CHAP. I.
Of the General Geography, State and Antiquities of England.

WHatever crime it might be an­ciently in private Men to be skill'd in Maps and Charts of whole Countries, (that being thought a Piece of Knowledge, proper only for Princes and great Generals) 'tis now a mighty Defect in the modish Ac­complishments of the Age of the other­wise; and every Body is so much a Po­litician, States-man and Warriour, that there is no conversing in the World without an intimate Acquaintance with all the four Quarters of the Globe. 'Tis not my business at present to furnish out Instructions for the speedy Attainment of this kind of Learning; nor to explain Gazettes and Monthly Mercuries: that's done abundantly by other Hands. The sole design of this Chapter is the poin­ting at such ancient and modern Writers, [Page 2] as have describ'd (at large, and by whole­sale) the Lands and Territories, Cities and High-ways, Natural History, Poli­ticks, Antiquities, &c. of this King­dom.

Ptolemy, Ptolemy. liv'd (as ^a all agree) in the beginning of the second Century; and therefore we may safely call him the first Geographer that mention'd any thing of the British Islands. For the little florid Accounts which we have from Julius Caesar or Tacitus, ought not to come in­to this reckoning. And well he may seem to be so; since the Maps which Maginus and others have drawn by his Tables, sufficiently shew, that, when he wrote, Geography was but in its In­fancy. So much of him as relates to us, has been lately publish'd by ^b Dr. Gale, who has also give us his own learned Notes upon that part of the Book.

If Antoninus's Antoni­nus Itinerary were truly the Composure of that great Emperor, whose Name it bears, there would be no con­troversie in placing it next to Ptolemy's Tables: but ^c Vossius gives it too severe Language to deserve the Honour it had [Page 3] sometime gain'd in the world; and (in plain terms) calls it a Bastard. How­ever, let it be written by Antoninus, An­tonius or ^a Aethicus; 'tis of an ancient date, and shall here keep the Station and Repute it has gotten among as learned and wise Judges as have hitherto con­demn'd it. That part of his Work which concerns Britain, has been amply treated on by three of our own Coun­trymen: Mr. ^b R. Talbot, sometime Ca­non of Norwich, whose Manuscript Com­mentaries (much enlarg'd by Dr. Caius) are now in the Library at Caius College in Cambridge: Mr. William ^c Burton, School-master at Kingston upon Thames: And Dr. Tho. ^d Gale, the present Learned and Worthy Master of St. Paul's School in London.

The Liber Notitiarum comes next in order; Liber Notitia [...] rum. and the last mention'd ^e Learned Person has oblig'd us with as much of it as is for our purpose. He has also given us what may seem to have any relation to this Country, out of an old anonymous [Page 4] Geographer lately publish'd at Paris, to­gether with a List of the Hides or Tene­ments in the several Counties of England in the days of our Saxon Kings. And these (I think) are all the Remains of our old Geography, and the Summ of what was penn'd before the Conquest that look'd this way. For, with what confidence soever ^a J. Pits may re­port it, I do not believe that ever vene­rable Bede wrote any Book, De situ & mirabilibus Britanniae; or that any such thing is, or ever was to be had in the Library of Bennet College. His Ecclesi­astical History (as paraphras'd in the English Saxon Tongue by King Aelfred) is indeed there; and the first Chapter in it bears a Title which might impose up­on the good Man, or his Informer, who is often guilty of more groundless Mi­stakes than this.

From the Conquest, Since the Conquest. down to the Reign of King Henry the Eighth; our English Geographers have either been few, or the want of Printing has occasi­on'd the loss of most of them. Gyraldus Cambrensis's four Books of the Topogra­phy of Britain and his Itinerary, (both [Page 5] which ^a are said to be in Bennet-Li­brary) are the first I can hear off. And I doubt I shall only hear of them; for they seem to be the same with his Itine­rary and Topography of Wales. John Leland ^b says, he does not question but there was such a Book as the former of these. But all his industry could not ferret it out. Ralph de Diceto's Treatise ^c de mirabilibus Angliae seems to be as rare a Piece as either of the former; and is, perhaps, laid up with John Hormin­ger's ^d Commendations of England, or (as Bale calls it) de divitiis & deli­ciis Angliae. Of the same Stamp, I fan­sie, is William Thorn's ^e Chronicle of all the Countries (as well as Bishopricks and Abbeys) in England; John de Trevi­sa's ^f Description of Britain; and William Buttoner's ^g Antiquities, col­lected out of the old Charters, Leiger-Books, Epitaphs, &c. of the whole King­dom. Caxton's is the only thing in its kind, which I can assuredly say we have; as being long since publish'd with his ^h Chronicle or Fructus Temporum. Will it be any inducement to the Reader to per­use [Page 6] use this Author's Work to hear him re­commended by ^a Bale, under the cha­racter of vir non omnino stupidus aut ig­naviâ torpens?

Since the beginning of Henry the Eighth's Reign, In Hen Eighth's Reign. our eldest general Geo­grapher of Antiquary, is said to be ^b Tho. Sulmo (some call him Sulemanus, others Solimountes) a Guernsey Man, who died at London, A. D. 1545. The year following a much greater Man of the profession (Sir Thomas Eliot, one of King Henry's Ambassadors and Sir Tho­mas Moor's Friends) ^c di'd also, and left behind him a learned and judicious Commentary de rebus memorabilibus An­gliae. This work gain'd him the Repute of a most accomplish'd Antiquary in the opinion of J. ^d Leland, who is almost immoderate in his Praises. But Hum­phrey ^e Lhuyd (being a little disgusted at his Prytannia) could only allow him the modest Character of vir non contem­nendae eruditionis. Cotemporary with these two, was George Lilly (Son of Wil­liam Lilly the famous Grammarian) who liv'd sometime at Rome with Cardinal [Page 7] Pool; and publish'd the first exact ^a Map that ever was drawn of this Island.

The chief Ornament of this King's Reign, John Le­land. was John Leland, his Library-Keeper and Canon of Christ-Church, of whom we shall have occasion to speak more largely ^b elsewhere. Among the many voluminous Writings he left behind him, those that have any relation to the general Description of England, are his ^c Itinerary in five Volumes (which J. ^d Pits seems to have sub­divided into a great many other Trea­tises) and his ^e Cygnea Cantio. The latter of these is a Poetical Piece of Flat­tery, or a Panegyrick on King Henry; wherein the Author brings his Swan down the River of Thames, from Oxford to Greenwich, describing (as she passes along) all the Towns, Castles and o­ther places of Note within her view. And the ancient Names of these, being sometimes different from what the com­mon Herd of Writers had usually given, therefore (in his Commentary on this Po­em) he Alphabetically explains his Terms; and by the bye, brings in a great deal of the ancient Geography of this Island.

[Page 8] Persons of greatest eminence in this Qu. Eliz. sort of Learning, under Queen Elizabeth, were Humphrey Lhuyd, John Twyne, Wil­liam Harrison and William Camden. The first of these was born at Denbigh, where he afterwards practis'd Physick, and wrote many excellent Treatises. He was an intimate Acquaintance of Orte­lius, whom he assisted in the Edition of his Ancient Geography, furnishing him with Maps of England and Wales. And because he therein disagreed from the o­pinions of some former Antiquaries, in the Position of several of the old Cities, Forts and Rivers, he sent him also his ^a Commentarioli Britannicae descriptio­nis fragmentum; which gives reasons for all the uncommon Assertions he had there laid down. He shews in it how imperfect all the accounts of this Island are, which we have from the Roman Writers, and how dark, for want of a little skill in the old British Language. From thence he derives most of our anci­ent Names; and herein he is much fol­low'd by Camden, as himself (in other matters) is a great follower of Leland. John Twyne (Schoolmaster, and some­time [Page 9] ^a Mayor of Canterbury) was so considerable in Antiquities, as to deserve a very high place among J. Leland's ^b Worthies; and appears indeed to have been a man of extraordinary Know­ledge in the Histories and Antiquities of this Kingdom. The only thing of his that's publish'd is his Treatise ^c de re­bus Albionicis, Britannicis at (que) Anglicis: but his Grandson Bryan gave several o­ther of his Manuscript Collections to Corpus Christi College in Oxford; where they still remain. William Harrison (Chaplain to Sir William Brook Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports) with great Pains, and good Judgment, collected, A Description of the Island of Britain, with a brief Rehearsal of the Nature and Qualities of the People of England, and such Commodities as are to be found in the same. Which in three Books, has been ^d several times printed together with R. Holinshead's Chronicle. Besides these, 'tis said, George Coryat (Rector of Od­combe, and Father to Tom. Coryat of fa­mous Memory) wrote a ^e Descripti­on of England, Scotland and Ireland, in [Page 10] Latin Verse, which he dedicated to Queen Elizabeth.

But the Glory of this Queen's Reign, W. Cam­den 's Bri­tannia. as well as her Successor's, and the Prince of our English Antiquaries, was Mr. Camden, whose Life has been written at large by Dr. Smith, Mr. Wood, and Mr. Gibson. So that I need not here mention any of its particulars. His Britannia is the Book which chiefly re­spects the Subject of this Chapter; and may honestly be styl'd the common ^a Sun, whereat our modern Writers have all lighted their little Torches. In La­tin it had many ^b Editions during the Life of its Author, who continually polish'd and improv'd it; 'Twas first translated into English by Philemon Hol­land; who gave two ^c Editions of it in that Language. The former of these appearing while Mr. Camden himself was alive, I am apt to believe (with Tho. ^d Fuller) that many of the Addi­tions and Interpolations, which were then charg'd on the Translator, might not only come in by the Author's own [Page 11] Permission and Consent, but were also placed there by his Directions, and are as truly his proper Work as any other part of the Text. But, in the second, Holland himself frequently turns Anti­quary, taking upon him to correct, add and explode what he pleases. These Corruptions have been all noted in a late English Edition of the Work; where­in, 'tis hoped, effectual care has been taken to do the great Author all the Ho­nour and Justice he has merited from his Countrymen. Some early Attempts were made by an envious Person, one ^a Brook or Brookmonth, to blast the de­servedly great Reputation of this Book; but they perish'd and came to nothing; as did likewise the terrible Threats given out by Sir Symonds D. Ewes, that he would discover ^b Errors in every Page. As little to be regarded is that scurrillous In­vective, which Fuller has most unwor­thily inserted into his Church-History: a Work wherein (if the Author had been capable of any such thing) a Man would have expected nothing but what look'd like Truth and Gravity. There is now no danger of his Suffering by the Injuries [Page 12] done him by Holland; and, I think, ve­ry little from the ^a unskilfull Epitome of the Book drawn by Vitellius a Fo­reigner, and long since publish'd at ^b Amsterdam.

To this we must here add another Work, Cam­den' s Re­mains. which is now generally ascribed to Mr. Camden; but at first carry'd on­ly in its Title Page the two last Letters ( M. N.) of both his Names. This is his Remains concerning Britain, its Lan­guages, Names, Surnames, &c. After 'twas enlarg'd by John Philipot (Somer­set-Herald) it has had many ^c Impres­sions, and has been confidently, and without any Scruple, father'd upon our great Antiquary. There are in it a deal of good Collections touching the Lan­guages, Money, Surnames and Appa­rel of our British and Saxon Ancestors: but his List of proper Names might be considerably enlarged and corrected by what ^d Scottelius and ^e Mr. Gibson have written on that Subject. As for his Allusions, Rebus and Anagrams, he himself fear'd they would pass for Foolish Fopperies; and I do not care for thwar­ting, [Page 13] without very good reason, any of his opinions. The conceits in Impresses, Apophthegms, Poems, Epigra msand Epi­taphs are endless, and therefore hardly worth registring in a Work of this Na­ture.

To our late Antiquaries, J. Speed and other late An­tiquaries. Mr. Camden has been the same thing as Homer was of old to the Poets of Greece. They have usually borrow'd or stoln their whole stock from him. J. Speed, 'tis true, was a Person of extraordinary In­dustry and Attainments in the Study of Antiquities; and seems not altogether unworthy of the Name of summus & eru­ditus Antiquarius, given him by ^a one who was certainly so himself. His Maps are extremely well; and make a noble Apparatus (as they were design'd) to his History. But his Descriptions of the several Counties are mostly short Ab­stracts of what Camden had said before him, saving only that of Norfolk, which (he owns, tho' he is not always so civil to his chief Benefactor) he had from Sir Henry Spelman. I am apt to believe he was not much in Sir Henry's Debt; since 'tis likely the Villare Anglicum (af­terwards [Page 14] publish'd in Sir Henry's Name▪ and said to be compos'd by him and Mr. Dodesworth) was chiefly drawn out of Speed's Alphabetical Tables on the back of his Maps. The like must be said of Edw. Leigh's short Treatise of ^a England describ'd, &c. which is a small handfull of Gleanings out of the same common Field. Of the like Complexi­on is a good share of Fuller's ^b Wor­thies; which pretends to give an account of the Native Commodities, Manufa­ctures, Buildings, Proverbs, &c. of all the Counties of England and Wales; as well as of their great men in Church and State; tho' this latter looks like the principal Design, and makes up the greatest part of the Volume. It was hudled up in hast, ^c for the procurement of some mo­derate profit for the Author, tho' he did not live to see it publish'd. It corrects many Mistakes in his Ecclesiastical Hi­story; but makes more new ones in their stead. The best things in it are the Catalogues of the Sheriffs; and the Lists of the Gentry, as they were return'd from the several Counties (twelve only excepted) in the 12th. year of Henry [Page 15] the Sixth. His chief Author is Bale, for the Lives of his eminent Writers; and those of his greatest Heroes are common­ly mis-shapen Scraps, mix'd with Tattle and Lyes. But the boldest Plagiary in the whole pack, is R. Blome, the pre­tended Author of the mock ^a Britan­nia, or, A Geographical Description of the Kingdoms of England, Scotland and Ire­land, &c. a most entire Piece of Theft out of Camden and Speed.

Besides these Volumes in print, M. S. Col­lections. there are many vast Bundles of Collections, re­lating to the general Geography and An­tiquities of this Nation, which still re­main in Manuscript; and are the pecu­liar Treasure of our publick and private Libraries. Such are those of H. Ferrers Esq a great Friend and Assistant to ^b Mr. Camden; one large Volume where­of (relating to the Pedigrees of our Nobility and Gentry) is now in the ^c Heralds Office at London, and others are scatter'd in private hands. Many more of the like kind are referr'd to by Sir William Dugdale: as those of ^d R. Glo­ver, ^e Jo. Hanson, ^f S. Kniveton, [Page 16] ^a A. Vincent, Sir ^b Hen. Spelman, Sir ^c R. St. George and others; and he has also left a fair number of his own Composure, which were kindly deposi­ted by himself in his Son Ashmole's Mu­saeum at Oxford. His Copartner Dodes­worth's are in Bodley's Library.

We are likewise indebted to them that have been at the Expence of making Sur­veys of the whole Kingdom, Maps. in order to the affording us more accurate Maps than those which had formerly been drawn at Random. After the use­full endeavours of Saxton and Speed, great Summs were expended this way by Seller and Morden, at whose charges some pilfering Interlopers have set up to vend more correct Maps of England (as they call them) which are in nothing different from theirs, but in some few changes of the Bearings of Towns, new Currents of Rivers, &c. all of the same value, and discover'd by the same Art, with the Painter's Wife's Island. Mr. Adams's large Map, with the Contracti­on of it afterwards must also be acknow­ledg'd to be done with good Pains, Judgment and Exactness. 'Twere to be [Page 17] wish'd his Index ^a Villaris had no more Errors nor Omissions in it: but we are not without hopes, but that the mighty Improvements which have been made upon this, by the Industrious and Learn­ed Mr. ^b Aubrey, may shortly be published.

The Natural History of England was Natural History. a thing never dream'd on till the Vis­count of St. Albans (Sir Francis Bacon) began to publish his own Discoveries in Experimental Philosophy; and, by his great Example and Success, set some les­ser Heads a working. 'Twas this great Man who first ^c observed to our En­glish Philosophers, that we wanted two parts in three of a just Natural History; which he calls Expatiatio Naturae & Ars. Under the former he ranks all the un­couth and uncommon Occurrences in Simple Nature; and, under the other, her several Modifications (and the ma­ny Useful and Instructive Discoveries that are made of Her) in Arts Mechani­cal. And yet what is it (upon the whole) that we have hitherto had on either of these Subjects? Dr. Childrey's [Page 18] ^a Britannia Baconica does promise an Historical Account of the Natural Rari­ties of England, Scotland and Wales; with Observations and Deductions an­swerable to the Rules laid down by the Lord Bacon: But his Volume (not to say a hard thing of him) is manifestly too small for the performance. Sir Hugh Platt's ^b Jewel House, and Dr. Mer­ret's ^c Pinax are also rather short Ca­talogues of our Natural Curiosities, than just Treatises upon 'em: For no such thing has yet appear'd. We have in­deed a pretty good stock of Materials to­wards the raising of such a Fabrick; if we could but meet with a Judicious and Daring Architect. The late Honourable and Famous Mr. Boyle has (in several of his Tracts) made large Discoveries of the Nature of our Frosts, Snow, Hail and other Meteors. Our flying and creeping Insects have been carefully mar­shall'd and examin'd by Dr. ^d Lister; who also has notably inform'd us of the most abstruse Phoenomena in our Springs and ^e Mineral Waters (as Dr. Plott [Page 19] likewise has ^a done) and has reduced our Land and ^b Sea-shells into the best Classes that are any where extant. Our ^c Fowl, ^d Fish, and ^e Quadrupeds are well Trib'd by Mr. Willughby and Mr. R [...]y. Our Earths, Metals, and other Fossils, have been enquir'd into by ^f Mr. Webster, and others. Our form'd Stones, which have been strangely neg­lected by the Naturalists of former Ages, will (we hope) shortly be very through­ly and satisfactorily treated on by the In­genious Dr. Woodward; who, by what he has already ^g publish'd on that Sub­ject, has rather rais'd our Expectations than remov'd our Doubts. We likewise expect a deal of Information, in these amusing Curiosities, from the Learned Mr. Edward Lhwyd, who has Abilities sufficient to go through with any Un­dertaking, wherein his singular Modesty will allow him to engage. Mr. Beau­mont ought also to be reminded of the thoughts he once had o [...] ^h setting forth [Page 20] a particular Tract to this purpose: No Man being better qualify'd for such a performance. Mr. Ray has put our Bo­tanists upon daily searches after new Plants; since his ^a Synopsis has told them what numerous Discoveries have been lately made by Mr. Lhwyd in Wales, Mr. Lawson in the Northern Counties of England, &c. The like Encouragements our Naturalists have from his (and Mr. Willughby's) Ornithology to make fur­ther Enquiries after the many hitherto undiscover'd Species of Birds; since 'tis easily observable, that the Authors of that Work having had the greatest Assi­stance from Mr. Johnson and Mr. Jessop (both Yorkshire Men) there are in it more Discoveries of new kinds from the North than any other Quarter of the Kingdom. To all these must be added the many Ingenious Informations com­municated, from most parts of the Na­tion, in our Philosophical Transactions; especially from some of the forementi­oned chief Naturalists of this Age, Dr. Plott, Dr. Lister; and Mr. Ray.

Some general Accounts have been gi­ven of our English Policy Policy. and Frame of [Page 21] Government; wherein our Historian ought to be well vers'd and conversant; especially in those that are written by Statesmen, and such as may be pre­sum'd to have well understood the Af­fairs they treat on. Sir Thomas Smith's ^a Commonwealth of England has met with good Applause; having been fre­quently printed both in English and La­tin. There was also another small Trea­tise (entitul'd, The Authority, Form and Manner of holding Parliaments) lately ^b publish'd in his Name: but some have question'd whether it be rightly father'd. Upon this latter Subject we have a printed Account of the Opinion of Mr. Camden ^c; together with those of J. Doderidge, Arthur Agard and Fran­cis Tate. Sir Walter Raleigh has like­wise written (as he used to do on all other Subjects) most judiciously and ^d a­cutely upon the Prerogatives of our Parliaments; and Sir Robert Cotton's ^e Posthuma are full of Learning on the same Topick. Dr. Chamberlain's present state of England has been so well [Page 22] receiv'd, as to admit of a new Edition almost yearly ever since 'twas ^a first publish'd. It has been indeed, of late, very coursly treated by a nameless Scrib­ler of Observations on the Times: But he seems to have been hir'd to the Drudge­ry of penning such unmannerly Reflecti­ons, by a Gentleman who had newly publish'd another Book (much fuller of Mistakes) under the like Title.

As to what concerns our Nobility and Gentry, Heraldry. all that come within either of those Lists, will allow that Mr. Selden's ^b Titles of Honour ought first to be well perus'd; for the gaining of a gene­ral Notion of the Distinction of Degrees from an Emperour down to a Country-Gentleman: And, after this, the three Volumes of Sir William Dugdale's ^c Ba­ronage of England; which gives an Ac­count of the Lives and Prowess of all our English Nobility, from the coming in of the Saxons down to the Year 1676. Whatever relates to the Knights of the most Noble Order of the Garter is com­pletely shewn us by Mr. Ashmole, in his most elaborate and perfect ^d Work on that Subject. For inferiour Ranks [Page 23] we have 'em in the Books of Heraldry that have been publish'd by Wyrley, Brooks, Vincent, Dugdale, and (especial­ly) Guillim; of the ^a two last Editions of whose Book 'tis observ'd, that R. Blome has so disguis'd and spoil'd it, that if the Author, or Authors, of it were li­ving they could scarce know it. What is missing in these will be abundantly sup­ply'd out of the great Treasury of MS. Collections in the Heralds Office at Lon­don; wherein are innumerable Inscripti­ons, Arms, Epitaphs, Pedigrees, Lists of Precedence at Coronations and Fune­rals, &c.

CHAP. II.
Of particular Descriptions of Counties; with their Cities and great Towns.

'TIS so much the general Humour of Mankind to be fond of their Native Soil, and Places of chief Resi­dence and Abode, that Historians must not pretend to be so far of a different Composition from their Neighbours as not to be subject to the common Frailty. They are as liable to discover their Do­tage, in this Particular, as other ordi­nary Mort [...]ls; and thence it comes that Ingulfus's History is so full of Crowland, W. Neubrigensis's of Yorkshire, M. Paris's of St. Albans, &c. whenever any sha­dow of an opportunity is offer'd 'Tis from the same Principle that we have sew Counties in England whose Records have not been carefully sought out, and Endeavours used to preserve them, by some of their Sons; who have usually prov'd more happy in such Undertakings (as having gone about them with most hearty Zeal and Application) than any [Page 25] of our more general Writers. Those that I have met with of this kind are here drawn into Order and Rank; according to the following Alphabetical Lists of our several Counties.

BARKSHIRE has not hitherto, Berks. that I know of, had its general Antiquities (nor its Natural History) collected by a­ny Body. Only, the Castle and Cha­pel of Windsor have been at large treated on by the excellent Pen of Elias Ash­mole Esquire, in his History of the Knights of the Garter, before mention'd.

BEDFORDSHIRE is under the like Bedford. Misfortune; tho' the History of Dunsta­ble (of which in its proper place) and other Records are not wanting, to fur­nish out Materials for such a Work.

BVCKINGHAMSHIRE has had the Bucks. happiness to have some of its Borders (about Ambrosden, &c.) curiously de­scrib'd, and its Antiquities preserv'd, by the Ingenious ^a Mr. Kennet.

CAMBRIDGESHIRE, A little of Cam­bridge. both the Natural History and Antiqui­ties [Page 26] of this County is touch'd on by Sir William Dugdale, in his History of the ^a Imbanking and Dreining of divers Fenns and Marshes both in Foreign Parts and in this Kingdom. Dr. Hickes, in the Appendix to his ^b Saxon Grammar mentions a Manuscript in Sir John Cot­ton's Library (entitul'd, Statuta de Gildâ quâdam in Cantabrigiâ) which seems to relate to the Town of Cambridge. The Writers upon the Affairs of the Univer­sity belong to ^c another place.

CHESHIRE Chester. was long since describ'd by Lucian, a Monk, soon after the Con­quest; whose Work is cited by ^d Cam­den, as a piece of great Rarity and good Value. S. Erdeswick (the great Anti­quary of Staffordshire) seems to have written also something of the History of this County; as is intimated by his MS. Book in the hands of several Gentlemen of Staffordshire, which begins thus; ^e Having disposed with my self to take a further View of the Shires of Stafford­shire and Chester, &c. A third Descrip­tion of this County (Geographical and [Page 27] Historical) was written by W. Smith, Rouge-dragon Pursuivant at Arms, and left in the hands of Sir Ranulph Crew, sometimes Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench; whose Grandchild (Sr R. Crew) afterwards publish'd it. A Fourth was compil'd by W. Webb M. A. and sometime Town-Clerk of Chester; which was thought worthy the publishing by that Judicious Antiquary Sir Simon Ar­cher of Tamworth. These two last were afterwards printed together (under the Title of ^a The Vale Royal of England) by Daniel King; who took care to have the Work beautify'd with several Cuts of Heraldry and Topography. The Ac­counts given of this King by ^b Mr. Ful­ler and the ^c Oxford Antiquary are ve­ry widely different: So that whether he was Lux Patriae, as the former Styles him, or (in the others plain English) a silly Fellow and an errant Knave, I know not. Sir Peter ^d Leicester's Historical Antiquities were also (no doubt) chiefly intended to do Honour to this County: For tho' the first Book pretends to treat of the general Affairs of Great Britain [Page 28] and Ireland, its true Design was to In­troduce (what alone comes to be han­dled in the Second) the Antiquities of Cheshire, and chiefly of Bucklew Hun­dred. The Contests which hereupon hap­pen'd 'twixt Sir Peter and (his Kinsman) Sir Thomas Manwaring are not worth the remembring, as belonging rather to the Men of the Law than History. There's an old MS. History of the Earldom of Chester quoted (out of Bennet-Library) by Mr. ^a Selden; the summ whereof, I imagine, has been publish'd by Judge Doderidge, in the History he ^b wrote of the Ancient and Modern Estate of this Earldom, together with that of the Principality of Wales and Dutchy of Cornwall. In this Treatise Sir John, with a great deal of Industry and Exactness, calculates the ancient and present Reve­nues of this Palatinate; but is not so cu­rious in clearing up its original History. This Defect is since very much supply'd by the Labours of the late ^c Ingenious Mr. Harrington; who has left behind him several excellent Remarks on that Subject, together with other good Col­lections relating to the Antiquities of [Page 29] this County. Several Books (says ^a John Pits) were written by Henry Bradshaw (a Benedictine Monk, who did A. D. 1513) De Antiquitate & Magnificentiâ Vrbis Cestriae: All which, I am apt to believe, are swallow'd up by (another Work, says that Gentleman) His Life of St. Werburg; which is still to be had in several of our Libraries.

CORNWALL. Cornwall. The Survey of this County is so exactly taken by ^b R. Ca­rew Esquire, that there will be only occa­sion for Posterity carefully to continue a Work so excellently begun; and to which Mr. Camden acknowledges himself indebted for the chief Light he had in these parts. This Book, with large Ad­ditions, is now in the possession of Mr. Chiswell, Bookseller in London; who may probably, e're long, oblige us with a new Edition. There is also an Histo­rical Account of this County in MS. pen'd by J. Norden (who Mr. Camden ^c tells us, did sometime travel in­to this part of the Kingdom) in the hands of the Learned Dr. Gale. Sir John Doderidge's History of the Dut­chy [Page 30] has been already mention'd in Che­shire.

CVMBERLAND. Cumber­land. There's a Manu­script Description of this County (written by one Mr. Denton of Cardew, about 50 or 60 Years agoe) which seems to be done with good Care and Judgment; Copies whereof are in the hands of se­veral of the Gentry. It chiefly treats of Families, Pedigrees, Conveyances of E­states and Mannors, &c. but occasional­ly handles some other Antiquities, of a more general Nature and higher Date. Some Observations have also been made lately, relating to the Natural History of Cumberland; which may very pro­bably, e're long, come into as many hands. The Antiquities of the City of Carlisle are collected by Dr. H. Todd, Prebendary of that Church; and are now (or should be) in the possession of the Mayor and Aldermen.

DERBYSHIRE. Derby. The Mines of this County should (methinks) invite some of our Inquisitive Naturalists to give us as particular an Account of the Me­tals and Minerals, as Ed. Manlow (some­times Steward of the Works) has done [Page 31] of the Miners, in his Book entituled, ^a Customs of the ^b Barge-Moot-Court; which has been improv'd by T. Hough­ton in his ^c Collection of the Laws, Li­berties, &c. of the Mines and Miners of Derbyshire. I should also think the Wonders of the Peak are as proper a Subject for a Philosopher to write on in Prose, as they can be for the most ex­alted Poetry of either ^d Mr. Hobbs or ^e Mr. Cotton; and that Buxton-Wells deserve a better Describer than Antiqua­ted ^f John Jones.

DEVONSHIRE. Devon.— Northcot Ba­ronet, is reported to have written a De­scription of Devonshire; the Manuscript whereof is all along quoted by Tho. Ful­ler (in his Worthies) when he comes to treat of that County; tho' he says no­thing of him amongst its Writers. Tho. Risdon's Survey or Chorographical Descrip­tion of Devonshire, continues likewise in MS. though Copies of it are no rare Matters among the Gentry of that County. 'Tis said one ^g Westcote [Page 32] either wrote another Survey; or, at least, had a hand in that which was compos'd by Risdon. I wish this West­cote be not the same Man with Dr. Ful­ler's Northcote: for he's often further mistaken than from West to North. The Remarkable Antiquities of the City of Exeter were publish'd by ^a Richard I­zaac; but (as a ^b worthy Person ob­serves) the Book is a dry Collection, and full of Mistakes; there being nothing (worth the perusal) which had not been before remark'd in J. Hooker's Descripti­on, Reprinted in Holinshead's Chro­nicle.

DORSETSHIRE. Dorset. Unless Mr. Etrick (who oblig'd the late Publisher of the Britannia with some of his Remarks) will furnish us with the Antiquities of this County, I cannot tell from what Quarter we are to expect them.

DVRHAM. Durham. The Collections made by Mr. Mickleton are perhaps the only Papers extant which treat of the Civil Affairs of this County, as distinct from the Ecclesiastical; and indeed (conside­ring [Page 33] the whole was anciently, and the greatest part is still, the Church's Patri­mony) the matter is not much to be wonder'd at. The City of Durham is de­scrib'd in a MS. old English (or Saxon) Poem, in ^a Sr. John Cotton's Library.

ESSEX. Essex. There is a Report of J. Nor­den's having written a Survey of this County (a thin Folio MS. in Sr. Edm. Turner's Library) and that Mr. Strang­man has attempted the Collection of its Antiquities: But (whatever their Per­formances may have been) we have cause to hope for good things, on that Subject, very shortly from Mr. Ousley; who has given a Specimen of his Work in what he has communicated in the New Edition of Camden. The Descrip­tion of Harwich with all its Appurtenan­ces and Antiquities was written by Silas Taylor (Author of the History of Gavel­kind) who was Store-keeper at that Port, A. D. 1665. The Book was never Prin­ted; and where 'tis to be had in Manu­script my ^b Author does not inform me.

GLOCESTERSHIRE. Glocester. Whether the [Page 34] Chronicon Claudiocestriae (written by ^a Andrew Horn, a suppos'd Citizen of Glocester, God knows when) speaks wholly, or at all, of the Affairs of this County, is mighty uncertain: But we are pretty sure that ^b Sr. Matthew Hales made large Collections to that purpose, tho he did not live to fit them for the Press. Proposals were also ^c long since Publish'd for Printing the Antiquities of Glocestershire by Mr. Abel Wantner; who, meeting with the Dis­couragements that are Common in that Case (an untoward Recompence for a Gentleman's twelve years pains and stu­dy) was content to enjoy the Fruits of his Labour himself, the Publick not ad­mitting of his Services. The City of Glocester's Military Government has been accounted for by ^d John Corbet; and the Laws and Customs of the Miners in the Forest of Dean by an ^e Anony­mous Writer.

HAMPSHIRE. Hamp­shire. The County is yet undescrib'd: But a Description of the City of Winchester, with an Historical [Page 35] Relation of divers Memorable Occurren­ces touching the same, is said to have been written by ^a John Trussel; who was himself sometime Alderman of that City, and continu'd S. Daniel's Hi­story. I guess it to be too Voluminous to appear in Print, rather than (as ^b Mr. Kennet presumes it) too imperfect. Something, to the same purpose, was likewise written by Dr. Bettes; whose Book is still in MS. As are also, I suppose, Mr. Butler's Remarks on the Monu­ments in this ancient City. A General Survey of the Isle of Wight (part of this County) was written by ^c Sr. Francis Knollis, Knight of the Garter and Privy-Counsellour to Queen Elizabeth: a Ma­nuscript Copy whereof was in the Li­brary of the late Earl of Anglesey. There is also a ^d Fragment (of 17. Quarto Pages) Entitul'd Antiquitates Insulae Vectae, in Bodley's Library, among the MSS. of Richard James (Fellow of C.C.C. in Oxford) an eminent Antiquary; who dy'd, at Sr. Tho. Cotton's in Westminster, A. D. 1638.

[Page 36] HARTFORDSHIRE. Hart­ford. A ^a Choro­graphical Description of this County was published by John Norden, Gentle­man; whom we shall again meet with in Kent and Middlesex, as we have had already occasion to mention him in other Counties. But 'tis hop'd his Enquiries will be infinitely outdone by Sr. Henry Chauncey Kt. Serjeant at Law; whose Antiquities we are greedily expecting to see Publish'd.

HEREFORDSHIRE. Here­ford. Silas Taylor (be­foremention'd, in Essex) spent four years in collecting the Antiquities, Pedigrees, Epitaphs, &c. of this County; and his Papers were lately (perhaps, now are) in the hands of Sr. Edward Harley of Brompton-Brian. The ^b Ransack he made, during the times of Usurpation, in the Libraries of the Cathedral Chur­ches of Hereford and Worcester, might furnish him with a greater plenty of Ma­terials than (it may be) a man will easi­ly meet with at this Day: and therefore his Collections are justly recommended as a good ^c Apparatus for any that shall hereafter write on the same Subject.

[Page 37] HVNTINGDONSHIRE. Hunting­don. Sr. Robert Cotton is reported to have ^a written that Description which John Speed has publish'd of this County.

KENT. Kent. Let this be observ'd for the Honour of Kent (says an ^b Ingenious and Learned Gentleman, Native of this County) that while other Counties (and but few of them) have met with single Pens to give the History and Description of them; ours has had no less than four Writers to celebrate the Glories of it, Lambard, Somner, Kilburn, and Phil­pot. He will not, I Hope, take it ill, if we enlarge the Catalogue. Both Bale and Pits expressly reckon the Itinera­rium Cantiae among John Leland's Com­posures; so that I should think he be­stow'd something of more care than or­dinary in disposing the Remarks he made on this County. W. Lambard's Peram­bulation of Kent was indeed the first Ac­count which was ^c publish'd; and it was not only highly applauded by Cam­den, and other Chief Judges of such [Page 38] Matters, but gave the hint to many more Men of Learning to endeavour the like Services for their several Counties. 'Twas not well approv'd by the Gentle­men of the Roman Communion. Rei­ner ^a, particularly, censures it as a Work undertaken and carry'd on with a Design to expose the Lewdnesses and Debaucherics of the late Inhabitants of the Monasteries of that County; in de­scribing whereof (he thinks many things are spitefully misrepresented. Mr. Som­ner ^b, it appears, fully purpos'd to have given us the Antiquities of the whole County; and had certainly made very great Progress towards the completing the Work, as appears by his Manuscripts now in the Library of the Cathedral Church of Canterbury. 'Tis not doubted but he would mightily have enlarg'd W. Lambard's Perambulation; and he gives us some Specimen of his Design to correct also his Errors, by marking such as came in his way in some of his ^c Treatises already publish'd. However, we are not wholly depriv'd of this great Work, some part of it having been lately [Page 39] publish'd under the Title of ^a A Trea­tise of the Roman Ports and Forts in Kent; wherein (and in Mr. Gibson's Notes upon it) we have as entire a Dis­course as we could wish for on that Sub­ject; rectifying a great many mistakes in Camden, Lambard, Philpot, &c. and dis­covering the true Situation of those an­cient Places. Philpot's ^b Villare Cantia­num was not written by Thomas Philpot, whose name in bears, but by (his Father) Iohn, Somerset Herald; who is only own'd to be Author of the Additional History of the High Sheriffs of the Coun­ty: And, what Faith (a Learned ^c Countreyman of his puts the Question in my Mouth) can be given to him that could afford to rob his own Father of the credit of his Book. Kilburn's ^d Sur­vey of Kent (you may take ^e Mr. Ken­net's word for it) is all Modern and Su­perficial. Another Survey of the Coun­ty (in proportion to the rest of the same Author's) was drawn by Iohn Norden; which none have hitherto thought worth the handing to the Press, and few have reckon'd so considerable as to mention [Page 40] it. To these, I think, we may add Iohn Weever's ^a Funeral Monuments; a great share of 'em having been collected in the Dioceses of Canterbury and Rochester. But let the Reader never forget the Re­mark made on him by ^b Mr. Wharton; that he has most scandalously mistaken the Numeral Letters and Figures in most of the Inscriptions he transcrib'd: which makes it hazardous for an Antiquary to rely upon his Authority. Both Mr. Somner's Excellent ^c Treatise of Gavel­kind, and Silas Taylor's ^d History of the same, ought also to be referr'd to the Catalogue of this County's Historians and Antiquaries; as explaining an an­cient Custom, whereof there are now hardly any Remains elsewhere within the King's Dominions. The History of the City of Canterbury seems to have been penn'd long since by Will. Gilling­ham, a Benedictine Monk of that place; who is ^e said to have written De Rebus Cantuariensibus, about the year 1390. Iohn Twyne ^f mentions some Colle­ctions that he had made tending to Illu­strate the Antiquities of this City: But [Page 41] Mr. Somner assures us he could no more meet with them than with those of Tho. Spott, mention'd by Bale. But its everlast­ing Monument is W. Somner's ^a Antiqui­ties of Canterbury; or, a Survey of that an­cient City with its Suburbs and Cathedral: A work which secur'd the Honour of all that the Title-page mentions from the Levelling Fury and Madness of the Time wherein 'twas publish'd, and is deserved­ly recommended (both by the ^b Au­thor's Enemies and Friends) as a Piece most exquisitely Perfect in its kind. A­mongst his Manuscripts at Canterbury, this Book may be seen interleav'd, with large Additions in the Author's own Hand-writing. The Spaw-waters at Tun­bridge are treated on by Lod. Rowzee and P. Madan, MM. DD. And the Chroni­cle of Rochester (collected chiefly from the Textus Roffensis, mention'd else­where) is written by Edm. Bedenham Esq. MS.

LANCASHIRE. Lanca­ster. A few years ago Dr. R. Keurden sent out Proposals for the Printing his Brigantia Lancastriensis Re­staurata, or, a History of the Honoura­ble [Page 42] Dukedom or County Palatine of Lan­caster: which (he told us) was compos'd, and laid ready for the Press, in Five Vo­lumes. I know not how the Design came to miscarry; but do imagine that the vastness of the Undertaking slacken'd its Pace. 'Twere to be wish'd the Indu­strious Author would oblige us with an Abstract of such Discoveries in it as are purely New to us, and his own. There can hardly be any danger of his meeting with better Encouragement and Success upon such a fresh Attempt: whereas it could not well prove otherwise than a very cloying Method to propose the ta­king off a Volume or two of General Pre­liminaries, before we came at (the main business) the Antiquities of Lancashire. Some particulars relating to the Antiqui­ties of the Northern Parts of this County were communicated, to the undertaker of the new ^a Edition of Camden, by Sr. Dan. Fleming Kt. who is a Person of great Curiosity and Judgment in these Matters, and has made much larger Collections than could be brought with­in so small a Compass as the Nature of that work would admit of. Its Natu­ral [Page 43] History (I am told) is compiled by Dr. Charles Leigh; who has already gi­ven us good earnest of his Abilities, suit­able to the Undertaking, in his ^a Phthi­siologia Lancastriensis; cui accessit Tenta­men Philosophieum de Mineralibus Aquis in eodem Comitatu Observatis. To which may be added Dr. Edm. Burlace's ^b Latham Spaw, with some Remarkable Cases and Cures effected by it; and ^c a short Treatise touching the manner of making Salt of Sea-sand in this County. The Town of Manchester has its particu­lar History written by one Richard Hol­lingworth, an active Presbyterian Prea­cher in the beginning of our Civil Wars: which may be seen in MS. in their Col­lege Library.

LEICESTERSHIRE Leicester. is nobly De­scribed by William Burton Esq a native of this County, and Barrister at Law. His ^d Description runs in an Alphabetical Order of the Villages; and his Method has been observ'd by many more that have since endeavour'd the like services for other Counties. The Work consists chiefly of Descents, Pedigrees and Moot-Cases: [Page 44] But the Author was afterwards sensible of its main Defect, and therefore very much enlarg'd and enrich'd it with an Addition of Roman, Saxon and other Antiquities. This appears from his own Letter to Sr. Robert Cotton, still extant; and the Book it self, thus improv'd is ^a said to have been lately in the posses­sion of Walter Chetwind, of Ingestree near Stafford, Esq who had also other Ma­nuscripts of the said Mr. Burton's Com­posure.

LINCOLNSHIRE Lincoln. wants an Historian of Skill and Courage answerable to the vast Store of Materials (of all kinds) which are there to be had. Its Fenns and Marshes are indeed pretty largely treated on by Sr. William Dugdale, in his ^b Hi­story of Imbanking; and (in the year 1671.) there was publish'd a short Rela­tion of great Damages done by a Tem­pest and Overflowing of the Tides in this County and Norfolk: But its main Body lies yet undescribed, to the Re­proach of all those Persons of Learning and Ingenuity that are its Natives. R. Butcher's Survey of Stamford is often [Page 45] quoted by Tho. Fuller (in his Worthies) when he comes to speak of Lincolnshire; as it is likewise, very frequently, by J. Wright in his Antiquities of Rutland. It was printed in the Year 1646.

MIDDLESEX. Middle­sex. John Norden ^a pub­lished a Description of this County a­bout the same time that he wrote his o­ther (somewhat shorter) or Hartford­shire. Both these Surveys are mention'd by ^b John Stow, as undertaken (and publish'd) in imitation of W. Lambard's perambulation of Kent. The Funeral Monuments within the Diocese of Lon­don were Collected (after his Fashion) by J. Weever; and we are lately encoura­ged to hope for the natural Hi [...]ory of the County by Dr. Plott. Tho. Johnson's little short account of the Plants that grow wild on ^c Hampsted-heath is the only thing publish'd that looks this way; and 'tis to inconsiderable as hardly to deserve mentioning. The first Description of the famous City of London (now Extant) was written by one W. Stephens or Fits-Ste­phens (a Monk of Canterbury) about the Year 1190. 'Tis a small Tract of about [Page 46] ten pages in Quarto; and is publish'd by J. Stow (as an Appendix to his Survey) under the Title of Stephanides. Robert Bale (Recorder of the City, A. D. 1461.) is also said to have written several Trea­tises on that Subject; which were long kept as choice Rarities in the publick Library of the Lord Mayor and Alder­men, and whereof my ^a Author rec­kons up the Titles of these Three: 1. Lon­dinensis Vrbis Chronicon. 2. De Consuli­bus & praefectis ejus. 3. Instrumenta Li­bertatum Vrbis. The same Gentleman makes R. Fabian write a couple of Trea­tises upon the Affairs of London: but I suppose all he ever penn'd of that kind is in his printed Chronicle. John Stow (we are sure) wrote and ^b publish'd a Survey of London; and owns him­self put upon the Undertaking by Mr. Lambard's general Invitation to the several Antiquaries of this Kingdom to write the Histories of their Native Counties. The account he gives is very particular and full; running thro' every one of the twenty six Wards, and affording a good View of the Government of this City (together with Westminster and Southwark) Ecclesiastical and Civil; the [Page 47] Churches, Hospitals and other Religi­ous Houses; a Catalogue of their Mayors and Sheriffs down to the Fortieth year of Queen Elizabeth, &c. The whole is Collected out of our best Historians and most Authentick Records; and dis­covers a deal of Industry and Accuracy in the worthy and honest Author. It appears he had perus'd the small Trea­tise call'd the City Law in its Original: So that there was little occasion for the Translation and Publishing of that ^a afterwards. But, because the State of this mighty City is wonderfully chang'd since his time, we are in daily Expectance of a new Edition of this Book; with very considerable Additions and Improve­ments. Sir George Buck's Treatise of the Inns of Court (under the Title of the Third Vniversity of England) we have in the end of Stow's Chronicle: and James Howel's ^b Londinopolis has very little in it more than what he has Copy'd from the foremention'd Survey; nor is De Laun's pretended Present State of the City much different from what we have there. Indeed, several new Discoveries and Observations touching its mighty growth and number of its [Page 48] Inhabitants (proving that they are more than in Rome, Paris and Roan; that they are above 696000 People, &c.) have been advanc'd, in some ^a Essays in Po­litical Arithmetick, by (one of the most eminent Mathematicians and Virtuo­so's of this Age) Sir William Petty; who was also the chief Director and Au­thor of a piece publish'd sometime be­fore by one John Graunt, and Entitul'd, Natural and political Observations on the Bills of Mortality in London. The dread­ful Fire which hapned in this famous City, in the Year 1666. will for ever remain one of its chief Epoche's; and of this we have ^b two Historical Nar­ratives: One according to the Reports made to a Committee in Parliament; and another publish'd by Edward Waterhouse. The Epitaphs of our Kings, Princes and Nobles, that lie bury'd in the Abbey-Church at Westminster, were first Col­lected by John Skelton, a famous Poet; who (for making too bold with Cardi­nal Woolsey, in some of his Satyrs) ^c ended his days miserably within the Precincts of the Asylum of that Church, A. D. 1529. These were afterwards en­larg'd [Page 49] by ^a Camden; and compleated by H. Keep, under the name of ^b Mo­numenta Westmonasteriensia. The Mo­numents of St. Paul's (the Cathedral of this Diocese) will be treated on ^c else­where.

NORFOLK. Norfolk. The Pen was long since drawn in defence of this County by one Iohn de S. Omero (or Saintemer) a Nor­folk-man, and ^d Student in Cambridge about the Year 1219. when a certain Monk of Peterborough, taking upon him to libel the Inhabitants of that Country in Latin Doggrel, was answer'd in his own way by this John. The Epitaphs here, with some other Antiquities, were collected by J. Weever, who ^e referrs us for further satisfaction to Sir Hen. Spelman's Iceni; which we impatiently hope to see publish'd by ^f Mr. Gibson. Something relating to the Natural Hi­story of Norfolk may be had from Sir William Dugdale's Imbanking; and in a little Treatise entituled, ^g Mercurius Centralis, or, a Discourse of Subterra­nean Cockle, Muscle and Oyster-shells, [Page 50] found in digging a Well at Sir William Doylie's in this County. 'Tis a Letter from one Tho. Lawrence M. A. to Sir Thomas Brown. To which may be ad­ded the (already mention'd) Relation of the Damages done by a Tempest on the Coasts of this County and Lincolnshire. The City of Norwich was describ'd by Alexander Nevil, whose Book is quoted by ^a Sir Henry Spelman. We have Sir Tho. Brown's ^b Vrn-Burial, or, a Discourse of Sepulchral Urns lately found in Norfolk; and we expect his Reperto­rium, or, an account of the Tombs and Monuments in the Cathedral Church of Norwich. It has been ^c promis'd, and I know not what occasion Sir Thomas has ever given any body to suspect, that ought of his penning should ^d rather fear, than deserve an Edition. The late Publisher of Camden makes Tho. Fuller the Reporter of Dr. Caius's having writ­ten the Antiquities of Norwich; but I suspect there's some mistake in that mat­ter, since Fuller (in the ^e place where he should especially have noted such a [Page 51] thing says nothing of it. Nash's ^a Ac­count of the growth of great Yarmouth, the History of the ^b burning of East Derham, and ^c Sir R. W.'s Norfolk Fu­ries, may possibly contribute some small helps towards the Illustration of the An­tiquities of these Parts: but seem to be of too great (or too little) Age to be very valuable.

NORTHAMPTONSHIRE. Northam­pton. Will. Vin­cent (Windsor-Herald) collected some ma­terials for a Survey and the Antiquities of this County, which were lately in the possession of ^d Mr. Wood. He fre­quently quotes Fran. Tate's Nomina Hy­darum in Com. Northampton. The State of the Town of Northampton, from the begin­ning of the Fire Sept. 20. 1675. to Nov. 5. following, was publish'd in a ^e Let­ter to a Friend: and we had its ^f Fall and Funeral first in a Latin Elegy, and afterwards (with some Variations and Additions) in English.

NORTHVMBERLAND. Northum­berland. John Pits says, That the Genealogies of the Earls [Page 52] of Northumberland were drawn up by one ^a Tho. Otterburn, a Franciscan Friar, about the Year 1411, and that ^b John Currar (he knows not when) drew up a List of Seventy Eight Castles in this County, with the Pedigrees of their several Owners. These are Uncertainties. But we know that Sir Robert Shaftoe and Mr. Clavering (both now living) have re­ally made large Progresses in its Antiqui­ties; and we hope they will be so just to the Publick and themselves as shortly to communicate 'em. The Town of Berwick, with some other places of Note in this County, are describ'd in a MS. in the Earl of Carlisle's Library at Noward. But Newcastle still wants a just Descripti­on and History: For Grey's ^c Choro­graphical Survey comes short of its pre­sent Glory; and the Anonymous Author of ^d England's Grievances in Relation to the Coal-Trade, &c. is too much confin'd in his Subject to answer the Expectations of a Curious Reader.

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE's Notting­ham. Antiquities were first attempted by Serjeant Boun, who only transcrib'd what related to this [Page 53] County out of Dooms-day, adding some short Notes at every Town. This was com­pleated into a fair ^a Work by his Son-in-law, R. Thoroton M. D. at the instance of Sir William Dugdale. He owns 'tis ca­pable of Improvements out of the Arch­bishop of York's Registry and other Re­cords in private Hands, which he had not an opportunity of consulting. But the Work, as it is, shews a good Industry in its Author; who, being a Physician of eminent Practice, had a free access to the Evidences of most of the considera­ble Families. The Author had not the Curiosity to intermix any Observations relating to the British, Roman and Saxon Antiquities; writing only after the prin­ted Copy of Mr. Burton's Leicestershire.

OXFORDSHIRE. Oxford. Vast Collections, relating to the Antiquities of this Coun­ty, were made by Randal Catherall (who dy'd A. D. 1625.) and were sometime in the Custody of Bishop ^b Sanderson: But, upon the ^c strictest Enquiry that could be made after 'em, they are not now to be found. Dr. Plot's ^d Natural [Page 54] History of Oxfordshire was the first Essay made in that kind by its excellent Au­thor; who has made us acquainted with so many Physical Discoveries, as well as notable Improvements in Trade and Ma­nufactures, that the Work has met with an Universal Applause. And as this County had the happiness to have its Natural History set, by that worthy Per­son, as a Pattern to the rest of the King­dom; so it now affords a new Example of having some of its Parochial Antiqui­ties consider'd (in the ^a History of Ambrosden, Burcester, and other adjacent Towns and Villages) by a very Learn­ed Antiquary, Mr. White Kennet. Some of the Annals of the City of Oxford seem to be drawn up in their Red Book, which is quoted by ^b Mr. Wood; who had a Design of obliging the Town in the same ^c manner he had done the U­niversity.

RVTLANDSHIRE Rutland. is extreamly in­debted to J. Wright, who has ^d pub­lish'd the History and Antiquities of that County. The Author being himself a [Page 55] Barrister at Law, propos'd Mr. Burton (a person of the same Profession) for his pattern: So that here, as in Leicester­shire, we have the Towns and Villages in Alphabetical Order; the Intermixture of some few remarkable Law-Cases; the Inscriptions on Tombs and Grave-Stones; Pedigrees of Families, &c. Sir Wing­field Bodenham had, as he owns, drawn together a great many Materials out of the vast Collections of R. Dodsworth; whereof he had the perusal. The rest we owe to his own pains; which, he says, had been to better purpose, if he had not met with many of the Gentry (a mishap which will always attend Men that engage in these matters) very shy in Discovering the Evidences and Con­veyances of their several Estates.

SHROPSHIRE's Shrop­shire. Antiquities have been hitherto (as far as my Acquaintance reaches) neglected, both by its British and English Inhabitants. There's usually in Border-Countries that Emulation and Jealousie among the different Nations, which encourages (or provokes) the In­genious on both sides, to preserve and maintain the old Honour of their several Ancestors: So that the want of such par­ticular [Page 56] Histories in this County is a good Argument of the perfect and happy U­nion of all its Natives into one People; tho' not of their extraordinary Affection to Books and ancient Learning.

SOMERSETSHIRE. Somerset. The Natural Hi­story of this County has been long look [...]d for from ^a Mr. Beaumont, who is a person of that known Ingenuity that the World has just cause to hope for a most excellent Performance. I wish his late ^b more noble Considerations (as he calls them) have not enlarg'd his Thoughts too much for the finishing a Work of so narrow a Compass. The Laws, Cu­stoms, &c. of the Miners in the King's Forest of Mendip are drawn ^c together in a short Manual; and Mr. Beaumont has given us a Specimen of his foremen­tion'd large Design, in the Account we have ^d from him of Ookey-hole, and o­ther Subterranean Grottoes in those Hills. The City of Bath (and its hot Baths) has been beholden to Jo, Caius, the famous Cambridge Antiquary, who wrote ^e De [Page 57] Thermis Bathoniensibus; as did also ^a Dr. Mayow, tho' Mr. Wood (which I wonder at) has not observ'd it in the ^b Account he gives of his Works. The Learned Dr. Jorden's Discourse (or Na­tural Baths and Mineral Waters) was not so general but that it was all apply'd to this place, and publish'd a ^c third time by Dr. Guidot; who has since very greatly enlarg'd his own Observations upon both the ^d Antiquities and Na­tural Curiosities of the Town, and has also given us a ^e Register of two hun­dred notable Cures wrought there with­in the time of his own Experience. John Chapman's ^f Thermae Redivivae are on the same Subject; and have also an Ap­pendix (in Coriat's Rhimes) on the Anti­quities of this City. To all which we must add Dr. Tho. Johnson's History of both kinds, annex'd to his ^g Mercurius Botanicus; wherein the Reader will find as entertaining a Discourse as could well be expected from any Man in so little Room.

[Page 58] STAFFORDSHIRE Stafford. had its Antiqui­ties and Records preserv'd by S. Erdes­wick of Sandon Esquire, who began his Collection A. D. 1593, and ^a conti­nu'd it to (the time of his Death) the Year 1603. His Manuscript Papers fell happily into the Hands of Walter Chet­wind of Ingestree (in the same County) Esquire, a person exactly of Mr. Erdes­wick's own Temper ( Venerandae ^b An­tiquitatis Cultoris Maximi) and as pi­ously dispos'd to the Founding, as he to the Rebuilding of Churches; from whom we had reason to hope for a ^c finishing stroke to the Enterprize, if Death had not unhappily interven'd. The Natu­ral History of this County is written by the same ^d worthy Hand, and in the same Method with that of Oxfordshire; and the Performance is answerable to the Experience and Knowledge we may easily imagine so industrious an Author would gain in nine Years Study and Travel. It had been happy if the Doctor's Health and Occasions would have allow'd him to have gone on thro' the rest of the Counties of England, as he seem'd [Page 59] once to ^a promise: But in the Con­clusion of this Book, he seems to be weary, resolv'd to rest, and to leave some part of the Glory of this great Work to others.

SVFFOLK's Suffolk. Topography is said to have been ^b attempted by (Mr. Selden's great Friend) Sir Simonds d'Ewes; but where his Collections now are I cannot tell, unless (perhaps) amongst R. Dods­worth's Papers in the Publick Library at Oxford.

SVRREY. Surrey. A Survey and the Anti­quities of this County were sometime ^c threatned by Sir Edward Bishe: but whether any Advances were ever made (in good earnest) by him, towards such a Work, I have not yet learnt.

SVSSEX Sussex. is not onely famous for se­veral Monasteries (mention'd by Bede and others) in the Days of the Saxons; but also for the remarkable Battle which put a stop to the Glories and Govern­ment of that People, and brought in [Page 60] the Norman Conqueror. And yet none of its Inhabitants, that I know of, have taken the pains to collect its Antiquities: Notwithstanding the just claim that some of 'em have to be Register'd by the most Skilful Historian.

WALES. Wales. Gyraldus Cambrensis (Bishop Elect of St. Davids, about the year 1200.) is the oldest Topographer of this Principality; and is every where quoted at large by Mr. Camden, as an Author of undoubted Credit and Reputation. His Itinerary and Description were both publish'd by ^a Dr. Powel; with his own most Learned Notes upon 'em. The former contains a Journal of the Expedition of Archbishop Baldwine (A. D. 1188.) in Collecting the Contribu­tions of Wales, for the carrying on of the Holy War. Together with the To­pography we have a mixture of Popish Miracles and Tales; which the Publisher thought himself oblig'd, in strictness of Justice, to give us entire. And we have this Advantage by them, that they do not onely divert the Reader, but afford also an opportunity to the Learned Pub­lisher [Page 61] of communicating a deal of his own Critical Knowledge. The Descrip­tion that follows in General: being, in the main, a Panegyrick on the sweetness of the Soil; and the good Humour, strict Morals and exemplary Piety, of the Inhabitants. There's a second Part of this Description ( De Illaudabilibus Wal­liae, which the Doctor thought it not convenient to publish; but has been set out lately in Print by ^a Mr. Wharton: for which the Welshmen are not very much oblig'd to him. Gyraldus's Map of Wales (mention'd by ^b John Pits, and frequently by himself is to be seen in a MS. Copy of some of his Works, in the Library at Westminster-Abbey. Af­ter him David Morgan (Treasurer of the Church at Landaff, A. D. 1480.) is ^c said to have written the Geography and Antiquities of Wales: and ^d Arthur Kelton (an Ingenious Welsh Bard, in the top of his Fame, about the year 1548.) wrote several English Accounts, both in Verse and Prose, of the Glories of his Countrey; most of which he dedicated to Sr. William Herbert. Another De­scription of Wales was written by Sr. [Page 62] John Price, in the Reign of Edward the Sixth; perfected by Humph. Lhwyd, and prefix'd to his ^a Translation of the Welsh History. This Humphrey ^b himself gives also a more large Account of (his own Countrey) Wales, than any other part of Britain; and enlarges of­ten, sometimes corrects, the Description given by Gyraldus. The History of the Ancient and Modern State of the Princi­pality is well written by ^c Sr. John Doderidge; and the latest (and incom­parably the best) Account of its Anti­quities is just now ^d publish'd by my Friend Mr. Edw. Lhwyd. The same excel­lent Person is also projecting a Design of a British Dictionary, Historical and Geographical; with an Essay entitul'd Archaeologia Britannica, being a Com­plete Collection of the ancient Monu­ments throughout this whole Country; and (lastly) a Natural History of Wales. In order to the performance of so Noble and Undertaking, he thinks of travailing in that Principality four or five Sum­mers; and likewise to make one Journey into Cornwal, and another into Ireland or [Page 63] the Highlands of Scotland, for Parallel Observations as to their Language; Names of Towns, Rivers, Mountains, &c. I heartily hope the Work will not meet with those Obstructions which have hitherto usually befaln Attempts of this Nature: since the Author is so ge­nerally known to be of suitable Industry and Abilities, and cannot fail (if God continue his Life) of making good his Proposals.

WARWICKSHIRE's Warwick. Antiquities are truly ^a Illustrated by Sr. William Dug­dale; who was Master of all the Advan­tages requisite for such a Performance: And no man can so well judge of the great Labour and Pains bestow'd on the bringing of this excellent Work (the Au­thor's ^b Master-piece) to perfection, as he that has view'd the many ^c Vo­lumes of Materials which he gather'd in order to the compiling of it. His great zeal against the Sacrilegious Destruction of some Religious Structures carry'd his Searches into every corner of the History that related to that Matter; and his early [Page 64] Inclination to the Study of Heraldry obli­ged him carefully to preserve whatever might be grateful (on that Head) to the Nobility and Gentry of the County. The History of the Earls of Warwick was long since written by John Ross or Rouse, a noted Antiquary; who dy'd at Warwick (or Guy's Cliff, within a Mile of the Town) A. D. 1491. A Noble Ma­nuscript Copy of this Book, with the Pictures of the several Earls, their Coats of Arms, &c. is now in the Archives of the Publick ^a Library at Oxford. John Pits ^b makes him write four distinct Volumes of the Antiquities and History of Warwick: but this is all that more credible Enquirers could meet with. The Life of the Famous Earl Guy was first written by Walter of Exeter (a Domini­can Friar) about the year 1301. There is a sort of Spaw-water at Ilmington in this County; the History whereof is Publish'd by ^c Sam. Derham, an Ingeni­ous Physician.

WESTMORLAND. Westmor­land. Mr. Tho Machel, Rector of Kirkbythore in this County, has (with a great deal of Pains and good [Page 65] Judgment) collected its Antiquities: which, we hope, will ere long meet with so suitable an Encouragement as will ob­lige the Author to publish 'em. That Part of its Story which more nearly con­cerns the Nobility and Gentry, has been well preserv'd by Sr. Daniel Fleming of Rydale Knt. who has thereby done his own ancient Family a great deal of Right, and has also approv'd himself an Eminent Benefactor to those of his Neighbours.

WILTSHIRE. Wilts. John Aubrey Esq (Fellow of the Royal Society, and a Per­son well vers'd in our British and English Antiquities) has laid the Foundation of the History and Antiquities of this Coun­ty: but designs to leave the finishing part, I think, to ^a Mr. Tanner; Whose extraordinary Proficiency in these Studies will quickly be made known to the World. The Monument of Stone­henge in Wiltshire has engaged several Antiquaries in disputing the Original of so Famous and Admirable a Structure; and they have advanc'd almost as many different Opinions about it. Mr. Samms ^b [Page 66] in a particular Treatise, endeavours to fetch its Original from the Phaeni­cians, his only Darlings; and clears the point as fairly as he does all the rest wherein he's singular. Mr. Inigo Jones (King James the First's Learned Archi­tect) believes it to be a ^a Roman Tem­ple; and strongly prove [...] that the Fa­brick is of the Tuscan Order. His Scheme, however false in it self, is also learnedly defended by ^b Mr. Webb, his Son-in-Law. Mr. ^c Aubrey and others think they can evidently prove 'tis British; and ^d Dr. Charlton is very sure that 'twas erected by the Danes. No Au­thor, that hitherto has consider'd it, has so much as dream'd of its being a Saxon Monument. And yet (if the true old Writing of the Name be Stan-Hengest, as the ^e Monasticon seems to tell us) I cannot see why that people may not have as just a Title as any to the Honour of it. Possibly the ^f MS. Treatise that is said to be written, on this sub­ject, by Joh. Gibbons, may place it here.

[Page 67] WORCESTERSHIRE. There is now Worce­ster. a large MS. Description of this County in the hands of Tho. Abingdon Esq writ­ten by his Grand-father, an Able and Industrious Antiquary: wherein, if there be any Defects, they may be supply'd by a present Prebendary of the Church of Worcester, who (when his modesty will give him leave) can effectually complete such a Work.

YORKSHIRE. There are some Col­lections York. in ^a Sir John Cotton's Library relating to this County, gather'd by one Tho. Talbot; who was some time Clerk of the Records in the Tower, and was alive ^b A. D. 1580. These, and whatever else looks this way, we must believe to have been long since seen and perus'd by Dr. Nath. Johnston of Pomfret; who (as he saies) has spent thirty years in amassing together Materials for the Illustrating the Antiquities and Natural History of Yorkshire. In the former of these he intends to write after Sir Wil­liam Dugdale's Copy, and in the latter after Dr. Plott's; and to finish the whole [Page 68] in five Volumes. I am pretty well as­sur'd that he is not yet (as ^a Mr. Wood was inform'd) weary of the Work: but that, tho' some late troubles have ren­der'd him unable to finish it so soon as he design'd, he is every day doing some­thing at it. H. Keep (mention'd before in Middlesex) is ^b reported to have made some Collections towards the An­tiquities of the City of York; and Sir Thomas Widdrington (sometime Recorder there) did certainly make a very great Progress in a learned and exact Descrip­tion of it. Some distast, given him by the Citizens, obstructed his allowing of his Papers to be publish'd; and they are now (I am told) sub sigillo, in the Custo­dy of Mr. Fairfax of Menston. A lean Catalogue of the Mayors, Sheriffs, &c. (from the Reign of Edward the First, to the year 1664) is publish'd by their late Recorder ^c Hildyard: And some Learned Observations on a Roman Wall and Multangular Tower, in that City, have been made by ^d M. Lister. The Tower of St. Mary's in York was the best furnish'd with ancient Charters and Records of any Place in the North of [Page 69] England, as appears from the many Transcripts which are thence Inser­ted in the two first Volumes of the ^a Monasticon: But the barbarous Rage of our late Days of Rebellion laid it and them in Ashes. Mr. Dodesworth happily copy'd all or most of 'em before those Times of Destruction came upon us; and his large Collections were after­wards as happily deposited in Bodley's Library, where they now remain. The Registrum Feodorum de Richmondshire is quoted both by▪ ^b Mr. Camden and ^c Sir William Dugdale. It seems to be the same which is cited by ^d Mr. Sel­den, under the Name of an old Genea­logy of the Earls of Richmond. The Pa­rish of Leedes will shortly be describ'd, and have its Antiquities Publish'd, by my Ingenious and Industrious Friend Mr. R. Thoresby. The Spaw-waters in Yorkshire have occasion'd the publishing of several Learned and Ingenious Treati­ses on that Subject. Knaresbrough is [Page 70] particularly oblig'd to Mich. Stanhop's ^a Knaresbrough-Spaw; to Dr. Edm. Dean's ^b Spadacrene Anglica; and to Dr. ^c French's Yorkshire-Spaw.

Dr. Wittie's Scarborough-Spaw (pub­lish'd both in ^d English and ^e Latin) met not with so much quiet as the three former; being briskly encounter'd by two several Champions. The first that engaged it was W. Simpson, in his Hy­drologia Chymica; to which the Doctor made a sharp Reply under the Title of Pyrologia ^f Mimica. His next Oppo­ser was Dr. Tonstall, who wrote ^g Scarborough-Spaw Spagirically Anatomiz'd; together with a New-years-Gift for Dr. Wittie: but whether he was ever vouch­safed any Answer I know not.

The Reader may expect a further Account of the Affairs of our several Counties from those that have treated of the History of our Cathedrals and Mo­nasteries: and whatever Writers fall un­der those Heads will be remember'd ^h elsewhere.

CHAP. III.
Of the Histories that relate to the Times of the old Britains and Ro­mans.

'TIS a very discouraging Censure which Sir William Temple passes upon all the Accounts given us of the Affairs of this Island, before the Romans came and Invaded it. The Tales (says ^a he) we have of what pass'd before Cae­sar' s Time, of Brute and his Trojans, of many Adventures and Successions, are co­ver'd with the Rust of Time, or Involv'd in the Vanity of Fables or pretended Tra­ditions; which seem to all Men obscure or uncertain, but to me forged at pleasure by the Wit or Folly of their first Authors, and not to be regarded. And ^b again; I know few ancient Authors upon this Sub­ject [of the British History] worth the pains of perusal, and of Dividing or Re­fining so little Gold out of so much course Oar, or from so much Dross. But some [Page 72] other Inferiour People may think this worth their pains; since all Men are not born to be Ambassadors: And, accor­dingly, we are told of a very ^a Emi­nent Antiquary who has thought fit to give his Labours in this kind the Title of Aurum ex Stercore. There's a deal of Servile Drudgery requir'd to the Disco­very of these Riches, and such as every Body will not stoop to: For few States­men and Courtiers (as one is lately said to have observ'd in his own Case) care for Travelling in Ireland, or Wales, purely to learn the Language.

A diligent Enquirer into our old Bri­tish Records lost. Antiquities would rather observe (with Industrious ^b Leland) that the poor Britains, being harass'd by those Roman Conquerours with continual Wars, could neither have leisure nor thought for the penning of a Regular History: and that afterwards their Back-Friends, the Saxons, were (for a good while) an Illiterate Generation; and minded no­thing but Killing and taking Possession. So that 'tis a wonder that even so much remains of the Story of those Times as [Page 73] the sorry Fragment of Gildas; who appears to have written in such a Consternation, that what he has left us looks more like the Declamation of an Orator, hired to expose the miserable Wretches, than any Historical Account of their Sufferings. Besides, 'tis not to be imagin'd but another long and cala­mitous War (with the Picts and Saxons afterwards) that demolish'd their Chur­ches as well as Libraries, would sweep away even the very Ruines of Religion and Learning. Some have thought that there are considerable Reliques of the British History among the Refugees of Britany in France; and that they have Manuscripts of much elder Dates than the Lives of some ancient Saints, which have been had from thence. We are sure there are many such Books, of a very great Age, that still remain in Wales; a good Collection whereof was lately made by a notable Antiquary, Mr. Maurice of Kevny braich in Denbigh­shire, and is now (as I am inform'd) fal­len into the hands of Sir William Wil­liams.

But 'twill be to no purpose for a Man to seek out these Venerable Remnants, Lan­guage. un­less [Page 74] he be able to understand the meaning of what he meets with; and therefore 'tis requisite that our Antiquary furnish himself with a competent skill in the British, or Welsh Language. The thing will be of no great Difficulty, if the an­cient Tongue be so far perish'd, that (as Dr. Bernard has ^a observ'd) the words in Dr. Davies's Dictionary are one half La­tin, a Quarter English, and onely another quarter Welsh: But I dare not promise that this will be found to be a true and punctual Account. Mr. Edward Lhwyd (who took the pains to examine into the matter) says, there are about 10000 Words in that Dictionary; whereof 1500 are indeed like the Latin, and 200 like the English: So that not a sixth part can be so much as suspected to be Latin, nor a fortieth English. For, tho' the Welshmen grant 1500 words to be like the Latin, yet they will not allow that their Original is owing to that Language; since many of 'em are also used (in the like signification) by other Nations, who are confess'd to have borrow'd none from thence. Mr. Sheringham takes ^b notice that Brutus, coming from I­taly [Page 75] (which I do as verily believe as that Romulus came from Mars and Rhes Syl­via) must necessarily have had a Lan­guage near-a-kin to what was spoken there; and that hence are so many words in the Welsh which look like the Roman, and not from the Corruption of it by the Conquering Romans afterwards. Tacitus himself ^a confesses the Britains zealously kept their Language unmix'd: And Dr. Davies ^b says, their old Laws expresly forbid the Bards to introduce any new words into their Rhimes. Mr. Sheringham further observes that the Bri­tains have many words nearly related to such old Latin ones as were grown obso­lete even before Caesar's time; and that many of the Roman Proper Names may be handsomly deriv'd from the British Tongue, which have no Foundation in the Modern Latin. As to that part of the Language which Dr. Bernard invi­diously tells them they owe ( Dominis Anglis) to their Masters, the Saxons, Mr. Lhwyd will not allow that they are so indebted for one Moyety of the 200 words observ'd to agree in Sound and Signification with the English; since a­bove [Page 76] half of 'em are found in the Armo­rican Vocabulary, publish'd by ^a Ivon Quillivere. Now, 'tis certain the Britains went hence to Armorica in the Year 384, whereas the Saxons came not in before 450.

If then our English Antiquary be not a Native of Wales, Gram­mars. 'tis indispensably ne­cessary that (to compleat himself in this Study) he gain a good acquaintance with the Welsh Tongue; which he may pretty readily do with the Assistance of such Grammars as have been compos'd for that purpose. The first of these was publish'd by W. Salesbury, sometime a Member of Lincoln's Inn, under the Title of ^b A plain and familiar Intro­duction, teaching how to pronounce the Letters in the British Tongue, &c. The next was Sir Edward Stradling's; which seems to have given occasion to (the Third) that of J. Dav. Rhese, printed (together with a large Preface by H. Prichard) by the ^c Name of Cambro-Britannicae Cymraecaeve Linguae Institu­tiones & Rudimenta, &c. ad Intelligend. Biblia Sacra nuper in Cambro-Britan. Ser­monem eleganter versa. The Fourth and [Page 77] last was written by Dr. Davies, and bears the Title of ^a Antiquae Linguae Britannicae, nunc communiter dictae Cam­bro-Britannicae, à suis Cymraecae vel Cam­bricae, ab aliis Wallicae, Rudimenta, &c.

There are also several Dictionaries publish'd in that Language; Dictiona­ries. which will all be of singular Use and Advantage to a true Antiquary of this Kingdom. Will. Salesbury (beforemention'd) compos'd one in English and Welsh; which was first privately presented to King Henry the Eighth (his very kind Patron) and afterwards ^b Printed. The Summ and Substance of this (as likewise what was afterwards written in the same kind by Bishop Morgan, H. Salesbury, H. Perry and Tho. Williams) was publish'd in Dr. Joh. Davies's most Elaborate Work, entitul'd, ^c Antiquae Linguae Britanni­cae, &c. Dictionarium duplex: A Book which shews its excellent Author to have been perfectly acquainted with all the Learned Languages as well as his own Mother Tongue. John Leland is also reported by Pits, to have written a Dictionarium Britannico-Latinum. But I [Page 78] suspect there's no more grounds for such a Story than only this: Leland pub­lish'd a Latin Poem upon the ^a Birth of the Prince of VVales, afterwards King Edward the Sixth; and, taking occasion to use some hard words in it, added to it Syllabus & Interpretatio An­tiquarum Dictionum, quae passim per Li­bellum Lectori occurrunt. And this, I believe, is all the VVelsh Dictionary that will be found of his Composure.

With these Helps a Man may venture upon those most ^b Ancient and Au­thentick Writings of the old Bards; Bards. wherein he shall have exact Genealo­gies of all the British Kings and Princes up to Brute, and from thence to Adam. This very Account is given of those fa­mous Songsters by Lucan, Strabo, Dio­dorus Siculus and Am. Marcellinus: ^c And almost all other History (a­mong the Chaldeans, Greeks and Romans) had its first Foundation in Poetry. Whe­ther he will find the Rules of their Prosodia to agree with those that are laid down by Captain Middleton in his [Page 79] ^a Bardoniaeth, or Art of Welsh Poe­try, I know not: But how methodical­ly they order'd their TYLWYTHS, or Tribes, ^b Silas Taylour has at large inform'd us. Nor were they content to preserve the Pedigrees of their own Prin­ces and great Men, but were also so good-natur'd as to do the like Services for the Saxons. Thus we are told that S. Benlanius (who is sometimes quoted by the name of ^c Samuel Britannus, and liv'd about the Year 600) was a curious Enquirer into the Genealogies of many ^d English Families; some whereof he carry'd as high as the Flood. 'Twas customary to sing these Compo­sures in the presence of their Nobles, and at their chief Festivals and Solemni­ties. And, truly, if the Story of one of these Bards canting the Praises of King Arthur before Henry II. and gi­ving a hint to the Monks of Glassenbury for the Discovery of that British King's Body, be fairly true (and have nothing of Legend in it) a very great regard is to be had to these Historical Ballads.

[Page 80] Amongst these Bards is to be reckon'd their famous Merlyn; Merlyn. whose true Name (says ^a Humph. Lhuid) is Merdhyn, so called from Caermarthen [Mariduno] where he was born. This was so migh­ty a Man in his Time that our Writers have thought it convenient to split him into three. The first of these (God­father to the two following) they call Merlinus Ambrosius, or Merdhyn Emrys; who liv'd about the Year 480, and wrote several Prophetical Odes, turn'd into Latin Prose by Jeoffrey of Monmouth. The next is Merlinus Caledonius, who liv'd A. D. 570, wrote upon the same Subject with the former, and had the same Translator. The third is surnam'd Avalonius, who liv'd under King Malgo­cunus (they might as well have made him Secretary to Ioseph of Arimathea, says our great ^b Stillingfleet; and yet my ^c Author goes gravely on, and affirms that he) was an eminent Anti­quary, but seems to mix too many Fables with his true Story. They write this last indeed Melchinus, Melkinus and Mewynus, and make him to live some time before the latter Merlyn: But all [Page 81] this is Stuff; and he's manifestly the same Man, or nothing. Soon after him came Ambrosius Thaliessin; whom Bale and Pits make to live in the days of King Arthur, and to record his Story. Sir John Prise ^a quotes a certain Ode of his call'd Hannes Thaliessin, or Thali­essin's Errors; which he says is to be seen in several of their old Manuscripts.

The most ancient British Historian Gildas. now extant is Gildas▪ For the Chronicle that bears the Name of Brutus menti­ons the ^b Legend of King Lucius, and is apparently a late contriv'd Piece; and ^c Sylvius is much of the same Au­thority with the Writings of ^d Samo­thes. This Gentleman has had the same Respect paid to his Memory that we have already noted of Merlyn: Since Gildas Cambricus, Albanius and Badoni­cus, are made (by the generality of our Writers) three several Persons. It does not well appear that there was ever more than one Historian of this Name, whatever they that ^e love to multiply Authors as well as Books, have said to the [Page 82] contrary: And therefore (notwith­standing Archbishop ^a Vsher's great Authority on the other side) I shall ven­ture to consider him in a single Capaci­ty. He was Monk of Bangor, about the middle of the Sixth Century; a sor­rowful Spectator of the Miseries and al­most utter Ruine of his Country-men, by a People under whose Banners they hop'd for Peace. His Life is written at large by ^b Car [...]doc of Lancarvan; and by an Anonymous Author, publish'd by ^c John à Bosco. His lamentable History De Excidio Britanniae is all that's printed of his Writing; and perhaps all that is any where extant. Bale, Pits and others, reckon up some other Mat­ters whereof they make this Gildas Ba­donicus (as they distinguish him) to be the Author: But Archbishop Vsher is peremptory in it, that this is the ^d V­nicum quod restat Opusculum; for he makes it and the Epistle to be all one thing. It was first Publish'd and Dedi­cated to Bishop Tunstall, by ^e Polydore Virgil; whose imperfect and corrupt [Page 83] Copy was Reprinted in the ^a Biblio­theca Patrum. Afterwards there was a­nother Edition of it by John Josseline; who made use of another Manuscript, but not much more correct than the for­mer: The latest and best is that we have from ^b Dr. Gale; who had the advantage of a more ancient and much better Copy than either of the two for­mer had seen. If he did write any thing more, 'tis now lost. Leland is mighty desirous to believ [...] [...]hat there is some­where such a Treatise as his Cambreis in Verse; that 'twas stollen and carry'd in­to ^c Italy; and that the Poet Gildas and the Historian were ^d two several Persons. But 'tis now fear'd we shall never meet with any other Poetical Treatise, bearing his Name, save only that which Leland himself calls Gildas fictitius; and which Archbishop Vsher frequently quotes by the Name of ^e Pseudo-Gildas. His Book De Victoria Ambrosii is of the same ^f base metal; out of which have been coin'd John Pits's Regum Britannorum Historia; De [Page 84] primis Insulae Incolis; Lites Luddi & Nennii, &c.

The next British Historian of Note Nennius. is Nennius. The first of this Name that is said to have taken care of the Antiqui­ties of his Country, was (if we are not impos'd on) Son to King Helius, and Brother to Ludd and Cassibelane; who had the Honour to die of a wound given him by Julius Caesar's own hand. 'Twas he, they ^a say, [...] first wrote a Book of the British History in his own Tongue; which was afterwards transla­ted into Latin by his Namesake, Abbot of Bangor. This same Abbot Nennius is generally suppos'd to be one of the Fifty Monks that were so wise as to skulk at Chester, when 1200 of their Brethren fell a Sacrifice to the Pride of Augustine, the first Planter of the Romish Principles and Practices in our Isle? and to have flourish'd about the Year 620. Which will not agree with what is attested by himself in the best Copies of his ^b Book, that he wrote A. D. 858. An­no 24 ^o. Mervini Regis. He is said to have left behind him several Treatises; [Page 85] whereof all that's publish'd is his ^a Hi­storia Britonum. This is the same Book that Bale and Pits have register'd under the Style of Eulogium Britanniae; and the only piece that must answer for what those Gentlemen mention by the Titles of his Collectiones Historiarum; Antiqui­tates Britannicae; Chronicon, &c. In most of the MS. Copies it is errone­ously ^b ascrib'd to Gildas. This Histo­ry says nothing of the other brave Nen­nius, abovemention'd; whom later Com­mentators have [...] so great in Story. I am of Opinion that the Contrivance of this Hero is one of the best things in all Jeoffrey of Monmouth's Romance. It looks like a gratefull Acknowledgment to the Person that had oblig'd him (or his Au­thor) with the ground-work of his whole Fabrick: to whom he could not pay a more decent Complement than by ma­king him Godfather to one of his chief Knights Errant.

Next after Nennius, Hoel Dha. follow Hoel Dha's Laws; which were enacted about the middle of the Tenth Century; whereof [Page 86] those that relate to Ecclesiastical Affairs have been publish'd by ^a Sir Henry Spelman. Of these there are ^b several Copies, both in Welsh and Latin, still extant; among which a very old one (written on Parchment) in Jesus Col­lege at Oxford. The Preface to this last will not allow that King Hoel abro­gated (as Mr. Camden ^c says he did) all the Laws of his Ancestors; but ex­presly tells us, that ^d according to the Advice of his Council, some of the ancient Laws he retain'd, [...] he corrected, and some he quite disann [...], appointing others in their stead. Dr. Powell will not agree that any new Statutes were ordain'd by this King ^e But that his Commissio­ners (according to the Powers given them) retain'd only those ancient Laws that were good and usefull, explain'd the Ambiguous, and abrogated the Superflu­ous. For, we are to know that (full fourteen hundred years before Hoel's Time) the Britains had a whole Body of Muncipal Laws, enacted by King [Page 87] ^a Dunwallo Molmutius; which were soon afterwards enlarg'd by Queen Mar­tia. All these, says Bale, were transla­ted into Latin by Gildas; and into Sax­on by King Aelfred. Nay, some wise Writers will needs affirm, that a certain part of our English Saxon Laws, which they call Lex Merciorum, had its Deno­mination from these Leges Martiae: and this childish Fancy has been embrac'd by several of our ^b grave and ancient Historians. Others think it improbable that so great a Prince as King Aelfred should ever trouble his Head with Tran­slating any of the Laws either of Mol­mutius or Martia; who were only Anti­quated Legislators among his Enemies, and Heathens. But (since the Britains, as Asserius and others tell us, voluntari­ly submitted to him) it seems as wise in Him to give them their own Laws in his Language, as 'twas in William the Con­querour to grant us the Saxon Laws in French. Many of 'em (we have already been told) were abolish'd even by the Britains themselves, after they became Christians: But Mr. Sheringham thinks 'tis evident from several Law-Terms [Page 88] (such as ^a Murder, Denizon, Rout, &c.) which are purely British, that some of them were taken into the Body of our English Laws. Hoel's are said to have been first Translated into Latin by (a Gentleman with a very hard Name) Ble­gabride ^b Langauride, Doctor of Laws and Archdeacon of Landaff, in the year 914. which, if the British History do not misinform us, was about 26 years before that King began his Reign. There is lately come to my hands a Latin MS Copy (in Parchment) of these Laws; in the end whereof (in a later hand) is written: Istum Librum Tho Powel Joan­ni Da. Rhaeso Med. Doctori dono dedit me [...]se Augusto 1600.

And these, Uncer­tain Au­thors. I think, are all the British Historical Writers that liv'd before the Norman Conquest; whose Books are now to be met with in any of our English Libraries. I know not how to direct the Reader to seek for the Histories of Elbo­dus or ^c Elvodugus (for they are both the same Man) from whom Nennius is made to borrow a good part of what we now have under his Name; nor for [Page 89] those of ^a Worgresius and Mawornus, Abbot and Monk of Glassenbury; nor for the Genealogies drawn up, by the Fa­mous Bard in King Edgar's daies, ^b Saliphilax. When these are retriev'd, I would have them all carefully bound up with the Deflorationes Historiae Bri­tannicae; which (as Jo. ^c Caius has learnedly prov'd from Stow and Lanquet) were written by King Gurguntius about 370 years before Christ. The Welsh MS. cited frequently in Camden's Britan­nia, by the name of Triades, seems not to carry Age enough to come within this Class. 'Tis the same, I suppose, which he ^d elsewhere calls the British old Book of Triplicities; running all upon the number three, as appears from his Quo­tation out of it: Welshmen love Fire, Salt and Drink; Frenchmen Women, Weapons and Horses; Englishmen Good cheer, Lands and Traffick.

We are not to expect any such Assi­stances Charters. for the ascertaining the History of these Times, as After-Ages afford us, from Charters, Letters Patents, &c. And yet 'tis too forward an Assertion to say [Page 90] there were no such things in the days of our British Kings, if all be true that ^a Leland tells us of King Arthur's Seal: But I am not, I confess, so much in Love with that Venerable Relique as he seems to have been. It might indeed be brought (as he guesses) from Glassen­bury; where I do believe 'twas hung at a forg'd Charter by some Monk, who was a better Mechanick than Antiquary. The Inscription easily discovers the Cheat: PATRICIVS ARTVRIVS BRI­TANNIAE, GALLIAE, GERMANIAE, DACIAE IMPERATOR. He is certain­ly call'd Patricius here (and no where else) out of the abundant Respect that Monastery had for their Guardian, Saint Patrick; and not, as Leland fansies, upon any Account of a Roman Fashion.

Another Help is here wanting, Coins. which exceedingly Conduces towards the Illu­strating the Antiquities of other Nations; and that is the Light that is often gain'd from the Impresses and Inscriptions upon their old Coins and Medals. The mo­ney used here in ^b Caesar's Time was nothing more than Iron Rings and shape­less pieces of Brass: nor does it well ap­pear [Page 91] that ever afterwards their Kings brought in any of another sort. Cam­den ^a says he could not learn that, after their retirement into Wales, they had any such thing among them: none of the Learned Men of that Principa­lity having yet been able to produce so much as one piece of British Coin, found either in Wales or any where else. And, is it likely that a Royalty of this Nature (of so great Benefit to their Subjects, as well as Honour to themselves) would have been laid aside by the Cambrian Princes, if former­ly enjoy'd by any of their Ancestors? J. ^b Leland tells us he never (in all his Travels, throughout the whole King­dom of England) could meet with one British Coin, among the many Millions of those of the Romans found in this Na­tion. And the Reason, he says, was, be­cause (as he proves out of ^c Gildas) the Romans would not allow any of our Metal to be stamp'd with any other Image or Superscription, save only that of Caesar's, that is, some of their own Emperours. However, we now have several ancient Coins in our publick and [Page 92] private Libraries, which are generally reputed to be British: tho' 'tis very hard to determine in what Age of the World they were minted. My very Learned and Ingenious Friend Mr. Lwhyd believes that, before the coming in of the Ro­mans, they had Gold Coins of their own; because there have been frequent­ly found (both in England and Wales) thick pieces of that Metal, hollow'd on one side, with variety of unintelligible Marks and Characters upon them. These, he is sure, cannot be ascrib'd ei­ther to the Romans, Saxons or Danes; and therefore 'tis reasonable we should conclude them to be British. And the Reason why he thinks they were coin'd before the Romans came, is this: If the Britains had learn'd the Art from them, they would (tho' never so inartificially) have endeavour'd to imitate their man­ner of Coining; and, in all likelyhood, have added Letters and the Head of their Kings. Here's a fair and probable opi­nion against the express Testimony of Julius Caesar; who could hardly be im­pos'd on in this part of the Account he gives of our Isle. Camden ^a rather [Page 93] thinks that, after the Arrival of the Ro­mans, the Britains first began to imitate them in their Coining of both Gold and Copper: But his Stories of Cunobeline and Queen Brundvica, are much of a piece with those of Doctor ^a Plott's Prasutagus; all of 'em liable to very just and (to me) unanswerable Obje­ctions. For my own part, I am of Opi­nion, that never any of the British Kings did Coin Money: But that even their Tribute-Money (like the Dane-Gelt and Peterpence afterwards) was the ordinary Current Coin; which was brought in (or minted here) by the Romans them­selves, as long as this Island continu'd a Province. The most (if not all) of the foremention'd pieces, which are not Coun­terfeits, I take to be Amulets; whereof Tho. ^b Bartholine gives this sensible Ac­count: Habuere Veteres in Paganismo res quasdam portatiles, ex Argento vel Auro factas, Imaginibus Deorum, facie humanâ Expressorum signatas, quibus Futurorum Cog­nitionem explorabant, & quarum possessione felices se & quodam quasi Numinis praesidio tutos judicabant. These were in use among the Romans a good while ^c after they [Page 94] came into Britain: and the Amula (from whence they had their Name) was a little drinking ^a Cup, most probably of this very Fashion. If any man dislikes my Conjecture, I am willing Sir John Pettus should Umpire the matter between us; and his Supposition (that Coin is an ^b Abstract of Coynobeline, who first coin'd Money at Malden) will for ever decide the Controversie.

After the Conquest, GEOF­FREY of Mon­mouth. The first man that attempted the Writing of the old British History was Geoffery Archdeacon of Monmouth; and he did it to some purpose. This Author liv'd under King ^c Stephen, about the year 1150. He had a peculiar fancy for Stories surmount­ing all ordinary Faith: which inclin'd him to pitch upon King Arthur's feats of Chivalry, and Merlyn's Prophecies, as proper subjects for his Pen. But his most famous piece is his Chronicon sive Histo­ria Britonum; which has taken so well as to have had several ^d Impressions. In this he has given a perfect Genealogy of [Page 95] the Kings of Britain from the Days of Brutus: wherein we have an Exact Regi­ster of above Seventy glorious Monarchs that rul'd this Island, before ever Julius Caesar had the good fortune to be ac­quainted with it. The first stone of this fair Fabrick was laid by Nennius: but the Superstructure is all Fire-new, and purely his own. They that are concern'd for the Credit of this Histori­an tell us, that he had no further hand in the Work, than only to translate an ancient Welsh History brought out of Britany in France by Walter Calenius, Archdeacon of Oxford; who was him­self an eminent Antiquary, and added a ^a Supplement to the Book. The Translation of the whole he commit­ted to the care of his Friend Geoffry; who (says ^b Matt. Paris) approv'd him­self Interpres verus. And there I am willing to let the matter rest. The Translator might have employ'd his time better, yet may be an honest man: But the Author (whoever he was) has basely impos'd upon the World, and was certainly something of another Nature. The best defence that [Page 96] can be made for it is that which was written by Sir John Prise; and is pub­lish'd under the Title of ^a Historiae Britannicae Defensio: to which some­thing further is added by ^b Mr. She­ringham (if it could be help'd) to part with any thing of an old Story that looks gay, and is but even tole­rably well contriv'd. As to the regard (says the ingenious Mr. ^c Lhwyd) due to this History in general, the judicious Reader may consult Dr. Powel's Epistle ^d De Britannicâ Historiâ rectè Intel­ligendâ; and Dr. Davies' s Preface to his British Lexicon; and balance them with the Arguments and Authority of those that wholly reject them. I am not for wholly re­jecting all that's contained in that Hi­story; believing there is somewhat of Truth in it, under a mighty heap of Monkish Forgeries: But, for the main, I am of ^e Camden's Judgment; and I hope my Friend will allow me to think the Arguments and Authority of that Writer and common Sense to be as weighty (in these Matters) as those of the two greatest Doctors in Christen­dom. [Page 97] Ponticus Virunnius, an Italian, ^a Epitomiz'd it; and indeed 'tis of a Complexion fitter for the Air of Italy than England.

Cotemporary with this Jeoffrey was Caradocus Monk of Lancarvan; Carado­cus Lan­carvensis. who contented himself with the Writing of a History of the Petty Kings of Wales, af­ter they were driven into that Corner of the Island by the Saxons. This Hi­story (which was written originally in Latin, and brought as low as the Year 1156, by its Author) was afterwards translated into English by Humphrey Lhuid; and enlarg'd and publish'd by ^b Dr. Powel. There are three MSS. of good note, mention'd by ^c Arch­bishop Vsher, which seem to reach much higher than Caradocus pretends to go; all which I guess to have been written about the same Time. The first is in Welsh, in Sir John Cotton's Library; reported to be the same that was tran­slated by Jeoffrey of Monmouth. The Second is in old English by one Lazimon: and the Third (as I take it) in Latin, by Geraldus Cornubiensis.

[Page 98] King Arthur, K. Ar­thur. and his Knights of the Round Table, made so considerable a Figure in the British History, that ma­ny Learned Men have been at a great deal of Trouble to clear up that Prince's Title, and to secure that part of Jeof­frey's Story, whatever Fate might at­tend the Rest. The first Stickler (a­gainst Will. Neubrigensis, &c.) was one Grey, the suppos'd Author of Scalechro­nicon; whom ^a Pits calls John, and says, he was Bishop of Norwich and E­lect of Canterbury, and that he dy'd A. D. 1217. Bishop ^b Jewel calls him Thomas. About two hundred Years af­ter him, Tho. Ma [...]ory (a Welsh Gentle­man) wrote King Arthur's Story in Eng­lish; a Book that is, in our Days, often sold by the Ballad-singers with the like Authentick Records of Guy of Warwick and Bevis of Southampton. But, about the middle of the last Century, his chief Champions appear'd on the Stage; in defence of him against Polydore Virgil's fierce attack. These were ^c Sir John Prise and ^d Mr. Leland; the latter [Page 99] whereof was as able as any Man alive to give the Story all the Light which the Kingdom could afford it. And yet his Treatise is the most liable to Excepti­on of any thing he ever publish'd. Ma­ny of the Authors he quotes are only Jeoffrey of Monmouth's Echoes; others come not up to the Question; and some are too Modern. These, and more Ob­jections are rais'd against this History by our most Learned Bishop ^a Stilling­fleet; who nevertheless confesses that he has sufficiently prov'd that there was such a Prince. So that, it seems, there is something of ^b plain Stuff in the Story; whatever Imbroydery may be In­troduced by the Spanish vein of Roman­cing. Arth. Kelton's Chronicle of the ^c Brutes, and H. ^d Lyte's Records, &c. are such Whimsical and Imperfect Pieces as not to deserve the being nam'd with the last mention'd Authors; tho' they treat much on the same Sub­ject.

[Page 100] After King Charles the Second's Re­storation, R. Vau­ghan. Mr. Robert Vaughan (a Learn­ed Gentleman of Meryonidshire) pub­lish'd his ^a British Antiquities Reviv'd; wherein are a great many very pretty Remarks and Discoveries. The Author, it appears, was well known to Arch­bishop ^b Vsher; by whom he was much countenanc'd and encourag'd in these Studies. In one of his Letters to that renown'd Primate, he says, he had now finish'd his Annals of Wales; which he then sent to be perus'd by his Grace, and to receive his Approbation (if wor­thy of it) for the Press. What became of that Work, I cannot tell: but it has not yet appear'd so publickly as the Author (it seems) long since intended it should. His Executors owe him and us the Ju­stice of sending abroad whatever they have of his that's compleat: For he left also behind him a large Collection of o­ther Manuscript Papers, relating to the same Subject; which were sometime in the Possession of Sir William Wil­liams.

[Page 101] After him came forth Aylet Sammes A. Sam. with his ^a Britannia Antiqua Illustra­ta; wherein he fetches the Original of the British Customs, Religion and Laws, from the Phoenicians. This Conceit (which is all that looks new in his Book) is wholly borrow'd from Bochartus; as is his long Discourse of the Off-spring of the Saxons, from Sheringham. As for his own part, 'tis visible he equally understood the Phoenician, British, Go­thick, Saxon, and Islandic Languages; and, if left to himself, could as easily have brought the Britains from New Spain, and the Saxons from Madagascar. Upon the first publishing of this Book, Mr. Oldenburg (Secretary to the Royal Society) gave a very obliging ^b Cha­racter both of the Work and its Au­thor: who (by what the ^c Oxford Antiquary has since told us) was every way unworthy of such a Complement. Whether his Uncle or himself was the true Author of what he was pleas'd to publish under his own Name, is not [Page 102] worth our while to enquire. But, if we believe Mr. Wood that Aylet had never so much as heard of John Leland before the Year 1677, he's the most unaccoun­table and ridiculous Plagiary and Buf­foon that ever had his Name in the Title Page of any Book whatever. For that which he pretends to be his, was Printed the Year before; and (in the Preface to it) we are told, that 'twas John Leland's asserting, that the main Body of the Welsh Language consisted of Hebrew and Greek words, which first put the Author upon his search into the Stories of the Phoenician Voy­ages. So that, it's very probable that good Master Sammes never read so much as the Preface to his Book: Or else, either he or Mr. Wood must be under the misfortune of a very treacherous Memory.

Something of value might have been J. Aubu­rey. expected from the many Years Labours and Collections of that excellent Anti­quary John Aubrey Esquire, Fellow of the Royal Society; if the Proposals he lately made for the publishing of his Mo­numenta Britannica had met with a sui­table [Page 103] Reception. The World is not come to that Ripeness we hope for, as duely to relish Works of this Nature: but how well his have deserv'd a bet­ter Encouragement than hitherto they have met with, is apparent from the lit­tle Tasts we have of 'em in the late E­dition of the Britannia; especially in Wiltshire, Herefordshire and Wales. He would have given us (if we had been so kind to our selves as to have ac­cepted his Pains) a good view of the Temples, Religion and Manners, of the Ancient Druids; of the Camps, Ca­stles, Military Architecture, &c. of both Britains and Romans. But we re­jected his offers; and may possibly too late repent of our Folly.

As to the Roman Writers, Roman Histori­ans. there are hardly any that treat of the Affairs of this Isle any otherwise than occasionally only, and by the bye. The Design of Caesar's Commentaries is to give the World an Account of the most glorious Passages of his own Life; and what he says of Britain (as well as Germany) is apparently what he could pick up from uncertain Tattle and Hear-say. Some­thing [Page 104] better bottom'd are the Stories we meet with afterwards in Tacitus, Dio Cassius, Suetonius, Eutropius, Spartianus, Capitolinus, Lampridius, Vopiscus, ^a &c. who may all be suppos'd to have had the perusal of such Memorials as were, from time to time, sent to the Empe­rours from their Lieutenants (and other chief Officers) in this Province. In the use of these, the Reader ought to take a deal of Leisure and Caution. For most of 'em seem to have been loose In­digested Adversaria; such as had not the last Examination and Thoughts of their Authors; and do therefore want the Re­gard that should be had to Order and Time. Besides the several Tracts are not well ascertain'd to their Genuine and Proper Writers; the not heeding where­of may draw one unawares into very dangerous mistakes. These Defects are happily supply'd by the famous Mr. Dod­well, in his late Learned Praelectiones ^b Camdenianae; which will be highly serviceable to all such as shall hereafter engage in these Studies. Indeed Taci­tus's [Page 105] Life of Agricola (especially as im­prov'd by ^a Sir Henry Savil's most ad­mirable Translation and Learned Notes) looks something like a Just Treatise upon that great General's Conduct here; and is done with that Fairness and Respect to the Natives, that I cannot see but Gal­gacus is made to talk as Bravely, Grace­fully and Eloquently, as the best of his Enemies. Many Defects in these Ac­counts have been likewise supply'd (as well as good store of Conjectural Mi­stakes, in more Modern Authors, recti­fy'd) by the Roman Inscriptions and Coins found in several parts of our I­sland; and there are daily new Discove­ries of both these sorts.

Since the acceptable Services done to Inscripti­ons. the Students of Antiquities by Gruterus and Reynesius, the Inscriptions on Altars and other Monuments have carry'd a very high price; and (among others) the Antiquaries of our own Nation have fansy'd that our History has had great Improvements from such as have been discover'd here. Those that Mr. Camden [Page 106] met with were all preserv'd (as choice Ornaments) in his Britannia; and some few have been added in the late Edition of that Work. Many more might un­doubtedly be had for seeking after: And 'tis no small Unhappiness, that, among the many Advancements of Learning in this Age, the Recovery of these precious Treasures should be so much neglected. The Persons employ'd in these Searches ought to be Men of Probity as well as Knowledge; Religiously scrupulous in obtruding any thing upon the World, under the Venerable Name of Antiquity, which has not an honest Title to that Character. Annius of Viterbo's scanda­lous Project of raising the Credit of that City by some forg'd Inscriptions (which he had caus'd to be hid in the Neighbou­ring Fields, and afterwards discover'd in a Boasting Triumph) has been justly re­sented and exploded by all true Lovers of ancient Learning: But the Inclinations of all Men are so naturally bent upon doing Honour and Service to their Na­tive Country in their own way (and the Temptations that we meet with in these Studies are so many and strong) that a very great share of Integrity is [Page 107] requisite to the making of a Complete Antiquary.

Mr. Camden ^a tells us, that, Coins. from the Time of Claudian to that of Valenti­nian (about five hundred years) the Ro­man Coin only was current in this Nati­on: And that (whereas all Money for this part of the World was, for a long time, coin'd either at Rome, Lions or Treves) Constantine the Great erected a Mint at London. Some of his Pieces, which were there coin'd, I have in my poor Collection; and they are not un­common in many of the Musaea in Eng­land. But, long before his Days, his Predecessors took occasion to magnify their Exploits, in this other World of Great Britain, on the Reverse of their Coins; from whence several good Illu­strations of that part of our History may be had. What are given us of this kind, in the Britannia, are very valuable: But their Numbers might be further enlarg'd; and we are the more encouraged to look after those we want, because I have not yet heard that our Trayterous English [Page 108] Money-makers have hitherto busy'd themselves in Counterfeiting any Coin of so ancient a Date. Such Rogueries are common in France and Germany; where most of their old Medals have been Copy'd (and many New Ones of the first Caesar's stamp'd and minted) by Modern Artists: And yet, even there, those that relate to the Affairs of this Isle are always allow'd to be True and Genuine.

CHAP. IV.
Of the Histories, and other Monu­ments, that relate to the Times of the Saxons and Danes.

THe Dispatch that Sir William Temple makes of the Saxon times is very short and pithy; and the Cha­racter he gives of their Writers is so full of Contempt, that (if we were sure it came from a proper Judge) 'twould save an Antiquary a great deal of trouble and pains. The Authors (he ^a says) of those barbarous and illi­terate Ages are few and mean: and per­haps the rough course of those Lawless Times and Actions would have been too ignoble a subject for a good Historian. The times were not so lawless, nor the Authors so few and mean, as he imagines. A great many of the Re­cords of those days, we own, are lost: but there are still more remaining, than any of our Neighbour-Nations [Page 100] can pretend to shew, relating to the Transactions of those Ages. We know not what's become of the Book King ^b Aelfred wrote against Corrupt Judges; of his Collection of the old Saxon Sonnets; of St. Aldhelm's Hymns, and other Musical Composures, &c. And yet we have a pretty good stock of their Laws and Historical Treatises; and those that have been conversant in 'em do not think they have thrown away their time upon so ignoble a Sub­ject as some may fansie it.

Before a just Sentence could be pass'd in this case, Gram­mar. the Judge ought to have had the leisure and patience to have made himself a perfect Master of the Saxon Language; which he might do either in the method prescrib'd by ^c Mr. Lambard or ^d Dr. Hickes. To this purpose, it had been conve­nient that he had furnish'd himself, in the first place, with a Saxon Gram­mar, since our Tongue is now very much alter'd in the Construction and Termination of such words as we still retain, from that of our Ancestors. [Page 101] Whether the Monks of Tavistoke (who, as ^e Camden tells us, had a Saxon Lecture in their Monastery) ever com­pil'd any thing of this kind, is not known; tho it has been lately ^f re­ported, that, in the beginning of the Civil Wars, there was such a Grammar there printed. The first attempt to­wards it, that we hear of, was by Mr. John Josseline, Archbishop Parker's Secretary; who drew up a Specimen, which is now hardly to be met with. Mr. Somner prefix'd some short Gram­matical Rules to his Dictionary: but Mr. Junius did not (as far as I could ever learn) bend his thoughts that way. Bishop Fell was earnest with Dr Marshall (late Rector of Lincoln-College) to draw up a Grammar; and he devolv'd the work upon one much more unfit for the employment, who had made some Collections to that purpose. His endeavours were super­seded by the excellent performance of Dr. Hickes, who has publish'd his Institutiones ^g Grammaticae Anglo-Saxonicae, &c. The Book discovers an Accuracy in this Language beyond [Page 102] the Attainments of any that had gone before him in that Study; and will be of most necessary use to such as shall apply themselves to the right under­standing of the ancient History and Laws of this Kingdom. But, as all first Draughts of any sort are usually Imperfect, so there seem to be some Defects in this that may be supply'd. For Example, There wants a Chapter of the variety of Dialects; which might have been had out of the Nor­thern Interlineary Versions of the Gospel mention'd by Doctor ^h Mar­shall: One whereof is peremptorily affirm'd to have belong'd to St. Cuth­bert, as the other (in all likelihood) did to Venerable Bede.

After the Grammar is well and carefully perus'd, Dictiona­ries the next Enquiry ought to be after such Dictionaries as have been written in the Saxon Tongue; whereof we shall meet with as great plenty as we did in the Bri­tish. We find, that even in those Barbarous Ages, they had some few men of Learning, who collected se­veral Vocabularies, in Saxon and La­tin, [Page 103] for the use of their School-boys. Some of these are still remaining, ha­ving been carefully pick'd up and transcrib'd by Mr. Junius. The chief of them are the two that bear the Name of the learned Aelfric: where­of the worse was printed, with his Grammar, in the end of Mr. Somner's Dictionary; the better still continu­ing in Manuscript (notwithstanding ⁱ Mr. Wharton's Remark to the con­trary) both in Cotton's Library, and in that of St. John's College in Ox­ford, as well as amongst Junius's Tran­scripts. Out of these, and other helps, the most Industrious of our English Antiquaries have compil'd their Saxon Dictionaries; very serviceable towards the carrying on of these intricate and useful Studies. All that I have heard of in this kind, are: 1. That which was drawn up by Laur. Noel, Dean of Litchfield, in the beginning of Queen Elizabeth's Reign: whose Original Manuscript fell into the hands of Mr. Selden, and is now in Bodley's Li­brary; as a fair Copy of it is amongst Junius's MSS. 2. John Josseline's; [Page 104] said to be in ^k Cotton's Library, tho Dr. Hickes does not mention it in his Catalogue. 3. Will. Somner's; which was ^l publish'd at the Earnest Request and Charges of some of the most Learned Men in this Kingdom. The chief Additions he made, to what was done to his hand by the two fore­mentioned Gentlemen, were out of Caedmon's Paraphrase, and the Medici­nal MS. in the King's Library; toge­ther with two old Glossaries in Sir John Cotton's. 4. That most elaborate one of Fr. Junius, who has infinitely outdone all that went before him. His large Glossary or Lexicon of the five old Northern Languages (where­of the Saxon has the preference) may be seen in the Author's own MS. in Bodley's Library; and a fair Transcript of it (in Eleven Volumes, at the charge of the late pious Bishop Fell) in the Musaeum Ashmoleanum. It was design'd for the Press by that most excellent Prelate; and may be yet hoped for, as soon as it shall please God to restore to us the Blessing of Peace, together with (one of its certain Consequences) [Page 105] the Encouragement of Industry and good Learning. We may likewise then expect the same Author's Etymo­logicum Anglicanum, a work complete­ly finish'd in two Volumes; which will be also of singular use to our En­glish Antiquary. After these I can hardly think it worth the while to take notice of the Imperfect Collecti­ons made by Sir William Dugdale in Saxon and English; nor of two Ano­nymous Fragments, of the like kind, in the Libraries of Sir Thomas Bodley and Bennet-College.

To these Dictionaries ought to be added the Glossaries of Sir Henry Spel­man Glossa­ries. and Mr. Somner; which explain the hard and obsolete Words fre­quently occurring in our ancient Histo­ries and Laws The former of these was first ^m publish'd Imperfect: but in the ⁿ Second and Third Editions that Defect is supply'd. That the whole is the true Genuine Work of its pretended Author, appears from the uniformity of the Style in both parts; from the Quotations of the same Manuscripts; References in both [Page 106] to the Readings of his Grandfather Sir John Spelman, &c. 'Twas a great misfortune that the late publisher of it was not made acquainted with the Notes and Enlargements upon the whole amongst Somner's Manuscripts in the Library at Canterbury. The other Glossary was long after compil'd by W. Somner, and annex'd to the ^o De­cem Scriptores, publish'd by Sir Roger Twisden; who acknowledges, that without it that work had been a very dry and useless performance. Out of these two Du Fresne usually tran­scribes whatever he has, in his ^p great work, which relates to the dif­ficult passages in our old Laws, &c. Dr. Wats has added a Glossary to his Edition of M. Paris; which may be very serviceable to a young English Antiquary: And ^q Mr Wheloc pro­mis'd one of his Composure.

There's not much to be learn'd Coins. from any Coins we have of our Saxon Kings, their Silver ones being all of the same Size, and generally very slovenly minted. In this Metal they [Page 107] coin'd only Pennies, worth about three pence of our present Money. But they had also (as appears from the Saxon ^r Gospels Halfpennies and Farthings; which perhaps were of a baser Matter. They had also Half Farthings (eight to a Penny, like the Liards de France) which they call'd ^s Sticas: Of which kind I take those Brass pices to be which were lately found near Rippon in Yorkshire, and by Sir Edward Black [...]t (into whose possession they first came) kindly communicated to several cu­rious Antiquaries in that County. The rest of their Money-Terms are Names of Accounts and Weight; which are thus stated by ^t Camden.

[Page 108] This computation (tho not exact) comes near the truth; and is as much, or more, than we have occasion for at present. Camden here omits their Thrimsa; which Sir Henry Spelman takes to have been three Shillings; Mr. Selden thinks it was the third part of a Shilling; and Mr. Somner mo­destly owns he knows not what it was. As far as I am able to judge, King ^u Aethelstan's Laws make the Thrimsa, Peninga and Sceat, all one thing. They tell us a King's Weregild was thirty thousand Thrimsa's: that is (say they) one hundred and twen­ty pounds. Now, one of their pounds being allow'd to be about three times the weight of ours, this Summ will amount to about three hundred and sixty pounds of our Money; and, there being eighty six thousand and four hundred pence in our three hundred and sixty Pounds, it follows that a Thrimsa is somewhat less than our three pence; which is the same with their Peninga or Sceat.

In several ^w Libraries, Charters. and in many Register-Books of our oldest [Page 109] Monasteries, we have a deal of Char­ters granted (and pretended to be granted) by our Saxon Kings: but they are very cautiously to be ad­mitted and allow'd on. The most an­cient that we meet with are those that are said to have been granted by ^x Ethelbert King of Kent, about the Year 605. and they have such Marks of Forgery upon them, as would make a Man jealous of medling with any others of the like kind. The Re­cords of the very Chuch of Canter­bury, to which these Grants are said to have been made, assure us that King Withered (who reign [...]d almost a whole Century after Ethelbert) was the first that gave out Charters in Writing; his Predecessors thinking their bare word sufficient to secure any of their Gifts and Benefactions. Nay, one of their own ^y Monks acquaints us, that his Brethren were eminent Artists at coining of Char­ters: and we have all the reason in the world to take his Word for it. The Cheat may commonly be disco­ver'd by a strict Enquiry after, and [Page 110] comparing of, their Dates and the Times of such Witnesses (Bishops, Abbots, &c.) as are brought in to at­test their Truth. Mr. Wharton ^z says, he could rarely observe one Saxon Charter, penn'd in their own Tongue, to have been counterfeited: and the reason he assigns, is, because all the Forgery came in after the Con­quest; when the hungry Normans put the Monks and others upon pro­ving their Titles to their Lands and Houses, or otherwise made bold to seize them into their own hands. Now, what was written in the Saxon Tongue being generally slighted, it was necessary they should produce their Grants in Latin, if they expect­ed that their new Masters would ever­regard or cast an Eye on them. Ano­ther occasion was afterwards taken of feigning Charters, upon William the Conqueror's extraordinary one to his new erected Monastery at Battle-Ab­bey; whereby he exempted the Ab­bot there, and his Monks, from all Episcopal Jurisdiction. This set the Religious, in other parts of the King­dom, [Page 111] upon grasping at the like Im­munities; and, to that end, they fre­quently framed the like Grants from former Kings. R. Fabian ^a will tell us, that the first Charter the Citizens of London ever had was granted by King William the First; which (not­withstanding the great Antipathy which he is said to have against it) is written in the Saxon Tongue, seal'd with green Wax, and exprest in eight or nine Lines.

A great many of their Laws have been publisht; Laws. and we are not with­out hopes but that a good deal more, which hitherto have lain in private hands, will shortly appear abroad. The first attempt towards so good a service to the Kingdom was made by A. Nowel, who collected all he could find, and left them to be translated by his Friend W. Lambard. He ac­cordingly made them ^b publick: but his Translation is so false and af­fected, that the best Judges of such a performance have not been satisfy'd with it. For which reason ^c Mr. Ju­nius [Page 112] recommends the old Translation in John Brompton's History, as much more correct, and better to be rely'd on. Mr. Somner took the pains to re­view the Book, and to correct his Errors; adding several Laws omitted by Lambard, and giving a ^d dou­ble Translation, in Latin and English, to the whole. These are now, with what else of that kind was left un­publish'd by that industrious person, in the Custody of the Dean and Chapter of Canterbury. Mr. Junius took the like pains with the Book; and his Emendations are to be had at Oxford. But still there are several Saxon Laws in Manuscript; which we have good hopes will e're long be publisht. At least, those of 'em that relate to the Affairs of the Church, will be given us in a better Edition of Sir Henry Spelman's Councils: Of which more hereafter.

By the way, Denela­ga, &c. I am not satisfy'd with the Opinion of Camden, Lambard, Spelman, (and, generally, all our English Antiquaries and Historians who have treated of these matters) [Page 113] that there were in this Kingdom, be­fore the Conquest, three Codes or Digests of Laws: which, from the several Countries wherein they first prevail'd, were rightly named the West-Saxon, Mercian and Danish Laws. This conceit is deriv'd down, with­out Contradiction or due Examina­tion, from the most early Translators of our Saxon Records; who took it for granted that Laga (in Westsexena laga, Myrcena laga and Dene laga) was a word of the same Import and Signi­fication with the Norman Ley. Where­as, in truth, Laga or Lage is properly a Country or District: and so, 'tis very evident, it ought to have been translated in the Laws of ^e Ethel­bert, ^f Cnute, and ^g Edward the Confessor; even in those very parts of 'em which have occasion'd all these mistakes.

[Page 114] It appears there were some Histori­ans Saxon Chronicle. who wrote of the Saxon Affairs before Venerable ^h Bede's time; and I am inclinable to think that a part of their old Chronicle (which has had so ⁱ much honour of late done to it by Mr. Gibson) is of that Age. The first Publisher of this No­ble Monument was Ab. Wheloc; who translated it, and caus'd it to be print­ed in the end of his ^k Saxon Bede. He made use only of two Manuscript Copies; one in Cotton's Library, the other in that of Bennet College: whereof the former ended with the year 1001, and the latter with 1070. Cotton's, he says, had been compar'd with a Third; which the Collater (whom he supposes to have been Mr. Josseline) calls the Book of Peter­burgh. Mr. Gibson had the advantage of three Copies more: 1. Laud: A fair one in Vellum, given by Arch­bishop Laud to the University of Ox­ford; which corrects those that Whe­loc had seen, and continues the Histo­ry down to the year 1154. This, he fansies, did anciently belong to the [Page 115] Monastery of Peterburgh; because it often largely insists upon the Affairs of that place. But, if it did so, 'tis plain it cannot be the same where­with Mr. Wheloc's Cottonian MS. had been compar'd, tho its variations from it are not very considerable, being mostly in words, and not in sence. 2. Cant. Another Gift of the same Archbishop to the publick Li­brary at Oxford. 'Tis a Paper-tran­script of some Copy (now lost) dif­fering from all the rest; and some­times explaining their dark passages, and supplying their defects. It ends with the year 977. 3. Cot. A better Copy than it had been Mr. Wheloc's Fortune to meet with in the ^m Cot­ton-Library: which was accurately compared with Wheloc's Edition by [...]r. Junius, and ends A. D. 1057. Out of all these we have the Text made up as entire and compleat as 'twas possible to give it us; with an ele­gant and proper ⁿ Translation, void of all affected Strains, and un­lucky Mistakes, which used to abound in Works of this kind. If some few [Page 116] passages have a little puzzl'd the In­genious publisher, let it be consider'd, that in these, Florence of Worcester and Matthew of Westminster (who li­ved nearer the times wherein they were penn'd) were much more lamen­tably gravell'd. Perhaps, some further Enlargements and Additions might yet be made to this Work, out of such MSS. as came not early enough to Mr. Gibson's View and Knowledge. Of this Number I take to be, 1. The Saxon Chronicle from Julius Caesar down to the Reign of King Edward the Martyr, in ^o Sir John Cotton's Library: For (if it ends, as Mr. Whar­ton ^p says it does, A. D. 975.) it must be different from what was per­us'd by A. Wheloc. 2. Another, in the same ^q Library, from Iulius Caesar down to the Conquest; which was transcrib'd by Somner, and is now (under the Title of the Chronicle of Abingdon) amongst his MSS. at Canter­bury. 3. A Third, in Latin and Saxon, at the same ^r place; which is fre­quently referr'd to by ^s Mr. Whar­ton, [Page 117] and seems to have recorded ma­ny particulars of Note not mention'd by any of the rest. This Book was given to Sir Robert Cotton by Mr. Cam­den, says ^t Archbishop Vsher; who also mentions a ^u Copy of his own, worth the enquiring after. 4. The Book of Peterburgh, which was never tho­roughly compar'd with any Copy, hi­therto publisht, and ^w differs from them all. May we not also bring into this List those hinted at by ^x Mr. Kennet; and that which ^y Mr. Som­ner had from Mr. Lambard? I think we may.

The History that is written by Bede Histori­ans. is so purely Ecclesiastical that it will not fall under our consideration in this Chapter: But some of his Cotem­poraries are said to have recorded the Civil Transactions of their Times. Thus Cimbert (first Monk, and after­wards Bishop, of Lincoln) is the ^z reputed Author of the Annals of his own time; and Daniel Bishop of the West Saxons is ^a said to have writ­ten [Page 118] four or five Historical Treatises. I suppose there was no other grounds for dubbing these men Historians, save only Bede's grateful Acknowledg­ments of his being indebted to both of 'em for the Informations and As­sistances they gave him towards the compiling his Ecclesiastical History: and, if he quotes them in twenty particulars, 'tis enough for either Bale or Pits to make them Authors of as many Books.

To W. Caxton, K. Ael­fred. I suppose, good Mr. Fox was oblig'd for the Account he gives us of King ^b Aelfred' s com­piling a Story in the Saxon Speech, &c. But Bale and Pits have bravely ^c enlarg'd upon the matter; assuring us that he did not only write Collectiones Chronicorum, but also Acta suorum Ma­stratuum. The Mirroir des Justices (written in the days of Edward the First) would incline us to believe the latter part of the story; giving so very punctual an ^d Account of forty and four of his Judges executed, in one year, for corrupt Practices. But all that now remains of that great Mo­narch's [Page 119] Works (which relates to Hi­story) is only his paraphrastical Tran­slation of Bede, and a short Genealo­gy of the Kings of the West Saxons. The former of these will be treated on ^e hereafter, and the other may be seen among the Appendices to the Oxford Edition of his Life.

The earliest Account we have of Asserius. the Reign of this excellent Prince is owing to Asserius Menevensis; who lived in his Court, and is said to ha [...]e been promoted by him to the Bishop­rick of Sherburn. This Treatise was first publisht by A. B. Parker, in the old Saxon Character, at the end of his Edition of ^f Th [...]. Walsingham's History. This he did to invite his English Readers, and to draw them in unawares, to an Acquaintance with the Hand writing of their Ancestors, in hopes to beget in 'em (by degrees) a Love for the Antiquities of their own Country. Asserius wrote his So­veraign's Life no further than the 45th year of his Age, which, accord­ing to his computation, fell in the year of our Lord [...]893. So that, tho [Page 120] the Book (as 'tis publisht) continue his Story to his Death, yet that part is borrowed from Authors of a later time; particularly, the Copy of Verses, by way of Epitaph, is Henry of Huntingdon's. He shows, through the whole, a great deal of Modesty, especially in the Account he gives of his own being call'd to Court, and his Reception there. He mentions no­thing of the Visionary Dialogue 'twixt King Aelfred and St. Cuthbert; which all the rest of our Historians largely insist on, together with the good ef­fects it had upon the Diocess of Lin­disfern. He is exactly copy'd by Flo­rence of Worcester, and others; when they come to treat of the great things of this Reign. As to what relates to the Truth or Falshood of that Memo­rable Passage in this Book, mightily asserting the Antiquity of the Uni­versity of Oxford, I shall not meddle at present; that matter having been sufficiently canvass'd by ^g those whose proper business led them to it. The best thing this Contest could do for us was the putting Sir John Spel­man [Page 121] upon writing a New ^h Life of this King; which he seems to have undertaken chiefly upon a Design to vindicate the University of Cambridge from the Reflections which he appre­hended were cast upon it by the use that had been made of that passage. The most elaborate piece in his whole ^* Book is on this Subject; and his zealous Management has afforded us some good Remarks of his own, and others of the learned Translator and Publisher of his Work. Whether St. Neot ever wrote (as some have reported) the Life of King Aelfred, Sir John Spelman justly ⁱ doubts; and I am not able to resolve him, unless the next Paragraph will unravel the matter.

Another piece has been lately pub [...]lisht, Pseu [...]lo-Ass [...]rius under the Title of ^k Asserius's Annals, by Dr. Gale; who tells us that the Manuscript Copy, which he used, is now in the Library of Trinity College in Cambridge. Jo Brompton ^l indeed cites several things, rela­ting to the Story of King Offa, out of [Page 122] Asserius's Writings, which are not in his Life of Aelfred. Hence some have concluded that he might possibly have been impos'd upon by those that had given the Name of that Author to such Anonymous Collections as they knew not how truly to Father; and the Jealousy may still continue for any thing which this Book disco­ver [...]o the contrary. For King Offa is hardly named in it; and therefore Brompton must have hit upon a ^m spurious piece, how genuine soever this may prove. The learned Pub­lisher does not ⁿ question but 'tis the true Off-spring of Asserius; and its insisting chiefly on the Fortunes of King Aelfred seems to countenance his Opinion. Leland calls it the Chro­nicle of St. Neot's; because he found it in that Monastery. Marianus Scotus had also met with it somewhere, for he transcribes it by whole Sale.

The next Saxon Historian now ex­tant, Ethel­werd. is Ethelwerd or Elward Patricius, descended (as himself ^o attests) of the Blood Royal; who liv'd till the year 1090, but did not continue his [Page 123] Chronicle so far. His work consists of four Books; which are publish'd by ^p Sir H. Savil. The whole is a Translation of a very false and imper­fect Copy of the Saxon Chronicle: and therefore William of Malmesbury has modestly (out of Deference to his Family) ^q declin'd the giving a Cha­racter of this Writer's performance. If he had done it truly, he ought to have told us that his Style is boiste­rous; and that several parts of his History are not so much as hardly sence. It appears from what we have noted above, that both ^r Malmes­bury and ^s Camden are mistaken, when they affirm him to be our most ancient Historian after Bede. J. Pits ^t will tell you that we had two other Ethelwerds of the same Royal Extraction, who, long before this Man's time, wrote each of 'em a Chronicle or History of our English Affairs. The Elder of these he makes Son to King Aelfred, and the other his Grandson. Nay, and St. Ethel­wold (Bishop of Winchester) was like­wise [Page 124] most certainly Senior to this Ethelwerd Patricius, dying in the year 984. Now, he (says the same ^u Author) wrote two Books De Re­gibus, &c. totius Angliae, and De Tem­pore Regum Britannorum: for Copies of both which he sends to the pub­lic Library at Cambridge.

Many things relating to the Civil Lives of their Kings. Government of these Times are dis­pers'd in some particular Lives of their Saints and Kings; the latter whereof may be here mention'd, tho the former will fall under ano­ther Head. The Life of Offa (fre­quently referr'd to by ^w Sir Hen. Spelman) has been publisht by ^x Dr. Watts: That of King Oswin was somewhere met with by ^y John Leland: King Ethelwolph's is said to have been written by ^z VVolstan, a famous Monk of VVinchester, much commended by VVilliam of Malmes­bury: Edward the Confessor's, written by Abbot Ealred, has had ^a several [Page 125] Editions: and Queen Emma's En­comium is also made ^b publick.

After the Conquest, J. Pike is ^c Since the Conquest. said to have written De Regibus Anglo-Saxonum, and De Danis in Anglia dominantibus: but it seems to be a ^d mistake. Upon the same Credit we are assured that ^e John Mercius, under the Reign of King Stephen, pub­lisht an Historical Account of the Mercian Kings, which got him his Surname: That ^f Colman the wise ( John Harding's great Friend) wrote most copiously and clearly of the Saxon Heptarchy, their uniting after­wards into a Monarchy, the Danish Incursions and Cruelties, &c. And that ^g Gyraldus Cambrensis penn'd the Story of the West Saxon Kings.

R. Verstegan' s ^h R. Verste­gan. Restitution of decayed Intelligence in Antiquities does especially relate to the Language, Re­ligion, Manners and Government of the ancient English Saxons. This Writer being of Low Dutch Extracti­on, [Page 126] a Romanist, and something of an Artist in Painting, had several advan­tages for the making of some special Discoveries on the Subject whereon he treats; which is handled so plau­sibly, and so well illustrated with handsome Cuts, that the Book has taken and sold very well. But a great many Mistakes have escap'd him: Some whereof have been noted by Mr. Sheringham; As, his fancy of the ⁱ Vitae being the ancient Inhabitants of the Isle of Wight; Of the ^k Saxons being in Germany, before they came in the more Northern Countries; Of ^l Tuisco's coming from Babel, his giving Name to ^m Tuesday, &c. The rest have been carefully corrected by Mr. Somner, who has left large Mar­ginal ⁿ Notes upon the whole.

Mr. Selden J. Selden. was a person of vast In­dustry, and his Attainments in most parts of Learning were so extraordi­nary, that every thing that came from him was always highly admir'd and applauded. Tho, I must confess, [Page 127] I cannot think he was that great Man in our English Antiquities which some have taken him to be: His Analecta ^o do not so clearly account for the Religion, Government and Revolu­tions of State, among our Saxon An­cestors, as they are ^p reported to do. The Laws he quotes in his Janus Anglorum are as faulty, as if his whole Skill in them reach'd no higher than Lambard's Translation; and seem to want Will. Somner's Emendations, as much as those he has publisht of Willi­am the Conqueror in his ^q Spicele­gium in Eadmerum.

The very best performance that I R. She­ringham. know of, relating to the prime An­tiquities of the Saxons, is Mr. Shering­ham's Treatise ^r De Anglorum Gentis Origine. Our Civil Wars sent this Author into the Low Countries, where he had the Opportunity of coming acquainted with Dr. Marshal and the Dutch Language; both inclining him to such Studies as this Book shews him to have delighted in. He appears to [Page 128] have been a person of great Modesty; as well as Industry and Learning. Hence some will conclude him to be too credulous; and that several of his Authorities (particularly ^s Lazius's Tattle about the Hebrew Inscriptions found at Vienna) have not been suffi­ciently consider'd: But his Collecti­ons out of the Greek, Roman, and (chiefly) the Northern Writers, are highly commendable; and, for the most part, very well put together.

Our Saxon Antiquary ought also to German Writers. be skill'd in the Writings of those Learn­ed Germans, who have made Collecti­ons of their old Laws; or have writ­ten such Glossaries, or other Gram­matical Discourses, as may bring him acquainted with the many ancient Dialects of our Ancestors and Kinsmen in that part of the World. Of the former sort, those I would chiefly re­commend to his use, are the large Volumes of Goldastus and Lindenbro­gius; S. Meichsner's Kayserlich und Ko­niglich Land und Lehnrech; The Frisi­an Laws, amongst F. Junius's Book [...] in Bodley's Library; and (above all) [Page 129] the ^t Sachsen [...]Spiegel or Speculum Saxonicum, which is a notable Manual of the old Laws of the ancient German-Saxons. For the acquiring a sufficient knowledge of the Language, a Man ought not only to be conversant in the Francic pieces that are collected by ^u Junius, and others publisht by ^w Lambecius; but also (and most especially to be familiarly inti­mate with the most elaborate and exquisite Work of ^x J. G. Schotte­lius, who has all that can be wisht for on that Subject.

'Twas the Opinion of ^y Sir Henry Spelman, Danes. that our British Historians have more largely treated of the an­cient Affairs of Denmark than the Danes themselves. But this seems to have been a little unadvisedly writ­ten; and before his Correspondence with Wormius had better inform'd him. I know that some of the most eminent Antiquaries of that Kingdom bewail a mighty breach in the thred [Page 130] of their History of no less than three hundred years together) and that in such Centuries as their Records ought to be most serviceable to us. But ^z Pontanus has happily remov'd that Panick Fear; shewing that the Story is entire enough, and only the Chro­nological part (which is a Fault com­mon to all the ancient Histories of the whole World) a little dark and trou­bled.

The Scaldri or Runae were men of Scaldri. the same fashion among the Danes, and the other Northern Kingdoms, as the Bards in Great Britain. They were the profest Historians and Ge­nealogists of their several Countries; always in attendance on their Kings both in Peace and War, and ready to celebrate every remarkable Occur­rence in everlasting Rhimes. This was their Office: And 'twas of that Consideration in the State, and so ac­ceptable to the Monarchs themselves, that those Poets were always the chief Courtiers and Counsellors; as being perhaps the only Men of Let­ters. Out of their Compositions is [Page 131] fetch'd all the ancient Danish History for some Centuries; as both ^a Saxo himself, and all the rest of their Histo­rians, have acknowledg'd. The Art is still in great Vogue and Credit with the Modern Islanders, who are just­ly reputed the main preservers of the Northern Antiquities, notwithstand­ing that a late ^b Learned person has affirm'd that their Country produces nothing but Apparitions, Ghosts, Hob­goblins and Fairies. Mighty are the Commendations which they that pre­tend to Skill in these Venerable Sonnets have given us of them. They will not allow any thing that was ever penn'd by Homer or Virgil to come in Com­petition with them: assuring us, that the ^c happiest Flights we can meet with in the Greek and Roman Poets are dull Trash, if compar'd with the Seraphick Lines of a true Cimbrian Scalder.

The Language wherein the fore­mention'd Asamal. Rhimes were compos'd was (by the Northern Nations themselves) call'd Asamal, or the Asian Tongue; [Page 132] being suppos'd to be brought out of Asia by Woden or Odin, the first great General that led a Colony into these parts. The best Remains of this (as I long since ^d acquainted the English Reader) are now amongst the Inha­bitants of Island: who have preserv'd their ancient Language in the greatest Purity; both by being least acquaint­ed with foreign Commerce, and by taking care to Registerin it the pub­lic Transactions of their own and the Neighbouring Nations. The same old Tongue was also call'd ^e Runa Ma­ali, from the Characters wherein 'twas written, and which they term'd Runer: Of the Original of which word, and its proper signification, Wormius has given us a large account. The Characters themselves were first (he shews) call'd Runer; tho after­wards that word came to acquire some new significations: As, 1. En­chantments; because they were per­form'd by the help of these strange Letters. 2. Learned Men; whose busi­ness it was, by the help of the same Alphabet, to compose Epitaphs for [Page 133] their great ones, and to make In­scriptions on their Monuments.

'Tis well worth our Observation, Ira Letur. that among the several Runic Alpha­bets reckon'd up by ^f Arngrim Jonas, there's one which he calls Ira Letur, or Irlandorum Literae. Now, it appears indeed that the Danes were long in possession of the Kingdom of Ireland, or (at least) a good share of it: and yet we have not hitherto met with any Remains of their anci­ent Learning, which have been dis­cover'd in that Island. But the thing is not much to be wonder'd at. As all Reformations in religious matters are zealous and warm; so we have rea­son to believe that to have been wherein these Pagan Nations were first converted to Christianity. Care was taken to abolish the very Ruins of their former Worship; and their first Apostles, bringing generally their Commissions from the Court of Rome, thought the Papal Conquest never to be effectually finish'd till even the Italian Characters and Way of Wri­ting had been wholly admitted into [Page 134] practice by their Northern Converts. Which was the more easily brought about, by reason of the ill use which had been some time made of their Runic Letters: For the suggestion was obvious, that, as long as these were at hand, it would be difficult to pre­serve Men from trying some of their old Magical Conclusions; and, by degrees, relapsing into Idolatry and Paganism.

The Danes (as all other ancient Runic Monu­ments. People of the World) register'd their more considerable Transactions upon Rocks; or on parts of them, hewen into various Shapes and Figures. On these they engrav'd such Inscriptions as were proper for their Heathen ^g Altars, Triumphal Arches, Sepulchral Monuments and Genealogical Histo­ries, of their Ancestors. Their Wri­tings of less Concern (as Letters, Al­manacks, &c.) were engraven upon Wood: And because Beech was most plentiful in Denmark, (tho Firr and Oak be so in Norway and Sweden) and most commonly employ'd in these Services, from the word Bog (which [Page 135] in their Language is the Name of that sort of Wood) they and all other Northern Nations have the Name of Book. The poorer sort used Bark; and the Horns of Rain-Deer and Elks were often finely polish'd, and shaped into Books of several Leaves. Many of their Old Calendars are likewise upon Bones of Beasts and Fishes: But the Inscriptions on Tapestry, Bells, Parchment and Paper, are of later use.

Some other Monuments may be known to be of a Danish Extraction, Unlet­ter'd Mo­numents. tho they carry nothing of a Runic In­scription. Few of their ^h Temples were cover'd; and the largest ob­serv'd by Wormius (at Kialernes in Island) was 120 foot in length, and 60 in breadth. Their Altars stood in a sort of Chappel, or Chancel, in the end of these Temples; being only large broad Stones, erected on three bulky Supporters, on the top of a Hillock, surrounded with Rows of lesser Stones. These Altars are usu­ally, three of 'em, found together; being consecrated to their three chief [Page 136] Deities. They buried their Princes and great men (as the old Greeks and Romans also did) in Hills, rais'd sometimes to a considerable heighth, surrounded with one row of Stones about the bottom, and another near the top; and, on some pompous oc­casions, having a third row (in a square) at some distance from the lower of the two former Coronets. They likewise anciently burn'd their dead, and enclos'd their Ashes in Urns, which were reposited in the foremen­tion'd Barrows, together with the choicest Jewels, Treasure, and valu­able Accoutrements, of the deceas'd. The places wherein they fought their Duels were sometimes Squares, lined out with rows of Stones; sometimes round Pits, with convenient Posts (at a due distance) for the By-standers. Thus fought ⁱ Ubbo with the Sclavo­nian. Their Courts of Judicature (which they call'd Tinge) were also certain plots of ground, either ^k oval or square, environ'd with great Stones; and having one larger than the rest in the middle. Near akin to [Page 137] which were the places assign'd for the ^l Election of their Kings; be­ing Circles of such Stones (usually twelve in number) with the bulkiest in the midst.

The next Monument of Age is their Edda Islandorum; Edda. the meaning of which Appellation they that publish the Book hardly pretend to under­stand. As far as I can give the Rea­der any satisfaction, he is to know that ^m Island was first inhabited (in the year 874) by a Colony of Norwe­gians; who brought hither the Tra­ditions of their Forefathers, in certain metrical Composures, which (as is usual with Men transplanted into a Foreign Land) were here more zea­lously and carefully preserv'd and kept in memory than by the Men of Norway themselves. About 240 [...]years after this ( A. D. 1114.) their History began to be written by one ⁿ Sae­mund, surnam'd Frode or the wise; who (in nine years travel through Italy, Germany and England) had a­mass'd together a mighty Collection [Page 138] of Historical Treatises. With these he return'd full fraught into Island; where he also drew up an account of the affairs of his own Country. Many of his Works are now said to be lost: But there is still an Edda, consisting of several Odes (whence I suspect its Name is derived) written by many several hands, and at as different times, which bears his Name. The Book is a Collection of Mythological Fables, relating to the ancient State and Behaviour of the Great Woden and his Followers, in terms poetical and adapted to the Service of those that were employ'd in the composure of their old Rhymes and Sonnets. Ano­ther Edda (publish'd by ^o Resenius) was written by Snorro Sturlaesonius, who was born ( A. D. 1179.) above a hundred years after Saemund; and liv'd to be an eminent Lawyer in his own Country. His Work is thought to be only an Epitome of the former: but I rather look upon them as two several Collections of Islandic Tales and Ballads; out of which may be pick'd a deal of good History, and the [Page 139] best View of the Religious Rites of the Northern Nations that is any where extant. 'Tis plain Saxo had seen many Sonnets that are not touch'd upon in either of these; and thence the Report comes of an Elder Edda much larger (a thousand times says Bishop ^p Br. Suenonius) than both of 'em put together. Nor is it indeed improbable but that a thousand times more Songs of this kind might have been had for seeking after, whatever Scantiness they may now be reduc'd to. Magnus Olaus collected many of 'em for Wormius's; which he was also so kind as to translate and explain to him: And, near twenty years ago, I met with a much more perfect Edda than Resenius's in the famous Library of the Duke of Brunswic-Wolfembut­tel. Whether it was a Copy of Saemund Frode's I am not now able so much as to conjecture; but I remember the Li­brary Keeper (Mr. Hanisius) was so much a stranger to its Contents, that he had entitul'd it an old Moscovian MS. To the Edda is always annex'd the Scalda, which is the old Danish or [Page 140] Islandic Prosodia, teaching how to compose their several sorts of Me­ter.

Our Danish Antiquary should be also acquainted with the best Islandic Historians; Islandic Histories. the most ancient whereof is Aras Frode, Cotemporary with Sae­mund. He first wrote a Regular Hi­story of Island, from the first planting of the Country down to his own Time: wherein he gives an account also of the Affairs of Norway, Den­mark, and England, intermixt with those of his own Nation. This fell happily into the hands of Tho. Bar­tholine; who with the ^q assistance of his Friend the Bishop of Scalholt) took care to have it published, A. D. 1689. Since his time the Islandic Hi­storians have not had any great occa­sion to meddle with the Transactions in Britain, excepting only ^r Arn­grim Jonas, who touches upon some passages which we have also in others already mentioned. And indeed most of 'em are written with so little judgment (confounding the true and fabulous Sonnets of their Scaldri) that [Page 141] they are not to be read without some Caution and Acquaintance with those Poetical Writers who are own'd to be their chief Authors: And the Emu­lation that daily appears to be be­twixt the Antiquaries of the two Neighbouring Kingdoms of Sweden and Denmark (for the gaining the honour of Precedence to their seve­ral Countries) seems to threaten us with further Corruptions in the Edi­tions of their Manuscripts. A misfor­tune this is, which is too frequently observable (tho very highly scanda­lous) in Historians and Learned Men; who ought not to be byass'd by any, even the most natural, Affections.

There is likewise extant a couple of Norwegi­an Wri­ters. Norwegian Histories of good Authen­tic Credit; which explain a great ma­ny particulars relating to the Exploits of the Danish Kings in Great Britain, which our own Historians have either wholly omitted or very darkly re­corded. The former of these was written soon after the year 1130, by one ^s Theodoric a Monk; who ac­knowledges his whole Fabrick to be [Page 142] built upon Tradition, and that the old Northern History is no where now to be had save only ab Istendingorum an­tiquis Carminibus. The other was compil'd by Snorro Sturlaesonius; who confesses he drew it out of the Bal­lads of the Scaldri, which he verily believes to contain nothing but what may be firmly rely'd on as most un­questionable Truth. And Arngrim Jonas so far concurs with him, as to ^t assure us that the Songsters of those days were far from Flattery; and knew nothing of the more modern po­etical Licence, of Fable and Rhodo­mantade, in recording the story of their Princes and Patrons. This Book was translated into the Vulgar Danish Language by Pet. Vndallensis; and so ^u publish'd by VVormius.

Nor do I know of any more than Danish Histori­ans. two Danish Historians which are neces­sarily requisite to be in our Antiquary's Library; and those are Saxo Gram­maticus and (his Cotemporary and Fellow-Servant) Sueno Aggonis. Be­fore Stephanius's excellent ^w Edi­tion, Saxo's History had been thrice [Page 143] publisht, but very faultily. He is commonly reckon'd the most ancient (as well as most polite) Historian of Denmark; dying, Provost of the Ca­thedral Church at Roschild, A. D. 1204. Saxo himself says he ^x compil'd a good part of his out of the Islandic Ballads; yet Arn. Jonas (as quoted by ^y Stephanius) assures us that he did not deal fairly in that matter, nor make such good use of those Autho­rities as he ought to have done. J. Lys­cander ^z quarrels him upon the like bottom, and seems to intimate that he had a greater care of the Style than Matter of his Book. Sueno dy'd before he could bring his Work (which is also ^a publish'd by Stephanius) to perfection: But what we have is of as good and valuable a kind as the fore-mention'd: For, as Saxo framed his History out of the old Rhimes, so he declares that his is mostly taken from the Tales and Traditions of old peo­ple. Out of these two is borrow'd the most of what we meet with, relating to those Times wherein the Affairs of Denmark and Britain were chiefly in­terwoven, [Page 144] in Huitfield, Pontanus, Meursius, and all other later Histori­ans of that Kingdom.

The great Restorer of the decay'd O. Wor­mius. Antiquities of Denmark was Olaus Wormius; who has also enabled us to make many new Discoveries in those of our own Nation. His ^b Literatura Ru­nica was the first happy Attempt made towards the right explaining of the old Cimbrian Monuments: which, till his time, had laid neglected and unknown to the Learned World; not only in those Northern Kingdoms, but in se­veral parts of Italy, Spain and other Europoean Countries, where the Gothic Arms and Letters had gain'd a foot­ing. The whole Treatise is divided into 29 Chapters; largely treating of the Name, Number, Figure, Powers, &c. of the Runic Characters. His ^c Monumenta Danica affords a No­ble Collection of the scatter'd Runic Monuments through all the several Provinces of the Danish and Norwegi­an Kingdoms: An undertaking fruit­lessly attempted before him, and a Work that was so much despair'd on, [Page 145] that some of the best pieces were put to the most vile uses. Out of this Misery he recover'd them; and has now rais'd himself an everlasting Mo­nument out of them all. The whole Book is of singular use to any man that pretends to write upon any Branch of our English Antiquities; some where­of are ^d particularly Illustrated by the worthy Author himself. To these we must add his ^e Lexicon Runicum and ^f Fasti Danici: Nor is the ^g Musaeum Wormianum so full fraught with Physical Rarities, but that it will supply us with some Curiosities in Northern Antiquities worth our seeking. After him, Joh. Mejerus made some Gleanings in the same Field; which still remain in MS. And several Swedes were, by his example, induced to pay the like respect to the long neglected Monuments of their Ancestors. Among whom Buraeus and Verelius have already appeared in public; and Joh. Hadorphius's more complete Work ( de Sepultura [Page 146] Sueco-Gothorum) has been long since promis'd.

Tho. Bartholinus [...]. (Son to the fa­mous Physician of that Name) has lately given us an ^h Addition to Wormius's Discoveries; enquiring in­to the Reasons that induced the an­cient Danes to contemn Death, and carry on the most dangerous Exploits with so much Courage and Bravery. In pursuance whereof he gives us a notable Account of their Belief of the Soul's Immortality; their Deifying of Woden, Thor, Fro and other Heroes; their hopes of enjoying a sensual and Turkish Eternity in Valhalla or Woden's Elysium, &c.

Some few more Writers there are (of a lower form) that have treated on the same subject; which may be useful to our English Antiquary. But for these I must refer him to Alb. Bar­tholine's Treatise ⁱ de Scriptis Dano­rum; being not very well dispos'd (at present) for the writing of dry Catalogues.

CHAP. V.
Of our English Historians since the Conquest.

TO give an exact and full Re­gister of these would be a te­dious Work; and require a much better acquaintance with our public and private Libraries than I can pre­tend to. Sir William Temple has rightly observ'd, that tho, since this great period, the face of affairs ^a has not been drawn by any one skilful hand, or by the Life; yet 'tis repre­sented in so clear a Light as leaves very little either obscure or uncertain in the History of our Kingdom, or Succession of our Kings: And 'twill be enough for my present purpose to pick out the chief of these Lim­ners, and to give the Reader a View of 'em in their proper Colours. [Page 148] This I shall endeavour to do as briefly as is possible; ranking them in the several Centuries wherein they wrote.

1066. The Ele­venth Century. The first of our English Historians, after the Conqueror's Arrival was Ingulphus: who (because he chiefly treats of the affairs of Crowland, tho he occasionally inter­mixes the Story of our Kings) will be more properly placed ^b else­where. The Relation he bore to King William does manifestly byass him in the ill account he gives of Hae­rold; pelting that Prince with a Vol­ley of hard Names, all in a breath, Contemptor praestitae fidei, ac nequiter oblitus sui Sacramenti, Throno Regio se intrusit, &c. About the same time wrote Marianus Scotus (a Monk of Mentz in Germany) Marianus who brought down our English History, interwoven with a more general one of Europe, as low as the year 1083. This Work met with such an universal and great applause in our Monasteries, that there was hardly ^c one in the [Page 149] Kingdom that wanted a Copy of it, and some had several. The frequent transcribing it gave occasion to a deal of errors and mistakes; and the In­terpolations were so many and con­fused, that (when it came to be ^c prepar'd for the Press) some of its Genuine and fairest Branches were lopp'd off, for Morbose Tumours and Excrescencies. Nor will the Reader meet with a word of our English affairs in that lame Edition of Mari­anus's Chronicle by ^d Pistorius: whose business 'twas only to publish the ancient Writers of the German History; and therefore he designedly omitted all that concern'd this King­dom. The best, and most ^e com­plete Manuscript Copy is in the pub­lic Library at Oxford.

1101. Cent. 12. Florence of Wor­cester. The earliest ^f History in the twelfth Century was written by Florence (a Monk) of Worcester, whom I know not whether to call an Epitomizer or Transcriber of Mari­anus. He seems to give ^g himself [Page 150] the latter Character; tho it must be acknowledg'd that he has added very many Collections, out of the Saxon Chronicle and other Writers, with much Care and Judgment. His Book ended, with his ^h Life, in the year 1119; but 'twas continu'd 50 years farther by another Monk of the same Monastery. He so ⁱ scru­pulously adheres to his Authorities, that he sometimes retains even their very mistakes; and yet I must do him the Justice, to say he is not guilty of all the Contradictions that have been laid to his charge. An ingenious person has lately observ'd that he makes his Friend Marianus die in the year 1052. and yet affirms that the same Man was made a Pres­byter (seven years after) A. D. 1059. But, in truth, the Gentleman him­self is more upon the Blunder than his Author. The Phrase of Saeculum reliquit, does not (as he imagines) im­port the same thing with mortuus est: But signifies only (as it does, in the same Year, and on the same Occasion, [Page 151] in Matt. of VVestminster, and others) the Man's leaving the Concerns of this world, Secular Affairs, to turn Regular and Secluse. 'Tis a scandalous reproach, and not worth the an­swering, which Sir Thomas Craig gives of him: That ^k He led his followers into Error, like so many Cattle breaking over a Ditch.

Eadmerus, Eadme­rus. a Monk of Canterbury, is our next Historian, whose Historia Novorum, &c. was ^l published by Mr. Selden, and contains the story of the two VVilliams and Henry the First, from the year 1066 to 1122. 'Tis a Work of great Gravity, and unquestionable Authority. It affords no fooleries of Miracles, so very rife in the Writings of other Monks, unless perhaps the Story of the B. Virgins ^m Hair have a smack of the Cloister. He had Temptations e­nough (being an intimate Acquain­tance of Archbishop Anselm) to take the Pope's part, in the mighty Dispute of his Time about Investitu [...]e; and yet he approves himself a person of [Page 152] that steady Loyalty to his Country as to give a fair account of the ma­nagement on both sides, and the unanswerable arguments made in Defence of the Regal Power. His comparing of our Saviour's Commis­sion to St. Peter, and Pope Gregory's to Augustine the Monk (for the esta­blishing of the Primacy of Canterbury) is notable; and either clears that of Canterbury, or clouds that of Rome. The Character which Selden himself gives of him is, that his Style equals that of Malmesbury, his Matter and Composure exceeds him. His Co­temporary Aelfred (Monk and Trea­surer of the Church) of Beverly seems to be no more than an Epitomizer of Jeoffrey of Monmouth: So that all the four ⁿ general Treatises said to be written by this Author may proba­bly well bear the Name of Deflora­tiones Galfredi.

But William (Monk and Library-Keeper) William of Mal­mesbury. of Malmesbury was a person of another figure; and has had the highest Commendations imaginable given him by some of our best [Page 153] Criticks in English History. One calls him an ^o elegant, learned, and faithful Historian: Another says he's the ^p only Man of his Time that has honestly discharg'd the Trust of such a Writer: And the third calls him the ^q chief of all our Histori­ans. What falls under our present consideration is his Account ^r De Gestis Regum Anglorum, in five Books; with an Appendix in two more, which he stiles Historiae Novellae. In these we have a judicious Collection of whatever he found on Record, touching the Affairs of England, from the first arrival of the Saxons; con­cluding his Work with the Reign of King Stephen; to whom he shews himself as hearty an Enemy, as (his Patron) Robert Earl of Glocester could possibly be. We shall have occasion to mention this Author in several of the following Chapters; and therefore I shall now only add, that I think himself has given an [Page 154] honest account of this part of his Labours, when he tells us, ^r Priva­tim ipse mihi, sub Ope Christi, gratulor, quod [...]ontinuam Anglorum Historiam ordinaverim post Bedam vel solus vel primus. And again: Ego enim veram Legem secutus Historiae, nihil unquam posui nisi quod a fidelibus Relatoribus vel Scriptoribus addidici. Pits says he was epitomiz'd by ^s W. Horman, sometime Master of Eaton-School: But whether all his Works, or some part of 'em only, were so contracted he does not tell us. Possibly, he only transcrib'd what ^t Simeon Dunelmensis had before drawn up to his hand.

This Simeon, Simeon Dunelm. and (his Cotempo­rary) Ealred, Abbot of Rievaulx, are our next Historians of Note in this Century; and have both de­serv'd to be remember'd in several parts of this Treatise. The former was Monk and Precentor of Durham, A. D. 1164. and might justly be reckon'd one of the most ^u learned [Page 155] Men of his Age. But his two Books De Gestis Regum (which alone are now to be mention'd) are not his Master-pieces: Being only a few in­digested Collections, chiefly out of Florence of Worcester, whose very words he frequently copies. Abbot Ealred (not of ^x Revesby in Lin­colnshire, but of Rievaulx in Yorkshire) gives us a short Genealogy of our Kings; but enlarges chiefly on the Praises of David King of Scots, Founder of a great many Abbies for the Cistertians. His other Books (of the Life of Edward the Confessor, &c.) are treated on elsewhere. I doubt Sir George Mackenzy's ^y Bal­dredus Abbas Rynalis is this very Au­thor: Notwithstanding the great pains he is at to distinguish them.

About the same time flourished Henry of Hunting­don. Henry Archdeacon of Huntingdon, whose eight Books (concluding with the Reign of King Stephen) were published by ^z Sir Henry Savil. In [Page 156] the Preface he owns himself a Fol­lower of Bede, in the main, for the time he wrote in: But says (withal) that he added many things met with in old Libraries. His first Lines will easily convince the Reader that he does really follow Bede; for he Copies him to a word. But I am not satisfy'd that he has added any great matters, as far as that Author goes. He has indeed a great many Lyes out of Jeoffrey of Monmouth, which Bede never heard of; and which the World might have wanted well enough. Af­ter Bede's time, he has many particu­lars out of the Saxon Chronicle; which had been omitted by our Histo­rians before him. He is pleas'd to take notice of one great Truth, that he writes very ^a confusedly. All the Transactions of the Heptarchy he reduces to the several Reigns of the West-Saxon Kings: But has not adjusted them so well as he ought to have done. At the same time liv'd John Serlo (Abbot of Fountains) who, (as John ^b Pits tells us) wrote a Trea­tise [Page 157] De Bello inter Scotiae Regem & Angliae Barones. We are not so well assur'd of this, as that he wrote a History of the Foundation of his own Monastery; for which he shall be remember'd in a proper place. The general Histories written by Richard of the ^c Devises, and John of ^d Tilbury (a London-Divine) be­fore the end of this Age, are of the same authority; and that's all I have to say concerning either of 'em.

William of Newburg was so call'd from a Monastery in Yorkshire, Neubri­gensis. of that Name, whereof he was a Mem­ber, tho his true Surname was Little, whence he sometimes stiles himself Petit or Parvus. His History ends at the year 1197. and therefore (tho he is said to be alive ^e A. D. 1220.) he ought to be reckon'd among the Historians of this Age. John Pits ^f thinks he appears too much a Flatterer of the Grandees at Court to write a true History: But, by the [Page 158] account he gives of the beginning of it, a Man would be tempted to be­lieve he never read it. He was a most violent Persecutor of Jeoffrey of Monmouth, of whose History he gives this sharp Character, that it contains only pro expiandis Britonum maculis ridicula figmenta, &c. But ^g D. Powel gives the reason of this bitterness of Spirit. It appears, he says, from some of their Histo­ries of good Credit and Antiquity, that this William (whom those Welsh Historians call Gwilym Bach. i. Gu­lielmus Parvus) put in for the Bi­shoprick of St. Asaph, upon the death of the said Jeoffrey (Bishop there) about the year 1165. and, being disappointed, fell into a mad hu­mour of decrying the whole Prin­cipality of Wales, its History, Anti­quity, and all that belongs to it. He is large in his account of the Life, Manners, &c. of Hugh Bishop of Durham. His Latin Style is pre­ferr'd to that of M. Paris, and e­quall'd with those of Eadmerus and [Page 159] William of Malmesbury by ^h Dr. VVats.

1201. Cent. 13. The thirteenth Century begins with Gervase a Monk of Can­terbury; who ⁱ is reported to have been a most judicious Antiquary and Methodical Historian, and to have made excellent Collections of the British and English Story from the coming in of the Trojans down to the year 1200. 'Twere to be wished these dormant Tomes could be discover'd: For the Reigns of three Kings (which are the only part of our General History, of this Author's penning, now ^k extant) are done with judgment enough. About the same time Nicholas de Fly, Bishop of Durham, is ^l said to have written and Historical Treatise; wherein he relates that memorable passage (men­tioned also by some other Historians) of one Simon Thurvay's forgetting all that he had learned, which was to a good pitch of Eminence, and turn­ing perfect Blockhead.

[Page 160] Cotemporary to these two (and a much greater Historian than both of 'em join'd) R. Hove­don. was Roger de Hoveden, who seems to have been Chaplain for some time to King Henry the Second. His History was ^m published by Sir H. Savil: But (as Sir H. ⁿ Spel­man observes) there are many errors in that foreign Edition of this and all our other Historians; and therefore he well cautions the English Reader attentively to consider the spelling of such words as are of our own growth, as very frequently mistaken by Printers that are Strangers to our Country and Language. 'Tis a heavy Censure which Leland has given of this Author, ^o Qui Scrinia Simeo­nis, suppresso ejus nomine, strenue com­pilavit, & aliena pro suis, Gloriae avi­dulus supposuit. Mr. Selden justifies him ^p against this sharp Sentence; and Sir Henry Savil gives a quite dif­ferent Character of the Man and his Writings: ^q Huntingdoniensis & [Page 161] Hovedenus (says he) Authores cu [...] primis boni & diligentes, verissimi (que) superiorum temporum Indices. He may possibly have borrowed something from Simeon of Durham: But, if he did, he has improv'd his Story, ad­ding the years to many things confu­sedly related in that Writer. After the year 802. he falls indeed a little into confusion himself; jumbling a great many things touch'd on before, without any manner of Form or Or­der. But, after three or four Pages, he comes to himself again; and goes on regularly enough. There are in his Book many Letters, Speeches, &c. relating to Ecclesiastical affairs; which are good Materials towards a Gene­ral Church history of this Kingdom. In the year 1291. King Edward the First is said to have caus'd diligent search to be made in all the Libra­ries in England for Hoveden's History, to adjust the Dispute about the Ho­mage due from the Crown of Scot­land: which (says my ^r Author) it clears effectually. At the same [Page 162] time Joh. Oxfordius (Bishop of Nor­wich) is ^s reported to have com­pil'd an English Chronicle; and we may look for some good Remarks from a person employ'd (as he was) on an Embassy to Rome, there truly to represent to his Holiness an account of Archbishop Be [...]ket's Behaviour. Hector Boethius pretends to have seen his History; and applauds him as a Writer next to his mighty Jeoffrey of Monmouth, in Authority as well as Time.

The next Historian of Note and Figure is Ralph de Diceto, R. de Di­ceto. or Disseto, Dean of London; who wrote about the year 1210. He sometimes refers to a ^t Chronological Account of our British Kings of his own Compo­sure, which must have reach'd much higher than any thing hitherto pub­lished under his Name. And such a Work in several parts (containing a British Chronicle from Brute to Cad­wallador, and an English one from Hengist to King Harold) the indu­strious [Page 163] Mr. Wharton ^t says he had seen and perus'd in the Norfolk-Library. The two Treatises which concern us at present, and are alrea­dy ^u printed, are his Abbreviationes Chronicorum and his Imagines Historia­rum: The former whereof contains an Abstract of our History (but chief­ly in Church-matters) down to the Conquest; and the latter gives the Portraictures of some of our Kings more at length, ending with the first years of King John's Reign. Mr. Sel­den is much in the Praises of this ^w Author, and his Works: tho all that is here remember'd is usually copy'd out of other Writers, who are often transcrib'd verbatim. Dr. Gale met with a better Copy of his Abbrevia­tions than had fallen into the hands of Sir Roger Twisden; and has taken oc­casion (in discoursing ^x upon that subject) to shew how mischievously the old Monks of Canterbury us'd to corrupt their Manuscripts. Diceto's Talent lay mainly towards Church-history; [Page 164] and, on that Topick, we shall hereafter meet with him more than once. If Gyraldus Cambrensis ever wrote any such thing as an ^y English Chronicle, it ought to come in the same rank of time with these of Diceto's: But I very much suspect the Truth of that Report. Hither also must be referr'd the famous ^z Exchequer-man, King Henry the Se­cond's Nephew, Gervase of Tilbury; who (besides the Black Book, to be remembered when we come to the Twelfth Chapter) is said to have written a large historical Commenta­ry upon Jeoffrey of Monmouth, under the Title of ^a Illustrationes Galfredi, which he dedicated to the Emperor Otho the Fourth.

Walter Monk of Coventry deserves a more particular Remembrance, Walter Coventri­ensis. as perhaps very well meriting the ac­count given of him by Iohn ^b Le­land, who says the two main Orna­ments of an Historian ( Sincera sides & lucidus ordo) are to be had in him. [Page 165] Upon the strength of this Authority, Bale tells us he was ^e Immortali Vir dignus memoria. But his three Books of Chronicles and Annals (for which these men send us to Bennet College) are all one; being chiefly Collections out of Jeoffrey of Monmouth, R. Hove­den, and H. Huntingdon. Some few things of Note and Consequence he has which are not to be met with in those Authors. He is said to have liv'd in Coventry, A. D. 1217. and therefore Alexander ^f Essebiensis's Epitome of our English Annals, Peter ^g Henham's history, and R. ^h Niger's (continued by his Namesake ⁱ Ralph Abbot of Coggeshal) are of the same date.

Soon after these appear'd Matthew Paris, a Monk of St. Albans; Mat. Pa­ris. one of the most renown'd Historians of this Kingdom. His Historia Major con­tains the Annals (at large) of Eight of our Kings; from the beginning of the Reign of William the First, to the conclusion of that of Henry the Third. [Page 166] 'Twas first publisht at London, A. D. 1571. and the ^k Zurich Edition on­ly copy'd from that. It was again verbatim reprinted (the errors of the Press being only corrected) by ^l Dr. Wats, who beautify'd it with ad­ditions of various Readings; the Au­thor's large Additamenta, and his Lives of the Abbots of St. Albans; a good Glossary of his own composure, &c. Among other Reasons that prevailed with him to publish the very words of the former Edition, he thought he should hereby effectually stop the Mouths of the Romanists (who pre­tended that the Hereticks had vilely corrupted that Historian) when they should see their Case was not better'd by comparing it with all the Manu­script Copies that could be had of it. From the year 1259. (wherein M. Pa­ris dy'd) to King Henry the Third's Death, it was continu'd by Will. Ri­shanger, a Monk of the same Frater­nity; as some inform us. Others will needs affirm, that Paris himself had a very small hand in the whole, ha­ving [Page 167] only begun at the year 1235. the rest being done to his hand by one Roger de Windleshore, or Windsor, (the MS. Copy of his History in Cot­ton's Library calls him Rogerus Wen­dovre de Wendover prior de Bealvair) one of his Predecessors in the same Monastery. Before that time (they ^m tell us) there are only some few Interpolations of M. Paris's, who (for some reasons best known to him­self) did not break off at the year 1250. as it appears he design'd, but continued writing to his Death. The Author (whoever he was) did cer­tainly begin his Chronicle at the Creation, tho we now have lost all that went before the Conquest; un­less, as the ⁿ Publisher of him guesses, that which now goes under the Name of Matthew of Westminster, be (in reality) the true Work of Mat. Paris. This undoubtedly is as much the Offspring of Roger de Wendover, as that following part now published is the genuine Work of M. Paris, as will sufficiently appear to any that [Page 168] shall take the pains to consult the abovementioned Manuscript Copy. The whole Book manifests a great deal of Candour and Exactness in its Author, who furnishes us with so par­ticular a relation of the brave Re­pulses given by many of our Princes to the Usurping Power of the Roman See, that 'tis a wonder how such an heretical history came to survive thus long. Quam fuit animo infensissim [...] in Apostolicam Sedem quivis facile potest intelligere, says Cardinal ^o Baronius. The English whereof is only this; he was a Writer of a singular Courage, and one that durst maintain the Pre­rogatives of his Soveraign's Imperial Crown against the Usurpations of the Papal Crosier. And yet he is as kind to the Pope, as he is either to the King himself, or the Abbot of St. Al­bans; for he indiscriminately las [...]es (upon occasion) every body that comes in his way. The same Author wrote an Abstract of the foremen­tion'd Work, to which he gave the Title of Chronica, and VV. Lambard [Page 169] first christen'd it Historia Minor. It begins, as the former, with VVilliam the Conqueror, and ends A. D. 1250 having in it several Particulars of Note omitted in the larger history. The fairest Copy of this Book (sup­pos'd to be written by the Author [...]s own hand) is in the King's Library at St. James's. One John Shepshed is ^p supposed to have liv'd at the same time with M. Paris; and is, by John Stow, asserted to be the Author of an English history. We may pro­bably bring in also Robert of Glocester for another of his Cotemporaries, since Archbishop ^q Vsher, and ^r Mr. Camden are both positive, that he liv'd some time in the Reign of King Henry the Third. His rhyming Chro­nicle is in English; and the Reader may have a Tast [...] it (as much, it may be, as ever he'll desire) either from ^s Mr. Selden, or ^t Mr. VVood.

The Chronicle of ^u Mailros (tho its Title may seem to rank it among Chronicle of Mail­ros. [Page 170] the Records of another Kingdom, yet) may justly challenge a place a­mong our English Historians, since it chiefly insists upon the affairs of this Nation. The Abbot of Prior of Dun­drainand (in Galloway, a Nursery under Mailros) is thought to have been the first Compiler of the work; which was afterwards continued, by several hands, down to the year 1270. There's very little relating to the Northern history of this Kingdom before the year 1142. (when the lit­tle Convent of Dundrainand was founded) save what is borrow'd from Florence of Worcester, and Matthew of Westminster: So that it must be after that time that the Character which the Publisher gives of this Chronicle ( exhibet Principum, Procerum, Episco­porum, Abbatum, [...] Borealibus istis O­ris successiones) is most agreeable. From the year 1262, the Continuator (who­ever had the turn to be Register at that time) is as dull and whimsical as any Monk needs be. 'Twas his busi­ness to draw the Picture of Simon Monfort, the famous Earl of Leicester; and he has so overdone the matter, that he thought himself oblig'd, in [Page 171] the Conclusion, to instance in a great many Authors of Note that had pub­lish'd some Stories a little Romantick, and yet had found the favour to be believ'd.

The rest of the general Historians of this Age are of a much lower form, Meaner Histori­ans. and less weight, than these already mention'd. Such were Elias de Eve­sham, and (his Namesake) Elias de Trickingham; who are ^x both said to have flourish'd about the year 1270. There is a Copy of the latter's Chro­nicle among my Lord Clarendon's Ma­nuscripts, which ends A. D. 1268. Pe­ter Ickeham (a ^y Kentish Man born, and sometime a Student in the Uni­versity of Paris) about the year 1274. collected the British and En­glish Histories, from the coming in of Brute; and continued them to the Reign of Edward the First. This Chronicle is ^z said to have been some time in the possession of Sir Sy­monds D' Ewes; and perhaps is the same Book which ^a Mr. Wharton ac­quaints [Page 172] us is now at Lambeth. John Buriensir (Abbot of St. Edmundsbury, where he dy'd A. D. 1280.) wrote also ^b English Annals, wherein he treats at large of the Disputes betwixt Pope Innocent the Fourth and R. Grost­est Bishop of Lincoln. Possibly this Buriensis may be the same with ^c Burgensis; and all one with John Ab­bot of Peterburgh, whose MS. Chro­nicle is quoted by ^d Mr. VVharton. And then he should have been reserv'd till the next Century, about the mid­dle whereof that Abbot certainly flou­rish'd.

1301. Cent. 14. Th. Wikes. Tho. VVikes (call'd by Le­land, Vicanus; by others VVic [...]ius) ought to begin the Fourteenth Centu­ry, tho both Bale and Pits bring him within the foregoing; for his History (which begins at the Conquest) ends at the Death of Edward the First, A. D. 1304. The Author was Canon Regular of Osney near Oxford; and writes as clearly and full (especially in some passages relating to the Baron­wars) as so compendious a Chronicle [Page 173] as his is would allow him to do. We are indebted to Dr. Gale for the ^e publishing of this history, together with others of good value, that had long laid imprivate hands John Ca­storius (call'd also ^f Fiber and Be­ver) was a Monk of Westminster, a­bout this time, and wrote a Chroni­cle, still extant in some of our ^g En­glish Libraries. Leland commends him as an Historian of good credit; and he is also cited, with respect, by John Stow in his Survey. He begins with the coming in of Brute, and ends at his own time. VV. Rishanger (who dy'd, very old, about the year 1312) has been mentioned already; and Rad. Baldoc who dy'd the year fol­lowing, and whose history is quoted by Leland and Archbishop ^h Vsher) seems hardly to deserve it. Of the like kind is the compendious Chronicle of Tho. [...], Canon Regular of Leedes in Kent, whom both Bale and Pits have fix'd at the year 1321. But [Page 174] ⁱ J. Weever, from a passage in his Book, which gives an account of the Victories of the Black Prince, shews that he must have liv'd pretty late in the Reign of Edward the Third, if not under (his Grandson) Richard the Second.

Of something better value are the Annals of Nicolas Trivet N. Tri­vet. (Son of Sir Thomas Trivet, Lord Chief Justice) who was Prior of a Monastery of Do­minican Friars in London; where he was bury'd A. D. 1328. An excellent Copy of his history (which John Pits ^k subdivides into three several Trea­tises) is now in the Library at Merton College in Oxford, whence several of our most eminent ^l Antiquaries have had very remarkable Observations. 'Tis in French, and bears the Title of Les Gestes des Apostoiles, (or, the ^m Popes) Empereurs è Rois. Roger [...]e­strensis (who was a Benedictine Monk of St. Werburg's in Chester) was Trivet's Cotemporary, and wrote a large ac­count [Page 175] of the affairs of this Nation. This Work he entitled Polycraticae Temporum, and began it with the co­ming in of the Romans. He continu'd it at first no lower than the year 1314. but added ⁿ afterwards a Supple­ment of fifteen years more.

About the same time (as Mr. Selden J. Bromp­ton. probably ^o conjectures) liv'd the Author of that Chronicle which goes under the Name of John Brompton, some time Abbot of Joreval (or Jor­vaulx) in the County of York, which begins (with the coming in of Augu­stine the Monk) A. D. 588. and ends with the Death of Richard the First, 1198. 'Tis not indeed likely that this History was written by any Member of the Abby of Joreval, since it takes no notice of the Foundation of that Monastery, &c. But only procur'd by Abbot Brompton, and (by him) bestow'd on his Monastery. The Au­thor (whoever he be) is very full in his Collections for the Saxon times, but takes no notice of the Chronolo­gical part in the whole story of the [Page 176] Heptarchy. In this he has not been very inquisitive; ending (for exam­ple) Northumberland where Bede's Hi­story leaves him. He gives the Saxon Laws at large, and translates them pretty honestly. In what he borrows from the old Chronicle, in that Lan­guage, he is not altogether so correct: Otherwise, he had never told us such a rare story of one ^p Sumerled, a Danish Tyrant, who sack'd Reading, &c. His chief Author is Roger Hove­den. Of Walter Hemmingford the Reader needs no further account than what has been already given of him by his worthy ^q Publisher: Nor have I any more to say of Richard of Chichester than what John Pits has told me ^r, that he was a Monk of West­minster, A. D. 1348. that he travell'd to most of the Libraries of England; and, out of his Collections thence, compil'd a notable History of this Kingdom, from the coming in of the Saxons down to his own time.

Ran. Higden R. Hig­den. (Monk of St. VVer­burg's in Chester, where he dy'd very [Page 177] aged, ^s A. D. 1377) was an indu­strious Historian, a great Follower of Florence of VVorcester and others of our best Writers; Vnicuique Authorum suorum honorem integrum servans, says Bale. The Character might be true for any thing (perhaps) he knew: But 'tis that Writer's way to give ac­counts of Men and their Labours at random. It is very evident that, on the Contrary, he falls foul on VVilli­am of Malmesbury in many places; and yet that person is thought to have deserv'd a Respect, and is usu­ally better treated by all our other Historians. He is pleas'd to stile his Work Polychronicon: And, if you spell the first Letters of the several Chapters that begin it, you read Praesentem Chronicam conpilavit Ranul­phus Monachus Cestrensis. What he wrote relating to the times of the Britains and Saxons has been lately ^t publish'd by Dr. Gale, who com­mends him for preserving many Re­mains out of ancient Chronicles, now wholly lost or mislaid. (I have a Parch­ment [Page 178] Manuscript of this History, which seems to be a better Copy than what the Learned Doctor made use of.) The rest was first translated into English by John de Trevisa (a ^u Cornish Man born, and some time Vicar of Berkeley in Glocestershire) who illu­strated the whole with Annotations of his own, says my Author: But they ^x that know the matter bet­ter have observ'd aright that the many Interpolations and Additions in W. Caxton's English Edition, are the Publishers and not Trevisa's. And so is also the Continuation down to the year 1460. For Caxton expressly takes it upon himself, tho our famous ^y Selden says 'twas the Work of Trevisa, who (if the great Man were not mistaken) must have penn'd it near a hundred years after his death.

John Vicar of Tinmouth J. Tin­muthensis. (whence he is always call'd Tinmuthensis, tho he was afterwards ^z Monk of St. Albans, A. D. 1366) was a mighty Collector of our English Histories, [Page 179] which he has left digested in to three very large Volumes; whereof there are now fair Copies in the Libraries at Oxford, Lamboth, &c. This Work he was pleas'd to call Histori [...] [...], and, for that reason, the Author himself is by ^a Leland named Chry­sistoriographus. Out of this large Mass many notable Remarks have been made by the learned Men of this Age: But, because they chiefly relate to the doughty Feats and Miracles of our English Saints, as well as his other Works that more professedly treat on that Subject, we shall defer the further consideration of him to ^b another place.

To humour Bale, Pits and Vossius, Matthew of West­minster. we shall here place Matthew (a Bene­dictine Monk) of Westminster, who, they tell us, flourish'd in the year 1377. 'Tis more probable that he hardly out-liv'd the year 1307. in which he ^c ended his History, tho 'twas afterwards (as we shall see anon) continued by other hands. He was [Page 180] a choice Collector of the Flowers of former Historians, from whence, and from the Title of his Book; he is usually styl'd Florilegus. His chief Be­nefactoris Matthew Paris, whom he so accurately transcribes, that he can­not be perswaded to leave him, even when he warmly treats of the particu­lars of his own Monastery of St. Al­bans. Nay, he sometimes refers (in Paris's very words) to that Author's Addilamenta, as to a Work of his own composure; and hence some have concluded that the whole, even that part which precedes the Conquest, was borrow'd from the same hand. But I can hardly agree to that, since the same heedless way of writing (un­becoming the Accuracy of M. Paris) runs through both of 'em. Hence ^d Vnde Reges Cantiae usque hodie Ae­skynges vocantur; with a thousand more of the like. 'Tis most likely (as has been already observ'd) that R. de Wendover was a common Parent to both the Matthews; and the main of what is publisht under both their Names came from that hand. There [Page 181] was an Edition of Westminster's history before that at ^e Francfort, but abo­minably corrupt and imperfect, espe­cially after the year 1245. the Au­thor's punctual Relation of the brisk behaviour of our Kings and Nobility, in opposition to the Encroachments of the Roman See, being wretchedly mangled and purloyn [...]d. Upon this bottom John Pits divides the History into two ^f several Works, where­of the former he calls Historia ampla, which (says he) is that which was publish'd at ^g London; and the o­ther Historiarum Flores. The Distin­ction he had from Bale; tho the Ap­plication be his own. This Report seems to have had some slender Foun­dation; since we are told that, a­mongst my Lord ^h Clarendon's Ma­nuscripts, there's another historical Work which bears the Name of Flores Historiarum, which is very different from the Printed Copy, and is con­tinu'd near forty years further. But [Page 182] the Reader ought to know that there are many anonymous Historians in this Kingdom, who (beginning at the year 1307,) manifestly shew that they chiefly intended to continue the Work of Matthew of Westminster. The most eminent (indeed) of his Con­tinuators was Adam Merimuth, Canon Regular of St. Paul's, and an eminent Civilian, who in the latter end of his days, gave himself wholly to the reading and writing of English Histo­ry. He begins his Work ⁱ at 1302. and his first part reaches only to 1343. (which, I suppose, makes the Enlargement in my Lord Claren­don's Copy) but the second conti­nues the Story to (in all likelihood, the year of his own Death) A. D. 1300. 'Tis observable that his Hi­story commences at Michaelmas, and for that reason, he always af­terwards begins the New Year at that Feast.

A few more, J. Staf­fort, &c. of an inferior Rank, [Page 183] may probably be reckoned amongst the Historians of this Age. As, 1. John Staffort, a Franciscan [...]iar, who is ^k supposed to have written an English History about the year 1800. Tho. Fuller ^l observes very well that the exact time when he wrote (or liv'd) is not known [...] only, be­ing a Francisean (and that, I doubt, is not very certainly known neither) he must have flourished after the year 1226. when that Order first came into England; and, being quoted by John Ross, must come in before 1400. 2. William de Packington, Secretary and Treasurer to the Black Prince in Gascoigne, wrote a Cronique in French from the Ninth year of King John down to (his own time) 1380. out of which several Collections have been made by ^m Leland, ⁿ Stow and others. 3. Henry de Knyghton, one of the Canons of Leicester, whose ^o History may be said to begin at the Conquest, since he has only a [Page 184] short Abstract of the Saxon Affairs in his first Book. It is continued down to the year 1395. He fairly owns what he transcribes from Ralph Higden; whom he imitates also in the Crotchet of making the fifteen first Chapters of his Second Book give his Name in their Initial Letters, thus:

'Tis plain that neither Leland, Bale nor Pits, had ever seen this Work. An Encouragement to the industrious Antiquaries of this Age to continue their Enquiries after such Histories as are presum'd to be irrecoverably lost. 4. Galf, Lingius (a Franciscan of Nor­wich, about the year 1390.) is also ^p said to have compil'd a History of this Kingdom, from the coming in of Brutus, down to his own Time.

1401. Cent. 15. Sir J. Froissart. The fifteenth Century was one of the most rude and illiterate Ages, and therefore we are not to look for a large Harvest of Historians, in a Dearth and Scarcity of Persons eminent in other parts of Learning. [Page 185] Sir John Froissart (sometime Canon ^q and Treasurer of Chimay in the Diocess of Liege) justly deserves to be placed first, as having ended his Life and Story about the beginning of it. His Work contains a General Hi­story of the Affairs of France, Spain, and other parts of Europe, as well as England; tho it chiefly insists on those of this Nation. The Author was a Frenchman born, but was brought up, in his Youth, in the Court of our King Edward the Third; and, ma­ny years after, familiarly conversant in King Richard the Second's. He wrote in his own Native Language, which was also, in his Time, the ^r Court-Language of England. The Copies that were taken of him in French (as well Manuscript as in ^s Print) are generally faulty and cor­rupt in Names and Numbers; where­as the Author himself, being perfectly acquainted with the English Court and Customs, could not well mistake. Most of these Errors are corrected in [Page 186] the English Edition, which was pub­lished by Sir John Bourchier, Deputy of Calais, at the Command of King Henry the Eighth, towards the latter end of his Reign. His Account of matters seems to be plain and honest; and perhaps none gives a better of the Affairs of Edward the Third, and (his unfortunate Successor) Richard the Second. Sleidan epitomiz'd his History in ^t Latin; but has not done it with that impartiality and fair­ness that might have been expected from a Man of his great Name. Take the Censure which our learned Hum­phry Lhuid long since gave of that piece and its Author: ^u Dum Gal­lico Nomini nimium faveret, Anglo­rum Nobilissima Gesta aut Silentio prae­teritt, aut, ab Authore dissentiens, ali­ter, quam á Froissardo scriptum est, literis commendavit.

After him follow, Tho. Ot­terburn, &c. down to the mid­dle of the Century, a set of very or­dinary Scriblers, such as, 1. Tho. Ot­terburn, a Franciscan Friar of some of our English Monasteries about the year 1411. whose MS. History is [Page 187] ^x said to be in our publick Library at Oxford. 2. Tho. Radburn, Bishop of St. Davids, ^y and C [...]ancellor of the University of Oxford, A. D. 1420. He is usually quoted by the Name of Radburn [...]enior, to distinguish him from another little Chronicler of both his Names, who was a Monk of St. Swithin's in Winchester, and Joh. Ross's great Acquaintance. This lat­ter wrote two Books of our General History; the one whereof he stiles ^z Breviarium Chronicorum, which begins at Brute, and ends A. D. 1234. After the Conquest he copies most from M. Paris, and is very unhappy in his Chronological part His ^a Historia Major (as he calls his other Work) consists of large Collections out of other common Historians, save only in what relates to the Church of Winchester. 3 John Sherburn, a Monk, who wrote ^b Chronica Britannorum, from the first coming in of the Tro­jans, to the Reign of Henry the Sixth. [Page 188] 4. John Henfield, a Monk of Battle-Abby, who drew an ^c Abstract of our Chronicles down to the same time. 5. John Langden, ^d Bishop of Rochester, who possibly is all one with John Langton, (another of the same ^e authentic Gentleman's Hi­storians) a Carmelite Friar, who is said to die at the Council of Basil, A. D. 1434.

Tho. Walsingham, Tho. Wal­singham. a Benedictine Monk of St. Alban's, (and very pro­bably Regins Professor of History in that Monastery, about the year 1440.) made something a better figure than the last mention'd; and accordingly both his Historia brevis and his Hypo­digma Neustriae, have had the honour to be publish'd by Archbishop ^f Parker. His short History begins at the Conclusion of Henry the Third's Reign, where M. Paris ended his: And he might well seem to be Paris's Continuator, were his Language an­swerable to his matter. The account he gives is well enough, and we are [Page 189] indebted to him for many things not taken notice of by any other Writer of those times. Indeed, his Reign of King Edward the Second is wholly borrow'd from Sir Thomas de la More. His Ypodigma Neustriae (as he calls it) has a more particular regard to the Affairs of Normandy; giving an account (at large) of that Duke­dom, from the time it came first into the hands of Rollo and his Danes, down to the Sixth year of Henry the Fifth; wherein the Reader will find many Occurrences not elsewhere to be met with. About the same time wrote John Wethamstede, the first ^g Opposer of the story of King Brutus; and Nicolas Cantelupus (the Cambridge Historiographer) who is also reported to have penn'd a ^h General Chro­nicle of England.

The next Historian of Note was John Harding a, John Harding. Northern ⁱ English­man, and an inveterate Enemy to the Scottish Nation; against whom he carry'd Arms in several Expeditions. He collected out of all our Histories [Page 190] whatever might tend to the proof of the ancient Vassalage of that King­dom to the Crown of England; and, hearing there was in Scotland an old Record that put the matter beyond dispute, he went (with great hazard) thither in disguise, and, with much ado, brought it away, and shew'd it. to Hen. V. Hen. VI. and Edw. IV. To the last of these he dedicated his two Books of Chronicles in English Rhime; whereof the curious Reader may have a taste in some of our Mo­dern ^k Writers. It appears he was living (tho very old) in the year 1461. So that Nic. Montacute (a­bout that time ^l Master of Eaton-School, and a Collector of English History) may be reckon'd his Co­temporary; as may also Roger Alba­nus, a ^m Carmelite of London, who drew up the Genealogies of some of our Kings.

William Caxton W. Cax­ton. (of whose conti­nuation of Trevisa something has been noted already) seems to challenge [Page 191] the next place after Harding. He was a menial Servant for thirty years together, to Margaret Dutchess of Burgundy (Sister to our King Edward the Fourth) in Flanders. He after­wards return'd into England; where finding, as he says, an imperfect Hi­story (begun by one of the Monks of St. Albans, says John Pits, very ⁿ unadvisedly) he continu'd it in En­glish, giving it only the Latin Title of ^o Fructus Temporum. How small a portion of this Work is owing to this Author, has been observ'd before; but he now usually bears the Name of the whole, which begins with the first inhabiting of his Island, and ends (the last year of Edward the fourth) A. D. 1483. The opportu­nities he had, of being acquainted with the Court-Transactions of his own time, would encourage his Rea­der to hope for great matters from him; but his fancy seem to have led him into an Undertaking above his strength.

[Page 192] John Rosse, John Rosse. or Rous, was a person somewhat better qualify'd to write History; being a Man of tolerable Parts, and singular Industry. He was born at Warwick, ^p and bred at Oxford. He travell'd over the greatest part of England; and, ha­ving made large Collections out of the Libraries where he came, rela­ting to the History and Antiquities of this Kingdom, he at last retir'd to Guy's Cliff (about a mile from War­wick, on the Banks of Avon) where he spent the Remainder of his Life, and dy'd A. D. 1491. His History of our Kings is still ^q extant; wherein are many Collections illustrating the Antiquities of our Universities. Here­upon, he is frequently quoted by our Oxford-Antriquary; who nevertheless will not allow that his Judgment e­quall'd his Pains.

1501. Cent. 16. R. Fabi­an. The first Post in the Six­teenth Century is due to Rob. Fa­bian, an eminent Merchant, (and some time Sheriff of London, where he [Page 193] dy'd A. D. 1512. Both Bale and Pits subdivide his historical Writings into a great many several Treatises; but I presume that which they call his Historiarum Concordantiae is the sum of all. This Chronicle is ^r publisht, and does indeed consist of seven parts, whereof the six first bring down his Story from Brutus to William the Conqueror, and are chiefly taken out of Jeoffry of Monmouth; and the Seventh gives an account of our several Kings from the Conquest of Henry the VII. He is very particular in the Affairs of London, many good things being noted by him (which concern the Government of that great City) hardly to be had elsewhere. He gives the Names of all the Bailiffs, Mayors, and Sheriffs, with the chief Transactions in their several Years; but, in other matters, he is a great Follower of R. Higden. He mixes all along the French History with the English; but in different Chap­ters. [Page 194] He translates his Authors very literally; whence Monmouth's Phrase of Ferro & Flamma vastare is ren­der'd ^s to wast with Iron and Fire, & c. In the beginning of his Seventh part he observes Higden's method of making his Years commence at Mi­chaelmas; by which the Reader will understand how William the Con­queror comes to begin his Reign in October 1067. Cardinal Woolsey is said to have procur'd all the Copies of this History, that he could meet with, to be burn'd; because (says my ^t Author, who is not infal­lible either in his Reasons or Rela­tions) the Church's Patrimony was thereby too plainly discover'd. This Cardinal's Menial Servant ( John Skuish, Squisus, or Squisius) is ^u reported to have compil'd a notable Epitome of our Chronicles about the Year 1630. but I am not able to direct the Reader where to meet with it.

[Page 185] Polydore Virgil Polydore Virgil. was the most recom­plish'd Writer, for Elegancy and clear­ness of Style, that this Age afforded. So much the ^a severest Enemy he had has acknowledg'd of him; and, on this score alone, ^b some have unreason­ably extoll'd him. But there's so little of the other more Necessary Qualifica­tions of a good Historian (Truth and Fair Dealing) in all his ^c Twently-six Books, that he has been justly condemn'd by our Criticks: and 'tis no wonder that some of them have express'd an In­dignation suitable to the Abuses put up­on their Country. Sir Henry Savil is war­mer on this occasion than is usual with him. ^d Polydorus (says he) ut homo Italus, & in rebus nostris Hospes, & (quod Caput est) neque in Republicâ versatus, nec magni alioqui vel Judicii, vel Ingenii, pauca ex multis delibans, & falsa plerumque pro veris complexus, Historiam nobis reliquit cùm coetera mendosam, tùm exiliter sanè & jejunè conscriptam. Some have fan­sy'd that the severe Character which Sir Henry is here pleas'd to give of this [Page 186] Author, might chiefly by apply'd to the History of Henry the Eighth: And that a great many Passages in that Reign may be darkly or falsly represented by him, by reason of his being unacquain­ted with the English Tongue; which could not but very much obstruct his Knowledge in Modern Transactions. Other things, say ^e they, have fallen from him under a borrow'd Light and Colour, out of the Respect he had for Queen Mary, and his great Inclina­tions to serve the Interests of that Prin­cess. But does not even this Apology carry a deal of Invective in it? Sir Henry Savil is far from being singular in the severest part of his Censure. Some of our late ^f Writers have agreed to it; and his Cotemporary Humph. Lhuyd out-throws him a Bar or two. For, what think you of these ^g Expressions? Nominis Britannici gloriam non solum ob­fuscare, sed etiam Britannos ipsos men­dacissimis suis Calumniis infamare totis viribus conatur.—Homo Ignotus & Ex­terus. —Vir perfrictae frontis—Invidiâ & odio tumens.—Infamis Homunculus.— [Page 187] Os Impudens. Nor ought any thing of this to be attributed to an over-boyling of honest Humphrey's Welsh Blood, if the other Matters he's accus'd on be true. He is said to have ^h borrow'd Books out of the publick Library at Oxford, without taking any Care to restore them: Upon which the University (as they had good reason) declin'd lending any more, till forc'd to it by a Man­date which he made a shift to procure from the King. In other places he like­wise pillag'd the ⁱ Libraries at his pleasure; and, at last, sent over a ^k whole Ship-load of Manuscripts to Rome. And yet when this Publican himself left England (when there was no further oc­casion for his Collecting the Papal Re­venues) King Edward the Sixth is said to have dismiss'd him with several handsome Presents: Which we are not to look upon as a Reward, as a certain ^l late Writer expresses it; but rather to consider, that the young King being about to take his final leave of the Pope, and all that belong'd to him, resolv'd [Page 188] to do it as courteously as was possi­ble.

The other Historians of his Time have been much Eclips'd by the glaring Lustre of this Foreigner; John Ra­stal, &c. insomuch that some of their Writings have hardly ever seen the Light, John Rastal, a Citizen and Printer in London (who marry'd Sir Thomas Meer's Sister, and died A. D. 1536.) wrote an ^m English Chronicle; but I know no more where to find it than another of the same Age, written by Richard Turpin a Leicestershire Gentle­man, and an Officer in the Garrison at Calais, which I find quoted by his ⁿ Countryman. Tho. Lanquet (who died at London in the twenty-fourth year of his Age, A. D. 1545.) began an Abbreviation of our Chronicles, but brought it no lower than the Birth of our Saviour. Its third part, which chiefly relates to this Kingdom, was written by the Learned Tho. Cowper (afterwards Bi­shop of Winchester) and by him ^o pu­blished. He calls it, as justly he may, an Epitome of our Chronicles, and 'tis a Meagre one too, far short of the Per­formances [Page 189] of the same Author on other Subjects. The like slender Abstract of our English History was, about the same time, penn'd by George Lily (son of William the Famous Grammarian) which, together with his short Account of the Wars betwixt the Houses of York and Lancaster, and his Genealogy of our Kings, has had several ^p Impressions. Somewhat bulkier is the Work of Ed­ward Hall, who was some time Recor­der (if I understand my ^q Author right) of London, where he died A. D. 1547. He wrote a large Account of the foremention'd Wars; which, in a very flattering Epistle, he dedicates to Henry the Eighth. If the Reader de­sires to know what sort of Cloaths were worn in each King's Reign, and how the Fashions alter'd, this is an Hi­storian for his purpose; but in other Matters his Information is not very valuable. A great Borrower from this Hall was Rich. Grafton, who (as ^r Bu­chanan rightly observes) was a very heedless and unskilful Writer; and yet [Page 190] he has the Honour done him to be some­times quoted by Stow and others.

Of much better Note are the joynt R. Holin­shead. Labours of Will. Harrison and Ra. Ho­linshead, whose ^s Chronicle has been well receiv'd, and still bears a good Port among our Books of that kind. These Authors are ^t suppos'd to have been both Clergy-men; but 'tis not certainly known where they spent the most of their days. So remarkably careful have they been to benefit the Publick, with­out the Vanity of making their own Story known to Posterity. Holinshead frequently owns the great Assistance he had from Fran. Thynne, sometime (in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth) Lanca­ster-Herald, and an eminent Antiquary. He has been severely treated by ^u Sir Thomas Craig, for some Insolencies which that Learned Gentleman suppos'd him guilty of, in Relation to the Kingdom of Scotland: Whereas (in Truth) that part of the Book no farther concern'd poor Mr. Holinshead, than as the whole was sheltered under his Name. In the second Edition the History was conti­nu'd [Page 191] (to the year 1586.) by John Hooker, alias Vowel, of whom we shall have oc­casion to make some further mention hereafter.

1601. Cent. 17 J. Stow. Industrious John Stow leads the Van in the present Century, which is now brought near its Conclusion: And he well deserves to be remember'd with Honour. He was a Member of the Merchant-Taylors Company in London, and (as has been already observ'd) a special Benefactor to that City, in en­quiring after and preserving its Anti­quities and Records. He travell'd (on ^w foot) through a good part of En­gland, in search after the Manuscript Historians in the Libraries of our Ca­thedral Churches, and was very exact and Critical in his Collections. Having spent above Forty Years in these Studies, he was put upon the Correction and Publishing of Reyne Wolf's Chronicle by Archbishop Whitgift; and he had fairly transcrib'd his Work, and made it ready for the Press, when he died A. D. 1605. He always protested (and we may take his honest word for it) that he never was sway'd by Favour or Fear in any of [Page 192] his Writings; but that he had impar­tially to the best of his Knowledge, de­liver'd the Truth. This good Opinion the greatest of our later Historians seem to have of him, since even Sir Francis Bacon and Mr. Camden (not to mention others of a less Repute) have boldly ta­ken several things upon his single Cre­dit, and (sometimes) without being so just as to own their Benefactor. Upon his Death, the Revising and Continua­tion of his Book was committed to Ed. Howes, who says he bestow'd thirty Years in bringing it into that good Or­der and Method in which we ^x now see it. He is very Unfortunate, if (after so great Pains) he be justly liable to the sharp Sentence that ^y one has pass'd upon him; That he's as far short of Mr. Stow in Goodness, as [...] Age is of the In­tegrity and Charity of those that went be­fore it. I am abundantly sensible of the Degenetacy of our Age, and how Cor­rupt our Morals are, beyond the Pre­cedents of former Times: But how ap­plicable this grave Comparison may be to Mr. Howes, I know not: He does [Page 193] indeed say some great things of King James and King Charles; and if that be a Fault in him. 'tis transgressing with a Multitude. Not long after Mr. Stow, died R. White (Vitus he calls himself) Canon of Doway, who left nine ^z Books of our English, or rather British, Histo­ry, in a pretty elegant Latin Style: His business is to assert the Rights of the Papacy in this Kingdom; and there­fore having setled Religion by Augustine the Monk and other Emissaries, he ends his Story A. D. 800.

Our next Historian of Eminence was Sam. Daniel, S. Daniel. some time Groom of the Privy-Chamber to Queen Anne. He was a Person of great Wit, a notable Poet, and of an Affable and Winning Conversation. His first and second Part of the History, [...] England fell no lower than the end of Edward the Third's Reign; but was penn'd in so accurate and copious a Style, that it took mighti­ly, and was read with so much Ap­plause, that it quickly had several ^a Impressions. It was afterwards enlarg'd, and ^b continu'd to the end of King [Page 194] Richard the Third's Reign, by John Trus­sel Alderman of Winchester, who has not had the Luck to have either his Lan­guage, Matter or Method, so well ap­prov'd, as those of Mr. Daniel. About the same time Will. Martyn (Recorder of Exeter) wrote his ^c History and Lives of the Kings of England, from William the Conqueror to Henry the Eighth. This came recommended to the World by the Author's own Sons: But I cannot learn that any other Fa­mily in the Nation could ever discover so much Worth and Beauty in the Book, as they pretended to see in it. Upon a ^d second Edition, it was enlarg'd (by R. B. Master of Arts) with the Reigns of Edward the Sixth, Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth.

John Speed (who [...] London A. D. 1619.) J. Speed. must be acknowledg'd to have had a Head the best dispos'd towards History of any of our Writers; and would certainly have out-done himself, as far as he has gone beyond the rest of his Profession, if the Advantages of his Education had been answerable to those of his Natural Genius. But what could [Page 195] be expected from a ^e Taylor? How­ever, we may boldly say that his Chro­nicle is the largest and best we have hitherto Extant: It begins with the first Inhabitants of the Island, and ends with the Union of the Kingdoms under King James, to whom it is Dedicated. Tho' some ^f say he spent twice seven years in compiling the whole, he himself owns he made more haste than he ought to have done; and that he was forced to trust a deal of his Work in the hands of his Friends and Journey-men. And the Truth of this honest Acknowledgment and Confession is obvious enough to a discerning Reader; who will easily find a mighty Difference in the Style, as well as Matter, of several of the Reigns. Those of King John and Henry the Second, were written by Dr. Barcham ^g, Dean of Bocking, a curious Antiquary, who has done them answerably to the good Opi­nion which Men of Learning had of him. Several Remarkables in that of Henry the Fifth were Collected by ^h George (Ca­rew) Earl of Totnes; as was his Catalogue of the Monasteries by ⁱ Will. Burton, &c.

[Page 196] Sir Richard Baker (who died in the Fleet, A. D. 1644.) Sir Rich. Baker. was a Person of those Accomplishments in Wit and Lan­guage, that his Chronicle has been the best Read and Liked, of any hitherto publish'd; which looks as if almost every Body in the Kingdom, as well as himself, believ'd it to be Collected with so great Care and Diligence, that, if all other of our Chronicles were lost, this only would be sufficient to inform Posterity of all Passages Memorable or Worthy to be known. His Method is New, and seems to please the Rabble: But Learned Men will be of another Opinion; for 'tis the same with that of Sueronius, which is justly complain'd of by ^k Mr. D [...]dwell. In the ^l first and second Editions we had nothing more than the Author's own Work, containing the History of our Kings from the Roman Government down to the end of King James the First's Reign: But afterwards it was ^m continu'd to the Restoration of Charles the Second, by Edward Philips; who (having the perusal of some of the Duke of ⁿ Alb [...]arle's Papers) might [Page 197] have set that great Revolution in its true Light, had not Ambition and Flattery carry'd him beyond Truth and his Copy. Soon after these Additions were publish'd, the whole Book was examin'd by Tho. Blount a Barrister of the Inner-Temple, who ^o printed his Animadversions upon it, and gave the World such a Spe­cimen of its many and gross Errors, as ought to have shaken its Credit. And yet (so little Regard have we for Truth, if a Story be but handsomly told) the Chronicle has been Reprinted since that Time, and Sells as well as ever; not­withstanding that no notice is taken of the Animadversions, but all the old Faults remain uncorrected. Mr. Blount himself spent some Years in writing an ^p English Chronicle, which we may believe would (at least) want those Er­rors which he had descry'd in the La­bours of other Men: But where 'tis to be had I know not.

There are some later Histories, Sir W. Church­ill, &c. which are so well known to all that are any thing Curious in these Matters, that I need do little more than mention them. Such are, 1. Sir Winston Churchill's [Page 198] ^q Di [...]i Britannici, which gives the Reader a diverting View of the Arms and Exploits of our Kings, down to the Restoration in 1660. 2. Fr. Sandford's ^r Genealogical History of the Kings of England and Monarchs of Great Britain, from the Norman Conquest to the year 1677. with their several Effigies, Seals, Tombs, Arms, &c. 3. Let me add Dr. Hoel's ^s Medulla Historiae Anglicanae, which, tho' only a very concise Epitome of our History, is done with that great Judg­ment, that it deserves a place among the best of our Writers on this Subject. There have been some Additions made to this Treatise, since the Doctor's death in 1683. which (whatever Relish they may have with some Readers) are not to be laid to his Charge. Others, we hear, are now engaged in the bold Work of Compiling General Histories of this Kingdom. The most considerable of these are Sir John Marsham, and James Tyrrel Esq and, if the former writes with the true Spirit of his Father, and the other with that of (Archbishop Vsher) his Grandfather, we have good cause to hope for great things from them both.

[Page 199] There are also many Anonymous Hi­storians, Anony­mous Hi­stories. whose Books are said to remain in several of our publick and private Li­braries, which ought to be referr'd to in this Chapter. 'Tis true, the Numbers of these might be lessened, if they were veiw'd by proper Persons, before their Titles were sent abroad in our Cata­logues; whereas we are now told of Forty Nameless Authors, who (upon perusal) prove only imperfect Copies of Paris, Westminster, Hoveden, &c. A few, we are sure, are not of this kind, but ap­pear to be of good value in themselves, tho' of an unknown Authority. Such are three Manuscripts of good Esteem in the Library at Lambeth, sometimes quoted by ^t Mr Wharton; a Fourth, referred to by ^u Archbishop Vsher; a Fifth and Sixth by ^w Mr. Selden; a Se­venth now in the Possession of, my worthy Friend, Mr. Thoresby of Leedes in Yorkshire, &c. To which we might add a large Scrole of those that bear only the Names of such Monasteries as they were penn'd in: But these may happen to be remember'd when we [Page 200] come more particularly to treat of the Registers and Records of those Religious Houses.

CHAP. VI.
Of the Writers of Particular Lives of our Kings since the Conquest.

THE Historians that have been al­ready mention'd, in the fore­going Chapter, have usually treated most Copiously of the Reigns of those Princes that rul'd in their own Times; and are to be most especially consulted in such Transactions as may be sup­pos'd to have happen'd within the Com­pass of their own View and Observation. Others have confin'd their Pens to the History of this or the other particular Monarch; and from them (if not ma­nifestly under some Prejudices and Temptations either to Invective or Panegyrick) we may expect the best and most comprehensive Account, as far as their Subject carries them. Of these I shall give the Reader as full a List as I can; following the Succes­sion [Page 201] down to the Union of the two Kingdoms.

William the First's Conquest (or ^a Acquest) William the Con­queror. of this Kingdom was a Revo­lution that appear'd so Great and Glo­rious, that 'tis a Wonder how we come to have so few Writers of his Story, whose Labours have continu'd to this day: For, 'tis plain, our English-men have been as backward in paying this Complement to this Memory, as they were in acknowledging his Title. Among those that have done it, William of Poi­ctiers ( Pictaviensis) is the largest; and, tho' a Foreigner, and under some seem­ing Obligations to the King's Interests, has so fairly acquitted himself, as to find good Credit with the most of our Hi­storians. Archbishop Lanfranc ^b is said to have written his Life also; and he is observ'd to have been so well af­fected towards the English Nation (tho' a Lombard himself) and to have car­ry'd so even betwixt their New Go­vernour and them, that 'tis very pro­bable he would likewise approve him­self an unbyass'd Author. There's a [Page 202] short Anonymous History of this Reign publish'd by Silas Taylor, in the end of his ^c Treatise of Gavel-kind. He guesses the Author was a Monk of Battle-Abbey: But I see no cogent Reason, in the Tract it self, to press such a Perswasion. 'Tis plain the Writer liv'd in the days of Henry the First, and so might be suffi­ciently inform'd of the Truth of all he relates. There was some time in the Library of Sir Kenelm Digby, a Manu­script History of the Life and Death of the Conqueror, said to have been writ­ten by Sir Walter Raleigh; but my ^d Informer reckons it amongst some other Pieces, which he thinks unduly fa­ther'd upon that great Man. But, above all, Sir William Temple has lately given us the most excellent and Judicious Ac­count of this ^e King's Reign and Po­licy; the old Laws he preserv'd, and the new ones he enacted; his good Con­duct and Success in his many Wars, both in England and France; several Instances of his Clemency and Wisdom, &c. Upon all which he makes such Reflections as become a Statesman, and a Person so [Page 203] conversant in the Management of pub­lick Affairs, as that Author is known to have been.

William the Second was more Unfor­tunate (both in his Life and Death) William II. than his Father; and has also been so Un­happy, as to have none to attempt the preserving his Memory, in any special History, that I have yet heard of.

Henry the First (tho' he reign'd much longer than his Brother, Henry I. and Founded several Religious Houses in this Realm) met with the like Treatment: Unless we reckon Walter de Mopez's Book De N [...]gis Curi [...]llu [...], to be something of that [...]ind; seeing a great many witty things, relating to the History of this King, are quote [...] out of it by ^f Mr. Camden. That Author was Arch-deacon of Ox­ford, and a Merry Good Fellow, in the Reign of Henry the Second.

King Stephen's Memoirs were colle­cted by Richard, Stephen. Prior of Hexbam; whose Book is like to be preserv'd as long as the most durable of our English Records, having had the Honour to make a part of the noble Edition of our ^g Decem [Page 204] Scriptores. Mr. Selden ^h quotes ano­ther Anonymous Writer of his Life, who seems to be a voluminous Author.

Henry the Second's long Contests, Henry II. with the haughty Archbishop Becket, gave occasion to vast Numbers of Wri­ters to engage on both sides: So that we have several Pictures drawn of this King, who is represented sometimes as a God, and elsewhere as a Devil, ac­cording as the Author favour'd the Court of England or Rome. Gilbert Fo­lioth ⁱ, Bishop of London (who died before the end of this Reign, A. D. 1187.) was the earliest Stickler for the King against the Archbishop, and wrote smart­ly in Defence of the Prerogative Royal, and against the Papal and Prelatical Usurpations of those Times. Will. Ste­phens (or Fitz-Stephens, the London An­tiquary) is ^k said to be another Wri­ter of this King's Life; but I suspect the Truth of the Story. Stow and others quote him sometimes as writing in the Reign of Henry the Second; and that's enough for Pits to conclude that he wrote his Life. Prior Richard of Hexham [Page 205] is ^l brought in for another; as is also John Oxfordius ^m Bishop of Norwich, This last was sometime Dean of Salis­bury; and was certainly sent by King Henry to Rome, to give the Pope a true Account of Becket's Behaviour. But whether he did really draw up a Jour­nal of his Embassy, with an Apology for his Master, I cannot assuredly in­form the Reader; tho' Hector Boethius pretends to have seen it, and recom­mends it as a Treatise highly worth the Perusal. Three of Gyraldus Cambrensis's many Historical Books are likewise ⁿ reported to be written on this Subject: And Mr. Wharton ^o mentions a Ma­nuscript History of the same Reign by Benedictus. Some ^p say that the Life of this King, as we now have it in Speed's Chronicle, was composed by Dr. Barcham, Archbishop Bancroft's Chaplain; and penn'd chiefly in Con­futation of one Bolton (a Papist) who had newly enlarg'd too far in the Justi­fication of Becket's Insolent Carriage to his Prince. These are mostly the King's Friends; and such as engaged on the [Page 206] behalf of our English Monarchy. What was to be said, on the other hand, for good Saint Thomas, must be learn'd from those that have recorded the Actions, Sufferings and Miracles, of that worthy Roman Saint and Martyr. An Account whereof shall be given in their proper ^q place.

Richard the First's Meritorious Ex­pedition into the Holy Land, Richard I. gain'd him so much Repute, that he's as highly ex­toll'd by the Monki [...]h Writers of that and the following Ages, as his Father is reproach'd for his Persecution of their St. Thomas. The chief Remarkables in his Life (that part of it especially which was spent in the Levant) are largely treated on by Rich. ^r Divisiensis, [ i. e. of the Devises in Wiltshire] a Monk of Winchester; Walter ^s Constantiensis, Bishop of Lincoln, who accompany'd him in some of his Travels; Will. ^t Peregrinus, so call'd from the Peregri­nation he also made in Attendance on this King; and Rich. ^u Canonicus (Au­gustine Canon of St. Trinity in London) another of his Retinue. Jos. Iscanus (or, [Page 207] of Exeter) had the like Curiosity; fol­low'd the Fortunes of his Prince in the Holy War; and, at his Return, cele­brated his Acts in a Book which he thought fit to call A [...]tiocheidos: 'Tis in Heroick Verse; and in a ^w Style and Strain of Poetry, much beyond what one would expect to meet with in the Writings of that Age. John Leland (who thought himself as great a Master and Iudge in Poetry as History) says of this Author, that he was ^x Poeta Britannus omnibus Numeris Elegantissi­ [...]us; and calls his Book Op [...]s Immor­tale. His Life is also said to have been written by ^y Stephen Laugton (Arch­bishop of Canterbury) and ^z Alex­ander de Hales the Famous School-man. But we have not so particular Directi­ons where to look for these as for [...]n ^a Anonymous Manuscript to the same purpose, in the Library of Magdalene College in Oxford. The Learned ^b Dr. Gale has obliged us with one of the largest of this King's Journals, taken by one Je [...]ffrey Vinesauf (or, de Vino Sal [...]) whom he takes to be the same [Page 208] Man with the foremention'd Walter Constantiensis, who sometimes (he says) is also call'd Walter Oxoniensis. He like­wise believes that Richard of the Devises and Richard the Canon were the same Person: So that instead of having our Store enlarged by what he has done for us, we have lost some of our former Stock.

King John's Unhappy Reign was not a Subject so taking as that of his Bro­ther; K. John. and therefore has not been en­quired into by so many Curious Au­thors. John de Forda or Fordeham (who is ignorantly confounded with John For­don the Scottish Historian, by ^c John Pits) was the first that attempted it; and, being this King's Chaplain, had Opportunities enough of knowing the Truth, if he was a Person of such un­byass'd Honesty as to reveal it. Gyraldus Cambrensis, living also at the same time, is ^d said to have likewise penn'd his Story; and we may believe it will dis­cover that warmness of Temper which runs through all that Author's Wri­tings. Some of the Learned Men of [Page 209] the present Age, have thought the Ex­traordinary Freaks of this Prince worth their Considering; and have therefore bestow'd good Pains in Collecting and Methodizing the most Notable Trans­actions of his Reign. Of these, Dr. Bar­cham's History is (as we have already observ'd) publish'd in Speed's Chronicle; and is so well done, that an Industrious ^e Antiquary gives this Character of it, That it shews more Reading and Judg­ment than any Life besides in that Hi­story. And another ^f witty Author says, 'Tis the King of all the Reigns of that Book, for profound Penning. The Voluminous ^g Will. Prynne has also carefully and largely inform'd us of the publick Occurrences of this Reign, as well as the two next following, in or­der to the Asserting and Vindicating of the ancient Sovereignty of our English Monarchs, against all Foreign In­croachments and Innovations what­ever.

Henry the Third's long Reign might seem to afford Matter enough to em­ploy one Man's Pen; Henry III. and yet (till the [Page 210] Disturbances given him, in the latter end of his time, by S. Monfort and the other Barons) so few memorable things happen'd in so many years, that it has not hitherto been very nic [...]ly enquir'd into. In a late Edition of the learned ^h Sir Robert Cotton's Remains, the Ta­ble of the several Discourses reckons the last of the Sixteen The Life and Reign of Henry the Third, compil'd in a Critical way: But the Reader, to his great Dis­appointment, will meet with no such thing in the Book: Perhaps it is to be had in a former Edition of that Treatise, as published by James Howel.

Edward the First was a brave and Vi­ctorious Prince, Edward I. and his Atchievements in Scotland deserv'd to be Recorded by some Person of Abilities suitable to so Noble an Undertaking. To this pur­pose he carry'd Robert Baston, ⁱ Prior of Scarborough, with him into that King­dom, to describe his Battels, and (par­ticularly) the Famous Siege of Sterling. This was done in pretty Elegant He­roicks: But the Author, being the next year unfortunately taken Prisoner by [Page 211] the Scots, was (by the over-powering Commands and Severities of R. Bruce) oblig'd to rec [...]nt all; and to extol the Scotch Nation as highly as he had lately magnify'd the English. Will. Rishanger (who was Historiographer-Royal during this King's whole Reign) compos'd a special Treatise of the Annals of Edward the First; whereof, I presume, three other Tracts of the same Man's Writing (en­titul'd by ^k J. Pits and others, De Joanne Baileolo Rege; Super Electione Regis Scotorum; and De Jure Regis An­glorum ad Scotiam) are only so many se­veral Parts.

Edward the Second's Misfortunes are very honestly, Edward II. without either Flattery or Contempt, written by Stephen Eiton or Eden, a ^l Canon Regular of Warter in Yorkshire, sometime about the Year 1320. His Life was more accurately penn'd in French by Sir Thomas de la More, who was Knighted by ^m Ed­ward the First, was Counsellor to Ed­ward the Second, and liv'd to the be­ginning of Edward the Third's more prosperous Reign. It was first Tran­slated [Page 212] into Latin by ⁿ Walter Baker, or Swinburn, Canon of Osney near Ox­ford; and has been frequently publish'd in English by our general Chroniclers. In our Age, Sir Henry Carey (Lord Vis­count Faulkland) wrote the ^o History of this unfortunate Prince; with choice Political Observations on him and his unhappy Favourites, Gaveston and Spen­cer. There was also an Historical Poem written about the same time (tho' it appear'd abroad much ^p sooner) on the same subject, whose Author was Rich. Hobert, a younger Brother to Sir Henry, who himself made some addi­tional Observations that are ^q of good Vse and Ornament to it.

Edward the Third reign'd long and prosperously; Edw. III. and yet I cannot assured­ly inform the Reader of one Writer who has singly treated on those Glories and Successes that attended him. I doubt whether Walter Hemmingford's Chro­nicle of this King be as certainly Extant as that larger History of his which has (in part) been publish'd by Dr. Gale: For, tho' ^r Bale and Pits assert it, [Page 213] ^s Leland mentions no such thing. If it be, 'tis not likely that it can escape the diligent and curious Enquiry of the foremention'd worthy Person; who has encourag'd us to hope for his sending abroad a great many more of our old Manuscript Historians. The like Scru­ples I have upon me as to some other Res Gestae of this King, which are said to have been written by Robert Bale, sometime Recorder of London. And yet, John Pits ^t avers, that, in his time, such a Treatise was kept (as a choice Rarity) by the Citizens of London, in their publick Library; together with some Historical Pieces of the same Au­thor's Penning, which more immedi­ately related to that City. The victo­rious Atchievements of the Black Prince, falling all within the Compass of his Father's Reign, make up a good Share of its Story: And these were collected, and ^u separately treated on in French, by Will. Packington, who was Secretary and Treasurer to that Hero, and con­stantly attended him in the Wars. The English Historian will observe, that in [Page 214] this and many of the following Reigns, this Kingdom was so constantly engaged against the United Policies and Forces both of France and Scotland, that 'twill be convenient for him to consult the Accounts given by the Writers of those Nations, as well as our own; especi­ally, since the Testimony of an Enemy (if to the Advantage and Honour of our Country) is of double value with that of a Friend.

Richard the Second's good Success in Ireland, Richard II. was so far out-balanc'd by the other (more unlucky) Adventures of his Reign, that I have not heard of any who have thought it worth their while to write his Life; except only a poor Knight of John Pits's Creation. That Author ^w says, That one Sir John Gower (a Yorkshire Knight, and Cotem­porary with the Famous Chaucer) died in the Year 1402. leaving behind him a deal of Monuments of his Learning, and (amongst the rest) a Latin Chro­nicle of King Richard the Second. There was indeed one Mr. John Gower, a noted Poet, who liv'd about the time he men­tions. This witty Person took the Li­berty, [Page 215] that has always been allow'd to Men of his Profession, to make Free with his Prince; and Mr. ^x Stow (or, his Continuer, Howes) has done him the Honour to Translate the Elegy he made on this King's untimely Death, which (it may be) contains the whole Chronicle. There's an Ingenious Trea­tise lately written and published by ^y Sir Robert Howard, which (in the Title-page) is said to be the History of the Reigns of Edward and Richard the Second: But the Author himself seems to have more rightly named it Refle­ctions upon some select Passages in them. His Design is to give a Prospect of the Hazard and Madness of a Prince's fol­lowing the Misguiding Meteor of Arbi­trary Power: And, by comparing the Misadventures of these two unhappy Kings, with the Triumphs of their Prosperous Predecessors, to shew what ^z Glory and Safety Wise and Vertuous Princes have obtain'd, and what Ruin the Cruelty and Folly of others have brought upon Themselves and Subjects. This he has done in a Well-penn'd Po­litical [Page 216] Essay, which will very much advantage our English Historian, in giving him a Right Notion of many (otherwise) dark Occurrences in those Reigns.

Henry the Fourth's surprizing and pompous Accession to the Throne, Henry IV. was a more proper Subject for a Poet to Descant upon, than the Melancholick Reign of his Predecessor: And there­fore we may the more readily believe (what the same Author tells us) that the foremention'd Northern Bard wrote his Panegyrick. Pits also ^a says, that Rob. Mascall, Bishop of Hereford, was employ'd in several Embassies du­ring the Reigns of this King and his Successor; and that (dying at Ludlow, in the Year 1417.) he left, among other things, a Treatise De suis Lega­tionibus. Sir John Hayward, King James the First's Historiographer at Chelsey, wrote Henry the Fourth's Life among others; and had the Repute (in those days) of a good clean Pen and smooth Style, tho' some have since blamed him for being a little too ^b Dramatical.

[Page 217] Henry the Fifth was a most Heroick Prince; Henry V. and his single Victory at Agen­court might have afforded Matter for more Volumes than (as far as I can yet learn) have been written on his whole Reign. 'Tis said that his Exploits were carefully Recorded by Peter ^c Basset, who was of his Bed-chamber, and an Attendant on him in all his Triumphs: But what the same ^d Person writes of another (Anonymous) Author who translated Livy's History into English; and also wrote the Life of Henry the Fifth, is such Stuff as is common with him. The Truth is, His Life was writ­ten at large by one who call'd himself Titus Livius; who, by that name, de­dicated it to King Henry the Sixth, and is still quoted by Stow and others. We have, to this day, two good Copies of his Work; one in Sir John Cotton's Li­brary, the other in that of Bennet Col­lege. Out of these, carefully collated, a third was prepared for the Press by the ^e worthy Publishers of the Decem Scriptores; which (with several other Historical Treatises, some whereof have [Page 218] been printed) was afterwards purchas'd by that Indefatigable Promoter of all sorts of Learning, the late Pious Bishop Fell. This Treatise is abundantly quoted by our General Chroniclers: But no piece of History relishes so well at the second hand, as it does when we have it from its first Author. It were there­fore to be wish'd, that the good Pre­late's Executors would do Him and Themselves (as well as the Publick) so much Right as to Print it; together with the like valuable Manuscripts which have thus fallen into their hands. What was done by Sir George Carew (Earl of Totness) has been already observ'd to be remitted into J. Speed's Chronicle; where the Reader will meet with some Remarks becoming a Statesman, a Ge­neral and a Scholar.

Henry the Sixth was as Good as his Father was Great; Henry VI. being as Conversant in the Holy Scriptures, and Books of Devotion, as the other was in Arms and Feats of Chivalry: And yet I do not find that all his strict Piety gain'd so far upon the Monks of his Time, as that there was any great struggling among them, who should most effectu­ally recommend him to Posterity. Arch­bishop [Page 219] ^f Vsher tells us of one Iohn Blackman, a Carthusian, who was par­ticularly intimate with him, and has left a Collection of the many good things he had taken notice of, in the most Secret Passages of his Life. Tho. Walsingham (who also liv'd in his Time) took a Journal of his Reign; out of which is composed that which some have entitul'd his ^g Acta Regis Henrici Sexti. Had the Pope favour'd the At­tempt which was afterwards made at the Enshrining or Sainting of this King, 'tis very likely that his Legend would have out-grown his History, and have been penn'd by more Writers than his Life: Since the Roman Saints are com­monly most Active after their Decease, and the Wonders of their Relicks are usually much greater than those of their Persons.

Edward the Fourth can hardly be said to have enjoy'd so much Quiet, Edw. IV. during the Twenty Years of his suppos'd Reign, as to have setled the House of York in the Throne: So that even the Favourers of Justice, and his Cause, [Page 220] have not known what Account to give of the Times; or how to Form a Re­gular History out of such a vast Heap of Rubbish and Confusion. Mr. Hab­bington has given us as fair a Draught as the thing would bear: At least, he has Copy'd this King's Picture as agree­ably as could be expected from one standing at so great a distance from the Original.

Edward the Fifth had the Name of a King for some few Weeks; Edw. V. and pur­chas'd the Complement at far too high a Rate. His Accession to the Throne, the Tower and the Grave (all within the Compass of little more than two Months) are largely and elegantly de­scribed by the Famous Sir Thomas Moor, Lord Chancellor of England; who has sufficiently shewn how a short and dole­ful Tale may be improv'd into a com­plete History, by a Person of good Skill and Judgment. This Treatise has met with such a general Acceptance, as that it not only finds Admission (by whole­sale) into all our late Chronicles; but has also been ^h separately printed, without any other Alteration than a [Page 221] small change of the English Orthography, according to the Usage and Mode of the present Age. The short Epitome of this and the three following Reigns, that was written ⁱ and publish'd by Will. Fleetwood, Serjeant at Law, is so thin a piece (and refers so peculiarly to the Transactions in the Courts at West­minster) that it has been rather look'd on as a Table or Index to the Year-books of those Times, than any Historical Treatise.

Richard the Third's short and unfor­tunate Reign, Rich. III. had its ^k Tragical Hi­story begun by Sir Thomas Moor, who did not bring it to such a final Conclu­sion, as he had done that of his Nephew and Predecessor. Neither Bale nor Pits take notice of any such thing: But Vossius seems to have seen and perus'd it. ^l Vt fusè (says he) persequitur quibus Sceleribus ille ad Regnum perve­nerit; ita quomodo id gesserit non expo­nit: Ac nec eâ parte quam habemus ulti­mam manum accepit. Praeterea Elegan­tiâ Latini Sermonis ab aliis ejusce viri operibus longè vincitur. Which last [Page 222] words must refer to Sir Thomas's Life of this King; and not to that of Ed­ward, which indeed might seem to be an Introduction to this, and would an­swer all the former part of Vossius's Story: But King Edward's was only written in English; whereas Richard's was in both Languages, and (as appears from ^m Stow's account) was more co­piously treated on in Latin. Great Ad­ditions have been since made by a more Candid ⁿ Composer of his An­nals; who endeavours to represent him as a Prince of much better Shapes (both of Body and Mind) than he had been generally esteem'd. Various are the Censures which have pass'd upon this Work. I shall only trouble the Rea­der with that of Dr. Fuller: ^o His Memory (says he, speaking of King Ri­chard) has met with a Modern Pen, who has not only purg'd but prais'd it to the heighth; and pity it is that so able an Ad­vocate had not a more meriting Person to his Client.

[Page 223] Henry the Seventh, having most for­tunately and wisely united the Houses of York and Lancaster, Hen. VII. continu'd his Reign as prosperously as it began; and is justly esteem'd one of the most Poli­tick Princes that ever sat on the English Throne. It appears Sir Thomas Moor had once some ^p faint Thoughts of writing this King's Life, whilst he was in hand with those of his immediate Predecessors: But I know not whether he ever liv'd, or not, to digest them. Sir James Ware has Industriously Col­lected and ^q Published such Occur­rences of this Reign, as relate to the Affairs of Ireland: And a Poetical Hi­story of the whole has been ^r printed by Ch. Aleyn. But this good Work was the most effectually undertaken and compleated by the Incomparable ^s Sir Francis Bacon, who has bravely sur­mounted all those Difficulties, and pass'd over those Rocks and Shallows, against which he took such Pains to ^t cau­tion other less experienc'd Historians. [Page 224] He has perfectly put himself into King Henry's own Garb and Livery, giving as spritely a View of the Secrets of his Council, as if himself had been Presi­dent in it. No trivial Passages, such as are below the Notice of a Statesman, are mix'd with his Sage Remarks: Nor is any thing of Weight or Moment slubber'd over with that careless Hast and Indifferency which is too common in other Writers. No Allowances are given to the Author's own Conjecture or Invention; where a little Pains and Consideration will serve to set the Mat­ter in its proper and true Light. No Impertinent Digressions, nor fanciful Comments, distract his Readers: But the whole is written in such a Grave and Uniform Style, as becomes both the Sub­ject and the Artificer.

Henry the Eighth was a Prince of great Vertues and Accomplishments, Hen. VIII. and as great Vices: So that the plea­sing Varieties that were in his Life and Reign, might have temptest many more Writers, than we know of, to engage in the Composure of so entertaining an History. Edmund Campian wrote a Narrative of the most remarkable Passages relating to his Divorce of [Page 225] Queen Katharine, which is printed at the end of Nich. ^u Harpesfeild's Church-History, and is written with the true Spirit and Heart (as well as Eloquence) of a Jesuit. Fran. Godwin (Bishop of Landaff, who will be re­member'd at large amongst our Eccle­siastical Historians) compil'd also the ^w Annals of this and the two follow­ing Reigns: Whereof ^x one of our Criticks gives this just Character, That his Book is penn'd, Non m [...]gis succinctâ quàm laudabili brevitate. The Author was a perfect Master of the Latin Tongue, and wrote in that Language: But his Annals were translated into English (and so have been frequently publish'd) by his Son Morgan Godwin LL. D. Sir Robert Cotton had drawn together some Notes and Collections as Materials for a future History of this King's Reign: But these fell unfi­nish'd into the hands of John Speed▪ who has taken Care to preserve them, as orderly as he could, in his Chro­nicle. I suppose that which was writ­ten in Greek Verse by George Etheridge, [Page 226] sometime Regius Professor of that Lan­guage in Oxford (and by him ^y pre­sented to Queen Elizabeth) was in­tended only for the Use of Her Majesty and its Author; and, for that reason, has ever continu'd in Manuscript, & sub Noctibus Atticis. Above all, Ed­ward Lord Herbert of Cherbury may be truly said to have written the Life and Reign of King Henry the Eighth; ha­ving acquitted himself with the like Reputation as the Lord Chancellor Ba­con gain'd by that of Henry the Seventh. For, in the Politick and Martial Part this Honourable Author has been ad­mirably Particular and Exact, from the best Records that were Extant: Tho', as to the Ecclesiastical, he seems to have look'd upon it as a Thing out of his Province, and an Undertaking more proper for Men of another Pro­fession. The Oxford Antiquary ^z tells us, That he had seen four thick Volumes (in Folio) of Collections, which this Lord has furnish'd himself withal; as Materials necessary for the firm ere­cting of so noble a Structure. Out [Page 227] of these, and other Helps, he (at last) finish'd his excellent History; the Ori­ginal Manuscript whereof he was pleas'd to bestow on the University of Oxford, in whose Archives it still remains. It has been frequently Printed, and the several Impressions as greedily bought up: But the ^a last Edition is indeed (what is always Pretended) the Best and most Correct.

Edward the Sixth. Edw. VI. The most Con­siderable Transactions of this Reign, are (it may be) as well Register'd by the Young King himself, as any other Historian, in the Diary written with his own hand, and still preserv'd in Sir John Cotton's Famous Library; from whence our Learned Bishop Burnet transcrib'd and ^b publish'd it. There was a Notable Discourse, touching the State of the Times in this King's Reign, written by (a Person admirably well Skill'd in the Antiquities and Laws of England) Dr. Gerard Langbaine, Pro­vost of Queen's College in Oxford; which he publish'd, by way of Preface, to Sir John ^c Cheek's True Subject to [Page 228] the Rebel. As for Sir John Hayward, He is the same Man in his ^d Life of Edward the Sixth, that we have already observ'd him to be in that of Henry the Fourth: Only, his Style is here sometimes too Sharp and Pun­gent; especially when he comes to give Characters of the Nobility, Mini­sters of State, &c. where an Intelligent Historian ought no more to be Clownish, than he needs turn Courtier when he Converses with Plowmen.

Queen Mary's Reign had Blemishes in it, Q. Mary. which have discourag'd some sort of Writers from attempting its Story; tho' I cannot but wonder that others have not thought themselves oblig'd to endeavour to Represent it as Ad­vantageously to Posterity as Art can do it.

Queen Elizabeth, Q. Eli­zabeth. in a long and Pro­sperous Reign, gave the World very ample Proofs of her Sex's being Capa­ble of Government, and the most gal­lant A [...]chievements. Her blasting the longing Hopes of Spain after an Uni­versal Monarchy in Temporals, and putting a final Period to that of Rome [Page 229] in Spirituals, together with her Per­sonal Endowments, were such Extra­ordinary Glories as tempted a great many Artists to try how fairly they were able to take the Features of such an Original in all Points of Soveraignty. Her Establishment of the Reformation, and Executing the Laws upon some few Turbulent Persons of the Romish Communion, whetted the Style of that Party against her; and (particularly) provok'd Tho. Bourchier, a Franciscan Doctor of the Sorbon, to write a Hi­story of the ^e Martyrdom (as he terms it) of the Men of his Order. The Life and ^f Martyrdom of Mary Queen of Scots, was also written by Rob. Turner, sometime Scholar to Ed. Campian, who was afterwards Doctor of Divinity at Rome, and Secretary to Ferdinand Arch-duke of Austria. Some of her better Subjects have furnish'd us with more agreeable Accounts of the chief Passages in her Reign. Sir Henry Vnton has drawn up a Journal of his Embassy in France, giving a full Register of his Commission, Instru­ctions, Expences, &c. a Manuscript [Page 230] Copy whereof is now in the Publick Library at Oxford. Heyward Towne­shend, an Eminent Member of the House of Commons, preserv'd the De­bates in Parliament of her last four­teen Years; which, long after the Au­thor's Death, were publish'd under the Title of ^g Historical Collections, &c. But this, as vast an Undertaking as it seems to be, is only a part of that more Comprehensive one of Sir Symonds d'Ewes; whose Journal of Both Houses, during her whole Reign, was soon after given us in ^h Print. Her Wars with Spain, the several Engagements of her Fleets at Sea, with their many Successful Expeditions, &c. have been well described by Sir William Monson, who bore a high Command in most of them, and has shewn such a Judg­ment in Maritime Affairs, as well qua­lify'd him for such Posts of Honour. His Book bears the Title of ⁱ A Par­ticular and Exact Account of the last Seventeen Years of Queen Elizabeth 's Reign, both Military and Civil: The former kind being the Work of Sir [Page 231] William, and the latter Mr. Towneshend's. Out of all these, and many other good Helps, Mr. Camden compos'd his most Exquisite History of this Queen; which, as Dr. Smith shews in his ^k Life, was undertaken by the special Dire­ctions and Command of the great Lord Cecil. It has had many Editions, and in several Languages; tho' 'tis pity it should be read in any other than its Author's Polite Original Latin. Dr. Fuller ^l observes, that one of its English Translations (for it had seve­ral) was done out of French by Abra­ham Darcy; who understood not the Latin, and has therefore committed many Mistakes. Hugh Holland (one of Camden's ^m Scholars at Westmin­ster, and a Papist) is said to have writ­ten this Queen's Life as well as his Ma­ster's: But 'tis only (if it be at all) an English Manuscript, and very probably not worth the seeking. Sir Robert Naunton's Character of her Court and Favourites has been lately publish'd with Sir Francis Walsingham's ⁿ Arcana Au­lica; and a short System of her Policies [Page 232] hath been offer'd to our present Sove­raign, and the late excellent Queen, by the Ingenious ^o Edmund Bohun Esq Author of many other Treatises of good Value.