowe soare decayed and wasted by the Sea: he satte Byshop xvij. yeares and was buryed at Ramsey.

Sigebert renounced the world and became a Monck, and left his Kingdome to his kinseman Egricke, with whom hée (being assaulted of Penda King of the Mercies) ioyned him­selfe in battayle and was slaine.

ANna the sonne of Guido, succéeded Egrieks, and was lyke­wise slaine by the furie of Penda. Etheldred daughter to Anna, founded the Churche of Saincte Peter in the Isle of Ely Minster founded. Ely. Anno. 674.

Athelhere brother to Anna succéeded, and bothe he and Penda were slaine by Oswinus Kyng of the Northumbers, and that deseruedly, bycause he hadde ayded Penda against his owne brother, and his kinsman.

Adelwaldus hys brother succéeded hym with like fortune, and left the Kingdom to Aldulfus, Elohwoldus and Hisber­na, sonnes of the same Athelhore.

Etheredus succéeded him.

EThelbertus his sonne, whome Offa Kyng of Mercies de­ceitfully 790 slewe: he was buryed at Hereforde.

Uery few men of might did raigne after him in East-An­gle, by reason of the violence done by the Mercians, vntill S. Edmond.

EDmonde raigned xv. yeares, in whose time Hinguar and 870 Hubba began Danes, entring the Prouince of the Nor­thumbers, raged ouer all the same, and made great spoiles. Hinguar hauyng gotten a great pray, left Hubba, and wyth Asserius. his nauy sayled into East-Angle, & arriued at a certaine Citie thereof vnawares to the Citizens, sette it on fire, and slue Albo Florica censis. both man, woman and childe. This wicked Hinguar tooke Edmonde King of that Prouince, in a Uillage then called Heglisdune, neare to a Wood bearing the same name, where this holy Edmond being constant in the Christian Faith, was first by the Pagans beaten wyth battes, then scourged King Bdmund cruelly marty­red by the Danes. with whips, he still calling on the name of Iesus: hys aduer­saries in a rage shotte him ful of Shaftes, and then smote off his heade: after whiche time the Angles ceased to raigne in the East-Angle, but the same was possessed by Danes, til a fif­tie yeares after, that Edward the sonne of Etheldred did ex­pulse the Danes, and ioyned that Prouince, and also the East-Saxons, to hys Kingdome of the Weast-Saxons.

ERchenwine, the eighte from Woden, from whome all the Saxons deriued their genealogies, first erected this Coun­trey 527 to a Kingdome, which neuerthelesse he held as Feoda­rieto the kings of Kent, who were as yet the very soueraines of the whole country frō Thamis to Humber. And as we haue specified, Vortiger yéelded season to Hēgest for his deliuery, [...]eade. when y ^• Péeres of the Brytains were slain on Salisburie playn, and he taken prisoner.

SLedda the sonne of Erchenwine, succéeded his father in the 587 gouernement, and to establishe the state more sure, marri­ed Ricula the daughter of Ermenrich King of Kent, and en­ioyed hys gouernemente so quietly, that he ministred small matter to Historiographers.

SEbert the sonne of Sledda by Ricula, ruled this kingdome 602 after his father. The seconde yeare of hys raigne, by the perswasion of Ethelbert hys vncle, and preaching of Mile­tus first Byshoppe of London, he embraced Christianitie, and was baptised by Miletus, and (immediately to shewe him­selfe a Christian,) builte a Churche to the honour of Saint Peter, on the West side of London, in a place, whiche bycause it was ouergrowen with Thornes and enuironed wyth Waters, the Saxons at that time called it Thorney, and VVestminster built. nowe of the Monasterie and West scituation is called West­minster.

In this place long before was a Temple of Apollo, (as Sulcardus writeth,) whyche being ouerthrowne wyth an Earthquake, Eucius builte a Churche for the Christi­ans, [...]ulcard [...].

[Page 99] Sebert (when he had raigned thirtéene yeres) dyed, and was entombed in the Church which he builte, with his wife Acthelgod, whose bodies many yeares after, in the the time T. Walsingham. of Richarde the seconde, were translated from the olde Churche to the newe at Westminster: and there enterred.

SErred, Sewarde and Sigbert, sonnes of Sebarte, ioyntly (as it séemeth) then ruled Eastsex▪ men wickedly giuen, irre­ligious, 616 and deadely enemies to the Christian profession: who presumed contemptuouslye to the Table of the Lords Supper, beyng not Baptised: and bycause Miletus woulde not permitte them to be partakers of the Christian Sacra­mente, they expelled hym from his Sea at London, but short­ly after Serred encountring with the West Saxons, was slaine with both his brethren by king Kinegls.

SIgebert surnamed the little, sonne of Sewarde succéeded in this kingdome, and lefte the same to Sigebert his kins­man.

SIgebert sonne to Sigebalde, brother to Sebert, then ruled in Eastsex, he by the perswasion of Oswy King of Northum­bers, [...]eade▪ abandoned all superstition, and became a Christian, and toke an holye manne Ced wyth hym, who did mighti­ly beate down errours, & wan many by preaching the Chri­stian religion in his Dominions, wherevpon Ced was by Finan consecrated Bishoppe of the East Saxons, and then pro­céeded with more authoritie in hys functiō, ordering Priests and Deacons in all places of Essex, but especially at Ithance­ster, and Tilberie.

Thys Cittie of Ithancester, stoode on the bancke of the riuer Pante, that runneth by Maldune in the hundered of Dansey, but now that Citie is drowned in Pante, so y ^t nothing remaineth but the ruines of the Citie in the sayde riuer. Tilbery standeth on the Thamis side. Ralph Cogshal▪

In y ^• good procéedings of King SIGEBERT, he was slain by a kinsman of his owne, vpon none other occasion, but for that he vsed too muche clemencie towardes his enimies, as [Page 100] the murtherers themselues confessed.

Swidhelin sonne of Sexbald, succéeded then in this regimēt, who was baptized by Ced in Rendlesham in East-Englande.

Sigher then ruled with Sebba, whyche Sebba became a Monke, and is buried at Saint Paules in London.

Sigehard then raigned.

Erkenwald Bishop of Eastangle founded the Monasteries of Chartesey in Surrey, and Barking in Essex. Anno. 677.

Seofride nexte successiuely, of whome I finde nothyng re­corded.

Offa the sonne of Sigher then ruled this Prouince, he en­larged with building, and enriched with landes the Church Rich▪ Cices [...]. of Westminster, and then forsaking hys wife, landes, kinne and Countrey, he went to Rome with Kenrede King of Mer­cia, and there in a Monkes coule ended this life, leauing Sel­red to rule his Countrey.

SElred (whom other call Colred) peaceably after Offa raig­ned 718 Ri. Grincastri. 748 in Essex thirty yeares, and at length was slaine.

SVthred after Selred was slayne, raigned in Eastsex: but Egbert King of the Weast-Saxons, the verye yeare that he conquered Kent, subdued also this Suthred, and annexed Essex to hys Kingdome: yet London with the Countrey confi­ning about it, came not in subiection to the Weast-Saxons, but obeyed the King of Mercia, as long as that Kingdome conti­nued.

Sigehricke and Sigehard afterwarde aspired to the King­dome of East Saxon, but with no good successe.

CReda (the eleuenth from Woden) firste King of the Mer­cies, 586 raigned ten yeares.

¶ Wibba his sonne raigned. xx. yeares. 596 616 626 W. Malme.

¶ Ceorlus his sonne raigned. x. yeares.

PEnda the sonne of Wibba, a manne actiue in warres, but franticke and most wicked, toke on him the kingdome of the Mercies, when he was fiftie yeres old: he shooke the Ci­ties, and disturbed the borders of the kings, that were hys owne Countreymenne borne: he slewe Edwin and Oswald, kings of Northumberlande, (where Oswald was slaine is nowe scituate the town of Oswalstre, which of him toke that name,) he also slew Sigebert, Egfride, and Anna, kings of the East Angles, which all were of holy life and conuersation: hée banished Kenewallus king of West Saxons, but in the ende himselfe was slaine by Oswyn which succéeded Oswald hys brother, when he had raigned. xxx. yeares.

PEda the sonne of Penda succéeded in part of the Kingdome 656 W. Malme. being preferred by the gift of Oswin, whose daughter hée had taken to wife, on condition he shoulde embrace Christi­anitie and forsake Idolatry. This Peda was the first foūder of Medeshamsted, now called Petarborow. Through y ^t treason Peterborow founded. of his wife he dyed sodainly, when he had raigned after hys Father. iij. yeares.

OSwine toke the Kingdome, but he raigned there onely 659 thrée yeares.

VLferus brother to Peda, earnestlye preferred Christiani­tie 662 whych hys brother had begonne, but he was the first (sayeth W of Malmesbery, that throughe the sinne of Simony sold the Byshoprick of London vnto Wyna. He raigned. xvij. yeares.

EThelred brother to Vlferus succéeded in the kingdome of 676 Bishops sea [...] VVorcester. the Mercians: hée obtayned a Byshoppes Sea to be in the Citie of Worcester▪ Bosellus was firste Bishoppe there: Egwi­nus was the second. This Egwinus, by the helpe of Kenredus King of Mercies, founded the Monasterie of Euesham, in a Ex Carta. place then called Eouesham, of the shepherdes fielde and Euesham. house, purchased by the saide Bishop. The towne in the Sax­ons time was called Hotheholme. Aboute the same time two Liber Tewks. noble men named Odo and Dodo founded the Priorie of Tewkesbury. Monastery of Gloucester. Inscriptiones Gloucestriae. Tewkesburie. Also Osricke duke of Gloucester founded the Mo­nasterie of Gloucester then since the same is a Bishops Sea.

Etheldred became a Monke at Bardoney, when he had raigned xxx. yeares.

KInredus sonne to Wolferus, in the fifth yere of his raigne 706 went to Rome, and became a Monke.

CElred the sonne of Ethelred, who as he was maruellous 710 in prowes against Ina of the West Saxons, so was he mi­serable by vntimely death, for he rained not past. viij. yeres, and was buried at Lichfielde.

EThelbalde raigned in continuall peace many yeares, and 718 Chronicle of Ho­lande. Ro. Mai. Epistle of Boni­face to Ethelbald. then by the procurement of Beruredus, was slaine of hys own subiects. Unto this Ethelbald, Boniface, y ^e secōd Bishop of Verche in Holland, after Archbishop of Mens vpon the Rijne, an English māborn, who was afterward martyred, sent an Epistle, of the whiche I will here sette downe a péece to be séene, for that it sheweth partlye the state of that time, and serueth for example in time to come.

TO his most deare Lorde, and to be preferred in the loue of Christ aboue all other kings of England, Edbaldus, Boniface Archbishoppe, the Germaine legate, perpetual helth of charitie & loue in Christ. We acknowledge before God that we did reioyce to heare of your prosperitie, your Faith and good workes: and we be sory when we heare any thing that goeth against you, eyther in successe of warre, or in dan­ger of your soule, for we haue heard, that you forbid thefte and robbery, that you loue peace, defende the widowe and [Page 103] the poore, for the which we giue God thanks: but in that you refuse lawfull marriage, which if it were to the preferring of chastitie, it were cōmendable: and sith you wallow in lea­cherie and adultery with Uirgins consecrate to God, it is both shamefull and damnable, for it doth confounde your renowme, bothe before God and man, placing you among Idolators, bicause you violate the temple of God. Wherfore my deare sonne repent, and remember how filthy a thing it is, that thou who by the gifte of GOD raygnest ouer so many nations, shouldest to the great displeasure of GOD, make thy selfe a bonde slaue to thyne owne fleshly lust. Wée haue hearde also that the more parte of noble men and peo­ple of the Mercians, by thyne euill example haue left theyr lawfull wiues, and haue defiled the wiues of other, and also Uirgins, whiche howe farre it differeth from all good order and honestie, let the lawes of straunge nati­ons touche you: for in the auntient Countrey of the Saxons (where was no knowledge of God) if eyther a mayde in hyr fathers house, or being married to an husband, were become an aduoutresse, she shoulde be strangled by hir own hande closed to hyr mouth, and the corrupter shoulde be hanged Aduoutry amōg the Infidels pu­shed by death. vpon the pitte where the aduoutresse was buryed. If shée were not so vsed (hyr garmentes being cutte awaye downe to the gyrdle-stéede) the chaste matrones dyd scourge and whip hyr, and pricke hyr wyth kniues, and so was sent from Towne to Towne, where other freshe and newe scour­gers or whippers did méete and whippe hir, vntyll they hadde killed hyr. Likewise the Womedeans, who are the moste vncleane kinde of people, hadde thys manner of vsage wyth them, that the husbande beyng deade, the wo­man togyther wyth the deade bodye shoulde caste hyr selfe headlong into the fiered stacke or pile of woodde prepared for the burning of theyr bodyes. If therefore the Gentiles (not knowing GOD) hadde so greate zeale to chastitie, howe muche the more (my deare sonne) it is to be required at thy handes, who arte a Christian and a King. Haue [Page 104] therefore compassion of thyne owne soule, and spare the greate number of people, that by thy Fatherlye▪ exam­ple yet may beware to offende God, for whose soules thou shalt giue an accompte. Consider also, that if the Englshe nation, despising lawfull matrimonye, doe encrease by ad­uoutrye, (as the Frenche men, Italians, and also the verye Pagans do caste in our téeth and vpbrayde vs withall,) of suche coniunctions and copulations, shall spring vppe a peakishe dasterdely people, which shall despise God, & wyth theyr wicked qualities vndoe the Countrey, as it came to passe to the Burgundians, the people of Prouance, and the Spaniardes, whom the Sarazens haue many yeares assaulted for theyr sinnes whiche in times past they had committed. Besides this, it is told vs, that you take away priuileges of Churches, and thereby giue euill example to your noble men to do the like, but I praye you remember howe terri­ble vengeaunce God toke vppon the Kings your predeces­sours, whiche committed suche offences as we rebuke you for.

A wicked spirit came vpon Colredus your predecessoure, whiche was a defiler of Uirgins, and a breaker of ecclesia­sticall Priuileges, for sitting royally among his barrons at a dinner, the Diuell plucked away his soule without confes­sion of his sinnes. The Diuell also drewe in suche a rage. Osredus king of the Northumbers, whiche was guiltie of the same crimes, that with a vile death he loste both kingdome and life in his lusty yong age. Also Charles king of Fraunce whiche ouerthrewe Churches, and altered the Churche money to hys owne vse, was consumed with a long tormēt and fearefull death. It followeth therefore my deare belo­ued sonne, that with Fatherlye and earnest prayers we be­séeche you that you will not despise the Counsel of your Fa­thers which diligently do admonishe your highnesse, for no­thing is more commodious to a good king, than willinglye to amend such faultes when he is warned of them, as Salo­mō sayth, who so loueth discipline, loueth wisdome: therfore [Page 105] my déere son, declaring our aduice, we beséech you by the li­uing God, by his sonne Jesus Christ our Lord, and by hys holy spirit, that you will remember how transitorie this present life is, and howe shorte and momentane the plea­sure of this filthie fleshe is, and how vile and shamefull a thing it is, that man shall leaue euill examples vnto his posteritie for euer: beginne therefore to frame your life in better wayes, and amend the errors of your youth, that you may obtayne prayse with men in this life, and eternall glo­rie in the life to come: we wish your Highnesse well to fare, and to encrease in all goodnesse. Ethelbald was slayne at Secgeswald, and was buryed at Hrependune.

BEraredus the murtherer of Ethelbald, did nothing worthy 749 to be remembred, but being straightway slayne by Offa, had an end méete for a Traytour.

OFfa, Nephew to Ethelbald succéeded: he ioyned battayle 749 with Kineulfus King of the Weast Saxons, and gote the victorie. He sent for Ethelbert King of the East Angles, pro­mising great things by flatterie, but when he had got him to his Palace, he caused him to be beheaded, and then vn­iustly inuaded the Kingdome of the East Angles.

He caused the reliques of S. Albon to be taken vp, and Vita Alboni. S▪ Albons builded put in a Shrine aborned with golde and precious stones, and builded there a princely Monasterie.

He founded the Abbey of Bathe.

He translated the Archbishops Sea to Lichfield.

He made a dike betwéene Wales and the Kingdome of Offa Dike. the Mercies, which ditch extendeth by South from the parts about Bristow, ouer the Mountaynes of Wales, and so North toward Flint, and vnder a hill of coale, euen to the mouth of Dee, or the North Sea. He raigned xxxix. yeares, and dyed at Oflay, and was buryed in a Chappell which then stoode on Offlay. the bancke of the Riuer Ouse, without the Towne of Bedford.

EGbertus or Ecfride his sonne, raigned one yeare. Alquine Alquine. writte to Osbert of the Mercians, that the noble yong Ec­fride dyed not so soone for his owne faultes, but bycause his [Page 106] Father was a great sheader of bloud. Plae [...] A [...]inus. 789 W [...]l. Malme.

KEnulfus, Nephew in the fifth degrée vnto Penda, warre [...] on the Kentish Saxons punished their Country very sore, and caryed away bound their King Egberthus, but not long Winchelcomb founded. after, when he had builded a Church at Winchelcomb▪ on the day of dedication therof, he deliuered him, declaring a wor­thy Bishops Sea a [...] Hereford foun­ded. example of clemencie. He founded the Church of S. E­thelbert in Hereford and raigned xxiiij. yeares.

KEnelmus sonne to Egbertus a child of seauen yeares, was 813 innocently slayne by his Sister Quenda, whereby he ob­tayned the name of a Martyre.

CEolwulfus, brother to Kenulfus, raigned one yeare, and 820 was expulsed by Bernulfus.

BErnulfus in the third yeare of his raigne, was ouercome 821 by Egbertus King of Weast Saxons at Elyndune.

LVc [...]us after he had raigned two yeares, was oppressed 824 by the East Angles.

VVIthlasnus being at the first subdued by Egbirth raig­ned 826 xiij. yeares, paying to him and his son a tribute.

BErthulfus raigned xiij. yeares, in the same estate, till at 839 W. Malme. the last he was chased beyond the seas, by the sea rouers of Denmarke.

BVrdredus paying the Tribute, enioyed the same twenty 852 yeares, and then he being deposed, and driuen out of his Coūtrey, fled to Rome, and there was buryed at the English schole. Then that kingdome was by the Danes deliuered to Geolwolfus and in few yeares after that, Alfred y ^• Nephew of Egbirth gate it. So the kingdome of the Mercies fel away in the yeare of Christ. 875.

IDa▪ the ninth frō Beldegius, and the tenth from Wodden, 547 continued fourtéene yeares in the Kingdome of Deires.

Ae [...]la his successor of the same kinded, but by another 559 line, strongly aduanced his Kingdome thirtie yeares.

In his time, children of Northumberland were caryed to be solde in the Market at Rome, where when the Citizens beheld them, and wondred at their comelynesse and beautie of face, amongst other, Gregory the Archdeacon of the Apo­stolicall seate being one, asked of what Nation they were, vnto whome it was answered, that they were the children of Englishmen, of the prouince of Deires, and subiect to Alla their King, but were Painims, wherevnto Gregory sayd, they shall be taught to sing Allelu [...]a there, during the raigne of Alla ouer the Deires.

ADda the eldest sonne of Ida raigned vpon the Bernitians seauen yeares:

¶ Elappea fiue yeares:

¶ Theodwald one yeare:

¶ Frethulfe seauen yeares:

¶ Theodrike seauen yeares:

[Page 108]¶ Aethelfride two yeares, and all in the life of Bernitianus.

AEThelrike, the sonne of Ida, raigned in both prouinces of 582 Wil. Malme. Deirie and Bernicia fiue yeares.

EThelfride, brother to Ethelricus, made greater spoyle of Marianus. Floriacensis. the Britaines, than all the other Kings of the Angles, and vnpeopled and subdued more of their Countreys, and made the same tributarie and habitable for Englishmen: where­fore Aadan King of the Scottes being greately moued with his happie successe, came against him with a mighty Army, but was ouercome and put to flight of a few Saxons, whiche battell was fought by Ethelfreth, in a place called Degsastan, in the eleuenth yeare of his raigne, and in the first yeare of Phocas the Emperoure.

This King also long after this time, leuyed a newe po­wer, and according as Augustine the Archbishop of Canter­bury had before spoken, marched toward the Citie of Legi­ous, which of the Britaines is called Cairlegion, and there first slew 1200. Monckes, assembled to make prayer vnto God, 1200. Monkes slayne. for the good successe of their Souldioures in the battell: and afterward he ouerthrewe the whole power of the Britaynes host. He was slayne by Redwall King of the East Angles in a battell néere vnto a Riuer whiche is called Idle, in the yeare of Christ 616. when he had raigned xxvij. yeares.

EDwyne succéeded and droue out the seauen sonnes of 617 First Christian King of Nor­thumberland. Marianus. Floriacen. Wi. King Ethelfride.

In Anno 626. Paulinus being the thirde Bishop of Ro­chester, was constituted by Iustus then Archbishop of Canter­burie, to be Bishop ouer the Northumbers, and sente by Ead­bald to Edwine the King of that nation, with his Wife, be­ing the daughter of King Ethelbert, and sister of the sayde King Eadbald.

A certayne desperate fellowe, named Eomer, was sente vnto King Edwine, by Guicheline King of the Weast Sax­ons, who came vnto him on Easter day, and hauing a naked weapen vnder his garment, assayled the King, but Lilla his seruant thrust himselfe before y ^e stroke, yet notwithstanding [Page 109] the Kyng was with that stroke wounded throughe the bodye of his faithfull seruaunt.

The same night the Quéene his wife was deliuered of a daughter, whyche vppon Whitsondaye nexte after, was the firste that was baptized of Paulinus the Byshop, and named Eanfleda.

In the yeare of Christ. 628. Edwine, the most mighty king of the Northumbers, and his people, receiued the word of God, at the preaching of Paulinus the Bishoppe: this was done in the xj. yeare of hys raigne, and in the 230. yeare after the ar­riuall of the Angles in Brytaine.

Edwine gaue vnto Pauline a Byshops Sea in the Citie Cathedrall Church of Yorke founded. of Yorke, and began the Cathedrall Church of S. Peter there, whiche Church was after finished by King Oswald his suc­cessor, after this, in encreasing of the Christian Faith and heauenly kingdome, his earthly possessions did wonderfully encrease, for he first of al the Angles broughte Brytaine wholy vnder his subiection, sauing the Kingdome of Kent.

Edwine in the xvij. yeare of his raigne, and xlviij. of hys age, was slaine in a battel whiche he fought at Headfeld, with the moste valiant Painime Penda King of the Mercies, and Ceadwalla Kyng of the Brytaines. Paulinus the Bishop buyl­ded Lincolne Minster founded. Beade. the great Church at Lincolne. In the raigne of King Ed­wine, suche was the peace and tranquilitie throughe all Bry­taine, whiche way soeuer King Edwines dominions lay, that a weake woman mighte haue walked with hir newe borne babe ouer all the I and without any domage. Moreouer, for the refreshing of wayfaring men, he ordained cuppes of yron Cuppes of brasse by the high vvayes. or brasse, to be fastned by such cleare Wels and Fountaines as did runne by the wayes side, whych Cuppes no man durst touch further than to his owne present vse & necessity, for the loue & good wil they bare to their prince, who was for y ^e time of his raigne so honored and loued, that the triumphant ban­ners were borne before him, not in war only, but in peace to, wheresoeuer he went abroad.

After the death of Edwine, the Kingdome of Northumber­land [Page 110] was againe diuided.

OSriche the sonne of Elfrike, who was Edwins vnckle, suc­céeded 633 in the gouernance of Deira. And Eanfride the sonne of Ethelfride, ruled y ^e Bernicians: but both these forsaking the Christian profession, wherein they were instructed, yéelded themselues to be defiled with the filth of Idolatry: but thys Apostacie was reuenged by Cedwall King of y ^e Brytans, who slewe them bothe, and with tragicall slaughter spoyled Nor­thumberland.

OSwald brother to Eanfride, then gouerned this Kingdom, 634 who with a small army ouercame the Brytans, and slewe Cedwall theyr King at Deniseburne. He sent for Aidan a Scot to aduance y ^e Christian religion among his people, assigning to him the Isle of Lindisfarne or holy Iland, for his Sea. Hée greatly enlarged his Kingdome, reconciled the Deirians and Bernitians, whych did deadly hate one the other. And when he had raigned viij. yeres, was slaine in a cruel battel at Ma­serfielde, by Penda King of Mercia, and canonized a Sainct.

OSwine brother to Oswald, succéeded: he buried the heade 642 and armes of Oswald, whyche Penda commaunded to be hanged vpon poles. His gouernment was greatly disquieted by inuasion of the Mercians, rebellion of his own sonne Ael­fride, and insurrection of Adilwald sonne to Oswald. Hée murthered Oswy, the sonne of Osrike, who ruled Deira, bée­ing traiterously deliuered vnto him at Ingethling, where Liber Lichfield. [...]. Rudbern [...]. afterwarde a Monasterie was erected. But at length he de­liuered his Country from forraine inuasion, vanquished the Mercians with Penda in a foughte fielde neare the riuer Ie­wet, brought them to his subiection, and caused them to be in­structed in the Christian Faith.

He builded a Churche among the Mercians called Liche­fielde, Lichfield Chur­che a Byshops sea founded. and procured the same to be a Bishops sea, in Anno. 657.

Duina was first Byshoppe there of Mercia, and also of Lindisferne: for there were then so fewe Priests, that one By­shoppe was compelled to gouerne two Prouinces. King Os­wine ended his life quietly, when he had raigned xxxij. yeres.

EGfride his lawfull sonne, then inherited Northumberland: 670 he deposed Wilfride of the Bishoprike, and appoynted two Bishops ouer the Northumbers. Mildred, otherwise called Etheldred, his wife, would by no meanes accompany hir husband, but continued a Uirgine, and after she had bin maried twelue yeares, tooke at the handes of Wilfride the vaile and habite of a Nunne, and builte the Monasterie of Eely, where she was Abbesse.

Egfride hir husband fought a battell with Edilfride King of Mercia, but after they were reconciled by Theodore the Bishop. Then turning his power against Ireland, he sente Berte thither, who miserably destroyed the séely people. But the yeare following, he marched against the Pictes (contra­rie to the good counsell of S. Cuthbert, whome he made Bi­shop) and was slayne by them in an ambush, when he had raigned fiftene yeares.

ALfride, bastard sonne of Oswine, succéeded after his bro­ther 685 Egfride. He did repaire y ^• decayed state of Northum­berland, but coulde not recouer all that Picts, Scottes, and Bry­taines tooke frō the Northumbers at the death of his brother. He raigned ninetéene yeares.

OSred his sonne, a child of eyght yeares succéeded, who, 704 whē he had wickedly raigned eleuen yeares, was mur­thered by his kinsmen Kenred and Osricke.

KEnred, when he had slaine Osred, ruled Northumberland 715 two yeares.

OSricke obteyned the Kingdome after xj. yeares, and ele­cted Ceolnulph brother of Kenred to be his successor.

CEolnulph raigned in this prouince with great pietie & 728 victorie viij. yeares, & then forsooke the estate of a King, and tooke the habite of a Moncke in the holy Iland.

Benedict, who firste broughte Masons, Paynting, and Glasing into this Realme to the Saxons, flourished at this Glasing brought among the Saxons. Bede famous. time. Beda also that famous learned man, liued at this time, who dedicated his Historie of the Church of England to the forenamed Ceolnulph.

EGbert, cousin germane to Ceolnulph, raigned in Nor­thumberland 736 Wil. Malme. twenty yeares peaceably, and then forsa­king the Worlde, entred into Religion, and became a Monke: his brother bearing the same name, was Archbi­shop of Yorke, which Sea he greatly aduanced, and founded there a most woorthy Librarie, replenished with all good Librarie at Yorke. Authours.

OSwulfe succéeded his Father, who was slayne by the 757 people in the first yeare of his raigne.

MOllo then tooke the regiment, and after eleuen yeares 758 was traytecously murthered by Alerede.

ALered raigned after him eleuen yeares, and was enfor­ced 76 [...] by the people to leaue the Countrey.

AThelred or Etheldred the sonne of Mollo, was aduan­ced 780 to the regiment of Northumberland by the people, and the fifth yeare after was by them depriued.

AELfwold then was proclaymed King of Northumberland, 785 and when he had raigned eleuen yeares, was slayne by his subiects: he lyeth buryed at Haugustald.

OSredé, the sonne of Aelerede then succéeded, but the firste 796 yeare he was depriued.

AEThelred or Etheldred who was before deposed, now re­ceyued 797 the Kingdome, and when he had ruled foure yeares, was also miserably slayne. After his death, thys Kingdome decayed, and was pitifully ransacked by ciuill sedition, and foraigne inuasions, for the space of 30. yeares, in whiche space, there ruled héere withoute title of Kings

¶ Eardulfe,

¶ Alfwold,

¶ Eandred, Lib. A [...]tonensis.

¶ Ethelred,

¶ Readulfe,

¶ Osbert, which two last, were slaine at Yorke, by the Danes, in a place yet to this day called Elle Crafte.

This Osbert rauished a Lady of his Countrey, wife to Bernebokard, in reuenge whereof, the same Bernebokard [Page 113] fléeing into Denmarke, returned againe with the Danes Hin­guer and Hubba, and ariued in holy Iland, and so came to Yorke, and there slew King Osbright.

¶ Egbert then obteyned Northumberland.

RIcsy then vsurped it, and after him Cuthred, frō whome Sitricke the Dane gote it, vnto whome King Athelstane the Monarche gaue his daughter in mariage.

CErdic, the tenth from Woden, with his sonne Kenrike, landed in Britaine, at a place called Cerdike shore, and slew Natanleod King of the Britaines, and fiue thousand men, of whose name the Countrey as farre as Cerdikes foorde, was called by the name of Natanleod.

CErdike and Kenrite began to raigne as Kings, and 519 the same yeare they fought with the Britaines in a place called Cerdikes foorde, and departed vanquishers.

After that, they fought with the Britaynes in a place cal­led Cerdicks lege.

They tooke the Ile of Wight, and gaue the same to their Nephewes Stuffe and Withgare, and slewe the Britaines in Wethgarbirg. He raigned xvij. yeares. Withgare the Ne­phew of Cerdic was buried at Withgarbrig, or the Citie of Withgar.

KEnrike the sonne of Cerdic fought with the Britaines at 5 [...]6 Searesberige, and afterwards at Beranbrige, and at both times put them to flight, and raigned xxv. yeares.

CEaulin the sonne of Kenrike tooke vpon him the King­dome 560 of the West Saxons.

In the beginning of his raigne he discomfited Ethelbert King of Kent and slew his two Dukes Oslaue and Cnebban at Wibbandune. Afterward his brother Cutholfe vanquished the Britaines at Bedford, and wanne from them the townes of Liganburge, Egelsburge, Bensington, and Eignesham.

Sixe yeres after, Ceaulin slew thrée kings of the Britaines, Commeaile, Condid [...]n, & Fariemeile, at Deorham, and tooke thrée Cities from them, Glocester, Cirencester, and Bathance­ster.

After he fought with the Britaines at Fethanleah▪ in which Tho. Rudborne. Leyland. he had the victorie, but lost his sonne Cutha: for now his for­tune changed, and when he had raigned xxxiij. yeares, he was ouercome at Wodnesbeorhe, or Wannes ditch in Wilshire, and expelled out of his Kingdome by the Britaines.

CEalrike the sonne of Cutholfe ruled the West Saxons fiu [...] 591 yeares.

CEolnulfe son of Cutha before named succéeded, who had 598 continuall warres either with the Englishmen▪ with Bri­taines, with the Scottes, or with the Pictes, and lastly moued warre against the South Saxons, and there dyed when he had raigned fourtéene yeares.

KInegilsus the sonne of Ceolrike succéeded. He brought his 611 Marian. Floria. W [...]g. host against the Britaines into Beandune, and there [...]lew of them two thousand xlvj.

He also fought with Penda King of Mercians néere vnto Cirencester, and after made peace with him. And shortly af­ter VVestsex baptised. in the yeare of Christ 635. by the preaching of Berinus, King Kinegilsus and all his people receiued the Christian faith, to whome, King Oswald was Godfather at the Font, of which Kings, the said Berinus had granted to him the Ci­tie of Dorchester, and builded there an house of Canons for Vita Berini. [Page 115] his Bishops Sea. Kinegilsus raigned xxvij. yeares. Dorchester a Bishops Sea. 6 [...]8

GVichiline the sonne of Kinegilsus was baptised by Beri­nus the Bishop in the Citie of Dorchester, and deceased the same yeare.

CVthredus the sonne of King Guicheline, was baptised 639 at Dorchester, by Berinus the Bishop, who was his God­father at the Font. He raigned foure yeares.

KEnnewalcus the sonne of King Kinegilsus, tooke on him 64 [...] VVinchester a Bishops Sea. Malmesbery buylded. Vita Aldelm [...]. the Kingdome of the West Saxons.

He founded the Cathedral Church in Winchester placing there a Bishops sea.

He gaue Meydulfus burgh to Aldelmus the Abbot, there to builde a Monasterie. Afterwarde béeing infested with warres by Penda King of the Mercians, bycause he had forsa­ken his wife, sister of the sayd Penda, was by him driuen out of his Kingdome, and fledde to Anna King of East Angles, where he was baptised of Bishop Foelix, and after was re­stored to his kingdome by the help of the forenamed Anna. He raigned xxx. yeares. After whom Quéene Sexburgeo his wife gouerned a while. She foūded a Monastery of Nunnes in the Ile of Shepey, and became hir selfe a Nunne, and after Abbesse of Eely.

EAs [...]winus Nephew to Kinegilsus succéeded, he fought a 67 [...] battell against Wulfere King of Mercia, in a place called Bidanheafod He raigned two yeares.

KEnewinus, sonne to Kinnegilsus, chased the Britaines euen 676 to the Sea shore, and raigned nine yeares.

CAdwalla, Nephew to Ceauline succéeded in the King­dome. 685

He slew Berthune Duke of the South Saxons, and brought Marianus. that prouince vnder gréeuous bondage.

After that, he & his brother Mull wasted Kent, & subdued the Ile of Wight, which till that time was giuē to Idolatrie, wherof he purged them, giuing the fourth part therof to Bi­shop Wilfride, who appoynted Preachers to conuerte the people of that Ile to Christianitie. Ceadwalla once agayne [Page 116] spoyling the Countrey of Kent, his brother Moll, and xij. of his Knightes were slaine by fire cast vpon them, after which tune, euen before he was baptised, he gaue for tithe or tenth to God all the pray and spoyles he had gotten to his Wil. Malme. owne vse: in whome (saith Malmesburie) although we prayse his affection, we allow not the example: for it is written, that who so offereth the sacrifice of poore folkes good, doth as it were sacrifice the sonne in the sight of his Father.

This being done, he went to Rome to be baptised, when he had raigned two yeares ouer the West Saxons.

INe raigned among the West Saxons, a noble man, of great 687 Asser. power and wisedome, and therewith valiant and hardie, in feates of armes very expert: he mainteined such warre against the Kentish Saxons, that he constrayned them to séeke and intreate meanes of peace, giuing to him for the same great giftes 30000. Mancas (péeces of Gold so named.)

This Ine was the sonne of Kenred, the sonne of Cead­wolde, brother to Keadwold, and sonne to Chenling, sonne Marian. of Kenri, sonne of Cerdic, the first King of the Weast Saxons.

This man builded first the Colledge of Welles. Colledge of VVelles, and Abbey of Gla­stenbury buil­ded.

He also builded the Abbey of Glastenburie, and payde the Peter Pence first to Rome.

When he had gouerned the Weast Saxons by the space of seauen and thirtie yeares, by the earnest laboure of hys wife Etheldreda, which was Abbesse of Barking in Essex, he gaue vp his royall dignitie, and went to Rome.

EThelard kinsman on the fathers side to Ine, succéeded in 726 the Kingdome, notwithstanding Oswald a yong man of the Kings bloud did disturbe the beginning of his raigne, Wil. Malme. for he stirred vp Rebellion among the inhabitants, but not long after he died, and then Ethelard raigned quietly foure­téene yeares.

ENthrede his kinsman made warre on Ethelwald King of Mercia and against the Britaines, and had of them the victorie.

In hys tyme there appeared two Blasing Starres, [Page 117] rasting as it were burning brands towards the North. He Blasing Starres. raigned sixtéene yeares.

The Englishmen buryed not the bodyes of their dead Antiqui. Britan. Ecclesi. Buriall in Church-yardes. in Cities, vntill the time of Cuthbert Archbishop of Canter­burie, who procured of the Pope, that in Cities there should be poynted Church-yardes.

SIgebert was made King of the Weast Saxons. He was cru­ell 757 W. Malme. Scal. Cro [...]. and tirannous towards his subiects, and chāged anti­ent Lawes and customes after his owne lust and pleasure, and bycause a certayne noble man some deale sharply ad­uertised him to change his manners, he put him to cruell death: and for so muche as he continued in his malice, and would not amend, he was depriued of al kingly authoritie, A Tirant came to a miserable end and shame­full death. and lastly, as a person forlorne, wandring in woods, and hi­ding himselfe in caues of wilde Beastes, he was slayne in Andreds Walde by a Swineheard, whose Lorde and mayster called Cumbra, he had wrongfully put to death, whē he had not raigned one yeare.

KEnulphus of the bloud of Cerdicus appeased certayne 757 murmours and grudges that were amongst the people, for the deposing of his predecessor Sigebert. He founded the Bishops sea at VVelles foun­ded. Cathedrall Churche of Welles. As he haunted a woman which he kept at Merton, he was slayne by treason of one O­lio, the kinsman of Sigebert late King, when he had raig­ned nine and twentie yeares, and was buryed at Winche­ster.

BRithricus of the bloud of Cerdicus, was made King of 786 Weast Saxons.

He maryed Eadburga the Daughter of Offa King of Mercia, by whose power he expelled Egbert, that was an vnder King in the Lordship of the Weast Saxons.

In his tyme it rayned blond, whiche falling on mens Bloud rayned. clothes, appeared like Crosses.

In Anno 800. the Danes arriued in the Ile called Port­land, The Danes first ariued in this land. but by the puissance of Brithricus, and other Kings of the Saxons, they were ouercome at Donmouth, driuen backe, [Page 118] and compelled to auoyde the land. Marianus. The King poy­foned by his vvife.

Brithricus was poysoned by his wife Ethelburga, when he had raigned seauētéene yeares, & was buryed at Warham. For this déede, the Nobles ordeyned that from thence­forth the Kings wiues should not be called Quéenes, nor suffered to sitte with them in place of estate.

Eadburge with infinite treasure fled into France, where offering a greate portion of hir Golde to King Charles of France, he sayd vnto hir, choose Eadburge whome thou wilte haue to thy Husband, me, or my sonne: and she answered, if choyse be granted me, I choose your sonne, bycause he is younger than you: then (quoth Charles) if thou hadst chosen After a vvicked life follovved a miserable end to Queene. Eadburge. me, thou shouldest haue had my sonne, but bycause thou hast chosen my sonne, thou shalt haue neyther him nor me, and then gaue to hir a Monasterie, wherein she professed hirselfe a Nunne, and became their Abbesse a few yeares, but after­wards committing adulterie with a lay man, and cast out of the Monasterie, she ended hir life in pouertie & miserie, Houeden. as of many that haue séene hir we heard, sayth mine Author Asserius. Asser.

EGbrichus obtayned the gouernement of the Weast Saxons. 802 He tamed the Welchmen, vanquished Bertulphus King of the Mercians at Hellendune, and subdued to his obeysance W. Malme. the Kentish Saxons, East Saxons, and Northumbers. He caused the brasen Image of Cadwaline King of the Britaines to bée Scal. Croni. throwen downe, and this Lande no more to be called Bri­taine, but Anglia or England. He was Crowned at Winche­ster. Britaine first named England.

In the 33. yeare of his raigne the Danes ariued at Lin­disferne, Danes arriued heere. Sca. Cro. and foughte with the Englishmen at Carham, where two Bishops, two Earles, and a greate number of the En­glish people were slayne. Two yeares after y ^• Danes ariued in West Wales, where Egbright ouercame them at Hengi­stendon. He raigned ouer the most part of England the space of seauen and thirtie yeares and seauen monethes, and was buryed at Winchester.

ADelnulfus the sonne of Egbrichus beganne his raigne o­uer 8 [...]9 Wil. Malme. the more parte of Englande. He tooke to wife Iudith, daughter to the King of France, and had by hir four sonnes, which were Kings after him.

In his time, there came a great armie of the Pagan Danes Alredus Riusall. with 350. Ships into the mouth of Thamis, and so to London, and spoyled it, and put to flight Beorthulfe King of Mercia, Danes spoyle London. with all his power which came to bid them battel, and then the Danes went with their armie into Southerie: then Ad­helnulfus with his sonne Adhelbald, and a great army came against the foresayd Danes, and at a place called Aolea they fought a cruell battell, wherein the most parte of the Danes were slayne.

The same yeare Adhelstane the sonne of Adhelfus, and Sca. Cro. Calchere y ^• Earle slew a great armie of the Paganes at Sand­wich in Kent, and tooke nine of their Shippes.

Adhelnulfus sent his sonne Alfride to Rome with a great number of noble men and other, at which time Pope Leo confirmed the said Alfride, and tooke him to his sonne by a­doption, and also consecrated him King.

This Adhelnulfus did make the tenth part of his king­dome Tenth giuen to the Church by King Adelnul­fus. frée from tribute and seruice to the King, and gaue it to them that did serue Christ in the Churche: and the same yeare he wente to Rome, where he repaired the Englishe English Schoole at Rome re­payred. Schole, which was first founded by Offa King of the Mer­cies.

In the meane season, his sonne Adhelbald rebelling, vsurped the Kingdome, so that when Adhelnulfus retur­ned, he was forced to deuide the Kingdome, and to take the worse part. He raigned eightéene yeares, and was buryed at Winchester sayth Asser. Asser.

ADhelbald raigned after his Father: against God, & the 857 worthinesse of Christianitie, yea, and cōtrarie to the cu­stome of all Paganes, he presumed to hys Fathers mar­riage bedde, and with greate infamie, married Iudith the French Kings daughter. He raigned after his father Flori, Wigor. [Page 120] two yeares, and was buryed at Shirborne.

AThelbrict, brother to Athelbald, tooke vnder his domi­nion 860 Kent, Southery, and Sussex.

In this time, the greate Armie of the Paganes inuaded Danes inuade and spoyle VVinchester. and spoyled the Citie of Winchester, who when they retur­ned with a great pray towards their Ships, Osrike Earle of Hampton, and his folke, and Adhelnulfus the Earle, with Barkeshire men, met them, and farre from any Towne they ioyned battell, where the Paganes were slayne in euery corner, and the Christians kept the field.

The Normans and Danes made a firme league with the Kentishmen, who promised them money to kéepe the league, but notwithstanding the Paganes brake priuilie out of their Danes make a league, and breake it. Castels by night, and spoyled all the East parts of Kent.

Athelbrict raigned fiue yeares, and was buryed at Shir­borne.

ETheldred brother to Adhelbrict, receyued the Kingdome 866 of the Weast Saxons. In the firste yeare of his raigne, a great Nauie of Paganes came into England, and remayned all the winter in the Kingdome of East England.

Anno 871▪ the Paganes came to Reading in Barkeshire, where they cast a great ditch and wall betwixt the two Ri­uers, Thames and Kynetan, on the right side of the said towne.

Adhelnulfus Earle of Barkeshire and his armie, mette with the Paganes in a place called Englefield, where the Paganes had the worst, and many of them slaine, and the rest put to flight.

Etheldred King of the Weast Saxons, and Aelfrede his brother, came to Reading, where was foughten a fierce and cruell battell, but at the last the Christians fled, and the Pa­ganes had the victorie.

The Christians within four dayes fought a battell with the Paganes in Assendune, but the Paganes deuided them­selues Battayle at Assendune. into two battels, for then they had two Kings, which when the Christians sawe, they likewise deuided their ar­mie into two companyes.

[Page 121]It was determined that King Ethelred with his bat­tell, shoulde goe againste the two Pagan kings with their battell, and that his brother Aelfrede with his armye, shoulde set on all the Pagan Dukes and theyr armye. Battayle at As­sendoune. All things thus ordered, when the king farried long in hys prayer, and the Pagans being readilye prepa­red, came to Chipenhane where the battel was pitched, Aelfred séeing he muste either retire or sette on his enemies Sca. Cron. before his brother did come, he straight ways set vpon them, though the place of battel was vnequall, for the Pagans had gotten the higher grounde, and the Christians brought their battel from the valley. There was in that place one onely thorne trée, very short, about which trée the battels met and ioyned, wher when they had a long time fought, Hubba one of the kings fiue Earles, and many thousandes moe of the Pagans being slaine, the other were chased.

A great heape of stones was layd copped vp where Hub­ba was buried, and the place called Hubbeslow. Hubbeslovv.

This being done, King Etheldred and his brother Ael­frede Sca. Cro. shortly after gathered their power againe to fight wyth the Pagans at Basing, where after a long and sore battayle, the Pagans had the victorie.

After this battayle, came another armye of Pagans from Pagans van­quished. beyonde seas, and ioyned with the first.

When King Etheldred had raigned fiue yeares, he was slaine of the Pagans at Whitingham, and buried in the Mona­sterie of Winburne, with thys Epitaph:

In hoc loco quiescit corpus sancti Etheldredi regis Westsaxo­nū Sca. Cro. Marians. Scotus. martyris, qui anno Domini. 872. 23. die Aprilis, per manus Daco­rum Pagan [...]rum occubuit. His armes a crosse Florie.

Anno. 870. Saint Ebbe Abbesse of Coldingham, sixe myles Flores Historiarū ▪ Chastitie before beautie prefer­red, a rare ex­ample. North from Berwike, cutte off hir nose and vpperlippe, and perswaded all hir sisters to doe the like, that they being odi­ble to the Danes, might the better kéepe their Uirginitie, in despite wherof the Danes burned the Abbey, & the Nunnes therein.

AElfrede borne in Barkshire, at a village called Wantinge, 872 Marians. Scotus. Florentij Cro­niea cronicarum. Asser. Alfridus▪ Beuerlacens [...]. Speculum Hist. VVilshire, vvhy so named. Ricardus Cire­cestrensi [...]. Hap of vvarre doubtful. the fourth sonne of Athelwolfe, receyued the gouerne­ment of the whole realme, and within one month after, with a very small number fought a sharpe battayle againste the whole armie of the Pagans, in a place called Wilion (whiche lyeth on the Southside of the Riuer Wily, of whiche riuer the whole shyre taketh hys name) and after they had foughte a greate parte of the daye, the Pagans fled, but séeing the fewnesse of them that pursued, they sette themselues in bat­tayle againe, and got the fielde.

The Weast Saxons made league with the Pagans, vppon condition they shoulde departe out of theyr Countrey.

The next yeare they wintred at London, and made league with the Mercies.

The nexte yeare they wintered at Lindesey, which was in the Kingdome of Northumberlande.

The next yere, at Ripindune: they constrayned Burgoredus king of Mercies, to flée beyond the Seas, who went to Rome, where he dyed, and was buryed in the Schole of the Sax­ons. Burgoredus death.

The Pagans subduing y ^e whole kingdome of the Mercies, whiche they committed to Ceonulfus: The next yeare one part of the Pagans wintered in Northumberlande neare to the riuer Tyne, subdued the whole Countrey: the other parte went with Guthram, Oskecellus, and Amandus, thrée kings of the Pagans, to Grantbridge, and wintered there.

The yeare following, the Pagans going from Cambridge in the night, entred the Castel of Warham, where there was a Monasterie of Nunnes, scituate betwéene two riuers, Fraw and Trent, in the Country called in the Saxon Thornse­ta, a most sure seat, except in the West only, where it ioyneth to the lande: with whome king Aelfrede made a league that they shoulde departe his kingdome, but contrarie to theyr othe, they rode into Deuonshire, to Exancester, and there win­tered. Exceste [...].

The next yeare. 120. of the Pagans shippes were drowned [Page 123] at S [...]anauing: And kyng Aelfrede pursuing an armie that went by lande to Excester, toke of them pledges, and also an othe to depart with all spéede.

In the yeare following the Danes [...]ame to Chipingham, a manner of the kings, scituate on the left side of Wiltshire and there wintred, compelling many of the Weast Saxons to leaue their Countrey and to goe beyonde the seas: the rest that re­mayned they subdued▪ King Aelfrede himselfe was oft­times brought into such miserie, y ^t none of his people knew where he was become. On a time, being forced to hide hym­with Asser. Spe. Histo. Ri. Ciren. a Cowhearde in Somersetshire, as he satte by the fire, preparing his bowes and shaftes, the Cowherdes wife ba­king breade on the coales, threw the kings bowes & shaftes aside, and said, thou fellow why dost thou not turn the bread which thou séest burne, thou art glad to eate it ere it be halfe baked. This woman thought not that it had bin K. Aelfred, who had made so many battels against the Danes, and gottē so manye victories. For God did not onely vouchsafe to giue him victorie ouer his enemies, but also to be wearied of thē in the sight of his owne people, to the ende he should knowe there is one God of all, to whom all knées shall bow, and in whose hands the hearts of kings consisteth. The brother Hinguar slayne in Deuonshire. of Hinguar and of Healfden, who had wintered in Mercia, & had made great slaughter of the Christians, sayled with▪ 23. shippes into Deuonshire, where doing great mischief, he & the The Ensigne of the Danes vvas a Rauen. Alredus Riual. most part of his people were slain, the rest escaped by fléeing to theyr shippes. In this battayle among many rich spoyles was taken a banner or ensigne called Reafan, which among the Danes was had in greate estimation, for that it was im­brodered by the thrée sisters of Hinguar, and Hubba, y ^e daugh­ters of Lodbroke. King Aelfrede made a Castel in Aethelin­gei, Ethelyngey, the noble Ilande. Egbrights store▪ from thence he went to Petram Egebrichti, which is on the Eastside of the chace called Sal nudum, in Latine Silua magna, y ^• great wood: there met with him al the inhabitants of Hāp­shire, whiche when they sawe the king, reioyced as though he had bene risen from death to life.

[Page 124]The king with his army wente to Ethandune and fought against the Pagans where he made great slaughter, and pur­sued the reste to their Castell, who after. xiiij. dayes desired peace, gaue pledges and toke othe to depart his realme: and Gythram their King receiued baptisme harde by Ethelingsey, in a place called Alre, whome Aelfrede receyued to bée hys Gythram king of Danes chri­stened. Chichester. God-sonne.

In the yeare. 879. the Pagans went from Chipnan to Ciren­ceaster, and there remayned one yeare after. The same yeare a great armye of Pagans came from beyonde the Sea, and Fulham. wintered at Fullanham, harde by the riuer of Thamis.

The nexte yeare, the Pagans wente from Circestre to the Marianus Scotus. East English, deuiding that Countrey among them, & there inhabited. The Pagans that wintered at Fullanham, went into East Fraunce.

In the yeare. 885. an armie of Pagans came into Kent, and besieged the Cittie of Rhofeceaster, which lyeth on the Easte Rochester be­sieged. side of the riuer Medowege and before the gate of the same Ci­tie they made a strong Castell, but Aelfrede with a greate Midvvay. Armie chased them to their ships.

The next yeare▪ Aelfrede restored, and honorably repay­red Asserius. Floriacens. London builded & made inha­bitable. the Cittie of London (after it had bene amongst other Ci­ties destroyed with fire, and the people killed vp,) he made it habitable againe, and committed it vnto the custodie of his sonne in lawe Adhered Earle of the Mercies. Kentishe­men, South and West Saxons, (whiche before were in Cap­tiuitie Marianus Scotus. vnder the Pagans) willingly came and submitted thē ­selues.

In the yeare. 890. Gythram the king of the Pagans (whose name in his Baptisme was changed to Athelstane) Hadley. dyed, he was buried in the kings towne called Headleaga a­mong the East English.

In the yeare. 892. the great armie of the Pagans, came frō the East kingdome of Fraunce vnto Adbon, and from thence with 250. shippes▪ into Kent, arriuing in the mouth of the Riuer Limene, whiche riuer runneth from the great woodde, [Page 125] whiche is called Andreads Weald, from whose mouth foure Andreads vveald in Sus­sex and Hamp­shire. myles into the same woodde they drewe theyr ships, where they destroyed a Castel, and fortified another more strong, in a place called Apultrens, now Apulder. This wood was from the Easte to the Weaste. 120. myles in length and more, in bréedth. 30. myles.

The same yere, Hastings came with. 80. shippes into the Milton. mouth of Thamis, and made a strong town, Middleton in the Beaufleet. South side of y ^e Thamis, and another on the Northside, called Beaufleete.

The yeare following, the Citie of Yorke was taken by the Normans, but Seber the Bishoppe, by Gods prouision esca­ped.

The same yeare also Aelfred fought against the Normans at Fernham, where he slewe them, wounded their King, and Fernham. chased the remnant through the Thamis into Eastsex, wherby many of them were drowned.

Aelfrede hearing that a great number of the Pagans were arriued at Exanceastre, he toke with him a greate army, and by battayle ouercame, and chased them away.

In the meane season Adhered Earle of the Mercies, and Beaufleet taken from the Pagās. the Citizens of London with other came to Beaufleete, and besieged the Castell of the Pagans, and brake into it, where they tooke excéeding riche spoyles of golde, siluer, horsses, and garmentes, among whiche was taken the wife of Hastings and hys two sonnes, whiche were broughte to London, and presented to the King, who commaunded them to be resto­red againe. But Hastings came againe into Beaufleete, and repayred to the Castell, whiche they hadde broken downe. From thence he wente to Sceabridge, and there builded a Sudbury. strong Castell: there was ioyned vnto hym the armye that remayned at Apuldrane, and other that came from the East Englishe, and from the Northumbers, who altogyther spoyled Apuldo [...]. and robbed, tyl they came to the bancke of Seuerne, and there at Bultingatume, they made a strong towne, but by Adhered Earle of the Mercies and other, they were besieged, & short­ly [Page 126] through famine forced to come out, where many on bothe Floren [...] Cro­nica cronicaruin. Marianus Scotus. sides were slaine, but the Christians had the victorie.

In the yeare, 895. the Pagans wintered in a little Ile cal­led Ile of Mersey. Ley, a riuer that then bare ships vnto VVare. Asserius. Mer [...]ig in the East part of Essex, scituate in the sea, and the same yeare they sayled by the riuer of Thamis, after by the ri­uer of Ligea, and twentie myles from London began to build a Fortresse. In the Sommer following, the Londoners and other néere adioyning, did séeke to destroy the fortresse of the Danes, but they being put to flight, king Aelfrede pitched [...] fielde not farre from the Citie, least the Pagans should take away the Haruest of the Countrey, and viewing the riuer one daye, perceyued that the Chanel mighte be in one place dammed vp, that the Danes should not get out their shippes, he forthwith commaunded on both sides the riuer a damme to be cast, and deuided that riuer into thrée streames, so that where shippes before had sayled, now a small boate coulde scantly rowe, which when the Pagans perceyued, they lea­uing theyr wiues and ships, flée a foote to Quatbridge, & there Novv called Catvvarebrig, or Catvva [...]d bridge. building a Fortresse, lodged there the Winter following, whose shippes the Londoners bring, some to London, the o­ther they brake downe and destroyed.

Anno. 897. the Pagans came from Quatbridge, parte into East England part into Northumberland: some got them ships and sayled into Fraunce. After al these verations, by the cruel Danes committed, folowed farre greater, the space of thrée yeres, by death of cattaile, and mortalitie of men. XX. Danish ships were taken being Pirates, and the Pyrates slaine or hauged on the gallowes.

This victorious Prince, the studious prouider for Alfred deceased wid [...]wes, orphanes and poore people, moste perfect in Sa [...] Poetrie, moste liberall, indued with Wisdome, Prayse of King Alfrede. fortitude, iustice, and temperaunce, the most patient bearer of sicknesse, wherewith he was dayly vexed, a moste discrete searcher of trueth in executing iudgement, a moste vigilant and deuout Prince in the seruice of God, Alfrede, the. xxix. yeare and sixth month of his raigne, departed this life, the [Page 127] xxviij. daye of October, and is buried at Winchester, in the new Monasterie, of his foundation. He founded a Monaste­rie of Monkes at Ethelingsey, and another for Nunnes at Shaftsburie. He ordayned the hundreds, and tenthes, whiche Wil. Malm [...]. Floriac [...]ns. Reg. Hig. Sea. Cro. Regist. Hyde. T. Rudburn [...]. Vniuersitie in Oxforde. Marianus Scotus. men call Centuaries and Cupings: he sent for Gr [...]balde, to come into England that by his aduice, he might erect y ^• stu­die of good learning, cleane decayed. By the counsell of Neo­tus he ordayned common scholes of diuerse sciences in Oxē ­forde, and tourned the Saxon lawes into Englishe, with di­uerse other bookes.

He established good laws, by the which he brought so gret Regist. Hid [...]. a quietnesse to the Countrey, that men might haue hanged golden bracelets and Jewels where the wayes parted, and no man durst touch them for feare of the law. He caried euer y ^• Psalter in his bosome, y ^• whē he had any leysure he might read it ouer with diligence.

He deuided the xxiiij. houres of the daye and nighte into Asserius. thrée parts▪ he spent. viij. h [...]ures in writing, reading, & pray­ing: eight in prouision of his body: &. viij. in hearing and dis­patching Marianus Scotus. the matters of his subiects. He deuided his yerely reuenues into two partes, and the first he deuided into thrée: one part he gaue to his seruāts, the second part to his work­men which were occupyed in building, the third part to strā ­gers. The second part of y ^• whole, he deuided into iiij. parts, the first part wherof he gaue in almes to the poore, the second to Monasteries by him founded, the third to scholes which he had erected, and gathered of many both noble mens & other mens sons of his nation, the fourth part he distributed to the next Monasteries in all the English Saxon. Alhfwido wife to king Alfrede founded the monasterie of Nuns in Winche­ster.

EDward surnamed Senior, the son of Aelfred, was annoyn­ted 900 Speculum histo. Ri. C [...]ren. Adhelvvold [...] reuolteth. king, & shortly after Adhelwoldus, cousin germaine vnto king Edwarde, reuolted and wente to the armie of the Pagans, who forthwith chose him to be their Kyng in Nor­thumberlands.

[Page 128] Ioannes Leoafer▪ in his thirde booke of the description [...] Iohns Leoafer. Africa, writeth that about this time (to say) about the yere [...] our Lorde. 905. the Englishmen at the perswasion of the Gothes, besieged the great Citie Argilla in Barbarie, which the Affricanes call Arella, being. 70. myles distant frō the streight of Marrocho Southwarde, hoping thereby to withdraw the Sarazens out of Europe, where they fought with so great cou­rage and good successe, that they wanne the sayde towne, and so ransacked it with fire and sworde, that scant one escaped there, and the towne laye desolate and without inhabitant [...] for the space of thirtie yeare. We account thys to haue hap­ned in the foresayde yeare, bycause the aucthour after the [...] ­shion of the Sarazens, doth referre it to the. 314. yeare of M [...] ­homets Hegira, which by cōference of theyr places doth séeme to beginne in the yeare of our Lord. 591. which number be­ing added, do bring forth. 905.

Adhelwoldus King of the Pagans brought a great armye from Eastsex, and the East English whiche robbed and spoyled through all Mercia, and the Weaste Countrey, vntill they came to Crickalde, and there went ouer the Thamis and tooke great spoyles about Bradney.

King Edward gathered an army and went towarde the Danes, but while he tarried his army out of Kent, Adhelwolf King of the Danes came vpon him with a great power, and badde him battayle, wherein Cochricus & Adelwolfe, kings of the Pagans were slaine.

In the yeare. 910. a battaile was fought at Wodnesfielde, a mile North from Wolfrune Hampton in Staffordeshire, where VVodnesfielde in Staffordshire VVlfrune Hampton. Cowilfus & Healidene kings of y ^• Pagans, with many Erles and Nobles were slaine, but of the common people innu­merable.

Aethered Earle of the Mercies dyed, and king Edwarde toke into his Dominion London and Oxenforde, and all the Countrey adioyning therevnto.

In the yeare. 913. by the Kings commaundement, at Hertforde, betwixt the riuers of Memeran, Benefician, and Le­gian, [Page 129] in the North side a Citie is builded.

In the yeare. 914. the Pagans of Northumberlande, and Ley­cester, in the Countie of Oxforde toke spoyles, and in the kings towne called Hokenorton, and in manye other places they slew many people, and retourned home againe: ano­ther army of y ^• Danes, being horssemen, were sent into Hart­fordeshire, towardes Legeton, with whom the men of y ^• Coun­trey encountered, and slaying manye of them, put the rest to [...]ight, taking theyr horsses and armour, with a great praye. King Edward leauing certaine to builde a Citie in y ^• South Maldon i [...] Essex. part of the riuer L [...]gea, with more parte of his armye wente into Essex, and encamped at Mealdune, where he tarried til a Towne was builded at Witham.

In the yeare. 915. a great Nauie of Danes sayled aboute the West Countrey, and landed in diuerse places, taking gret prayes, and went to their shippes againe. The King for strengthning of the Countrey, made a Castel at y ^• mouth of the water of Auon, and another at Buckingham, & the thirde fast by, that is, on eyther side of the riuers course one, & then wente into Northampton and Bedfordshires, and subdued the Danes there, with their leader called Turketils.

King Edward builded or new repayred the towns of To­cester Tocester. VVigmore. and Wigmore.

In the yeare▪ 918. the Kentish, Southrey, and East Saxons, be­sieged Colchester, and wanne it by force, and slew all therein, Cogshal. a fewe excepted, that escaped by flight. The same yeare king Colchester in Essex. Edward wente to Colchester with an army, repayred y ^• wals, and put a great garrison of souldiours into it.

The next yeare died the noble Princesse Elfleda (wife to Hērie Bradshaw. Reynul [...] Hygden. Etheldredus Duke of Mercia) and was buryed in the Mo­nasterie of Saint Peter, whiche hir Lorde and she before had builded in the Towne of Glocester, whiche Monasterie was after throwen to the grounde by the Danes, but Aeldredus Bishoppe of Yorke, & of Worcester, made there another, which is now the chiefest Church in the towne.

This noble woman Elfleda, réedified the Cittie of Che­ster▪ [Page 130] she repayred the towne of Tomworth, beside Lichfielde, Chester. Tomvvorth. Lichfielde. Stafford. VVarvvike. Shrevvesburie. VVatersburie. Eldesburie. Leycester re­payred. Runcorn tovvn and castell, and Brimsbery vvith the bridge builded. Stafford, Warwicke, Shrewesburie, Watrisburie, Eldisburie, Legecea­ster with a towne and Castell in the North ende of Mercia, vpon the Riuer of Merse, that is called Runcorne she builded a bridge ouer Seuerne called Brimesberie bridge▪ &c.

When she had once assaied the paines that women suffer in trauayling with childe, she euer after refused the embra­cing of hir husbande, saying, it was not séemely for any noble woman to vse such fleshly lyking, whereof shoulde ensue so great sorrow and paine: tamed the Walchmen, and in di­uerse battayles chased the Danes, after whose death, Edward helde that Prouince in hys owne hande.

King Edward builded a newe town against the old town of Notingham on the South side of the Riuer of Trent, & made Marianus Scotus. Wil. Thorne. Henrie Hunting. Alredus Riual. Thilvval built. Manchester re­payred. a bridge ouer the sayde riuer betwéene the two townes: he subdued the kings of Scotland & Wales: he builded a town in y ^t North end of Mercia by y ^• riuer of Merse, & named it Thilwal, and repayred the Towne of Manchester: after al which déeds by him done, he deceased at Faringdon, and was buried at Winchester, in the new Church, whiche hys father A [...]lfrede had builded when he had raygne. xxiiij. yeares.

A Delstane, after the deathe of Edwarde Senior his father, 924 Alfridus Beuerla. Iohn Leyland. Speculum histo. Rich. Cirenc. was Crowned at Kingstone by Athelmus Archbishoppe of Canturburie. His corenation was celebrated in the market place vpon a stage erected on hic, that the King mighte bēe séene the better of the multitude. He was a Prince of wor­thy memorie, valiant and wise in all his actes, and brought W. Mal [...]. thys lande into one Monarchie: for he expelled vtterly the Danes, and quieted the Walchmen. He caused them to paye hym yearely tribute twentie pounde of golde. 300. pounde of siluer, and 2500. heade of Neate, with houndes & haukes to a certaine number.

And after that he had by battayle conquered Scotlande: hée made one Constantine king of Scottes vnder him, adding this Princely word, that it was more honoure to hym to make a King, than to be a King. He made seuen coyning mintes at [Page 131] Canturburie, foure for the King, two for the Archbishoppe, and one for the Abbot: at Rochester. iij. two for the king, and one Canturb. recordes. for the Byshoppe: besides these, in London eight: in Win­chester W. L [...]b [...] Sax. Lawes. sixe: in Lewes two: in Hastings two: in Chichester one: in Hampton two: in Warham two: in Excester two: in Shaftes­burie two: and in euery good towne one Coyner.

He founded Saint Germaines in Cornewal, which was since T. Rudborn. Girardus Co [...]ubi. a Bishops sea: he founded Saint Pe [...]rocus at Bodmin he founded Pilton Priorie, Midleton and Michelney.

In his time Guy Earle of Warwicke, in acombate slewe Guy of VVar­vvicke slevv Colbrond. Colbrond the Danish Giant, in Hide Meade, neare vnto Winchester.

Athelstane raigned fiftéene yeares, and was buried at Io. Lidgat. Malmesburie.

EDmunde, the brother of Adelstan, tooke on him the go­uernaunce 940 of thys realme, whose shorte raigne tooke from him the renoume of moste hyghe prayses that should haue redounded to this posteritie: for he was a mā disposed Marianus. of nature to noblenesse and Justice: hée toke out of the Danes handes the Townes of Lincolne, Notingham, Darbie, Leice­ster, and Stanforde, and brought all Mercia to hys Domini­on: he expulsed the two kings Anlafus the sonne of Sithri­cus, Io. Taxtor. and Reginalde the sonne of Cuthberte out of Northum­berlande, and subdued the Countrey to hys Dominion. He granted the Priuiledge vnto Saint Edmund in which the limits of the Towne of Edmundes Burie are conteyned.

On Saint Austins day, in the kings town named Puckel­church, W. Malme. the King (whilest he woulde haue saued his Sewar from the handes of a wicked théefe called Leofe) was slayne, when he had raigned fiue yeares and. vij. monthes, and was buried at Glastenburie.

ELdrede succéeded Edmunde his brother: for hys sonnes 946 Sp [...]. Histo. Rich. Ciren. Edwyne and Edgar were thoughte too yong to take on them so great a charge. He tooke on him but as protector, but afterwardes he was crowned at Kingstone.

[Page 132]This Eldred had the earnest fauour of the commons, by­cause he was a great maintayner of honestie, and also most abhorred naughty and vnruely persons: for his expertnesse in feates of armes, he was much commended, whereby he quieted and kepte in due obeysaunce the Northumbers and Scottes, and exiled the Danes.

He placed the Bishoppe of Cornewal at Saint Germaines, where it continued tyll the time of Edward, nexte before the conquest, in whose time it was translated to Excester.

In the yere. 951. he committed to prison Wolstan Arch­byshoppe Ma [...]nus. Canturb. recordes. of Yorke in Luthaberie, bycause he often had bene ac­cused to haue commaunded manye Citizens of Thetforde to be slaine, in reuenge of the Abbot Adelme vniustly by them slaine: he was a yeare after released, and restoared to hys sea.

King Eldred builded Mich at Abindone, gaue gret lāds, Asses. and confirmed them Charters, with seales of golde.

He raigned. ix. yeares, and was buried in the Cathedrall Church at Winchester, in the old Monasterie.

EDwyn succéeded his vncle Eldred in the kingdome: He 955 was crowned at Kingstone, of whom is left no honest me­morie, for one heynous acte by him committed in the begin­ning of his raigne.

In the selfe daye of hys coronation, he sodainely wyth­drewe A vicious king. W. Malme. Speculum Hist. [...]i. Cirecest. himselfe from his Lordes, and in the sight of certaine persons rauished his owne kinswoman, the wife of a noble man of his realme, and afterwarde slewe hir husband, that he might haue the vnlawfull vse of hir beautie. For whyche acte, and for bannishing Dunstane, he became odible to hys subiectes: and of the Northumbers, and people of middle Eng­lande, that rose against him, was depriued, when he had rai­gned The king de­priued. four yeres. He dyed and was buried in the new Abbey of Winchester.

EDgar the peaceable, brother to Edwyne, was crowned at 959 King Crovvned at Bathe. Bathe. He was so excellent in iustice, and sharpe in cor­rection of vices, as wel in his magistrates, as other subiects, [Page 133] that neuer before his dayes was vsed lesse fellonie by rob­bers, or extortion, or briberie, by false officers. He chastised y ^e Alfridus Beuerla. great negligence, couetousnesse and vicious liuing of the clergie, and broughte them to a better order. Of stature hée was but little: yet of minde valiaunt and hardie, and verye Marinus. Alredus Riual. expert in martial pollicie. He prepared a gret nauie of. 3600. ships, which he deposed in thrée parts of his realme, and had souldiours alway prest and readie against the incursions of forrain and strange enimies. King Edgar hauing restored & new founded. xlvij. Monasteries, which before his time had bin destroyed, and intending to continue that his intent tyll the number of. 50. were accomplished, he confirmed the Mo­nasterie of Worcester, whiche Oswalde then Bishop of Worce­ster, VVorcester nu [...] ster restored. Ex charta regia. by the kings consente and leaue had enlarged and aug­mented, and made it the Cathedrall Churche of that shire. The Princes of Wales, payde to him yearely in name of Tri­bute. VVolues de­stroyed. 300. Wolues, by meanes whereof within thrée yeres, in England and Wales might scarcely be found one Wolef.

The Danes and all other people in England, vsed the vice Against qua [...]ing of great drincking. The king therefore put downe many ale­houses, and would suffer but one in a village or Towne, ex­cept it were a great borough: he ordayned certaine Cuppes Lavvs against dronkardes. with pinnes or nayles, and made a lawe, that who soeuer dranke paste that marke at one draughte, shoulde forfayte a certaine payne.

Alwynus Alderman, earle of East-angle, kinsman to king Edgar, founded the Abbey of Ramsey: King Edgar confirming Ramsey fon̄ded. Ex charta regia. the same on Christmasse daye. 974. in the presence of all the Nobilitie. The same yere was an Earthquake through al England.

Edgar being at Chester, entred the riuer of Dee, hée tooke Eight kings ro­vved K. Edgar. Horiacensis. Iohn Pike. Eulogium. W. Malme. Alfridus Beuerla. Speculum histo. the rule of the Helme, and caused eyght kings to rowe hym vnto Saint Iohns Church, and from thence vnto hys Pa­laice, in token that he was Lord and King of so many Pro­uinces. The names of the eight Kings were, Rinoch king of Scottes; Malcoline of Cumberland, Macone king of Man and of [Page 134] many Ilands: Dufnal King of Demecia, or South Wales: Si­ferth and Huwall, kings of Wales: Iames king of Galaway: and [...]i. Cir [...]st. Rog H [...]ed. Flores Historiarū. R [...]y [...]lf Hygden. Hērie Bradshaw. Edmerus. [...] Osbernus. Autonius Archi. Marianus Scotus. Iukil of Westmerlande. King Edgar raigned sixetéene yere, & was buried at Glastenburie

By his first wife Egelslede (as some doe write) or by a re­ligious votarie, as some other doe write, he hadde issue Ed­ward surnamed the martyr, who succéeded after his Father. Of his wife Elfrith daughter to Ordgarus, Duke of Deuon­shire, he receyued another son named Ethelrede, & a daugh­ter named Wolfrith.

EDward the sonne of Edgar was crowned at Kingstone by y ^• 975 The king crovvned at Kingstone. Iohn Pike. W [...]l. Malme. Alfridus Peuerl. Speculum histo. Ri. Ciren. Flores Historiarū. The king mur­thered by his step mother. handes of Dunstan Archbishoppe of Canturburie, and Os­walde Archbishoppe of Yorke. This man might well be com­pared to his Father for his modest [...]e and gentlenesse, so that he was worthyly fauoured of all men, except onely of hys stepmother, and other of hir aliaunce, whyche euer bare a grudge against him, for so muche as she desired to haue y ^• go­uernaunce of the realme for hir owne sonne Ethelred.

This Edward while he was hūting in a forest (by chāce) lost his companie, and rode alone to refresh himselfe at the Castell of Corffe, where by Counsayle of his stepmother El­frede, he was traytorouslye murthered▪ as he satte on hys horsse, when he had raigned thrée yeares. He was buried at Warham, and after at Shaftesburie.

Elphred did after take great penaunce, and builded two VVarvvel and Almesbury built. monasteries of Nuns, Almesburie & Warwel: in which Warwel the after liued a solitarie life till she dyed.

ETheldrede commonly called Unready, the sonne of King 978 W. Malme. Speculum Hist. Ric [...] Ciren. Edgar, by his seconde wife Elphrede, was crowned at Kingstone. But bycause he came to the Kingdome by wicked meanes, and by killing his brother, he coulde neuer get the good wyll of the people, who had conceyued an ill opinion of hym: of thys arose ciuill warres within the Realme, and often dissention and discordes, as well of the Nobles as of the common sort.

Anno. 982. a great part of the Citie of London was brent, Thomas Rudburn. [Page 135] which Citie at this time had most building from Ludgate to­warde Westminster: and little or none where the harte of the Citie is nowe: except in diuerse places was housing that stoode without order: so that manye Cities, as Canturburie, Yorke, and other in Englande, passed London in building: but after the Conquest it encreased, and nowe passeth all other.

A disease not knowen in England in time past, to witte, Asser. Flux of men, &c morraine of Cattaile. Bishops Sea at Excester. Feuers of men, with the Flix, and Morren of cattayle kil­led many.

Anno. 994. King Ethelred erected a Byshoppes sea at Excester.

The same yeare Anlafe Kyng of the Norwayes▪ & Sweyne King of Danes, on the daye of the Natiuitie of our Lorde, in xviij. Galleys came vp to London, whiche they attempted to breake into, and to set on fire, but they were repulsed, not without their greate detriment and losse by the Citizens, wherevppon they being driuen with furie, leauing London, set vpon Eastsex and Kent, by the sea coastes, brent Townes, and wasted the fields, without respect of sex or age killed al▪ & wasted with fire & sword al what they may not carry away. At length being pacified with a Tribute of. 16000. pounds, departed to theyr shyppes, and Wintered at Southampton.

Anno. 995. a Comet apeared. The Bishoprick of Lind [...] ­fer Bishops sea a [...] Durham, or Hol [...]e Iland was remoued to Durham.

In the yeare. 1002. King Etheldred caused al the Danes in The Danes [...] ­thered. Burton vpon Trent. England to be slayne, vpon the day of Saint Brice. The same yeare Vl [...]ricus Spote founded a Monasterie at Burton vppon Trent. In Anno. 100 [...]. Swayn King of Denmark with agret army inuaded Englēd with fire and sword. 1004▪ they fought a great battell at The [...]forde against Vlfekettel Carle of East-Angle. Asser.

The yere. 1009. they fought another battel against Vlfe­kettel at Rengemore. The yere, 1011. they destroyed Cantur­burie, & for that y ^• Archbishoppe Elfegus woulde not yéelde to them he was first imprisoned there, & after carried to Grene­wiche, and there stoned to deathe. Christes Churche is [Page 136] spoyled and brent: the Monkes with all other men are [...] ­ [...]hed, Tirāny of the Danes in Eng­lande. nine of euery ten being put to death, the tenth suffered to liue in miserie: the number of them that were left aliue was four Monkes, and of lay people eight hundred, so that y ^• number slaine was 36. Monkes, and. 8000. of the lay peo­ple.

In Anno. 1012. they toke tribute of. 48000. poundes, and Record eccle. Ca [...]. Marianus▪ Tloriacensis. at the last after diuerse ouerthrowes giuen to the mē of this Iland, they possessed the same, and putte king Etheldred to flight, constrayning him to liue in exile among the Normās.

This Etheldred had two wiues, Ethelgina an Englishe Ethelgina and Emma vviues to Etheldred. Alured and Ed­vvard, the sons of Etheldred. woman, and Emma a Norman: of the first he had two childrē, of which sauing of Edmonde who succéeded hym in the king­dome, it were nothing to our purpose to speake. Of the secōd that was Emma, sister to Richard Duke of Normandie, there were borne two sonnes, to witte, Edward and Alured. And that I do here (contrarie to that is commonly vsed▪) set Ed­ward before Alured as elder brother, I am moued therevnto by no smal aucthoritie, which I haue taken out of the histo­riographers W. Gemeticensis. Encomium Emma of that age, out of Gemeticensis▪ a most diligē [...] writer of Genealogies, and one other author, who in hys Commentarie written in praise of Emma the Quéene, affir­meth that Edwarde was the elder brother, whom I doe the better beléeue, bycause it is not like, that he séeing the things wyth his eyes, shoulde mistake the matter, especiallye wri­ting to the Quéene, who was mother to them both.

Swanus in the meane time subdued al Englande, and the people for feare yelded vnto hym on euery side, ouer whome most cruelly he tryumphed. But not long after he departed this life at Geynesburge and left Canutus his sonne, successour in the Kingdome.

Etheldrede hearing that Swanus was dead, leauing in Normandie with Duke▪ Richard his sisters sonne, Emma his wife, and the children that he hadde by hyr, returned with al spéede into Englande with Edmunde his sonne by hys firste wife, being then at mās state, & by the trustinesse of his own [Page 137] men, and the ayde of the Normans, moued warre against his enimie.

Canutus finding himselfe vnable to matche with him, went into Denmarke, minding to returne hither immediat­ly againe.

Etheldred being contrarie to his expectation thus resto­red to his kingdome, shewed great crueltie vpon the Danes that remained in England, sparing neither man nor woman, yong nor old. Therefore Canutus being very desirous to re­uenge the same, prepared a new armie, and came into En­gland against Etheldred with al spéede he could, raging wide and side with fire and sword. Etheldred in the meane season, whether by sicknesse or for sorrow, dyed, when he had raig­ned [...]o. Taxtor. Wil. Malme. Alfredus Beuers lacensis. eight and thirtie yeares, and was buryed in the North Ile of Paules Church in London aboue the high Aulter.

EDmond the sonne of Etheldred by his first wife, succéeded 1016 Edmond Ironside. W. Malme. in the Kingdome, who (whether it were for the greate strength of his body, or for that he alwayes vsed to go in ar­mour) was surnamed Ironside.

He had sixe battels against Canutus King of the Danes Leyland. at Penham hard by Gillingham in Dorcetshire.

He put the Danes to flight after that at Shirestone.

He held euen hand with them in the field, notwithstan­ding that the Englishmen at the first beganne to flée, by the policie of Edricus Duke of Lincolne, and of Merce, who cryed Edrike a Traytor. runne away wretches, Edmond your King is slayne.

After this, King Edmond came to London, to deliuer the Citizens, whome part of the enimies had beséeged as soone as he was gone from thence.

He had made a ditch also round about the Citie, where Ditch about London. the Riuer of Thamis doth not runne. The Danes fléeing, the King followed them, and passing ouer Brentford, he vanqui­shed them with a notable victorie.

The rest of y ^e Danes which remayned with Cnute (whiles London besee­ged both by land and by vvater. Edmond rested him, and set his matters in order) did a­gaine beséege London, both by water and by lande, but the [Page 138] Citizens stoutely withstoode, and repulsed them, wherefore they shewed their anger vpon the Countrey of the Mercies, spoyling Townes and Uillages with robbery, burnings, and murther, and caryed their pray to the Shippes whiche they had gathered togither in the Riuer of Medway, which runneth by Rochester, from whence they were driuen by the King, who taking the foorde of Brentford before them, put them to flight, and slew a great number of them.

The sixt and last battell was at Essendone in Essex, néere to Rochford, in which battell Edmond had gote the victorie, Cogshal. Sca. Cro. but Edrike agayne playing the Traytor, greate slaughter of the Englishmen was made, there the honor of Englande was ouerthrowen, and Edmonde wente almost alone on foote to Glocester, where hée gathered a newe force to set vpon his enimies, but Cnute pursued him as he fledde, and hauing prepared their armies, both the Kings them­selues attempted to fight hand to hand for the right of the Combate for the Kingdome. kingdome in the Ile of Olania in Seuerne, in the which Com­bate, they both being wéeryed, fell to a couenant to deuide the same, so that the one halfe of the Kingdome shoulde be England de­uided. vnder Canutus, and the other halfe vnder Edmond, which Edmond not long after dyed at Oxford, whereas it is saide he was slayne by the treason of Edrike of Straton, and was buryed at Glastenbury, leauing Edmonde and Edwarde his children very yong.

This Edrike was not long vnrewarded according to his desertes, for hymselfe making vaunt thereof vnto Ca­nutus, then being at Baynardes Castell in London, sayde in this wise, Thus haue I done Canutus for the loue of thée, Edrikus a Traytor. to whome he answered, saying: and thou shalt dye as well thou art woorthy, bycause thou art giltie of Treason against God and me, in that thou hast slayne thine owne Lord and King, which was ioyned to me in league as a Brother, his bloud be vpon thine owne head: and straight wayes, least there should be any tumulte, the Traytor was in the same Speculum histo. Ri. Cirecest. Chamber tormented to death with firebrands and linkes, [Page 139] and then his féete being bounde togither, he was drawne through the Stréetes of the Citie, and cast into a ditch, cal­led Houndes ditch, for that the Citizens there cast their dead Hunsditch. Treason re­vvarded. Dogges, and such other filth, accompting him woorthy of no better buriall. These Princes raigned togyther two yeares.

CAnutus the Dane, taking an occasion, bycause in the co­uenant 1018 that was cōcluded concerning y ^e deuiding of the Realme, no assurance was made for the Children of Ed­mond, The Danes possessed all England. he chalenged all England to himselfe alone by law as they call it, of growing to, which was a most easie thing for him to do, bycause there was no man that durst erect him­selfe as patrone to defend the childrens right and title, and by this suttle and craftie interpretation of the couenant: the Dane gote the Monarchie of England and slew the brother of Edmond, and conueyed the children farre away out of En­gland, least they should at any time be brought againe and receiue their right. Some say, they were sent to a certayne The Kings chil­dren conueyed into Svvethen. man that was a Prince in Swethland, there to be dispatched out of the waye: and that the Prince vnderstanding they were Kings children, spared them, cōtrarie to the credit and trust that was committed vnto him: which appeareth to be true, in that the same foraigne Lord kept and brought vppe the children honourablye, the yongest of whiche whose name was Edwarde, did afterwardes marrie Agatha, the Agatha the Em­perors daughter the vvife of Ed­vvarde. daughter of Henry the fourth, Emperour of Rome, of whome he had many children, of whiche we shall speake héereafter. And the other, which was y ^e elder brother, whose name was Edmond, dyed without children. In the meane season Ca­nutus, bycause he had no heire that lawfully might succéede him in his kingdome (for Harold & Swaine were begottē of Harolde and Svvayne concu­bines children. a Concubin) partly that he might establish in time to come the kingdome that he had gotten vnto his owne kindred y ^t came by lawfull succession: and partly that he might pur­chase to himselfe the friendship of the Englishmen, and of the Normans, procured to haue giuen him in marriage Emma, [Page 140] the widow of King Etheldred, who at that time was with Edward and Alured hir sonnes in exile with Duke Richard in Normandy, whiche mariage séemeth to be made euen by Gods prouidence, who had determined to restore the com­mon wealth in England, whereby, as by the law and title of recouerie, and returne out of exile, the monarchie of all En­gland, which the Danes had taken from the Englishmen, and had possessed sixe and twentie yeares and more, did returne againe to the Englishmen that were the right heires. For Emma concluded mariage with the Dane, vpon condition Mariage made vpon conditiō. that the Kingdome of England should remayne vnto none o­ther but to the Children that were begotten of hir, if any of them did remaine aliue: by reason of this mariage, shortly after she did beare Canutus a sonne of his owne name, com­monly called Hardycanutus.

This second name was giuen him bycause of his great Hovv tvvo names vvere gi­uen to Kings. courage, like as his brother Harold was named Harefoote, that is to say, lightfoote, bycause of his notable swiftnesse of foote.

By this affinitie and aliance, the Danes became of the more strength and power.

He kept Englishmen in his seruice so long as he liued.

He subdued the Scottes whereby he was King of England, Canutus King of foure King­domes. Scotland, Denmarke, and Norway.

After that, he went to Denmarke, and so to Rome, and re­turned againe into England, where he kept good iustice all his life, and did many charitable déedes.

He made a faire Church at Ashendume in Essex.

He founded a-new the Monasterie of Saint Edmondesbury, Saint Edmunds­bury buylded. Ex charta regia. Marianus. restoring the donation which Edmond King of the West Sa­xons had giuen to Saint Edmund the King and Martyr, who lyeth there buryed.

He appoynted to be King of Norway Swanus his sonne Marianus. (as was sayde) by Alfgine daughter to Althelme Duke of Northampton, and his Lady Vulfrune: but other said, he was a Priests sonne &c.

[Page 141]He also appoynted his sonne Hardycanutus by Emma, to be King of Denmarke, and deceassed at Shaftesburie when he had raigned twentie yeares, and was buried in S. Swi­thens at Winchester.

HArold for his swiftnesse called Harefoote whome Canu­tus 10 [...]8 had by a Concubine Alice of Hampton, a Shomakers daughter (affirming himselfe to be sonne of Canutus and Peter de Ich [...]. Marianus. Floriacen. Alfgina the Earle of North-hamptons daughter) slept not vp­pon the occasion and oportunitie offered, but vsing the force of the Danes that dwelt in England, inuaded the Realme, while his brother Hardycanute gouerned in Denmarke.

He tooke from his mother in law Emma, the most parte of the riches and treasure that Canute his father had left hir, and then with consent of the great Lords began to raigne, but not so mightily as his Father Canutus did, for a more iust heire Hardycanutus was looked for, wherevpon the Kingdome was deuided, the North part to Harold, and the South to Hardycanute.

Edward and Alfred sonnes to King Ethelred, with ma­ny Knightes, came out of Normandy, to sée their mother at Winchester, whiche sore troubled the mindes of many greate men, who bare more fauour to King Harold. Especially Godwine Earle of Kent, feigning to receiue Alfred as a friend, came to méete him, but in the end put him in prison, parte of his companye he put in fetters, and after put out their eyes. Of some he caused their skinne to be plucked o­uer their eares, chopping off their hands and féete. Some he commanded to be solde, and diuers were murthered at Gil­forde.

Quéene Emma hearing of this dealing, she sent hir sonne Edward backe againe into Normandy.

After this, Alfride was conueyed to the Ile of Eely, where his eyes being firste plucked out, he was deliuered to the Monckes to be kept prisoner there, where shortly after hée departed this life, and was buryed in the South Ile of the West part of the Church.

[Page 142]Bycause Hardycanutus delayed to come ouer being sent for, he was vtterly reiected, and Harold, who before was King of the Mercies and Northumbers, was chosen King of all England, who shortly after expelled his mother in law Emma out of the Realme. He raigned thrée yeares, dyed at Oxford, and was buryed at Westminster, and after at Saint Cle­ments without Templebarre at London.

HArdycanutus the lawfull begotten sonne of Canutus and 1041 Emma as soone as he had gotten his fathers Kingdome, fetched home his mother out of exile: and in reuenge of dis­pleasure that was done to hir, and of the murther of his brother Alured, he commanded the carkas of Harold to be digged out of the earth, and to be throwen into the Riuer of Thamis, where by a Fisher it was taken vp, and brought to the Danes, who buryed it in a Church yard, which they had This is suppo­sed to be S. Cle­ments Church vvithout Tem­ple barre. at London. Which done, the King appoynted eyght markes to be payde to euery Sayler in his name, & twelue markes to euery Pilote or Maister, which tribute was to be payd of al England, so gréeuous, that scarce any was able to beare it. Shortly after, he sent for Edward the sonne of Etheldred, his brother of the mothers side, to come into England, and em­braced him with all loue and fauour. Being at a mariage feast pleasantly drincking with the Bride & other persons, in the middest of his cups he fell suddaynely downe to the ground & so remaining dumbe, departed this life the third yeare of his raigne, & was buried by his father at Winchester.

EDward borne at Islip besides Oxford, the sonne of Ethel­dred, 104 [...]. Alfridus Beuerla. Io. Rouse. whom Hardycanutus had sent for into England, was Crowned at Winchester. This Edward for his excellēt holy­nesse, is vntill this day called Saint Edward who so soone as he had gotten his fathers kingdome, of his owne frée will released the tribute of 40000. pound, called Dane gelt, which Dane gelt. the English people, euen from the very beginning of the reigne of the Danes, was compelled to pay to their Kings e­uery The first com­ [...]ing vp of the common Lavv. yeare. He was also the chiefe author and cause, that the law which we call the common Law, was first brought [Page 143] vp, being gathered togither out of the lawes and ordināces of four nations, which were receiued when the Island was subiect to diuers regiments & gouernances, to witte, of the Mercies, of the West Saxons, of the Danes, & of the Northumbers. Mercies, vvest Saxons, Danes, and Northum­bers. He was hard to his mother, bycause she was hard to him in his minoritie, and also suspected with Alwine Bishop of Winchester, whome he put in prison, by counsell of Roberte Archbishop of Canturbury: but after his mother had purged hirselfe, Alwine was deliuered, and Robert the Archbishop conueyed himselfe out of England. He tooke to wife Edgitha, Sea. Cron. the daughter of Earle Godwine, who bycause she brought Edgitha vvas barreyne. him forth no children, neyther was there any hope that she should beare any, whē he did sée that many did gaye after y ^• kingdome, he began to be carefull for one that should iustly succéede him, and therfore following the reason of y ^• commō law, he sent for home into England his Nephew Edward, the sonne of king Edmond his brother, who by reason of his lōg absence out of the Countrey, was cōmonly called y ^e outlaw. This is that Edward, the sonne of King Edmond surnamed Ironside, which remained aliue, whome Canutus when he had gotten England, had sent into Swethen with his brother. He knowing the aduise of his. Uncle, came againe into En­gland, and brought with him Agatha his wife, & Edgar, Mar­garet and Christian his children, borne in Panonia, in hope of the kingdome, where he liued but a while. Thus S. Edward being disappoynted, both of his Nephew and his heire, for that Edward the outlaw was both by néerenesse of bloud, and by lawfull succession right heire vnto the Kingdome, withoute delaye pronounced Edgar the outlawes sonne, and his greate Nephew, to bée heire of the Kingdome, and gaue him to surname Adeling, which name in those dayes was peculiar onely to Kings Children, which were borne in hope and possibilitie of the Kingdome: for thys worde Adeling, in the English tong, is as much to say, as Prince, or Lorde, the contrary of which word is▪ Vnderling, that is The significati­on of the vvord Adeling. to say, a seruan [...]or or bondman: or according to the Walche [Page 144] spéech, Adeling signifieth heire: but bycause this Edgar was but yong of yeares, and within age, by his testamente he made Harold the sonne of Godwine (a stoute man both in warre and peace) Regent, vntill the yong Edgar should be of age to receyue the Kingdome, and that then he should be made King: which thing Harold with a solemne oth promi­sed to sée so performed and done. Notwithstanding, he like a Traytour (by force of armes) immediately after y ^• death of Edward, refused the name of Regent, and pronounced him­selfe Alfridus Beuerl. Speculum histo. R [...]. Cirecest. Flores histo. King, whiche thing shortly after brought destruction both to himselfe, and to all England.

Anno 1051. Eustace Earle of Bullogne, which had to wife Floriacen. Goda, sister to King Edward, arriued at Douer, where one of his men quarelling aboute his lodging, slewe one of the Townesmen, in reuenge whereof, not only the quareller, but other of his company, and many of the Towne were slayne, whiche doing so muche offended Godwine Earle of Kent, that he assembled a great power, wherewith he mar­ched toward Glocester, where the king then lay, vnto whome he sent messengers to denounce warre, except he would de­liuer Eustace and his fellow Normans and Bolognians, which held a Castell in the dominions of Kent.

After this, Godwins armie entered into Glocester, but it was there agréed, that at a day appoynted, the King and Earle Godwine should méete at London: and thus depar­ting for the time, the King increasing his armie, ledde the same to London, and Godwine with his power came to Southwarke on the other side of the Riuer Thamis: but there bycause his armie by little and little stipped from him, he fledde, and the King forthwith pronounced him, with his fiue sonnes, to be banished, who straightwayes with his wife, and two of his sonnes came to Thorney, where his Shippe being laden with Golde, Siluer, and precious things, he sayled towarde Flanders: his other sonnes tooke Shippe at Bristow, and sayled into Ireland.

In the next yeare, Harold and Leofwine, sonnes to Earle [Page 145] Godwine, returning out of Ireland, entred Seuerne, arriued with many Shippes in Somerset and Dorsetshires, spoyled many Townes in the Countrey, slew many people, and re­turned with pray, then they sayle about Portesmouth. &c.

Earle Godwine landed in Kent, gathered a power, say­led to the Ile of Wight, wasting along the Sea coastes, till his sonnes Harold and Leofwine came with a Nauy, which being come togither, they take their course vp the Riuer of Thamis, came to Southwarke, and there stayed for the Tide, and then weyed vp Anchor, and finding none that offered to resist them on the Bridge, they sayled vp by the South side of the Riuer, and his armie by land, placing it selfe vp­pon the banckes side, made shew of a thicke and terrible bat­tayle.

After this, the Nauie turned toward the North shore, as though it would haue compassed in the Kings Nauie: but they that were with the King, and with Godwine, abhorred to fight againste their owne kindred and Countreymen, wherefore a peace was made, Godwine with his sonnes were restored to all former honor, and the Normans were banished the land.

As William of Malmesbury writeth, a certayne yong wo­man W. Malme. Kings euill hea­led by the King. being terribly diseased, by reason of humors gathered about hir necke into great swelling kernels, came to King Edward, who with his right hand dipped in water, handled hir necke, and forthwith y ^e hardnesse did breake, the wormes with the matter ranne out, and all the noysome dwelling asswaged, so that she was perfectly hole, and faire skinned ere the wéeke were ended: and they that knewe his life, sayd, he had oft cured this plague in Normandy.

This Edward raigned thrée and twentie yeres, sixe mo­nethes, T. Rudborn. and odde dayes.

He was buryed on the day of the Epiphanie, in the Ab­bey of Saint Peeter in Westminster which he had newly buil­ded.

In the same day Harold the eldest sonne of Godwine [Page 146] Earle of Kent, and brother to Edgitha the Quéene, hauing obteyned fayth of the nobilitie, tooke the Crowne.

Leofrike Earle of Mercia, and of Hereford, founded the Monasterie of Couentrie in Anno 1044. He also granted great priuiledges to that Towne.

HArold, that he might in some behalfe séeme to make the 1066 The yeare of our Lord be­ginneth heere at Christmas. yong Edgar amendes for the wrong he had done him, gaue him the Earledome of Oxford, and so from a King, he made him an Earle. But in the meane season England be­gan to be tossed and turmoyled with warres within and without: for the disheriting of the right heire is alwayes wont to be the beginning of ciuill warres.

The 24. day of Aprill, a Comete appeared, not only to the people of this land, but also in other parts of the world seauen dayes. Toftus enuying (as men said) the prosperitie [...]og. Houed. Simon D [...]nel. Gualter Couen. of his brother, stirred vp troubles in the Realme, for he ioy­ning himselfe to Harold the King of Norway, assaulted En­gland in warlike sort, both by sea and land. Whose attempt whiles Harold of England prepared to withstand, William Duke of Normandy, who notwithstāding he was a Bastard, VVilliam Con­querour cousyn to King Ed­vvard by the mother side. was of kinne to Saint Edward in the thirde and fourth de­grée of consanguinitie, séeing a conuenient time and occa­sion offered to take the Kingdome in, gathered a Nauie of 896. Shippes, and came into England with a very well ap­poynted armie, alledging, that by all right and title it was due to him, by the gift of King Edward his kinsman, and al­so by the couenant that was made, and by othe established betwixt Harold and him. He landed at Pemsey, nine miles Gualter Couen. from Hastings, the 28. of September. Harold notwithstan­ding he was bare of men, by reason of the battel that he had fought against Toftus, and the men of Norway, yet hearing of Williams comming, wente straightwayes againste him. Both armies being broughte into aray, the battell was fought, wherin great slaughter of Englishmen was made, and England con­quered by vvoden bovves and arovves. the Normans gote the victorie, especially by meanes of their wodden bowes and arrowes (which the Englishmen had not [Page 147] then in vse) for Duke William commanded his men, that Io. Rouse. some of them should shoote directly forwarde, and some vp­ward, by reason whereof, the arrow shot vpward, destroyed the English as they stouped, and the arrow shot directly a­fore hand wounded them that stoode vpright: and King Ha­rold himselfe (valiantly fighting) was shotte through the Harold slayne. braynes, whereof he dyed, when he had raigned nine mo­nethes, and was buryed in the Priorie of Waltham which he Sigebertus Gem­la [...]en. W. Gemi [...]censis. Gualterus Couen. Hen. Hunting. Register of Wodbridge. Chronicle of Normandy. The description of the Saxons. Mathew Paris. W. Malme. Flores Historiarū. had founded. This battell was fought at Hastings in Sus­sex, vppon the fourtéenth day of October being Sater­day, in the yeare of oure Lord 1066. There was slayne of Englishmen 67974. and of Normans 6013.

This was (saith Mathew Paris) the dolefull destruction of this swéete and pleasant land, the Kings whereof (mea­ning the Saxons) at their firste comming, with barbarous countenance and gesture, in warlike sort, prouoked all men to malice and hatred towards them, who ouercame al men by warre and subtiltie: but after they had receyued the Christian faith, and by little and little applyed their dili­gence vnto Religion, they neglected the exercise of armour, for the Kings did change their habite, and some at Rome, and some in their owne Countrey, sought to change their tem­porall Kingdomes for euerlasting Kingdomes: and many which all their life time embraced worldly things, did yet distribute their treasures vnto all the workes of mercy: but afterwards when charitie waxed colde, all their studie and trauaile of Religion slaked, and then came the destruction of the inhabitants: first at the comming of the Danes, and now in the expulsing of the Englishmen by the Normans: for the noble men giuing themselues to gluttonie and leche­rie, did not goe to the Church in the morning as Christian men vse to doe, but lying in their Chambers dalying with Women, did heare the Priest hastilie rattle vp diuine ser­uice. The Clerkes also that had taken orders, if one had learned but his Grammer, euery one wondered at him.

[Page 148]All men generally gaue themselues to drinking and gulling, and spent both day and night in such exercises till they vomited.

The Saxons ware their garmentes to the midde knée, their heare rounded, and their beardes shauen (all saue the ouerlip) their armes adorned with golden bracelets, and W. Malme. their skinne paynted and printed. &c.