CHAP. I.

I. THe Ancient Geographer writeth thus concerning Islands; — [...]. Cambden's Britannia, sub Titulo Hi­berniae in ipso initio: That is, The Indian Taprobane exceeds all Islands in Greatness and Glory: next after it, Brettaine: the third, that other British Island, Ireland. And hence Pto­lomy called Ireland, Little-Bretaine.

Lipsius in his Book de Constantiâ, lib. 2. cap. 22. (who lived Anno Domini 1600.) gives the Title of Insularum maxima unto Cuba in America; where immediately before speaking of America, I conceive he onely meaneth Cuba to be the greatest among the American Isles; alitèr errat. And the Oriental Navigators ascribe that Title unto Su­matra, taken for Ptolomy's Taprobane; or to Madagascar, called also the Island of Saint Laurence; both which are near to the Equinoctial Line: So Speed on his Map of Great Brettaine and Ireland.

This Brettaine, commonly called Great Brettaine, hath on the East the German Ocean, dividing it from Belgium, Germany, and Denmark: On the West, Saint Georges Channel, dividing it from Ireland: On the North, the Deucalidonian Ocean: And on the South, the English Channel, dividing it from France. The Length from North to South is reckon­ed 620 Miles: the greatest Breadth, from East to West, in a Right Line, no more than 250 of the same Italian Miles; but by the Crooks and Bendings of the Sea-coast it extendeth to 320 Miles. It is the greatest Island in the World, except Java, Bor­neo, Sumatra, and Madagascar; the three first are among the Oriental Islands, Madagascar among the African. It is situate under the eighth, ninth, tenth, eleventh, and twelfth Climates; so that the longest day at the Lizard-Point in Cornwal (which is the most Southern part of it) containeth 16 Hours and a Quarter; and at Barwick, which is now the Border or Limit between England and Scotland, the longest Day is 17 Hours and three Quarters long, and one Hour more at Straith-by-head in the North of Scot­land. where some observe, that there is scarce any Night at all in the Summer-Sol­stice, but a dark Twilight. Thus Dr. Heylyn in his Cosmography put out by him in Anno Domini 1660. pag. 293.

Diodorus Siculus (who was Contemporary with Julius Caesar) saith, Brettaine is the [Page 8] greatest Island in Europe, lib. 5. pag. 300. which I think will not be denied: And Henry Huntington calleth it Insularum nobilissima, lib. 1. Histor. sub initio.

There are also certain lesser Islands dispersed in several Parts of the British Sea, adja­cent and belonging to Great Brettaine, which were called British Isles; as, 1. The Or­cades, or Isles of Orkney. 2. Schetland. 3. The Hebrides. 4. The Isle of Man. 5. The Isle of Anglesey. 6. The Islands of the Severn-Sea. 7. The Sorlings, or Isles of Silley. 8, The Isle of Wight. 9. The Isle of Thanat. 10. Sunderland. 11. Holy-Island.

The Isles of Orkney, Schetland, and the Hebrides, belonged to the Crown of Scotland; the other, to the Crown of England: But were all united in King James, who was the first Monarch of Great-Brettaine, being King of Scotland by Descent, and next Heir of Blood to the Crown of England after the death of Queen Elizabeth. He was proclaimed King of England the twenty fourth day of March, which was the last day of the Year 1602, according to the Computation of the Church of England; whose Style Imperial ran,—Jacobus, Dei Gratiâ, Magnae Britanniae, Franciae, & Hiberniae Rex.

II. Henry of Huntington saith, it was first called Albion, and afterwards Brettaine: Haec autèm Insularum nobilissima, cui quondam nomen Albion fuit, posteà verò Britannia. lib. 1. Hist. sub initio. He lived in the Reign of King Stephen, Anno Christi 1148: So Pitseus, p. 211. And Bede (who died Anno Christi 734, according to Malmesbury) begins his History of England thus,—Britannia Oceani Insula, cui quondàm Albion nomen fuit. Also Dr. Heylyn, in his Cosmography, p. 295. saith, The whole Island of Brettaine was first called Albion, and afterwards Brettaine: Which name of Brettaine was first found in Athenaeus among the Greek Authors, and in Lucretius and Julius Caesar among the La­tins; and was retained by Strabo, Pliny, and all other ancient Writers, except Ptolomy onely, by whom it is called Albion, as at first: And the name of Brettaine continued till the time of Egbert the first Saxon Monarch, who called the Southern part of this Island by the name of England, from the Angli, who with the Juits and Saxons had con­quered the same.

But contrarily, Sir John Prise (of the race of the Bretans) in his Book de Defensione Historiae Britannicae, Printed at London 1573. p. 55. saith,—Ego sanè Britanniam priùs dictam esse quam Albion facilè crediderim. And the reason whereupon he grounds his Opinion, is the Authority of Caesar, who in his Commentaries always calleth it Britain, but never Albion; and that from this more Noble Island, all the rest of the lesser Isles adjacent, as appurtenant unto this, were also called Insulae Britannicae; which out of Pliny, Ptolomy, and other Authors, is manifest: And then began this Brettaine to be cal­led Albion, in distinction from the rest. And he addeth the Authority of Pliny, (who lived about 80 Years after Christ) lib. 4. Naturalis Historiae, cap. 16. in ipsissimis verbis; —Albion ipsi nomen fuit, cùm Britanniae vocarentur omnes. And herewith agreeth Learned Cambden in his Britannia, pag. 17. of the Edition Printed at London 1607. with Maps at large; who conceiveth that the Grecians gave it the name of Albion fabu­lously, from Albion Son of Neptune, for distinction sake: For Neptune being the God of the Sea, and this an Island of the Sea, they might term it by the name of Neptune's Son, in allusion. But Buchanan, lib. 1. Hist. Scot. pa. 12, 13, saith, That Alpum and Al­bum were anciently used for a Hill or Mountain; and that the Alpes were so called ab Altitudine, non Albedine; and that he thinketh our Brettaine was called Albion from the rising Shore and Hills, which on the Narrow Seas, between Ireland and our Brettaine, do appear in sight; Ireland seeming low and level, and Brettaine rising up into Mountains: Which word Album in that sence is common to many Nations, whereof he alledgeth many Instances.

Neither doth Bede say that it was called Albion before it was called Brettaine; but that it was formerly called Albion: So that the name of Albion may seem to have been left off in Bede's time.

And whereas Heylyn affirms in his Cosmography, in the Place before-quoted, That the name of Brettaine was first found in Athenaeus among the Greek Writers; It is certain, that we often find it mentioned in Diodorus Siculus, lib. 4. Bibliothecae Historicae, pa. 300, 301. where he writeth thus, — [...], [Page 9] [...] That is, There are many Islands [in Europe] in the Ocean, whereof the greatest is called Bret­taine: This anciently was untouched, without the intermixture of any Foreign Force (for we never heard that either Bacchus, or Hercules, or any other of the Worthies, ever warred or fought against it) but our Caius Caesar, who for his Actions was termed a God, was the first (of all we find mentioned) who subdued this Island, and fighting against it, compelled the Brettans to pay Tribute.

So that we see Diodorus was Contemporary with Caius Julius Caesar, who first at­tempted Brettain 55 Years before the Birth of Christ, according to the Computation commonly received.

Now Athenaeus the Historian lived about Anno Christi 166, somewhat after Ptolomy the Geographer; and both of them after Strabo, who died Anno Christi 25, as Helvicus computes in his Chronology: And therefore Athenaeus could not be the first Greek Wri­ter who mentioned Brettaine, unless there be some other Athenaeus whom Heylyn meaneth.

And if that Book de Mundo be Aristotle's, which is commonly bound up among the Works of Aristotle, then have we the name of Brettaine, and Albion too, more anci­ently than of any before-mentioned: For Aristotle was Tutor to Alexander the Great, and died the third Year of 114 Olympiad, 320 Years before Christ was born, at the age of 63 Years.

In which Book de Mundo, cap. 3. we read,— [...]. i. e. In that Ocean are two great Islands, called British Islands, Albion, and Ireland, greater than those before-mentioned, lying beyond the Celtae, People of Gallia. But this Book de Mundo (saith Learned Camb­den in his Britannia, pag. 64.) is of much later stamp than the Age wherein Aristotle lived, as the most Learned have judged. Indeed Duvall, in his Synopsis on Aristotle, Tom. 1. pag. 171.In the be­ginning of the first Tome be­fore Aristotle. tells us, That Justin Martyr Believed that Book to be Aristotles: Yet (saith Duvall) it is not; as the Reason of the Doctrine, and the laxity of the Style do demon­strate; being rather decked with Words of an Historian, or [...] [...]ratour, than a Philosopher.

III. Now this Brettaine was not known to the Ancient Romans before Julius Caesar's time, saith Bede de Historiâ Gentis Anglorum, lib. 1. cap. 2. and by consequence never In­vaded by any of them, before Caesar: And Caesar himself,Caesar de Bello Gallico, lib. 5. with his Powerful Army of the formidable Romans, was beaten back by the stout Brettans upon his first Attempt of the Island, Cassibelaun being then General of the Brettans, and Commander in Chief. And Caesar returning into Italy, and recruiting his Army, coming again into Brettaine the second time, was in the first Encounter beaten again by the Brettans; but in a second Battel the Romans routed the Brettans, and the strong City of the Trinobantes (which is now called London) yielded themselves and their City to Caesar, with Androgorius their Governor; after which Example, many other Cities also submitted, and yielded up their Towns to the Romans: But the Town of Cassibelaun, Caesar took by Storm,Caesar, lib. 5. pag. 163, 164. saith Bede in the same Chapter; which Town is now called St. Albans: And Caesar ap­pointing what Tribute they should pay, returned back with his Army.

Wherefore since the name of Brettaine is nowhere to be found, either among the Greek or Latin Writers, before Caesar, but was till that time unknown both to the Greci­ans and Romans, as Learned Cambden is of Opinion, in his Britannia, pag. 24, 25. and also Sheringham de Gentis Anglorum Origine, pag. 99. we can expect no certain History of the Brettans, but from Caesar downwards: For Gildas, sirnamed Sapiens, is the first Brettan that I meet withal, who hath left us any mention in writing of the Affairs of Brettaine, and that but little also: yet what he writ (as he confesseth in his Prologue) was more by relation of others from beyond Sea, than from any Writings or Records [Page 10] in his own Country; for if any such were, they were either burnt by the Enemies rage, or carried away by the Banished Natives; so that in his time none did appear: and he was born in the forty fourth Year after the English-Saxons came into Brettain, as he him­self saith in his Book de Excidio Britanniae, reprinted at London 1568. fol. 23. and died in the Monastery of Bangor in Wales, aged 90 Years, buried the fourth of the Calends of February, about the Year of Christ 583. as Pitseus saith in his Book de Illustribus Bri­tanniae Scriptoribus.

IV. As to the name of Brettaine, the Ancient Greek Writers do constantly write it [...], Brettania; not Britannia, as Caesar writes it: Howbeit Cambden thinks it more truly writ by Caesar than by the Greeks; but of that I make great doubt; for from the Grecians doubtles was the name of Brettaine first imposed.

[...] seems to be derived from the two Greek Words [...] signifying an Image or Picture, and [...], in the old Glossary betokening a Region or Country: So that Bret­taine soundeth as much as—The Country of a People painting themselves with Images and Pictures: For the Ancient Brettans used to paint their Bodies with various Pictures of all manner of Living Creatures, as appears by sundry good AuthorsPomponius Mela, l. 3. c. 6. Caesar de Bello Gall. lib. 5. pag. 159.; and you may see them quoted by Cambden in his Britannia, pag. 19. Onely let me tell you here, how Cambden fetcheth the name from two Languages; (Brith) which in the British Lan­guage (saith he) signifies Painted Davyes his Welsh Dictio­nary. or Coloured; and Tania, which with the Greeks signifies a Region, pag. 20. Whereof there is no necessity, since the Greek Language doth clearly bear both the Words: and we may observe how their Druids (who were Learned Men, and Philosophers) did anciently disciplinate the Brettans in the Greek Tongue before Caesar's time, as Caesar himself doth witness, lib. 6. de Bello Gallico, p. 212. And many Greek words are retained in the ancient British Language, as Sheringham, de Gentis Anglorum Origine, pag. 99. doth shew; and also Cambden, in his Britannia, pag. 21. of the Edition Printed 1607. And so possibly the Word (Brith) corruptly for Breth, might be by them retained from the Greeks.

Nor doth it seem reasonable that the Brettans gave this Name to themselves; neither at this day do they call themselves Brettans in their own Language, but Kumeri: Wherefore the Grecians gave them the name of Brettans from their Painted and Car­ved Bodies.

However, the Fabulous Story of Brute (which many Authors seek to defend, and thence would fetch the name of the Brettans Originally) I conceive ought to be utterly exploded: Nor can any wise and learned Man, who is versed in Antiquity, ever be­lieve for truth those many Kings mustered up by Geoffrey of Monmouth, in so ancient Ages; who lived himself but in the days of King Henry the Second, and was by Willi­am of Newbery, in the Preface of his Book, (a Man who lived in that very Age with Geffrey) taxed for a fabulous lying Author; his words are these: Porrò ad ea, quae vel antè eum, vel in diebus ejus evenerunt, talitèr sua, quod utiquè facilè poterat, temperavit fig­menta, ut congruam possent interpretationem recipere: Praetereà in libro suo, quem Brito­num Historiam vocat, quàm petulantèr & impudentèr ferè per omnia mentiatur, nemo nisi veterum Historiarum ignarus, cùm in librum illum incidit, ambigere sinitur: That is, Moreover, as to those things which hapned either before him, or in his days, he so tempered his Lies, (which he knew very well how to do) that they might receive a congruous Interpretation: And furthermore, in his Book which he calleth The History of the Britans, how frowardly and impudently he lieth almost in all things, none but he that is ignorant of the Ancient Histo­ries, when he falls upon that Book, may be suffered to doubt.

V. As to the ancient Inhabitants of Brettaine, Cambden conceiveth they were origi­nally sprung from Gomer the eldest Son of Japhet, Son of Noah, in his Britannia, pag. 7. For ask we any of the Brettans of Wales (who are the Remnant of our Ancient Bret­tans) how they call themselves, they tell us Kumero, or Kumroh, and in the Plural Number Kumeri; a British Woman, Kumeraes; and the British Tongue, Kumeraeg: as we should say, a Kumerite, or Gumerite, as sprung from Gomer. For Josephus saith, lib. 1. de Antiqu. Judaeorum, cap. 7. That the Posterity of Gomer were called Gomari. And these (saith Cambden) were formed sometimes into Gomoraei, and Gomeritae, and after­wards [Page 11] into Cymerii, then to Cimbri, and afterwards into Cambri; whence we call a Welsh­man, Cambro-Britannus: And these Cimbri did not onely plant Germany, but the anci­ent Gallia likewise, and this part of the World: And from these Galli, or Gaules, it is most probable our Brettaine was first planted, it being an Island next adjacent to the Gauls: And from Galli, the French word Galles, and the Bretton's Gales, and the Saxon Wales, are all derived: For our Saxon Ancestors did usually in their Pronunciation and Dialect turn G into W, as we see in many other of their Words, as Warre for Guerre, Ward for Gard, &c. And since these Ancient Galles in France, who planted Brettaine, were originally called Cimbri, and Cimmerii, they could have no better a Distinction than by the Painting and Car­ving of their Bodies; whence this Island gained the name of Brettaine. So Cambden, ibid. pag. 19.

But Sheringham, de Gentis Anglorum Origine, pag. 51. will not allow the Cimmerii to come from Gomer; which he seems to prove by good Authorities; for that the Grecians imposed that name on the People of Moeotia, long time after the death of Gomer, yet very ancient too: For that Kimmerii, or Cimmerii, Sheringham, pag. 425. is a word framed out of the Greek Tongue, and not from the Hebrew, as the ancient Greek Writers do affirm; and that the Kimmerians were Scythians originally, and therefore should rather be descended from Magog (the second Son of Japhet, and not from Gomer) who were anciently called Magogaei: Josephus lib. 1. de Antiq. Jud. cap. 7. But the Getae (expelling those Scythians called Magogaei originally, but at this day called Turks and Tartars) were also called Scythians, after they had possessed themselves of Scythia: And that these Getes, Sheringham, p. 42,, & 424. after called Scythians, were the Progeny of Hul or Chul, Son of Aram, Son of Sem, whom Pliny calleth Aramaei originally, lib. 6. Natur. Hist. cap. 17. These Getae-Scythici were called also Massagetae before they came into Scandia.

The name of Kimmerii was frequent in the time of Herodotus, who lived about 440 Years before Christ, Anno Mundi 3508. which name is very ancient. They were cal­led Cerberii, before Cimmerii; and their City called Cerberium, before it was called Cimmerium: Pliny lib. 6. cap. 6. Sheringham pag. 50.

Afterwards these Kimmerii, or Cimmerii, were called Cimbri, or Kimbri. Vide Plutar­chum, Tom. 2. [...], pag. 75 [...]. Diod Siculus, lib 5. pa. 309. Cimmerii were called Cimbri by the Graeci­ans: Strabo, li. 7 p. 293. D. The name of Cimbri was first known to the Romans, Anno Urbis Conditae 640. antè Christum Natum 110. which in the Language of the Ancient Gauls (scilicet, Linguâ Gallicâ) signifies Robbers, or Stout Warriers: Thysius upon Justin, pag. 391. And all those People, whom the Romans generally called Cimbri, part of them the Germans called Saxons, Shering­ham, pag. 46. Quamvis enìm Saxones antè Ptolomaeum, solo Cimbrorum nomine à Grae­cis & Romanis scriptoribus appellantur; initio igitur Saxones pars tantùm Cimbrorum fuerunt: Reliquis autem Cimbris ab eisdem Caecis victísque, aut factâ Deditione in amiciti­am receptis, Omnes mutato nomine Saxones dici coeperint: atque ità Cimbrorum nomen pau­latìm exolevit. Sheringham, pag. 47.

So the Cambro-Brettan's name seems rather to savor of the Kimmerii, than of the Go­mari. The Town Cimmerium was situate in Taurica-Chersoneso, near the Sea called Bosphorus.

After the Eruptions and Transmigrations of these Cimerii, afterwards called Cimbri, Diodorus Siculus tells us, lib. 5. pag. 308. (who lived in the time of Julius Caesar, a little before the Birth of Christ) those who possessed the inward parts above Massilia, and in­habited about the Alpes, and on that side the Pyrenaean Mountains, were called Celtae; and those who inhabited that Celtica toward the South Parts, and the Sea, and the Her­cynian Mountain, and all those People scattered even to Scythia, were called [...], that is, Galli, or Gaules: But the Romans called all these Nations by the name of Galli onely. See also Stephanus his Latin Dictionary, voces Celtae, and Galli. [...] graece; [...] So Suidas, and Hesychius.

But I am of Opinion, That no Nation at this day is so entire, by reason of continual Warrs one with another since the first Plantation of the World after the Flood, and the infinite intermingling one with another occasioned thereby, and expelling one another out of their own ancient Countrys over and over again, in so long Tract of Time, can be properly said to be descended from any one of [Page 12] the Sons of Noah entirely; but rather from them all, by reason of a universal Com­mixture of their Posterities at this day.

CHAP. II.

I. Caesar's first Attempt upon Brettaine was 55 Years before the Birth of Christ, according to the vulgar Computation, which falls in An. Mundi Conditi 3895. Caesar de Bello Gallico, lib. 4. & 5. tells us, His first Expedition into Brettaine was when M. Crassus and Cneius Pompeius were Consuls; which was Anno Urbis Conditae 699. & Anno Mundi 3895. & antè Christum 55. But Caesar did not subdue Brettaine, so as to make it Tributary, till his second Expedition into this Island, and that was the Year following; and at this second coming, the strong City of the Trinobants (now called London) yielded themselves, and submitted to the Romans, as not able to sustain their Force; and soon after also many other Towns submitted: And so Caesar having received Pledges from Cassibelan for his Submission to the Government of the Romans, and appointed what Tribute yearly Brettain should pay, departed out of Brettaine. Cae­sar lib. 5. pag. 164. The Tribute imposed on the Brettains was 3000 l. yearly, if we may believe Speed in his History at large, pag. 187. a. also Ponticus Virunnius, pag. 25. out of the Welsh History.

Now the City of Rome being taken by Alaricus King of the Gothes, Anno Christi 410. the Roman Empire began to decline: Bede de Hist. Ang. lib. 1. cap. 11. So as the Rule and Sovereignty of the Romans over Brettaine continued almost 470 Years from the first coming of Caius Julius Caesar into this Island, as Bede himself computeth in the same Chapter: But Cambden saith, it continued 476 Years, computing to the time of Valen­tinian the Third, in his Britannia Printed 1607. pag. 60.

• Danmonii
  • Cornwal.
  • Devonshire.
• Durotriges
  • Dorsetshire.
• Belgae
  • Somersetshire.
  • Wiltshire.
  • Hantshire.
  • Isle of Wight.
• Atrebatii
  • Barkshire.
• Regni
  • Surrey.
  • Sussex.
• Cantium
  • Kent.
• Dobuni
  • Glocestershire.
  • Oxfordshire.
• Cattieuclani
  • Buckinghamshire.
  • Bedfordshire.
  • Hartfordshire.
• Trinobantes
  • Middlesex.
  • Essex.
• Iceni
  • Suffolk.
  • Norfolk.
  • Cambridgeshire.
  • Huntingtonshire.
• Coritani
  • Northamptonshire.
  • Leycestershire.
  • Rutlandshire.
  • Lincolnshire.
  • Nottinghamshire.
  • Derbyshire.
• [Page 13]Cornavii
  • Warwickshire.
  • Worcestershire.
  • Staffordshire.
  • Shropshire.
  • Cheshire.
• Brigantes
  • Yorkshire.
  • Bishoprick of Durham.
  • Lancashire.
  • Westmorland.
  • Cumberland.
• Ottadini
  • Northumberland.
• Silures
  • Herefordshire.
  • Radnorshire.
  • Brecknockshire.
  • Monmouthshire.
  • Glamorganshire.
• Dimetae
  • Caermardenshire.
  • Pembrookshire.
  • Cardiganshire.
• Ordovices
  • Montgomeryshire.
  • Merionethshire.
  • Caernarvonshire.
  • Isle of Anglesey.
  • Denbighshire.
  • Flintshire.
• Cangi
  • Cambden supposeth these to be seat­ed about Che­ster, in his Bri­tannia, Tit. Che­shire.

Brettaine, being made a Member of the Roman Empire, was at first divided into three Provinces onely; viz.

1. Britannia Prima: So called, because it was first subdued; comprehending the Counties on the South side of the River Thames, and those inhabited by the Trino­bantes, Iceni, and Cattieuchlani: The chief City, London.

2. Britannia Secunda; comprising all the Countries on the further side of the River Severn; whose chief Seat was Caer-leon upon Usk in the County of Monmouth.

3. Maxima Caesariensis; including all the rest to the Northern Border; whereof the Metropolis was York.

And in this state it stood till the time of Constantine, who made two more out of the former; to wit,

4. Valentia; containing all the Country from the Frith of Solway, and the Picts Wall in Cumberland, to the Friths of Edenburough and Dunbritton Northward.

5. Flavia Caesariensis; comprehending all between the Rivers of Thames and Hum­ber: The rest between Humber and the Bounds of Valentia, continuing under the old name of Maxima Caesariensis, though now made less than any of the other four: So Dr. Heylyn in his Cosmography, pag. 309. Maginus upon Ptolomy, Pars secunda, pag. 39.

The Forces which the Romans kept in continual Pay in Brettaine, as well to keep their Coasts and Frontiers against the Enemy, as to keep the Brettans in obedience, amounted in all (if Pancirol be not mistaken in the Account) unto 23000 Foot, and 2000 Horse; three Legions keeping here their constant and continual Residence: that is to say, The sixth Legion, Sirnamed Victrix, at York; the twentieth Legion, Victrix, at Westchester; the second Legion, sometimes at Isca Dannioniorum, now called Exceter, and sometimes at Isca Silurum, now Caer-leon, upon Usk: But this was about the time of Claudius the Emperor, or later under Vespatian.

CHAP. III.

1. UPon the declination of the Roman Empire, Brettaine was left naked of Men and Arms, as I have shewed before; whereby the poor Brettans became a Prey to the Picts and Scots, two cruel Nations, from beyond the Sea; the Scots from the South, and the Picts from the North. Gildas, cap. 11. pag. 13.

Transmarinas dicimus has Gentes, non quòd extrà Bretanniam sunt Positae, sed quià à parte Britonum erant remotae; duobus finibus Mari interjacentibus, quorum unus ab Orientali Mari, alter ab Occidentali, Britanniae terras longè latéque irrumpit, quamvis ad se invicèm pertingere possint: Orientalis habet in medio sui Urbem Guidi: Occidentalis supra se, hoc est, ad dextram sui habet Urbem Alcluith; quòd Linguâ eorum significat [Petram Cluith:] Est enim juxtà Fluvium nominis illius: So Bede de Hist. Angl. lib. 1. cap. 12.

Who these Scots were, I shall speak of in Scotland, and whence they came. I shall note here onely, that they inhabited the North part of Scotland, Anno Domini circiter 400.

The Pihts, or Picts, Cambden supposeth to be very Brettans, who before the coming of the Romans inhabited the Northern part of this Island; and also those other Brettans who fled to them from this other part of Brettaine which the Romans con­quered, as refusing to submit to the Servitude of the Romans: Cambden's Britan­nia, pag. 82. But Bede saith, It is said that the Nation of the Picts came out of Scythia into Ireland, and thence into the North of Brettaîne: Lib. 1. de Hist. Angl. cap. 1. But more of these hereafter in Scotland.

[Page 22]2. The time of the Saxons coming into England, upon the invitation of Vortiger then King of Brettaine, is by Bede said to be in Anno Domini 449. Lib. 1. de Hist. Ang. cap. 15. and had a Place appointed out by the Brettans for their Habitation, conditio­nally that they would fight and defend them from the Picts and Scots; and the Brettans also did promise them Pay: But Cambden saith, The first coming of the Saxons hither was Anno Domini 428. and thinks the Number 449 in Bede to be corrupted and mis­printed; in his Britannia, pag. 95. see his Reasons.

But these Saxons having expelled the Picts and Scots, did afterwards by degrees root out the Brettans also, and possessed themselves of all the South part of Brettaine, now called England: But falling out among themselves, each contending for Superio­rity one against another, as it commonly happens in such Cases, England became a Heptarchy, and was divided into seven Kingdoms, as I shall shew by and by.

They had the Eastern part of this Island to Land in, appointed by Vortiger. Those that came, were of the most Valiant People of Germany; that is to say, Saxons, Angli or English, and Juites, called by Bede, Vitae: Lib. 1. de Hist. Ang. cap. 15.

From these Juites (the ancient Inhabitants of Juitland, now belonging to the King of Denmark) are planted the Kentish-men, and the People of the Isle of Wight and Hantshire.

The English came out of Old England, which lieth between Juitland and Holsatia, and was anciently possessed by the Saxons, who being expulsed thence by the Danes, it hath ever since remained in the Danes possession. Of these English, were planted the East-Angles, Middle-Angles, Mercians, and all the Nation of the Northumbrians, that is, all the North part from the River Humber in Yorkshire.

The Saxons came out of Saxony (a Province and Dukedom in Germany, formerly possessed by the Longobards, who being overcome by the Saxons, it became their Countrey, and took their Name:) And from these Saxons were planted the East-Saxons, South-Saxons, and West-Saxons in England. Bede lib. 1. de Hist. Ang. cap. 15. Verstegan, pag. 123. and Dr. Heylyn in his Cosmography, pag. 489.

But these being all generally called Saxons, contending for Superiority among them­selves, fell to Discords and Wars one with another, and set up seven Kingdoms in that part of Brettaine which they obtained, at this day called England: A short View whereof followeth in the ensuing Table.

But that of the West-Saxons at last prevailed over all the rest; and Egbert King of the West-Saxons was the first Sole Monarch of all England among the Saxons. He was Crowned King of all England at Winchester, about Anno Domini 823. Poly­chronicon: and soon after commanded, That all that Part of Brettaine, whereof he had now the Sovereignty, should be called England; and ever since it hath retained the name of England: Polychronicon, lib. 5. cap. 28. See also Verstegan, pag. 148, 149. He was the first also, or his Son Ethelwolfe, who divided England into Shires, as at this day they stand divided; the Names whereof you have in the Table preceding: And King Alfred afterwards divided them into Hundreds and Tithings; so Malmesbury: Yet Ingulphus saith, That Alfred divided both the Shires and the Hundreds; but is mistaken, else Malmesbury would not have left that out.

CHAP. IV.

• 1. Beadwig, Son of Sem.
• 2. Wala.
• 3. Hathra.
• 4. Itermod.
• 5. Heremod.
• 6. Celdwa.
• 7. Beu.
• 8. Garwa, or Cetwa.
• 9. Geta, pro Deo habitus.
• 10. Fingondulf.
• 11. Frederwolf.
• 12. Freolf.
• 13. Fredwald.
• 14. Woden.
• 15. Bealdag.
• 16. Brand.
• 17. Freodgar. These three are omitted by Asser, as it is Printed from Cambden's Copy, 1603. also by Simon Du­nelmensis, pag. 119.
• 18. Frewin. These three are omitted by Asser, as it is Printed from Cambden's Copy, 1603. also by Simon Du­nelmensis, pag. 119.
• 19. Wigg. These three are omitted by Asser, as it is Printed from Cambden's Copy, 1603. also by Simon Du­nelmensis, pag. 119.

• 20. Gewis: Iste fuit Caput Gentis suae: à quo & tota Gens illa nomen accepit à Britonibus: Gewissorum Gens fuit Hantshire, sive Regio Win­toniae: Ordericus lib. 4. pag. 512. See also Bede de Hist. Ang. lib. 4. cap. 15.

  Gewis is omitted in Mat. Paris Copy.

• 21. Edda: omitted by Asser, and called Egla by Mat. Paris.
• 22. Elesa.
• 23. Ceordwic. He lived Anno 520.
• 24. Creoda.
• 25. Chenric, or Kenrick.
• 26. Cheulin.
• 27. Cuthwin.
• 28. Cutha, Son of Cuthwin.
• 29. Ceoldwald.
• 30. Ceonred.
• 31. Ingels: cujus Frater fuit Ina Rex fa­mosissimus Occidentalium Sax­onum.
• 32. Eoppa.
• [Page 25]33. Offa, ceù Eafa.
• 34. Alcmund.
• 35. Egbert, or Egbricht, the first Saxon Monarch of all England. Obiit Anno Christi 836.
• 36. Ethelwolf. Obiit Anno 856.
• 37. Alfred. He Reigned not till 872. because his Brothers Reigned before him. Obiit 899.
• 38. Edward the Elder. Obiit Anno Christi 924.
• 39. Edmund. Obiit Anno Christi 946.
• 40. Edgar the Peaceable. Obiit Anno Chri­sti 975.
• 41. Ethelred. He plotted to kill all the Danes in their Beds on the 12^th of November at night, An. 1012. Obiit Anno. Christi 1016.
• 42. Edmund Ironside. He died Anno Christi 1017.
• 43. Edward the Outlaw. He was never King, though Right Heir: Cnut the Dane dispossessed him.
• 44.
  • Margaret, Wife of Malcolme the third, King of Scotland.
  • Christian, a Nun at Ramsey in Hunting­ton-shire, 1086. Si. Dunel­mensis.
  • Edgar Athe­ling, Right Heir to the Crown, cre­ated Earl of Oxford 1065 Stowe and Cambden.
• 45. Maud, Wife of Henry the First, King of England.
• 46. Maud the Empress, Daughter and Heir. She was after married to Geffrey Plantagenet, Earl of An­jou in France, 1127.
• 47. Henry the Second, King of England, Son of Geffrey and Maud. &c.

⚜ This Descent carrieth great uncertainty, both for the defect of time wherein each lived, and also for want of Authority vouched; but chiefly, for that Bedwig, the first here named, is made the Son of Sem: Howbeit the later part of it is very true; but the making of Bedwig Son of Sem, is either foisted into the Copy by some ignorant Person, or else is to be understood as descended from Sem originally, not immediate­ly; as Christ is called the Son of David, the Son of Abraham, Matthew, cap. 1. ver. 1. For Sem the Son of Noah died Anno Mundi 2158. & Anno post Diluvium 502. which was 1790 Years before Christ was born: And no Learned Man, versed in Antiquities, can imagine the Descents here reckoned up to Bedwig from King Alfred, to exceed 1000 Years: So that reckoning from Alfred's death, which was in Anno 899. it cannot be supposed that these Descents can reach much above the time of Christ's Birth, if they reach so high, admitting them to be exactly true so far as they reach; which would yet fall short 1700 Years from the death of Sem.

Besides we find no such Son of Sem, as Bedwig, mentioned in the Sacred Scriptures: And if we well observe the third Chapter of S. Luke, we shall find 66 Descents recko­ned up between Sem and Christ, containing the Revolution of 2000 Years and more, if we account the Age wherein Sem lived: And S. Matthew reckons up onely 52 De­scents to that time by another Line, besides three Kings omitted by him between Jo­ram and Ozias, for some Reasons best known to the Holy Spirit of God; which will better appear by comparing S. Matth. 1. ver. 8. with 1 Chron. cap. 3. ver. 11, 12. So as the whole Descents therein make up onely 55. And although some Mens Lives are longer, and some shorter, yet the Generations carry some proportion one with ano­ther, as we may easily observe in others where the Descents are exactly put down.

But now between Sem and Alfred are onely 37 Descents here reckoned up, which cannot comprehend above 1000 Years; and between Sem and Alfred are effluxed [Page 26] 2690 Years, accounting from both their deaths: So that unless some Descents be here skipped over in many places, it is impossible that any of these should reach the Age of Sem; and then these cannot be exact and true Descents through. Besides, those more ancient Descents between Bedwig and Gewis, not having been proved by some good Authority, may yield them uncertain to relie upon.

So much for the Descent of the Saxons before-mentioned.

CHAP. V.

• A.C. 455. 1. Hengist, with Horsa his Brother 32 Years.
• A.C. 488. 2. Esk, Son of Hengist 24 Years.
• A.C. 512. 3. Otta 20 Years.
• A.C. 532. 4. Imirik 29 Years.
• A.C. 561. 5. Ethelbert, the first Chri­stian King of Kent 56 Years.
• A.C. 617. 6. Eadbald 24 Years.
• A.C. 640. 7. Ercombert: He first caus­ed Lent to be kept in England, Anno 640. Bede 24 Years.
• A.C. 665. 8. Egbert 9 Years.
• A.C. 674. 9. Lotharius 12 Years.
• A.C. 686. 10. Edrik 7 Years.
• A.C. 693. 11. Withtred 33 Years.
• A.C. 726. 12. Egbert, or Edbert 23 Years.
• A.C. 749. 13. Ethelbert II. 11 Years.
• A.C. 760. 14. Alric, slain by Offa 34 Years.
• A.C. 794. 15. Ethelbert III. 3 Years.
• A.C. 797. 16. Cuthred 8 Years.
• A.C. 805. 17. Baldred, the last King of Kent: He lost his King­dom to Egbert King of the West-Saxons, Anno Domini 824. 19 Years.

• A.C. 575. 1. Uffa, the first King.
• A.C. 582. 2. Titullus.
• A.C. 593. 3. Redwald, a Potent King.
• A.C. 624. 4. Erpenwald.
• A.C. 636. 5. St. Sigebert.
• A.C. 638. 6. Egric.
• A.C. 642. 7. Anna.
• A.C. 654. 8. Ethelbert I.
• A.C. 656. 9. Ethelwold.
• A.C. 664. 10. Aldulf.
• A.C. 683. 11. Elfwold.
• A.C. 690. 12. Beorn.
• A.C. 714. 13. St. Ethelred.
• A.C. 749. 14. Ethelbert II. who being slain by Offa King of Mercia, 793. this Kingdom was united to Mercia.

• A.C. 527. 1. Erchwin, the first King.
• A.C. 587. 2. Sledda.
• A.C. 596. 3. St. Sebert.
• A.C. 617. 4. Sexred, Seward, and Sigibert, Fratres.
• A.C. 623. 5. Sigebert the Little.
• A.C. 636. 6. Sigebert III.
• A.C. 638. 7. Egricus.
• A.C. 642. 8. Anna.
• A.C. 654. 9. Ethelbert.
• A.C. 656. 10. Ethelwald.
• A.C. 661. 11. Swithelme.
• A.C. 664. 12. Sighbert, and Sebba.
• A.C. 694. 13. Sigehard, and Senfrid.
• A.C. 701. 14. Offa.
• A.C. 709. 15. Selred.
• A.C. 747. 16. Suthred.

• A.C. 488. 1. Ella, the first King. 27 Yea.
• A.C. 515. 2. Cissa, Son of Ella, who lost his Kingdom to Cerdic King of the West-Saxons. Yea.
• A.C. 687. 3. Edelwach, or Ethehwolfe, is the next King I meet with of the South-Saxons, who was slain in Battel by Cedwal King of the West-Saxons, 688. Yea.

Before this time it remained in the Power of the West-Saxons a good while; and upon the death of Edelwach, Berthan and Authun, two Brothers, took upon them the Government of the South-Sax­ons with the Title of Dux, and held it for a little while; but Ina, Successor of Cedwall, King of the West-Saxons, subdu­ed it, and united it to that Crown.

• A.C. 582. 1. Criedda, the first King.
• A.C. 593. 2. Webba, Son of Criedda.
• A.C. 614. 3. Cheol, or Ceorl, Son of Wibba.
• A.C. 626. 4. Penda the Strong, Son of Wib­ba, who, some say, was the first King.
• A.C. 656. 5. Peda, Son of Penda, a Christian King.
• A.C. 659. 6. Wulfere, Father of St. Wer­burge, and Son of Penda.
• A.C. 675. 7. Ethelred, Son of Penda.
• A.C. 704. 8. Kenred, Son of Wulfere's Bro­ther.
• A.C. 708. 9. Ceolred, Son of Ethelred.
• A.C. 716. 10. Ethelbald the Proud, overcome by Cutbert, or Cuthred, King of the West-Saxons, near Bur­ford in Oxfordshire: the place is still called Battellage-Hill.
• A.C. 757. 11. Beornred, a Tyrant, slain by Offa.
• A.C. 758. 12. Offa the Great, King of Mercia: Abnepos Pendae, saith Malmes­bury. He made a great Ditch in Wales, near 100 Miles long, dividing Wales and Mercia, called Offa's Dike. He subdued Kinulf King of the West-Saxons, and also the Northumbrians, and the Ken­tish-men
• A.C. 796. 13. Egferd, Son of Offa.
• A.C. 797. 14. Kenulf. He took Egbert Pri­soner.
• A.C. 819. 15. Kenelm, Son of Kenulf, mur­thered by his Sister Quen­drid.
• A.C. 820. 16. Ceolwulfe, Brother to Kinulf.
• A.C. 821. 17. Bernulf, overcome by Egbert.
• A.C. 824. 18. Ludecan.
• A.C. 826. 19. Witlaf, Tributary to Egbert.
• A.C. 839. 20. Bertulfe.
• A.C. 852. 21. Beorred, a Substituted King by the West-Saxons; the last King of Mercia.
• A.C. 874. Celwulfe, sometimes Servant to Beorred, Rebelled and U­surped. This Kingdom be­ing tyrannized over by the Danes, was united to the West-Saxons by Alfred, Anno 886.

• A.C. 547. 1. Ida, the first King.
• A.C. 560. 2. Ella, King of Deira.
• A.C. 589. 3. Edelric, Son of Ida, King of Bernicia.
• A.C. 593. 4. Ethelfrid.
• A.C. 617. 5. Edwin, Son of Ella.
• A.C. 633. 6. Osric I.
• A.C. 634. 7. St. Oswald, slain at Maserfelt by Penda King of Mercia, 5 die Augusti, Anno 642. Bede de Hist. Angl. lib. 3. cap. 9.
• A.C. 643. 8. Oswy; who having slain Os­win King of Deira, was the first Absolute King of Nor­thumberland: He slew also Penda King of Mercia, Anno 656.
• A.C. 671. 9. Egfrid.
• A.C. 686. 10. St. Alfrid.
• A.C. 705. 11. Osred I.
• A.C. 716. 12. Kenred.
• A.C. 718. 13. Osric II.
• A.C. 729. 14. Ceolwolfe.
• [Page 28]A.C. 738. 15. Egbert.
• A.C. 758. 16. Eswulfe.
• A.C. 759. 17. Ethelwald.
• A.C. 765. 18. Alred.
• A.C. 774. 19. Ethelred I.
• A.C. 778. 20. Afwold.
• A.C. 789. 21. Osred II.
• A.C. 794. 22. Ethelred II. slain 3 Calend. Maii.

And after the Interregnum of 33 years, Egbert King of the West-Saxons enjoyed this Kingdom, Anno 827. In that Inter­regnum it was invaded on the one hand by the Danes, and on the other by the Picts and Scots.

• A.C. 522. 1. Cerdic, the first King of the West-Saxons Yea. 17
• He killed 5000 Brettans, Anno 509. Hen. Huntington pag. 312. and routed Naza­leod the Great King of the Brettans, at Certicsford.
• A.C. 539. 2. Kenric, Son of Cerdic Yea. 26
• A.C. 565. 3. Ceaulin, Son of Cenric, with Cuthwin his Son Yea. 30
• A.C. 595. 4. Celric, Son of Ceaulin Yea. 5
• A.C. 600. 5. Ceolwolfe, Son of Cutha, Son of Kenric, Son of Cerdic Yea. 14
• A.C. 614. 6. Kingils, Son of Ceolric, Brother of Ceolwolfe Yea. 31
• A.C. 645. 7. Cenwald, or Kenwalchin, Son of Kingils Yea. 31
• A.C. 676. 8. Sexburga, Wife of Cenwald Yea. 1
• A.C. 677. 9. Escwine, Son of Cenwald Yea. 2
• A.C. 679. 10. Centwin, or Kentwin, Co­sin of Escwin Yea. 9
• A.C. 688. 11. Ceadwall, with Mull his Brother, took the Isle of Wight. Huntington. Yea. 2
• A.C. 690. 12. Ine, Son of Cenred, Son of Ceoldwold, Son of Cuth­win, Son of Kenric. An­no Regni sui 21. he fought with Gerent king of Wales, and routed him. Huntington, pag. 337. He first gave the Peter-Pence to the Pope. Yea. 37
• A.C. 727. 13. Ethelard Yea. 14
• A.C. 741. 14. Cuthred Yea. 16
• A.C. 757. 15. Sigebert. He was deposed by the Pope Yea. 2
• A.C. 759. 16. Kinulf, elected King of the West-Sazons Yea. 26
• A.C. 785. 17. Bithric, or Brichtric Yea. 16
• A.C. 800. 18. Egbert, or Egbricht. He subdued the other Kings, and reduced the Heptarchy into a Mo­narchy. Yea. 37

• Anno Chr. 823 1. Egbert, the First Saxon Monarch of England, was Crowned King of all England at Winchester, about Anno Christi 823, and commanded that all that part of Brettaine (whereof he had now the Sovereignty) should be called England; since which time it hath been called England. Polychronicon. He began his Reign over the West-Saxons, Anno Christi 800. But over England, in Anno 823. or thereabouts. He Reigned 14 Years.
• 837 2. Ethelwolfe, eldest Son of Egbert. He Reigned 20 Years.
• 857 3. Ethelbald, eldest Son of Ethelwolfe. Huntington saith he Reigned five Years, p. 349. He Reigned one Year.
• 858 4. Ethelbert, second Son of Ethelwolfe. He Reigned five Years.
• 863 5. Ethelred, third Son of Ethelwolfe. Huntington saith, he Reigned but five Years, pag. 349. He Reigned nine Years.
• 872 6. Alfred, fourth Son of Ethelwolfe, a Learned Prince. He totally united the Heptar­chy into one Kingdom; vanquished the Danes, and subdued them, though he could not quite expel them. He divided the Shires of England into Hundreds and Ty­things, as Egbert his Grandfather had before divided England into Shires, as now they stand at this day, some few having been new modelled since. He erected a Univer­sity at Oxford, and Reigned 29 Years.
• [Page 29]Anno Chr. 901 7. Edward, sirnamed The Elder, Son of Alfred; he recovered the Countrey of the East-Angles from the Danes, whom he shut up in Northumberland. He Reigned 24. years.
• 925 8. Athelstan, Bastard-Son of Edward, subdued the Brettans of Cumberland and Cornwall, and made the Danes to submit to his Government. He Reigned 16 years.
• 941 9. Edmund, legitimate Son of Edward, subdued the Danes in Northumberland, and utter­ly subverted the Kingdom of the Brettans in Cumberland. He Reigned 6 years.
• 947 10. Ethelred, Brother of Edmund. He Reigned 9 years.
• 956 11. Edwy, Son of Edmund. He Reigned 3 Years and 9 Months.
• 959 12. Edgar, sirnamed The Peaceable, Brother to Edwyn, was the most absolute Monarch of England since the time of the Saxons, by whom the Tribute-money, imposed on the Welsh by Athelstan, was exchang'd into a Tribute of Wolfs. This Edgar in the thirteenth Year of his Reign, is said to have been Rowed on the River Dee at Chester by eight Kings, who swore Fealty to him, Anno 972. their Names were Kunud or Rynad, King of the Scots; Malcolme, King of Cumberland; Maccusius, the Arch-Pyrat; and all the Kings of Wales, whose Names were Duswall, Griffith, Huvall, Jacob, and Judethil, or Inchil. Malmesbury, pag. 56. Huntington, pag. 356. and Hoveden, pag. 426. He Reigned 16 Years.
• 975 13. Edward II. sirnamed The Martyr, Son of Edgar, was treacherously murthered by his Step-mother, to make way for her Son Ethelred to succeed. He Reigned 3 Years.

• 978 14. Ethelred II. younger Son of Edgar, was oppressed and broken by the Danes, and to buy his own Peace, was forc'd to pay them a yearly Sum of 10000 l. which at last was enhanced to 48000 l. This Tax was imposed on his Subjects, and called Dane-geld; but weary of this great Taxation, he Plotted warily with his Subjects, to kill all the Danes in their Beds; which was put in Execution on the Eve of Saint Britius, being the twelfth of November 1012, in the night-time: But soon after Swane, King of Denmark, Landed Forces in England, and forced Ethelred to flie out of England into Normandy. He Reigned 38 years.

  Ethelredus iste baptismum stercore foedavit.

• 1016 15. Edmund II. sirnamed Ironside, Son of Ethelred, having in vain attempted to reco­ver the Kingdom, at last divided it with Cnut [or Canutus] the Dane, Son of Swane; and not long after was this Edmund basely murthered 1017. This was the common Fame, saith Malmesbury; but Florentius and Hoveden tell us, that he died at London about the Feast of Saint Andrew the Apostle. He Reigned nine Months.

  By the Counsel of Edrick de Streon, Cnut banished Edwin, Brother to Edmund Ironside, and also Edward and Edmund, Sons of King Edmund Ironside.

  Edward, sirnamed The Outlaw, Son of Edmund Ironside, had issue Edgar Atheling, the right Heir of the Crown, and Margaret, Married to the third Malcolme, King of Scot­land, and Christian, a Nun of Ramsey in Huntingtonshire, 1086. Simeon Dunelmensis.

• 1017 1. Canutus or Cnut, King of Denmark and Norway, after the death of Edmund Ironside, was sole King of England: He Married Emme the Widow of King Ethelred, and Daughter of Richard, Duke of Normandy. He Reigned 20 years.
• 1037 2. Harold, Bastard Son of Cnut, sirnamed Harfuger. He Reigned four years.
• 1040 3. Canutus II. commonly called Hardy-Cnut, the lawful Son of Cnut. He Reigned two years.

• 1042 16. Edward III. sirnamed The Confessor, (Son of Ethelred II. by Emme, Daughter of Richard; Duke of Normandy, and half Brother to Edmund Ironside, and to Hardy-Cnut the Dane) was now advanced to the Throne of England, and the Danes utterly ex­pelled [Page 30] the Countrey, having tytannized here above 200 years, whereof they Reigned onely 26 years. He Reigned 24 years.

  He was the first of the Kings of England who cured the Disease call'd The Kings Evil, a Prerogative continuing hereditary to the Kings of England; and after his Death he was Canonized for a Saint; Dr. Heylins Cosmography pag. 318.

• Anno Chr. 1066 17.Harold, Son of Godwin Earl of Kent, was chosen King of England, (in the Nonage of Edgar Atheling, Grandchild to Edmund Ironside, and true Heir of the Kingdom) he was Crowned the sixth of January 1065. He Reigned nine Months and eight days.

  But before I pass farther, I would remember you of one thing mentioned by Dr. Heylin, how in memory of the joyful clearing of the Countrey from the cruel Danes in the time of Edward the Confessor, the English did institute the Merriment of the annual Sports of Hock-Tide, and from their barbarous stabbing of the English at the time of their Drinking; to avoid such villany, the Party who was to Drink requested some of the next to him to be his Pledge or Surety whilst he was Drink­ing; and hence came our Custom of Pledging one another, a Phrase used in time of Drinking even to this day.

  Harold was slain in Battel the fourteenth of October 1066, by William Duke of Normandy; upon which Victory William was Crowned King of England, and so ceased the Rule of the Saxons.

Thus have I briefly run over the Saxon Kings of England out of the most authentick Historians; so that putting all together, if we reckon the coming in of the Saxons with Cambden, to be in Anno Domini 428, to the time of the Norman Conquest, and in­cluding the small time of the Rule of the Danish Kings in the Account, the whole time of the Saxons Rule in England was 638 years.

CHAP. VI.

1. ANno Domini 800. the Danes first arriv'd in England, to wit, in the Isle of Port­land, which belongeth to Dorsetshire, Brithric being then King of the West-Saxons; Stowe's Annals; but were after driven out of the Land. These Danes did much infest England for a long space, burning Towns and Temples, and making woful destruction. Osbert and Ella, Kings of Northumberland, were slain at York by the Danes, Anno 867. Matth. of Westminster. And in Anno 870. the Danes, under the Command of Hinguar and Hubba, slew Edmund, King of the East-Angles, and so pos­sessed themselves of that Kingdom; Florentius Wigorniensis and Stowe. And in Anno 874. the Danes forced Beorhred, King of Mercia, to flie out of England; and after his Expulsion they possessed all the Kingdom of the Mercians. Florentius. Infinite other Battels of them we meet with; so that now they had the Kingdoms of the Mercians and of the East-Angles, and a great part of Northumberland: And in the time of Ethel­red, King of England, Anno Domini 991. the Tribute call'd Danegeld was first Collected, to appease the fury of the Danes and their Depopulations, which continued a long time after. See Spelman's Glossary on the word Danegeldum. Anno Domini 1012. on the twelfth of November at Night, Anno Regni Ethelredi 35. the English, to free them­selves from the great Oppression of the Tax called Danegeld, did by a general Con­spiracy strangle all the Danes in their Beds. Heylin's Cosmography pag. 317. To re­venge which Fact, Swane, King of Denmark, came into England with a Fleet of 350 Ships,1013 Anno 1013. and ceased not to spoil many parts of the Kingdom, and at last so [Page 31] far prevailed, and subdued England, that Cnut his Son was made King thereof, after the death of Edmund Ironside, to wit, Anno 1017.1017 and Cnut and his Sons enjoyed the Crown 26 years,1043 to the Year 1043. and then was the Saxon Blood restored to the Crown in Edward the Confessor; but alass! soon after Edward's Death, were both the Danes and Saxons conquered by William Duke of Normandy, to wit, Anno 1066.1066

So that we see the Justice of God, how he set the Danes as a Scourge to the Saxons, who had so perfidiously and cruelly used the poor Brettans, and at last were driven out of their Lands by the Normans, as they before had driven out the Brettans.

2. The whole time that the Danes so miserably afflicted the Saxons in England, was 266 years, if we reckon to the Norman Conquest, from the first coming of them into England, Anno Domini 800. but if we reckon to the time of Edward the Confessor, sub Anno 1043. then it containeth onely 242 years.

But Matth. of Westminster computeth onely from the beginning of King Ethelwolfe's Reign to the Norman Conquest; which I wonder at, since the same Author tells us, that in Anno 800. the Danes spoiled Tinmouth Church, and after they had Robbed thereabouts, they returned with their Spoils; and besides, he tells us of several Bat­tels in England, between King Egbert and the Danes: But his words are these, pag. 302. Misit ergò eis Deus Omnipotens Gentes Paganas crudelissimas, velut Apum Examina, quae nè quidem Sexui muliebri, aut Parvulorum parceret aetati, Danos scilicet, & Norwegenses, Go­thos, Swathedos, Vandalos, & Frisios, qui ab exordio Regis Ethelwolfi supradicti usque ad Normannorum Adventum, per annos fermè 230, terram hanc peccatricem, à mari usquè ad mare, & ab homine usquè ad Pecus, deleverunt,—non eam possidere & subjugare, sed praedari ac perdere satagebant: So that there was a long time of intermixture, with various Nations and sorts of People.

Cambden saith, That the Name of Danes was not known to the World before the time of Justinian the Emperor, about the Year of Christ 570. Tunc enim Galliam vastare caeperunt, & Rerum Anglicarum Latinis Historicis Wiccingi dicti sunt: Wiccinga Saxonicè Piratam denotat. Cambden's Britannia, pag. 101. And Dudo Sancti Quinti Decanus saith, That out of Scanza (that is, Scandia) the Danes, Getes or Gothes, Amarobii, Tragoditae, Alani, & Sarmatae, came out like Swarms of Bees. Lib. 1. sub initio. Also Gemeticensis, lib. 1. cap. 2.

CHAP. VII.

1. THe Normans invaded England, Anno Domini 1066. when William, sirnamed The Bastard, Duke of Normandy, commonly called William the Conqueror, 1066 Landed with a great Army at Pemsey near Hastings in Sussex, and overcame Harold, King of England, in Battel, which was fought the fourteenth day of October, being Saturday, Anno Domini 1066. about nine Miles from Hastings in Sussex; upon which Victory the English submitted to him.

And in the Race of the Norman Blood hath the Kingdom of England since conti­nued to this day 1670. by Maude the Empress, Daughter and Heir to King Henry I. and Wife of Geffrey Planagenet, Earl of Anjou in France, Married to him Anno Domini 1127. Mother of King Henry the Second, from whom the succeeding Kings are de­scended.

The English continued their native Language, notwithstanding the great and long commixture with the Normans; but much altered since Chaucer's time, who lived un­der [Page 32] King Richard the Second, especially since Henry the Eighth's time downward, it is so intermingled with Latine, besides some old words, retained from the Norman-French anciently, that it is now become a new Language, and much of the ancient English Tongue quite lost and perish'd; and daily in our Age creep in many Latine and French words, to the utter decay of the English Tongue.

The Conqueror gave away the Lands of the English to his Friends and Soldiers, who assisted him in the Conquest; some few he suffered to en [...]oy their own Estates, and but very few. Most of the ancient Gentry now in England, of great and ancient Estates, are Descended from the Normans, who came into England with the Conqueror; yet doubtless are there many of the Saxon Blood now remaining; and by reason of a long intermixture by intermarrying one with another, have incorporated our Nation into a Hotchpot of several Nations: for the Normans themselves were a People in­termingled of Norwegians, Swedes, and Danes.

It is observed of the People of England, that they are so naturally given to Faction and Rebellion, that since the Norman Conquest, we scarcely read of any of our Kings to this day, who have not met with the disturbance of some rebellious and treasonable Practises of their own Subjects, and that in open Arms too, King James onely ex­cepted; and yet he wanted not a Gunpowder Treason, miraculously discovered and prevented, Anno 1605. nor a Gowries Conspiracy in Scotland, 1600. and his Son King Charles the First most miserably murthered in our Days by his own Subjects, through the Puritan Factions in England, Anno 1648. the thirtieth day of January.

CHAP. I.

I. THe Name of Wales was imposed from our Saxon Ancestors: For the Ancient Brettans being beaten out of England by the Saxons, fled in­to the West Parts of Brettaine, being naturally fortified with great Mountains, and Overflowings of the Sea; to wit, into that Part now called Wales, and into Cornwal: But the Brettans of Cornwal, though they stoutly endeavoured to defend their Country, yet were they soon forced to leave it to the Saxons.

Cambden and Verstegan tell us, That the Saxons termed all Aliens and Strangers Walsh. And hence they called these Inhabitants (because Strangers unto them) by the name of Walsh-men, and their Countrey Wales.

But more probable it is, that forasmuch as they be descended from the ancient Gaules, their Neighbors, in Latin termed Galli, by the French, Galles, which the Sax­ons pronounce Walles, and from whence Walles-man, and now corruptly Welsh-man; it seems to me to be thence called Wales, as one should say, The Countrey of the Waules, or Walles: And in ancient Latin Authors it is many times stiled Guallia, and the Inhabi­tants thereof Gualli; and every Man knows how the Saxons in most Words do use W for G; as War for Guerre, Ward for Guard, and the like: And at this day the French stile the eldest Son of the King of England, Le Prince de Galles. The ancient Galli were called Cimbri, or Kimbri, undè Cambro-Britannia is used for Wales, and Cambro-Britannus for a Welshman. And ask these Cambro-Brittans, or Welsh-Brittans, how they call themselves, they will presently tell you, Kimeri, or Kumeri; which sounds as much as Kimbri, or Kymbry, now in Latin molded into Cambri.

Howsoever the Name came, the Inhabitants of Wales at this day are the Remnant of the Ancient Brettans; but not without great commixture of the English their Neigh­bors, which must needs follow in so long a Tract of time: And yet have they preser­ved their Native Language, but with some corruption of various Dialects.

For the Description of Wales, it was anciently bounded from England with the Ri­vers of Dee and Severn; all the rest of it, almost, is bounded with the Irish Seas: But Offa, the Puissant King of the Mercians in England, drave the Brettans from the Rivers aforesaid, and forced them up to the Mountains of Wales, where he caused them to be divided from England by a very great Ditch, called by the English, Offa's Dike, at this day. This was about the Year since Christ's Birth 760. and it began at the River Dee by Basing-werk, between Chester and Ruthlan, and so ran along the sides of the Hills to [Page 38] the South Sea, a little from Bristow, reaching near a hundred Miles in length, and is in many places yet to be seen. The Countrey between it and England, is commonly called by the Welsh,-Y Mars; though the greatest part of it be now inhabited with Welshmen, namely in North-Wales, which yet keepeth the ancient Limits to the River Dee, or Dwy, and in some Places over it. Powell on the Welsh History, pag. 5.

According to Cambden, it was divided into these sorts of Inhabitants, in the time of the Romans, and before.

But this was long before it had the Name of Wales.

• Silures
  • Herefordshire.
  • Radnorshire.
  • Brecknockshire.
  • Monmouthshire.
  • Glamorganshire.
• Dimetae
  • Caermardenshire.
  • Pembrokeshire.
  • Cardiganshire.
• Ordovices
  • Montgomeryshire.
  • Merionethshire. North-Wales.
  • Caernarvanshire. North-Wales.
  • Isle of Anglesey. North-Wales.
  • Denbighshire. North-Wales.
  • Flintshire. North-Wales.

About the Year of Christ 870. Roderik the Great, then Prince of Wales, divided it in­to three Parts or Territories, which they called Kingdoms.

North-Wales.1. Guinedh, in Latin, Venedotia, which the English call North-Wales, comprehend­ing the Counties of Merioneth, Caernarvan, The Isle of Môn or Anglesey, and the greatest parts of Denbighshire and Flintshire. This had, as it were, the Sovereignty of the other two, whose Chief Seat was Aberfraw in Anglesey, which little Island the Welsh call Yir-Môn, that is, The Land of Môn. This Part Roderik gave to Anarawd his eldest Son.

Powys.2. Mathraval, or Powys-land. This Territory containeth all the Country of Powys, and the Land between Wye and Severn; to wit the whole Counties (as they be now called) of Montgomery, Radnor, and all Shropshire from Severn towards Wales, and the rest of Denbighshire and Flintshire. The chiefest Towns herein are St. Asaph, Shrews­bury, and Matraval. This Territory Roderik gave to Mervin his third Son.

South-Wales.3. Deheubarth, in Latin, Dimetia, which the English call South-Wales, contained the Counties (as we now call them) of Monmouth, Glamorgan, Pembroke, Caermarden, Cardigan, and Brecknock. The Chief Seat was Caermarden, after removed to Dene­vowr-Castle: The Chief Towns thereof, Caermarden, Monmouth, Landaff, and St. Da­vid's in Pembrokeshire, so called from St. David sometime Archbishop thereof, the Metropolitan of Wales, who removed the See from Caer-Leon upon Usk to this Place. St. Davids is by the Welsh called Mynyw, whence in Latin it is termed Menevia. And this Part Roderik gave to Cadelh his second Son, who after the death of Mervin his Brother, took Powys-Land also to himself.

Of these three Parts, Roderik had North-Wales in right of his Mother Esylht; and Powys, in right of his Grandmother Nest, Daughter of Cadelh Prince of Powys; and South-Wales he had (as some say) by his Wife, Daughter and Heir of Meyric Prince of Cardigan. Powell on the Welsh History, pag. 35.

CHAP. II.

THe Counties of Wales (as they now stand divided) were apppointed out as followeth.

• 1 Glamoganshire.
• 2 Caermarthenshire.
• 3 Pembrokeshire.
• 4 Cardiganshire.
• 5 Flintshire.
• 6 Caernarvonshire.
• 7 Anglesey.
• 8 Merionethshire.

These Shires were newly appointed out Anno Domini 1283. 11 Edw. 1. saith Stow. In which Year Wales was totally sub­dued by Edw. 1. who built two strong Castles there, one at Conwey, the other at Caernarvon; and then newly divided Wales into Shires and Hundreds.

• 9 Monmouthshire.
• 10 Radnorshire.
• 11 Brecknockshire.
• 12 Montgomeryshire.
• 13 Denbighshire.

These five were appointed by the Statute of 27 Hen. 8. ca. 26. and also divers Dominions and Lordships in the Marches of Wales, were then also annexed to Shropshire, Herefordshire, and Glocestershire.

And by the Statute aforesaid of 27 Hen. 8. cap. 26. Anno Domini 1535.1535 the Domi­nion of Wales is from henceforth incorporated, united, and annexed to the Realm of England.

In the Statute of 34 Hen. 8. cap. 26. they are called The Twelve Shires of Wales, 1542 be­cause Monmouth was by the other Statute of 27 H. 8. subjected to the Chancery of England, and to the Kings Judges at Westminster, and therefore accounted among the Counties of England, and not among the Counties of Wales.

And by the Statute of 34 & 35 Hen. 8. cap. 26. there is a President and Council appointed to the Principality of those 12 Shires of Wales.

And that the Judge of Chester for the time being, shall keep Sessions twice every Year in the Shires of Denbigh, Flint, and Montgomery.

And that there be a Judge of North-Wales, to keep Sessions twice every Year in the several Shires of Caernarvan, Merioneth, and Anglesey.

And another Judge, in like manner, for the Shires of Radnor, Brecknock, and Gla­morgan.

And another Judge, in like manner, for the Shires of Caermarthen, Pembroke, and Cardigan.

It appears also by the same Statute, that the King had lately granted Commissions out of the Chancery of England, for the Limitations of the Hundreds lately made in the said Shires.

It is also to be remembred, That by the Statute of 33 Hen. 8. cap. 13. the Honour of Hawarden-Castle, with its Members, to wit, certain Villages in the Parish of Hawar­den (which formerly belonged to Broxton-Hundred in Cheshire) were now laid to Flint­shire by that Act of Parliament.

CHAP. III.

THe Welshmen embraced the Reformation of Religion according to the Church of England, in Doctrine, Discipline, and Worship; the Liturgy whereof was by Queen Elizabeth's Command translated into the Welsh or British Tongue, as the BIBLE also by an Act of Parliament, 5 Eliz. 1563. But because that Church-Bible then set forth (the Care whereof was committed to the Bishop of Here­ford, and the four Bishops of Wales) was of a large Bulk, it was reduced into a more portable Volume in the beginning of the Reign of King Charles the First, at the Charge of Rowland Heylyn Alderman of London, who caused also a Welsh Dictionary to be Printed. Dr. Heylyn's Cosmography, pag. 323.

CHAP. IV.

I Come now to the Ancient Descent of the Brettans and Welsh. I have before spoken something hereunto, concerning the Ancient Inhabitants of Brettaine, when I treated of England, cap. 1. sect. 5.Supra, pag. 10.

I have now to add, That in the first place I must crave leave to note the ridiculous and fabulous Story and Descent of Brute, with the long Series of Kings downwards from him to Cassibelaun, to the number of 70 in a direct Line: Which Brute these Brettans would have to live when Eli Judged the People of Israel, and the Ark of God was taken by the Philistines, about Anno Mundi Conditi 2849. & antè Christum 1100 Years: And so Brettaine must have a King, before the Jews had any. Where is to be observed, That this History of Brute was rather devised to amaze and misguide Poste­rity, than possibly to be believed; and that by an impudent lying Author, Geffrey of Monmouth, who lived but about the Year of Christ 1160. and 2260 Years after Brute lived, as they place the time, without so much as vouching any one Author for any thing thereof; which Geffrey was taxed for a lying Author by William of Newbury, a Man living in the same Age with him: The words of William concerning that Geffrey see before in this Book, pag. 10.. Vide etiàm Doctissimum Cambdenum in Britanniâ suâ, pag. 4, & 5.

And Sir John Prise, in his Book de Britannicae Historiae Defensione, Printed first sub Anno Christi 1573. pag. 63. tells us, There were anciently various Opinions concerning this Brute, whence he was originally descended; and that there was an old Book found by him in Wales not long ago, with the name of Gildas writ upon it, which mentioned two Opinions therein. One, which was the common Opinion, That Brute was the fourth in Descent from Aeneas King of the Latins, to wit, Son of Silvius Posthumus, Son of Ascanius, Son of Aeneas. The other hath his Descent up to Noah, in this sort:

• 1 Noah.
• 2 Japheth.
• 3 Javan.
• 4 Jabaath.
• [Page 41]5 Joan.
• 6 Baath.
• 7 Isran.
• 8 Ezra.
• 9 Ra.
• 10 Abir.
• 11 Oth.
• 12 Ecthecht.
• 13 Aurthach.
• 14 Mair.
• 15 Simeon.
• 16 Boib.
• 17 Theor, or Thoi.
• 18 Ougomum.
• 19 Fethebir.
• 20 Alaunius.
• 21 Hessiscion.
• 22 Brutus.

So that we see Brute must be made a True Trojan, and to be descended from Javan Son of Japhet, from whom the Ionians and Grecians (as Josephus saith) were propagated.

Here, by the way, observe, That St. Luke reckons up onely 66 Descents between Sem and Christ, cap. 3. Yet the Descent of Cassibelan (who lived a little before the time of Christ's Birth) must be made to contain 70 Descents to Brute, and 22 more to Noah, in all 92 Descents to Noah: So they will make sure to give the Brettans Des­cents enough. But there is no Man well versed in Histories and Antiquities, that doth not plainly see a heap of great Uncertainties and Falsities in the Descents touch­ing Brute, which some obscure Impostor hath foisted in, to the delusion of meaner Ca­pacities: So that I do conceive they are meritoriously all to be exploded utterly.

CHAP. V.

BUt so far as good Authority of Approved Authors will direct me, I shall now put down. First then, it is certain that the Brettans Inhabited this Island in Julius Caesar's Age, and before; and it is probable they inhabited here some hundreds of Years before: but when first inhabited, appeareth not by any good Historian. It is agreed by the most Learned Men, that before Caesar we have no certaine History of Brettain left us; and that the Druids of the Brettans (who were their most Learned Men) never committed any thing to writing.

I shall therefore begin with what Rulers of Brettaine I find recorded in Caesar's time, and downwards; I mean, of the Brettans who Ruled, (for I have already set down the Roman Rulers of Brettaine supra, pag. 13. & deinceps; who indeed cashir'd the Brettans, and their Authority) beginning with Cassibellaun, and vouching my Authors all along.

1. Cassivellaun: He was Chief Ruler of Brettaine, Anno antè Christum Natum 54. Cae­sar saith of him, Summa Imperii Bellíque administrandi, Communi Concilio, Permissa est Cassivellauno; Lib. 5. de Bello Gallico, pag. 154. of the Edition with Montanus Notes, Printed 1651. So that it should seem he was not a King born, but made. I find him not any where stiled Rex Britanniae by Caesar. He is also called Cassibeline; and by Dio, Suellan: So Montanus in his Notes upon Caesar, pag. 154. Perhaps the Name Cassibelline is derived from Cassi, a People of Hartfordshire: The Reliques of their Name we have yet in Cashow-Hundred: And so Cassibelin sounds as much as Cassorum Princeps, or Prince of the Cassians: Cambden's Britannia, in his Preface before Buckinghamshire, speaking of the Cattieuclani. The Town of Cassibelaun, mentioned by Caesar, was St. Albons in Hartfordshire, called Verulamium by Tacitus: Cambden in Hartfordshire.

We find also four Kings of Kent mentioned by Caesar, all living at the same time with Cassibelaun. Caesar lib. 5. pag. 64.

• Cingetorix.
• Carvilius.
• Taximagulus.
• Segonax.

Also Mandubratius, Son of Imanuentius, King of the Trinobants, that is, of Middlesex and Essex: Caesar, pag. 162. living also at the same time. He submitted to Caesar.

Also Comius King of the Atrebatii, or Barkshire: Caesar, pag. 133. He submit­ted to Caesar. Anno Chr. 30.

2. Cunobelin, or Cynbeline, King of the East part of Brettaine, whose Seat or Palace was at Maldon in Essex, in Latin called Camalodunum: Cambden in Essex. He had three Sons: Adminius, banished by his Father Anno Christi 38. in the time of Cali­gula the Emperor of Rome; Cataratacus and Togodumnus, two other Sons, over­come in Battel by Aulus Plautius the Roman Propraetor of Brettaine, after Cunobelin was dead. Cambden's Britannia, pag. 29, 30. Vide etiam pag. 323. This was about Anno Christi 43. in the time of Claudius.

Maldon was taken by Ostorius, Propraetor Britanniae in the time of Claudius the Em­peror. It was made the first Colony of the Romans in Brettaine, Anno Claudii 12. Annóque Christi 52. Cambden in Essex, pag. 323.

50 3. Caractacus, King of the Silures. He was taken Prisoner by Ostorius, with his Wife, Daughter, and Brethren, and brought in Triumph to Rome, to Claudius the Emperor. Tacitus, lib. 12. Annalium, cap. 35, 36.

Carthismandua was about the same time Queen of the Brigantes.

Cogidunus, another Petty King in Brettaine, living at the same time, to whom certain Towns in Brettaine were assigned by the Romans; it being an ancient Custom of the [Page 43] Romans long time ago (saith Tacitus) to have even Kings Instruments of Servitude. De Vitâ Agricolae, cap. 14.

Caractacus above mentioned, is by Dio called Cataracatus; by others, Catacratus; by Zonaras, Caratacus; and by the Brettans, Caradoc. Lipsius in his Comment on Tacitus, lib. 12. Annalium, pag. 196. Perhaps he was the Son of Cunobeline.

4. Prasutagus, King of the Iceni in Brettaine, that is, of Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire, Anno Chr. 62. and Huntingtonshire: He made Nero the Emperor, and his own two Daughters his Heirs, thinking hereby to procure favour with Nero: But the Romans after his Death did beat Boadicia his Wife, and Ravish her Daughters; whereupon the Iceni and Trinobants rebelled. Tacitus, lib. 14. Annalium cap. 31.

5. Arviragus Bretannus Floret, in the time of Domitian Emperor of Rome. 88 Camb. Bri­tann. pag. 43.

6. Lucius, King of the Brettans, received the Christian Faith.169 Bede de Hist. lib. Angl. cap. 4. See the Epistle of Eleutherius, dated Anno Christi 169, in the first Tome of Spelman's Counsels, pag. 34. with his Notes thereon, whereby the Letter seems to be fictitious.

This Lucius, King of the Brettans, died Anno Gratiae 201, at Glocester, saith Matth. Westminster.

So much of the British Kings whom I find mentioned during the time of the Rule of the Romans in Brettaine; now follow the British Kings whom I find mentioned af­ter the Rule of the Romans ceased in Brettaine, and after the coming in of the Saxons.

Vortiger; he was King of the Brettans when the Saxons first came into Brettaine; 425 he began his Reign Anno Christi 425. Cambden's Britannia, pag. 95. Bede de Hist. Ang. lib. 1. cap. 21. Spelman's Councels, Tom. 1. pag. 49. where he placeth the Councel against the incestuous Marriage of Vortiger with his own Daughter, in Anno 449. somewhat too late I conceive. By the Wiles of this Vortiger was Constantine slain; Homo nobilis & domi clarus; whom the Brettons made their King, a Man of their own Stock, and fetched from Little Brettaine in France. So Buchanan, Rerum Scotica­rum, lib. 5. pag. 139.

Vortimer, Son of Vortiger, died Anno 463. with whom fell the hope of Brettaine. Matth. Westminster.

• Aurelius Conanus.
• Vortipor.
• Maglocunus.
• Cuneglasus.

These Historians place to succeed one annother in their Rule, when it is plain in Gildas (who speaks to every one of them) that they lived all at a time, and tyrannized in divers and several parts of Brettaine at once. Cambden's Britannia, pag. 81. about the Year of Christ 550 or 560.

Nazaleod, the Great King of the Brettans, routed by Cerdic, 509 the first King of the West-Saxons, at Certicsford, and 5000 Brettans slain. Huntington pag. 312. which Coun­trey or Place was before called Nazaleod, or (as some write it) Natanleod, after the King's Name; but after the Victory of Certic here, it was called Certicsford, now called contractedly Chartford, situate in Hantshire. Cambden's Britannia, in Hantshire, pag. 187. Vide Florentium, pag. 206.

Arthur, Bellicosissimus Britonum Heros, buried at Glassenbury. Cambden's Britannia, 520 in Somersetshire; of whom the Welsh Bards in their Songs have recorded such Fables, that they have cast a doubt, whether there were such a Man or no. Huntington calls him Dux militum & Regum Britannia, duodecies Dux Belli fuit, duodecies victor con­trà Saxones, pag. 313. This famous General lived about Anno 520. Cambden saith he was called Mab-uter, id est, Filius horribilis; quià à pueritiâ fuit horribilis; & Artur Britannicè sonat, ursum horribilem. In Britanniâ suâ, pag. 167. He is called Inclitus Rex Arturius, as it is Inscribed on his Stone found at Glassenbury.

Gerent, King of Wales, routed by Ina, King of the West-Saxons. Huntington, pag. 337.710 Anno Regni Inae 21, annoque Christi circiter 710. He is the first that I find styled King of Wales in express terms.

Cadwallader, the last King of the Britons. Powel in his Notes upon the Welsh History, Englished by Homfrey Lhoyd, Printed 1584, pag. 8. saith, That some do hold, that [Page 44] Cadwallader and Cedwall are all one, and that whom the Saxons call Cedwall (who was King of the West-Saxons, Anno 688 to 690.) the Brittons called Cadwallader, and whom the English Chronicles call Ine, King of the West-Saxons, the same is called Ivor in the the British or Welsh History: And this Ivor the Brettaines call the Son of Alan, King of Little-Brettaine-Armorik in France: But the Saxons say he was the Son of Kentwyn, King of the West-Saxons.

Cadwallader had a Son called Edwall Ywrch, that is, Edwall the Roe-Buck, saith the Welsh History, who was the Father of Roderic, Pag. 23.

So much of the petty Kings of the Britons, as I find them mentioned in more sub­stantial Authors, during the time of the Power of the Saxons in England. Now fol­low the Kings of the British Race, since they were quite expelled out of England by the Saxons, and driven into the Mountains of Wales, and began to get Head again: and herein I chiefly follow the Welsh History, put out by Powel, 1584.

Anno Chr. 720.1. Roderike or Roderi, Son of Edwall Ywrch, began his Reign over the Britons in Wales, Anno 720. and obtained a Victory against Ethelred, King of Westsex in Cornwall; obiit 750. He Reigned 30 Years.

755 2. Conan Tindaethwy, Son of Roderik, in the Year 817. chased his Brother Howel out of the Isle of Mon or Anglesey, who fled into the Isle of Man, and shortly after died Conan.

3. Mervin Vrych, and Esylht his Wife, Daughter of Conan.

Anno 841 died Idwalhon, a Nobleman of Wales; and Anno 843 Mervin was slain (as some do write) in the Battel between Beorrhed, King of Mercia, and the Bret­taines at Kettell, leaving a Son called Roderi-Mawr, that is, Roderik the Great.

843 4. Roderik Mawr, that is, Roderik the Great. He divided Wales into three parts; North­wales, which he gave to Anarawd his eldest Son, as the chief Prince; Southwales, which he gave to his second Son; and Powysland, which he gave to his third Son. But Giraldus Cambrensis in his Descriptio Cambriae, cap. 3. saith, that Mervin was his eldest Son, and had Northwales; and Anarawd had Powysland, who died without Issue.

877 5. Anarawd, Son of Roderik, Prince of Wales, Obiit 913.

913 6. Edwal Vowel, Son of Anarawd, King or Prince of Northwales. He and his Brother Elise were slain in a Battel against the Danes and Englishmen. He was Tributary to Athelstan King of England.

7. Howel Dha, Prince of Southwales and Powysland, after the death of Edwal Vowel, took upon him the Rule of all Wales. He died Anno 948. and had four Sons, Owen, Run, Roderik, and Edwyn.

948 8. Jevaf and Jago, second and third Sons of Edwal Vowel, Ruled Northwales; and the Sons of Howel-Dha divided Southwales and Powyis betwixt them. Anno 966. Jago im­prisoned his Brother Jevaf. Howel, Son of Jevaf, raiseth an Army to set his Father at liberty, and chased his Uncle Jago out of the Land. Howel had three Brothers, Meyric, Jevaf, and Cadwalhon.

9. Howel, Son of Jevaf, having expelled his Uncle, took upon him the Rule of North­wales, Anno 979. Edwal Vachan, Son of Edwal Vowel, was slain by this Howel his Ne­phew: and Anno 984. Howel entring England with an Army, was slain in Battel. He had no Son, but Cadwalhon his Brother Reigned in his place.

984 10. Cadwalhon, Brother of Howel, was Prince of Northwales; he first made War with Jonaval his Cosin, the Son of Meyric, and right Heir to the Land, and slew him; and the year following Meredith, Son of Owen, Prince of Southwales, slew Cadwalhon in Fight, with Meyric, Brother of Cadwalhon also.

986 11. Meredyth ap Owen, now King of all Wales. Godfryd, Son of Harold, entred the Isle of Anglesey the third time, and having taken Lhywarch, the Son of Owen, with 2000 Prisoners, cruelly put out his Eyes; whereupon Meredyth the King, with the rest, escap'd to Cardigan.

Anno 987. died Jevaf Son of Edwal, who had many years led a private Life. also the same year died Owen, Son of Howel Dha, Prince of Southwales. Anno 991. [Page 45] died Cadwalhon, the onely Son of Meredyth. Anno 992. the Welshmen chose Edwal, Son of Meric, the right Heir of Northwales, for their Prince. At Langwm, in a Battel between Edwal and Meredyth, was slain Theodor, or Tudor Mawr, the Nephew of Me­redyth, who lost two Sons, Rees and Rytherch, and Elen a Daughter. Anno 998. died Meredyth ap Owen, Prince of Wales, leaving one onely Daughter, called Angharad, Married to Lhewelyn ap Sitsylht; and after his Death she Married Conuyn Herdref, or (as others think) Conuyn ap Gweristan.

12. Edwal ap Meyric, the Son of Meredith, Anno Chr. 992. being now in possession of the Principality of Northwales, endeavored to keep it; but soon after, Swane, the Son of Harold, de­stroyed the Isle of Man, and entring into Northwales, slew Edwall the Prince thereof; which Edwall left behind him a Son called Jago.

13. Aedan, the Son of Blegored, usurped Northwales, and killed Conan Son of Howel, 1003 one that then aspired to the Government, Anno 1003. in open Field. He was slain with his four Sons by Lewelin in Battel, Anno 1015.

14. Lhewelyn ap Sitsylht, Prince of Wales: He was slain by Howel and Meredith, 1003 the Sons of Edwin, Anno 1021. leaving a Son called Griffith ap Lhewelyn.

15. Jago or James, ap Edwal, ap Meyric, ap Edwal Voel, 1021 took upon him the Govern­ment of Northwales as right Heir.

Rytherch, Son of Jestyn, usurped Southwales.

Jago was slain by Griffith ap Lhewelyn, 1037.

16. Griffith ap Lhewelin, ap Sitsylht, and Angharat. This Griffith was King of all Wales, 1037 and chased Howel and Edwin out of Southwales.

This Griffith Married Edgith This Ed­gith (after the Death of Griffith) Married Ha­rold King of England. or Aldith, Daughter of Algar, Earl of Mercia in England, by whom he had Issue Blethyn, Successor of his Dominion, and Nest a Daughter. Odericus Vitalis, lib. 3. pag. 492. & lib. 4. pag. 511. also Will. Gemeti­censis, lib. 7. cap. 31. He was a valiant Prince, and wasted a great part of Hereford­shire, 1052. Sim. Dunelmensis. Algar being banished Anno 1055. he went into Ire­land, where having got 18 Pyrate Ships, he came into Wales to King Griffith, who joyning Forces, routed the English about two Miles from Hereford, Nono Calendas Novembris. Sim. Dunelmensis. Afterwards were both reconciled to the King of England.

Griffith was slain by his own Men, Nonas Augusti 1064. and his Head being cut off, was sent to Edward, sirnamed The Confessor, King of England. See also Ingulphus, pag. 899.

Anno 1070, William Fitz-Osborne, Earl of Hereford, with Walter Lacy and other stout Champions, were placed as a Curb to the Welsh by William the Conqueror. These first Invaded the People of Brecknock, and slew three Welsh Kings or Princes, Rees, Cadogan, and Merydeth, and many other of the Welsh. Ordericus, pag. 521. 522.

⚜ This King Griffith had two Brothers, Blethyn and Ruthyn, to whom Edward the Con­fessor Anno 1065, gave Wales to be held of the King of England, Pro servitio debito, ju­ratâ Fidelitate. Ingulphus, pag. 899.

17. Blethyn, in Latine Blidenus, Son of Griffith, saith Ordericus; 1064 but the Welsh History put out by Powel, pag. 103, calleth him Blethin Son of Conwin: He was King of Northwales at least.

Meredyth ap Owen, ap Edwyn, was Prince of Southwales. But this Meredith was slain by Caradoc, ap Griffith, ap Rytherch, ap Jestin, upon the River Rympyn, Anno Dom. 1068.

⚜ Blethyn was traiterously murthered by Rees, ap Owen, ap Edwyn, Anno Domini 1073. He joyned with Edwyn and Morcar, his Uncles by the Mother, against the Conqueror, Anno 1068. Ordericus, pag. 511. and in Anno 1069. the Welsh and Cheshiremen Be­sieged the Conqueror's Garrison of Shrewsbury. See Ordericus, pag. 515.

18. Trahaern ap Caradoc, after the death of Blethyn, Prince of Northwales: He was Cosen-german to Blethyn; and Rees ap Owen was Prince of Southwales; which Rees was slain and outed by Trahaern ap Caradoc, about 1076.

Anno 1077. Rees ap Theodor, ap Eneon, ap Owen, ap Howel Dha, as right Inheritor to Southwales, claimed the same, and was received.

[Page 46] Anno Chr. 1078.19.

• Griffith up Conan, Prince of North-Wales,
• Rees ap Theodor, Prince of South-Wales:

These joyning their Forces, slew Tra­herne and all his Cosins in Battel: 1078.

Anno 1079. William the Conqueror of England, entred Wales with an Army as far as St. Davids, and took Homage of the Princes of Wales.

Anno 1088. Griffith ap Conan, King of Wales, enters the Borders of England about Rothelent with an Army, and made great destruction; where Robert of Rothelent a Norman, Governor of Rothelent Castle under William the Conqueror, was slain in a Skirmish; whose Head was cut off, and carried away with King Griffith, who cau­sed it to be hanged upon the Mast of his Ship. Ordericus, pag. 670. This Robert of Rothelent, and Robert de Malpas, (two of the Earl of Chester's Barons) and other cruel Potentates, spilt much of the Welshmens Blood. Ordericus, pag. 522.

Anno 1090. Robert Fitz-Hamon, with 12 other Knights, invade Glamorganshire with an Army of Normans, and spoiled the Lands of Rees ap Theodor Prince of South-Wales, where Rees was slain in Battel near Brecknock, with whom fell and de­cayed the Kingdom of South-Wales. Those also slew Jestyn ap Gurgant Lord of Gla­morganshire, with a great number of his Men; whereby Robert Fitz-Hamon got possession of Glamorganshire, and gave certain Castles and Manors there to his 12 Knights, and to other Gentlemen, who were the first Strangers that inhabited Wales. Powel on the Welsh History, pag. 119, & 124. Cambden's Britannia, in Glamor­ganshire, pag. 494.

Anno 1092. Roger de Montgomery, Earl of Shrewsbury, entred into Powys-land, and did win the Castle and Town of Baldwine, which he fortified, and called it Mont­gomery, after his own Name. Welsh History put out by Powel, pag. 152.

Anno 1094. William Rufus entred Wales at Montgomery, which Castle being lately demolished by the Welshmen, he re-edified it again: But the Welsh keeping the Straits of the Mountains, with the Woods and the Rivers, King William lost his Labor, and a number of his Men, and so returned. Welsh History, pag. 153. Matt. Paris, pag. 18.

Anno 1098. Hugh de Montgomery Earl of Shrewsbury, called Hugh Gogh by the Welsh, that is, Red Hugh, because of his Red Head; and Hugh Earl of Chester, cal­led Hugh Dirgane by the Welsh, that is, Gross Hugh, because of his Fat Corpulent Body, enter Wales with an Army of Cheshire and Shropshire Men; but Griffith ap Co­nan the Prince of North-VVales, and Cadogan ap Blethyn, fled into the Mountains. Then the Earls entred the Isle of Anglesey, and by the way they built the Castle of Abberlhiennawe over against it: They slew many of the VVelsh therein; but Griffith and Cadogan fled into Ireland. Hugh Earl of Shrewsbury was slain with an Arrow by Magnus Son of Olave King of Norwey. Ordericus, pag. 768. Roger Hoveden, pag. 467. also the VVelsh History, pag. 155. which puts this in Anno 1096. for 1098.

Anno 1108. King Henry the Frst with sundry Expeditions brought under the VVelshmen, and sent all the Flemmings (who came over into England when a great part of Flanders was drowned) to inhabite in Ross in VVales, where Penbrooke, Tenby, and Haverford are now built; where they remain to this day, as may appear by their Speech and Conditions, far different from the rest of the Countrey. VVelsh Hist. pag. 163.

Anno 1132. died Meredyth ap Blethyn, Chief Ruler of Powys.

Anno 1137. died Griffith ap Rees ap Theodor Prince of South-VVales, who had by his Wife Gwenlhiam (Daughter of Griffith ap Conan) Rees, commonly called Lord Rees, and others.

Anno 1137. towards the end of the Year, died Griffith ap Conan Prince of North-VVales.

1137 20. Owen sirnamed Gwineth, Son of Griffith ap Conan, is made Prince of North-VVales; and the Name of King is no further used in the British Book. VVelsh Hist. pag. 139.With Pow­el's Notes: Also pag. 6. Owen died Anno Domini 1169. after he had Reigned 32 Years.

1169 21. David ap Owen, Prince of North-VVales, assumed the Government, because the [Page 47] eldest Son of Owen, called Jorwerth Drwyndwn, that is, Edward with the Broken Nose, was counted unmeet for Government.

Anno 1190. died Griffith Maylor Lord of Bromfield, a Nobleman and a Wise man. VVelsh History, pag. 242. He was Lord of Bromfield, Yale, Hope-Dale, Nan­hewdwy, Mochnant is Rhayard, Chirke, Cynlhayth, and Glindoverdwy: Ibidem, pag. 211. (This was part of Powys Vadoc. Powys before Offa's time reached Eastward to the Rivers of Dee and Severn.) and had to Wife Angharat Daughter of Owen Guyneth Prince of North-VVales, by whom he had a Son called Madoc, who died 1236. leaving a Son called Griffith: Pag. 293.Anno Chr. 1194.

22. Lhewelyn ap Jorwerth peaceably received all North-Wales to his Subjection. He Married Joan base Daughter of John King of England, by Agatha Daughter of William Ferrars Earl of Derby, Anno 1206. Vincent upon Brooke. pag. 204. Speed's History, pag. 518. calls her Daughter of Robert Ferrers; and had Issue two Sons, Griffith and David; and for Daughters, he had Marret, married to John de Bruse, 1219. Welsh Hist. pag. 279. and Gladys another Daughter, married to Sir Rafe Mor­timer: Ibid. pag. 298. And it is certain, he had another Daughter called Hellen, married to John the Scot Earl of Huntington, and afterwards Earl of Chester: She was married about 1222. and this was for a Final Agreement and Peace between Randle Earl of Chester, sirnamed Blundevill, and this Lhewelyn Prince of North-Wales, who before-time had many Conflicts and Wars one against the other. Knighton, pag. 2430. Matt. Paris, pag. 380. See also my Antiquities touching Cheshire, in this Book. But Helen had no Issue by John Scot, who (saith Matt. Paris) was consenting to the Poysoning of her Husband. After she married Robert de Quency, third Son of Saher de Quency Earl of Winchester. Vincent upon Brooke's Catalogue of Nobility, pag. 260.

About the Reign of Henry the Second,Crogen. when he made a Voyage against the Welsh to the Mountains of Berwin, as he lay at Oswestrey, a number of his Men, who were sent to try the Passages, to have passed Offa's Ditch at the Castle of Cro­gen, were met withal, and slain. The Englishmen afterwards used to cry Crogen to the Welsh, as much as to say, Remember Crogen; that they should expect no favour from the English: But this Word in process of time grew to be an opprobrious Word, when the English would in disgrace call the Welsh—Crogens. Welsh Hist. pag. 257, 258.

This Lhewelyn was a valiant Prince, and brought all Wales to subjection. He died tertio Idûs Aprilis, scilicèt die Sancti Guthlaci, Anno Christi 1240. Matt. Paris, pag. 525. And having tamed Griffith his Son, who rebelled against him, he left the Principality of Wales unto David his younger Son. He died in the 46 Year of his Reign, and was buried at Conwey. Welsh Hist. pag. 298.

23. David, younger Son of Lhewelyn, Prince of North-Wales, 1240 with all the Barons of Wales, did Homage to King Henry the Third for all the Lands which they had in Wales. Hist. of Wales, pag. 299.

This David imprisoned Griffith his elder Brother, alledging also that he was a Bastard: Senana, the Wife of Griffith, Petitions the King of England for the Re­lease of Griffith her Husband, and Owen his Son, who was imprisoned with his Fa­ther. Henry the Third makes an Agreement with Senana, dated 25 Hen. 3. 1241. and Roger de Monte alto, High-Steward of Cheshire, was a Surety or Pledge for Se­nana to observe the Agreement. David consents to deliver Griffith, and Owen his Son, and to stand to the Judgment of King Henry's Court about Griffith's part of the Land; and to restore to Roger de Monte alto all his Land of Moald in Flintshire: And David acknowledgeth to hold his Lands of Wales of King Henry in Capite. Matt. Paris, pag. 624, 625. Griffith is sent by David unto King Henry, who imprisoned him in the Tower of London; but Griffith endeavouring to make an Escape, fell down and broke his Neck, 1 die Martii, 1244. Matt. Paris, pag. 617.

David Prince of Wales took the Castle of Mould by Storm, 1245. Matt. Paris, pag. 655. And after it was taken and razed to the Ground by Griffith ap Gwenwynwyn, 1268. Welsh Hist. pag. 326.

[Page 48] Anno Chr. 1246. David died without Issue, 1246. Matt. Paris, pag. 695.

24. Lhewelyn ap Griffith ap Lhewelyn, was the last Prince of Wales of the British Blood, who with his Brother Owen Gogh divided the Principality between them. Lhewelyn ap Griffith married Elianour Daughter of Simon de Montfort Earl of Leycester, Anno 1279. 6 Edw. 1. the Marriage being Solemnized at Worcester, at the Charge of the King of England. Walsingham, pag. 48. Welsh Hist. pag. 336. Matthew of West­minster placeth it Anno 1278. I find mention of a Daughter he had, for whom the King of England promiseth to provide honourably, and to give Lhewelyn 1000 l. Sterling, and some Honourable County in England, if Lhewelyn would upon his Submission put the King in possession of Snowdon. This was Anno 1281. upon a Treaty to be had. Welsh History with Powel's Notes, pag. 365. But what became of this Daughter, I find not; but her Mother Elianour was now dead. This Treaty took no effect.

Obiit, 1282 Concerning the Death of this Lhewelyn, it is variously reported by our Histo­rians. Matt. of Westminster saith, He was slain in the Battel betwixt the English and the Welsh, Anno 1282. when Edmund de Mortuo mari rushing with others into the Army of Lhewelyn, he was slain among other Welshmen, and his Head cut off, which was carried to London, and set upon the top of the Tower of London: With whom agreeth Walsingham, who placeth the time one Year later. The Welsh Hi­story, pag. 374. saith, That Lhewelyn retiring to a Grove near Buhelt, or Buelht, whiles some of the Welsh were sent to defend the Bridge called Pont Orewyn, sud­denly there came Horsemen about the Grove; and as he would have escaped, one Adam Francton pursued him, and ran him through, but knew him not; and when he came to see his Face in the Spoil, he knew him well, and struck off his Head; sub Anno 1282. Yet Stow saith, That whiles Lhewelyn was speaking disgraceful Words against the English at Buelht-Castle, where he was taken, Roger le Strange ran upon him, and cut off his Head.

1283 And in Anno 1283. King Edward the First subdued all Wales, and annexed it to the Crown of England; and David the Brother of Lhewelyn was taken, with some of his Sons and Daughters: And David was sent to the Castle of Chester, and af­ter convicted of Treason in the Parliament at Shrewsbury, and put to death, saith our Stowe.

Giraldus Cambrensis in his Description of VVales, cap. 3. hath this Pedegree of the Ancient Princes of VVales, which I thought good here to insert.

• [Page 49]Princes of North-VVales.
  • 1. Mervin, Prince of North-VVales.
  • 2. Anandhrec, Son of Mervin.
  • 3. Meyric, Son of Anandhrec.
  • 4. Edwal, Son of Meyric.
  • 5. Jago, Son of Edwal.
  • 6. Conan, Son of Jago.
  • 7. Griffith, Son of Conan.
  • 8. Owen, Son of Griffith.
  • 9. Jorwerth, Son of Owen.
  • 10. Lhewelyn, Son of Jorwerth, who died Anno 1240.
• Princes of Powys.
  • Anaraud, Son of Ro­derik, had no Issue; undè Principes Pow­isiae suam habent per se Generationem: So Giraldus. But this agrees not with the Welsh History, which makes Anaraud to be the Prince of North-VVales, and Father of Edwal Vowel.
• Princes of South-VVales.
  • Cadelh, Prince of South-Wales, Son of Roderik.
  • Howel Dha, that is, Howel the Good, Son of Cadelh.
  • Owen, Son of Howel.
  • Aeneas, Son of Owen.
  • Theodor, Son of Aeneas, or Eneon.
  • Rees, Son of Theodor, 1077.
  • Griffith, Son of Rees: Obiit 1137.
  • Rees, Son of Griffith.

To conclude: We see how uncertain the VVelsh History in the later Times is, not so much as vouching any Author or Record, either to prove the Deaths, or Marriages, or Children punctually, nor when; and therefore full of Errors, till of late, since the Reign of VVilliam the Conqueror: And how should we believe any thing of the long Pedegree of Brute, in the more ancient and dark Ages?

CHAP. I.

I. SCOTLAND is the Northern Part of Great-Brettaine, separa­ted from England by the Rivers Tweed and Solway, and the Cheviot-Hills, extending from the one to the other.

It is of no great Breadth, there being no Place distant from the Sea above 60 Miles; and the Countrey ending like the sharp Point of a Wedge: And the length, measu­ring in a strait Line from North to South, to wit, from Sol­way-Frith to the Strait-by-Head, amounteth but to 310 Ita­lian Miles; and from Barwick to Strait-by-Head, is a great deal shorter. Dr. Heylyn's Cosmography, pag. 330.

II. The whole North part of Brettaine, anciently inhabited by the Picts, was divi­ded into two Nations, the Dicalidonii, and the Vecturiones. But when the Scots came into those Parts, and were seated there, then did seven Princes divide it into seven Parts, as it is in an Ancient Book concerning the Division of Scotland, in these words following. Cambden's Britannia, pag. 682.

• Prima Pars continebat Enegas & Maern.
• Secunda, Atheol & Gouerin.
• Tertia, Stratheern cùm Meneted.
• Quarta, fuit Fortheuer.
• Quinta, Mar cùm Bughen.
• Sexta, Muref & Ros.
• Septima, Cathenesia, quam Mound Mons medius dividit; qui à Mari Occidentali ad Mare Orientale procurrit.

According to the respect of the People, Scotland is divided into two Parts, the High-land-men, and the Low-land-men. The Low-land-men are more civilized; and use both the Tongue and Habit of the English. The Highlanders more barbarous and cru­el, like the Wild Irish. The Borderers I exclude out of this Division, as to be recko­ned among the British People.

According to respect of Places, Scotland is divided into two Parts also; South-Scot­land on this side the River Tai, and North-Scotland beyond the River Tai; besides ma­ny circumjacent Islands.

• [Page 52]South-Scotland hath these Countries.
  • Tiefidale.
  • Merch.
  • Lauden.
  • Liddesdale.
  • Eskedale.
  • Annandale.
  • Niddesdale.
  • Galloway.
  • Carrick.
  • Kyle.
  • Cunningham.
  • Arran.
  • Cluydsdale.
  • Lennox.
  • Stirling.
  • Fife.
  • Stratherne.
  • Mentieth.
  • Arguyle.
  • Cantire.
  • Lorn.

• North-Scotland hath these Countries.
  • Loquabria.
  • Braid Albin.
  • Perth.
  • Athol.
  • Angus.
  • Mern.
  • Marr.
  • Buquhan.
  • Murray.
  • Ross.
  • Sutherland.
  • Cathanes.
  • Strathnavern.

And these are again divided, for Civil Government, into Sheriffdoms, Stewarties, and Bayleries.

• Sheriffdoms, or Counties.
  • Edenborough.
  • Lynthiquo.
  • Selkirk.
  • Roxburgh.
  • Peblis.
  • Berwick.
  • Lanark.
  • Kenfrew.
  • Dunfreis.
  • Wighton.
  • Aire.
  • Bute.
  • Argile & Tarbet.
  • Dunbarton.
  • Perth.
  • Clackmannan.
  • Kinros.
  • Fife.
  • Kincardin.
  • Forfair.
  • Aberdene.
  • Bamf.
  • Elgyn.
  • Forres.
  • Narne.
  • Innerness.
  • Chromartie.
  • Orkney.
  • &
  • Shetland.

• Stewarties.
  • Mentieth.
  • Strathern.
  • Kircudbricht.
  • Annandale.

• Bayleries.
  • 1. Kile.
  • 2. Carrik.
  • 3. Cunningham.

Hadington, A Constableship.

III. The Ancient Inhabitants of this Countrey, dwelling within the Limits of the Roman Province, about Anno Christi 100. according to Cambden de Scotiâ, were,

• The Gadeni
  • Tevidale.
  • Twedale
  • Merch.
  • Lothaine, Latine Lodeneium: The Chief City whereof was Castrum Alatum, now called Edenborough.
• The Damnii
  • Cluydsdale,
  • Lennox,
  • Sterling,
  • Mentieth,
  • Fife.
  Whose Chief City was Randuara, now called Renfraw, in Cluydsdale.
• The Selgovae
  • Liddisdale,
  • Eusedale,
  • Eskdale,
  • Annandsdale,
  • Niddisdale.
  Whose Chief Place was Carbantorigum, now Caer­laverok in Niddisdale. Lindum, now Linlithquo.
• [Page 53]The Novantes
  • Galloway,
  • Carricht,
  • Kyle,
  • Cunningham,
  Whose Principal Places were Leucopibia, now White-Herne; and Berigonium, now Bargeny.

Without the Roman Province, among the Picts, or Barbarous Britons, were,

• Caledonii
  • Stratherne,
  • Argile,
  • Cantire,
  • Albanie,
  • Lorn,
  • Perth,
  • Angus,
  • Fife,
  These Regions the Picts held Anno 605. Cambden's Britannia, pag. 707.
• Cantae
  • Ross,
  • Sutherland.
• Cornabii —Strathnavern.
• Epibii —Cantirre.
• Vernicones, forsàn Vecturiones, à Marcellino.
  • Mernis,
  • Marr.
• Taizali—Buquhan.
• Catini—Catness. The Principal Castle is Girnego.
• Vacomagi
  • Loqhaber,
  • Murray.

IV. As the Bishops of other Parts of the World had no certain Diocesses, before Dionysius Bishop of Rome, about Anno Christi 268. had distributed Diocesses to Bi­shops; so the Bishops of Scotland executed their Office without distinction, till about Anno 1070. in the time of Malcolme the Third, Diocesses were circumscribed with theit Limits. Cambden's Britannia, pag. 683.

Afterwards, in tract of time, Scotland had two Archbishops; one of St. Andrews, who was Primate of Scotland; the other of Glasco.

To the Archbishop of St. Andrews are substituted these eight Bishopricks;

• Dunkeld.
• Aberdene.
• Murray.
• Brichen.
• Dumblane.
• Ross.
• Cathness.
• Orkeney.

Under the Archbishop of Glasco are onely three:

• 1. Candida Casa, or Galloway.
• 2. Lismore, or Argile.
• 3. Of the Isles.

Of the Isles, the Isle of Man was the first Cathedral Seat; but by the Invasion of the Norwegians and the English, the same was translated to Ilcomkill. In Man, Am­phibalus was the first Bishop. After the Translation of the Seat to Ilcomkill, I find onely one Onacus mentioned about the Year 1289. with another called Mauritius, whom Edward I. King of England, sent Prisoner to London. So far to the time of the Reformation. Spotswood's History of the Church of Scotland, pag. 116.

CHAP. II.

I. FIrst, for the Etymologie of the Name of Scots, it is (as of other Nations round about) full of obscurity. Buchanan (a Man otherwise of deep In­sight, an excellent Latin Poet, but a bad Statesman) will have Scotland named from Scota a counterfeit Daughter of Pharaoh King of Egypt, wedded, forsooth, to one Gaithelus, Son of Cecrops, Founder of Athens; for which he is justly taxed by Cambden in his Britannia, pag. 85. For no Man skilful in Antiquities can endure such palpable Falsities and Fables. Matthew of Westminster (sub Anno Gratiae 77.) saith, That from the Picts and the Irish, the Scots had their Original, as it were compacted of divers Nations: For Scot (saith he) is a heap made up of several things.

But Learned Cambden supposeth, and proveth, That the Scots inhabited Ireland, and from thence came into Scotland; and that they were originally Scythians: for as from Getae, Getici, Gothi, Gothici; so Scythae, Scythici, Scoti, Scotici, take their derivation. Hibernia propriè Patria Scottorum est, saith Bede. And Henry of Huntington, lib. 1. Hi­stor. pag. 301. saith, It is certain that the Scots came out of Spain into Ireland, and from Ireland part of them came into Brettaine, and so added a third Nation in Brettaine to the Britons and Picts: For the Part which remained in Ireland, did in Huntington's time use the same Language, and were called Navarri.

II. But for the time when the Name of Scot was first known, there is some questi­on. Homfrey Lhuid saith, The Name of Scots cannot be found in any Author before the time of Constantine the Great, that is, till about 310 Years after Christ's Birth. Cambden in his Observation tells us, The first mention of the Scots was under Aurelian the Emperor; in his Britannia, pag. 90. And that must be about the Year of Christ 270.

The Nation of the Scots prevailed in Ireland, and began to be famous towards the declining of the Roman Empire.Orosius, lib. 1. cap. 2. pag. 19. Orosius saith, That in the time of Honorius and Ar­cadius, Emperors, Ireland was Inhabited with the Scots, about the Year of Christ 400. Whence Claudian the Poet, de Quarto Consulatu Honorii, which was in Anno 398. and lived in the same Age, saith,— ‘Scottorum cumulos flevit Glacialis Ierne.’ And again, in his second Book de Laudibus Stiliconis,

There were Scoti Ierni, Irish Scots; and Scoti Albini, Scots of Albin in Scotland. Bu­chanan, pag. 54. Historians called Ireland, Scotia major; and Scotland in Brettaine, Scotia minor. Cambd. Brit. pag. 90.

III. For the time when these Scots came first out of Ireland into Brettaine, it was about the time of Valentinian the Emperor; for they assisted the Picts in their Wars against the Brettons, then under the Roman Yoke, in that part of Brettaine which is now called England, about Anno Christi 366. So Cambden's Britannia, pag. 55. ex Am­miano Marcellino. For at this time the Picts, Scots, Saxons, and the Attacotti, did much infest the Brettans. And Claudian the Poet, in his Panegyrick of the fourth Consul­ship [Page 55] of Honorius the Emperor, which was in the Year of Christ 398. saith thus:—

And it should seem that the Romans had at this time an Officer called Comes Littoris Saxonici, in Brettaine; who, with the Soldiers allotted him, were to defend the Sea­coast in Brettaine from the Invasion of the Saxons. And the Scots and Picts were also beaten out of that Part of Brettaine now called England, by Stilico the Chief Gover­nor of Brettaine under Honorius, who also expelled the Saxons: And the Scots returning back into Ireland, shortly after came again: And the Picts then first, and afterwards, continued in the Northern Parts of Brettaine, yet ceased not to molest the Brettans. Thus Bede, lib. 1. Ecclesiasticae Historiae Anglorum Gentis, cap. 14—Revertuntur ergò im­pudentes Grassatores Hyberni domum: Post non longum tempus reversuri. Picti in extremà parte Insulae tunc primùm, & deincèps, quieverunt: Praedas tamèn nonnunquàm exindè, & Contritiones de Britonum Gente agere non cessârunt: Which Bede taketh verbatim out of Gildas, cap. 18. fol. 17. b. Now Gildas placeth this after the Brettans had sent their lamentable Letter unto Aetius the Consul, which was sent (saith Bede) Anno Christi 446. Anno Theodosii Secundi, vicesimo tertio: Lib. 1. Hist. cap. 13.446 The substance of the Letter was thus:—Aetio tèr Consuli Gemitus Britannorum.

And so, post pauca,—Repellunt Barbari ad Mare, repellit Mare ad Barbaros: Inter haec duo genera funerum, aut jugulamur, aut mergimur.

Yet for all this, the Romans sent them no Aid at that time; for the Roman Power was now declining.

Now the Computation of Bede is not right, unless we understand it of the 23 Year of Theodosius, after the death of Honorius: And so Bede expresseth himself in the be­ginning of the Chapter. For Aetius was Consul the first time with Symmachus, Anno Christi 446. And thus the Scots must return about that time into Ireland.

But Cambden saith, Liber Pasletensis casteth the Return of the Scots into the North of Brettaine in Anno Christi 404. Giraldus saith, That in the time of Nellus Magnus, 404 Monarch of Ireland, six Sons of Mured King of Ulster possessed the North Parts of Brettaine, whence that Nation was propagated, and called Scotland: And therefore Cambden conceives, it must fall in the Reign of Honorius.

Bede makes mention of Reuda about this time, (Lib. 1. de Hist. Ang. cap. 1.) under whose Conduct the Scots out of Ireland seated themselves in Brettaine, on the North side of the River Cluyd; which they possessed either by force or friendship: from whom they were called Dal-Reudini, that is, The Part of Reuda: And others think, That from this Reuda we gave them the Name of Red-Shanks, saith Cambden. And the Opinion is, That about this time flourished that Simon Brechus, whom the Scots say was the Founder of their Nation. Sinbrech is the true name of the Man: Sin signifies Pimples, or Freckles, ut apud Fordonum legitur. Perhaps this was the Brichus who in the time of St. Patrick, with Thuibaius, Macleius, and Auspacus, Scotchmen, vexed Bret­taine, as we read in the Life of St. Carantocus.

But why did the Scots call their Countrey in Brettaine, Alban, or Albin; and the Irish call it Allabany? Cambden supposeth from Banno, by which Name their Poets call Ireland; as it were another Ireland. Buchanan saith, That Alpum and Album (from whence comes Albin) is an ancient word for a Hill; and that upon the Sea between Ireland and Scotland, the Shore of Scotland seems to rise up into Mountains, and so gained the Name of Albin. Hist. Scot. lib. 1. pag. 12, 13.

[Page 56]But when the Scots came unto the Picts in Brettaine, though they ever and anon did make War and Excursions upon the Brettans, yet did they not advance very soon, but lived in that Angle where they first arrived. They continually warred against the Kings of Northumberland, for the space of 127 Years; till Edan King of the Scots, and his Army, were totally routed by Ethelfrid King of Northumberland, Anno Domini 603. Bede de Hist. Ang. lib. 1. cap. 34.

And when the Picts were almost rooted out, and the Kingdom of the Northumbrians, through Civil Discords and Incursions of the Danes, About the Year 800. fell to decay; then was all the North part of Brettaine called Scotland, from Cluyd and Edenborough-Frith: And on this side Cluyd and Edenborough-Frith, was part of the Kingdom of Northumberland, and possessed by the Saxons, as every man knows. But at this day Scotland is divided from England by the Rivers Tweed and Solway: And hence it is, that all those who possess the East part of Scotland, and are called Lowland-men, are descended of the English Saxons, and speak the English Tongue; and those that inhabit the Western Coast of Scotland, called Highlanders, be descended from the Scots, and speak Irish, and are maliciously bent towards the Lowland-men who speak English.

II. The People of the Scots have been noted of their best Writers for some bar­barous Customs; one whereof was, If any two were displeased, they expected no Law, but banged it out bravely, one, and his Kindred, against the other, and his Kindred. This Fighting they called their Feids. These deadly Feids King James the Sixth, in his Basilicon Doron, adviseth his Son to redress with all care possible: But it pleased God to give this King so long a Life, as to see it remedied in his own days: An Act indeed truly Royal, and worthy himself. Dr. Heylyn's Cosmography, pag. 331.

Another Custom they had of a strange nature, never was the like heard of among the Heathens; That the Kings of Scotland should have the Maidenhead, or first Nights Lodging with every Woman, who was to be married to a Husband that held Land immediately from the Crown; and the Lords and Gentlemen should have the like of all those whose Husbands were their Tenants or Homagers: And this was by a Law made by Eugenius a lascivious Prince of Scotland. But this Custom, in the time of Malcolme the Third, sirnamed Cammoir, was made redeemable for half a Mark of Sil­ver,1070 about the Year 1070. which Pension the Scots at this day call The Marchet of the Women. Buchanan, lib. 7. pag. 214. The reason of the Name, Skene, in his Interpre­tation of Old Words, thinks to come from March, which in the Ancient Scotch Lan­guage signifies A Horse; and so metaphorically denotes a Pension for the Leaping of a Woman, ascendere Mulierem. Spelman in his Glossary saith, That Merch in the ancient Language of the Brettans signifies a Daughter, or Woman-Sex; and so denotes a Pension for a Woman's Marriage, to the Lord or King.

CHAP. III.

THe Name of Pict was first introduced by the Romans, saith Buchanan in his History of Scotland, lib. 2. pag. 54. because these People painted their Bodies with the Pictures of all manner of Living Creatures: It was not their an­cient Native Name. Herodian saith, Neque vestis usum cognôrunt; sed ventrem & cer­vicem ferro cingunt, Ornamentum id esse, ac divitiarum argumentum existimârunt, perindè ut aurum caeteri Barbari: They put Iron Plates about their Bellies and Necks, which they reputed an Ornament, and an Argument of Riches, (as other Foreign Nations esteem­ed Gold) and painted their Bodies with the Forms of all manner of Living Creatures: [Page 57] Wherefore they put on no Clothes, that they might not hide their Bodies so carved and painted.

Buchanan supposeth them to be originally Scythians, or Getes, pag. 55. Hergust their King dying about the time of Victorinus (Lord Deputy of Brettaine under Honorius the Emperor, who reduced the Picts to the Roman Province about the Year of Christ 412.) forbad them to make any new King, but what should be given them by the Romans; and that it was prophesied of old, That the Picts should be rooted out by the Scots. Buchanan, ibid. pag. 129. And at last Brudus, King of the Picts, not able to compose the Differences already begun between the Picts and the Scots, died for grief; and Drusken his Brother (who was the last King of the Picts) was overthrown in Battel,Buchanan, li. 5. p. [...]65, 166. about the Year of Christ 838. by Kenneth the Second, King of the Scots, and the Picts utterly subdued: Since which time, the Kings of the Scots have been Lords of all Scotland, who before had onely a Part of Scotland.

It is said, That the Nation of the Picts came first out of Scythia into Ireland, and from thence into the North Parts of our Brettaine: So Bede de Hist. Ang. lib. 1. cap. 1. And this (as many will have it) about Anno Christi 78.

Judicious Cambden thinks they were very Brettans, who before the coming of the Romans were seated in the North part of our Island, with such other Brettans who fled unto them, as unwilling to submit to the Roman Servitude: In his Britannia, pag. 82.

For my part, I think the Brettans and the Picts do signifie the same thing; one be­ing a Greek Name, and the other Latin: This of Latin being given by the Romans in later Times, in distinction from our Brettans of England who submitted to the Roman Government, and were stiled as formerly, and perhaps more civilized by the Romans. Those other more rude, and flying into Scotland, and continually opposing the Romans, were by them called Picti, which Name continued afterwards, I find not the Name of Picti in any Author mentioned, till 300 Years after Christ, and more: And that as well the Brettans, as the Picts, were Peopled from the ancient Galles, and those origi­nally descended from the Scythians and Getes, as Sheringham de Anglorum Gentis Origine, doth probably demonstrate.

There were also two other sorts of People among the Picts in Scotland, in the time of the Romans; the Maiatae, and the Attacotti, as they were stiled by the Romans: Of whom see Buchanan, lib. 2. pag. 57. and also Cambden's Britannia, pag. 655. & pag. 91. These inhabited the Borders of Scotland.

CHAP. IV.

⚜ THe Kingdom of Scotland was never totally Conquered, either by the Ro­mans or Saxons; for which they may thank their great Barren Mountains, whether they fled from the Enemy, as a Shelter.

It consisted (as you have already heard) of two sorts of People, Picts, and Scots. It remains that I set down the Catalogue of their Kings, as far as truth of History will bear: For the first 39 Kings of Scotland (which some Scotch Historians do reckon up) are but vain and fabulous, as Dr. Heylyn truly accounts them, in his Cosmography, pag. 335.