TO Prophets there be severall attributes given, some are called prophetae, some vates, others videntes: that is, Prophets, Predicters, and Prophets, predicters, and seers. Seers: and these have been from all antiquity. The name of prophets was, and ought to bee peculiar, to those only that dealt onely in divine Mysteries, and spake to the people the words which the Almighty did dictate unto them concerning those things which should futurely happen, and such also are called in the holy Text Seers. But vates was a title promiscuously conferd on prophets and poets, as belonging to them both: of the first were Moses, Samuel, David, Isaiah, Ieremiah, Daniel, and the rest, whose divine Oracles are extant in the old Testament: others there were in the time of the Gospell, as Iohn Baptist, of whom our Saviour himselfe witnesseth, that he was not onely a prophet, but more than a prophet: and we reade in the Acts of the Apostles, Cap. 11. 27. And in those days also came Prophets from Hierusalem to Antiochia. And there stood up one of them called Agabus, and signified Propheticall Poets. by the spirit, that there should be great famine in all the world, which came to passe under Claudius Caesar: of the Vaticall or propheticall poets amongst the Greeks were Orpheus, Linus, Homer, Hesiod, &c. and amongst the Latins, Publius Virgilius Maro, with others.

But before I come to enquire, in which of these lists, This our Countryman Merlin, whose sirname was Ambrosius, ought to be filed; It is needfull that I speak something of his birth, and The birth of Merlin. parents; His mother being certain, but his father doubtfull, (for so our most ancient Chronologers have left them) that is, whether hee were according to nature begot by a man and a woman, or according to his mothers confession, that hee was conceived by the compression of a fantasticall spirituall creature, without a bodie, which may bee easily believed to bee a meere fiction, Me •… lin the sonne of a Kings daughter. or excuse to mitigate her fault, (being a Royall Virgin the daughter of King Demetius) or to conceale the person of her sweetheart by disclosing of whose name shee had undoubtedly exposed him to imminent danger, and this is most probable. And yet we reade that the other fantasticall congression is not impossible. For Speusippus the sonne of Platoes sister, and Elearchus the Sophist, and Amaxilides in the second book of his philosophie, affirme in the honour of Plato, that his mother Perictione having congression with the imaginary shadow Plato and Merlin had fathers alike. of Apollo, conceived, and brought into the World him who proved to bee the Prince of Philosophers.

Apuleius also in his book intitled, De Socratis Daemonio, of Socrates his Daemon, or genius, writes at large, that betwixt the Moone and the Earth Spirits inhabit, called Incubi, of which Spirits betwixt the Moone and the Earth. opinion Plato was also, who saith, That their harbour was between the Moone and the Earth, in the moyst part of the ayre. A kinde of Daemons which hee thus defines: a living creature, moyst, rationall, immortall and passible, whose property is to envy men: because to that place from whence they were precipitated by their pride, man by his humilitie is preferd; and of these, some are so libidinous and luxurious, that sometimes taking humane shape upon them, they will commixe themselves with women, and generate children, from whence they have the name of Incubi, whom the Romans called Fauni, and Sicarii: and of such Saint Augustine Spirits called Incubi. in his booke De civitate Dei, makes mention.

It further may bee questioned, whether hee were a Christian or a Gentile? as also by what Whether Merlin were a Christian or an Heathen. spirit he prophesied, a Pythonick; or Divine? that is, by the Devill who spake delusively in the Oracle of Apollo; or by holy and celestiall revelation? For the first, it is not to be doubted but hee was a Christian as being of the British Nation: This Kingdome having for the space of two hundred and odde yeeres before his birth, received the Gospell under King Lucius, the first King of this Land, by the Substitutes of Pope Eleutherius, by whose preaching, the King and a great part of his people, quite renounced all Pagan Idolatry, and were baptized into the Christian Faith: but by what spirit he so truly predicted, is only knowne to the God Prophets and Prophetesses, in all Nations. of all spirits, who in every Nation and Language, pickt out some choice persons, by whose mouthes hee would have uttered things which should futurely happen to posterity, according to his divine will and pleasure, and amongst these was this our Merlin: to prove the former.

Holy Iob was but a Gentile, a man of the land of Chus, yet none of the holy Prophets of the The former proved. Lord did more plainly, more faithfully, and more pathetically acknowledge Christ, and the Resurrection than himselfe, when hee saith in a most raptured Emphasis, Iob 19. v. 23. O that my words were written even in a book, and graven with an iron pen in lead or in stone for ever. For I am sure my Redeemer liveth, and hee shall stand the last on the earth, and though after my skinne, wormes destroy this body, yet I shall see God in my flesh, whom I my selfe shall see, and mine eyes shall behold, and none other for mee, though my reines be consumed within me.

Neither was this any wonder in blessed Iob, Of the Sibyls. whose like for holinesse and uprightnesse of life was not to bee found upon the face of the whole earth, when even all the Sibils (who were Prophetesses and Virgins, and Gentiles of severall Nations (for so Varro affirmes) predicted not onely of the Incarnation, passion, and death of our blessed Saviour, but of his second comming to judgement, of the consummation and dissolution of the World, the Resurrection of all flesh, the glory of the Saints, and the condemnation of the Reprobates, especially Sibylla Cumana, whom the renowmed Doctors of the Church, and more especially Saint Augustine, S. Austine a • d other of the Fathers approve of the Sibyls prophesies. quoted in her prophesies, and not thought them altogether unworthy to be remembred in their works, of which also Virgil makes men • ion in his fourth Eglogue: in which Saint Augustine Virgil prophesied of Christ. himselfe witnesseth that hee (though an Heathen) predicted the Incarnation of our blessed Saviour, for he insinuates that he is to speak of a great mystery in his first words, which are these:

THe better to illustrate this our History of Merlin, (the subject now in agitation) it is necessary that I shew you in what Kings Reigne he was borne, in what state the Kingdome stood at that time, and how our prophet came to bee first knowne in Court. He was born in the reigne of King Vortiger, who by usurpation aspired to the Crown: who being a potent Duke of the Merlin born in the reigne of King Vortiger. Brittaine: after the death of Constantius, took his sonne Constantins out of a Monastery (being a simple man and uncapable of so great a charge, and made him King) so that Duke Vortiger being a popular man, had the whole government of the Land, and Constantine only the name of King, who taking advantage of his Sovereigns easie nature and milde disposition, cast in his thoughts how by the death of his Lord and Master, to compasse the Crown to himselfe, and Vortigers ambition to the Crown. to accomplish his ambitious designe he placed, as a guard about him, an hundred Picts and Scots, whom hee so bribed with continuall gifts and rewards, that they feared not openly to say that Vortiger better deserved the Imperiall dignity then Constantine: in which interim he got into his possession, all the treasure, howsoever divers thereat grudged: and the strangers in hope to purchase his greater favour, took their opportunity to lay violent hands upon the King, and presented his head to Vortiger, being King Constantine sl •… ine by his guard. then at London.

Who in his Crocodile comming, and to blinde the eyes of the Britaines, to make them think he had no hand in his death, wept exceedingly, and made great shew of sorrow, and to expresse his great justice, caused all those honoured Knights to bee beheaded according to the Treason rewarded. Lawes of the Kingdome, by which he was held both by the peeres and people innocent of the Treason: but those that had the Guardianship of the Kings two younger brothers Aurelius and Vter, the one sirnamed Ambrosius, the other Ambrosius and Vt •… r the Kings younger brothers. Pendragon, fearing the power and potencie of Vortiger fled with them into little Britaine, where they continued, yet it pleased God otherwise to dispose of them.

Then was Vortiger by a generall and unanimous consent crowned King in the yeere of the Vortiger crowned King. Incarnation of our blessed Saviour foure hnndred fortie eight: but it was not long ere the Picts and Scots, having knowledge of the death of their countrymen, invaded the Land with great hostilitie: in so much that hee was no way able to withstand their malice and fury, in this great distresse, retyring himselfe to Canterbury, newes was brought him of theer great ships full of Ammunition and armed men, landed in the Isle of Tenet: at first hee feared that they were the late Kings brothers, Ambrose and Vter, who came to lay claime to the Kingdome, but finding them to be strangers: hee sent to know of what Nation they were: and the purpose of their landing? Who returned him answer that they were Saxons, so called of a Province in The first landing of the Saxons. Germany, who came to seek adventures abroad, and since fortune had brought them into this Land, they besought him to receive them into service, as being both ready and able to be his faithfull souldiers, and to fight for him in the defence of his Country against all forreigne invaders? and their Captaines were two brothers, Hengist and Horsus.

The King in regard of his present necessitie, which much moved him to correspondencie, was exceeding glad of their liberall proffer, and accepted of them, yet sorry that they were Miscreants, and of the Pagan beliefe, for as Reverend Bede hath left recorded, with Gulielmus de Regibus, They at that time worshipped an Idoll or false god, called Woden, and a Goddesse named Fria, in the honour of which god, they called one day of the week Wodens-day, which When Wednesday and Friday had their app •… llation. we terme Wednesday, and another in the honour of the Goddesse Fria, Frisday, by us still continuing the name Friday. But it followeth in the story; Vortimer by the ayde of these Saxons, having freed his Land from all forreigne enemies, Hengist in reward of his former service, demanded of the King so much ground as the hide of a Bull would compasse, which request appeared to the King so reasonable, that hee easily granted it, which skin hee caused to be cut into small and slender thongs, with which hee measured a large circuit of earth, upon which hee builded a great and strong Fort, which he called The building of Thonge Castle. Thonge Castle, which standeth in the County of Lyndsee.

When news arrived in Germany of the plenty and goodnesse of this Land, with all the commodities thereto belonging, they came hither in multitudes covenanting with the Britains, that they should only intend their Tillage and Husbandry, and themselves would as their souldiers, defend the Land from all incursi •… ns and invasions, demanding for that service only competent means and wages, in which interim Hengist The policy of the Saxons. sent for sixteen saile more well furnisht with men, and all necessary provision. In which fleet came also his daughter Rowen, a beautiful Lady, concerning whom, to cutoff all circumstances, Hengist invited the King to his new Castle, where his faire daughter gave him entertainment, with whose beauty hee became so surprised, and perditely enamoured, that for her sake he repudiated his lawfull wife, by whom he had three noble sonnes, Vortimerus, Catagrinus, and Pascentius, to marry with this young Saxon Lady, and that hee might enjoy her, gave to her Vortimer forsaketh his Queen to mary with Rowen, the daughter of Hengist. Father the Dukedome or Province of Kent, though Garagonus, then Lord thereof, with divers other of the British Peeres, thereat much grudged.

For which, and many other honours and revenues conferred upon the Saxons, as also that hee left his owne Christian Consort, to marry with an Infidel, and that Hengist had sent for his sonne Octa to come over with a fresh supply of his Countrymen: The Lords of Britaine considering An assembly of the British Lords. what dangers were like to fall upon the Land, assembled themselves, and comming to the King, laid open to him the inconvenience and perill which was likely to fall both upon himselfe and the Kingdome, by the multitude and strength of these strangers, humbly beseeching him for their generall securitie, to banish them all or the greatest part of them the Land. But the King was deaf of that eare, for the Saxons were in such favour with him, by reason of his beautifull young Queene, that hee preferred them before the love of his owne wife, sonnes, subjects, kinsmen, and friends, wheref • re the Britains with one will and assent, crowned his eldest sonne Vortimer King, depriving him of all Regall dignity, when hee had fully King Vortiger deposed. reigned (after the consent of the best Histories) sixteen yeeres.

A word or two by the way, of our new King Vortimer, who assisted by the resolute Britaines, Vortimers many brave victories over the Saxons. in all haste pursued the Saxons, and gave them a great battaile upon the River of Darwent, in which the Saxons Hoast was quite discomfited: He fought with them a second upon the Foord called Epiford, or Aglisthorpe, in which fight Catrignus the brother of Vortimer, and Horsus the brother to Hengist, meeting in the battaile fought together a brave combat, and slue each other, in which the Britaines also were Victors: He gave them a third, neere unto the Sea-side, in which the Saxons were chaced, and forced to take the Isle of Wight for their refuge: and likewise a fourth mayne battaile upon Colemore, which was long and couragiously maintained by the Saxons, by reason that they now closed a great part of their Hoast so defensively, that the Britaines could but with much difficulty approach them, for the danger of their Vortimer conquered the Saxons in seven severall battails. shot, yet in the end they were rowted, and many of them drowned and swallowed in the Moore. And besides these foure principall and mayne battailes, hee had divers other conflicts with them, one in Kent, another at Thetford in Norfolke, a third in Essex, neer unto Colchester, from all which fields hee departed a glorious Victor, neither did he leave their pursuite, till he had deprived them of all their possessions in the Land, saving the Isle of Tenet, which he continually assaulted with his Navy by Sea: which when his step mother Rowen saw, and how much her Father Hengist with his Saxons, by his Martiall Vortimer poysoned by his stopdame Rowen. prowesse were distressed, shee used such meanes that he was poysoned, after hee had victoriously governed the Kingdome for the space of seven yeeres.

All which time Vortiger, the Father of the late dead Vortimer, lived privately in Chester, where hee so well demeaned him towards the King his sonne, by aiding him with his counsell and otherwise, that by the Britains generall assent, he was againe restored to the Kingdome: Hengist againe pierced the Land with a mighty Vortiger restored to the Kingdome. Hoast of his Countrymen, which Vortiger hearing made towards him with his Army of Britains. But Hengist, who had before tasted of their hardnesse and courage, made means of a treaty for peace, whence lastly, it was concluded, that a certain number of Britaines, and as many Saxons should meet upon a Mayday weaponlesse, upon the Plaine of Salisbury, on which prefixed day, Hengist bethought him of a strange and persidious Treason, charging all his Saxons, that every one should put a long Knife in his hose, and when hee gave this watch-word Nempnith, your Sepis, they should suddenly fall upon the A most unk •… ngly treason. unarmed Britaines, and kill them to one man: Briefly, they met at the time and place appointed, where Hengist and his Saxons received him and his power, with a countenance of peace and love, but they had not long spoken together when Hengist giving the watchword, the Britans were basely and barbarously butchered, unlesse any by his manhood and strength wrest the Knife from his enemy, and defend himselfe:, amongst the British Lords was one Edolf Earle of Chester, who (as Gunfride affirmes) seeing his friends and fellows thus murdered, he found the stake of an hedge by chance their scattered, with which he not only saved his owne life, but A valiant Britain. slue seventeene of the opposite side, and got safely into the City of Salisbury, after which treason executed, the King remained with Hengist as prisoner.

Hengist by his Treason having thus gotten the upper hand, and reteining the King in his Vortiger suppressed by Hengist. power and custodie, hee compelled him to give him three Provinces in the East part of Britain, Kent, Suffex, Norfolke, and Suffolke, to which some adde Essex, &c. of which being safely possessed, hee suffered the King to goe at large, sending for some other of his Kinsmen to take possession of other Provinces in the Kingdome, crowning himselfe King of Kent, and from his Britain first called England owne name, caused this Realme to bee called Hengists Land, or (as wee now pronounce it) England: and the Saxons now spreading and quartering themselves in the best and most fertile soyles of the Land, as having the Sovereignty over London, Yorke, Lincolne, Winchester, with most of the principall Cities in the Realme. The Saxons still increasing in multitude and power, and the Britains daily decreasing, both in number and strength. Vortiger was forced to flie or retire himself into Wales, where Vortiger forced to fly into Wales. (after some writers) thinking to fortifie himself, he began to lay the foundation of a Castle called Generon, or Gwayneren, in the West side of the River Grana, upon an Hill called Cloaricus: But what successe he had in the building thereof, and how Merlin came first to be knowne to the King with part of his Prophesies, I will referre to the subsequent Chapter, giving withall the intelligent peruser of this story, to better his knowledge, this Item; that without the laying open of the true passage ofthose tim •… , which I have (as briefly as possibly I could in the premises) these our prophets predictions which now seeme plaine and easie, would have beene much more intricate, and hard to bee understood.

AVrelius Ambrose in the prime of his age, and honor being taken away by poyson, his brother Vter-Pendragon Vter-Pendragon crowned King. by the generall suffrage both of the Clergie, Peeres, and people, was made King, who pursuing his brothers former victories, gave the Saxons many battails, in which hee came off with great honour and victory, as awing them so farre that they durst not once approach his Confines and Territories: After hee began to repaire the decayed and ruinated Churches, and to provide that God should be carefully worshipped, rest ring to his people all those goods and possessions, which by the Enemy had beene extorted from them: and after having slaine Pascentius the sonne of Hengist in Vter-Pendragons victories over the Saxons and others. battaile, with Guillamore King of Ireland, who came in his assistance, who had with great tyranny afflicted his subjects of the North, with fire, sword, and sundry direptions and spoile, and having taken Octa (who was also the sonne of Hengist) and Cosa his Nephew, and put them in prison: he made a great solemnitie at the Feast of Easter, to which he invited all his Nobilitie and Gentry with their Wives and Daughters, to gratulate with him his former victories. Amongst the rest of his Peeres was then present Gothlois Duke of Cornwall, with his most beautifull Igerna, who was held to be the prime Paramont of the whole English Nation.

With whose beauty and demeanure, the King was so infinitely taken, that all other his most necessary affaires neglected, he could not restrain or bridle his extraordinary affection, but hee The King enamoured of Igerna, wife to the Duke of Cornwall. must needs court and kisse her openly in the presence of her husband, at which he incensed with the rage of jealousie presently without any leave taken of the King, or the rest of his fellow peeres: rose from the Table, and taking his wife with him along, by no perswasion could be moved to stay, but instantly posted with her into his Country, which the King (being perditely enamoured of his Lady) took in such ill part, that hee sent for them backe, pretending, they must use his counsel in matters of state, to make his speedy return. But he more prizing his Lady then all his other fortunes (whether favorable or disastrous) which way soever they should happen, disobeyed the Kings command, with a peremptory answer, that he would not come. At which the King more inraged, sent him word, that if he persisted in his obstinacie, he would invade his Dukedome, and beate his Towres and Turrets (to which hee trusted) about his eares, but vain were his menaces: for loath to lose so sweet a bedfellow, he set the King at publike defiance.

To chastise whose pride (as hee pretended) Vter-Pendragon invadeth Cornwall. Vter-Pendragon gathered a strong Army, and invaded his Countrey with fire and sword, but Gothlois perceiving himselfe unable, to oppose so potent a Prince, attended with such multitudes of experienced and tryed souldiers: he betooke himselfe to a strong Castle, then called Dimelioch: and there fortified himselfe, daily expecting forces from Ireland, but because hee would not hazard all his estate in one Bottome, he like a wise Merchant sent his wife to another impregnable Fort called Tindagol, being round environed with the Sea, and one way leading unto it, which three men, elbowing one another, could not passe at once. A few days being past, in the besieging of that form •… Castle, which the Duke maintained against him, hee grew stil the more besotted with the love of the Lady, in so much that hee could neither enter nor scape: At length he uttered the impatience of his affection to one whom hee had amongst many other, chosen for his familiar friend, whose name was Vrsin of Ricaradoch: who Vrsin of Ricaradoch. when hee had truly pondered all that the King had delivered unto him, hee returned him answer, that hee could perceive small hope for the King to attaine to his amorous ends, in regard that the Fort in which she resided, by reason of the scituation of the place (munified both by Art and Nature) was altogether inaccessible. For three armed men (so straight was the passage) might keepe out his whole Army: one refuge onely remained, that if the Prophet Merlin, who was then in the Army, would undertake the businesse, it might be accomplished, but otherwise not.

The King being attentive to his language, Merlin sent for by the King. presently caused Merlin to be sent for, and told him, how ardently he was affected to the Countesse, without enjoying whose person hee was not able to subsist alive: aggravating the trouble and perplexity of his minde, with much palenesse in his face, many deep suspires, and extraordinary passion, which Merlin commiserating, hee told his Majesty, that to compasse a thing so difficult as that was, being but a little degree from impossibility, he must make proofe of Art mysticall and unknowne, by which hee would undertake by such unctions and medicaments as hee would apply, to metamorphose his Highnesse into the true figure and semblance of Duke Gothlois, his friend Vrsin into Iordan of Tintegell, his familiar companion and Counsellour. Merlins strange Metamorphosis. And himselfe would make the third in the Adventure, changing himselfe into Bricot, a servant that wayted of him in his Chamber, and they three thus disguised, would in the twilight of the evening, whilst the Duke in one place was busied in the defence of his Castle against the assaylants, command their entrance into the other Fort in the name and person of the Duke, where they should be undoubtedly received.

This prestigious plot much pleased the King, who impatient of delay, gave order to his chiefe Captaines and Commanders concerning the siege, excusing to them his absence for some certain houres: he in the mean time, the same night committed himselfe to the charge and art of Merlin: who disguised as aforesaid, knockt at the gates of Tindagoll, to whom the Porter (thinking he had heard his Lords voice demanding entrance.) Instantly opened the gate, and The King, Merlin and Vrsin enter the Fort of Tind •… gol. meeting him with Vrsin and Merlin, taking them for Iordan and Bricot, so that the King was presently conducted to the Chamber of Igerna: who gladly and lovingly received him as her Lord and Husband, where he was bountifully feasted, and bedding with her, hee freely enjoyed her most loving embraces to the full, sa •… iating of his amorous desires, where betwixt them that night was begot the Noble Prince Arthur, who for his brave facinorous, and high and Heroicall Atchievements, made his name glorious and venerable through the face of the whole earth: of whom Merlin long before his begetting, or birth thus prophesied. The Cornish Bore shall fill with his devotion, The Christian World: the Islands of the Ocean, He shall subdue: the Flowre de Lyces plant, In his own Garden, and prove Paramant, The two-neckt Roman Eagle hee shall make To flag her plumes, and her faint feathers quake. Pagans shal strive in vain to bend or break him, Who shall be meat to all the mouthes that speake him, Yet shall his end be doubtfull: Him six Kings Shall orderly succeed, but when their wings Are clipt by death, a German Worme shall rise Who shall the British State anatomise. Him, shall a Sea-wolfe waited on by Woods From Africke brought to passe Saint Georges floods Advance on high: then shall Religion faile, And then shall Londons Clergie honour vaile To Dorobernia: he that seventy shall sit In th' Eboracensick Sea; be forc'd to flit Into Armorica: Menevia sad Shall with the Legion Cities Pall be clad, And they that in thilk days shall live, may see That all these changes in the Kirke shall bee.

But before I come to the opening of this Prophesie, which to the ignorant may appeare rather a ryming Riddle, then to be grounded on truth or reason, it is necessary that I looke back to where I late left, and proceed with the History which thus followeth: the King more extasied in the embraces of his sweet and desired Bedfellow, his souldiers without any commission by him granted, make a strange and terrible assault upon the other Fort, in which Gothlois was besieged, who being of an high and haughty spirit, scorning to be long immured, and coapt up without making some expression of his magnanimity and valour, issued out of the Castle, and with great rage and resolution sate upon the Campe, in hope with his handful of men, to have dislodged and rowted a multitude, but it fell out farre contrarie to his expectation, for in the hottest brunt of the first encounter, hee The death of Gothlois Duke of Cornwall. himselfe was slaine, and all his souldiers without mercy offered, or quarter given, most cruelly put to the sword: the Castle entred and seised, and the spoyle divided amongst the souldiers.

Early in the morning before the King or the Countesse were ready in their wearing Habits and ornaments, some of the besieged who had escapt the Maslacre, bounced at the gates of Tindagoll, and being known to be of the Dukes party, were received; who told the Porter and the rest, that they brought heavy news along, which they must first deliver to their Lady, of which shee having notice, and knowing they came from that Castle, caused them to bee admitted into her presence, and demanding of News of the Dukes death brought to the Dutchesse. them what news? They made answer, The tydings they brought was sad and disastrous, that the Fort was the precedent night, robustuously assaulted by the Enemy, whom the Duke her Husband valiantly encountred without the gates, that all their fellow souldiers were put to the sword, the Castle taken and rifled, and that the Generall her Lord and Husband, by his over hardinesse was the first man slain in the conflict: at the relation of the first part of their news, she seem'd wondrously disconsolate and dejected, but casting her eyes upon the King, shee was again somewhat solaced in the safety of her Husband.

They also when they saw the King taking A just cause of their doubt. him for the Duke their Generall, began to blush at their report of his death, being wondrously astonisht that him whom to their thinking they had left wounded and breathlesse in the field, they now see living and in health, musing withall that they posting thither with so much speed should arrive thither before them being altogether ignorant of the admirable transformation that Merlins art had wrought upon them: In this anxiety and diversity of thoughts, the King, more glad of the Dukes fate then the rifling of his fort: thus bespoke the Duchesse: most beautifull, and my best belov'd Igernan; I am not as The Kings speech to the Duchesse. these report dead, but as thou seest, yet alive; but much greived both for the surprisall of my castle and the slaughter of my souldiers, upon which victory it may be feared that the King animated by his late successe, may raise his Army thence and indanger us heere in our Fort of Tindagol: therfore my best and safest course is to leave this place, for the present, and to submit my selfe to the King in his Campe, of whose acceptance and grace I make no question, as knowing him to be of a disposition flexible and merciful: then bee you of comfort, for not after many howers expect to heare from mee, with all things answerable to your desires and wishes: with which words Igerna was much pleased and fully satisfied.

So with a loving kisse they parted, shee to her Chamber, and hee with his two followers, towards the Campe, who no sooner from the sight of the Citadell, but Merlin began to uncharme, and dissolve his former incantations and spels, so that the King was no more Gothlois, but Vter-Pendragon, and his friend ceased to be Iordan of Tindagol, but Vrsin of Ricaradoch, and the Mage, who had made this Transformation, Their retransformation. left the shape of Bricot, and turned againe to be Merlin: and the King being now arrived at his Army, first caused the body of Gothlois to bee searcht for amongst the slaine souldiers, after to be embalmed and honourably interred, and first acquainting Igerna by letters with al the former passages, how they stood, and how much hee had hazarded his person for the fruition of her love, hee invited her to her Lords Funerall, at which the King and she both mourned, but after the celebration thereof ended, he the second time courted her, and in few The King espouseth the Duchesse. dayes made her his Queene of a Duchesse: by whom hee had Arthur and Anna, by which match the fame of Merlin spread farre abroad, the explanation of whose former prophesie, I leave to the following Chapter.

ARthur the sonne of Vter-Pendragon, and Igerna, succeeded his Father A summary of King Arthurs noble conquests in the Principality, therefore called, the Bore of Cornwall, because begot and borne in that Country, and of a Cornish Duchesse. Hee was a great planter and supporter of Religion, and the Christian Faith: for so all our British Chronologers report of him: His Conquests were many, and some of them miraculous. By the Islands of the Ocean are meant, Ireland, Island, Scotland, and the Orcades, Gotland, Norway, and Dacia: all which are called Provinciall Islands, which he brought under the obedience of his Scepter. By the planting of the Flowre de Lyces, in his owne Garden, is likewise intended his conquest of France, with sundry other appendant Provinces: as Flanders, Poland, Burgundy, Aquitaine, Andegavia, and Normandie: all which with divers others paid him an Annuall Tribute, and of which Countries for their long and faithfull services, hee gave the Earldome of Andegavia to Gaius his Taster, and the Dukedome of Normandy to Bedverus his Cupbearer; in memory of whose Regall bounty, it grew to a custome, A custome derived from K. Arthur. for the Kings of France to make their Tasters and Cupbearers, Earles and Dukes of Andegavia, and Normandy.

By his pluming and shaking off the Eagles feathers, was his great victory over the Romans foretold, who when their Prince Lucius with ten other Kings, invaded this his Land of Britaine with a numberlesse Army of Souldiers, the most of them hee slue, acquitting the Tribute payed to Rome since the time of Iulius Caesar, and those who survived hee made his Feodors and Vassals, by which he got the sovereignty over many Provinces before subjugate to the Roman Empire, sending the dead body Lucius the Roman Emperour slain by Arthur. of their Emperour back to Rome there to bee interred: next where it is said his name shall be as meat to all those mouthes that shall speake of his notable and noble atchievements by which no other thing is meant, but that the very relation of his brave Gests shall be a refreshing and delight to all such as shall either reade them or heare them with much pleasure by others reported, whose very begetting, conception and birth, carry with them the novelty of a Miracle: And where it is further said that his end shall be doubtfull, hee that shall make question of the truth of Merlins prophesie in that point (let him to this day) but travell into Armorica or Little Britain, and in any of their Citties proclame in their streets that Arthur expired after the common Of Arthurs death. and ordinary manner of men; most sure he shalbe to have bitter and railing language asperst upon him: If he escape a tempestuous shower of stones and brick-bats.

The sixe Kings that succeeded him in order The s •… Kings that ord •… rly succeeded King Arthur. were Constantinus the eldest sonne of Cador Duke of Cornwall, (and Arthurs Cousin German) the second was Constantinus brother, the third Conanus Aurelius, their Nephew, the fourth Vortiporius, the fift Malgo, the sixt Caretius, for when Arthur in that great battaile which he fought against his Cousin the Archtraytor Mordred whom he slue, himselfe being mortally wounded, and therefore had retired Mordred slain by Arthur. himselfe into the vale of Avalan, in hope to be cured of his hurts, before his death (and the manner of which is uncertaine) hee sent for his Cousin Constantine, before named (a man of approved vertue, and expert in all Martiall Discipline) and made him King, against whom the Saxons assisted by the two sonnes of Mordred, assembled themselves, who having defeated Constantinus noble victories. them in sundry battails, The elder sonne of Mordred, who had for his refuge fortified Winchester, he took, in the Church of Saint Amphibalus (whither hee had fled for Sanctuary) and slue him before the Altar: the younger he found hid in a Monastery in London, whom he caused likewise to be slaine, and this happened in the yeere after the Incarnation of our blessed Saviour, 543. but in the third yeere after he was perfidiously betraid to death, by the practice of his Nephew Conanus Aurelius, and his body royally interred, in the Mount Ambria, neere unto Vter-Pendragon.

Then reigned his brother, whom Conanus suffered not to rest one houre in peace, till hee had incarcerated him, and in the same yeere usurped the Diademe, a young man of excellent parts Conanus and his conditions. and noble carriage, had hee not beene tainted with ambition, the love of Civill Warres, and Parricidiall Impiety, having slaine one of his Uncles, imprisoned the other, and kild his two sonnes to attaine to the Regall Sovereignty, which not long he enjoyed, for the next yeere after he expired, whom succeeded Vortiporius, against whom the Saxons made a new Insurrection, Vortiporus & his victories. and by whom they were utterly subverted, by which hee became absolute Monarch of this Island, but after foure yeeres yielded his body to the earth, and left his Crowne to Malgo, who was invested in the yeere of Grace, after some Authours 581.

This Prince was strong in body, fortunate in Malgo's description and character. Arms, and of larger size and stature then any of his Antecessours, who was a great suppressor of Usurpers and Tyrants, for hee not only enjoy'd this Kingdome entire, but conquered by his sword, all the six provinciall Islands, of whom it is reported that hee was the fairest of all the British Nation, but those excellent gifts of Nature he shamefully abused, as being much addicted to Sodomitry, and as hee was a proditor of others Chastities, hee was also prodigall of his owne, after whose death in the yeere 586, Caretius a most wicked King. Caretius was instituted in the Throne, a Prince hatefull to good men, an incendiary of Civill and Domesticke combustions, an exiler of his Nobles, a slayer of his Citizens, a robber of the rich, a suppresser of the poore, and indeed subject to all the vices can be named.

By the German Worme, and the Sea Wolfe, What was ment by the German worm and the Seawoolfe. waited on by woods, brought from Africa, through Saint Georges Chanell, which shall support him, our Prophet would have us to know that the Saxons are comprehended; in the Worme and in the Wolfe, Gormondus King of Africa, who in the time of this Caretius, came with a mighty Navy upon the British Seas, first with three hundred and sixty thousand souldiers, who first invaded Ireland, and made great spoyle of the Country, and from thence hee was invited by the Saxons, to assist them against the British Nation, to which hee assenting, invaded the Kingdome with fire and sword, committing many direptions, and outrages, chasing the King from place to place, and from Citie to Citie, till hee was in the end forced to flie into Wales, where they shut him up: and by this means the German Worme, by the means of this Sea-wolfe had the upper hand of the Red Dragon: whilst these things were thus in agitation, there came to this great Generall of the Africans, from the transmarine parts of Gallia, one Isimbardus Isimbardus the Nephew to Lewis the French King. Nephew to Lewis the French King, who complained unto him that his Uncle, against all Iustice, kept his right from him, imploring his aid for the recovery therof, promising him great rewards: in pledge whereof, like a wretched Apostata, hee renounced his Faith and Christianitie: of which proffer Gormundus accepted, and made his speedy Expedition for France.

But the Miscreant Isimbardus failed of his purpose, and was justly punisht by the hand of God for his Apostasie: for at their landing in the Port of Saint Waleric, a young Gentleman called Hugo, sonne to Robert Earle of the Mount, having received an affront from this Isimbard, challenged him to a single Duell, who entertaining the Challenge, was by the foresaid King left dead in the field, and the French setting A just reward of •… postasie. upon the Hoast of the Pagans, gave them a great discomfiture, in so much that of all that infinite number, scarce any were left to beare the tydings of their disaster into their Country, but either perisht by the sword, or were drowned in the Ocean: in which time saith the prophet, Religion shall faile, which hapned when The failing of Religion made good in Gormundus and the Saxons. this Gormundus with the Saxons rioted and made havock in this Island, suppressing Religious Houses, and ruinating Churches, so that scarce a Christian Native, durst shew his head, but he was subject to persecution and torture.

But it follows in the prophesie, that the honour of Londons Clergie shall give place to Dorobernia or Canterbury, that the Seventh who sate in the Eboracensian See, which is the Archbishopricke of Yorke, shall be compeld to flie into Armorica, or Little Britaine, and that Menevia shall be adorned with the Pall that belonged to the Citie of Legions, give me leave to use a little circumstance in the explaining of these: that finding the truth of his predictions, by the successe, the Reader may be more easily induced to give credit unto the rest, in which I shall strive (though plain) to be much briefer.

The three prime Seats or Sees, were the three The former Prophesie explained Archbishopricks, which were London, Yorke, and the City of Legions: now note how punctually he comes to the purpose: the dignity of Londons Metropolitanship was transferd to Canterbury by Saint Augustine, whom Pope Gregory sent hither with others to preach the Gospel, who also gave the primacie of the City of Legions unto Menevia a Citty of Wales scituate neer to the Demeticall Sea, but the Citty of Legions stands vpon the River Osca not far from the Severne Sea, which was first erected by King Belinus, whose valiant brother Brennus, being Generall of the Senon Galls, after many Honourable exployts and glorious Victories by him atcheived, assaulted the famous Citty of Rome, tooke, sacked and spoyled it in the dayes of Ahashuerosh and Hester, Gabinus, and Porsenna being Consuls the first of whom hee slue in Battail, and the other tooke Prisoner, &c.

By the Arch-Bishop of York the seventh, inaugurated Of Samson Archbishop of York, and his six brothers. into that See, who should bee compeld to seek shelter in Little Britaine, is intimated, Samson then Resident, who in that great persecution, made by the Africans, and the Saxons, with six of his brothers all Clergiemen, and of great sanctitie of life, fled into the lesse Britaine, and there establisht his Metropolitan Cathedrall: The rest of his six brothers, whose names were Melanius, Matutus, Maclovius, Pabutaus, Paternus, The names of the Archbishop Samson's six brothers. and Waslovius, being all Divines, were made the Rectors of other Churches, and became in short time to be capable of Episcopall Dignities, which seven Brothers not only the Natives of the Country, but all the bordering Provinces, call the seven Saints of Britain (meaning the lesse Britaine) even to this day, now let it be held any deviation or digression from the subject now in hand, if I borrow so much patience of the Reader to acquaint him with a strange and almost miraculous story, or legend, by what accident, or rather Divine providence, these seven holy and devout brothers, were by the mutuall congresse of two Noble parents (the Father and Mother) begot, and conceived in one wombe, and after mature time of Teeming, delivered into the World at one day: but because I am loth to swell the pages of this Chapter beyond the limits of the former, I will referre the relation thereof unto that next ensuing.

THe Legend reports that their mother The like is reported by the Countesse Altorfence the Mother of the Guelfi in Italy. being a Noble and chast Matron, but in her feminine ignorance not acquainted with the accidents belonging to other women, conceived a strange opinion, from which she could not be removed, that it was not possible for any of that sex, to conceive more then one at once, unlesse she had had the consociety of so many severall men as shee brought forth children, in so much that she vilisied and disreputed, holding all those no better then adulteresses and prostitutes, who were delivered of Twins, or a more numerous issue: But the God of all flesh, and the Creatour God the justifier of innocence. of Nature, being also the searcher of hearts, and a justifier of innocence (to convert this Lady from her erroneous beliefe, and to cleere these unjust aspersions, with which shee had branded other chast and fruitfull wombs) so by his providence ordained, that by her sole Lord and Husband, she at one congression, was conceived of seven sonnes, and delivered of them at one time, being within the compasse of one day.

Which shee seeing, and much amazed at the prodigious novelty of such an unexpected issue and now favouring by a reciprocall retribution these accusations and suspicions which shee had so often cast upon other good women might be throwne upon herin a desperate way; thereby thinking to salve her reputation (which shee thought hazarded at last, if not quite lost) shee consulted with the midwife, and one of her most trusty maids, (having hyred them to A cruell purpose of a mother. that purpose,) to take the young spralling infants and either to kill them or to cast them into the next River to which purpose, as they were hasting, and carrying them in little baskets, it pleased the higher powers that a grave and reverent Bishop met them upon the way, and as hee passed by the women hee heard the infants to cry and make mone which hee imagined was Gods providence in the preservation of the children. to implore his helpe and aide: therefore hee made stay of them and would needs see what they carried in their laps concealed, which they (as loth to betray their ladies secrets unwilling to shew, hee grew the more suspicious and compelled them having some servants then about him to discover what was hid in their baskets, which being opened, the babes all living seemd to rejoyce at his sight and smile in his face, with which he was much delighted.

Then more strictly examining them to what purpose they carried them in that manner? and threatning them with the severity of the Law, if they told him not the truth, they knowing the power and authority of the Church, and danger of Ecclesiasticall censure, and that their attempt deserved (if not execution) yet excommunication at the least, concealed no part of the truth, but earnestly solicited him, whatsoever became of them, to have a care of their Ladies honour: the pious and charitable Prelate having been before himselfe of her perverse opinion, and now seeing how justly the Creatour of all things, had dealt with her, and to what desperation shee was brought, by thinking to save a A good and charitable Prelate. poore credit in this life by the murther of so hopefull an issue, to forfet all the hopes she had in the World to come; hee dismist the bearers without any further trouble: adjuring them to tell their Lady, that they had wounded the young Infants according to her commandement (of which he himselfe would take charge, and adopt them for his owne) and causing them to be born to his palace, and after to the Church, he himselfe baptized them, and gave them their names as aforesaid, then sent for Nurses, and commanded that they should bee carefully educated, and when they came to any understanding, he set them to schoole, and caused them to be instructed in all the seven Liberall Arts (for hee found them to be of pregnant and capable apprehensions) who after by his means came to be preferd to Church promotions, and after to The seven children proved seven Bishops. Episcopall Dignities: I now proceed to Merlins next prophesie, which thus followeth. The Heavens in stead of water, bloud shall showre, And famine shall both young and old devoure: Droop and be sad shall the red Dragon then, But after mickle time be blithe agen, And now the Serpent that was white before, Shall have his silver scales, all drencht in gore. Seven scepter-bearing Kings in field shall die, One of whose Sainted soules shall pierce the Skie, Kept shall the babes bee from their Mothers wombes: And soone as climbe on earth, grope for their Tombes. All by a brazen man shall come to passe, Who likewise mounted on his Steed of brasse, Both night and day will Londons prime Gate keep, Whether the carelesse people wake or sleepe.

Whosoever shall read Matthew of Westminster, our ancient English Chronologer, pag. 29. shall finde that in the days of Cadwallo, King King Cadwallo and his fortune. of this Island the thirteenth after Brute, that for three dayes together bloud dropt from the clouds, after which came great swarms of infectious Flyes: by whose bytings or stingings there was great mortality in this Land, and by the shower of bloud is further intimated, the great effusion of British bloud, sometime by publicke hostility, sometimes by Civill and Domesticke enmity, profusely wasted: in so much that the earth appeared, as if bloud had been powred downe from the Heavens, after which by the barrennesse of the earth followed so great a Famine, that nothing was found for A great F • mine. the people to feed on, but the roots of withered Herbs and Grasse, and such flesh as they could catch by hunting.

No wonder then if this made the British Nation (figured under the Red Dragon) greatly to Britain much distressed. droop, which after much sufferance and labour, was restored to his pristine state and dignity: For Cadwallo, who was King Anno salutis 633, after many horrid crosses and disasters, • xile, expulsion from his Kingdome, and the losse of his whole Inheritance was forced with a few of his followers that remayned of his many Legions, to retire into the lesse Britaine, to his Cousin King Salomon, who courteously received him, where hee wintred, and in the spring when Kings goe customably out to warre, hee Cadwallo returns to Britain. furnisht him with an Army of ten thousand able men, when having shipt her safely, and prosperously arrived in this his owne native and hereditary provinces, And hearing that Paeanda King of Mercia (or middle England) had besieged in Exeter, his Cousin Briant, with those poore remainder of Britons, which he had left behind: dividing his souldiers into severall Squadrons, not only removed the siege, but took the King prisoner, who having given him sufficient hostages for his truth and fidelity, Cadwallo receiveth Paeanda into league. gave him also his only daughter to wife, so that hee became the Father in Law, who made him Generall of his Army.

After which Cadwallo calling all his exiled subjects (dispersed abroad in severall provinces) into the Kingdome, hee raised a competent Army, and invaded Northumberland with fire and sword, of which Edwinus was then King, who assembling to his aide all the Reguli, (or lesse Kings) gave him a strong encounter, in which his whole Army was discomfited, and himselfe slain in the field, whom succeeded his sonne Assricus, assisted by Chaldodus, Duke of the Orcades Cadwallo victorious over the Northumbers. whom Matthew of Westminster cals Offridus and Gothaldus) now Cadwallo not contented with his former victories, gathered his whole forces together, against Offricus; whom hee also slue in battaile, with his two Nephewes, and Cadamus the Scots King, who came to take part with the Northumbers: which done he past through all the Kingdome, being so maliciously and cruelly bent against the Saxons, that hee His cruelty against the Saxons. neither spared age, nor sex, killing the old and young Infants new borne, and those that never saw the sun in their mothers wombs, purposing utterly to extirpate and root out all the Saxon Nation: thus you see the red Dragon, namely the British Nation after much dejection exalted, and the s •… ales of the white Serpent (the Saxons) stained in sanguine tincture, by so generall a massacre.

It followeth, seven Scepter-bearing Kings shall be slaine in the field, of which one of them shall bee The names of the seven Kings slaine by Cadwallo. Sainted: now these seven Kings slaine by Cadwallo, and his father in law Paeanda, were Edwinus, his sonne Offricus, and Oswaldus (the Saint spoken of) which were three Kings of Northumberland, Segebartus, Egricus, and Anna, who raigned over the Orientall Britons, and Cadamus the Scotch King, concerning which Oswaldus his sanctity and other pious vertues, the ancient Chronicles write largely, (as also the The story of Sa •… t Oswaldus. Lords of those •… imes) many panegyricks in his prayse, which would be too tedious here to insert, yet some 〈◊〉 of him, howsoever credible or n •… , I •… hought fitting to remember, it was said of him, that when Aldanus Bishop of Scotland (whose language neither he nor any of his Saxons understood) did at any time p •… h before him and his people, hee would put upon him a royall garment, worn only on solemne Festivall days, and whether by vertue of that, or by divine rapture, he would deliver all that Sermon word for word to his Countrymen in their proper and moderne language: hee was also so H •… temperance and charity to the poore. temperate in his owne diet, and withall so liberall to the poore, that when he had guests at his Table, hee would not only spare from his owne stomach, but if hee saw any of them to gormondize, or feed more then became them, hee would bid them to eat more sparingly, and toremember those hungry bellies at the gate, which attended the reversion and fragments from his boord and bounty.

This reverent Bishop Aldanus being feasted by him on an Easter day, the King commanded a great silver Charger fild with the best meats at his Table, to bee carried to the beggars at his gate, who when they had eaten the meat, hee sold the dish, and equally divided it amongst them, which the Bishop seeing, said aloud, Live may that liberall hand, ô may it always live and never taste of corruption, which (if we will believe the Roman Legend) proved according to his propheticall acclamation, for many yeeres after his death, when his Tombe was searched, and all the rest of his body according to the A pr •… tended Miracle. common course of Nature was putrified and turned to dust, that hand and arme alone were preserved, from corruption and rottennesse, and remained as entire, flesh, bloud, veines, and arteries, as when he was interred.

It followeth in the History six of these before named Kings, being slaine in severall conflicts, Cadwallo whose high spirit was irreconciliable towards the Saxons: pursued this Oswald from province to province, chasing him even to the wall which Severus the Roman Emperour built, to part and divide the two Kingdomes of Britaine and Scotland, and then sent his Generall and Father in law Paeana, to give him battaile at a place called Hed-field, or holy Camps, in which by the prayers of this Oswaldus. The Britons The battail of Headfield. Hoast was quite discomsited, of which defeat when King Cadwallo understood, he gathered a fresh Army, and gave him a second battaile at a place called Bourne: in which Oswaldus and his Army were wholly routed, and himselfe The death of Oswaldus. died lamented in his owne pious bloud, for whose charity and sanctitie hee was after canonized, and remayneth to this day one of the Saints blessed in our Kalender, whose death hapned in the yeere of our Saviour, 644: which improved that part of Merlins prophesie, Seven Kings shall bee slaine, of which one shall bee Sainted.

By the brazen man, mounted upon a steed of brasse, who is said to do all these, is antonomasti •… e meant King Cadwallo, to honour whom, after his death, for his many brave victories, and expelling Cadwallo the brazen man, and why so called. the Saxons out of the land, the peeres and people caused his statue, at his full size and proportion to be cast in brasse, sitting also upon an Horse of brasse, in whose buckler they intombed his embalmed body, and after set it upon the prime gate of the Citie London, (it being a piece of admirable art and pulchritude) and neere unto the same, in further memory of him built a Church, dedicated to Saint Martin, therefore saith the Prophet, The brazen Horse and Man shall watch the Gate whether the people wake or sleepe, which continued for many yeeres after.

AS Merlin in all his prophesies aimeth at a continued History of the maine A continuation of the History. passages in this Ile of Britain: so I also desire to observe a concordance of times, left the neglect of either might breed a confusion in both, as shall be made good in the sequell: his prophesie followeth. The crimson Dragon with his owne fierce pawes Shall teare his proper bowels gainst the Lawes: Of wholsome Nature, plague, and famine then Shal fill the barren earth with shrowds of men. After, the Dragon whose smooth scales are white, Hither the Almans daughter shall invite, And crown themselves: Against whom shall rise An Eagle from the Rock, and both surprise, Two Lions shall a dreadfull combate make, Having their Lists incompast by a Lake. At length be atton'd, and after shall divide, The glorious prey: a speckledscale, whose pryde, Shall ayme at high things; will his Lord betray Poysoning the Royall nest in which he lay Of the white Dragon, so the Fates agree, At length a Decemvirum there shall bee: What time the Red shall to his joy behold The roofs of all his Temples deckt with gold, &c.

By the Crimson Dragon is still meant England, which after the death of Cadwallo, being The conquering Britains fall at ods with themselves. impatient of peace, for want of forreigne Enemies shall be at Civill dissention in it selfe, of which shall ensue much strage and mortality, such Dearth, also Famine and Desolation which shall happen by the plague, that destroyeth the men, and the Murrian that killeth the cattle, that the Natives shall bee forced to leave the Kingdome as a Wildernesse unpeopled, the remaynder of the living being scarce sufficient in number to bury the dead, which strange depopulation sell in the third and last yeere of Cadwallader the sonne of Cadwallo, which was in the yeere of Grace sixe hundred fourescore and sixe, which maketh up the yeere of the World, Cadw •… llader the last King of the Britains. by the account of Polycronicon, and other of our English Chronologers, five thousand eight hundred, fourescore and five, so that it appeareth the native Britains had the title and soveraignty of this Kingdome from Brute: first landing by the space of one thousand eight hundred, and two and twenty yeeres, Cadwalloder being the last King of the Britons, after whom the Saxons or Angles, had the full dominion thereof, which maketh good that in the prophesie, The white Dragon shall invite the Almans daughter, which implyeth a greater supply of the German nation, and crowne themselves. For from that time they bare the Scepter, and had the absolute jurisdiction over the whole Land, which they continued for a long season.

To passe over all the Saxon Kings to the time K. Etheldred the sonne of Alfride. of Ethelredus, in whose dayes An Eagle from the Rock (which was Swanus King of Denmarke) shall rise &c. The better to explain our prophet, and to carry the History along, this Etheldred the sonne of the most Royall King Edward, by his second Wife Alfrida, by some cald Estrild, when he came to bee crowned, by Dunstane Archbishop of Canterbury, hee could not containe himselfe, but with a propheticall spirit uttered those words: because by the bloudy slaughter of thy brother thou hast aspired to the Kingdome, The sinne of thy most wicked and mischievous mother shall never bee expiated, nor any who were of her Diabolicall counsell, but by the greatest effusion of the Saxon bloud, that ever was shed since their first comming into Britaine, and further the beginning of thy Reigne shall be cruell, the middle thereof miserable, and the end shamefull, all which accordingly hapned.

His Father King Edgar, of ever surviving memory, Edward the eldest sonne of King Edgar made King. had by his first wife called Egelsleda, a noble sonne named Edward, and by his second Alfrida, this Etheldred, Edgar being dead, the Barons assembled, and made Edward King in the yeere of grace eight hundred threescore and fifteene, at which his stepmother greatly repined, using all the means both of power, proofe, and friends to have inaugurated her sonne Etheldred, being then a lad but of seven yeeres old, which in the end most traiterously shee accomplished, for the King hunting in the Forrest, neere unto the Castle of Corffe, in the West Country, who having lost all his company, bethought himselfe that his stepmother with her A wicked stepmother. sonne liv'd in that Castle, to whom hee would give a friendly visit, who spying from her window afarre of, cald to a Villaine that attended her, and whispered in his eare what hee should doe: by this the King was come to the gate, and shee descended to meet him, saluting him with a Iudas kisse, and intreated him to alight and sojourne with her for that night, which hee modestly refusing, said hee would only drinke a horsback and so be gone, which being brought, as the cup was at his mouth, her trayterous servant with a long Dagger strooke him quite through the body, at which hee put spurs to his horse thinking to have recovered his servants, but through his great losse of bloud hee fainted, and falling from his horse, one of his feet was fastned in the stirrop, and so hurried to a place called Corisgate, where his miserably mangled body was found, and not being knowne at that The base murther upon King Edward. present to be the King, without ceremony buried, whom as you have heard, his brother by the Fathers side succeeded.

In whose reigne hapned divers prodigies pretending great disaster, among which was the sterility of the earth, the burning of London by an accidentall fire, but the most ominous and terrible was the invasion of the Danes and their many massacres & inhuman butcheries committed through all the shires and provinces of the Kingdome, as more amply hereafter, but by the way is to be noted that in the eighth yeere of his reigne hee was espoused to Ithelgina, whom Ethelredus marriage and Issue. some call Elgina, daughter to Earle Edgebertus by whom in processe of time he received a sonne called Edmund (after for his notable valour, sirnamed Ironside) and two others, Edwin and Ethelstane, with a daughter named Egina.

About the eleventh yeere of his reigne the The Invasion of the Danes. Danes pierced the land in sundry places, against whom the King being wholy addicted to effeminacie and cowardise, durst make no hostile opposure, but for the present appeased them with great summes of mony, which being spent they fell to new robberies. Then the King bribed them with more, notwithstanding which, they spoyled Northumberland, and at last laid siege to London, and to increase his sorrow and trouble, Earle Elphricus who was Admirall of The son punisht for the the Navy, fled like a Traitour to the Danes, and took part with them against his naturall Liege, for which the King commanded that his sonne Algarus should have his eyes torne out of his head: during which time, burning Fevers, and the bloudy Flix destroyeth many of the Natives, to which was added scarcity and penury amongst the commons, in so much that they were forced to rob and steale from one another, so that what by their owne pilfering and pillage Fathers treason. of the Danes, the land was brought to extreame misery, by whose continuall invasions, and the Kings pusillanimity, the Tribute paid unto them was raised from ten thousand pounds to forty thousand (named for the continuance thereof Dane-gelt) they yet not satisfied: to adde to the former, the British Peeres were so hollow brested Dane-gelt. amongst themselves, that when they were at any time assembled, and had determined any thing to the impeachment of the Danes, they were warned thereof by some of the falshearted Counsell, of whom were most suspected Elphricus, Edricus intended by the Snake. and Edricus, the Snake formerly mentioned in the prophesie.

The Land besides other distresses continuing under this grievous Tribute, the King by the The Kings second mariage. advice of those familiars who were about him, married Emma the daughter of Richard the third Duke of Normandy, and first of that name, who was for his boldnesse and valour sirnamed, Richard the Hardy, or without feare: and she (by the French Chronicles) Emma the flowre of Normandy, by which Match hee was greatly animated and incouraged, so that presuming on the power of his Father in Law, hee sent into all the Townes, Cities, and Villages of this Land, secret and straight Commissions, charging the Rulers and Magistrates upon the night succeeding the day of Saint Brice, that all A generall Massacre of the Danes throughout all the Land. the Danes should be murdered in their beds, the execution whereof they committed to their Wives and Women, which was also, accordingly performed (a strange wonder that so great a secret should passe generally through that sex, without uttering or discovery.)

This generall Massacre of the Danes (as same reports) began at a little Towne in Hertfordshire twenty foure miles from London, called Wealwin, from which act it tooke first name, as if there the weal of their Country was first warm, and the day of Saint Brice: hapned that yeare upon the Monday, which to this day is called Hoc, or Hop-monday, but wherefore I know not, unlesse by Hoc: this day as a remarkablenote Hoc, or H •… p Monday. to posterity, or by Hop, as that day the Danes (according to a proverbe wee retaine from Antiquity) as that day hopt without their heads.

Now concerning the pride of the Danes and their incredible tyranny exercised throughout The pride and insolency of the Danes over the Britains. the whole Kingdome, which was the occasion of this their universall slaughter, our English Historians have thus recorded of them, they caused the Farmers and Husbandmen to plow, sow, and eare the ground, and to doe all the servile labour that belonged to agriculture and husband •… y, whilst they kept their wives and commanded their daughters and servants at their pleasure, and when the Master of the house came home, hee was forced to salute his superintendent Dane as his Lord, and whilst the Usurper eate and fed of the best, the poore oppressed owner could scarcely have his fill of the worst: besides, for feare and dread they called them in every house where they had rule Lord Dane, which after when the English had attained to their former honour grew to a title of great opprobry and contempt, for when Lord Dane turned into Lurdain. any one would rebuke or revile an other hee would in scorne call him Lurdan, a word in the Countrey in use euen to this day.

But now comes in the Eagle by which is intended Swanus K. of Denmark, who surpriseth both, that is subdueth the Saxons & the other Almans or Germans, whom they had admitted into the land, and after infinite devastations, depopulations and spoils with his broad wings soared over the whole Kingdome and made prey in every province thereof (the particulars would aske much time and paper) who in conclusion tooke from the White Dragon the Saxons after they had held the sovereignty by many successive Kings both Crown and Scepter: but before this happened the unfortunate King: whose onely fight was with money to impoverish his owne people, and inrich the enemy (for hee often bought his peace which prov'd to no purpose) Edricus crea ted Duke of Mercia. hee made Edricus whom Merlin calleth the Snake, Duke of Mercia, who was of low and base birth and parentage, yet had attained to great wealth and rich possessions, false of tongue, subtle of brain, and eloquent in speech, and persidious in purpose and promise, which will more at large appeare hereafter.

In this interim, Swanus so farre prevailed, The King with his Queene forc't to flye the Land. that the King fearing the continuall persecution of the Danes, first sent Emma his Queene, with his two younger sonnes which were Alfred and Edward, to Richard the second of that name, and fourth Duke of Normandy, who was her naturall brother, and after was compeld to flie thither in person, with a slender traine of followers, of which when Swanus had notice, he grew inflamed with greater pride and insolence: and amongst other of his Tyrannies, hee fired the City of Canterbury, and slue nine hundred religious persons tithing them, as killing nine and saving the tenth, with 8000 women & children, and because the reverend Bishop would not, or could not pay him downe three thousand pounds, hee kept him prisoner seven moneths, The Bishops name was Elphigus. and caused him after at Greenwich, foure miles from London, to be stoned to death: and wheresoever hee came, hee reserved all the women to be vitiated and defloured, aswell the religious as others: robbing the Shrine of Saint Edmond, not leaving any cruelty which could finde a name, unperformed. At length upon the day of the Purification of the blessed Virgin in the yeere one thousand and fourteen, he died miserably howling and crying, three dayes and nights together before his death: whom succeeded The death of the Tyrant Swanus. his sonne Canutus. And two yeeres after, at one thousand sixteen expired at London, King Edelfred, and was buried in the Church of Saint The death of Edelfredus. Paul: whom succeeded his sonne Edmund, sirnamed Ironside, and these two Princes were the two Lions spoken of in the former prophesie, of whom you shall heare more in the ensuing Chapter.

YOu see how hitherto Merlin hath predicted nothing which the successe and event have not made good: wee will yet examine him further, and prove if hee have beene as faithfull in the future as the former: who thus proceedeth. And Helluo then with open jaws shall yawne, Devouring even till midnight from the dawn: And he an Hydra with seven heads shall grace, Glad to behold the ruine of his race, And then upon the Neustrian bloud shall prey, And tithe them by the pole (now well away) Burst shall he after gordg'd with humane blood, And leave his name in part of the salt flood. Iron men, in woodden Tents shall here arrive, And hence the Saxons with her Eglets drive, &c. It followeth in the History, Hardy Canutus the Hardy Canutus the Dane crowned King of England. sonne of Canutus and Emma, began his Reigne over England, in the yeere of Grace, one thousand forty one, who was o •… such cruelty, as that he was no sooner setled in the State, but he presently sent Alphricus Archbishop of Yorke, and Earle Goodwin to Westminster, to take up the A barbarous cruelty in a brother. body of his deere brother, and having parted the head from the shoulders, to cast them into the River Thames, which was by them accordingly performed, the cause thereunto moving was for rifling, and after exiling his mother Emma, whom hee caused with great honour to be brought againe into the Land.

Hee revived also the (almost forgotten) Tribute His riot and e •… cesse. called Dane gelt, which hee spent in drinking Deep, and Feeding high, for these were his delights: For besides his immoderate quaffing, he had the Tables through his Court spred four 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 times a day, with all the riot and excesse that might be devised: who himselfe minding only gormondizing and voracitie, committed the whole rule of the Land to Emma and Goodwin, (who had married the Daughter of Canutus, by his first wife Elgina) by whom many things were much misordered to the great discontent of the Commons. This Earle had many sonnes (as witnesseth Polychronicon, lib. 6. cap. 15.) by his Earle Goodwins sons and daughter. first wife who was sister to Canutus, hee had but one, who by the striking of an Horse, was throwne into the Thames and there drowned, whose mother after died by Lightning, and was of such incontinent life, that shee prostituted Virgins and young women, to make base and mercenary use of their bodies: she dead, he married a second, of whom hee begot sixe sonnes, Swanus, Harold, Tostius, Wilnotus Syrthe, or Surthe, and Leofricus, with a daughter named Goditha who after was married to Edward the Confessor.

Hardy Canutus wholly devoted to all voluptuousnesse, being at a Feast at Lambeth, in the midst of his mirth and jollity, drinking a carowse out of a bowle, elbow-deep, fell downe Hardy Canutus dieth drinking. suddenly and rested speechlesse for the space of eight dayes, at the end whereof he expired, in the eight day of Iune, when hee had raigned two compleat yeeres, leaving no issue lawful of his body, and was buried by his Father at Winchester, in whom ended the Line and Progeny of Swanus, so that after this King the bloud of the Danes was quite extinct, and made uncapable of any Regall Dignity within this Land. The end of the Danish persecution and how long it continued. Their bloudy persecution ceasing, which had continued (counting from their first landing in the time of Brightricus King of the West Saxons) by the space of two hundred fifty five yeeres, or thereabout: by this Hardy Canutus, Merlin intended his Helluo, as being a gluttonou, Prince, whose bibacity and voracity would continue from morning till midnight, in the first yeere of whose Reigne,

The two sonnes of Egelredus and Emma, namely Alphred, and Edward, who before were sent into Normandy, came into England to see their Mother, and were Princely attended by a great number of brave Norman Knights and Gentlemen, of which Earle Goodwin (that By the seven heads are meant he and his six sonnes who a •… sisted him in all his bloudy projects subtle seven-headed Hydra before spoken of) having notice', hee began to plot and devise how to match his only daughter Goditha to one of the two Princes, but finding Alured the eldest to be of an high and haughty spirit, and would disdaine so mean a marriage, he thought by supplanting him to conferre her upon the younger, who was of a more flexible disposition, Earle Goodwins p •… te. to compasse which, hee pretended to the King and Councell, that it might prove dangerous to the state to suffer so many strangers to enter the Land without license.

By which he got authority and power to manage that businesse according to his owne discretion, as being most potent with the King, and a great incourager of his profusenesse and riot: therefore being strongly accompanied he met with the two Princes and their traine, and set upon them as Enemies, killing the greater part of them at the first encounter, and having surpris'd the rest upon a place called Guil-downe hee slue nine and saved the tenths, and then thinking the number of the survivors too Earle Goodwins great cruelty. great, he tithed againe that tenth putting them to cruel deaths, as winding their guts out of their bellies, with other torturing deaths) then he caused the elder brothers eys to be pluckt out and sent to a religious house in Ely, where hee dyed shortly after, but the younger he preserv'd as an husband for his daughter, and sent him to his mother Emma: all which fulfils the former prophesie which saith. And he an Hidra with seaven heads shall grace, Glad to behold the ruine of his race. And then upon the Neustrian blood shall pray, By Neustria is understood Normandy. And tithe them by the pole &c. Emma not trusting the tyranny of Goodwin by whom she had left one son, the better to secure the other, shee sent him into Normandy, but Edward after sirnamed the Co •… fessor made King. Hardy Canutus beeing dead, he was sent for over to receive his iust and lawfull inheritance: so that this Edward the sonne of Egelredus and his last wife Emma, began his Raigne over England in the yeare of Grace 1043. and was soon after maried to Goditha (whom Guido calleth Editha) the sole daughter of Earle Goodwin, who as all Authors affirme, lived with her without any carnall society, whether it were in hatred of her kinred, as by the greatnesse of her father compel'd to that match, or for that he altogether devoted himselfe to chastity, it is left uncertaine.

In the beginning of his Raigne his mother The Kings mother accused of adultery, with Alwin Bishop of Winchester. Emma, was accused to have too much familiarity with the B. of Winchester, therefore the King by the counsell of Earl Goodwin seised vpon many of her iewels, and confined her to a strict keeping in the Abby of Worwell, the Bishop Alwin was also under the Custody of the Clergy; but shee more sorrowing for his defame then her owne, wrote unto divers Bishops to doe their Iustice, affirming she was ready to undergoe any triall whatsoever, to give the World satisfaction of her innocence, who laboured to the King that their cause might have a just and legall hearing: but Robert Archbishop of Canterbury Robert Archbishop of Canterbury against the mother Queen. not pleased with the motion, said unto them, My Brethren Bishops, how dare ye plead for her, who is a beast and no woman? as by defaming the King and her sonne, and yielding her selfe a prostitute to the incontinent Alwin: (proceeding further) but if it be so that the woman would purge the Priest, who shall then purge the woman? who is accused to have been consenting to the death of her sonne Alfred, and hath prepared infectious Drugs for the poysoning of her sonne Edward: but be she guilty or no; if shee will agree to goe bare foot upon nine plough-shares burning and fiery hot, for her selfe foure shares, and for the Bishop five, he may be then cleered, and she also.

To which shee granted, and the day of her This 〈◊◊〉 Chronicles of same for truth. purgation assigned, at which day the King in person with many of his Lords were present, she was hoodwinkt and led to the place where the Irons lay glowing hot, and having passed over the nine shares unhurt, shee said, Good God, when shall I come to the place of my purgation? When they opened her eyes, and shee saw that she had past the torment without any sence of paine, she kneeled downe, and gave thanks to the protectour of chastity and innocence. Then the King repented him of his credulitie, restoring unto her what hee had before taken from her, asking of her forgivenes and blessing. But the Archbishop Robert, who was once a Monke in Normandy, and was sent for over by the King, and first made Bishop of London, and Emma acquit from the suspition of Incontinency. after raised to be Metropolitan, fled into his Countrey, and was no more seene in England after.

After many insolencies committed against the King, by Earle Goodwin and his sonnes (too long to reherse) they were forced to abandon Earle Goodwin and his sons flie the Land. the Land, and flie into Flanders to Earle Baldwin, (whose daughter Iudith, Swanus his eldest sonne had married) and then by a Parlament they were made Out-lawes and Rebels, and their goods and Lands seized: where they continued as exiles for the space of two yeeres: during which time William the bastard Duke of Normandy came with a Noble Traine to visit the King his Cousin, and were royally entertained, returning with great gifts and presents into his Country, after which Goodwin by intercession of his friends here in England, was called home with his sonnes, who were received into grace, and restored to their former dignities and possessions: giving for pledges of his fidelity, his sonne Wilnotus and Hacun the sonne of Goodwin and his sons restored. Swanus, whom the King sent to William Duke of Normandy, to be kept in safe custodie.

Not long after, in the twelfth yeere of the Reigne of this Edward the Confessor; upon an Easter Monday, Goodwin sitting with other Lords at the Kings Table, in the Castle of Winsor, it hapned that the Kings Cupbearer stumbled, but recovered himselfe of a fall, at which the Earle laughed heartily, and said; there one brother helped the other, meaning one leg had supported the other, which the King observing, said, yea, and so my brother Alphred might have lived to have helped and sustained me, had it not bin for Earl Goodwin, by which words the Earl apprehending, that he upbraided him with his brothers death, thinking to excuse himself of the Act, said, so may I safely swallow this morsell of bread that is in my hand, as I am innocent of that deed, in swallowing of which hee was choaked: which the King seeing commanded him to be dragged from the board, his bodie being Goodwins remarkable death. conveighed to Winchester, and there interred: Macrinus saith, that he was suddenly struck with a palsie of which hee died •… hree days after: howsoever hee underwent a most remarkable judgement: His eldest sonne living who was Harold (for Swanus died in his pilgrimage to Ierusalem) had all his Fathers Dignities and Honours conferd upon him: But in processe of time all those his Lands in Kent (of which hee was Earle, were eaten up and devoured by the Sea, upon wh •… se dangerous shelves and quicksands, many thousands have beene wrackt and drowned, and they are called Goodwins Sands, unto this day, which verifieth that part of the prophesie of the Hydra, where he saith, Burst shall he after gordg'd with humane blood, And leave his name in part of the salt flood.

Harold having done many noble services for the King and the countrey, in all which hee came off with great honour and victorie: about the 20. yeere of King Edward, hee sayled towards Normandy to visite his brother Wilnotus and his Nephew Hucun, who lay there as pledges for the peace betwixt the King and Harold sayleth into Normandie. Earle Goodwin; buteither by the mistake of the unskilfull Pilot or by the extremity of tempests, hee was driven upon the province of Pountithe, and there surprised, and sent as prisoner to William Duke of Normandy, who some say, forced him to take an oath to marry his daughter and keep the Kingdome of England to his behoofe: but that which carrieth more shew of trueth, is that Harold to insinuate into the Dukes favour, in whose power hee now was, told him that his King in the presence of his Baronry had selected him his Heire, and covenanted with him that if hee survived his sovereigne, hee would keepe the Crowne to his use; for which Meaning the Duke. the Duke gave him his daughter in contract, with promise of a large dowry; but she was yet in her minority not ripe for marriage; in confirmation of which, Duke William gave him also his brothers sonne Hucon one of the Hostages and kept the other, and after sent him over, with rich gifts: all which at his returne to England he acquainted the King with, who expired the fourth day of Ianuary, when hee had reigned twenty three yeeres seven months and The death of Edward the Confessor. odde dayes, and lyes buried in the Monasterie of Westminster which he before had much beautified and repaired.

After whom succeeded in the Throne Harold, the second son of Earle Goodwin, and last King Harold crowned King of England. of the Saxons, who began his Reigne over England in the yeere one thousand forty six: the ambition to gain a Crowne, making him forget his oath and promise made to Duke William: In the beginning of his Reigne his Land was invaded by his brother Tostius, who was beat out of the Kingdome by Edwin, and Malcharus Earles of Mercia and Northumberland: then Harold Hafagar King of Denmarke and Norway, (whom Guido the Historiographer calleth the sonne of Canutus) hearing of the death of Edward, with an Army of three hundred England invaded by the Danes. ships, entred the mouth of the River Tyne, pretending to conquer England, as his right and lawfull inheritance, which Harold hearing sent the two aforesaid Earles of Mercia and Northumberland, till he himselfe had gathered sufficient forces: who gave the Danes a strong battaile, but being overset with multitudes, they were forced to give backe, so that the enemy entred further into the Land, which the King hearing, Harold made haste with his powers. And met them at a place called Stratford bridge. In which Interim Tostius came out of Scotland, and tooke part against his brother: Betwixt these two Hoasts was fought a bloudy A bloudy battail in which Harold was victor. and cruell battaile. In which many brave Knights breathed their last, and amongst them Tostius: the two Harolds of England and of Denmarke, met and fought hand to hand, in which combat Harold of Denmarke, fell under the hand of Harold of England, who was likewise Master of the field, in which Olanus brother to Harfagar, and Paulus Duke of the Orcades were taken prisoners: of whom Harold took sure pledges for their fidelity and homage.

WIlliam the second of that name, sirnamed William the second crowned King of England. Rufus, or the Red, beganne his Reigne in the moneth of Iuly, in the yeere of Grace, one thousand sourescore and nine, but Rainolf Monke of Chester, in his Polychronicon, affirmes that Robert was absent at the death of his Father, and hearing that hee had preferd his younger brother to the Crowne of England, hee was greatly inraged, and laid his Dukedome to pawne to his brother Henry, for certaine summes of money, with which hee hired an Army, and landed at Hampton: of which his brother having intelligence, sent unto him with this submission following, A strange submission of a King. Thy brother William entreateth thee to be no way incensed at what I have done. For he calleth himselfe not absolute King, but Viceroy and thy Substitute, and to reigne under thee, being greater, and therein better, because before him borne, who hath taken upon him this charge, only because of thine absence; yet since he is now in place and authority by thy sufferance, he humbly prayes thee that he may under thee still so continue, paying unto thee annually three thousand marke, with condition, that the survivour of the two may peaceably enjoy the Kingdome.

Duke Robert who was not unacquainted with the politick proceedings of his brother, shaked his head, and began to pawse, about an answer, and being of a loving and gentle disposition, The two brothers attowd. bountifull withall, and still preferring his honour before his profit (as in all his after proceedings hee made manifest) condescended to his brothers request, and returned into Normandy: but William was of a more subtle and crafty condition, and yet withall ambitious after vainglory, to maintaine which, hee extorted both from the Spiritualty and Temporalty. He builded He buildeth Westminster Hall. Westminster Hall, and by reason that his brother Robert, was then in the holy Warres, to redeeme Ierusalem from the Pagans, hee spent some time in Normandy, about his brothers affaires: but at his returne, the building of the Hall being finished, he seemed much discontented with the littlenesse thereof, saying it was more fit for a Dining Chamber then a Kings Hall, purposing, if hee had liv'd, to have made a farre greater.

In the beginning of the thirteenth yeere of his Reigne, the third day of August, being hunting in the New Forrest, by the glancing of an Arrow shot by the hand of one Sir Walter Tyrrell, The King murthered to death by Sir Walter Tyrrell. the King was wounded to death in the forty fourth yeere of his age; who escaped and saved himselfe, for none pursued him, and few (in regard of his former tyranny) sorrowfull for his death: some thinke that this arrow was purposely aymed at him, to fulfill the prophesie of the two brothers. One aimes at, but attains not his desire, By envies dart the other shall expire.

Now Robert, though hee still aymed at the Kingdome, yet never attained unto it, and the other died, according to Merlins words, spiculo Invidiae, by the dart of Envy: the King thus wounded was laid in a Horse-litter, and conveyed to Winchester, where hee died and was buried: In his life time he took upon him great The Kings Character. things: the day before hee died, one asked him where he purposed to keep his Christmasse? to which he answered, at Poyctiers, for the Earle intendeth a Voyage for Ierusalem, meaning to seize upon his Earldome.

Henry of Huntington reporteth of him, that though he was generally reported avaritious and gripple-handed, yet he was in his owne condition, bountifull, and liberall, as may appeare by the narration following. The Abbot of a great Monastery being dead, too wel-monied Monks of the same place made friends to the King offering Iustice and liberality in the King. large summes, to be promoted to that dignity: there was also a third Monk, who out of his meeknesse and humility had accompanyed them to the Court, and to give attendance on him whom the King should admit to be Abbot: who called to the Monkes severally, and either of them outbid the other: the King casting his eye upon the third (who came as their servant) thinking, his businesse had been to the same purpose, demanded of him, if hee would give more then his brethren had proffered: who answered him againe, that he would neither offer nor give to the value of one penny, neither would he take any such charge upon him which came unlawfully by symony: whose words when the King had duly considered, he said that he of the three was best worthy to take so holy a charge upon him, and gave it him freely.

Duke Robert being at this time in the holy Henry usurpeth the crown. Wars, the yongest brother Henry, third son to the Conquerour, and first of that name, began his Reigne the fift day of August, in the yeere of our Lord eleven hundred and one, and this was he whom Merlin cals Leo Iustitiae, the Lion •… f Iustice: who banisht from his Court all flattering and effeminate Sycophants: he was also abstinent, and abhorring gormondizing, and the excesse of Feasts: hee was further well studied in the seven Liberall Arts, and used to fight more with counsaile then the sword, and yet upon just occasion, hee would shew himselfe as valiant as he proved fortunate.

In the second yeere of whose Reigne, Robert his brother, being there imployed in the Wars of Palaestine, against the Miscreants and Infidels, receiving newes that his brother William was dead, and that his brother Henry had usurped Duke Robe •… t offered to bee made King of Ierusalem. the Crown of England, notwithstanding that the Christian Princes offered to make him King of Ierusalem, yet he refused that honour, but with great speed returned into Normandie, and there raised forces, to claime his right unto the Crown of England, and landed at Portsmouth, but a mediation of peace was made betwixt them, and that hee should have the same yeerly revenue of three thousand Marks, which he had in the days of King William: with which he returned fully satisfied, at which his Lords and Peeres were much discontented, as also for other things which in his easie nature hee had yielded to, both against his honour and profit, Duke Robert neglected by his Peeres. for which he was by them lesse regarded, and in the end quite neglected.

This Robert in his Fathers days was in all his enterprizes victorious, and after did many brave exployts at the siege of Acan against the Turks: and (as is before said) was by the great suffrage of the Christian Hoast chosen King of Ierusalem, but whether hee thought it to be an honour with too much trouble, or for the covetousnesse of the Crowne of England, hee made refusall thereof, for which it hath beene thought, that hee sped the worse in all his endevours after. For a dissention fell betwixt him and his Nobles, so that they sent to King Henry his brother, that if hee would come over into Normandy, they would deliver up the whole Country into his hands, and acknowledge him their sole Lord and Governour, of which profer it is said, Henry accepted: but before any hostility was threatned, Robert came into England to visit his brother and new sister (for the King was lately married to Mawd the Duke Roberts easie and liberall disposition. daughter of Malcolme, King of Scotland) at whose request he released to his brother the tribute of three thousand Marks by the yeere, and so departed.

Notwithstanding which, by the instigation of bad and wicked Counsellours, this seeming brotherly love was quite abrogated and dissolved, so that the King with a strong Army invaded Normandy, and by reason that Roberts Peeres and Nobles fell from him, hee chased him from place to place, and won from him his Cities, Cane, Roan, and Faloys, with all other places defensible; so that Robert was forced to defire aide of Philip the French King, and after of the Earle of Flanders, but they both failed him, so that with those few forces which hee could make, hee gave battaile to his brother, in the which hee was surprized and taken prisoner, and sent over into England, and put Duke Robert taken pr •… soner by his b •… other. into the Castle of Cardiffe in Wales, where hee remayned his whole life time, and being dead was buried at Glocester, and thus hee who might have been King of Ierusalem, and twice King of England (had he taken the opportunity offered The Duchy of Duke Robert. him) died with no greater title, then the bare Duke of Normandy.

Warres then grew betwixt the King of England, and the French King, in which they sped diversly, but in the end Henry beat him in his own Country, and had of him a glorious victory, to the great terrour and astonishment of all the French Nation, and those lesser Princes of his Confederacie, making good that of the Prophet: The Lion next of Iustice, shall appeare, Who 'gainst the Celticke Towers shall ladders reare, And cause the Lily like the Aspen shake, Whose rore shall all the Island Serpents quake. By the Lily is meant the Flowre de Lyce, which The Prophes •… e explained. the French King beares in his Scutcheon, which was said to quake like an Aspen, (whose leafe of all others is soonest moved with the winde) by reason of the great affright and terrour hee put the French into at the noyse of his Drummes, the thundring of his Horses hoofs, and the lowdnesse of his warlike instruments.

About the twentieth yeere of this Kings Reigne, when he had been three yeeres together in Normandy, the King took shipping at Harflute (a part of that Duchie) the foure and twentieth day of November, and arrived safe in England, not many houres after: And soon upon that his two sonnes, William who was Duke of Normandy, with Richard his brother, with Notha the Countesse of Parsie, Richard Earle of Chester, with his wife the Kings Niece, The Archdeacon of Hereford, with Knights, Gentlemen, and others, to the number of an hundred and forty persons: These took shipping at the same Port to follow the King, but in their passage, the ship sunke under them, and they were all drowned to one man, saving a Butcher, who reported that this disastrous misfortune fell The Kings two sonnes with many others drowned. by the negligence of the Master and Saylers, who in the night being at dissention amongst themselves, ran the Vessell upon a Rocke, and split her; from which danger the young Duke William was escaped by getting into a boat neer the sh •… are: but when hee heard the lamentable out-cry of the Countesse Notha, hee commanded the Rowers to row back, and if it were possible to save her life, who having recovered her into the boat, they were by a tempestuous gust so over-charged, that it was violently overturned, and they all swallowed in the Sea, of which strange accident Merlin also prophesied in these words: The Lions whelps their nature shall forsake, Catuli Leonis in aequoreo; pisces transformabuntur. And upon them the shape of sishes take.

The King to maintaine his former Warres which proved so terrible to the French and others, was forced to exact money from all manner of people, not sparing the Clergie nor the Laitie, and therefore Merlin cals him A cunning Alcumist, who hath the skill Gold, both from flowers, and Nettles to distill. By the Flowers, meaning the Spiritualty, by the Nettles the Temporalty: in the twenty seventh yeere of this Kings Reign died Henry the fourth Emperour of that name, who had before married Mawd, the daughter to Henry King of England, after whose death she came to her Father in Normandy, who because hee had no heires male left of his body, hee caused all the Bishops and Barons to sweare in his presence, that they The Lords sworne to the succession of Mawd the Empresse. should keep the Crowne of England to the use of this Mawde the Empresse, if hee died without issue male, and she surviving.

In the eight and twentieth yeere of his Sovereignty, Ieffery Plantaginet Earle of Anjoy, was espoused unto Mawde the Empresse, from whom Her second mariage. descended Henry the second, sirnamed Short-Mantle, who after Stephen was King of England; King William being in Normandy, (as some write) fell either with his Horse or from his Horse, which after was the cause of his death. But Rainolph saith, that he tooke a surfet by eating of a Lamprey, and died of that, when he had reigned thirty five yeers and odde moneths, The death of Henry the first of that name. whose body when it was embowelled, before it could be embalmed, cast such a stench that none could abide the place, where hee was dissected, and though it was wrapped in a Buls skin, yet it little abated the smell, in so much that divers were infected therewith, and the Chyrurgion who clensed the head, died of the unwholsome scent which proceeded from the braine, which some conjectured to bee a just judgement laid upon him for his mercilesse cruelty shewed upon his brother Robert, whose eyes (as some have reported) hee caused to bee torne out of his head during his imprisonment: his body was brought into England, and was afterwards buried in the Abbey of Reading which he before had founded; after whose death, Fame spoke of him, as of all other Princes, both in the better and worse part. Divers said, that he surpassed many of his Predecessour Kings in three How the King was spoken of after his death. things, in wit, in eloquence, and good successe in battaile; and others spared not to say that he was pestilently infected with three notorious vices: Covetousnesse, Cruelty, and Lechery.

A Knight called Sir William Chesterly, alias Lindsey, told him boldly, that His third admonition. there were seven severall things by him specially and suddenly to be reformed First, to see better to the defence of the Church, and provide for the maintenance thereof: Secondly, to see his Lawes better executed, and Iustice more exercised: Thirdly, not to rob the rich, nor extort from them their goods by violence: Fourthly, to make restitution of all those lands and goods as hee had so wrested: Fiftly, to make no demurre or delay in just sentence, but suffer the right to have lawfull processe: Sixtly; to see his subjects satisfied for such things as had beene taken up to his use, and to pay his servants and souldiers which fell to robbery, for that default. Seventhly, that he should speedily cause the Iewes to avoid the Land. But this advise prevailed with him as the former.

In his thirtieth yeere, Heraclius Patriarch of Ierusalem, came into England, to solicite his aid against the Saracens (who had invaded the Christian Territories:) and to defend the holy City, which by Saladine King of Surry, was wonne soon after. For by the relation of Peter Desroy, a French Chronicler, Ierusalem was wonne by Godfrey of Bulloigne, in the yeere of Grace, one thousand fourescore and nineteene, and continued under nine Christian Kings, of which Guy of Resingham was the last: this Heraclius Nine Christian Kings raigne successively over Hierusalem. further profered the King the keyes of the holy City, and of our Lords grave, presenting him Letters from Pope Lucius, the third of that name, which charged him to take upon him the journey, according to an Oath by him formerly made: to which the King answered, The King refuseth to be Generall fo •… the Holy Land. he could not leave his Land in trouble as a prey to the French, and his owne aspiring sonne; but he would give largely out of his owne coffers, to such as would take that voyage in hand.

To which the Patriarch replyed, we seek a man, not mony, every Christian Prince sendeth us money, but none sendeth us a Prince, and therefore we demand a Prince that needeth money, and not money that needeth a Prince; who finding no other comfort from the King, departed his presence much discontented: but the King thinking to sooth him up with faire words followed him to the Sea-side; but the more the King laboured to humour him, the more harsh, and hardned he grew against the King, and said unto him, hitherto thou hast, reigned gloriously, The Patriarchs answer to the King. but hereafter thou shalt be abandoned of him whom thou forsakest: think what he hath given to thee, and what thou in gratitude hast returned to him againe: who at the first wast false to the French King, and after slewest Thomas Becket, and now lastly forsakest the protection of Christs faith: at which words the King was much moved, and sayd to the Patiarch, though all the people of the Land were one body and spoke with one mouth, they durst not say to me as thou hast done: true, saith the Patriarch, for they love thine, and not thee; the safety of thy goods temporall, but not the safety of thy soule: then he offered his head to the King, saying; now doe me that right which thou did'st to thine Arch-Bishop: for I had rather be slayne by thee, then by the Sarazens.

The King kept his patience, and replied; should I depart out of the Land, mine owne sons would seise upon my Crowne and Scepter in mine absence: no wonder (answered the Patriarch) A proud and peremptory Patriarch. for of the devil they come, and to the devill they shall: and so departed from the King in great anger: after which all things went averse & against him: Giraldus Cambrisius writes of him, that he cherisht strife amongst his owne children, thinking thereby to live himselfe in the more rest and further saith, that hee was peerelesse for three things; wit, war, wantonnesse. He Raigned twenty sixe yeares victoriously and gloriously, foure yeares distractedly and doubtfully, and his five last yeares infortunately and miserably: in the end by meere vexation and anger he fell into a fever, and dyed thereof in the Castle of Chinon in Normandy in the moneth of The death of King Henry the second. Iuly, when he had raigned thirty foure yeares eight moneths and odd dayes, and was buried at Founte-blew: fulfilling that of the former prediction. Fortune at first, shall on his glories smile, But faile him in the end, &c.

Richard the first of that name, and second sonn Richard the first succedeth his father. of Henry sirnamed Short Mantle, succeeded his father, and began his Raigne over England in the moneth of Iuly 1189, who upon the day of his Coronation, commanded that all the prisoners about London, which lay in for the Kings debt or otherwise (murder and treason excepted) should be set at large, of whose future Reign it was thus predicted. The Lions heart weel gainst the sarazen rise, And purchase from him many a glorious prise. The Rose and Lilly shall at first vnite, But parting of the prey prove opposite. Iebus and Salem will be much opprest As by the lame and blind againe possest. The Lion-hearted amongst Wolves shall range, And by his art, Iron into silver change. But whilst abroad, these great acts shall be done, All things at home shall to disorder run, Coopt up and cag'd, then shall the Lion bee, But after sufferance ransom'd and set free. Then doubly crowned: two mighty ones whose prides Transcend; twixt whom aseas arme only glides, (Ambitious both shall many conflicts try; Last, by a poysonous shaft the Lion dye. This King soone after his Coronation, conferd upon his brother three great dignities and honours, as the Earldome of Nottingham, Cornwale, Chester, and Lancaster, and maried him to the daughter of the Earle of Gloster who was his only childe, by which he was heire to that Earldome also, all which he after but cruelly requited: then the king sought to be absolved for his rebellion against his father, which he easily purchast upon promise to pursue the wars Richard undertaketh the holy voyage. in Palestina which his father refused, and to expedite that voyage, he gave over the two Castles of Barwick and Rocheborough to the Scotch king for ten thousand pound towards the charges of his journey: moreover he sould to the old Bishop of Durham that Province for a great sum of mony, and (as he had covenanted) made him Earle thereof: which done the king laught and said to the standers by, observe what art and cunning is in me, who can make a young Earle of an old Bishop: by such meanes hee emptyed many of the Clergies bagges and fil'd his own coffers, granting large fees and annuities out of the Crowne; for which some (as far as they durst) blaming him, he replyed unto them, that it was good for a man to ayde himselfe with his owne: adding; that if the citty London were his, at that time of his neede he would sel that also, if he could meete with a merchant able to buy it.

In the second yeare of his Raigne hee made The Bishop of Ely made Vice Gerent in the Kings absence. William Longshamp Bishop of Ely, Chancellour of England, leaving the whole Land to his guiding, then sayled he into Normandy, and thence into France to Philip the second, and after covenants drawne betwixt them, for the continuance of so great and hazardous a iourney, in the spring of the yeare they set forward, Richard by sea, and Philip by land, appointing their randevouz in Sicily: where meeting (as it was agreed) a difference grew betwixt the 2. Kings, Difference betwixt the English and French Kings. in so much that King Phillip left Richard in Sicily, and departed towards Acon or Acris: in which time the King of Cyprus tooke two of king Richards ships, and peremptorily denyed their delivery.

For which he invaded the kingdome of Cyprus, making sharpe war therein, chacing the King from Citty to Citty; in so much that K. Richard conquered the Kingdome of Cyprus. he was compeld to yield unto him upon condition, that he should not bee layed in bonds of iron, whereof the king accepted, and kept his promise, causing him to be fettered in chaines of silver, verifying that of the prophesie, The Lion-hearted amongst Wolves shall range, And by his art iron into silver change.

When he had remained there for the space of 2. months taking his pleasure of the countrey, & victualled his navy, he steered his course towards Acon, and by the way he encountered a great ship of the Soldans furnisht with store of amunition and treasure, which he surprised & seized, after which he safely arived at the foresaid citty, and met with the king of France, of whom he was ioyfully received: for not long before, 2000 of his army were cut off by the Sarazens: then King Richard caused the Citty to be violently assaulted on every side, so that they were forced to yield it upon these covenants The City of Acon taken by the Christans. following; to depart the place, leaving behind them horse, armour, victuals, and all things belonging to war, and further, restore, and set at liberty all such Christian prisoners, as were then under their yoke and bondage, with divers other conditions, but these the chiefest: and this was done in the moneth of August, and in the year of our Lord one thousand one hundred fourescore and twelve.

But in dividing the spoyle of the citty, which was great and rich, there fell out also a division Causes of the second breach between the two Kings. betwixt the 2 Kings, wch kindled a fire which was never quench'd, the motives inducing there to were (as Polychronicon reports) because Richard denied to Philip half of the spoile & booty taken in Cyprus, alledging that their covenants stretched no further then to those purchased in the holy Land; another was, that king Richard being in Sicily maried the daughter of the king of Navar, where before he had promised to espouse the sister of the King for which and other causes the French King with a small number of ships, departed from Acan, thence to Puis, after The French King departs to his country. to Rome, and so into his owne country, leaving the Duke of Burgundy Generall of the French in his stead, which fulfils that part of the prophesie. The Rose and Lilly shall at first vnite, But parting of the prey prove opposite.

During King Richards stay there, he sould the kingdome of Cyprus to the knight Templers, for 30000 marks, and (as the French Chronicle reports) forc'd it from them againe by strength Richard sels the Kingdome of Cyprus. and gave it to Guy of Lesingham the last K. of Ierusalem, & further for an affront offered him, he took the Duke of Austria's Banner, and stampt it and trampled it under his foote, for which the Duke sought all advantages to be revenged on him, (as shall be related hereafter) he then, because the Turks had not delivered to him the He vilisieth the Duke of Austria. holy crosse according to their agreement at the taking of Acon, slew all that were in the City with their pledges and hostages, the whole number as some write, amounting to 5000 persons: then he provided for the present seige of Ierusalem, which as he was given to understand, He intends to besi •… ge Ierus •… lem was at that time much distressed: for it followeth. Iebus, and Salem shall be much opprest, As by the lame and blinde againe possest.

Of Iebus and Salem, the holy City had the denomination of Ierusalem: and by the lame and blinde is intended the idols of the infidels, who have feete and walke not, eyes and see not, &c. King Richard marching within five mile of the place, purposed to inviron it round, that no supply or succour might bee brought unto it; daily expecting when the Duke of Burgundy with the French would follow him, who perfidiously against his oath and promise, made an oration to his souldiers as followeth: It is knowne unto you all noble friends and countrymen, that The Duke of Burgundies Oration to his Souldiers. though our Soveraigne Lord the King be absent, yet all the flower and chivalry of France are here present, and whatsoever is done to the dignity of the Christians, and disgrace of the infidels, is most likely by us to be atchieved, the English being cowards and meacockes, and we couragious and manly; yet whatsoever noble act shall be attempted by us, the honour thereof shall bee attributed to them, their King being resident here, & ours so far remote from hence: my counsaile is therefore, that we march back to Acon, and leave them to the hazard that ayme at the honour: which speech so prevailed with his people, that Richard was prevented in his The death of the Duke of Bugundy. former purpose, and the Duke of Burgundy soone after dyed.

Yet this Lyon-hearted leader was no way dauted with the French delirements: but raysing his siege, hee pursu'd the Soldans, who then begirt the towne and Castle of Iaphath, and won it, taking there many Christians prisoners, and then man'd it with his owne men, sending them whom he surprised to bee else where imprisoned, whom K. Richard comming too late to the siege, most fortunately met and rescued: which done hee set upon the King Richards victory over the Souldiars. towne and Castle and tooke them, setting there a strong garrison of Christians. After which victory he wonne Dacon and Garles, two great Cities, and repaired the Castle of Askelon with sundry others, which the Pagans had much defaced and ruined: after which, he commanded all his prisoners to be slayne, which others sold to their profit (and advantage) by which hee grew to be the greater terror to the Turks: but victuals daily diminishing & sicknes increasing in his army, and the French fayling him, having set things there in the best order that necessity King Richard leaveth h the Holy Land. would permit him, he took shiping at Acon (called also Tholomida, & from thence he sailed into Cyprus: then he sent his wife and her sister with the greatest part of his people, into Sicilia, and because he could not well brooke the Sea, hee thought to make a short cut into Histria, but by force of weather was driven a shore betwixt Venice and Aquilea, where landing with that small traine which followed him, He was espyed, by some of the Duke of Austria's Knights (whose standard he had trod under foote, who after laid waite for him, and tooke him; the manner whereof I leave to the ensuing Chapter.

IN the absence of the King, whilst The tyranny of the Bishop of Ely, made protector of the Land. he was busie in his warres abroad, the Bishop of Ely Chauncellour, and Pro-rex at home; opposed the Lords, abused the Commons, and oppressed the Clergy: hee rid not abroad, attended with lesse then a thousand horses; to maintaine which pompe, and Luciferian pride, hee extorted from the poore, from the Peeres, but especially from the Prelates; holding in his hands at once, besides Ely, the two Archbishopricks of Canterbury, and Yorke: imprisoning whom he pleased, and releasing where he liked: nor was the King more earnest in vexing the Pagans and Infidels in the Land of Palestine, then he was eager and extreame against his Christian brethren, whose patronage and protection were committed to his charge, so that it verifies; Whilst that abroad such great acts shal be done, All things at home will to disorder run.

In which interim, the King being on all sides King Richard ambusht in his returne. ambusht by the Austrians, for betwixt Venice and Aquilea, in a Province belonging to the Duke, he was beset by one Mainart de Goresen, but with losse of some of his traine, he by his manhood escaped. After at a towne named Frisach, one Frederick de Saint Soon made a second attempt upon him, and tooke six of his Knights, but he by his noble valour made his way through the ambush of the enemy, without surprizall, and strooke up towards Germany: but spies being set to know what course he King Richard taken. took, he was at length betrayed into the hands of the Duke of Lemple cousin to the Emperor, who sent him to the Duke of Austria: he presently rifled him of all the treasure and iewels hee had about him, and committed him for a moneth to strait and close prison.

During which time (as some write) the Duke Hence he had the appe •… ation of Cur de Lyon. put him to cope singly with a great and mighty Lion, weaponlesse and unarmed, who having conquered the beast, ript up his heart and flang it in the Dukes face, and after that with a blow under the eare he slew the Dukes sonne; and further, that his daughter being enamoured both of his person and great valour, he left her vitiated and deflowred: but howsoever in this all witnesses agree, that when the moneth was expired, he sent him to the Emperour who was Henry the first of that name, and sonne to Frederick the first, who put him into a darke and obscure dungeon, covenanting with the Duke, that he should have the third part of his ransome: there he remained for the space of a yeere and three moneths, at length upon a palm-sunday, he caused him to be brought before his Princes and Lords, to answer what could be obiected against him, where hee appeared with such a manly and maiestick aspect, and withal answered so directly and discreetly to whatsoever was laid to his charge, that they generally comiserated his iniust durance: then King Richard ransomed at an hundred thousand pound, and set at liberty. his ransome was set at an hundred thousand pound sterling, and hostages given for the payment by such a time: which done, he was set at liberty: which verefies, Coopt up, and cag'd then shall the Lion be, But after sufferance ransomd and set free.

The King in the eight yeere of his Reigne, The Kings arrivall into England. about the latter end of March landed at Sandwich, and came straight to London, where he was ioyfully received, and then calling a Counsaile of his Lords, he first took order to pay his ransome: and because his brother Iohn in his absence had usurped the Diadem & was at that time in France, he deprived him of all Honour and title, and tooke from him, all those Earledomes and revenewes that hee before had conferd upon him, and caused him selfe at Winchester to be the second time crowned, and then began the ancient grudge to revive betweene the two Kings of England and France, which was the more aggravated, because the French King supported Iohn, against the King his Brother: But Prince Iohn seeing how much his fame was magnified in the mouths of all men, and that all the parts both of Christendome, and Paganisme, resounded with his praise, he made means to his mother Queene Eleanor, by whose mediation a Iohn reconciled to the K. his brother. peace was made betwixt her two sonnes, whilest the wars in Normandy and France, went stil forwards.

Many wery the battailes fought betwixt the two Kings, and much effusion of bloud on both sides, where sometimes the one, sometimes the other had the better, but for the most part Richard the best, during which combustion before the last 20000 pound for his ransome was payd, his two hostages the Bishops of Bath in England, and Roan in Normandy, came unto him and told him that they were set at liberty by the Emperour, and further shewed, that his great enemy the Duke of Austria, was accused of Innocent the third then Pope, for the iniuries before offered him, and that upon Saint Stephens day hee prickt his foot with a thorne, which gangrend, and should have beene cut off, and being told hee must die, he sent to his Bishops to be absolved, which they had denied to doe, till hee had showne himselfe repentant, for the foresaid wrongs, and released his hostages, which being The death of the Duke of Austria. accordingly done, the Duke died, and they were delivered.

In the processe of the wars before spoken of, King Richard, in the tenth yeere of his Reigne, after Christmasse, besieged a Castle in France neere Lymoges, called Gaylyard, the cause was, that a rich treasure being found within the Seigniory of the King of England, by one Widomer Vicount of Lemruke, hee had denyed to render it up, and fled thither for his refuge, and defended it manfully till the fift day of April, upon which day the King walking unadvisedly, to The King too unadvised. take view of the Fort, and where it might be best entred, one named Bertrand Genedow (whom some Writers call Pater Basale,) marked the King and wounded him in the head, (but some say in the arme) with a poysoned arrow, after which hurt received, hee caused a violent and desperate assault to be made, in which hee wonne the Castle, then hee made inquiry, who hee was that had wounded him? who being found and brought before him, the King demanded of him, why he should rather ayme at his person, than any of those who were then about him? who boldly made answer, because thou slewest my Father and my brethren, for which I vowed thy death whatsoever became of me: the King after some pawsing leisure, for that answer gave him his pardon and liberty, but the rest of the souldiers he put to the sword, and caused the Castle to bee razed to the earth, The death of King Richard the fir •… . and dyed the third day after, whose body was buried at Fount E-a-Bleu, at the feet of his Father, which no way erres from the prophesie. —For potent Kings, whose prides Transcend: 'twixt whom, a sea-arm onely glides, (Ambitious truth) shall many conflicts, try Last, by a poysonous shaft the King shall die.

Iohn the youngest sonne to Henry the second, Iohn made King of England. and brother to the late deceased Richard, was proclaimed King, the tenth day of April, in the yeere of Grace, one thousand one hundred fourescore and nineteene, and was crowned at Westminster, upon holy Thursday next ensuing: of whom it was thus predicted: The subtle Fox into the Throne shall creep, Thinking the Lion dead who did but sleepe, But frighted with his walking rore, finds cause To flie the terrour of his teeth and paws, After this Leopard, stain'd with many a spot Shall lose all Rollo by his Gilla got, Then shall those keyes whose power would awe the fates For a long time, lock up his Temple gates, Vnburthen him of all the charge he beares, And wrest from him the Lawrell that he wears. Woes me, that from one Leopard should be torne What many Lions in their pride have worne. Hither the French flower would it self transpose Where must spring after, many a glorious rose. Hee that did (all he might) the Kirk despise, Against his life shall a base Kirk-man rise. The former part of this prediction is apparant Iohn cold here the Fox, and after the Leo pard. in the premisses, where Iohn sought like a Fox subtlely and craftily to insinuate into the peoples hearts, and rob him of his Kingdom, thinking his brother all that time as dead, when hee was utterly despairing of his liberty, but finding him waking, as being enfranchised and set at large, he then was frighted by the least frown of his brows, being glad to mediate his peace by his Mother: the rest shall follow in order: hee was King Iohns ch •… acter. of a disposition, course, and retrograde, selfwill'd, and proud, in all or most of his undertakings very infortunate. In the first yeere of his reigne, he divorced himselfe from his first wife daughter to the Earle of Glocester, pretending too neere propinquitie in bloud, and soone after married Isabel daughter to the Earle Angolesme, King Iohns second mariage and issue. in France, by whom hee had issue two sonnes Henry and Richard, and three daughters, Isabel, Eleanor, and Iane: He was before his coronation girt with the sword of the Dukedome of Britany, and suffered it to be taken from him by his yong Nephew Arthur, son to Ieffery Plantaginet, to his great derogation and dishonour, he after left all Normandy, which the French King wonne Iohn looseth Normandy. from him, even to one Towne and Village, approving that of the Prophet. After this Leopard, stain'd with many a spot, Rollo and Gilla. Shall lose all Rollo, by his Gilla got. The Prophet, for his stained and contaminated life and government, would not vouchsafe him the name of a Lion, but a Leopard alluding, as well to his spotted fame as his skin, by whose cowardly and unkingly proceedings Philip the French King, seized all Normandy, and tooke it into his absolute possession, annexing it to his Crowne, which no French Monarch ever had, since the time of Charles the Simple, who gave that Duchie to Rollo as a dowry, with Guilla his daughter, which had successively continued under the Sovereignty of the Dukes of Normandie, and the Kings of England, three hundred yeers and upwards.

In the first yeere of his Reigne, Stephen Langton being chosen Archbishop of Canterbury, by the Monks, the election was opposed by the The ground of a great quarrel betwixt the King and the Archbishop. King, for which hee complained him to the Pope, who sent unto him loving and kinde Letters, to admit of the said Stephen, to which his Lords advised him; but the more he was importuned, the more implacable hee grew, returning the Popes messengers backe with peremptory deniall. The next yeere came a strict commandement from Rome, that unlesse the King would peaceably suffer the Archbishop to enjoy his See, that the whole Land should be interdicted, charging these four Bishops, William of London, King Iohns obstinacy. Eustace of Elie, Walter of Winchester, and Giles of Hereford, to denounce the King and his Land accursed, unlesse his command were punctually obey'd: but though these Prelates, with the rest of his Peeres were urgent with him, to eschew the rigorous Censure of the Church, all was to no purpose, for which, upon the six and twentieth day of March, they began in London, and first shut up the doores of all Temples, Churches and Chappels, with all the other places where Divine Service was used, and as in London, so they did through the whole Land, The whole land by the Pop • accursed. for which the King was so inraged, that he seized all their temporalties into his hands, putting them into such feare, that they were forced to flie to the banisht Archbishop, some write, that this interdiction was of such power and validity, that during the time therof, which was six yeers, three moneths and odde dayes, no Service was said, no Sacraments administred, no Childe Christned, none Married, and not any suffered An uncharitable Bull. to come to Confesse.

In this interim, the King from anger grew to The Kings Proclamation. rage, proclayming that all persons Spirituall or Temporall, that held any Lands or other livelihood here, shall by the next Michaelmasse returne into the Land, or failing therein, forfeit their whole estates, besides that diligent search should be made, what Letters should be brought from Rome, which should bee delivered to the He extorteth from the Clergie. King: then hee extorted from all the Monasteries, not sparing any Religious House that had dependance on the Clergie: For which a new Commission was sent from Rome, by vertue whereof the Curse of interdiction was againe denounced, to which by the authority of the Pope was added, that this his Bull acquitted and absolved all the Lords of England, as well spirituall as Temporall, from all duty and allegiance before sworne to the King, and that they might lawfully rise in armes against him, to depose and deprive him of all Regall honour and dignity; but all these tooke no more impression The Lords and others acquit of their allegiance by the Pope. in him, then if they had beene clamoured in the eares of a deafe man, or proclaymed to a Statue of Marble.

But by the way (which I cannot let passe) this King Iohn, in the tenth yeere of his Reigne, and of grace, one thousand two hundred and ten, The first Major and She •… iffs of London made by K. Iohn. granted to the City of London by his Letters Patents, that in stead of two Bayliffs, by which their Magistracy was held, they should yeerly choose themselves a Major, and two Sheriffs; which Major was Henry Fitz-allwin, and Peter Duke, and Thomas Neale, Sheriffs. The same yeere London bridge which before was of timber, London bridge Saint Mary Overies. was begun to be builded of stone, and Saint Mary Overies Church to be erected in Southwark.