IT is recorded in History, that after the Uni­versal Flood, the Isles of the Gentiles were divided by the Posterity of Japhet the Son of Noah; and it is probable, that this Island, among the rest, was then peopled by his Progeny; the History of whom may be easier wisht for than recovered: And therefore it may seem un­necessary to relate what some Antient Authors have recorded with much uncertainty of the Suc­cessors of Japhet, whom they have named Samo­thes, Magus Sarron, Druis and Bardus: But rather to follow the Authority of Geoffery, Arch-Deacon of Monmouth, in his History written in the Brittish Tongue, and translated into English about five hundred years since, and begins his Chronology with Brute, who after the Posterity of Japhet, seems to be the first Discoverer, Ruler, and Namer of this Island: Yet by the way we may observe, That Pomponius Mela, a Roman Historian writes, that one Hercules killed Albion a Giant about the mouth of the River R [...]s [...]e in France; from whence some have concluded, that Albion Reigned King here, [Page 5](the Greek Monuments likewise, always calling this Isle Albion) and that after his death Hercules came hither: And Solinus another Roman Historian re­ports, that by an Inscription upon an Altar found in the Northern part of Brittain, about 1600 years since, it plainly appeared that Ʋlysses in his ten years Travels after the Destruction of Troy, arrived in Brittain before the coming of Brute.

We shall now give a brief Account of what is commonly received concerning Brute, and the Race of the Kings of Brittain that proceeded from him, though, with my Author, I shall not impose upon the belief of any in these Narrations. Brute the Son of Sylvius, the Son of Ascanius, the Son of Ae­neas, after the Ruine of Troy, and the Death of his Father, being banisht into Greece, he there by his Valour rescued and delivered the remainder of the Trojans his Countreymen, from the Captivity which they had been for many years sufferers under the Grecians, with whom he departed to seek some new habitation, and associating to himself Corineus, whom with another Band of exiled Tro­jans he found in the way, after a long and tire­some Journey, and many notable encounters and atchievements, he arrived in this Island then cal­led Albion, and landed at Totnes in Devonshire, in the year from the Creation of the World 2855. which was about the time that Jeptah and Samson Judged Israel, and before the Birth of Christ 1116 years; and being made King or Governour of the Land, he called it by his own name Brit­tain, according to the opinion of many antient Authors; He also built the City of London which he named Troynovant or New Troy; At his Death Brute divided the Country among his three Sons, unto Locrine his Eldest he gave the middle part between Humber and Severn, which from him was called Loegria; To Camber his second he bequeath­ed [Page 6]all the Region beyond the River Severn, which from him was called Cambria, now Wales; To Allanact the youngest he left all the Land beyond Humber Northward, which was after called Albania, now Scotland; After which partition he deceased, having reigned 24 years, and was Bu­ried at London. Locrinus succeeded his Father, and Humber King of the Hums or Scythians Invad­ing his Brother Albanacts Countrey, he and his Brother Camber assisted Albanact so successfully, that they utterly defeated his Army, himself, and abundance of his Souldiers being Drowned in the River, from thence called Humber; Madan his Son reigned in his stead, then Mempricus, Ebrauh, Brute Greensheeld, Leil who is said to have built Carleil; Bladud a great Necromancer who is re­ported to have made those hot Baths at Bath, and to magnifie his skill, undertook to fly in the Air, but his Art failing, he fall upon the Temple of Apollo in London, and broke his Neck. Lear his Son was King after him, who was very unfortunate in two unnatural Daughters, whose Husbands strove to deprive him of his Kingdom, but their designs being defeated, his youngest Daughter whom he had slighted was admitted Queen after him, to whom succeeded her two Nephews, Mor­gan and Cunegad, between whom differences ari­sing, Morgan was slain and Cunegad reigned singly 30 years; Many other Kings of Brittain are reck­oned up after him, as Dunwallo D. of Cornwal, Belinus and Breanus who are said to have Conquer­ed France, Italy, Germany, and at last to have taken the City of Rome it self. King Lud who much beautified Troynovant, fortifying it with Walls and Gates, particularly Ludgate called after his name, and founded a Temple where it is thought St. Paul's now stands, and changed the name of the City from Troynovant to Luds Town, [Page 7]now London; He left two Sons Androgeus and Theo­mantius under Age, whereupen Cassibilane their Uncle was admitted Governour, in whose Reign Julius Caesar first Invaded this Island in the year from the Worlds Creation 3913. and 54 years be­fore the Birth of Christ, the Land being then not under one sole Monarch or King, but divided into 28 petty Kingdoms or Provinces; Caesar being landed at Deal in Kent, the news thereof was so welcome to the Senate of Rome, that they Decreed a Thanksgiving should be kept for 20 days toge­ther; Cassibilane was only King of the Trinobantes who inhabited Middlesex, Essex and Hartfordshire, but in this common danger the other Princes mu­tually agreed that he should command in Chief to withstand the Roman Invasion, which he did with very great courage, beating them twice off from the Brittish shoar; his chief City was Verulane near St. Albans.

Theomantius the Son of Lud succeeded Cassibilane, who paid the three thousand pound a year Tribute to the Romans which his Uncle had agreed to, when notwithstanding the utmost Efforts for their Liberty, the Brittains were obliged to submit to the Conquering Romans; Yet did not Caesar wholly sub­due Brittain, for he never came towards the North, (which several of his Successors afterwards en­deavoured to bring under) but subjected only those parts of the Island lying next to France, which our Countreyman Roger Bacon relates, that Caesar discovered by setting up Prospective Glasses on the Coast of France from whence he saw all the Havens and Creeks in England; So that he may rather seem to have discovered than reduced to the Ro­man Power. Kymbeline or Cunobeline the Son of Theomantius reigned next, whose principal seat was at Carnolodunum now Malden in Essex; He is said to have refused to pay the former Tribute, [Page 8]upon which Augustus, who fucceeded Julius Caesar, designed thrice to make an Expedition hither to recover his Right, but was as oft diverted by In­surrections in divers parts of his mighty Empire. Guiderus was King after his Father, and being ve­ry valiant, refused Tribute to Caligula the Roman Emperor, who therefore resolved, as his Prede­cessors Augustus and Tiberius had done, to reduce Brittain, as being the utmost bounds of the Roman Monarchy, making great provision for this Noble Enterprize, being incouraged therein by Adminius the Son of Cunoboline, who being banisht by his Father, fled with some few followers to Caligula for protection; Guiderus expected, and provided for his Arrival, who bringing down his Forces into Flanders, put them in Battel Array upon the Sea shore, planting his Engines of War, as if ready for an Engagement; after which the Emperor him­self in a Galley lanched into the Sea about two Bow-shots from the Land, and then presently re­turned, and getting into a Pulpit provided for him, he by found of Trumpet caused his Souldiers to prepare for Battel, and then charged every Man to fill his Helmet with Cockle and Muscle Shells, which he called, The Spoils of the Conquered Ocean, and gave as great Rewards to them for these trifles, as if they had performed some notable Service in War; and against the place he built a Tower as a Trophey of his Victory, the Ruines whereof (saith my Author) remain to this day, and is called, The Brittains House. He carried many of these Shells to Rome, boasting of this honourable Voyage, and requiring a Triumph, which the Senate seeming unwilling to allow, he threatned to murther them all.

Claudius succeeded him in the Empire; and ha­ving leisure, resolved to make War upon the Brit­tains, who had long neglected to pay their Tri­bute, [Page 9]being invited thereto by certain Brittish Fugitives, ordering Aulus Plautius a Roman Sena­tor, to transport the Veterane Souldiers out of France thither, to which they were very unwilling, complaining, That they must be forced to make War out of the World, for so they accounted this Island to be; but at length being Embarqued, they Landed unexpectedly upon the Brittains, who were incamped in the Isle of Sheppey in Kent, and de­feating them, took the City of Camolodunum in Essex, and subdued the East-part of the Island. Jeffery of Monmouth writes, That Claudius Landed at Rochester, near Portsmouth, which he Besieged, and Guiderus coming to relieve it, fought and pre­vailed against the Romans, till one Hanno, Armed like a Brittain, pressing through the midst of the Troops till he came where Guiderus was, he instant­ly slew him, which Arviragus the King's Brother perceiving, to prevent the Brittains from being discouraged, putting on the Royal Robes, fought so couragiously, that the Romans were routed, Claudius flying to his Ships, and Hanno to an ad­joyning Forrest, whom Arviragus pursued and kill'd ere he could get to the Haven, from whence it is said to have the name of Hanno's Haven, then Hampton, now Southampton: After his Death the Land was many years under Roman Governours and Lieutenants, but the Silures or Inhabitants of South-Wales would not endure the Romish Yoke, relying much upon the Courage of their Prince Corvactacus, who incamping his Army on the top of an Hill, and stopping all the passages thereto with heaps of Stones, he expected the approach of his Enemies, striving in the mean time to ani­mate his Souldiers with incouraging Speeches, telling them, That day and that Battel would either restore them to their former Liberties, or else reduce them to perpetual slavery, and that they should remember [Page 10]the valour of their Ancestors, who formerly had driven Caesar the Dictator out of their Countrey, and thereby delivered themselves from Roman Taxes and Axes, and freed their Wives and Daughters from being debauched by their implacable Adversaries; The Soul­diers were much incouraged and eccho'd out their hopes of Victory, with so great a shout as much disturbed the Romans, who thought the Fortifi­cations the Brittains had raised to be impregnable, but Ostorius marching forward, though opposed by a shower of Arrows, he at length broke down that rude ill compacted Fence, and coming to handy strokes with the Brittains who had more courage than Armor, having neither Head-peice nor Coat of Mail, they were so fore galled with the Javelins and two-handed Swords of the Romans, that they soon fled; This Victory was unexpected by the Romans, and more considerable by the taking the Wife, Daughter and Brethren of Cataractus Prisoners, he himself flying to the Brigantes, or those that Inhabited Lancashire, Cheshire, &c. for succour, but was by Cartismunda the Queen trea­cherously delivered into the hands of the Conque­rors, after nine years generous resistance, and his fame having reached even to Rome it self, Cata­ractus was carried thither and led in Triumph through the Roman Legions with his Brethren, Wife and Daughter, whose great Courage and strange Attire filled the People with admiration and delight; His Body was almost naked, Paint­ed over with Figures of divers Beasts, he wore a Chain of Iron about his Neck, and another about his middle, his Hair hanging down in Curls cover­ed his Back and Shoulders, and the Hair of his up­per Lip or Whiskers parting in the middle reacht down to his Breast, he neither hung down his head as daunted with fear, nor asked mercy as the rest, but with an undaunted Countenance coming [Page 11]before the Imperial Seat, he made the following Speech to the Emperor on the Throne.

‘Great Caesar, If my moderation in prosperity had been answerable to the greatness of my Birth and Estate, or the success of my late attempts agreeable to the resolution of my mind, I might have come to this City rather as a Friend to have been entertained, than as a Captive to be gazed upon; Neither would you have disdained to have accepted the terms of Peace that I should have offered, being a man of royal descent, and a Commander of many Warlike Nations; But though the Clouds have darkened my present Fortune, yet have the Heavens and Nature be­stowed that upon me in Birth and Mind, which none can vanquish or deprive me of; I plainly perceive that you make other mens miseries the subject and matter of your Triumphs, and in this my Calamity, as in a Mirror, you now contem­plate your own Glory; Yet remember that I was a Prince furnisht with strength of men, and ha­biliments of War, and that it is no such won­der I am now deprived of them all, since daily experience shews that the events of War are uncertain, and the success of the best Policies are guided by uncertain Fates; And thus it was with me, who presumed that the deep Ocean like a Wall inclosing our Land, which is so sci­tuated by Divine Providence as if it were a World by it self, might have been a sufficient security and defence to us against any Foreign Invasion; but I now observe that the desire of Dominion admits of no Limitation, neither hath the Roman Ambition any bounds, for being de­sirous to Command all, it seems all must obey them; For my own part while I was able I made resistance, being unwilling to submit my Neck to a servile Yoak, since the Law of Nature allows [Page 12]every man to defend himself being assaulted, and to withstand force by force; Had I yielded at first, neither your Glory nor my Ruine would have been so remarkable; Fortune hath now done her worst, we have nothing left us but our lives, which if you take from us, our miseries will have an end, and if you spare us, we shall live the ob­jects of your Clemency.’

Caesar admiring at the Courage and Resolution of so free a mind in a Captive condition, he par­doned him and the rest, who being unchained from the Triumphal Fetters, they then did reve­rence to Agrippina the Empress, who sate aloft on a Throne Royal; And afterwards continued at Rome to their Deaths for any thing we read to the contrary.

After Ostorius was recalled, Paulus Suetonius was sent hither by the bloody Nero, during whose Go­vernment the Brittains made several attempts to regain their Countrey, and free themselves from the insupportable slavery and misery wherein they lived; for Arvivagus having made Nero the Em­peror and his two Daughters his Heirs, hoping thereby to secure the Kingdom to his Family it happened otherwise; For the Land was ruined by the Roman Souldiers, Voadicia his Queen beaten and abused, her Daughters Ravished, the Nobles deprived of their Estates, and the People in a most deplorable servitude; Voadicia made such sensible Remonstrances of these unsufferable wrongs to the People, that she raised an Army of an hundred thousand men, who willingly submitted to her Conduct, and with whom, being confident in her numbers, she ingaged against the Romans at some disadvantage, and was vanquished by them with the loss of fourscore thousand Brittains; And af­ter she had shewed all the courage of a gallant Commander, and had made so notable an attempt [Page 13]for redeeming her Countrey from bondage, doubt­ing to fall one time or other into her Enemies hands, she like another Lucretia fell upon her own Sword and Died. In the 73 year from our Saviours Birth.

‘If the Reader desire to know more of the for­mer Kings of Brittain, the Invasion of the Ro­mans, and the Life of this renowned Queen Voa­dicia, I have published a Book called Female Ex­cellency or the Ladies Glory, wherein there is a full account of all these particulars, being of the same value with this.’

About this time Historians report that Christia­nity was first planted in this Island, certain Disci­ples being sent by Philip the Apostle out of France into Brittain, whereof Joseph of Arimathea that Bu­ried the Body of Christ was chief, who first laid the Foundation of the true Faith at a place called Avalon, now Glastenbury in Somersetshire, where with his twelve Assistants he Preached the Gospel of Salvation to the Islanders, and left there Bodies Buried in that place.

Galgacus a valiant Commander of the Caledonians was the last Prince that resisted the Roman Domi­nion, and was made General of the Brittains against the Invasions of Agricola in the Reign of the Em­peror Domitian, he with the chief of the Brittish Nobility made a very valiant defence for several years, but the Romans seeming to be decreed by Heaven to reduce the World under their obedience vanquished all that opposed them, and in a bloody Battel defeated him and his Forces, and laid all in ruins before them, whereby the whole Island was subjected to the Roman Emperors, 136 years after the entrance of Julius Caesar. Jeffery of Monmouth the Welsh Historian doth here bring in a successi­on of Brittish Kings, and amongst them Marius who Conquered Roderic King of the Picts and [Page 14]Scots, whose Monument crected near Carleile, wherein his Victory was inscribed, remained a long time; After him Corlus his Son is said to succeed, who being carried to Rome and Educated there in his Youth, upon his return to his own Coun­trey, he gratefully paid the Romans their Tribute without constraint, but we must leave these rela­tions as doubtful as we find them.

The Picts and Northern Inhabitants of Brittain continuing to Invade and Destroy the Brittains who were now become Tributary to the Romans, the Emperor Adrian in 124. came hither in Per­son for their relief, and drove the Picts out of the plain Countrey into the Woods and Mountains where the Roman Horsemen could not attack them, but finding the Air too severe for his Soul­diers, and the Countrey barren, instead of leaving the Brittains a Roman Garrison, he built a strong Wall or Fortification of Earth for their defence against their Enemies; It was composed of Stakes driven deep into the Ground, and bound toge­ther like a hedge, which being filled up with Turf and Earth, became a strong Rampant against sudden Incursions. It began at the River Eden in Cumber­land near Carleile; and ended at the River Tyne near Newcastle, being eighty miles in length. After which the Brittains continued for many years in peace without opposition, time and castom causing them to bear the Yoak of subjection patiently, es­pecially considering they were obliged to the Ro­mans for assistance against their own Barbarous Countreymen.

After the Romans had Conquered the greatest part of the World, the succeeding Emperors poli­tickly permitted Kingdoms and Provinces to be governed by Kings and Governours of their own Nation, thereby the better to keep them in obe­dience to their Empire; Among others Antoninus [Page 15]Pius constituted Lucius to be King of Brittain, who disliking the Idolatry and Paganism of his People, and being much affected with the holy lives of the Christians, and with the Miracles wrought among them, and incouraged by the Emperors Edicts in their favour, he allowed the publick Profession thereof, being the first Christian King in the World, and Brittain the first Kingdom that imbraced the Gospel by publick Authority; After this he sent two Persons to Eleutherius Bishop of Rome, to de­sire the form of some Laws to Govern his People by; To which the Bishop replied, ‘You desire us to send you the Roman and Imperial Laws, for the Reformation of the People, and Guidance of the King and Kingdom of Brittain; The Roman Laws we altogether mislike, but the Law of God by no means; By the Divine Clemency you have of late received the Law and Faith of Christ into your Kingdom; You have with you the Old and New Testament, out of them (in Gods name) by the advice of your Counsellors, take you a Law, and therewith by Gods permission Govern your Kingdom, for you are Gods Vicar there­in, &c.’ By this we may see the vast difference between the humility and piety of the Roman Church in the Primitive times, and the Pride, Cruelty and Usurpation of the present Synagogue of Satan.

This Epistle with two Preachers, Fagianus and Daniranus whom the Bishop sent to King Lucius, prevailed so much upon him, that being Baptized into the Christian Faith, he converted the Hea­thenish Temples of the Arch- Flamins and Fla­mines into so many Bishops Sees, whereof London, York, and St. David's in Wales were made the Me­tropolitans; A Table that remains in St. Peter's Church in Cornhill London Records, that King Lu­cius founded that Church for a Cathedral, and [Page 16]likewise St. Peter's Westminster, now the Abbey, and likewise Dover Castle; He reigned 12 years and lies buried at Glocester, and dying without Children left the Roman Emperors his Heirs, of whom Commodus succeeded, in whose Reign the Roman Legions in Brittain fell into divers muti­nies, because the Emperor instead of Senators and Consuls, who used to Command them, put infe­riour Persons over them, but Helvius Pertinax be­ing sent hither quieted all dissentions with the severe punishment of the Offenders, and at length by his policy he obtained the Imperial Dignity; Severus Reigned after him, whom Albinus Lieute­nant of Brittain opposed, and assisted by the Brit­tish Youth, fought a Battel with him in France, where Albinus was defeated, and Severus confirm­ed in the Empire, and then coming over into Brittain, endeavoured to secure the Countrey to himself by erecting several Walls and Forts in the In-land Parts, and repairing those with Stone which were formerly of Turf or Earth, and finding the Northern Brittains or Scots very troublesome, he built a Wall or Fortification for defending the more Civilized from the Savage and Barbarous In­habitants; this Wall crossed the whole Island from Sea to Sea, beginning at the Frith of Solney in Scotland and ending at Timnouth, in length 132 Miles, it was built with Turfs and Timber with strong Bulwarks at a convenient distance, near, if not upon the Foundation of the former, called Adrians Wall, the ruins whereof are yet visible through the Counties of Northumberland and Cum­berland, for which act he Sirnamed himself Brit­tannicus, and after 18 years Reign died at York in 212. not so much of Sickness, say some Authors, as of Discontent and Grief; Others say of a Mortal wound given him by Fulgence Captain of the Picts; Bassianus Garacalla his Son succeeded him, and [Page 17]hastning to Rome offered very easie conditions of Peace to the yet resisting Brittains, who being tyred with the long Wars accepted thereof, and Hostages were given for conserving the same. And now the Royal Title of Kings of Brittain be­ing annexed to the Roman Emperors, they by their continual divisions for gaining the Imperial Dignity, gave a long breathing time of Peace to this harassed Island, so that little of action happen­ed here till the reigns of Dioclesian and Maximin, in whose time Carausius being by the Romans made Admiral of the Brittish Seas to guard them against the Pyracies of the Saxons and Belgians, he by con­niving at their Robberies became rich and popular, so that having notice the Emperor had order­ed him to be secretly kill'd, he by the aid of the Picts and Northern Brittains took upon him the Title of Emperor of Rome, and valiantly defended his Dignity for seven years; At length Maximin Marched to the Brittish Ocean with a powerful Army, but hearing of the strength of Carausius and wanting Seamen, he Encamped on the French Shoar, and concluding a Peace with him, return­ed back to Rome; Carausius Governed the Brittains with Justice and Peace for seven years, repairing the Roman Wall, and defending them from their brutish Enemies, but was at length Murdered by his treacherous friend Alectus, who took upon him the Imperial Purple.

The Romans after the Death of Carausius resolved to attempt the recovery of this Island, and Con­stantius with a Potent Army Landed here in a great Fog, without observation or hindrance, at which Alectus being surprized was slain with most of his Army, the rest escaping toward London designed to Plunder and Burn it, but the Romans made such speed that they prevented them, killing Gallus their Leader, and throwing his Body into a Brook [Page 18]that ran through the City, which was after called Gallus his Brook, now Walbrook.

After this, these two Tyrants Dioclesian and Ma­ximin raised a dismal Persecution in all the parts of the Roman Empire, whereby 17000 Christians, Men and Women were Crowned with Mar­tyrdom, within the space of one Month, and in Brittain the Churches were demolished, their Bi­bles and other Writings burnt, and for 10 years together the poor People were continually tor­mented without intermission, or any place being free from the Blood of Martyrs, who were constant in the profession of the Faith; Among others St. Alban was beheaded at the Town bearing his name, whom Fortunatus Priscus mentions.

His Instructor in the Christian Religion Amphiole or Brittain was afterward taken, and being brought to the same place was whipped about a Stake whereto his Intrails were fastned and so wound out of his Body, and was lastly stoned to death; Several others suffered, as Julius and Aaron at Leicester, or rather Coverleon in Monmouthshire, and so many at Lichfield that the place became a Golgo­tha, or Field of Dead Corps, and therefore the Seal of Arms of that City is charged with many Martyrs to this day; But these two bloody Em­perors enjoyed their honours a very short time, for within a year after this bloody Persecution, they were both of them by the hand of God (saith Euse­bius) struck with such a mad humour, that they renounced the Empire, and laying aside the Im­perial Robes, Dioclesian retired into Dalmatia [Page 19]where he died raging of a terrible disease; And Maximinus hanged himself at Marseilles in France.

Gallerius and Constantius succeeded them, the last of whom was a Prince of singular Piety towards God, and Clemency towards men, being very kind to the Christians, and rebuilding their Churches, for which God so blessed him, saith Eusebius, that this virtuous Father left a more virtuous Son Constantine called the Great, the Heir of his well-gotten Em­pire; He Married Helena the Daughter of Coilus a Brittish Prince; She is reported to have removed the Pagan Idols out of Jerusalem, and to have built a Temple in the place where our Saviour suf­fered, and to have found out the Cross so highly venerated by Antient Writers, and the Crib or Manger where Christ was born; And they say she was the chief instrument of her Husbands Conver­sion, persuading him to renounce all Superstitious and Idolatrous Worship, and to acknowledge one God and Jesus Christ his only Son, and incourag­ing the Christians who had been hid in Caves and Dens from the fury of their Enemies, to come forth and freely to exercise their Religion. Con­stantius after two years Reign, returning from an expedition against the Picts and Scots, fell sick at York being his Imperial Residence: About which time his Son Constantine escaping from Gallerius at Rome (where he had been left Hostage) he by Hor­ses laid on purpose, arrived in a short time at York, with whose presence his Father was so com­forted, that sitting up in his Bed he spake thus to him in the presence of his Counsellors.

‘Death is not now terrible to me, since I am well satisfied that those actions which I have left unaccomplished will be performed by you my Son, in whom I doubt not but my name and memory will be preserved; I advise thee to go­vern thy Empire with Impartial Justice, protect [Page 20]the Innocent from Oppressors, and wipe away all Tears from the Eyes of the Christians, for therein I am sure thy happiness will consist; To thee therefore I leave my Diadem and their De­fence, desiring that my faults may be buried with me in my Grave, and leaving my virtues (if I ever had any) to revive and live in thee;’ Hav­ing thus said he expired in 306.

His Son Constantine the Great succeeded, being joyfully proclaimed Emperor by the Brittains, be­ing as it is said was born of a Brittish Princess; He prosecuted the War his Father had begun against the Caledonians, Picts, and Brittains, in the re­mote Islands of Scotland; He then made War with Maxentius a wicked Usurper, Necromancer and Tyrant, and being sensible that success depends much upon the blessing of Heaven, yet doubting what God to Invocate to his assistance (as not yet fully setled in the Christian Faith) he devoutly cast up his Eyes to the East, and (saith Eusebius) thereupon the Sign of the Cross, or the first Greek Characters of the Name of Christ were visibly pre­sented to his sight, the Stars like Letters being so placed that this Sentence might be read in Greek, In hoc Vince, In this shalt thou overcome, which Pro­mise of Victory gave him such incouragement, that ingaging the Tyrant Maxentius, he utterly defeated his Forces, himself being drown'd, by the fall of a Bridge, into the River Tyber; After this Constan­tine obtained several other Victories, and then to compleat his worthy actions, he laid the Founda­tion of the Christians security, by bringing them under the protection of Kings and Princes, which could never since be shaken, though often at­tempted by several Heathen Emperors his Succes­sors; At his Death he divided his large Empire among his three Sons, Constantine the Eldest hav­ing France, Spain, part of Germany and Brittain for [Page 21]his Lot; After him several other Emperors suc­ceeded without making any great alteration in the Brittish affairs, neither were there any considera­ble Transactions; The last of them was Theodosius in the year of Christ 423. about which time the Goths who had faithfully served the Romans about 20 years, being disobliged and slighted, to re­venge their wrongs, they chose for their Leader a valiant Goth called Alaricus, who proved the scourge of Rome; for the Vandals, Alans, and Suecians joyning with him, they began a fierce War in Austria and Hungary, increasing their forces into such vast Multitudes, that the World stood amazed, and trembled at them. For soon after two hundred thousand Goths more resorted to them, who with these united Forces over-run Thracia, Hungary, Austria, Sclavonia and Dalmatia, ruining and destroying all things in so dreadful a manner that it seemed rather the Ravage of Devils than Men. The Roman Empire thus declining, they drew their Forces out of Brittain: But a while af­ter the Brittains were extreamly distressed by the continual disturbers of their Peace, the Scots and Picts; therefore they sent their Ambassadors to Rome, with their Garments rent, and Dust upon their Heads, bewailing their most miserable condi­tion, and begging Assistance; whereupon the Em­perour sent a Regiment of Soldiers into Brittain, under Gallio, who for a while defended them, but was soon called back with his Legion into France, to secure the Country about Paris. At his depar­ture he advised the Brittains to stand upon their Guard; and for the future to provide for their own safety, and not to depend upon any succours from the Romans, who had their hands full of troubles nearer home.

Thus the Romans, after they had commanded in Brittain above five hundred years, took their last [Page 22]farewel thereof. During their continuance here, they have levied so many Companies of stout Brit­tains for their Wars in Armenia, Egypt, and other Frontier Countries, that they had much dispeopled the Nation. Some of these British Souldiers, after they were worn out in the Wars, had Armorica in France assigned them by Constantine the Great for their good Service in the Wars, from whom it was cal­led Little Brittain. Unto this Country, in the time of Gratian the Emperour, was Ʋrsula the Daugh­ter of Dinoth Regent of Cornwal sent with eleven thousand Virgins, who were to have been married to their Countreymen the Brittains; but they all perished e're they arrived; some being drowned in the Sea by Tempest, and the Remainder put to the Sword by the barbarous Huns and Picts, be­cause they would not yield to their filthy Lusts.

The Southern or more Citiliz'd Brittains being extreamly weakned by the Romans exporting so many of their valiant Soldiers, and then forsaking them, and likewise by Scarcity and Famine; their inveterate Foes, the Scots and Picts, take this un­happy Opportunity to infest them with all manner of Cruelties and Barbarities: So that being no longer able to defend and secure themselves, they supplicate for Aid from Germany, inviting the Jutes, Angles, and Saxons, who then inhabited Jutland, Holstein, and the Coasts along the River Rhene, to come to their Assistance. Their proposal was rea­dily embraced, and nine thousand of them, under the command of two Brethren, Hengist and Horsa, entred the Land at Ebsfleet in the Isle of Thanet in Kent, where they were received with great Joy, and entertained with Songs, according to the custom of the Brittains, who alloted them that Island to inhabit, and a while after Vortigern then King of the Brittains, allowed Hengist so much Land as he could encompass within a Bull-hide cut out [Page 23]into Thongs, wherein he built a Castle, which from thence had the Name of Thong-Castle; when it was finished, Hengist invited the King to see it, who there fell in love with Rowena, the Daughter or Neice of Hengist; upon which Match Hengist grew more bold, contriving to make the Island his Inheritance; and thereupon sent for fresh For­ces, who at their arrival caused several Quarrels a­mong the Natives, dispossessing the people of their estates, every Commander reckoning that part of the Country his own where they could over-match the Brittains, where they commanded as absolute­ly as Princes; whereby the Country was burdened with seven Kings at once, each of them having So­veraign Command within his own limits, though still one seemed to be Supreme over all the rest.

This was usually called the Saxons Heptarchy, or seven Kingdoms; The first and chiefest, was that of Kent only governed by Hengist and his Successors for three hundred seventy two years. The next was the Kingdom of the South Saxons, containing the Counties of Sussex or Surrey, continuing a hun­dred and thirteen years. 3. That of the West Sax­ons, comprehending the Counties of Cornwal, De­von, Dorset, Somerset, Wilts, Berks, and Hampshire; it lasted three hundred years. 4. The East Saxons Kingdom, which was Essex, Middlesex, and part of Hartfordshire. 5. The Kingdom of Northumberland, containing the Counties of Northumberland, West­morland, Cumberland, Durham, York and Lancaster, continuing three hundred seventy nine years. 6. The Kingdom of Mercia, which was compos'd of the Counties of Oxford, Glocester, Worcester, Sa­lop, Cheshire, Stafford, Warwick, Buckingham, Bed­ford, Huntington, part of Hartfordshire, Northampton, Rutland, Lincoln, Leicester, Derby, and Nottingham, continuing two hundred and two years. 7. The last Kingdom was that of the East-Angles, contain­ing [Page 24]the Counties of Norfolk and Suffolk, which lasted three hundred and fifty three years.

Yet during the time of this Heptarchy, many of the British Princes valiantly defended their lawful Inheritances, and with great courage endeavour­ed to prevent the Saxon Yoke from being imposed upon their Necks: Among whom was Vortimer, the Son of Vortigern aforementioned, for Vortigern after sixteen years Reign deposed from the Govern­ment, for his kindness to the Saxons, his Son Vortimer was chosen King of the Brittains, and pre­sently engaged against the Saxons, gaining so much in four famous victories over them, that they were almost extirpated. He erected a Monument in the Isle of Thenta, in the place where the Saxons were overthrown, which to this day is called the Stowers, wherein he commanded his Body to be buried, that the Saxons might be terrified with the sight thereof. He restored the Christian Re­ligion, then much decayed, and rebuilt the Churches destroyed by the Pagan Saxons. Rowena procured his Death by Poyson, after which his Father Vor­figern was re-established in the Government: But being oppressed by the Saxons, and pursued by Au­relius, he fled into Wales, where, in a Castle which he built by Merlin's Directions, in the Mountains, he, with his Daughter, whom he had taken to Wife, were burnt to ashes.

Aurelius Ambrotius was likewise very successful against the Saxons. He is said to have built Stone­henge near Salisbury, in remembrance of the Mas­sacre of three hundred of the British Nobility, who were there slain by the Treachery of the Saxons. Ʋter Pendragon, who succeeded him, was no less fortunate. He was named Pendragon, either be­cause at his Birth there appeared a fiery Comet like a Dragons Head, or from his Royal Banner, where­in was the Picture of a Dragon with a Golden Head. [Page 25]He died of Poyson put into a Well wherein he used to drink. Arthur his Son and Successor won twelve Battels against the Saxons, and chased Col­gern their Captain from his Camp in Northumber­land to York, from whence he escaped into Germa­ny. The Relicks of Arthur's Round Table are to this time shewn in Winchester, with the Twenty four Seats. After him reigned Constantine, Aure­lius, Conantus, Vortiporus, Malgo, Canonus, and Ca­reticus. This last King raised a Civil War among his own Subjects the Britains, which made them forsake him, and leave him to the Mercy of the Saxons, who pursuing him, he fled to Cirencester in Berkshire for safety; but his Enemies taking se­veral Sparrows, fastned fire to their feet, and let them fly into the City, who lighting upon straw, and thatcht houses, burnt the City to the Ground; but Careticus escaped, and fled for security to the Mountains of Wales, where he died.

After twenty four years Civil Dissention Cadwan was made King. During these Troubles, Austin the Monk, who was sent hither by Pope Gregory to convert the Britains carrying himself very in­solently at a Meeting with the British Bishops, at a place thence named Austin's Oak in Worcestershire, they could come to no Agreement; whereupon it is thought, Austin contrived this cruel Revenge.

Cadwallo was victorious over the Saxons, slaying Edwin King of Northumberland, and his Son Osfride in a bloody Battel. He died in peace, say the British Writers, and was buried at St. Martin's Church in London; his Statue on Horseback in Brass being set upon Ludgate, for a terrour to the Saxons.

CAdwalloder the Son of Cadwallo fought manfully against the Saxons; but the distractions among his Nobility much hindered his proceedings. There was likewise a dreadful Famine in his Reigh, so [Page 26]that the common People reckoned Roots and Herbs to be dainty Food: This was followed by a woful Mortality, which was so raging and sudden, that great numbers of People were surpriz'd by Death while they were eating, drinking, walking and speaking. These calamities lasted near eleven years, so that the Country was almost depopulated, the King and his British Peers being forced to leave the Land, who went to his Cousin Alan, King of Little Britain in France. The Saxons taking ad­vantage of these severe miseries, lamentably op­pressed the wretched Britains, to whose Aid Cad­wallader, with the Assistance of his Cousin Alan, did once design to return, but being diverted by a Dream which he had, he went on Pilgrimage to Rome, and according to the Superstition of that Age, he there turned Monk, where he soon after died and was buried; with whom died all the hopes of the Britains, he being the last King of the British Blood, whereby the Saxons became So­veraign Lords and Masters of this Island. And thus was this unhappy Country a second time con­quered by Strangers, which hapned about the Year of our Lord 689.

The Britains being thus outed of their Coun­try by the Conquering Saxons, retired beyond the River Severn, and therein fortified themselves, which Country thereupon came to be called Wales, and the People Walsh or Welchmen; not that the word Walsh signified in the Saxon Language a Fo­reigner or Alien (for how could they be called Aliens in their Native Countrey) but Wales and Walish from Galles or Gallish by changing G into W ac­cording to the custom of the Saxons; The Britains being descended of the Gaules kept their own name still, though somewhat altered in the Let­ter, as is said before; and to this day the French call the Prince of Wales by the name of Le Prince [Page 27]le Galles; At first their Chiefs were honoured with the Titles of Kings of Wales, and are these that fol­low. 1. Idwallo in the year of Christ 688. called Iror the Son of Alan. 2. Roderick. 3. Conan. 4. Mervyn. 5. Roderick Sirnamed the Great, who left Wales between his three Sons, allotting unto each his part, the Country being divided into North-Wales, South-Wales and Powys-Land, which had their several Lords and Princes; North-Wales fell to the share of Amarawd the eldest Son of Ro­derick Mawr, or the Great, the last King thereof, with a superiority of Power over both the rest, who were but Homagers to this; It containeth the County of Merioneth, part of Denbigh, Flint, Car­narvan, and the Isle of Anglesey, which being the more Mountainous Parts, and of difficult access, consequently preserved their Liberty longest, and do still keep their Language from the Incursions of the English; Aberfraw in the Isle of Anglesey was the Princes Palace, who were thence sometimer called Kings of Aberfraw.

South-Wales in the division of the Country fell to Cadel the second Son, comprehending the Coun­ties of Glamorgan, Pembroke, Carmarthen, Cardi­gan and part of Brecknock, which though the rich [...] and most fruitful part of Wales, yet Pem­brok [...] and Brecknock having their several Kings, there remained only Cardigan and Carmarthen un­der the immediate subjection of the Princes of South-Wales, whose principal Seat was at Dynefar or Dynevor Castle, not far from Carmarthen, who thence were called by their Subjects, the Kings of Dynevor.

Powys-land was bestowed by Roderick upon his youngest Son Mervyn, containing the Counties of Montgomery and Radnor, with part of Denbigh, Brecknock, Merioneth and Shropshire; His chief Palace was Matraval in Montgomeryshire, from [Page 28]whence the Princes thereof were so called; This Countrey continued in the Line of Mervyn a long time together, but much afflicted and dismembred by the Princes of North-Wales who cast a greedy eye upon it; The last that held it entire was Mere­dith, who left it to his two Sons Madoc and Griffith, of which Madock died at Winchester in 1160. and Griffith was by King Henry I. created Lord Powys, the residue of Powys-land which pertained to Ma­dock, depending still upon the fortune of North-Wales.

In these several Divisions were different Kings and Princes, who long strugled with the Saxons for their Liberties; But because we find very little mention of their Actions in our Chronicles, I shall proceed with the History of the Saxons and Danes, and afterward give an account of the actions of some of the Welsh Kings and Princes, till that Prin­cipality was wholly subdued to the Crown of Eng­land.

The Saxons, according to the common fate of Conquerours, after they had subdued their Ene­mies, disagreed among themselves, and several of their Princes incroached upon the Territories of each other, and so became petty Monarchs of some part of Britain: These were reckoned to be [...]our­teen in number, till at last Egbert, the eighteenth King of the West Saxons, got command over all the seven Kingdoms of the Saxons, and so became sole Monarch of England, which none of his Predeces­sors before ever obtained. He had War fourteen years with the Cornish and Welch, and took West-chester, their chief hold, from them, making a strict Law against any Welcoman that should pass over Offa's Dike, or set one Foot within his Eng­lish Dominions. He slew Bernulf King of Mercis in Battel, and drove the King of Kent out of his Kingdom. The East Angles and East Saxons sub­mitted [Page 29]to him, and likewise the South Saxons; whereupon he caused himself to be crowned abso­lute Monarch at Winchester: And this Monarchy continued in the Saxons, till the Danes first got, and then lost it again; and the Saxons Issue failing upon their next entrance, it then fell to the Nor­mans, as by the Sequel will appear. In the four­teenth year of Egbert the Danes with thirty three Ships landed in England, to whom he gave Battle, but had the worst of the day, losing two of his chief Captains, and two Bishops; but the Danes returning two years after into Wales, and joyning with the Welch, Egbert overcame both Danes and Welch together.

Ethelwolph his Son succeeded; after whom reign'd Ethelbald, Ethelbert, Ethelred, and then Alfred, in whose time the Danes, under Roll a Nobleman, came over with a great Army, but by the Valour of Alfred were beaten. This virtuous Prince divided the twenty four hours of the Day and Night into three equal parts, which he ob­served by the burning of a Taper set in his Chapel, Clocks and Watches being not then in use: Eight hours he spent in Contemplation, Reading, and Prayer, other eight, for his Repose, and the Ne­cessaries of Life; and the other eight in Affairs of State. He divided the Kingdom into Shires, Hundreds, and Tythings, for the better Admini­stration of Justice, and suppressing of Robbers and Felons; which had so good effect, that the Peo­ple might Travel with all manner of security: yea, saith my Author, if Bracelets of Gold had been hung in the High-ways, none durst have presumed to have taken them away. He commanded all his Subjects who possessed two Hides of Land, to bring up their Sons in Learning till they were at least fifteen years old, asserting, ‘That he accounted a man Free born, and yet Illiterate, to be no better [Page 30]than a Beast, a Sot, and a Brainless Creature:’ Neither would he admit any into Office that were not so. He translated the Holy Gospel into the Saxon Tongue, was devout in the Service of God, and a great Protector of Widows and Or­phans.

Edward his eldest Son succeeded him, against whom his Nephew Ethelwald rebelled. His Sister Elfleda had very hard Travel of her first Child, whereupon she ever after forbore the Nuptial Em­braces, alledging it to be an over-foolish Pleasure which occasioned such bitter Pains; and listing her self a Souldier under her Brother, she per­formed many valiant exploits against the Danes; against whom Edward obtained a great Victory near Wolverhampton, wherein two of their Kings were slain, with many of the Nobility and a mul­titude of Common Souldiers, which procured him both Fear and Love from the People.

After his death Ethelstane reigned, who is said to be the first Anointed King of this Island: He enlarged his Dominions farther than he received them. He overthrew Godfrey the Danish King of Northumberland, Howell King of Wales, and Con­stantine King of Scotland, forcing them to submit to his pleasure; after which he again restored them to their Dignities, glorying, ‘That it was more Honour to make a King, than to be a King.’ These actions procured him much re­nown from his Neighbour Princes, who courted his Friendship, and sent him curious Presents. Othy the Emperor, who married his Sister, sent him a curiosity richly set with Precious Stones, very ar­tificially contrived, wherein were Land-skips with Vines, Corn, and men seeming so naturally to move, as if they had been real. The King of Nor­way sent him a sumptuous Ship, richly guilt, with Purple Sails. The King of France sent him a Sword, [Page 31]which was said to have been Constantine's the Great, the Hilt whereof was all of Gold, and therein, as they said, was one of the Nails which fastned Christ to the Cross: He likewise sent the Spear of Charles the Great, reported to be the same where­with our Saviour's side was pierced; also a part of the Cross, a piece of the Crown of Thorns, and the Banner of St. Maurice. It is related, That this King Ethelstane, or Athelstane, in the third year of his Reign, was so harassed by the Danes, that he was forced to shut himself up in Winchester City; who propounded to him, either to submit, and hold the Realm of them, or to determine the Quarrel between two Champions of each side. The King was much perplexed at these Proposi­tions, because his three valiant Knights, Guy Earl of Warwick, (who lived in his Reign, or not at all) one Herand another couragious Knight, and Earl Rohand Guy's Father-in-Law, were gone to the Holy Land. In this strait, after he had prayed for Deliverance, it is said, he had a Vision, wherein he was directed to rise early the next morning, and taking two Bishops with him, to get up to the top of the North Gate of that City, where he should see a likely Man, clothed as a Pilgrim, bare-foot, and on his bare Head a Chaplet of White Roses, and that this should be the man that should con­quer Colebrand the Danish Gaint (for so was his Name) and free the English from the Danish Bon­dage. The next day the King thus attended at the Gate, sees Earl Guy so habited, being newly arrived from Jerusalem; whereupon Athelstane ad­dressing himself to him, desires him to accept the Combat, as being ordained by Heaven to ac­quit this Realm from Tyranny. Guy replied, ‘My Lord, you may easily perceive that I am not in a Condition to take upon me this Fight, be­ing harassed and weakened by daily Travel; [Page 32]lay this task therefore upon your stout and hardy Soldiers, whom you were wont very much to esteem. Ah, said the King, such indeed I had, but they are gone; some to the Holy Land, as one valiant Knight, called Guy, who was Earl of Warwick: I had also a couragious Servant, named Sir Herand de Ardene; Would to God they were now here, for then would this Duel be soon undertaken, and the War quickly finish­ed.’ In speaking which Words the Tears trick­led down his Cheeks, which made such impression upon the Pilgrim, that he engaged to undertake the Combate. Upon the day appointed, Guy put­ting on the King's best Armour, the Sword of Con­stantine the Great, St. Maurice his Lance, and one of the King's best Coursers, he rode through Win­chester, appearing like a most accomplish'd Knight, and went to the place appointed, which was in a Valley called Chiltecumb, where Colebrand soon af­ter came, so loaded with Armour, that his Horse could scarce bear him, and a Cart driven before him, filled with Danish Axes, great Clubs with knobs of Iron, squared Bars of Steel, and Iron Hooks to pluck his Adversary to him. Thus march­ing disdainfully along, and seeing Sir Guy in the height of Pride, he commanded him to come off his Horse, and throw himself with submission at his Feet: But the gallant Pilgrim disregarding his Words, commending himself to Heaven, put Spurs to his Horse, and at the first Encounter pierced the Giant's Shield with such force, that his Lance broke into Shivers, which so enraged the Giant, that coming up furiously, he killed Guy's Horse, who being dismounted, dangerously wounded Colebrand. The Combat having lasted for some time, the Giant fainted and fell with loss of Blood, and Guy immediately cut off his Head, threeby freeing England at present from the insulting Dane. [Page 33]After all which he offered his Sword in the Cathe­dral of Winchester, which was long after kept in the Vestry, and called Colebrand's Axe. The other Re­liques of Guy, Mr. Drayton thus describes:

Thus much for Earl Guy, who lived in the Year of Christ 929. This King Ethelstane, by the insi­nuation of his Cup-bearer, became incensed against his Brother, as if he had contrived Trea­son against him, who therefore ordered him to be put into a small Vessel without Tackle or Oars, and so be exposed to the mercy of the Sea; wherewith the young Prince was so overwhelm'd with sorrow, that he threw himself headlong into the Sea; whose Ghost the King endeavoured to appease, by a voluntary Penance of seven years, and building two Monasteries. Neither did the treacherous Cup-bearer escape Vengeance; for on a Festival day, as he was busie in waiting, one of his Feet slipping, he recovered himself by the help of the other, and thereupon pleasantly said, ‘You may see now how one Brother can help another:’ This Speech suddenly recalled to the King's Mind the Death of his Innocent Brother; whereupon he caused the Cup-bearer, who was the Procurer thereof, to be immediately executed.

Edmund the fifth Son of King Edward succeeded, and after him, Edred, his sixth Son: Then Edwy, or Edwin the eldest Son of Edmund was Crowned at Kingston upon Thames, who was of a lascivious temper; for it is related, That on the very Day of his Coronation, he suddenly left his Nobility, and went into a private Room, to debauch a great [Page 34]Lady, his near Kinswoman, whose Husband he soon after slew. St. Dunstan who was present, and then Abbot of Glastenbury, followed the King into his Chamber, and leading him out by the Hand, accused him before Odo Archbishop of Canterbury, by whom he was severely reproved, and forbid him the Company of that woman. The King was hereat enraged against Dunstan, and banished him out of the Land, and became so great an Enemy to the Order of Monks, that he expelled many of them out of their Monasteries, and put married Priests in their Places. The People having a great Opinion of the Holiness of Dunstan, and being of­fended at the King's severity toward him, and other Irregularities; they turned their Affections to Edgar his Brother, and removing Edwin from his Princely Dignity; Edgar was made King in his stead: for very grief whereof he soon wasted away; and died in 959.

Edgar was called the Peaceable: He maintained the Kingdom in great Glory and Prosperity. His Navy Royal is said to consist of three thousand six hundred Ships, with which he every Summer sailed round his Land, to secure the Sea from Py­rates. He caused Ludwal Prince of Wales to pay him three hundred Wolves yearly, instead of a former Tribute in Money, whereby England and Wales, which were formerly very much over-run, were now so freed, that there was scarce a Wolf to be found alive. he was very severe upon his Judges, if he found them guilty of Bribery and Partiality, riding the Circuit himself every Year for that pur­pose; Yet among all these Vertues, he is said to be very Voluptuous, especially toward Women, not sparing the very Nuns; which sounded so ill, that Dunstan took the boldness to reprove him for it; and coming into his presence, the King in Cour­tesie rose from his Royal Throne, to take him by [Page 35]the Hand, and seat him by him. But Dunstan re­fusing the King's Hand, with a stern Countenance and contracted Brow spake thus to him: ‘You that have not been afraid to corrupt a Virgin dedicated to Christ, how can you presume to touch the Consecrated Hands of a Bishop? You have defiled the Spouse of your Maker, and do you now think by your flattering service to pacifie the Friend of the Bridegroom? No Sir, do not mistake your self; for I will be no friend to him who hath Christ for his Enemy.’ The King thunder-struck with these dreadful Words and touch'd with remorse of Conscience, fell down at the Feet of Dunstan; who raising him up, began to aggravate his Crime, and finding the King pliable to his Instruction, he enjoyned him the following Penance for satisfaction; ‘That he should wear no Crown for the space of fe­ven years; That he should fast twice a week; That he should distribute his Treasure left him by his Ancestors liberally to the poor; That he should build a Monastery for Nuns at Shaftsbury, that since he had robbed God of one Virgin by his Transgression, so he should restore to him many again for the time to come; Likewise, That he should expel Clerks or Priests of evil life (meaning those who were married) out of the Churches, and place Monks in their room.’ All this Edgar performed, and the seven years be­ing past, Dunstan (saith the Historian) calling the Nobility, with the Bishops, Abbots, and Clergy together, he before all the People set the Crown upon the King's Head at Bath, in the thirteenth year of his Reign; Dunstan, who it seems rul'd all, having hitherto hindred it. The Nun here mentioned was Wilfrid a Duke's Da [...]ghter by whom he had a Daughter called Editha: He had a Son likewise by Elfrida, the Earl of Devonshire's [Page 36]Daughter, which Dunstan being now grown goood natured, Christned: The words of the Historian are these. ‘The Child also which was gotten of the Harlot he Baptized in the Holy Fountain of Regeneration, and giving him the name of Ed­ward, adopted him to be the King's Son.’ There are abundance of ridiculous miracles related of this Dunstan: One among many others was, That a Vision appearing to him, required him to take up the Body of Editha the Bastard and Canonize her for a Saint; her Tomb being accordingly open­ed in the Church of Wil [...]on, where she was buried, her whole Body (saith the Monkish Historian) was consumed to Dust, save only her Thumb, her Belly, &c. whereof she her self shewed the mean­ing, declaring ‘That her Thumb remained en­tire, because she so often used to cross her self therewith, and the other Parts did signifie the ex­traordinary Abstinence and Chastity.’ With such stuff were the People then abused, and persuaded to worship for Saints the dead Carcases of those that were many times of very profligate Lives while on Earth. In King Edgar's Reign there was a great Famine, wherein Ethel wald Bishop of Win­chester sold away all the Church-Plate, and Vessels of Gold and Silver, to relieve the Poor, saying, ‘There was no reason that the senseless Temples of God should abound in Riches, and the lively Temples of the Holy Ghost to be in want of them.’

After the Death of Edgar there was great Divi­ston, many of the Nobility being for Etheldred, the true and only legitimate Heir of Edgar; but the other Nobles, and the Clergy, especially Dun­stan, fearing the Married Clergy should again pre­vail, he, with several other Bishops, meeting to­gether, and carrying the Cross before Edward, brought him to the Lords, and by many Persua­sions [Page 37]prevailed with them to accept him for their King. He was accounted a just, meek Prince, and very charitable to the Poor: Yet enjoyed he the Crown but a short space; for in the fourth Year of his Reign, as he was Hunting near Corf-Castle, where his Brother Etheldred and Queen Elfrida his Mother resided, while he was discour­sing and drinking on Horseback, as the Cup was at his Mouth, a Servant of the Queens, by her con­trivance, struck him into the Back with a Knife or Dagger; at which setting Spurs to his Horse to get away, and fainting with loss of Blood, he fell from his Horse with one Foot in the Stirrop, and was dragged up and down the Woods, till at last his Body was left dead at the Gate of Corf-Castle. When this Fact was committed the Queen was so struck with remorse, that to expiate her Guilt, she built two Monasteries, Almsbury and Wormwell: For, as Mr. Fox observes, most of these Religious Houses were founded either upon the account of some Publick or Private Murther.

Edward the Martyr, as he was called, being thus slain, Etheldred his younger Brother, the Son of Edgar and Queen Elfrida, succeeded. He reign­ed thirty eight years, but was very unfortunate, and full of Troubles all his time. It is related, That when Archbishop Dunston Christened Ethel­dred as he held him over the Font, the Child was not very cleanly, whereupon the Bishop swore, ‘By the Mother of God, this Boy will prove an unhappy and slothful Prince;’ which happened accordingly. At his Coronation a Cloud appeared, half like Blood, and the other half like Fire. In his third Year the Danes Invaded the Kingdom in several places, and the King paid them forty thou­sand pound yearly for his Quiet, which much dis­obliged his Subjects; yea, the English were so low, that the Danes commanded their Houses, Wives, [Page 38]Daughters, and all they had: Whereupon Ethel­dred contrived, that all the Danes were massacred in one day: But this did more enrage them, so that first Swain and then Canutus, came with two hundred Sail of Ships, and landed in Cornwal, burning, and destroying all before him, and killing Nine hundred Monks and Nuns at one time, the King's Counsels being all betrayed by the Traytor Edrick: Whereupon he fled, with his Queen Emma and her two Sons into Normandy, to Ri­chard, Duke thereof, who was her Brother. But Swain being soon after killed by his own men, they made his Son Canutus King. After which Ethel­dred returns again to England, and perceiving the several Treasons against him, and being unable to withstand their Fury, he soon after died.

Edmund, the eldest Son alive of Etheldred, suc­ceeded, sirnamed Ironside, from his great Strength and Courage. He was Crowned at Kingston: But the Danes were then so powerful in England, that Canutus was accepted King at Southampton, many of the Clergy and Laity swearing Allegiance to him; but the City of London stood firm for Edmund, who fought several Battles against the Danes, and routed Canutus four times in the plain Field, and would in likelihood have freed the Nation from the Danes, had not the ever-false Edrick and other perfidious persons of the Clergy and Laity, prevented it. At length, to avoid further Bloodshed, they made an Agreement to divide the Kingdom betwixt them; but Edmund enjoyed the benefit of this Accord a very short time, being soon after murdered as he was easing Nature, by Edrick, and his Head presented to Canutus, who, though he loved the Treason, yet commanded the Traytor to be beheaded.

By the Death of Edmund, the Saxon Monarchy came to a Period; for Canutus, after his Death, [Page 39]seised upon the other half of England, none being able to withstand; whereby the Danes made them­selves sole Masters of this Island, after it had been in possession of the Saxons about 566 Years: The English Nobles owning Canutus for their lawful King, and swearing Fealty to him at his Corona­tion at London in the year of Christ 1017. Though Canutus had never the better Opinion of them, considering, that most of them had sworn Alle­giance to Edmund their Natural Sovereign, and likewise that they were English Natives: He there­fore judged them treacherous Persons, and used them accordingly; for some he banished, others he beheaded, and many by the Just Judgment of Heaven died sudden Deaths. Canutus, to estab­lish his Government, called a Parlaiment of Bishops, Lords, and Barons, in London, wherein many laws were ordained, and, among others, this following: ‘We admonish diligently all Christian Men, that they do always love God with an inward heart, and be diligently obedient to Divine Teachers, and do subtilly search God's Learning and Laws often and daily, to the profit of themselves: And we warn, that all Christian men do learn to know at least-wise the right Belief, and a right to understand the Lord's Prayer and the Creed, for that with the one every Christian man should pray unto God, and with the other shew forth right Belief.’ He also ordained in another Parliament at Oxford, ‘That both English and Danes should observe the laws made by King Edgar, as judging them to be above all others most just and reasonable.’ He married Emma the Widow of King Etheldred, and Sister to Ri­chard Duke of Normandy, with this Condition, That the Issue of her Body by him should inherit the Kingdom of England. He went to Rome to com­plain of the excessive Extortions of the Pope from [Page 40]the English Archbishops, upon receiving their Palls: And having reigned twenty Years over England, he died.

Notwithstanding the former Agreement, yet Harold the Son of Canutus by Elgina his first Wife, (in the absence of Hardiknute the Son of Queen Emma) succeeded his Father; and the better to secure himself, he, by the assistance of the trea­cherous Earl Goodwin, who had married Canutus's Daughter, endeavours to get into his Power Ed­ward and Alfred the two Sons of Queen Emma by King Etheldred, whom he knew had more Right than himself; and to that purpose they counter­feit a Letter in Emma's name, whom Harold had abused, and robbed of her Jewels, the Contents whereof were to this purpose.

Messengers being sent to Normandy with this Letter, they met only with Alfred, ( Edward be­ing gone into Hungaria) to whom delivering their Message, he was very joyful, and made all possible hast to England, accompanied with divers Norman Gentlemen, and arriving at Southampton, was re­ceived by the villanous Earl Goodwin with much pretended Kindness and Friendship, who made as if he would bring him to London; but being come to Gilford in Surrey, Goodwin commanded his men to kill all Alfred's Company, and then carrying him to the Isle of Ely, ordered his Eyes to be put out: Then opening his Body, they took out his Bowels, and fastning one end of his Guts to a Stake, they drove him round it with Iron Darts and Needles, till all his Bowels came clear away. Thus died innocent Alured, or Alfred, the true Heir to the Crown, by the Treachery of Godwin, to the great disgust of the English Nobility, who vowed Revenge. This Harold, called Harefoot for his great swiftness, did not long enjoy his usurped Dominion; for after four years he died.

After which Hardiknute, the Son of Canutus and Queen Emma, who was by his Father made King or Denmark, is now by the States of the Land, both Danes and English, invited over hither to take upon him the Government. He was a great Op­pressor of the English by heavy Taxes, which so en­raged them, that two of his Collectors were slain at Worcester, for which their City was burnt, and their Bishop Alfred expelled his Office, till with Money he had purchased his peace. Though this King was very vicious, yet it is said, he was more [Page 42]kind to Edward his Half-brother, and made Earl Godwin purge himself for the death of Prince Al­fred, though it is thought his bountiful Gifts to the King prevailed much more for clearing him, than his Innocence. One present especially is ve­ry remarkable, that is, A Ship whose Stern was of Gold and fourscore Soldiers, all richly habited, within her; on their Heads they all wore guilt Burgonets, and on their Bodies a triple gilt Har­bergeon, about their Wasts Swords girt richly guilt, a Danish Battle-ax on their left Shoulders, a Target with gilt Bosses on their left Hand, a Dart in their right, and upon their Arms Bracelets of Gold of great Value. After two years Reign Hardiknute died in the midst of his drunken De­baucheries, and in him ended the Danish Race in England, three Kings only of that Nation Reign­ing here. This third Conquest was but of a short continuance, yet were the Danes very insolent to­ward the English during that time; for if an Eng­lishman and a Dane met at a Bridge, or at a Door, the Englishman must stand still till the Dane past by, and if he did not then bow down very low to the Dane, he was certainly beaten and abused: Yea, it is related, That while the English were drinking, the Danes would stab them, or cut their Throats; to prevent which, when the Englishman drank, he desired his next Companion to be his Surety or Pledge, from whence it is said the Custom of Pledg­ing one another did first arise. For these, and abundant greater Insolencies, after the Death of Hardiknute, the Danes were utterly driven out of England, and never again returned.

Edward called the Confessor, succeeded next, in 1042. who was an absolute Englishman, and the youngest Son of Etheldred and Queen Emma; be­ing invited from Normandy by all the English Nobi­lity, who disdained the Danish Subjection, and [Page 43]was entertained with great Joy. He first remit­ted that heavy Danish Tax of Forty thousand pound a year, called Dane gilt, imposed by his Fa­ther, and paid forty years by all but the Clergy, who are exempted, ‘Because the Kings reposed more confidence in the Prayers of the Holy Church, than in the Power of Armies.’ It is re­ported, Edward forgave that Tax upon this occa­sion: A great Sum of that Treasure being brought into his Chamber, and laid in a heap, he being called to see it, was at first sight much affrighted, protesting he saw the Devil dancing with great Joy upon the same; and therefore commanded it should be again restored to his Subjects, and re­leased them from it for ever after. He married Editha Earl Godwin's Daughter, but never had any Conjugal Society with her, though she was a Lady accomplished with all excellent Endowments both of Mind and Body, so that this old Ve [...] written on her;

Edward himself confessed upon his Death-bed, That openly she was his Wife, but in secret Em­bracings as his own Sister: But whether it were Infirmity or Chastity, it seems he was willing to have her accused of Incontinency, whereof if she were guilty, he could not be innocent, it being a great injury to put his Wives vertue to so Tyranni­cal a trial. After this, some differences arose between him and Earl Godwin, and Forces were raised on both sides, but by the Intercession of the Nobi­lity, an Agreement was made: Yet Godwin escap­ed not Divine Vengeance; for being charged by [Page 44]the King for the Munder of Alfred, he wished if he were guilty he might never swallow down a bit of Bread again; which happened accordingly; for the first bit of Bread he put into his Mouth choaked him; as he sate with the King at Table: A dreadful Instance of God's Severity against Perju­ry. This King is blamed for his Cruelty to his Mother, in forcing her to pass over nine burning Plow shares, bare-foot and blind-fold, for a Trial of her Continency; which yet she performed without the least damage. He is said to be the first King that cured the Disease called the King's-Evil.

It is related, that this King lying on his Bed one Afternoon, with the Curtains drawn, a pil­fering Courtier coming into his Chamber, and finding the King's Casket open, which Hugoline his Chamberlain had forgot to shut, he took out as [...] Money as he could well carry, and went away: But finding success, he came a second, and a third time, still carrying off more. At which the King, who had observed all, called to him to be gone with all speed, since he had enough, if he could be contented; ‘For, said he, if Hugoline should come and catch thee, thou wilt go nigh to lose all thou hast got, and may'st get a Halter into the Bargain:’ The Fellow was no sooner gone, but Hugoline came in; and finding the Casket open, and a great deal of Money taken out, he was much incensed: But the King bid him not be moved; ‘For, said he, he that hath it, hath more need of it than we.’

When this King Edward was hastning out of Nor­mandy with a great Army to recover England from the Danes, being ready to give Battel, his Cap­tains assured him of Victory, and that they would not leave one Dane alive: ‘God forbid, said Ed­ward, that the Kingdom should be recovered [Page 45]for me, who am but one Man, by the death of so many thousands; better it is that I should live a private and unbloody Life, than to be a King by such a Slaughter and Butchery.’ This King having no lisue of his own, sent for Edward the Son of Edmund Ironside out of Hungary, who for his long absence was called the Outlaw; but he dy­ing soon after, he declared Edgar the Outlaw's Son, to be Heir, and sirnamed him Atheling, or Adeling, a Term appropriated to the presumptive Heirs of the Crown. He had also a Daughter named Ma­tilda, who was married to the King of Scots, and was Mother to David King of Scotland, and Maud Queen of England.

When King Edward was on his Death-bed he observed all present weeping and lamenting for him, to whom he said, ‘If you loved me, you would forbear weeping and rejoyce; because I go to my Father, with whom I shall receive the Joys promised to the Faithful, not through my Merits, but by the free mercy of my Saviour, who sheweth mercy on who he pleaseth.’

After the Death of Earl Godwin, Harold his Son grew into great Favour with King Edward, and was by him made Lieutenant of his Army against the Welch; who, with his Brother Tosto, or Toston, utterly subdued that Rebellion. After which, Harold still increasing more in favour with the King, there grew such hatred between the two Brethren, that Tosto coming to Hereford, slew all his Brother's Servants, and cutting them in pieces, salted them, and put them into powdering-tubs. It hapned afterward, that Harold going beyond Sea, was by Tempest [...]ven into Normandy, and being seised, and carr [...]d before Duke Wiliam, he made him promise, That after the death of King Edward, he would secure the Kingdom for him, according to King Edward's Will: Which Oath [Page 46]having taken, Harold came back, and told King Edward what he had done, who seemed well con­tent therewith, saith the Historian; which, if it were true, he had surely forgot his former Decla­ration concerning Edgar Atheling.

However, after the death of King Edward, Ha­rold neither regarding his Oath to Duke William, nor Edgar's Right, whom he dispised for his ten­der Age, caused himself to be Proclaimed King, without any great Ceremony or Celebration, none much approving or disapproving thereof: and to ingratiate himself with the People, he eased them of several severe Taxes laid upon them by his Pre­decessor, and was affable and kind to all: But this was a short calm before a great storm; for soon after Duke William sent his Ambassadors to him to mind him of his Oath; but he returned answer, ‘That it was extorted from him in his Imprison­ment, and therefore was no way obliging.’ At this Answerthe Duke was much inraged and pre­pared Forces for gaining the Kingdom by force. Neither was Harold idle, but made provision to withstand him: At which time a dreadful Comet appeared in the Heavens, which was then judged and after proved to be a fatal Omen.

During these Preparations, Tosto Brother to Ha­rold, and Harfager King of Denmark, with three hundred Ships, invaded the Country; landing in Yorkshire, Harfager claiming the Crown as Son of Canutus; but the Nobility of those parts opposing them, were routed: which Harold hearing, march'd against them, and at Stamford-Bridge he encountred them, where his whole Army was withstood by one single Dane, who slew forty of his men and made good the Bridge, till a Soldier in a Boat rowing under the Bridge, thrust his Spear through a crevice and so slew this valiant Champion: After which, the King fell upon the [Page 47] Danes and got an intire Victory over them, killing King Harfager, and Tosto his own Brother: Olave the Son of Harfager, and Paul Earl of Orkney, were taken Prisoners, with abundance more, who beg­ging their Lives, the King ordered 20 of their 300 Ships to carry them to Denmark, with the sad news of the loss of their King and his whole Army.

No sooner was this Storm over, but a worse be­gan; for Duke William having prepared a great Ar­my and Navy, resolved for England, having the free consent of his Nobility for his Voyage, many of them assisting him therein. But first he sent to Pope Alexander to confirm his Title to the Crown, who did it readily, and withal sent him a Consecrated banner, an Agnus Dei, and a Hair of St. Peter, with a curse to all opposers to carry in the Ship wherein he himself failed. Being tho­rowly furnished he and his Men embarqued at St. Vallery, where they staid a long time for a Wind; at length setting Sail, Sep. 28. 1066. he arrived with his Fleet at Pevensey in Sussex, where as soon as he landed, it hapned one of his Feet stuck so fast in the Sand that he fell to the ground; whereupon one of his Attendants catching him by the Arm, and helping him up, said, ‘Stand up my Lord; and be of good Courage, for now you have taken fast footing in England;’ and observing that he had taken up Sand and Earth in his Hand, he added, ‘You have now taken Livery and Seisin of the Country;’ it being the custom, that when Possession is taken of Land, a piece of Earth is given to the Possessor. A Wizard or Necroman­cer had told Duke William, That he should safely arrive in England with his whole Army, without any hindrance from Harold; which after it came to pass, King William sent for this Conjurer, to confer further with him; but it was told him, That he was drowned in that Ship which alone of [Page 48]the whole Navy miscarried; whereupon the Con­queror said, ‘He would never put confidence in that Science which was of more benefit to the Ignorant than the Skilful therein; for it seems he could foresee my good fortune, but not his own misfortune.’

After his Landing, the Duke set all his Ships a fire, to assure his men that they must either con­quer or die. He then marched towards Hastings, declaring the cause of his coming to be to inherit the Kingdom, which was given him by King Ed­ward, and strictly charging his Soldiers not to wrong any of the People in the least, since they were so soon to become his Natural Subjects. He then sent Messengers to Harold, either to de­liver him up the Country, and be subject to him, or to fight it out in the sight of both Armies in single combat; or lastly, to stand to the Pope's De­termination: But he returned answer, ‘That unless he did suddenly depart, he would give him cause to repent this his rash Invasion; and that the next day it should he tryed by more Swords than One.’ Accordingly Harold marcheth couragiously against Duke Widiam, who put him­self into a posture to receive him. It happned, that the Morning before the Battel, William's Ar­mourer by mistake put on his Back-piece before, and his Breast-plate behind; which being observed by some of his Attendants, was judged an ill Omen, and therefore they advised him not to fight that day: To whom the Duke replied, ‘I value not such Fooleries; but if I have any skill in Soothsaying, (as in truth I have none) I am of the opinion if doth foretel, that I shall change my Condition, and of a D. shall this day become a K.’

The Armies being Marshalled, Harold placing the Kentish-men with their heavy Axes or Halberts in the Van, the Battel began, both Parties fight­ing [Page 49]bravely, one for the Liberty of their Country, and the other for a Kingdom. The Normans per­ceiving they could not break the united strength of the English, pretended to fly, which the English believing, pursued them in disorder, whereupon the Normans taking the advantage, rallied, and charging them furiously in that disjoynted Posture, made a very great slaughter among the English; and among the rest, King Harold, his Brother, and most of the English Nobility, fell that day; and of the Common Souldiers, Sixty seven thou­sand nine hundred seventy four. Others report, an hundred thousand were slain. Duke William had three Horses killed under him, yet received not the least wound, his Loss being only, as is said, Six thousand Men. Thus died King Harold, after only nine Months Reign, and was buried at Waltham Abby in Essex. And it is very remarkable, That whereas Harold, with his Father Godwin, had cruelly murdered Alfred the true Heir to the Crown, and his Normans, he was now by a Norman Wounded in the left Eye with an Arrow, whereof he immediately died. This great Battel was fought at Hastings in Sussex, on Saturday, October 14. 1066. The English after this vast loss had designed to make Edgar Atheling King, but it was prevented by their private Animosities. And thus ended the Saxon Monarchy in England, which from Hen­gist in 475 to this Year, had continued (save only some short interruptions by the Danes) Five hun­dred ninety one years.

During these stupendious Revolutions in the State and Government of England, we do not read of much action between the Welsh, and the Saxons, Danes and Normans; It is recorded they had still a Succession of Kings and Princes, and among them Leoline ap Sytsill who lived about the year 900, in the Reign of Edward Sirnamed the Elder, a Va­liant [Page 50] Saxon King, and yet free from Pride or Am­bition, (saith the Historian) as appears by the intercourse betwixt him and this Leoline, who after several Skirmishes thought fit to Treat of Peace; The King lay at a place called Austeline, and the Prince at Bethesly not far distant; Leoline thought it below him to cross the Severn to wait upon Edward, whereupon the King went into a Boat to come over to him; Leoline observing it, and surprized at this great condiscention, upon the King's approach to the opposite shoar, threw off this rich Robe he had on, prepared on purpose for that Royal Assembly, and entred the Water Breast high, where imbracing the Boat he submis­sively said, ‘Most Prudent and Worthy King, your Humility hath overcome my Insolence, and your Wisdom hath Triumphed over my Folly, Come, tread upon my Neck which I have foolishly lifted up against you, and enter into my Country this Day with all freedom, since your generosity hath made it all your own.’ Having said this, he took the King upon his Shoulders, and carrying him ashoar caused him to sit down upon his Royal Robe, and so putting his hands jointly into his, acknow­ledged Homage and Allegiance to him.

Ethelstane his Successor had Wars with the Welsh, whose Princes and Rulers he brought to be his Tri­butaries, who at Hereford entred into Covenants to pay him yearly twenty pound weight in Gold, three hundred weight of Silver, and two thousand five hundred Head of Cattel, with a certain num­ber of Hawks and Hounds; Toward the payment of which, by the Statutes of Howel Dha, the King of Aberfraw was charged at sixty six pounds, the Prince of Dynever and the Prince of Powys the like Sums. This Ethelstane confined the Britains (who hitherto had enjoyed the City of Exeter with the same right as the Saxons) into the furthest Promon­tory [Page 51]of Cornwall, enlarging his Dominions beyond any Saxon King before him.

In the time of King Edward the Confessor 1053, the Irish with 36 Ships entred the River Severne, and with the assistance of Griffith King or Prince of North-Wales, burnt and destroyed all they met with; Against whom Alfred Bishop of Worcester marching with considerable force, was defeated, many of his Souldiers being slain, and the rest put to flight, which much elevated the Welsh, so that Rice the Brother of Griffith made many Incursions into the English Territories, and carried away great Booties, till at length he was routed and slain at Bulenden, and his Head presented to King Edward at Glocester. Two years after the King having banished Algar the Son of Leofrike Earl of Chester without cause, he with the assistance of the Welsh and Irish under Grissith, who had Mar­ried his Daughter, much indamaged the English, de­feating Rodulf Earl of Hereford with the slaughter of five hundred men, defacing that City, and burning the Minster, with many other mischiefs; Against whom Harold Son to Earl Godwin (after­ward King, and slain by William the Conqueror) was sent, who prosecuted the War with much courage and conduct, pursuing his flying Enemies and passing through North-Wales Incamped upon Snowdon Hills; but the Earl and Griffith not daring to come to an Engagement, fled from thence to South-Wales, and again took possession of Hereford, of which Harold having notice marched thither with all diligence, and soon recovering the City fortified it with a deep Trench and an high Ram­pire, and for preventing of Bloodshed, and ingra­titude to Algar, who had freely resigned his Earl­dom to Harold upon his return from Exile, a peace was concluded, and at Harold's request King Ed­ward pardoned both him and Griffith; But Algar [Page 52]raising fresh disturbances, and again assisted by his old friend Griffith, recovered his Earldom of Chester by Arms, at which the King was highly offended, especially with Griffith, who was always ready to appear against him, and Harold was a se­cond time made General, and with a great Army entred North-Wales without sight of an Enemy, whereupon he burnt down the stately Palace of Prince Griffith, and so returned to the King; But the Welsh were not long quiet, and Griffith inflamed with revenge, with the greatest strength he could raise, made Inroads into ihe English Borders; Up­on which Harold is sent a third time against them, who burst into Wales with such mighty Forces, that Prince Griffith doubting the Success withdrew secretly from his Camp, leaving his Souldiers to fight for themselves if they pleased; who finding their Prince had deserted them, the whole Army yielded themselves to Harold's mercy, and having seized upon Gaiffith, they cut off his Head and sent it to Harold, giving him Hostages for their future obedience, and for payment of the ancient Tri­bute, which for some time had been denied. Af­ter which King Edward kept a severe Eye over the Welsh, making a Law that if any of that Nation should pass armed over Offa's Ditch, his Right Hand should be cut off.

In the Reign of William the Conqueror, Roger Earl of Hereford raising a Rebellion against him in that Country, was assisted by the Welsh, but it being soon supprest and the Earl taken and banisht into Normandy, the King used great severity against the Welsh, putting out the Eyes of some, Hanging others upon Gibbets, and they that escaped best were forever banisht their Country; and afterwards entring Wales with a great Army, he obliged the Princes thereof who were unable to resist, to do him Homage at St. Davids, and taking [Page 53]Hostages for their peaceable demeanour, he return­ed as a Victorious Conqueror.

In 1095. William Rufus finding the Welsh often attempting mischief against the English, resolved to make a full Conquest of them, and redoubling his usual Forces drew into the Marshes of Wales, and their Incamped, calling a Council of War to consult how to prosecute his design against them, who finding their own weakness to oppose, they according to their usual manner secured themselves in their Woods and Mountains, and other inaccessi­ble places; Upon which the King sent Hugh Mont­gomery Earl of Shrewsbury and Hugh Lupus Earl of Chester into the Isle of Anglesey, who there execu­ted great cruelty, on the People, cutting off the Hands, Noses and Arms of the Resisters, sparing neither Age, Sex, nor place Sacred or Prophane from Destruction; At which very time M [...]gous King of Norway landed there, in hope to Conquer the Island, whom the English Earls opposed with all their might, armed at all points, yet Montgome­ry through the sight of his Beaver was shot with an Arrow into the right Eye, whereof he died.

In 1107. those Flemings which his Brother Ru­fus had setled in Cumberland, whose Lands the Seas had overwhelmed some years before, were by King Henry I. removed into Ross in Wales, both to free the Inland Country from such a burden, and to keep the Welsh in obedience, which project an­swered his expectation; For, saith Giraldus, they were a Colony of stout men, enured to the Wars, and likewise Clothiers and Husbandmen, as time and place required, and most loyally devoted to the Crown of England, whereby they kept the Country in subjection for some time. Yet 1114. Griffith ap Conan Prince of North-Wales, and Owen ap Cadogan Prince of South-Wales made Inroads up­on the Lands of Gilbert Strangbow, Hugh Earl of [Page 54] Chester and other English Gentlemen, and so in­censed the King by these Outrages, that in a rage he vowed he would not leave one alive in North or South Wales, and going thither in Person divi­ded his Army into three parts, to catch if possible these nimble Combatants, who at his approach were got again to their old Recesses, however with much difficulty he pursued and kill'd many of them in their Hills and Woods, and the rest yielded to King Henry, who returned home with much satis­faction.

In 1121. King Henry was again disquieted by the Welsh under Meredith ap Beldin Prince of Powis-Land, and the three Sons of Cadogan, who broke into the Marshes of Cheshire and burnt two Castles, against whom the King marched with strong Forces, sending the main of his Army and Carriages the Common Road, but himself with a select company, took a nearer way through the Streights and Moun­tains, which the Welshmen having notice of, they laid an Ambush who couragiously set upon them and rained down Showers of Arrows on them, from the higher grounds whereby many of the English were slain, and one Arrow aimed at the King shot him on the Breast, but by his Armour was hindred from doing farther mischief, whereat he was little concerned, only swore, By our Lord's Death, his usual Oath, that he was sure that Arrow was shot by own of his Followers and not by a Welshman; At length finding he should gain little, and might lose much of the honour he had gained in this barren Country, he concluded a Peace with the Welsh Princes, giving them a thousand head of Cattel, and so returned to London.

In 1138. Owen and Cadwallader the Sons of Griffith ap Conan Prince of Wales, made an Irrup­tion into the Pale, and did much damage, carry­ing away much spoil of Goods, Horses, Arms, and [Page 55]other Habiliments of War, which King Stephen was not able to revenge, being sufficiently incum­bered in defending his Crown, which Maud the Empress upon pretence of a better Title endea­voured to deprive him of, under the Conduct of her Brother in Law Robert Earl of Glocester. King Stephen Besieged Ramilph Earl of Chester and Earl Robert in Lincoln, who issued out of the City resolving to give the King Battel, being assisted with a great number of Welsh as well as Englishmen. Before the fight the Earl of Chester animated his Souldiers by telling them, That he gave them unfeigned thanks for hazarding their lives in so just a cause against a faithless King, and that he himself would lead them amidst the strongest Troups of the Enemy, and seemed already in his own thoughts to be breaking through them, and tram­pling on the necks of their Chief Captains, yea piercing with his Sword the very Heart of King Stephen himself, not doubting but they would fol­low their Leader, and by his example quickly put their persidious adversaries to flight; On the other side Baldwin, King Stephen's General, told his men, That the Justice of their Cause, obliged them to defend their valiant King to whom they had sworn Allegiance, and whose Presence, Cou­rage and Conduct ought more to encourage them than thousands of men; What is Robert the Bastard their General, says he, but a boasting Coward who can speak big, but perform little, hath a Lion's Voice, but the Heart of an Hare? and what is Chester's Earl but an hair-brain'd audacious man, without Judgment or Courage? and what are the Welshmen which he has with him, are they not fit­ter for our contempt than fear? who being naked, unarmed and without any military Discipline, run headlong like wild Beasts upon the Javelins and Spears of the Hunter; and the rest are only [Page 56]straglers and runagates, who will never endure the force of your puissant Arms. After this a bloody Battel was fought, but at length King Ste­phen's Horse giving way, and the Foot being there­by exposed, they allfled together, leaving the King almost alone in the Field. A strange sight it was (saith the Historian) to see King Stephen left almost alone, and yet none durst approach him, who grinding his Teeth and foaming like a furious wild Boar, with his Battel Ax drove whole Troops be­fore him, cutting down great numbers of them to the eternal Renown of his Courage, so that if but an hundred like himself had stood by him, a whole Army had not been able to surprize his Person: yet he still defended himself, till first his Battle-ax and then his Sword flew in peices by his irresistible blows, so that being left Weaponless he was struck down with a great Stone and taken Prisoner. Yet he afterward regained his Liberty and his Crown, and Died a King after having Reigned near 19 years.

In 1170. The Welsh surprized the Town of Car­digan under Rice ap Griffith Prince of South-Wales, and took therein the Governour Robert Fitz Stephens a valiant Norman, who could not procure his Li­berty upon any other terms than by forever renoun­cing all Right and Title to his Estate and Posses­sions in the Principality of Wales, which hard condition he was obliged to accept, and joining with Dermot one of the five Kings of Ireland, who at that time came over to crave aid from King Henry II. was instrumental in conquering that Kingdom, and annexing it to the Crown of England.

In 1199. King Richard I. resolving to make a Voyage for the recovery of the Holy Land or Jeru­salem, he resolved to leave all quiet at home, and Rice ap Griffith Prince of South-Wales being then in amity, came as far as Oxford to wait upon him: [Page 57]but because the King who was there, went not out of the City in Person to meet him as his Father Henry had done, (though Earl John the King's Bro­ther had conducted him from the Marshes with all the marks of honour and esteem) this haughty Welsh Prince took it in such great scorn and indig­nation, that he presently returned back into his Countrey without once seeing or saluting King Richard, who by this disrespect lost Rice's love and favour; As upon the like omission and superor­lousness, the stately Monk Austin formerly lost the affections of the Monks of Bangor, Rice's own Coun­trymen, in another part of Wales.

In 1211. Leolin ap Jorwith Prince of Wales (though he had a while before made his submission to King John) plundred several English Towns in the Marshes, which caused the King to raise a great Army to reduce him to obedience, where­upon Leoline ordered all his People to convey their Cattel and Goods of Value, to the almost inac­cessible places upon Snowdon Hills: however the English pursued them with so much speed, vigor, and revenge for their continual losses, that their Prince and Chief Lords were compelled to accept of what terms the King would allow them, where­by they were obliged (both by Oath, Homage and Hostages, and likewise by granting all their Lands to the King, to be held of him forever) to buy their peace, and save themselves from being utter­ly extirpated out of their Country.

In 1230. King Henry III. having given the Castle of Montgomery to his great Favorite Aubert de Burgh, the English Garrison issued out with intent to root up all the Trees near a Wood about five Mile long, where Travellers used to [...]erobbed and murdered, which the Welsh would by no means permit, falling upon the Souldiers and driving them into the Castle; Upon which the King [Page 58]Marches thither, and not only suppresseth these Mutineers, but sets the whole Forrest in a Flame; From hence he pierceth farther into Wales, and burns a place called Cridia, and then begins to raise a new Fort for bridling the Natives, which whilst he was doing David Prince of Wales march­ed toward him with his Forces, being encouraged by many great men in King Henry's Army, who were confederates with him, and a great Battel was fought where many were slain on both sides, and afterward by the treachery of these English Barons, Provisions grew so very scare that the King was compelled to yield to a dishonourable Peace, name­ly, To raze to the ground the new Fort, now almost finisht, That William Bruce a valiant Commander taken in the Fight, should continue Prisoner du­ring Prince David's Pleasure, Lastly, That David should pay the King only three thousand Marks to­ward the charges of the War.

About a year after Prince David made another Insurrection in revenge of those Welshmens Heads whom Hubert de Burg had caused to be struck off in cold Blood, and presented to the King, for which David burnt several Churches and many Ladies in them, whereupon he was solemnly Cursed and Ex­communicated at Oxford in the presence of all the Nobility, and Clergy, and the King raising a great Army went to repress the Welsh, but returned without effecting it; So that they continued their ravages more than ever; Complaints whereof coming daily to the King, the Lords of his Council told him how pernicious it would be to him to suffer it, who replied, That he was not able to suppress them for want of money; They being en­vious at his kindness to Hubert de Burg, boldly re­plied, He might well be poor who gave away his Estate to make others Rich and Great, and there­upon they drew up many Articles against de Burg, [Page 59]one whereof was, That he had stoln out of the King's Jewel Office a precious Stone of wonderful value, which had virtue to make him that wore it Invincible in Battel, and that he had given this Stone to David Prince of Wales, the King's Ene­my; Another was, That he by his Letters had caused Prince David to hang the gallant William Bruce; But he defeated all their designs against him, and recovered the King's favour.

Afterward Prince David joined with the Earl Marshall in a Rebellion against the King, and de­feated his Forces; But the King at length recover­ing his power there, and giving himself up to Works of Charity and Hospitality caused Prince David to use this notable expression, I more fear saith he, the Almsdeeds which the King doth than all the men of War that he hath, and the whole Clergy put together; After this having taken Homage of all his Nobility, Prince David voluntarily offered to hold his whole Principality of the Kings of Eng­land, (though with the dislike of his People) that he might thereby strengthen himself against the attempts of his Son Griffith, who used great endea­vours to deprive him of his Royalty.

Griffith succeeded him, and being taken Prisoner by King Henry was committed to the Tower of London, from whence endeavouring to make his escape over the Walls, by tying the Sheets and Blankets of his Bed together, the weight of his heavy Body loosed them, and falling down upon his Head he broke his Neck.

Afterward his Son David being provoked by the many injuries received from the Earl of Hereford, made an Inroad into the English Marshes, and de­signed to have freed himself from all Homage to the Kings of England, exhibiting his complaint to the Pope, and alledging, That he was by force and violence unjustly compelled to hold his Princi­pality [Page 60]and Estate of them; But the King's Credit and Power prevailed against the weak Allegations of this poor Prince, who thereupon continued his depredations; Against whom King Henry sent three hundred men at Arms under the Command of Sir Hubert Fitz Matthew, but through his own rashness, and the valour of the Welsh, he and his Party were totally defeated; At which the King being much troubled, resolved to go against them in Person, and after he had fortified the Castle of Grennock in North-Wales, and wasted the Isle of Anglesey he was forced by the rigour of the Weather to return home, endeavouring to starve the Welsh, by prohibiting the Irish and Cheshire men under severe penalties to furnish them with any provi­sions; and if any of them ventured out of their Fastnesses on Snowdon Hills, to satisfie their hunger the Garrison of Grennock were ready to surprize them; Yea the two Welsh Lords Powys and Brom­field joined with the King against them, insomuch that they were in miserable distress, about which time Prince David died.

In 1255. The Welsh being opprest by Geffery Lang­ley Governor of the Marshes fled to Arms, where­upon Prince Edward (afterward King Edward I.) to whom his Father had given that Principality, raises an Army to subdue them, and wanting Mo­ney borrowed large sums of his Uncle Richard, and then Marches against Prince Leoline, whose Forces consisted in about Ten Thousand Country Horse­men, and many more Foot, who took a Solemn Oath, That they would stand together for the re­covery and defence of their Antient Laws, Liber­ties and Countrey, counting it better to lose their Lives with Honour, than to live in Ignominy and Slavery; And indeed they had already performed very notable enterprises under the conduct of their valiant Prince, having recovered all the Inland [Page 61]Country of North-Wales, and in one Battel kill'd above a thousand English, putting the rest to flight, and making Irruptions to the very Walls of Chester; Neither had Prince Edward any better success, for Leoline fell upon his Army with such Courage as obliged them to retire and not attempt any thing farther against him, who complaining to his Father of the disgrace he had received; What's that to me (says K. Henry) I have given the Country to thee, and thou must use thy courage to defend it, and there­by gain such honour in thy Youth, that afterward thine Enemies may stand in fear of thee; As for me I have somewhat else to do. In the absence of Prince Edward, Leoline and his Welsh Forces con­tinued their ravages on the Marshes; He likewise Confederated with the English Barons then in Arms against King Henry whom they had defeated and taken Prisoner in a bloody Battel at Lewes in Sussex, and carried into Wales with them, destroying the Lands of the English in the Counties of Monmouth and Glamorgan, under the command of Prince Leoline and Simon Montfort Earl of Leicester. Prince Edward perceiving that he must use his utmost power for the recovery of his Father's Liberty, and the Kingdom, resolved with the assistance of the People of Cheshire, Herefordshire, Worcester and Shropshire (who had been great sufferers in these publick calamities) to give the Rebels Battel, which he did accordingly in a large Plain near the Town of Eversham in Worcestershire, where the Army of the Barons was utterly discomfited with a very great slaughter, especially of the Welsh; Simon Montfort called the Great Earl of Leicester was also slain; at which very minute there was such terrible Thunder, Lightning and Darkness as caused much amazement. After the Death of Montfort, Prince Leoline who had given him great assistance, thought fit to make a reconciliation with King Henry, and [Page 62]by paying thirty thousand pound Sterling, four Welsh Counties taken from him in the Wars, were restored to him.

In 1275. King Edward I. sent for Prince Leoline to attend at his Coronation and do him Homage, which he excused or modestly refused; He was afterward summoned to appear at the Parliament at Westminster, which he likewise declined, stand­ing upon terms of safe Conduct, doubting to be used, as he pretended, like his Grandfather Griffith, whom he intimated was murdered in the Tower of London, and not kill'd by accident: yet he sent a message to the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, That if the King pleased to appoint Commissioners to receive his Oath and Homage he was very ready to give it, or if he would name some indifferent place and give Prince Edward, the Earl of Glocester, and the Lord Chancellor as Hostages for his safe return, he would wait upon him in Person; The King dissembled his anger at these arrogant de­mands, but a while after coming to the Castle of Chester on the Border of Wales, he again sent for him, and Leoline again denied to come; At which the King resolved, for preventing all future distur­bances on that side, to make an absolute Conquest of the Countrey; And on the contrary the Welsh having always a custom at every change of Princes in England to try conclusions, expecting one time or other to change their Yoke of Bondage into Li­berty, were in great hopes of doing it at this time, having now a valiant Prince to command them; But an accident happened which somewhat took off their edge, for the Lady Eleanor Daughter of Si­mon Earl of Montfort, whom Prince Leoline extream­ly loved Sailing out of France into Wales, was by the way taken by some English Ships, and brought to King Edward, and for the Love of her, Prince Leoline was willing to submit to any conditions, so [Page 63]that besides his Promise of submission to the Go­vernment, he agreed to pay down Fifty thousand pounds Sterling, and a thousand pound a year during life; Upon these Terms he Married his be­loved Lady, and the Wedding was solemniz'd in England, the King and Queen being present there­at; Three years Leoline continued faithful and obe­dient, in which time David one of his Brothers, staying in England, and being found by the King to be of a stirring Spirit, was much honoured by him, Knighted and Match to a Rich Widow, Daughter of the Earl of Derby, to which the King added the gift of the Castle of Denbigh with a thousand pound a year, though it was at length dis­covered that he lived here only as a Spy; For Prince Leoline's Lady dying soon after, and he contrary to his engagements taking up Arms, his Brother David notwithstanding these favours from the King, went and joined with him, and they together en­ter into England seizing the Castles of Flint and Ruthland with the Person of the Lord Chief Justice Clifford who was sent thither as a Judge, and in a great Battel the Welsh overthrew the Earls of Northumberland and Surrey with the Slaughter of many English.

King Edward was at the Vizes in Wiltshire when news coming of this revolt and overthrow, he raises an Army to revenge it; In his way he goes to visit his Mother Queen Eleanor, who lay at the Nunnery of Almesbury, with whom while he was discoursing a Person was brought into the Chamber, who pretended that being formerly blind he had received his Sight at the Tomb of King Henry III. When the King saw him, he knew him, and that he was a most notorious lying Villain, and intreat­ed his Mother not to give the least credit to him: but the Queen who was glad to hear of this Miracle for the glory of her Husband, finding her Son un­willing [Page 64]that his Father should be a Saint, fell sud­denly into such a rage, that she commanded him out of her sight, which the King obeys, and going forth meets with a Clergyman to whom he tells the story of this Impostor, adding merrily, That he knew the Justice of his Father to be such, that he would rather pluck out the Eyes, being whole, of such a wicked wretch, than restore him to his sight.

In the mean time the Archbishop of Canterbury went of himself to Prince Leoline and his Brother David, endeavouring to persuade them to sub­mission, but in vain: for Leoline was so animated with an old British Prophecy of Merlin's, That he should shortly be Crowned with the Diadem of Brute, that he had no Ear for Peace, and shortly after no head, for the Earl of Pembroke first took Bere Castle which was his usual residence from him, he then gave him Battel, and his Party being defeated, his Head was cut off by a Common Souldier and sent to King Edward, who caused it to be Crowned with Ivy, thereby in some part unluckily fulfilling his Welsh Prediction. And this was the end of Leoline the last of the Welsh Princes, betrayed, as some write, by the men of Buelth. Soon after his Bro­ther David flying into Wales, and being destitute of help or relief, he was at length taken with two of his Sons and seven Daughters (as some Authors write) all which were brought before the King; David was committed to Chester Castle, and after­ward in a Parliament at Shrewsbury was convicted of Treason, and sentenced to an ignominious death, namely, to be first drawn at a Horse Tail about the City of Shrewsbury, then to be beheaded and quar­tered, his Heart and Bowels burnt; His Head to accompany his Brothers was put upon the Tower of London, and his four Quarters were set up in four Cities, Bristol, Northampton, York and Winchester; A manifold Execution and the first shewed in this [Page 65]kind in this Kingdom, in the Person of the Son of a Prince, or any other Nobleman that we read of in our History. Some have observed that upon King Edward's thus totally subjecting Wales, he lost his Eldest Son Alphonsus a Prince of great hopes, about twelve years of Age, and had only left to succeed him his Son Edward lately born at Carnar­van, and the first of the English Royal Families that was Intituled Prince of Wales, but no Prince worthy either of Wales or England.

After this, the rest of the Welshmen as well Nobles as others submitted themselves to King Edward, and all the Countrey and Castles therein were surrendred to him, who then annexed that Country to the Crown of England, and built two strong Castles at Aberconway and Carnarvan to se­cure their obedience; He also gave several Lands and Castels to Englishmen, as the Lordship of Den­high to Henry Lacy Earl of Lincoln; Of Ruthen to Reginald Lord Grey, and divided Wales into Coun­ties and Hundreds, establishing the Government thereof agreeable to the Laws of England; This happened in the twelfth year of his Reign, 1284.

THough King Edward I. had subjected the Principality of Wales, and afterward annexed it to the Crown of England, yet he could never induce that People freely to own him as their King, but upon condition that he would come and reside among them, or at least appoint them a Prince of their own Nation to Govern them; for the Welch­men having experienced the rigorous and severe Treatment of the English Governours, and being sensible that the King would rule them by an Eng­lish Deputy, they could not with patience bear the thoughts of it, so that oftentimes when the King charged them with affronting his Lord Lieutenants, they unanimously answered, That they were very willing to be subject to any Prince he should nomi­nate, provided he were a Welshman born.

The King perceiving their inflexible temper, re­solved to gratifie them by a Politick Stratagem; He thereupon sends secretly to the Queen who was then big with Child, that she should come to him with all speed to Carnarvan, and when she was nigh [Page 67]her time of Delivery, He ordered all the Welsh Nobility and Gentry to appear before him at Ruth­land Castle to consult about the Publick welfare of their Country; When they were come he detain­ed them till he had notice that the Queen was de­livered of a Son at Carnarvan, and then calling them together, he told them, That they having often Petitioned him to have a Prince to rule them, he being now going out of their Countrey would nominate one to them, provided they would promise to accept and obey him. The Welshmen answered they would be willingly obedient to him, provided he were their own Countryman; Ay, says the King, I will assure you that he was born in Wales; That he can speak never a word of English, and that he never did any wrong to man, Woman or Child; The Welshmen were very joy­ful of their good fortune, promising true subjecti­on to him; Whereupon he named his own new born Son Edward, firnamed Carnarvan from the place of his Birth, and from that time the Eldest Sons of the Kings of England have been Intituled Princes of Wales.

This Prince succeeded his Father by the name of King Edward II. He was a comely Person, and of great strength, but much given to Drink, which made him often disclose his Secrets; For his other conditions, his greatest fault was his inordinate love to Garestone and the Spencers, who being Per­sons of lewd Lives, endeavoured to debauch him with Wine and Women, and occasioned many mischiefs and grievances in the Kingdom, of which the Nobility and People were so sensible, that when they found him irreclaimable, they re­solved to depose him and set his young Son Edward on the Throne, his Queen likewise joining with the Lords therein, who going over to France, she there Contracted a Marriage between her Son Ed­ward [Page 68]and Philippa Daughter to the Earl of Heynault, by whom being aided with Forces, she landed at Orwell near Harwich in Suffolk, The Lords imme­diately resorted to her, and the Londoners inclining to take her part, the King found his evil Coun­sellors the Spencers and others could do him little service; Therefore Shiping themselves for the Isle of Lundy, they were by Tempest cast upon the Coast of Wales, and the King secured himself in a Monastery in Glamorganshire; But soon after both he and his Favourites were taken from thence. They were Hanged and Quartered, and he himself was deposed by Parliament, having been first per­suaded to make a formal resignation of the Crown; And at length he was committed a Prisoner to Berkley Castle near Bristol, where he was miserably murdered, by having a red hot Iron or Spit thrust up into his Body.

II. Edward of Windsor, so called from the place of his Birth, the Son of this unfortunate King was the second Prince of Wales of the English Royal Blood. Upon the Deposing of his Father by the Parliament, it was resolved that he should be advanced to the Throne, which this young Prince refused, unless his Father resigned the Government, which he was obliged to do, and so his Son was Proclaimed King by the name of Edward III. who afterward proved a Glorious and Renowned Prince. His Mi­nority (being but four years old when he was Crown­ed) though it may Palliate, cannot so take off the scandal of not preventing his Death who gave him Life, but that there remains a great blemish upon his memory; For being a Master of so much reason as to pause upon it, as he did, upon the first mo­tion of putting his Father to Death, it may be thought he had power enough to have prevented the execution, it being a violation of the Law of Nature, and likewise of ill example, since the [Page 69]People might use him in the same manner if he outlived their affections, or his own discretion; But his revenge upon Mortimer seems to declare him really innocent, or that he abhor'd the World should think otherwise; Whereby he so far re­conciled himself to the opinion of the Vulgar, that he seldom wanted Friends during his long Reign, as he never wanted an occasion to make use of them.

He was a Prince of that admirable composure of Body and Mind, that Fortune seemed to have fallen in love with him, elevating him so far above the reach of Envy or Treachery, that all the Neigh­bour Princes dazled with the splendor of his Glory gave place to him, who from the very first Ascent to the Throne, had a prospect of two Crowns more than he was born to; The one placed within his reach, which was Scotland, The other that of France which was more remote; To the attain­ing the first there was a fair opportunity offered by the irreconcileable contest of two Rival Kings, Da­vid Bruce, and Edward Baliol whose Right and In­terest were so evenly poized, that King Edward's power could easily turn the Scale; To the recovery of France there was yet a fairer opportunity given him by the revolt of Philip of Artois a Prince of the Blood Royal, and Brother in Law to Philip of Valois the present French King, who upon discon­tent came over and discovered all the Secrets of the French Counsels to King Edward, assuring him of the Affections of several of the French Nobili­ty; And now the two Kings set up their Titles to the Kingdom of France; Edward was nearest by Blood, but drew his Pedigree from a Female; Philip was farther off but descended of all Males, and because the Law Salique, which excludes Wo­men from Reigning in France, was conceived as well to exclude all Descendants from Females, [Page 70]therefore was Philip's Title accepted, the French obstinately declaring, That they would never tye the Succession of that Crown to a Distaff; To which King Edward replied, That he would then tye it to his Sword; With the English took part the Em­peror and the chief Princes of Germany; With the French the King of Bohemia, the two Dukes of Austria, the Earl of Flanders, the Duke of Savoy and divers Princes of Italy; together with his in­raged Neighbour David Bruce King of Scots, a weak but restless Enemy, against whom King Ed­ward had set up Edward Baliol as Competitor; and to whose assistance he sends an Army toward Scot­land, and at Hallydown Hill near Berwick, the Scots are utterly defeated, about Thirty Two Thousand Souldiers being slain, with a great number of No­bility and Gentry, After this King Edward gained a Glorious Victory over the French at the Battel of Cressy, and another at Poictiers, wherein John King of France was taken Prisoner; And David King of Scots with an Army of Threescore Thou­sand men a second time Invading England, his Army is routed and himself taken Prisoner.

King Edward III. was of Stature indifferent tall, with sparkling Eyes, and of a comely and manly countenance, no man was more mild when there was submission, nor none more fierce if opposed; He had a command over his Passions as well as People, being never so loving as to be fond, nor so angry as to be irreconcileable; But this must be understood of him when he was a man, for in his old age he became a Child again, and was Master of neither; He was Fortunate and Valiant, both which were heightened in the estimation of the World as reigning between two unfortunate Princes, his Father to whom he was Successor, and his Grand­son Richard II. to whom he was Predecessor; His disposition was so martial that his very Recrea­tions [Page 71]were Warllke, for he delighted in none more than in Justs and Turnaments; and among the rest in the fourth year of his Reign a solemn Turnament was held in Cheapside, between the great Cross and the great Conduit, which lasted three days, where his Queen Philippa with many Ladies fell from a Stage erected for them to behold the Justing, and though they were not hurt at all, yet the King threatned to punish the Carpenters for their neg­ligence, till the Queen intreated pardon for them upon her Knees, as she was always ready to do all good Offices of mercy to all People. To discover his Devotion one example may be sufficient, for when neither Cardinals nor Counsellors could move him to make Peace with France, a Tempest from Heaven did it; To which may be added, That he never won a great Battel but he presently gave the Glory of it to God by publick Thanksgiving; He outlived the best Wife and the best Son that ever King had, and to say the truth, he out-lived the best of himself, leaving all Action, and bidding adieu to the World Ten Years before he went out of it, declining so fast from the Fortieth year of his Government, that it may rather be said his Son the Prince Reigned than he: and happy 'twas for him that when his own Understanding failed him he had so good a supporter. And the grief for the loss of him, besides the Fatigues of War, was thought to hasten his Death, together with the trouble for the loss of the benefit of his Conquests in France, of all which he had at last little left but the Town of Callice. Being oppressed thus in Bo­dy and Mind, he was drawing his last breath when his Concubine Alice Pierce (who was so confident sometime before, as to sit in Courts of Justice, and overawe the Judges) packing away what she could catch, even to the Rings of his Fingers, left him; and by her example others of his Attendants [Page 72]seize on what they could meet with, and march away; yea all his Counsellors and Courtiers forsook him when he had most occasion for them, leaving his Bed-Chamber quite empty. Which a poor Priest in his Palace observing, approached to his Bed-side, and finding him yet Breathing, called upon him to remember his Saviour, and to beg Mercy for his Offences, which none about him before would do; But now moved by the Voice of this Priest, he shews all signs of Contrition, and at his last Breath he pronounceth the Name of Jesus. Thus died this Victorious King at his Manour of Sheen (now Rich­mond) June 21. 1377. in the 64 year of his Age, having reigned above 50 years; His Body was con­veyed from Sheene by his four Sons (having had seven in all, and five Daughters) and the Nobility, and solemnly interred in Westminster Abbey, where his Monument is to be seen, and likewise his Sword which it is said he used in Battel being eight pound in weight, and seven foot in length.

III. The Third Prince of Wales of the Blood Royal of England,, was Edward commonly called the Black Prince, but why so named is uncertain, for to think it was because of his dreadful actions (as Speed saith) has little probability, neither do the Historians of that Age ever give him that name, nor mention that he was so called; He was eldest Son to King Edward III. by the fair Philippa Daugh­ter to William Earl of Henault and Holland, and born at Woodstock, July 15. 1329. in the third year of his Father's Reign; He was afterwards created Prince of Wales, Duke of Aquitain and Cornwall, and Earl of Chester; He was likewise Earl of Kent in the right of his Wife Joan Daughter of the Earl of that Name, and Brother by the Father's side to King Edward II. the most admired beauty of that Age. King Edward was very careful of his Educa­tion, [Page 73]providing him the most able Tutors to edu­cate him both in Arts and Arms.

When he was but fifteen years old, his Father passing over into France with a gallant Army, took his Son along with him, making him a Souldier before he was a Man, being willing to try his Me­tal, and loth to omit any thing that might give reputation to that Battel wherein two Kingdoms were laid at Stake. In 1345. King Edward with a Fleet of about a Thousand Sail, landed an Army of Two Thousand Five Hundred Horse and Thirty Thousand Foot most of them Archers, in Normandy, making devastation of all before him even to the very Walls of Paris.

In the mean time Philip the French King was not idle, having raised as brave an Army as France had ever seen, consisting in near an Hundred and Twenty Thousand Fighting Men; K. Edward's Army being loaden with the rich Spoils of the ruined Countrey, he was unwilling to retreat, neither indeed was he able being got into the Heart of the Enemies Coun­trey, between the two fine Rivers of Scin and Soan, so that he began to inquire how he might find a passage out of these straits, which the French hav­ing notice of, looked upon as an intended flight, and King Edward was willing they should nourish that opinton; The River Soan between Abbeville and the Sea was fordable when the Tyde was out, of which the French were aware, and therefore guarded the passage with a Thousand Horse, and Six Thousand Foot commanded by Gundamar de Foy a Valiant Norman Lord. King Edward coming to this place plunges into the River, crying out, He that loves me will follow me; as resolving either to pass or dye; This so animated his Souldiers that the Passage was won, and Du Foy defeated by the undaunted courage of the English, almost be­fore he was fought with; carrying back to King [Page 74] Philip. Two Thousand less than he brought beside the terror of the English Arms, the Souldiers resolving to live and dye with such a gallant So­veraign; King Edward was now near Crescy in the Province of Pontheiu between the Rivers Soam and Anthy (a place unquestionably belonging to him in right of his Mother) where he provided all necessa­ries for a Battel; King Philip inraged at the late defeat, and by his numerous Forces growing con­fident of success, marches furiously to fall upon them without any stop till they came within view of the English Colours.

King Edward having implored the aid of the Al­mighty, full of hopes of obtaining Victory, without the least disturbance of mind, divided his Army into three Bodies; The Front was commanded by the young Lion of Wales our brave Prince Edward, assisted with several of the most experienced Ge­nerals consisting of Eight Hundred Men at Arms, Two Thousand Archers, and a Thousand Welshmen. The second Battalian was commanded by the Earls of Northampton and Arundel with other Lords, be­ing Eight Hundred Men at Arms, and One Thou­sand Two Hundred Archers; The third and last being about Seven Hundred men at Arms, and Three Thousand Archers, with the rest of the Nobility, the King led himself, and being mounted upon a white Hobby he Rid through the several Ranks, reviving and incouraging his Souldiers with cheer­ful words to fight like Men for his Right and their Honour. He then ordered the Rear of the Army to be Barricado'd with Trees and Carriages, and likewise commanded the Troopers to dismount and leave their Horses behind them, so that all means of flight being taken away, they must now resolve either to Conquer or Die.

In King Philip's Army were the King of Bohemia, the King of Majorca, the Duke of Lorrain, the [Page 75]Duke of Savoy, the Earls of Flanders, Nevers, San­cerre, with many other Dukes, Earls, Barons and Gentlemen Volunteers, both French, Dutch and Germans; and just the Night before the Battel Ann of Savoy joined him with a Thousand Men at Arms; So that all things seemed to conspire to elate the French Pride and assure them of Victory; They divided their Army likewise into three Bat­talia's: The Van was led by the Duke of Alonson the King's Brother, and the King of Bohemia; The Reer by the Duke of Savoy; And the main Battel the King Commanded himself; He was so impatient of delays that He would scarce stay to call a Coun­cil of War to consider how to manage the Fight; He likewise caused the Banner of Auriflamb to be erected, which was of red Silk and Hallowed by the Pope, of which the French had as high an opi­nion as if it had fallen from Heaven; The King of Bohemia hearing of the posture of the English Army, (contrary to the proud conceit of the French) said, Here will the English end their Days or Conquer.

A little before the Fight, happened a very ter­rible Tempest of Thunder and Rain, and a bright Rain-bow appeared in the Heavens; And soon after the Sun broke forth, shining full in the Faces of the French and on the Back of the English; and at the same time great numbers of Ravens and other Birds of Prey flew over the French Army; All which accidents were judged ominous, and pre­saging mischief to the Enemy; The signal of Bat­tel being given by King Philip, it was entertained by a shout from his Army, the Drums beat, the Trumpets sounded, Banners flew in the Air; Glit­tering Swords were seen threatning Death and De­struction, and all the horrors of War appeared in their most dismal Colours. The ruine of the French began at the Genoeses, who being all Cross-Bow Men were ordered to open a way for the French [Page 76]Horse, but it happened that their Bow-strings be­ing Wet by the late great Shower, and their Bo­dies weary with a long March, after the English had received the first Volley of their Arrows with their Targets, their Ranks were opened in many places by the fall of their slain Fellows, who were kill'd by the English Bowmen, and at length most outragiously scattered and trampled under foot by the Duke of Alanson (by Command of the King him­self) who bringing up the Horse in a full Career, cried out; On, on, let us make our way upon the Bel­lies of these Genoeses, who do but hinder us; And in­stantly Rides through the midst of them, followed by the Dukes of Lorrain and Savoy, never staying till they came to that Body of the English command­ed by the Gallant Prince of Wales; These French Gallants half out of breath with their Post haste, and terribly disordered by the perpetual Storms of our Whistling Arrows, came now to handy strokes with the Princes Squadron with Battle Axes, Swords and Lances; The Fight was very bloody while each earnestly contended for Victory. The old King of Bohemia resolving to dye honourably, thrust himself into the first Ranks of his own Horse­men, and furiously charging the English he was slain with Sword in hand, the Troop of his faith­ful Followers with their slaughtered Bodies cover­ing him even in Death, and his fate was soon per­ceived by the fall of the Bohemian Standard.

King Philip in Person, with a strong Party, hastened to the relief of his Brother and Friends who were also much distrest by the English Valour, and great numbers slain, though the Prince of Wales was in danger in the encounter, had not his Souldiers rusht in couragiously among their Ene­mies for the preservation of their worthy Prince.

King Edward stood all this while upon Windmill-Hill (with his Helmet on, which he never pull'd [Page 77]off till the Fight was ended) judiciously surveying the whole Field of Battel to observe the success, being ready to bring down his Party which lay hovering like a Black Cloud, where necessity should require. In the mean time the brave Prince of Wales was contending with the whole power of France, whereupon some of his Generals seeing the great inequality, and doubting the worst, they sent to the King, requesting his assistance; The King asked the Messenger, whether his Son were slain or hurt; who replied, No, he was safe, but like to be over powered by the multitude of his Ene­mies; ‘Well then, said the King, go back to them that sent you, and tell them that so long as my Son is alive, they send no more to me whatever happen, for I design that the honour of this day shallbe his if God permit him to sur­vive, and am resolved that he shall either win the Spurs or lose his life.’

This resolution of the King's though it brought no assistance, yet seemed to inspire new Life and Spirits into the English, so that they fought like Lions; On the otherside King Philip whose King­dom lay at Stake, performed the Duty of a good General, and a gallant Souldier, fighting so long in his own Person, till his Horse was killed under him, himself twice dismounted, and wounded both in the Neck and Thigh, and in danger of be­ing trodden to death; had not the Earl of Beaumont rescued and remounted him, and the French out of their Loyalty to save him (almost against his Will) conveyed him out of the Field, who seemed rather desirous to end his days in such noble Company. His departure was quickly known to both Armies, and as suddenly put an end to this bloody Carnage, wherein hitherto none had quarter, but were all put to the Sword; The French King himself with a small Company fled to Bray in the Night, and ap­proaching [Page 78]the Walls the Guard demanded who was there, He replied, The Fortune of France; By his Voice he was Known, and thereupon received into the Town with the Tears and lamentations of his People; The rest of his Army strove to save themselves by flight, whom the English did not pursue, but stood still upon their Guard, accord­ing to the true Rules of Martial Discipline, being unwilling to hazard so glorious a Victory by follow­ing them in the Night, knowing there were so many of the Enemy escaped as might yet overwhelm their tired Army with multitude.

King Edward seeing the Field clear of the French, came down from the Hill with his Troops entire toward his Victorious Son, whom most af­fectionately imbracing and kissing he said, ‘Fair Son, God send you good perseverance to such prosperous beginnings, you have acquitted your self right Nobly, and are well worthy to have a Kingdom intrusted to your Government for your Valour;’ To which the most Noble and Magna­nimous Prince replied, with silence, humbly falling on his Knees at the Feet of his Triumphant Father; After this Victory King Edward marched with his Army through France, and Besieged Calice.

In 1355. King Edward was informed that Philip of France being dead, King John his Son and Suc­cessor had given the Dutchy of Aquitain to Charles the Dauphin his Eldest Son, whereupon the King being much incensed, conferr'd the same upon his own Son the Prince of Wales, commanding him to defend his Right therein with his Sword against his Adversaries; He was likewise appointed by Parliament to go into Gascoin with a thousand men at Arms, Two Thousand Archers, and a great number of Welshmen who accompanied their Prince; and soon after with Three Hundred Sail of Ships, attended by many of the English Nobility, he land­ed [Page 79]in France, and with his Victorious Arms March­ed into Aquitain, recovering a great number of Cities and Towns, and releasing a multitude of Prisoners; He then entred Guienne, passing over Languedock to Tholouse, Narbone and Bruges without opposition, and loaden with Plunder return'd to Bourdeux; Afterward he made a second Course through Perigort and Limosin into the Bowels of France, even to the very Gates of Bruges in Berry, the terror of his name preparing his way, and then wheeled about designing to return by Remorantine in Blasois, which Town he took, and so through the Countrey of Tourain, Poictou and Xantoign to his Chief City of Bourdeux.

But King John having raised a very Potent Army followed him in the Rear, and about the City of Poictiers he overtook our Invincible Prince, where the Armies approached each other, the French ex­ceeding the English six to one; Two Cardinals sent from Pope Clement (as before the former Battel) mediated to take up the Quarrel, but the French King supposing he had his Enemy now at his mercy would hear of no conditions, but that the Prince should deliver him four Hostages, and as Vanquished render up himself and his Army to his discretion; The Prince was content to restore to him all the places he had taken, but without prejudice to his Honour, wherein he said, he stood accountable to his Father and his Country. But King John would not abate any thing of his first demands, as judging himself secure of Victory, and thereupon was ready to attack the Prince, who in this exigency politickly got the advantage of the ground, by ob­taining the benefit of certain Vines, Shrubs and Bushes upon that part where he was like to be assaulted, whereby to imbarass and disturb the French Horse whom he saw ready to fall furiously upon him; The success answered his expectation, [Page 80]for the Enemies Cavalry in their full Career were so intangled and incumbered among their Vines that the Prince's Archers galled and annoyed them at pleasure; For the French King to give the Honour of the day to his Horse, made use of them only, without the aid of his Infantry; And they being thus disordered, the whole Army was thereby ut­terly defeated; Here, if ever, the Prince of Wales and his Englishmen gave full proof of their undaunt­ed Courage and Valour, never giving over till they had wholly routed all the three French Battalions, the least of which exceeded the number of the Prince's Forces. King John himself Fighting va­liantly, and Philip his youngest Son (who by his undaunted Prowess so defended his distressed Fa­ther, that he gained the Sirname of Hardy) were both taken Prisoners. The most remarkable of the Prince's Commanders for Courage and Conduct were the Earls of Warwick, Suffolk, Salisbury, Ox­ford, and Stafford; The Lords Chandois, Cobham, Spencer, Berkley, Basset, &c. and particularly James Lord Audley signaliz'd himself, receiving many wounds, and was rewarded by the Noble Prince of Wales, with the gift of Five Hundred Marks Land a year in England, which he instantly divided among his four Esquires, who had stood by him in all the fury and brunt of this bloody Battel; Whereupon the Prince asked him if he did not accept of his gift; He answered, That these men had deserved it as well as himself, and needed it more; With which reply the Prince was so well pleased, that he gave him Five Hundred Marks a Year more. A rare example, where desert in the Subject and reward in the Prince strove to exceed each other. He vowed to be foremost in the Fight and made good his word.

It was the misfortune or rather glory of the French Nobility in these disastrous times, that the [Page 81]loss commonly fell very heavy upon them, for in this fatal overthrow the French confess that Fifty Two Lords, and about One Thousand Seven Hun­dred Knights, Esquires, and Gentlemen were slain; The chief were, the Duke of Athens, the High Constable, Great Marshal, and High Chamberlain of France, the Bishop of Chalons, th [...] Lords of Landas, Pons and Chambly; Sir Reginald Charney who that day carried the Consecrated Standard Auriflamb was slain also, and of the Common Soul­diers about Six Thousand. So wonderfully did the great God of Battels fight for the English in those days. There escaped from this bloody fight Three of the French King's Sons, (for he brought them all into the Field) Charles the Dauphin, Lewis Duke of Anjou, and John Duke of Barry. The French Prisoners taken were John King of France, and Philip his Son, the Archbishop of Sens, the Earls of Ponthieu, Eu, Longuevil, Vendosme, Tan­kervile, Salbruch, Nassaw, Dampmartin, La Roch, Vaudemont, Estampes, &c. With many other Lords and Two Thousand Knights, Esquires and Gentle­men, that bore Coats of Arms.

After the Battel a Contention arose who was the Man that took King John Prisoner. At length the King himself decided the Controversie by declaring that one Sir Dennis Morbeck of St. Omers had made him Prisoner. For which service the Prince of Wales rewarded him with a Thousand Marks, This great Battel was fought Sept. 19. 1357. and is thus described by Mr. Thomas May in his Poem on the Life of King Edward III.

And now though King John had the misfortune to fall into the Hands of an Enemy, yet he had the happiness to be made Captive to a Noble Enemy; For Prince Edward, having conquered his Person by the Fortune of War, endeavoured now to over­come his Mind by his Courteous demeanor, ad­dressing him with such an humble Grace, yet ge­nerous deportment, as a Person of so gallant a Soul as this noble Prince was capable of, which so al­leviated [Page 84]the King's affliction, that he could not find much difference between his Captivity and Liberty, which the same Poet thus expresses.

After the Battel, Prince Edward led King John and the Captive Nobles Prisoners to Bourdeaux, the Archiepiscopal See, and chief City of his Domi­nions in France, where he retained them till the Spring following: But sent present News of this Victory to his Father, who thereupon ordered a Thanksgiving to be celebrated all over England for eight days together.

The Prince, having refreshed his Men, the May following set sail for England, with his Prisoners, and safely arrived at Plimouth, and was with great joy and acclamations received every where. At his coming to London where at that time, a magni­ficent Citizen, Henry Picard (he who afterwards at one time so Nobly Feasted the four King's of England, France, Scotland, and Cyprus) was Lord Major, he received him with all imaginable Ho­nour. And the multitude of People, that came to see the Victorious Prince, with the King of France, his Son Philip, and the other Prisoners, was so great, that they could hardly get to Westminster between three a Clock in the Morning, and twelve at Noon: Great Edward, saving that he forgat not the Majesty of a Conqueror, and [...]f a King of Eng­land, omitted no kind of civility towards the Pri­soners. King John, and his Son, were lodged un­der a Guard at the Savoy, which was then a good­ly Palace belonging to Henry Duke of Lancaster; and the other Prisoners in other places.

Some time after Prince Edward, by dispensa­tion, married the Countess of Kent, Daughter to [Page 87] Edmund, Brother to King Edward the second, and his Father invested him with the Dutchy of Aquitain: So that he was now Prince of Wales, Duke of Aqui­tain, Duke of Cornwal, and Earl of Chester and Kent. And not long after, he with his Beloved Wife, passed over into France, and kept his Court at Bourdeaux.

The Prince of Wales was now grown famous over all the Christian World, and the man to whom all wronged Princes seemed to Appeal, and to fly for relief. For which end there came at this time to his Court James, King of Majorca, and Richard, King of Navarr, just when his Lady brought him a Son, for whom these two Kings undertook at his Baptism, giving him the Name of Ri­chard.

The Soldiers, most of whose Captains were English, either by Birth, or Obedience, wanting employment, because the Wars of Britain were quieted for the Present, ranged tumultuously up and down France: But about this time Sir Bertram de Glequin (having paid his Ransom) found em­ployment for them, drawing the greatest part of that Military Pestilence into another Coast. For by the assistance of Peter King of Arragon, and the Power of Glequin, with his floating Bands, called The Companions, or Adventurers, Peter King of Castile and Leon (a cruel Tyrant) was driven out of his Kingdom, his Bastard Brother Henry being cho­sen in his room, and Crowned King of Spain at Burgos. This Peter was Son to Alphonsus the ele­venth King of Castile, and had to Wife a French Lady called Blanch, Daughter to Peter Duke of Bourbon, who was Father also of Joan, the French King's Wife. His Tyrannical cruelties were so ma­ny and so foul, that the Spanish Stories, scarce allow Nero or Caligula to go beyond him: For which, by his Subjects he was deposed.

[Page 88] Peter thus driven out of his Kingdom, by the aid of the French, applied himself to Prince Edward, craving his assistance for his restoration, making many and large Promises to him upon the accom­plishment thereof. The Prince out of Charity to succour a distressed Prince, and out of Policy to imploy his Souldiers, having got leave of his Fa­ther, marched with a gallant Army of thirty thou­sand men, upon confidence of good pay for his men, and other benefits when Peter should be re-esta­blished in his Throne; He made his way through the famous straits of Rouncevallux in Navarre, by permission of that King, who yet suffered himself to be carried Prisoner, into Castile, that he might not seem to cross the French King's designs, who favoured Henry the Usurper. Our Prince had [...]n his Company, besides most of all the principal Captain of the English, two King's, Peter of Castile whose the quarrel was, and the King of Majorca; As also John Duke of Lancaster, who after Don Pedro's death, having married his eldest daughter, wrote himself King of Castile and Leon.

On the other side, King Henry for the defence of his new Kingdom, had raised a very great Army, con­sisting partly of French, under Glequin their famous Captains, and of Castilians and others, both Chri­stians and Saracens to the number of about an hundred thousand. And upon the Borders of Castile it came to a bloody battel, wherein the valaint Prince of Wales obtained a very great victo­ry, having slain many thousands of his enemies. Henry himself fighting valiantly, was wounded in the Groin, but yet escaped. There were taken Prisoners, the Earl of Dene, Bertram de Glequin (who yet shortly after, by paying a great Ransom was set at liberty.) The Marshal Dandrehen, and many others. Neither was this Victory less worth [Page 89]to Peter than a Kingdom: For our most Noble Prince left him not, till at Burgos he had set him upon his Throne again.

But this unworthy King's falshood and ingrati­tude were odious and monstrous. For the Prince notwithstanding this great success was enforced to return to Burdeaux without money to pay his Army, which caused great mischiefs to himself, and the English Dominions beyond the Seas, as if God had been displeased with his succouring such a Tyrant. The Prince himself, though he returned with Victory, yet he brought back with him such a craziness, and indisposition of Body, that he was never throughly well after. And no marvel, considering the Country, the Season, and the action it self, and it may be more wondred at, that his Souldiers came home so well, then that he re­turned so ill: Being come home, discontent of Mind was added to his indisposition of Body. For not having Money to pay his Soldiers, he was forced to wink at their preying upon the Country, for which the Country, to stop whose murmuring, his Chancellor the Bishop of Rhodes devised a new Imposition of levying a Frank for every Chimney, to continue for five years to pay the Prince's debts. But this Imposition (though granted in Parliament) made their murmurs encrease; For though some part of his Dominions, as the Poictorians, the Xan­toigns, and the Limosins, seemed to consent to it, yet the Counts of Armigniac and Cominges, the Vi­count of Carmain, and divers others, so much distasted it, that they complained thereof to the King of France, as unto their Supreme Lord: Pre­tending that the Prince was to answer before King Charles, as before his Superior Lord, of whom (they said) he held by homage and fealty: where­as King Edward and his Heirs by the Treaty at Bretagny were absolutely freed from all manner of [Page 90]Service for any of their Dominions in France; King Charles openly entertained this Com­plaint, and hoping to regain by surprize and po­licy, what the English had won by dint of Sword, and true Manhood, he summoned the Prince of Wales to Paris, to answer such Complaints as his subjects made against him.

Our valiant Prince returned answer, ‘That if he must needs appear, he would bring threescore thousand men in Arms to appear with him.’ And now began the Peace between England and France to be unsetled and wavering. For while King Edward rejoyced in the excellent Vertues and Actions of his Son and People, Charles the French King, warned by so many calamities as his Dominions had sustained by the English War: and earnestly coveting to recover the Honour of his Nation, betook himself to secret practices. Ne­ver adventuring his own Person in the Field, but executing all by his Deputies and Lieutenants, especially by the valour and service of Bertram de Glequin, Constable of France, who from a low estate was raised to this height for his prudent and magnanimous Conduct in War. And our truly Noble King (without suspicion of craft) reposing himself upon the Rules of Vertue and Magnanimity, did not reap the stable effects of so great and im­portant victories, nor of the Peace so Ceremo­niously made, that (in the World's opinion) it could not be broken, without the manifest violation up­on one side, of all Bonds both divine and hu­mane.

The Prince of Wales by Letters advised his Fa­ther not to trust to any fair words, or overtures of further Amity made by the French, because (as he said) they entertained Practices underhand in eve­ry place against him. But his counsel was not heark­ned to, because he was judged to write out of a [Page 91]restless humour, delighting in War, though the event shewed that his words were true. For now King Charles, having by quick payments, and other means got home all the Hostages which had been delivered for performance of the Articles of Peace, set all his wits on work to abuse the King of England's credulity. He courted him with lov­ing Letters and Presents, and in the mean time sur­prized the County of Ponthieu (our King's undenia­ble inheritance) before King Edward heard there­of. Who hereupon calls a Parliament, declares the breach, craves aid, and hath it granted. And then again claims the Crown of France, and sent over his Son John, Duke of Lancaster, and Humfrey de Bohun, Earl of Hereford, with a great Army to Calice to invade France.

Among the States and Towns made over to the English at the Treaty of Bretigni, which had revolt­ed to the French, was the City of Limosin: Thither did the Prince march, and sat down with his Ar­my before it: And not long after came unto him out of England, his two Brethren the Duke of Lan­caster, and the Earl of Cambridge, with a fresh supply of Valiant Captains, and Souldiers. The City held out to the utmost, and was at last taken by storm, where no mercy was shewed by the in­raged Soldiers, but Sword and Fire laid all deso­late. After this Service, the Prince's health fail­ing him more and more, he left his Brethren in Aquitain to prosecute the Wars, and himself tak­ing Ship, came over to his Father in England, his eldest Son [Edward] being dead a little before at Bourdeaux, and brought over with him his Wife and his other Son Richard.

The Prince having left France, his Dominions were either taken or fell away faster than they were gotten, Gueschlin entred Poictou, took Montmorillon, Chauvigny, Lussack and Moncontour. Soon after fol­lowed [Page 92]the Country of Aulnis, of Xantoyn, and the rest of Poictou: Then St. Maxent, Neel, Aulnay: Benaon, Marant, Surgers, Fontency, and at last they came to Thouras, where the most part of the Lords of Poictou, that held with the Prince, were as­sembled. At this time the King, Prince Edward, the Duke of Lancaster, and all the Great Lords of England set forward for their relief: But being dri­ven back by a Tempest, and succour not coming, Thouras was yielded upon composition. In fine, all Poictou was lost, and then Aquitain, all, but only Burdeaux, and Bayon. And not long after Prince Edward died, and with him the Fortune of England. He was a Prince so full of Virtues as were scarce to be matcht by others. He died at Canterbury upon Trinity Sunday, June 8. in the forty sixth year of his Age, and the forty ninth of his Father's Reign: and was buried in Christ's-Church there, 1376.

Among all the Gallant men of that Age this our Prince was so worthily the first, He had a sump­tuous Monument erected for him, upon which this Epitaph was engraven in Brass, in French, thus Englished.

‘Here lyeth the Noble Prince Monsieur Edward; the Eldest Son of the thrice Noble King Edward the third, in former time Prince of Aquitain, and of Wales, Duke of Cornwal, and Earl of Chester, who died on the Feast of the Trinity, which was the eighth of June, in the year of Grace 1376. To the Soul of whom, God grant mercy. Amen.’

After which were added these verses in French, thus Translated according to the homely Poetry of those times.

The Death of this Prince, saith an ingenious Historian, was a heavy loss to the State, being a Prince of whom we never heard ill, never re­ceived any other note but of goodness, and the Noblest performance that Magnanimity and Wis­dom could ever shew, insomuch as what Praise could be given to Virtue, is due to him.

[Page 94]I shall only add this short Remark, That the Captivity of two Kings at the same time, namely John King of France, and David Bruce King of Scotland, demonstrated at once the Glory and Power of King Edward, and his magnanimous Son; The French King continued Prisoner in Eng­land five years, enough to have determined the for­tune of that great Kingdom, and dissolved their Cantoned Government into Parts, had it not been a body consisting of so many strong Limbs, and so abounding with Spirits that it never fainted, not­withstanding all its loss of blood, but scorned to yield though King Edward came very near the Heart, having wounded them in their most mortal part the Head. At length he recovered his liberty by paying three millions of Crowns of Gold, whereof six hundred thousand were laid down pre­sently, four hundred thousand more the year after, and the remainder the next two years fol­lowing. The Scots King could not gain his Free­dom in twice the time, being the less able to re­deem himself, for that he was upon the matter half a King, the other half being in the possession of Edward Baliol, but at length he was ransomed for ten thousand Marks, and restored to his Kingdom.

IV. The forth Prince of Wales of the English Royal Line was Richard of Bourdeaux, so called from the place of his Birth. The Black Prince his renowned Father, whose Wisdom doubtless was no way short of his Courage, knowing how apt they who stand near the Throne are to step into it, was so intent to prevent any disorder of that kind that might be feared from the well known am­bition of his aspiring Brothers, the Eldest of whom Henry Duke of Lancaster, (afterward King Henry IV.) having the Title of King of Castile in the Right of his Wife, but without any Kingdom, might reasonably be suspected to affect one so much [Page 95]the more his own Right, and to take advantage of his Nephew Richard's weakness. He therefore made it his dying request to his declining Father, to inaugurate his Son whilst he was yet alive, that by being committed to the Parliaments care, he might have publick security against all private supplantations, and without further dispute enjoy all those Prerogatives which either his own Right, or his Father's Merit intituled him to. Where­upon he was set upon the Throne at Eleven years of Age, and in the life time of his Grandfather Edward III. began to Reign by the name of Ri­chard II. with this happiness, that at the same time he took upon him to Govern them, the Par­liament entred into Consultation about the Persons fittest to Govern him; And because the safety of the King as well as of the Kingdom, consisted in the multitude of Counsellors, they designed to add to his Uncle the Duke of Lancaster, (who was ambitious of being Protector) the two other Bro­thers Edmund Earl of Cambridge, and Thomas of Woodstock Duke of Glocester, with whom they con­joined several Spiritual and Temporal Lords of known Wisdom and Integrity. This so offended the Duke, as seeming a reflection on his Ambition not to be trusted solely, that he refused the charge, and retiring into the Country, so play'd the King at his own House, that a poor well meaning Fryar thought himself obliged in point of Allegiance to accuse him of an Intention to Usurp the Crown, and consequently to destroy the King. Neither wanted he matter enough, 'tis thought, to make out that charge, but his Innocence being over­matcht by Power, and having none to second his accusation, the Crime w [...] cast upon the Accuser, who being friendless wa [...] [...] into Prison, and in­humanely murdered by his Keepers, who tying one end of a Cord about his Neck, and the other [Page 96]to his Privy Members, hung him up on a Pin, and with the weight of a Stone laid upon his Belly, burst his back, and so all further proof deceased with him.

This being known among the People, and no punishment inflicted upon the Murtherers, dero­gated very much from the young King's Justice and Honour among his Subjects, who not being able to distinguish betwixt the want of Skill, and want of Power to punish, began thenceforth to Worship the Duke of Lancaster, as the Indians do the Devil for fear. And as the King's Father Prince Edward never recovered the health which he lost in the last expedition into Spain, so his Son never recovered this and other disadvantages, put upon him by his ambitious Uncle, and parti­cularly that the very first day he took his Grand­father's Seat in Parliament as Heir Apparent to the Crown, he taught him to demand a Subsidy, pur­posely to alienate the Peoples Affections from him, who were before sufficiently disgusted with the heavy Taxes they had already paid: And likewise his ommitting no occasion of propagating Tumults and Factions, whereby he at length deprived his Nephew first of his Crown, and then of his Life.

Richard II. was the comeliest Person of all the Kings since the Conquest, being Tall, well Limb'd and Strong, and of so amiable a Countenance, that he might well be the Son of such a beautiful Mother. As to his Temper of Mind, it proceeded more from his Education than his natural Humour, for he seemed to have many good Inclinations, which might have grown into Habits, had they not been perverted by corrupted Flatterers in his Youth. He was of a credulous disposition, apt to believe, and therefore easie to be abused, and it was his great weakness that he could not distinguish [Page 97]between a Parasite and and a Friend. He seemed to partake both of a French and English Nature, being violent at the first apprehension of a thing, and calm upon deliberation. He never shewed himself so worthy of the Government, as when he was De­posed as unworthy to Govern. For it appeared that the Royal Dignity was not so pleasing to him, as a quiet retired Life, which if he might have en­joyed, he would never have complained, that For­tune had done him wrong. He lived thirty three years, and reigned twenty and two months, and was Murdered at Pomfreh Castle in the place of his Birth.

V. Henry of Monmouth the Son and Successor of King Henry IV. was the Fifth Prince of Wales, of the Royal Blood of England. He was bred a Stu­dent in Queens College in Oxford, and from thence being called to Court, the Lord Piercy Earl of Worcester was made his Governour. But coming afterward to be at his own disposing, whether be­ing by nature valorous, and yet not well staid by time and experience, or whether incited by ill Companions, and imboldened by the opinion of his own Greatness, he ran into many Courses so unworthy of a Prince, that it was much doubted what he might prove if he should come to be King. For it is recorded that he with some other young Lords and Gentlemen, lay in wait in disguise for the Receivers of his Father's Revenue, whom they robbed of their Money to maintain their riotous Living, though sometimes they missed their Prize, and were soundly beaten in prosecuting such at­tempts, and when upon his return to Court he had heard the Receivers complain of their great losses, he would give them Money to make them part of amends, but rewarded those best that had made the stoutest defence, and from whom he had received the most blows. It happened that one [Page 98]of his Companions was arraigned at the King's Bench Bar in Westminster Hall for Felony, of which the Prince being informed, he by the advice of the rest, came in a great rage to the Bar, and attempt­ed to take away the Prisoner by force, command­ing that his Fetters should be taken off, and he set at Liberty. All present were much amazed, but Sir William Gascoign then Lord Chief Justice mildly desired him to forbear, and suffer the Felon to be Tryed by the Laws of the Land, and that he might afterward get his Pardon of his Father, if there were occasion. The Prince grew more inflamed at these words, and endeavoured to take him away himself. But the Judge charging him upon his Allegiance to withdraw out of the Court, the Prince furiously stept up to him, and struck him over the Face: Whereat the Judge not at all di­sturbed, rose up and told him, ‘That the affront he had offered, was not done to him, but to the King his Father, whom he did there repre­sent. And therefore I charge you, saith he, to desist from proceeding any further in your Law­less designs, and I commit you to the King's Bench, there to remain during your Father's pleasure, for the abuse you have committed, and the ill example you have given to those that may hereafter be your own Subjects.’ It was wonderful to see how calm the Prince was in his own cause, who had been so violent in that of his Companion, for laying aside his Dagger which he had in his hand, and with which the People feared he would have killed the Judg, he quietly submit­ted to his Order, and went to the King's Bench. At which his Attendants being in a great fury, ran instantly with mighty complaints to the King giving him an account of the whole matter. King Henry appeared at first a little surprized, but recollecting himself, he seemed ravished with joy, and holding [Page 99]up his hands to Heaven, cry'd out, O merciful God, how much am I bound to thy Infinite goodness, that thou hast given me a Judge, who is of such Courage as not to be afraid to administer Justice, and a Son of such humility that he will submit thereunto. However for these and some other Pranks he removed him from being President of the Council, and put his youn­ger Brother Lord John in his place. This made the Prince so sensible of his Father's anger, which some of his Enemies endeavoured to heighten, that he thought it necessary to use all means to recover his good opinion, which he endeavoured to do by a way as strange as that by which he lost it. Of which I shall give an account in the words of the Larl of Ormond, who was an Eye and Ear witness of the same.

During the sickness of the King, faith he, some ill disposed people endeavoured to raise dissention between him and his Son, reproaching the Prince both with the Frolicks of his Youth, and for the great concourse of People that continually attended his Court far exceeding those of his Father, where­by they insinuated, that he designed to usurp the Crown during his Life, which raised much jealousie in the King's Mind, and greatly alienated his af­fections from him. The Prince had notice thereof by some of his Friends in Court. Whereupon he attired himself in a Garment of blew Sattin, wrought all with Oylet holes of black Silk, at every hole a Needle hanging by which it was sowed, and about his Arm he wore a Hound's Collar studded with S S. of Gold. Thus strangely apparrell'd, with a large Retinue of Young Noblemen, he came to his Father at Westminster, and his Attendants staying in the Hall by his Order to prevent suspicion, he himself with the King's Officers went to wait upon his Father. Being admitted into the Presence, after due obeysance, the Prince desired that he [Page 100]might have Audience of his Majesty in the Privy Chamber. Upon which the King caused himself to be carried thither in a Chair, where in the Presence of only three or four of his Privy-Council, he demanded of the Prince the Cause of his un­wonted Habit and Coming.

The Prince kneeling, replied, ‘Most honoured Lord and Father, I am come to throw my self at your Majestie's Feet, as your most Loyal Sub­ject and Obedient Son, to whom nothing is more afflicting than that your Majesty should enter­tain the least jealousie of my designing any thing against your Royal Dignity, or to imagine me so horridly undutiful and ingrateful to a Father who hath always shewed such tender love and affection to me, as your Highness hath always done, so that I should deserve a thousand deaths, if I durst imagine the least harm or damage against your Sacred Person. And if it be my bounden duty, to hazard my life in your de­fence against any, even the greatest Traytor whatsoever, then much more ought I to Sacrifice my self to free your Grace from the fear of any peril or danger from me, and upon that account, I have this day by confessing my Sins, and re­ceiving the Sacrament prepared my self for ano­ther World. Therefore, most Honoured Father, I beseech you for God's sake to put an end to my life, now lying at your Feet, with this Dagger, (delivering his Dagger to the K.) for I had rather be out of the World, than continue a day longer in it, to give any disturbance to your mind. And dear Father, in the doing hereof I freely forgive you, as I shall do the same before God at the Day of Judgment.’

The King was so moved at these words, tha [...] throwing the Dagger away, he fell upon his Neck and imbracing him, said, ‘My dear and truly be [Page 101]loved Son, I must confess I had entertained some suspicions, but I now find they were altogether causless on your part, and since I am now sen­sible of your fidelity and obedience, I do assure you upon my honour, I will never hereafter har­bour any ill opinion of you, whatsoever may be suggested against you.’ And hereupon he was fully restored to the King's former Grace and Fa­vour.

The King's weakness of Body increasing daily, he oft-times took occasion to give some useful in­structions to his Son, for the future Governing of his Kingdom, to this effect. ‘Dear Son, I am much concerned for fear that after my decease some difference may arise betwixt you and your Brother Thomas Duke of Clarence, whereby great mischiefs may happen to the Kingdom, you being both of great Spirits, and he of an Usurping Tem­per, which I am sure you will never endure. And as often as I think of it, I heartily repent me that ever I charged my self with the troubles of a Crown. The Prince replied, Gracious Soveraign and Father, I pray God continue long your Life and Reign to Govern us both, but if it please the Almighty that I shall succeed you in the King­dom, I shall honour and love my Brethren above all others, so long as they be true and faithful to me their Soveraign Lord. But if any of them shall conspire or rebel against me, I do assure you, I shall as soon execute justice on them as upon the meanest and most inconsiderable Person in the Nation.’

The King was extreamly pleased with this an­swer, and then proceeded. ‘My well beloved Son, Thou hast much eased my troubled Mind, and I charge thee to do as thou hast said, To administer Justice impartially, but to be always ready, and speedy in relieving the Oppressed. And let not [Page 102]Flatterers, whose hands are full of Bribes, with­draw thy Mind therefrom. Delay not to do Justice to day if thou be able, lest God should execute Justice upon thee, and deprive thee of thine authority. Remember that the happiness of thy Soul, thy Body, and thy King­dom depends thereupon. Yet in some Cases let Justice be tempered with Mercy, lest thou be accounted a Tyrant, but be sure that thou take great care to redress the Grievances of thy Sub­jects, and severely punish those that wrong them. Hereby shalt thou gain the Englishmen's Hearts, and reign prosperously: for so long as they free­ly enjoy their Liberties and Estates, thou may'st be sure of their Loyalty and Obedience, but if thou strive to slave or impoverish them, they will certainly rebel against thee, for such is their nature that they will rather chuse to dye Free­men, than to live Slaves and Beggars. There­fore if thou Govern thein with a mixture of love and fear, thou wilt be King over the most Plea­sant and Fruitful Countrey, and the most Lov­ing, Faithful, and Valiant People in the World, whereby thou wilt be a terror to all thine Ene­mies. My Son, when it shall please God to take me out of the World, which is the Common Lot of all men, I must leave my Crown and Kingdom to thee, and I would earnestly advise thee, that of all things thou wilt avoid Pride, neither be thou bewitcht with worldly honour, so as to be exalted in thine own imagination, but always remember that the higher thy Dignity is, so much greater is the burden that lyes upon thee for the security of thy Kingdom, and of every parti­cular Subject therein, as being like the Head and Heart in the Body, from whence all the Mem­bers receive Life and Nourishment. Whereby thy People finding they receive so many benefits [Page 103]from thee, will be always ready to assist and de­fend thee, for their own preservation, as the Members do the Head and Heart. But above all things be careful to serve God sincerely, and ascribe to him the Glory of all thy Successes against thine Enemies, as coming from his good­ness and not any merit of thine.’

These and many other good Instructions the King gave to his Son. And soon after being at his Prayers at St. Edward's Shrine in Westminster-Abbey, he was suddenly taken with an Apoplexy, and thereupon removed to the Abbot of Westmin­ster's House, where recovering himself, and finding he was in a strange place, he asked where he was; and being told in the Abbot's House, in a Chamber called Jerusalem (where an Astrologer had formerly told him he should dye;) He said, Nay then I am sure I shall dye, though he before thought it would have been in Palestine, and was therefore prepar­ing to make a Voyage thither. And here he died indeed March 20. 1413. It is observable that du­ring his sickness he always required to have his Crown set upon his Bolster by him, and one of his Fits being so strong upon him, that all thought him absolutely dead, the Prince coming in, took away the Crown, when suddenly the King recovering his senses and missing it, was told the Prince had taken it, who being called, came back with the Crown, and kneeling down said. ‘Sir, to all our Judgments, and to all our griefs, you seemed di­rectly dead, and therefore I took the Crown as my Right, but seeing to all our comforts you live, I here deliver it more joyfully than I took it, and pray God you may long live to wear it your self. Well (said the King sighing) what Right I had to it, God knows. But says the Prince, If you dye King, my Sword shall maintain it to be my Right against all Opposers.’ ‘Well, replied the [Page 104]King, I leave all to God, and then turning about said, God bless thee, and have mercy upon me.’ And with these words he gave up the Ghost.

After his Father's Death, the Prince was Pro­claimed King by the name of Henry V. and proved a better Man of a King than a Subject, for till then he was not in his right Orb, and therefore no mar­vel he was exorbitant. Those that have taken the height of him, parallell'd him with Alexander for Magnanimity, and Caesar for his being Invincible, and Affectation of Glory: but he had something of Caesar that Alexander the Great had not, That he would not be Drunk nor Intemperate, and some­thing of Alexander that Caesar had not, That he would not be flattered: and both were short of him in this, that Conquering others they could not Conquer themselves, but even when they were Lords of the World, became Slaves to their own Passions. He advanced the former Title of the Right of the Kings of England to the Kingdom of France, and sent Ambassadors to King Charles VI. to demand a peaceable surrender of that Crown to him, offering to accept his fair Daughter Katherine with the Kingdom, and to expect no other Pledge for his Possession till after Charles's Death. But the French King being sick, his Son the Dauphin, who managed the Government, instead of another answer, scornfully sent the King a Present of Ten­nis Balls; as an intimation that his Youth was bet­ter acquainted with the use of them than of Bullets. The King, whose Wit was as Keen as his Sword, re­turned him this answer. That in requital of his fine Present of Tennis Balls, it should not be long e're he would toss such Iron Balls amongst them, that the best Arm in France should not be able to hold a Racket against them. Neither was he worse than his word, though his Army seemed very disproportionate for so great a work, being only (as some Write) nine [Page 105]thousand Horse and Foot, with which small number he met with the French Army at a place called Agencourt, where though the Enemy were above five to one, he fought them with such re­solution, that he took more Prisoners than his own Forces consisted of, and kill'd ten thousand of them, the Dauphin himself dying soon after of grief, with the loss only of six hundred English; nay one Author says, of not above twenty six in all, which made the Victory almost miraculous: And which the Religious young King was so sensible of, that he caused the Clergy in his Army to sing that Psalm of David, When Israel went out of Egypt, &c, and the Souldiers in their Arms re­sponded at every Verse: Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy Name be all the Glory. And up­on his return to England with his Prisoners, he commanded that no Ballad or Song should be sung, but those of Thank sgiving to God for his happy Victory and Safe return, without any reflections upon the French, or extolling the English Va­lour.

Soon after he returned back to France, where many great Cities and Towns were Surrendred to him, and the French being unable to make any re­sistance, at length a Treaty of Peace is concluded, and he married his beloved Lady Katherine, Daugh­ter to the French King Charles, being Proclaimed Re­gent of France during that King's Life, and Heir Apparent to that Crown after King Charles his Death.

He was tall of Stature, lean of Body, and his Bones small, but strongly made, somewhat long Neckt, black Hair'd, and of a very comely Coun­tenance. So swift in running, that he with two of his Lords would run down a Wild Buck or Doe in a Park. He delighted in Songs and Musical In­struments, and used some English Psalms turn'd in­to [Page 106]verse in his private Chappel. And indeed it may be said of him, that he had scarce his equal both for Virtue and Valour. For he seldom fought a Battel where he got not the Victory, and never got Victory whereof he gave not the Glory to God with Publick Thanksgiving. He was indeed a great Affector of Glory, yet not of the Glory of the blast of Mens Mouths, but of that which fills the Sails of Time. He died of full years, though not full of years. If he had lived longer, he might have gone over the same again, but could not have gone further. He fell sick in France, and having given necessary instructions to the Nobility about him how to manage affairs, he then returned thanks to the Almighty for his many favours and blessings, and in the midst of saying a Psalm of David he gave up the Ghost: who might have justly prayed God with David, Lord take me not away in the midst of my days, for he died about the age of thirty six, which in David's account is but half the life of Man. Being dead, his body was imbalmed, closed in Lead, and laid in a Chariot Royal richly apparelled in Cloth of Gold, and then conveyed from Boys de Vincennes where he died, to Paris, Roan, Callice, Dover, and so through London to Westmin­ster Abbey. Upon whose Tomb Queen Katherine caused a Royal Picture to be laid, covered all over with Silver Plate gilt, but the Head all of Massy Silver, which was afterward all stoln away. He died Aug. 31. 1422. having reigned about nine, and lived about thirty eight years.

VI. Henry of Windsor, his Son and Successor, was the sixth Prince of Wales of the English Royal Line, but so unlike his Father, that had not the virtues of his Mother been so well known as they were, the Virtues of his Father would have rendred this Prince justly suspected not to have been his Son, and that his Mother begat him all of her self by [Page 107]imagination. His Father seemed to have some Pro­phetick Revelation of the future unhappiness of his Reign, and it was thought the knowledg thereof was not the least cause of shortning his days. For 'tis credibly reported, that at the news of the Birth of this Son born at Windsor, he in a Prophe­tick rapture cried out, Good Lord, Henry of Mon­mouth, shall small time Reign and get much, and Hen­ry of Windsor, shall long time Reign and lose all. But God's Will be done.

And yet no doubt Henry VI. was a Prince of ex­cellent parts, though not of kindly parts for a Prince, being such as were neither fit for the War­like Age he was born in, nor agreeable to the Glory he was born to; but such rather as better be­came a Priest than a Prince, so that the Title which was sometimes given to his Father with re­lation to his Piety, might better have been applied to the Son, That he was Prince of Priests. Herein only was the difference betwixt them, that the Religion of the one made him bold as a Lion, that of the other made him meek as a Lamb. Whereas if he had less of the Dove-like Innocence, and more of the Serpentine subtilty, 'tis probable he had not only been happier whilst he lived, but more respected after he was dead: whereas now, not­withstanding all his Indulgence to the Church and Churchmen, there was none of them so grateful, (af­ter he was Murthered by the Bloody Duke of Gloce­ster) to give him Christian Burial, but being brought from the Tower to St. Paul's in an open Coffin bare­faced where he bled, thence to Black-Friars, where he also bled: he was carried from thence by Boat to Chertsey Abbey, without Priest or Clark, Torch or Taper, Mass or Mourner. Indeed his Burial was so without regard to his Person or Dignity, that if his Funerals were any whit better than that which the Holy Writ calls the Burial of an Ass, vet [Page 108]they were such, that his Competitor and Successor King Edward IV. who denied him the Rights of Majesty living, thought him too much wronged being dead, and to make him some kind of satis­faction, he removed his Corps to Windsor Chapel, and there erected a fine Monument over him.

In this King we may see the fulfilling of that Text, Wo to that Nation whose King is a Child, for he was not above eight months old when he suc­ceeded his Father in the Kingdom, though this Text may be meant as well of a Child in under­standing as years. The first defect may be sup­plied by good Governors or Protectors, but the last is hardly to be repaired, of which in this Prince we have a pregnant instance, For so long as he con­tinued a Child in years, his Kingdoms were kept flourishing by the Providence of his careful Uncles, but so soon as he left being a Child in years, and yet continued a Child in Ability of Ruling, having not the judgment to conceal his own weakness, then presently Faction and Ambition broke in up­on the Government, so that all things went to wrack both in France and England, and we were forced to surrender tamely all our Foreign Acquisi­tions, which we had obtained with so much Repu­tation and Glory. This King being Crowned King of France at Paris in 1431.

He was tall of Stature, spare and slender of Body, of a comely Countenance, and in all parts well proportioned. For endowments of his mind, he had Virtues enough to make a Saint, but not a King. He was sensible of that which the World calls Honour, accounting the greatest honour to consist in humility. He was not so stupid not to know Prosperity from Adversity, but he was so devout as to think nothing adversity which was not an hindrance to Devotion. He had one privilege peculiar to himself, that no man could ever be re­venged [Page 109]on him, seeing he never offered any man injury. He was so modest, that when at Christmas a show of Women was presented to him with their naked Breasts, he presently departed, saying, Fie, Fie for shame, forsooth you are to blame. So pitiful that when he saw the Quarters of a Traytor over Cripplegate, he caused them to be taken down, saying: I will not have any Christian so cruelly hand­led for my sake. So free from swearing, that he ne­ver used any other Oath but forsooth, and verily. So patient, that to one who struck him when he was taken Prisoner, he only said, Forsooth you wrong your self more than me to strike the Lord's anointed. So Devout, that on principal Holy-days he used to wear Sackcloth next his Skin. In fine, let his Con­fessor be heard, who in ten years Confession never found that he had said or done any thing worthy of a Reprimand. For all which Christian Virtues King Henry VII. would have procured him to be Canonized for a Saint, but that he was prevented by Death, or perhaps because the charge would have been too great, the Canonization of a King being much dearer than that of a private Person. He reigned thirty eight, and lived fifty nine years, and was murthered in the Tower of London, in 1472.

VII. Edward the only Son of King Henry VI. by Queen Margaret Daughter to the King of Sicily, was the seventh Prince of Wales of the Royal Blood of England. He Married Anne the Daughter of Ri­chard Nevil called the Great Earl of Warwick; After his Father's Army was defeated by King Ed­ward IV. at Tauton Field in Yorkshire, he with his Mother were sent into France to pray aid from that King. This Battel was the bloodiest that ever England saw, King Henry's Army consisting in threescore thousand, and King Edward's in about forty thousand men, of which there fell that day [Page 110]thirty seven thousand seven hundred seventy six Persons, no Prisoners being taken but the Earl of Devonshire. Afterward the Queen returns from France with some Forces, but before her coming King Edward had defeated the Earl of Warwick (who with some other Lords had raised a Party for her assistance) at Barnet, wherein near ten thousand were slain. So that when it was too late she landed at Weymouth, and from thence went to Bewly Abbey in Hampshire, where the Duke of Somerset, the Earl of Devonshire, and divers other Lords came to her, resolving once more to try their Fortune in the Field. The Queen was very desirous that her Son Edward Prince of Wales, should have returned to France, there to have been secure, till the success of the next Battel had been tried, but the Lords, especially the Duke of So­merset, would not consent to it, so that she was obliged to comply with them, though she quickly repented it. From Bewly she with the Prince and the Duke of Somerset goes to Bristol, designing to mise what men they could in Glocestershire, and to march into Wales and join Jasper Earl of Pembroke, who was there assembling more Forces. K. Edward having intelligence of their Proceedings resolves to prevent their conjunction, and follows Queen Margaret so diligently with a great Army, that near Tewksbury in Glocestershire he overtakes her Forces, who resolutely turn to ingage him. The Duke of Somerset led the Van, and performed the part of a Valiant Commander, but finding his Soldiers through weariness begin to faint, and that the Lord Wenlock who commanded the main Battel moved not, he rode up to him and upbraiding his trea­chery, with his Pole-ax instantly knockt out his Brains, but before he could bring this Party to re­lieve the Van, they were wholly defeated, the Earl of Devonshire with above three thousand of the [Page 111]Queens Men being slain, the Queen her self, John Beufort, the Duke of Somerset's Brother, the Prior of St. John's, Sir Jervas Clifton and divers others were taken Prisoners. All whom, except the Queen, were the next day Beheaded. At which time Sir Rich. Crofts presented to King Edward, King Henry's Son Edward, Prince of Wales. To whom King Edward at first seemed indifferent kind, but demanding of him how he durst so pre­sumptuously enter into his Realm with Arms? The Prince replied, though truly, yet unseasonably, To recover my Father's Kingdom and my Inheritance. Thereupon King Edward with his hand thrust him from him, or as some say, struck him on the Face with his Gauntlet, and then presently George Duke of Clarence, Thomas Grey Marquess Dorset, and the Lord Hastings standing by, fell upon him in the place and murthered him. Others write, that Crook-back'd Richard ran him into the Heart with his Dagger. His Body was Buried with other or­dinary Corps that were slain, in the Church of the Monastery of the Black Friars in Tewksberry.

VIII. Edward eldest Son of King Edward IV. was the eighth Prince of Wales of the English Royal Blood, Of whose short Reign and miserable Death, there is an account in a Book called Eng­land's Monarchs.

IX. Richard only Son of King Richard III. was the ninth Prince of Wales. His Mother was Ann the second Daughter of Richard Nevil the Great Earl of Warwick, and Widow of Prince Edward Son of King Henry VI. aforementioned, who was Married to King Richard though she could not but be sensible that he had been the Author both of her Husband's and Father's Death, but womens Affections are Diametrically opposite to common apprehensions, and generally governed by Passion and Inconstan­cy. This Prince was born of her at Midleham near [Page 112] Richmond in the County of York. At four years old he was created Earl of Salisbury by his Uncle King Edward IV. At ten years old he was created Prince of Wales, by his Father King Richard III. but died soon after.

X. Arthur eldest Son to King Henry VII. was the tenth Prince of Wales of the Royal English Fami­lies. He was born at Winchester, in the second year of his Father's Reign. When he was about fifteen years old, his Father proposed a Marriage for him with the Princess Katherine Daughter to Ferdinando, King of Spain, which being concluded, the Lady was sent by her Father with a gallant Fleet of Ships to England, and arrived at Plymouth. Soon after the Princess was openly espoused to Prince Arthur, they were both clad in white, he being fifteen, and she eighteen years of age. At night they were put together in one Bed, where they lay as Man and Wife all that Night. When morn­ing appeared, the Prince (as his Servants about him reported) called for Drink, which was not usual with him. Whereof one of his Bed-Cham­ber asking him the cause, he merrily replied: I have been this Night in the midst of Spain which is a hot Country, and that makes me so dry. Though some write, that a grave Matron was laid in Bed be­tween them to hinder actual Consummation. The Ladie's Dowry was two hundred thousand Duckets, and her Jointure the third part of the Principality of Wales, Cornwal and Chester. At this Marriage was great Solemnity and Roval Justings. Prince Arthur after his Marriage was sent into Wales, to keep his Country in good Order, having several prudent and able Counsellors to advise with, but within five Months after, he died at his Castle at Ludlow, and with great solemnity was Buried in the Cathedral of Worcester. He was a very ingenious and learned Prince, for though he lived not to be [Page 113]sixteen years old, yet he was said to have read over all or most of the Latin Fathers, besides many others. Some attribute the shortness of his Life to his Nativity, being born in the eighth month after Conception.

XI. Henry the second Son to King Henry VII. was the eleventh Prince of Wales, of the Royal English Line. He was born at Greenwich in Kent. After the Death of his eldest Brother Prince Arthur, the Title of Prince of Wales was by his Father's Order not given to him, but his own only, of Duke of York, till the Women could certainly discover whether the Lady Katherine were with Child or not. But after six months when nothing appeared, he had his Title bestowed upon him, and King Henry being loth to part with her great Portion, prevailed with his Son Henry, (though not without some reluctancy in one so young as himself, for he was scarce twelve years of age) to be contracted to the Princess his Brother's Widow, for which Mar­riage a Dispensation, by advice of the most Learn­ed men at that time in Christendom, was by Pope Julius II. granted, and so the Marriage was So­lemnized soon after at the Bishop of Salisbury's House in Fleetstreet. After the Death of his Fa­ther he succeeded to the Crown by the name of King Henry VIII. His reign was long, and full of action, but the greatest was his renouncing the Pope's Supremacy, and suppressing of many unne­cessary Abbeys, and Monasteries, and thereby lay­ing a Foundation for the happy Reformation that followed.

He was exceeding tall of Stature, very Strong, and fair of Complexion. A Prince of so many good Parts, that it may be wondred he had any ill, reither indeed had he many, till flattery and ill Counsel in his latter time prevailed upon him. His cruelty to his Wives some endeavour to excuse, [Page 114]by saying, that if they were Incontinent he did but Justice: If they were not so, yet he thought it sufficient to satisfie his Conscience that he had cause to believe them so, and if Marriage be ho­nourable in all, in Princes it is sacred. In sup­pressing of Abbeys he shewed no little Piety but great Providence, for though they were excellent things being rightly used, the most pernicious be­ing abused; and then may the use be justly suppres­sed, when the abuse can scarce possibly be restrain­ed. To think he supprest them from Covetousness, is to make him extreamly deceived in his reckon­ing, for by comparing the profit with the charge, he must needs be a great loser by the bargain. He was so far from Pride, that he was rather too humble. At least he conversed with his Subjects in a more familiar manner than is usual with Princes. So Valiant that his whole Life almost was exercises of Valour, and though performed among his Friends in Jest, yet they prepared him against his Enemies in earnest, and they that durst be his Ene­mies, found it so. It may be said, the complexion of his Government for the first twenty years was Sanguine and Jovial, for the rest, cholerick and bloody, so that it is a question, whether in the former he were more prodigal of his own Trea­sure, or in the latter part, of his Subjects Blood. For as he spent more in Masks, Shews, and Fictions, than any other King did in reality, so in any Di­stempes of his People he used no other Physick but to open a Vein.

But it will be injurious to his Memory to charge all the Blood spilt in his Reign to his account. They were the Popish Bishops that made those Bloody Laws, and the bloody Bishops that put them in execution, the King oftentimes scarce knowing what was done. Certain it is, when Bi­shop Gardiner put a Gentlewoman (I suppose Mrs. [Page 115] Ann Askew) a second time on the Rack, the King hearing of it, extreamly condemned him for such Barbarous cruelty. As for Religion though he brought it not to a full Reformation, yet he gave a good beginning thereunto. They that charge him with the Vice of Lust, let them shew such another example of Continence as was seen in him, to lye six months by a young Lady and not to touch her, for so he did by the Lady Ann of Cleve. It is re­corded of him, that in his latter time he grew so fat and slothful, that Engines were made to lift and remove him up and down, but however in the fifty sixth year of his age, either by a Dropsie or an Ulcer in his Leg he fell into a languishing Feaver, which brought him into such extremity, that his Physicians utterly despaired of his Life, and yet none durst acquaint him with it, till Mr. Denny of his Privy Chamber ventured to tell him of his dan­ger, and put him in mind of preparing for Death. To which he answered, that he confessed his Sins to be exceeding great, yet he had such confidence in the Mercy of God through Christ Jesus, that he doubted not of forgiveness though they had been much greater. And being asked whether he would have a Divine, he answered he would willingly have Archbishop Cranmer, but not till he had ta­ken a little rest. The Archbishop being then at Croyden was sent for, but before he came the King was grown speechless, only seemed somewhat sen­sible, putting out his hand. And the Archbishop desiring him to shew some sign of his Faith in Christ he then wrung him hard by the hand, and imme­diately gave up the Ghost. Jan. 28. 1547. in the fifty sixth year-of his age, and of his reign the thirty eighth. His body with great solemnity was Buried at Windsor under a very stately Tomb, begun in Copper and Gilt, but never finished.

[Page 116]XII. Edward the only Son and Successor of King Henry VIII. was the twelfth Prince of Wales of the English Race. He was an excellent Prince, in his tender years, being committed to the Tuition of Dr. Cox, he profited in Learning to admiration, at­taining in a short time to speak freely several Lan­guages, namely, Greek, Latin, French, Italian, Spanish and Dutch, and likewise had great know­ledge in many other Sciences, so that he seemed ra­ther to be born than to be brought up to them: for he was not ignorant of Logick, natural Philosophy, nor Musick, and in the midst of his youthful Re­creations be would be always sure to observe his hours for study. So that the famous Cardanus com­ing into England, and having often conference with him, gives this Character of him, That he had an extraordinary insight into the Politicks, was well read in Philosophy and Divinity, and in a word a Miracle of Art and Nature. He would an­swer Ambassadors on the sudden, either in French or Latin. He knew the state of Foreign Princes perfectly, and his own more. He could call all the Gentlemen of Quality in his Kingdom by their Names, and all when he had scarce yet attained to the age of fifteen years. He was extraordinary zealous in the True Religion, banishing Popery and perfecting that Reformation which was but just be­gan in his Father's Reign. He was very merciful, and averse from taking away the Lives of his Sub­jects, for proof whereof there is this instance. One Joan Butcher being condemned to be burnt for notorious Blasphemy and Heresie, his whole Council could not persuade him to sign the Warrant for her execution, but were fain to get Archbishop Cranmer to prevail with him, who using many arguments to persuade him, What said he, would you have me send her quick to the Devil in her Error. But when the Bishop shewed him the [Page 117]necessity of it, he signed it weeping, and saying, Well, my Lord, I will lay all the blame upon you at the Day of Judgment. He was very Charitable, and up­on a Sermon preached by Bishop Ridley of the ex­cellency of Charity, he gave and endowed three Hospitals for the Poor in the City of London: 1. Christ's Hospital, for poor Children and Or­phans. 2. St. Bartholomew's Hospital for poor, maimed, diseased People and Cripples, &c. 3. Bridewell, for imploying and correcting Vagrants, Harlots, and Idle Persons.

He was a Comely Person, and of a sweet Coun­tenance, especially in his Eyes, which seemed to have a starry liveliness in them. In the sixth year of his Reign, which was the year before he died, he fell sick of the Measels, and being fully recover­ed, he rode a Progress with greater magnificence than ever he had done before, having in his Train no fewer than four thousand Horse. The January following, whether procured by sinister Practice, or growing upon him by natural infirmity, he fell into an indisposition which centred in a Cough of the Lungs. Whereupon it was reported that a Poisoned Nosegay had been presented him for a New years Gift, which brought him into this slow but mortal Consumption. Others said, it was done by a vene nous Clyster. However it was, he grew so ill that his Physicians dispaired of his Life. Af­ter which a Gentlewoman, though to be provided on purpose, pretended to cure him, but did him much hurt, for with her applications his Legs swel­led, his Pulse failed, his skin changed colour and ma­ny other symptonis of approaching death appeared. An hour before he was overheard to pray thus by himself: ‘O Lord God, deliver me out of this mise­rable and wretched Life. O Lord thou knowest how happy it were for me to be with thee, yet for thy Chosens sake, if it be thy will send me life and [Page 118]health that I may truly serve thee. O Lord God save thy chosen People of England, and defend this Realm from Papistry, and maintain thy true Religion that I and my People may praise thy name, for thy Son Jesus Christ's sake.’ Then turning his Face and seeing some by him, he said, I thought you had not been so nigh: Yes, said Dr. Owen, we heard you speak to your self. Then said the King I was Praying to God, O I am faint, Lord have mercy upon me, and receive my Spirit, and in so saying he gave up the Ghost, July 6. 1553. in the sixteenth year of his age, when he had reigned six years-five months, and nine days, and was solemnly buried at Westminster Abbey.

XIII. Prince Henry eldest Son to King James I. was the thirteenth Prince of Wales, of the Royal Family of England. He was born at Sterling Castle in Scotland, and in his Childhood gave promising signs of an Heroick and Noble Spirit, no Musick being so pleasant to his Ears as the Trumpet and Drum, and the roaring of Cannon, and no sights so acceptable as that of Musquets, Pistols, and any kind of Armour: and at nine years of age he learned to ride, shoot at Archery, leap, and manage the Pike, all which manly exercises he performed to admiration in such young years. He was tall of stature about five foot eight inches high, of an amiable, yet Majestick countenance, a piercing Eye, a gracious smile, and a terrible frown, yet cour­teous and affable to all. He was naturally modest and patient, and when most offended, he would by over-coming himself say nothing, very merciful, very just, and very true to his promises, very se­cret and reserved from his youth. He was most zealous in his love to Religion and Piety, and his Heart was bent if he had lived, to have endeavoured to compound those differences that were among Religious men. He shewed his love to good men, [Page 119]and hatred of evil in incouraging good Preachers, and slighting the vain-glorious, in whom above all things he abhorr'd flattery, loving and counte­nancing the good, and never speaking of the sloth­ful Preachers without anger and disdain. He was very Consciencious of an Oath, so that he was never heard to take God's name in vain, or any other Oaths that may seem light, much less such horrible Oaths as are now too common. He never failed to sacrifice daily the first of his actions to God by Prayers and Devotions. He was so resolved to con­tinue immutable in the Protestant Religion, that long before his death he solemnly protested, That he would never join in Marriage with a Wife of a con­trary Faith, for he hated Popery with all the Ad­juncts and Adherents thereof, yet he would now and then use particular Papists kindly, thereby shewing that he hated not their Persons but Opi­nions. He was obedient to his Parents, careful in the affairs of his Family and Revenue, loving and kind to Strangers, and in a word he had a certain extraordinary excellency that cannot be exprest in words. In the nineteenth year of his age he was vi­sited with a continual Head-ach, and had two small Fits of an Ague, which were afterward followed with very had symptoms, which daily increasing, Dr. Abbot then Archbishop of Canterbury went to visit him, and finding the extream danger he was in, discourst to him of the vanity of the World, the certainty of Death and the Joys of Heaven, asking his Highness, whether he were well plea­sed to die now if it were the Will of God, he re­plied, Yes with all my Heart, farther declaring, That he hoped for the pardon of his sins only from the merits of Christ. In his best moments he conti­nued in a Christian frame of Spirit, and Novemb. 6. 1612. quietly yielded up his Spirit to his blessed Saviour and Redeemer, being attended with as [Page 120]many Prayers, Tears, and strong Cries as ever any Soul was.

XIV. After his death Charles his Younger Bro­ther succeeded, being the fourteenth Prince of Wales, and afterward King of England by the Title of King Charles I.

XV. Charles the eldest Son of Charles I. was the fifteenth and last Prince of Wales of the Royal Family of England, and after King of England by the Title of King Charles II.

‘I have been very brief in relating the Actions of several of the Princes of Wales, having already given an account of them in some other Books which I have formerly published. As for in­stance.’

In a Book called, Admirable Curiosities, Rarities and Wonders in every County in England, in the Re­marks upon the County of Glocester, you may find all the particulars of the Murther of King Edward the second. In another called Historical Remarks upon the Cities of London and Westminster, there is a full Relation of the deposition and miserable death of King Richard II. In another intituled, The young Man's Calling, or the whole Duty of Youth, the Lives of King Edward, VI. and Prince Henry Son to King James I. are related at large. In another called England's Monarchs, is an account of the Lives and Actions of all the Kings of England, from William the Conqueror to this time, and among them, of those Princes of Wales who were after Kings of England, and are mentioned in the preceeding Remarks. In another called, The Wars of England, &c. There is a full account of the Life of King Charles I. with his Trial and Death. In another called The History the two late Kings, is a Relation of the Life and Death of King Charles II. To all, or any of which Books I refer the Reader for farther satisfaction, be­ing unwilling to repeat, or that any should pay twice for the same matter.

GReat Britain comprehends the Kingdoms of England and Scotland, and is an Island in the Ocean divided by Antiquity into three Parts, the first and greatest called Loegria, is contained within the French Seas, the River Severne, Dee and Humber to the German Ocean, now called England. The second containeth all the Land Northward from Humber to [Page 122]the Deucalidonian Seas, now called Scotland. The third lyes between the Irish Seas and the Rivers Se­verne and Dee, and was called Cambria now Wales. Some Authors add a fourth division, called Cornu­bia, now Cornwall, the Inhabitants of all four dif­fering in Language humor and Customs among them­selves.

‘My design at present is to give an account of Wales, having already treated of England in a Book called Admirable Curiosities, Rarities, and Wonders in every County thereof. And I intend to proceed in the same method in this Principa­lity.’

Wales is situated on the West and Northwest part of England, over against the Kingdom of Ireland, and appears like a Promontory o [...] Foreland, being surrounded by the Sea almost on every side, except on the South-East part, where it is divided from England by the River Severn, and by a Ditch drawn from the Mouth of the River Dee to the mouth of the River Wye, being an hun­dred Miles from East to West, and an hundred and twenty Miles from North to South. The fore­named Ditch is called Claudh Offa because made by Offa King Mercia, of a great depth and breadth, thereby to confine the Welsh into narrower limits who enacted, That if any Welshman were found on the East side of this Ditch he should forfeit his right hand, but that Law is long since repealed, and the Loyal and Valiant Welsh have for several ages past enjoyed the same Liberties and Privileges with the other Subjects of the Crown of England.

It was divided into three parts, that is North-Wales, South-Wales and Powis-Land, by Roderick the Great in 877. as you have heard, which prov­ed the confusion of Wales; their Princes being com­monly at War with the English or among them­selves to inlarge and defend their several Dominions [Page 123]Of these three, North-Wales was the chief, being left to Amarawd the eldest Son of Roderick, the Princes whereof by way of eminency were stiled Princes of Wales, and sometimes Kings of Aberfrow their Chief Residence, and paid to the King of London, (as well as the Princes of South-Wales and Powis-Land) sixty three pounds yearly as a Tribute. Yet South-Wales, called by the Inhabitants Dehen­barth, or the right side, as being nearer the Sun, was the largest, most fruitful and rich, but more subject to the Invasions and Depredations of the English and Flemings, and therefore North-Wales being secured by its Hills and Mountains was pre­fer'd before it, and retaineth more of the purity of the Welsh Tongue. However this makes the soil lean and hungry, but that is supplied by the large quantity thereof, which occasioned this plea­sant passage. An English Gentleman in discourse with a worshipful Knight of Wales, boasting that that he had in England so much ground worth 40 s. an Acre, the Welsh Gentleman replied, You have ten yards of Velvet, and I have two hundred yards of Frize, I will not exchange with you.

There are likewise in Wales very pleasant Mea­dows Watered by fine Rivers, and as the sweetest Flesh is said to be near the Bones, so the most deli­cious Valleys are interposed betwixt these Moun­tains. The Natives are generally, healthy, strong, swift and witty, which is imputed to the clear and wholesome Air of the Mountains, the cleanly and moderate Diet of the People and the hardship to which they are inured from their Childhood. The Ancient Britains painted their naked Bodies with Pictures of living Creatures, Flowers, Sun, Moon and Stars, thereby as they imagined to appear ter­rible to their Enemies, yet some more civil were clothed, and as a great Ornament, wore Chains of Iron about their Wasts and Neck, and Rings on [Page 124]their middle Fingers. They wore the Hair of their Head long, which was naturally curled in many. All other parts they shaved, only wore long Whis­kers on their upper Lip. They had ten or twelve Wives a piece, who lived in common among their Parents and Brethren; yet the Children were only accounted his who first married the Mother while she was a Maid: They were brought up in common among them. They were moderate in their Diet, as Milk, Roots, and Barks of Trees, and a little thing no bigger than a Bean, which for a great while took away both Hunger and Thirst; Neither would they eat Hens, Hares, Geese, nor Fish; yet would often Dine upon Venison and Fruits. Their usual Drink was made of Barly. They are report­ed by Plutarch to have lived very long, many to an hundred and twenty years.

They were Idolatrous Heathens as to their Reli­gion, using Man's Flesh in their Sacrifices, and adoring a multitude of Idols. Their Priests were called Druids, who managed their Sacrifices, and likewise acted as Temporal Judges in all Civil Mat­ters; and it was highly criminal not abide by their Judgment. They were excused from the Wars, and all contributions. They had a Primate, who commanded over them in chief. Their Divinity was, That the Soul is immortal, and passeth from one Body to another: which Doctrine they taught not out of Books, but by word of Mouth. Their Build­ings were low mean Cottages, like those of the Gauls, or Boors of France; yet they fortified seve­ral thick Woods with Rampires and Ditches, which they called Towns. Brass and Iron Rings were the Coin they used, which were of a certain weight; but afterward they grew more civil by Traffick, and had both Gold and Silver Money. Their chief Trade was in Chains, Wreaths, Ivory Boxes, Bitts and Bridles, with some Toys of Amber [Page 125]and Glass. Neither was their Shipping more con­siderable, their cheif Vessels being made of light wood, covered over with Leather: Their usual way of Fighting was in Military Chariots; neither did they engage in great bodies, but had still fresh men to succeed those who retired, or were weary. Their weapons were Shields and short Spears, at the lower end whereof was fastned a round Bell of Brass; with which they terrified their Enemies. Many times they fought under the Conduct of Va­liant Women, who were extraordinary couragious. They managed their Chariots so dexterously, that running downa steep Hill with all speed, they could stop them in the middle of their course.

The Principality of Wales produceth Mines, and among others, Royal Mines of Silver in Cardigan­shire in the Mountains of Cosmelock, Tallabant, Gadarren, Bromfloid, Geginnon and Cummerrum. The Romans began to Mine here, as appears by their Coins found in the Trenches wherein they work'd about twenty four fathom deep, and found plenty of Lead. The Danes and Saxons wrought an hun­dred farhom deep, and gained mhch Lead till the Waters drowned their Works. Sir Tho. Smith dis­covered Silver in Cosmelock in the latter end of Queen Elizabeth's Reign. Which design was prose­cuted after his Death by Sir Hugh Middleton, Coyn­ing the Silver to his great charge at the Tower of London, as his Predecessor had done. Next Sir F. Godolphin of Cornwall and Tho. Bushel Esquire undertook it, having power from King Charles I. to Coyn it at Aberruski in that County. Sir Francis dying and Cosmelock being deserted, Mr. Bushel adventured on the other five Mountains, and at last these Mines yielded an hundred pound a week, and half so much more in Lead. The Silver was Coyned into Pence, Groats, Shillings and Half Crowns, and had the Ostrich Feathers, being the [Page 126]Arms of the Princes of Wales, stampt on them for distinction. They had an ingenious invention to supply the Miners with fresh Air, which was done by two mens blowing Wind with a pair of Bellows on the outside of the entrance into a Pipe of Lead, which was daily lengthened as the Mine grew lon­ger whereby the Candle in the Mine was daily kept burning, and the Diggers were constantly supplied with a sufficiency of Breath. But the Civil Wars in 1642. discomposed all the Work. Lead is found in many places in Wales, but the best in Carnarvan­shire. There are plenty of Goats in Montgomery­shire. As for Manufactures, the British generally valuing themselves more upon their Gentile Birth and Extraction, are better pleased in imploying their Valour than Labour, and therefore they had but few Commodities, as Cottons and Frieze, of which King Henry V. when Prince of Wales having a suit, and being checkt by a bold Courtier for wearing the same many weeks together, ‘I wish, said he, that the Cloth of my Country would last forever.’ Then they have Cheese very tender and palatable, the Pedigree whereof was by one thus merrily derived.

Adam's nawn Cusson was by her Birth ap Curds, ap Milk, ap Cow, ap Grass, ap Earth. They have likewise Metheglin, first invented by Matthew Glin their own Countreyman, it is com­pounded of Milk and Honey, and very wholesome. Pollio Romulus being an hundred years of age, told Julius Caesar, "That he had preserved the vigor of his Mind and Body by taking Metheglin inward­ly, and using Oyl outwardly. It is like Mead but much stronger, Queen Elizabeth, who by the Tuders was of Welsh Descent, much loved this her Native Liquor.

The Buildings of Wales, are generally like those of the old Britains, neither large nor beautiful, [Page 127]the Italian humour of Building not having affected (not to say infected) the British Nation. About the year 800 Hoell-Dha Prince of Wales built a Palace for his own Residence of white Hurdles or Wattles, and therefore called White-House, or White-Hall if you please. However there are brave buildings in Wales, though not Welsh build­ings, which the English erected therein as Bridles to keep the People of that Countrey in obedience some Authors derive the name of Wales from Id­wallo the Son of Cadwalladar, who with the small remainder of his British Subjects defended the dangerous places of this Country against his Ene­mies, and first was called King of Wales. Neither was the Conquest of them to be attributed to their want of Valour, since King Henry II. in a Letter to Emanuel Emperor of Constantinople gives this Testi­mony of them, ‘The Welsh Nation is so adven­turous that they dare encounter naked with arm­ed men, ready to spend their Blood for their Country, and pawn their Life for Praise.’

Thus far of Wales in general, I shall now give an account of the most memorable Persons, Places, Accidents, Rarities and Wonders in every County thereof, particularly, in Alphabetical Order, (as I have formerly done in the Counties of England) the names whereof are Anglesey, Brecknock, Cardi­gan, Carmarthen, Carnarvan, Denbigh, Flint, Gla­morgan, Merioneth, Monmouth, Montgomery, Pembroke and Radnor, of all which I have made some few Remarks in the Tract aforementioned, but shall now be more large and copious, not omitting any thing that I can meet with remarkable. And first of

ANGLESEY called by the Britains Tir Mon or the Land of Mon, in Latin Mona, and by the Eng­lish Anglesey or the English Island, being separate from the Continent, and surrounded on all sides by [Page 128]the Irish Sea, save on the South, where it is join­ed by a small and narrow streight of the River Me­nai, and almost square, containing twenty Miles from Beumaris to Holy-Head East and West, and from Llanbaderick North to the Point of Menai South seventeen, in the whole Circuit about seventy Miles. The Air is generally healthy, and the Soil seemingly barren, but really fruitful, affording Corn and Cattel sufficient both for the Natives and their Neighbours, and therefore the Welsh Pro­verb is, Mon Mam Cymbry, Anglesey is the Mother of Wales, because when other Countries fail, this plentifully feeds their Markets, and is said to af­ford Cormenough to supply all Wales. This Coun­ty produceth likewise the best Mill-stones to Grind it: Also Allum and Coperas, and in divers places in the low Fields and Champain Grounds, there are several Trees digged up, black within like Ebony, and are used by Carvers for inlaying Cupboards. yea Haslenuts are found under ground with found Kernels in them. It is hard to resolve how they came hither, some imagine the Romans cut them down as being Coverts for their Enemies. Others think they fell of themselves, and with their own weight were buried in those Marshy places, and that the clammy Bituminous substance which is found about them, keeps them from putrefaction.

The Antient Inhabitants of this Country were the Ordovices, and this very Island that antient and renowned seat of the British Druids, the Conquest whereof was first attempted by Paulinus Suetonius in the reign of the Tyrant Nero, who making pre­paration to Invade the same, the Inhabitants that were strong and numerous, by the assistance of ma­ny Fugitives, raised all the Forces they were able, and stood ready upon the Shoar to resist and hin­der his Landing, their Women running about with their Hair about their Ears, and Fire-brands in [Page 129]their hands, in mourning Garments like Furies of Hell, and their Druids or Priests with Hands and Eyes lifted up to Heaven, uttered many direful Curses, and Imprecations, and cried for Vengeauce against their Enemies. The strangeness of the sight so amazed the Roman Souldiers, that they seemed to offer themselves as a prey to the Swords of the Britains, had not their Captain suddenly rowzed them out of their surprize, by reminding them of their antient Valour which seemed now to be lost, only at the sight of a fearful Flock of weak Women, and a crew of rude, undisciplined, frantick men: This brisk reprimand awakened their courage, so that displaying their Eusigns and Marching toward them, the Britains were instantly defeated, slain, and put to flight, and the Romans became Masters both of the Field of Battel and the whole Island also, yet were they not wholly subdued till the Reign of Julius Agricola.

When the Roman Empire in Britain began to de­cline several Irish, came secretly over and setled here, and certain sinall Hills and Mounts are yet to be seen, intrenched about, which are called the Irish-men's Cottages, and another place named of the Irish-men Hiercy Gwidil, because it is said they here put the Britains to flight under the conduct of Si­vigus. Afterward the Normans ost infested this Isle, but in the year 1000 King Etheldred set out a Fleet which scoured the Seas round about it, and wasted the Countrey in a more hostile manner than either the Irish or Norwegians. Then Hugh Earl of Chester and Hugh Earl of Shrewsbury both Normans did grievously afflict Anglesey, at which very time Magnus the Norwegian arriving here, shot Hugh Earl of Shrewsbury through with an Arrow, and after he had plundred the Island departed. Next, the English continually vext the Inhabitants, mak­ing several descents upon them even to the time [Page 130]of King Edward I. when they were totally subject­ed to that Crown.

The chief Town Beumaris formerly called Bono­ver, built by this King Edward I. (together with a strong Castle) is governed by a Mayor, two Bai­liffs, two Sergeants at Mace, and a Town Clerk. At Llanvais not far from hence, was formerly a Monastery of Friars Minors, richly endowed by the Kings of England, where a Daughter of King John, and the Son of a Danish King, with several other persons of Dignity were Buried that were slain in the Wars between the English and Welsh.

Guido de Mona, or of Anglesey was Bishop of St. David's, and Lord Treasurer of England to King Henry IV. though the Parliament moved that no Welshman should be a State Officer in England. He died 1407. Arthur Bulkley Bishop of Bangor, though bred Doctor of the Laws, either never read, or else he had forgot the Chapter against Sacrilege, for he spoiled the Bishoprick, and sold the five Bells of the Cathedral, being so over officious that he would go down to the Sea to see them shipt away. He was suddenly deprived of his sight, and died 1555. William Glyn D. D. bred in and Master of Queen's College was made Bishop of Bangor in the second year of Queen Mary, an excellent Schol­lar being constant to his own and not cruel to the Professors of the Protestant Religion, there being no Persecution in his Diocess. He died the first year of Queen Elizabeth, whose Brother Jeffery Dr. of Laws, Built and Endowed a Free School at Bangor.

Madoc Son to Owen Gwineth Brother to David Prince of North-Wales was born probably at Aber­frow in this County, then the principal Palace of their Royal Residence, who upon the Civil Dissen­tions in his own Countrey in 1170 adventured to Sea, and leaving Ireland on the North came to a [Page 131]Land unknown, where he saw many wonderful things, this by Dr. Howel, and Mr. Humfry Lloyd is judged to be the main Continent of America, being confirmed therein as well by the saying of Monte­zuma Emperor of Mexico, who declared his Pro­genitors were strangers as well as the rest of the Mexicans, as by the use of divers Welsh words among them, as Cape de Breton, Norwinberg, Pen­guin, a name they give to a bird with a White Head. The story adds, that Madock left several of his People there, and coming home returned back with ten Sail full of Welshmen who continued there, and Peopled the Country. Which relation if true, re­dounds much to the Glory of Madoc, who disco­vered this vast Region near three hundred years before the renowned Columbus first Sailed thither. This Isle had antiently three hundred sixty three Villages therein, and is still well Peopled, having two Market Towns, seventy four Parish Churches, and is divided into six Hundreds. It gives the Title of Earl to James L. Annesly.

BRECKNOCK-SHIRE, so called say the Welsh, from Brechanius the Father of an Holy off­spring, whose twenty four Daughters were Saints. It hath Radnorshire on the North, Caermarthen West, Glamorgan South, and Hereford and Monmouthshire East, in breadth twenty eight, and in length twenty Miles. It is full of Hills, and difficult in Travelling. The Mountains of Talgar and Ewias on the East seem to defend it from the excessive heat of the Sun, which makes an wholesome and temperate Air, from whence likewise rise many curious Springs that render the Valleys fruitful both in Corn and Grass, and thereby make amends for their own barrenness. The Silures were the an­tient Inhabitants of this County, who valiantly op­posed the Roman servitude, and were first subdued by Julius Frontinus, who found it more difficult to [Page 132]encounter with the Hills, Streights and Mountains than with the People, whereof one Mountain in the South is of such an height and occult quality that faith Mr. Speed, I should blush to relate it, had I not the Aldermen and Bayliffs of the Town of Brecknock for my Vouchers, who assured me, that from this Hill called Mounch-denny they had oft-times cast down their Hats, Cloaks and Staves, which yet would never fall to the bottom, but were with the Air and Wind still returned back and blown up again, neither will any thing but a stone or hard Mettal fall from thence: and the Clouds are oft seen lower than the top of it. There is like­wise Cadier Arthur, or Arthur's Chair, a Hill so called, on the South side of this Country, the top thereof somewhat resembling the form of a Chair, proportionate to the dimensions which the Welsh imagine that great and mighty Person to be of. Upon the top thereof riseth a Spring as deep as a Well, four square, having no streams issuing from it, and yet there are plenty of Trouts to be found therein. They also told him, that when the Meer Lynsavathan two Miles from Brecknock hath its fro­zen Ice first broken, it yieldeth a dreadful Noise like Thunder. And it is reported that where this Meer now spreadeth its Waters, there formerly stood a fair City which was swallowed up by an Earthquake, and it seems probable, both because all the Highways of this County lead thither. And likewise the Learned Camden judgeth it might be the City Loventrium, which Ptolomy placeth in these parts, and Mr. Camden could not discover, and therefore likely to be Drowned in this Pool, which the River Levenny running hard by farther confirms, the Waters whereof run through this Meer without mixing with them, as appears by the colour, and breadth of the Stream which is the same through the whole length of the Pool. This Shire had [Page 133]formerly two Towns called Hay and Bealt pleasant­ly scituated, both which in the Rebellion of Owen Glendour were unwalled, depopulated and burnt, under whose ruins many Roman Coins are found, and therefore thought to be two of their Garrisons. Bealt was formerly possest by Aurelius Ambrosius and Vortigern, and afterward Leoline the last Prince of the Britains was therein betrayed and slain.

Brecknock still retains some beauty in its Build­ing, it had formerly three Gates for entrance, and ten Towers for defence, with a very since Castle. The Town is seated on two Rivers, and is govern­ed by two Bayliffs, fifteen Aldermen, two Cham­berlains, two Constables, a Town Clerk, and two Sergeants.

This County boasts of Canock and Cadock Sons, and Keyne Daughter to King Brechanius aforemen­tioned, who were all three Saints, (though he had twenty four Daughters and all Saints also, who all died young, so that Keyne only survived) who flourished about 492. of whom St. Cadock is said to be a Martyr, and his name highly venerated by the People of South-Wales. St. Cli [...]tank was King of Brecknock it happened that a Noble Virgin de­clared, That she would never Marry any Man but him, who was a zealous Christian, whereupon a Pagan Souldier resolving to disappoint her, killed this King, who left behind him the reputation of a Saint. Giles de Bruse Bishop of Hereford was born in this County, and in the Barons Wars sided with the Nobility against King John, upon which he was banished, but after restored to the King's Favour. He was also Lord of Brecknock, which honour with his paternal Inheritance he left to his Brother Re­ginald, who Married the Daughter of Leoline Prince of Wases. His Effigies on his Tomb in Hereford Church holdeth a Steeple in his hand, whence it [Page 134]is judged that he built the Belfree of that Cathe­dral. He died 1215.

Nesta Daughter to Griffin Prince of Wales, and Wife to Bernard of New-march a Noble Norman, and Lord by Conquest of this County, was debauched by a young Gentleman. Mahel her Son having got this Gallant into his hands, used him very severe­ly, at which Nesta being inraged came into open Court, and on her Oath before King Henry II. pub­lickly deposed that Mahel was none of the Lord New-marches Son, but begotten on her in Adultery. This if true declared her dishonesty, if false her per­jury, but whether true or false her matchless impu­dence. Hereby she disinherited Mahel, and setled a vast Estate on Sybyl her only Daughter, Married afterward to Milo Earl of Hereford.

The Welsh are reproached by the English with the By-word of Croggen, Croggen, the original whereof was in the Reign of King Henry II. the Welsh then obtaining a memorable advantage at Croggen-Castle under the Conduct of their Valiant Prince Owen, in defence of North-Wales and their Countreys Liberty, with extream danger to King Henry's own Person, his Standard Royal being Cowardly abandonded, and the King reported to be slain. The Standard Bearer Henry de Essex for this ignominious action was afterward challenged by Robert Monford his near Kinsman to a combate, and In single Battle within Lists at Reading was vanquish­ed by him, whereupon Essex was shorn a Monk and put into a Monastery (according to the custom of those times) where he ended his days. The English afterward used this word Groggen as a Provocative to revenge, when they had the Welsh at an advan­tage, and it is still without cause uttered in dis­grace of the Welsh, though originally it was ex­pressive of their honour.

The County of Brecknock was formerly fortified [Page 135]with nine Castles. It is divided into six Hundreds, hath three Market Towns, Brecknock, Bealt and Hay, and fifty two Parish Churches. And gives the Title of Earl to James Lord Butler, who is also Duke of Ormond in Ireland.

CARDIGAN-SHIRE is parted on the North from Merioneth-shire by the River Dovi, from Breck­nock-shire by the River Tory, on the South from Car­marthen and Pembroke-shire by the River Tiry, from Montgomery-shire East by the Plinillimon Hills, and on the West is wholly washt by the Irish Sea. The antient Inhabitats were the Dinietae who likewise possest Carmarthen and Pembroke-shire, and in their struglings much depended on the Valour of their Warlike Prince Cataractus beforementioned, from whose name some will have this County called Car­digan, but was after subdued and the Prince being taken and carried to Rome, after he had throughly viewed the magnificence of that City, ‘I cannot but wonder, said he, that you Romans having such stately buildings of your own should covet our poor Cottages.’ After the Norman Invasion Wil­liam Rufus assailed this Country, as well to gain so fair a Possession, as to secure those Seas from any Invasion against him, and therefore though it was the most remote from England, yet being nearer to the Sea, which afforded the English a more conve­nient passage who were potent in Shipping, it was soonest reduced to the English Dominion. Henry I. bestowed the whole County entirely upon William de Clare [...]. The Air is open and sharp, for besides the great and high Mountain of Plinillimon it hath a continued range of lesser Hills. The Vallies are rich in Pasture and Corn, and well Watered with Pools and Springs. In the River Tivy Beavers were formerly found, a Creature living both by Land and Water, having the two fore feet like a Dog wherewith he runs on the Land, and the two hinder [Page 136]like a Goose with which he Swims, his broad Tail ferving for a Rudder, but now none are found, the Salmon seeming to succeed, who coming out of the Sea into fresh Waters, and meeting with some downright Water-falls in this River, he bends him­self backward, and putting his Tail in his Mouth gives a Spring up those alcents, which are called the Salmons leap, many of which are caught in this River.

Cardigan is the Shire Town, and was Fortified by Gilbert de Clare with a Wall and a strong Castle, the ruins of which remain to this day. Land Ba­dern the Great was formerly an Episcopal Seat, till the Citizens cruelly flew their Bishop, after which both City and Bishoprick dwindled to nothing, from whence rose that Welsh Proverb, Ni difanco y Be­riglaver, that is, Vilifie not thy Parish Priest. Llan­devibrevi was also famous, being built by David Bishop of Mereria, where in a Synod holden by him; he resuted the Pelagian Heresie then sprung up in Britain, both by the Holy Scriptures, and by Miracle, for it is reported that while he was Preaching, the Earth suddenly rose up a great height under his Feet, that the People might the more conveniently hear his Doctrine. The Welsh use a word, Talaeth, Talaeth, that is, Fine, Fine, which was thus occasioned, when Roderick divided Wales betwixt his three Sons, he ordered that each of them should wear upon his Bonnet or Helmet a Coronet of Gold set with Jewels, called in British Talaeth, and they from thence were named Ytri­trwysoc Talaelteioc, The three Crowned Princes. It is now applied to the uppermost part of the head attire in Children. Yea the English call the top of she Cap or Hat the Crown. They have a Proverb, Bu Arthur ond tra fu; that is, Arthur was not but whilst he was. It is honourable for old men if they can say, we have been brave Fellows. They have [Page 137]another Proverb, Ne Thorres Arthur Nawd gwraig, that is, King Arthur did never violate the Refuge of a Woman. For that King was the mirrour of Knight­hood. By the Womans Refuge we may understand her Tongue, and no Valiant man will revenge her words with his blews.

John Lewis Esquire, a Justice of Peace at Glasker­rigg near Aberystwith in this County, in the year 1656. by several Letters to Mr. B. a late worthy Divine deceased, gives an account of several strange Apparitions in Caermarthen, Pembrokeshire and this County about that time, confirmed by divers Per­sons of good Quality and Reputation, the substance whereof are as followeth. A Man and his Family being all in Bed, he being awake about midnight perceived a Light entring the little Room where he lay, and about a dozen in the shapes of Men, and two or three Women with small Children in their Arms following, they seemed to Dance, and the Chamber appeared much wider and lighter than for­merly. They seemed to Eat Bread and Cheese all about a kind of a Tick upon the Ground, they of­fered him some, and would smile upon him, he heard no voice, but calling once upon God to bless him, he heard a Whispering Voice in Welsh bid­ding him hold his peace. They continued there about four hours, all which time he endeavoured to awake his Wife but could not. Afterward they went into another room and having danced a while departed, he then arose, and though the room was very small yet he could neither find the Door, nor the way to Bed again until crying out his Wife and Family awaked. He living within two Miles of Justice Lewis he sent for him, being a poor honest Husbandman, and of good report, and made him believe he would put him to his Oath about the truth of this Relation, who was very ready to take it.

[Page 138]This Gentleman adds a second account of the strange and usual appearance of Lights (called in Welsh) Canhwyllan Cyrth, Corps or Deadmens Candles, which are so ordinary in these Counties, that scarce any dye, either young or old, but this is seen be­fore death, and often observed to part from the very bodies of the Persons all along the way to the place of Burial, and infallibly death will ensue. There is that evidence for these Candles, that few or none of any age but have seen them, and will depose it. A while since (saith this Gentleman) some of my Family saw two Candles, one less than the other passing the Church way under my house, my Wife was then big with Child, and it caused much apprehension both in us and her, but just a week after, her self came first to me, as something joyed that the danger might be over, with the news that an old Man and a Child of the Neighbour­hood were carried that way to be Buried.

Mr. John Davis a Minister in this County con­firms the same Relations with the addition of the following Circumstances and Instances. We call them saith he, Corps Candles, not that we see any thing besides the light, but yet it resembles a mate­rial Candle-light as much as Eggs do Eggs, only they sometimes appear and instantly disappear: for if one comes near them, or on the way against them, unto him they vanish, but presently appear behind him and hold on their course. If it be a little Candle pale and blewish, then follows the Corps either of an Abortive or some Infant. If a big one, then the Corps of some one come to age. If two, three or more, great and little are seen together, then so many and such Corps will follow together. If two Candles come from divers places and be seen to meet, the Corps will do the like. If any of these Candles seem to turn out of the way or path that leads to the Church, the following [Page 139]Corps will be found to turn in the same place, for the avoiding of some dirty lane, plash, &c. Now for the particulars. At Lanylar late at night, some of the people saw one of these Candles hovering up and down along the Rivers bank which they continued to view till they were weary, and at last left it so, and went to Bed. A few weeks after came a proper young Woman from Montgomeryshire, to see her Friends who dwelt on the other side of that River Istwyth, and thought to ford the River at that very place where the Light was seen, but being dissuaded by some standers by (who proba­bly had seen the Light) not to venture on the Wa­ter which was high by a sudden Flood, she walkt up and down the Rivers Bank as the Light had done, waiting for the falling of the Water, which at last she went into, but too soon for her, for she was therein drowned.

Of late, (saith the same Author) my Sexton's Wife, an aged understanding Woman, saw from her Bed a little blewish Candle upon her Table's end, two or three days after comes in a Fellow in­quiring for her Husband, and taking something from under his Cloak, claps it down directly upon the Table's end where she had seen the Candle, and what was it but a dead born Child. Another time the same Woman saw such another Candle upon the other end of that very Table, within few days after a weak Child, by my self newly Christen­ed, was brought into the Sexton's House, where it presently died. And when the Sexton's Wife who was then abroad came home, she found the Wo­man shrouding of the Child on that other end of the Table where she had seen the Candle. On a time my self and a Kinsman coming from our School in England, and being three or four hours benight­ed e're we could reach home, we met with such a Candle, which coming from an house we well [Page 140]knew held its course the highway to the Church, shortly after the eldest Son in that House deceased, and was brought the same way. My Self and Wife in an Evening saw such a Candle coming to the Church from her Midwife's house, and within a Month she her self did follow. Mrs. Catherine Wyat an eminent Woman in the Town of Tenby, being in an Evening in her Bed-Chamber saw two little Lights just upon her Belly which she endea­voured to strike off but could not, within a while they vanished of themselves. Not long after she was delivered of two Still-born Children. A Neighbour's Wife of mine being great with Child, and coming in at her own door met two Candles, a little and a big one, and within a while after fal­ling in labour she and her Child both died. Some years ago one Jane Wyat my Wive's Sister, being Nurse to Baronet Rudds three eldest Children, and his Lady being dead, his House-keeper going late into a Chamber where the Maid Servants lay, saw five of these Lights together: a while after that Chamber being newly plaistred, a great Grate of Coal Fire was kindled therein to hasten the drying of it. At night five of the Maid Servants went there to Bed as they were wont, and in the morn­ing were all found dead and suffocated with the steem of the new tempered Lime and Coal. This was at Llangathen in Carmarthenshire.

About the same time, I my self, saith Mr. Da­vis, coming home from Cardigan, where I had been enjoined to Preach the Sessions Sermon, about Evening (though it was as light as noon) and I had nine long miles to ride, there seemed twice or thrice from behind me, on my right side, and be­tween my shoulders and hat to fly a little whitish thing about the bigness of a Walnut, which ap­peared once in seventy or eighty paces. At first I took no notice of it, thinking it to be only the [Page 141]glimpsing of the little Ruff which I then wore, but by degrees it grew redder, even like fire both for light and colour. At length I turned my Horse twice to see from whence it came, but could see nothing, yet as I went on it flashed again as before, till I came to a Village called Laureslid, and com­ing to the Door where I designed to Lodge the fire did flash again upon or very near the threshold of the house, and there I think it staid. At that very Sessions one John William Lloyd a Gentleman who dwelt, and whose Son now dwells within a mile of Glasterigg fell fick, and coming home was able to ride no farther than this House where I left my Fire to entertain him, and there he lighted, lodged, and died within four days after. Some Candles have been seen come to my Church within these three weeks, and the Corps not long after. Thus far of Candles.

Another kind of Apparition we have, which we usually call Tanwee, or Tanwed, because it seems to be fiery. We judge it to be in the lower Region of the Air, streight and long, and shoots directly and level, but far more slowly than a falling star, as we call it, for it often passeth over three or four miles of ground, or more it may be, for no man sees the rise or beginning of it. When it falls to ground it sparkleth and lightens all about. The Free-holders or Landlords upon whose ground it falls, will certainly dye in a short time after, and we scarce bury any such here with us, be he but the Owner of an House or Garden, but some of the Neighbourhood have seen this fire fall upon some part of his House or Lands. Two of these I have seen my self, but the interposition of the grounds hindred that I could not observe where they fell, but where I guest they fell there died in one place an aged Gentleman, and in the other a Free­holder.

[Page 142]To come nearer home (saith Mr. Davis) my Mo­ther's first Husband walking about his grounds saw one of the Darts or Piles aloft, which fell down hard by him, shone far, and sparkled round about his body, he took it for a warning peice, made his Will, and having lived in good health, some four or five months after died. A little before the de­cease of my own Father aged 96. a Son in Law of his who dwelt two Miles off, but upon higher ground, saw such another fall in a Close behind the Old Man's House, which gave such a light, that by it he did clearly see the house, the Hedges and the Oaks in the Wood adjoining. As to the causes of these strange Omens, whether they proceed from Good or Evil Angels or Spirits, it must be left to the disquisitions of the Learned, who it may be after all will be puzled to give a satisfactory account thereof.

In this County also, in the Silver and Leaden Mines, nothing is more ordinary than that some Subterranean Spirits called Knockers (where a good Vein is) are often heard and seen in the shape of men little Statured, about half a yard long. And living mens Ghosts are commonly seen in these parts, unawares to the Party. We hear that a Man's Daughter fetching Water at a Well, had a blow given her, and a Boy coming towards her she charged him with the blow, who denied he was so near, but bid her look upon her Father that stood not far off, and with that she could see her Father fling a Stone at her, which passed with a mighty violence by her Face, and the Stone was found with prints of Fingers in it, but no such thing as the Fa­ther was there, neither was he at home the night before.

The County of Cardigan is divided into five Hun­dreds, wherein are four Market Towns, Aberst­wyth, Cardigan, Llanbeder, and Tre [...]aron: With sixty four Parish Churches, and gives the Title of Earl to Robert L. Brudenel.

[Page 143] CARMARTHEN-SHIRE so called from the chief Town therein, hath Brecknock and Gla­morgan-shires on the East, Cardigan on the North, Pembroke on the West, and on the South the Se­vern Sea. In length thirty five, breadth twenty, and circumference an hundred and two Miles. It is not so Hilly as others in Wales, and therefore af­fords plenty of Corn, Cattel, Grass, Wood, Pit­coal, Fowl and Fish, especially Salmon which is very great and plentiful. It was antiently possest by the Silures, and subdued to the Roman yoke by Julius Frontinus who long strugled to gain it, being reckoned the strongest part of South-Wales. At Kil­manloid sometime since there was found an Earthen Pot filled with Roman Coins of course Silver, which stamped with the Image of several Emperors and Emperesses, makes it probable that some of their Legions were quartered in these Parts. Carmarthen the Principal Town is pleasantly seated near the River Tovy, which runs through the midst of the Shire, and falls South into the Sea, where was for­merly a good Haven for Ships, but now so choaked up with sands that only small Vessels can come up to the Bridge, which is built of Free Stone, and over it on an hanging Rock a large Castle from whose Stone-Wall another mingled with Brick in­compassed the whole Town, being in circuit 1400 paces. Upon the entrance of the Normans this Town was reduced to their obedience, and suffered much damage, but was after the Chancery or Ex­chequer of the English Princes for all South-Wales. It is governed by a Mayor, two Sheriffs, sixteen Burgesses all in Scarlet, a Sword-bearer, a Town­clark, and two Sergeants with Maces.

East from this Town on an high Hill are the ruins of Carreg-Castle, under which are many deep, spa­cious Vaults and Caves, wherein it is thought the [Page 144]poor Natives, unable to resist, secured themselves from the fury of the Wars. Giraldus reporteth that there is a Well or Fountain in this place which conformable to the Sea, Ebbs and Flows tw [...]e in twenty four hours.

The People of this County do much glory in their Ambrosius Merlin, who they say was born in Carmarthen, the Son of a bad Angel or Incubus, the Britains great Apollo, whom Geffery ap Arthur compares with the Southsaying Seers, yea with the true Prophets themselves, yet it is thought he was a meer Seducer and Fantastical Wizard, and though Alanus hath by his Comments endeavoured to dis­close the dark and hidden Prophecies wherewith his Book is filled, yet the reading thereof was by the Council of Trent, and afterward by Queen Eli­zabeth deservedly prohibited as vain, and not worth minding. As to his birth Humfry Lloyd a Welsh Writer affirms, that his Mother before Mar­riage was a Noble Virgin, and that his Father for his great knowledge in the Mathematicks and other abstruse Learning, was in those ignorant times re­puted by the Common People to be a Conjurer, and his Son Merlin to be begotten by an Evil Spirit or Male Devil, who in the likeness of Men are said to have the Carnal use of Women. Many wonder­ful things are attributed to Merlin, as that by his assistance Aurelius Ambrosius erected that stupen­dous Monument near Salisbury called Stonehenge, those vast Stones being brought by Magick Art from Africk into Ireland, and from thence to this Plain through the Air. That Ʋter Pendragon the Brother and Successor of Ambrosius falling in love with the Duke of Cornwall's Wife, Merlin by his Necroman­tick skill made Ʋter appear to her in the exact form and shape of her Husband Duke Gorlois, by which means he enjoyed this fair Lady, on whom he begot the renowned King Arthur. At the birth [Page 145]of this Ʋter, it is reported, a Comet appeared somewhat like the Head of a Dragon, whereupon Merlin declared that it presignified the Birth of Ʋter then new born, and from thence he was called Ʋter Pendragon. Others to his honour relate that many of his Predictions were fulfilled, as that which runs thus,

This is interpreted to be meant of King John, who built several Monasteries for Nuns in divers parts of the Kingdom. Another says, The sixth shall overthrow the Walls of Ireland, and reduce their Coun­trys into a Kingdom. This was thought to be accom­plished under King James VI. of Scotland, and I. of England, who dismantled their Fortresses and Ca­stles, which were the Irish Walls, and Courts of Justice were set up through all the Land. Though the Welsh Proverb contradicts this foreknowledge which says, Namyn Dduw nid oes Dewin, that is, Be­sides God there is no Diviner.

Robert Ferrar Bishop of St. David's was made a Martyr in this County. He was prefer'd by the Duke of Somerset Lord Protector in the Reign of King Edward VI. a man not unlearned but some­what indiscreet, or rather uncomplying, so that he may be said, with St. Lawrence, to be broyled on both sides, being persecuted both by Protestants and Papists. Some conceived that his Patron's fall was his greatest guilt and incouraged his Enemies against him. In the Reign of Q. Mary he was sent for, and examined about his Faith by Gardiner Bi­shop of Winchester, who told him that the Queen and Parliament had altered Religion, and therefore required him to imbrace the same. To which he answered, That he had taken an Oath never to con­sent or agree that the Bishop of Rome should have any Jurisdiction in this Realm. At which the Bi­shop [Page 146]of Winchester called him Knave and Forward Fellow, and so returned him to Prison again. He was afterward examined before Henry Morgan pre­tended Bishop of St. David's, who requiring him to subscribe to several Articles, he absolutely refu­sed it or to recent any thing, whereupon the sen­tence of degradation was read against him, and he was delivered to the Secular Power, by whom he was carried to Carmarthen to be burnt. A while be­fore his Execution there came one to visit him who much lamented the painfulness of his death, to whom Bishop Ferrar answered, If you see me once stir or move in the pains of my burning, then never give any credit to the truth of the doctrine which I have for­merly taught. And he was as good as his word, standing so patiently in the midst of the Flames that he never moved, holding up the stumps of his Arms, till one with a Halbert dasht him on the head, whereby he fell down and quietly resigned up his Spirit to God.

Sir Rice ap Thomas, little less than a Prince and called the Flower of the Britains, was born in this Shire. When the Earl of Richmond (afterward King Henry VII.) landed at Milford Haven with contemp­tible Forces, this Sir Rice with a considerable ac­cession of choice Souldiers joined and marched with him to Bosworth Field where he behaved him­self with much Courage; and in reward of his good service was made Knight of the Garter. He rebuilt Emeline in this County and called it New-castle, be­ing one of his Principal Seats, and one of the latest Castles in Wales. In the fourth of King Henry VIII he conducted 500 Horse to the Siege of Theroene in France.

Walter Devereux created Earl of Essex by Q. Eli­zabeth, was born in the Town of Carmarthen. Being a Martial Man he Articled with the Q. to maintain such a number of Souldiers at his own cost in Ireland [Page 147]and to have the fair Territory of Clandebuy in the Province of Ʋlster for the Conquering thereof. To maintain this Army he sold his fine Inheritance in Essex. Over he goes into Ireland with a noble Com­pany of Kindred, Friends and Supernumerary Vo­lunteers above the proportion of Souldiers agreed on. Sir William Fitz William's Lord Deputy of Ire­land doubting he should be Eclipsed by this great Earl, solicites the Q. to maintain him in the full power of his Place. Hereupon it was ordered that the Earl should have his Commission from this Lord Deputy, which with much importunity and long attendance he hardly obtained, and that with no higher Title than Governour of Ʋlster. After ma­ny attempts not very successfully made in Ʋlster, he was ordered to march to the South of Ireland, where he spent much time to little purpose. From Munster he was sent back to Ʋlster, where he was forbidden to make use of the Victory he had gotten, and soon after his Commission was Vacated, and he reduced to be Governour of 300 men. He received all these affronts with undaunted constancy. Pay days in Ireland came very quick, Money out of Eng­land very slow, his noble Associates began to with­draw, common men to mutiny, and himself was soon after recalled home. He was afterward sent back with the Title of Earl Marshal of Ireland, where he fell into a strange Flux, not without sus­picion of Poyson, and died 1576. of his Age 36. His Estate much impaired, descended to his Son Ro­bert, his body was brought over and buried in Car­marthen. His Father and Grandfather died about the same age, to which his Son Robert never attain­ed, being beheaded by Q. Elizabeth on the Tower Green, on Ashwednesday, Feb. 25. 1600.

Carmarthen-shire hath 28 Rivers and Rivulets, is divided into six Hundreds, hath six Market Towns, 87 Parish Churches, and had formerly nine Castles, [Page 148]and gives the Title of Marquess to the Lord Osborn eldest Son to the D. of Leeds.

CARNARVAN-SHIRE hath Merioneth on the South, Anglesey divided by the River Menai on the North, Denbigh-shire on the East, and the Irish Sea on the West, from North to South 40, from East to West 20, and in compass 110 miles. The Air is sharp and piercing by reason of the high Mountains, which may be properly termed the Bri­tish Alpes (for steepness and cragginess not much un­like those that divide France from Italy) all tow ring into the Air, and some far higher than the rest called Snowdon Hills, or Snowy Mountains, being all the year round crusted over with Snow though liable to the Sun and Wind. This made them a secure re­fuge to the Britains against their Enemies, no Ar­my though never so potent, nor any Traveller ne­ver so lightly clothed being able to find a passage among so many rough and hard Rocks, so many Pools, Vales and Sloughs, as are to be encountred with in the middle of this County. Yet it is suffi­ciently fruitful, for the Mountains are so rank with Grass that it is become a Proverb among them, Craig Eriry, or Snowdon will yield sufficient Pasture for all the Cattel of Wales put together. And it is certain that there are Ponds and Standing Waters upon the tops of them, though generally covered with Snow, and if a man sets his foot any where upon the top of them, he shall perceive the Earth to move at a considerable distance from him. Penmen-maur, or the great stony head is an exceeding high and steep Rock or Hill in this County, which hanging over the Sea, when it is Flood affordeth a very narrow Way for Passengers, huge Stones hanging over head as if ready to fall upon them, and the Tempestuous Ocean lying under of a very great depth. But after the passing this, and Penmen-bidam, the less stony head, there is a great open Plain reaching as far as [Page 149] Aber-Conway in which River are found a sort of shell fish, conceived as they say by the Heavenly Dew, which are thought to bring forth Pearl, formerly much valued.

The antient Inhabitants of this County were the Ordovices who had a City which the Emperor Anto­vinus calls Segontium, the ruins whereof are still vi­sible hard by a River called to this day Sevont, and near a little Church Consecrated to the Memory of St. Publicius. Some Authors name it Caer Custenith or the City of Constantine saying that in 1283. the bo­dy of Constantius was found here, which K. Edw. I. caused to be sumptuously buried in the Church of the new City, that he raised out of the ruins of the old, and called Carnarvan, which now gives a name to the whole Shire. This Town hath a fine Prospect to­ward the Sea, and was incompassed with the Walls of the Castle. The Government was formerly admini­stred by the Covernour of the Castle, who was always Mayor by Patent, assisted by one Alderman, two Bay­liffs, two Sergeants at Mace and a Town-Clerk. The Townsmen much glory that K. Edw. II. was born in a Tower of their Castle called Eagle Tower, and Sir­named Carnarvan, being the first Prince of Wales of the English Race.

The Welsh report that the Corps of 20000 Saints are interred in a small Island called Berdsey lying within a Mile of the South Promontory of this Coun­ty. It is I confess more easie to find Graves there for so many Saints, than Saints for so many Graves.

Bangor is a Bishops See of antient standing, but by whom founded is not yet known, the Cathedral is dedicated to the Memory of St. Daniel who was Bishop here about the year 516. It is now but a small Town, yet was formerly so large that the Welsh called it Banchor Vaur or great Bangor, which Hugh Earl of Chester fortified with a Castle, long since so throughly demolished that the very ruins [Page 150]are now invisible upon the severest search. This Diocess containeth in it the whole County of Car­narvan and Anglesey, and part of Denbigh, Merioneth, and Montgomery-shires, and in them 107 Parish Churches, and three Arch-Deaconries. The an­tient Cathedral was defaced and set on fire by Owen Glendour and his Associates, who had a design to have destroyed all the Churches in Wales whose People submitted to the King of England, but was after­ward repaired by one Henry Dean Bishop thereof in the Reign of King Henry VII. yet hath scarce reco­vered the resemblance of its pristine dignity.

There was formerly a Town called by the Roman's Canonium near the River Conway, from whence it took its name, which is now utterly extinct, only there is a poor remembrance of it in the new name of a mean Village standing in the rubbish thereof called Caer-hean, that is, The antient City. Out of the ruins thereof King Edward I. built a new Town at the River's Mouth called Aber-Conwey, that is the Mouth of Conwey, it was formerly fortified by Hugh E. of Chester with strong Walls and a Castle, and seems rather a City than a Town were it but more populous. Newin a small Market Town is famous for a great Triumph made there by the Nobility of England in 1284. in memory of the renowned K. Arthur, after the subduing of Wales by K. Edward I. Over against Conwey where it runs into the Sea, sometimes stood an antient City named Diganway, which many years since was consumed and utterly destroyed by Lightning. It is reported there is a Fish in the Pool Linperis called Torcoch with a red Belly, no where else to be found. And that on the High Mountains there are two Mears or Ponds, in one of which are store of Fish that have only one Eye, and in the other a floating Island, which when trod on moveth a great way off, whereby the Welsh are said to have often escaped their Enemies.

[Page 151] John William's was born at Aber-Conwey, bred Fellow of St. John's College in Cambridge, was pre­fer'd to be Dean of Worcester, Bishop of Lincoln, Lord Keeper of the Great Seal, and at last Archbishop of York. He died March 25. 1649. Richard Vaughan was born at Nuffrin, bred at St. John's College in Oxford, became successively Bishop of Bangor, Chester, and London, a very corpulent man but spiritually minded, an excellent Preacher and Pious Liver, a pleasant man in Discourse, especially at his Table, using frequently this expression, At Meals be glad, f [...] sin be sad. And indeed he was a very mortified man, and zealous in Religion. He died March 30. 1607. Henry Rowlands bred in Oxford was Conse­crated Bishop of Bangor Nov. 12. 1598. he bought four new Bells for the Tower of St. Asaph, where­of the biggest cost an 100 pound. He also gave to Jesus College in Oxford, a revenue for maintenance of two Fellows. He died 1615.

The County of Carnarvan hath five Market Towns, Aber-conwey, Bangor, Carnarvan, Newin and Pullhely, and 68 Parish Churches. It gives the Title of Earl to Charles Lord Dormer.

DENBIGH-SHIRE bath Carnarvan and Me­rioneth-shire on the West, part of Flint-shire and the Sea on the North, Cheshire and Shropshire on the East, and Montgomery-shire on the South. It is ge­nerally Mountainous, Cold and Barren: Yet not without some fruitful Valleys, by the industry of the Husbandmen, who may be said to fetch their Bread out of the Fire, by cutting up Turfs, which being burnt in great heaps, the ashes spread on these hungry grounds, cause them to bring forth a kind of Rye in very great plenty. The antient Inhabitants were the Ordovices, as the Romans nam­ed them, who being armed with want and cold, were made bold against the force of their Enemies, and continued longest free both from the Roman [Page 152]and English Dominion. This Shire is 31 Miles long, and 17 broad, and in circuit 114. The Mountains abound with Oxen, Sheep and Goats. The middle of it hath a Valley 17 miles long and five broad, ly­ing open to the Sea, incompassed on all other sides by Hills, among which the hi [...]hest is Moilleally Hill, on the top whereof is a Fort [...]d Warlike Trench and a spring of clear Water. From these Mountains the River Cluyd riseth & runs into the Valley in the Parish of Llan-sanan in the side of a stony Hill, there are 24 seats cut out of the main Rock, some bigger than others, where youth come to tend their Cattel & make their sports, which to this day is called Ar­thur's round Table. After the beheading of David brother to Luellin the last P. of Wales for High Trea­son, K. Ed. I. bestowed the Town of Denbigh upon Hugh Lacy E. of Lincoln, who fortified it with a strong Wall, a fair Castle, and several high Towers, but had not fully finished the Work before his only Son was drowned in a Well therein, which caused the sor­rowful Father to leave it off, and proceed no far­ther. This Town is reckoned the most beautiful in all North-Wales, and this is remarkable that in 1575. a great Earthquake which much terrified the People and damaged the Cities of York, Worcester, Glocester, Bristol, Hereford and the parts adjacent, and caused the Bell in the Shire Hall of Denbigh to Toll twice with shaking of the Earth, yet no farther mischief happened. This Town is Governed by two Alder­men, two Bayliffs, 25 Burgesses, a Recorder, a Town-Clerk, and two Sergeants at Mace.

Wrexham in this County is much admired for the Church, which is a fair and spacious structure, hav­ing a stately Tower or Steeple without, and a fine Organ within it, being built according to the most exact Rules of Architecture. Holt Castle in this County was formerly in the possession of William Lord Stanley, whose ready Money and Plate therein, [Page 153]besides Jewels and Rich Housholdstuff, amounted to four thousand Marks, got by the plunder of Bosworth Field where King Richard III. was slain, but this Lord upon discontent afterward conspiring against King Henry VII. was beheaded for High Treason, and it was all confiscated to the King's Exchequer.

Leoline ap Lleuellin was born in this Shire, and made Bishop of St. Asaph by King Edward I. At his death he left a great Estate, besides Plate, rich Vests, and Books to the Canons of that Church and his Chaplains, dying in 1313. Godfrey Goodman was born of wealthy Parents in this County, and afterward Bishop of Glocester, yet was no friend to the Refor­mation constantly complaining of the first Refor­mers, amongst whom he noted Bishop Ridley as a ve­ry odd man. One present, My Lord, says he, Ridley was a very odd manindeed, for all the Popish Party in England could not match him, with his equal in Learn­ing and Religion. He died a Roman Catholick and left most of his Estate to pious uses. His Uncle Ga­briel Goodman was Dean of Westminster for 40 years, and the Bible was translated into Welsh at his cost. He founded a School and an Almshouse for 12 poor People at Ruthen with a competent Salary. He pur­chased a fair house at Cheswick in Middlesex where­with his own hands he planted a fair row of Elmes for a retiring place to the Masters and Scholars of Westminster School. He imployed Mr. Camden to make an actual Survey of all England at his expence. He died 1601. and was buried in Westminster Abbey. Sir Hugh Middleton was born at Denbigh and bred in London. This is that worthy Knight who fetcht into London the New River Water at his own cost more than 24 Miles, encountring all the way with an Army of oppositions, grapling with Hills, strug­ling with Rocks, and fighting with Forests, till in defiance of difficulties he had brought his Project to perfection. Robert Earl of Leicester in the reign [Page 154]of Q. Elizabeth, by his bounty advanced the build­ing of a new Church in Denbigh.

Denbigh. In 1660. a very great Well in Chick-Town was dried up. Richard Clough born at Denbigh, was a Chorister at Chester, whence he removed to London, where he was Apprentice to, and after Part­ner with Sir Tho. Gresham: Having lived some time at Antwerp, he travelled to Jerusalem, where he was made Knight of the Holy Sepulchre: Some af­firm that he disbursed several thousands of pounds in building the Royal Exchange, and that it was agreed betwixt them, the Survivor should be Heir to the other; on which account, they say, Sir Tho. Gresham carried away the main of the Estate: He gave 100 pound a year to the Free-School in Den­bigh, besides his Benefaction to the New Church there.

This County is divided into twelve Hundreds, had formerly 5 Castles, hath 3 Market-Towns, Denbigh, Ruthen and Wrexham, and 57 Parish-Churches: It gives the Title of Earl to L. Feilding.

FLINTSHIRE hath Cheshire on the East, the Sea on the North, Shropshire on the South, and Denbigh­shire on the West: It is the least Country of Wales, not so mountainous as other parts, but lies pleasant­ly along by the River Dee: The Air is healthful, and the Soil plentiful of Corn and Cattel; the Ri­vers abound with Fish: There are not many Woods or Trees in this, as well as other parts of Wales, the frequent Rebellions of the Inhabitants having occa­fioned the English to make great devastations of them to prevent their being the retreats of these unquiet people. Fruits are not very common, but of Milk, Butter, Cheese and Honey there is plenty: Of the last of which they make great quantities of a Drink like Muscadine, called Metheglin: There were formerly several strong Castles in this Shire, as Flint, Hawarden or Harden, Treer, Rudland, Mold, Yowley and Hope; the first was the most famous, be­ing [Page 155]founded by K. Henry 2. and finished by K. Edward the first. Afterward K. Richard 2. going over to Ire­land to suppress the Rebels there, his Uncle Henry Duke of Lancaster returning from his Banishment into England at the same time, and being joyned by several of the Barons, who were much displeased at K. Richard's Arbitrary and Tyrannical Government, raised an Army of 60000 Men against him. The King returned in hope to suppress this Insurrection, and coming to Flint-Castle, the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and the Earl of Northumberland were sent to him from the D. of Lancaster, to whom K. Richard made a Proposition, That if himself and eight more whom he would name, might have an honourable al­lowance, with the assurance of enjoying peaceably a quiet life, he would resign his Crown: This the Earl of Northumberland assured him should be per­formed, whereupon the King surrendred himself in­to the Duke's hands. When K. Richard came first to this Castle, they let loose one of his Grey-hounds, as was usual when-ever the King got on Horse­back, which Grey-hound used to leap upon the King's shoulder, and fawn very much upon him, but at this time he leaped upon the Duke of Lancaster; and fawned upon him as on his Master; the Duke asked the King what the Dog meant or intended; ‘It is an ill and unhappy Omen to me, said the King, but a fortunate one to you, for he acknow­ledges you to be King, and that you shall Reign in my stead:’ This he said with a presaging mind up­on a slight occasion, which yet in short time came to pass; for K. Richard was deposed, and after murder­ed at Pomfret Castle, and the D. of Lancaster advan­vanced to the Throne by the name of Henry the 4th.

This County hath not any River of note within it, but near Rudland-Castle is a famous Spring, called Holy Well, or St. Winifreds Well, of which Antiquity gives this Account; That St. Winifred a virtuoun [Page 156]Christian Virgin, having by her exceeding Beauty inflamed the mind of Carodocus, a lustful Prince of this Countrey, he attempted to allure her to his pleasure both by large promises, and rich gifts, but finding he could by no means prevail upon her Cha­stity, at length he resolved to obtain his desires by force; and having surprized her in a place of advan­tage, he ravished her weak body, notwithstanding the utmost resistance she could make, and afterward to prevent her complaints and exclamations, he kill'd her, and then cut off her head: And in that very place (saith my Author) there suddenly arose a pleasant Spring, which continueth to this day, run­ning with so strong a Current, that the like is not to be found in Christendom: Over the head of the Spring there is built a Chapel of Free-stone, sup­ported with curious wrought Pillars, on the Chancel and Glass-window whereof is painted the Picture of this Virgin, and the Story of her suffering and death. To this Well Romish Pilgrims resort to this day, and others Bathe therein, supposing that there is much Virtue in the Water. In the bottom of it are many Red Stones, which the superstitious People believe are spots of this Lady's blood, which all the Water in the Spring can never wash away; and that the green Moss which grows on the sides of the Well is her Hair, which though every Stranger al­most carries away a part of, yet they say it never wasts; and the truth is, the Moss smells exceeding sweet, which confirms these weak Believers in their fond Opinion.

St. Beno the Instructor of St. Winifred in the Chri­stian Faith, is of special account is this Countrey, who it seems was a Surgeon to a Miracle; for after Winifred was beheaded by the lustful Carodocus, he set her head on again, she living 15 years after.

In the South part of this County divided from the rest, is a place formerly called Bovium, now Banchor, [Page 157]or Bangor; first a City, and afterward a famous Mo­nastery antiently very renowned for the pious Monks that resided there, they being called by some Authors, The College of Divine Philosophers, and Bangor the Mother, or first of all the Monasteries in the World, the Foundation thereof being ascribed to King Luctus; it was situated in the fruitful Val­ley now called, The English Mailor, upon the Bank of the River Dee, being incompassed with a great Wall containing a Mile and a half of ground, two of whose Gates, Port Hogen to the North, and Port Clais South, are yet discernable; the River Dee, which hath since changed its course, now running through the midst betwixt both Gates, which stand 500 paces asunder: This Monastery, in memory of the 7 Churches of Asia, was divided into 7 Classes or Wards, every one consisting of about 300 Souls, and all maintaining themselves by the labour of their hands: They are said to have received their Christianity from the Eastern Church, dissenting in their Rites and Doctrines from that in the West, neither would they acknowledg that the Bishop of Rome had any authority over them in matters of Re­ligion or the service of God. They continued 438 years before Austin the Monk came to pervert them by introducing Roman Ceremonies, Superstition and Servitude. Many of these Monks assembled at Caer Legion now West-Chester to pray for the good success of their Friends the Britains against the Heathen Saxons, and continuing three days in Fasting and Prayer. Ethilfrid the Saxon King seeing them so fer­vent in their Devotions, askt what kind of People they were, and being told that they prayed against him and his Army, Then, said he, though they carry no weapons, yet they fight against us, and with their Prayers and Preaching prosecute us, and presently fell upon Brockmall a man at arms that was their Guard, who to save his own life left their's to the Sword, [Page 158]and the Souldiers assaulting the unarmed Monks mur­thered 2000 of them, and likewise defeated the Ar­my of the Britains, only 50 escaping. But God left not their deaths long unrevenged, for this cruel King was soon after kill'd in the Field by the Chri­stian King Edwyn, who succeeded him in the King­dom of Northumberland. Many of these Monks were buried in their own Monastery, whose bodies (saith Leyland the Historian) have been found in the memo­ry of man among the rotten Weeds wherein they were slain. This famous place hath been long since utterly ruinated so that scarce the remains of a Ci­ty or Monastery are now to be discerned.

Another Monastery called Llan Elwy formerly stood in the Vale below Varis, a little City built by the Romans between this and Denbigh-shire upon the Banks of Elwy and Cluyd. The English named it Asaph of the Founder a Person of honourable birth, who was educated by Kentigern Bishop of Glasco. This Bishop in the year 560. flying from the Perse­cution in Scotland to this place, erected it into a Bi­shop's See and built a Monastery near it, wherein he placed 663 Monks, whereof 300 that were more un­learned than the rest, were imploy'd in Husbandry and other business about the Convent, the rest de­voted themselves to Prayer and Divine Meditation. Among the rest who attended Divine Service, Asaph was conspicuous for Piety and Learning, insomuch that Kentigern being recalled to his own Country, re­signed both his Convent and Cathedral to him. Here he demeaned himself with so much sanctity that Llan Elwy was after his death called from him St. Asaph. He was an assiduous Preacher, having oft this say­ing, That such as are against the Preaching of God's Word, envy man's Salvation. He is thought to have died about 569. After which his See was vacant a­bove 500 years until Jeffery of Monmouth was placed therein. It is still a Bishoprick, and contains in [Page 159]it no one whole County, but part of Denbigh, Flint, Montgomery, Merioneth, and some Towns in Shrop­shire, wherein are 121 Parishes. It was not at first very rich, but made much poorer in the Reign of King Edward VI. for whereas the Bishop had before five Episcopal Houses he hath now but one, the rest with the Lands belonging to them being aliena­ted from the Church for ever.

Another Monastery of great account was at Ba­sing-wark in this County near the famous Ditch made by Offa K. of the Mercians, which begun in this place, running through North-Wales nigh the mouth of the River Dee, and from thence along the Moun­tains in the South, and ended near Bristow at the fall of the Wye. The Tract whereof is yet to be seen, and called to this Day Clawd Offa, or Offa's Ditch. Congellus or Comgallus is challenged by the Welsh for their Countryman as being first Abbot of Banchor, though Archbishop Ʋsher makes him the first Abbot of Bangor in the North of Ireland. He was of a pious life, wrote Learned Epistles and Died in 600. Eli­zabeth the seventh Daughter of King Edward I. and Queen Eleanor was born at Ruthland Castle where antiently a Parliament was kept. This Princess at 14 years of age was Married to John Earl of Holland, Zealand, &c. and after his death to Humfrey Bohun Earl of Hereford and Essex, High Constable of Eng­land, by whom he had a numerous Issue she died, 1316. and was buried in the Abbey Church of Saf­fron Walden in Essex.

Owen Glendour Esquire was born in his antient Pa­trimony of Glendour Wye in this County, was bred in London a Student of the Common Law till he be­came a Courtier and Servant to King Richard II. af­ter whose death being on the wrong side of prefer­ment he retired into Wales, where there arose a difference between him and the Lord Grey of Ruthen about a Common, upon which many spur'd on his [Page 160]posting ambition, by telling him he was the true Heir of all North-Wales, and he was likewise incou­raged therein by those who pretended to interpret some Prophe [...]s of the famous Merlin in his favour, persuading him the time was come wherein he should recover the Welsh Principality. All these allure­ments meeting with an aspiring mind, and the Eng­lish being at variance among themselves, He in 1402. and the third year of K. Henry IV. endeavoured to draw the Welshmen to a general defection: assuring them they had now a fair opportunity to shake off the English Yoke, and to resume their own antient Laws and Customs. To whose persuasions the Welsh­men hearkning, they constituted him their Prince and Captain General. Having got some Forces to­gether, he falls first upon his old Adversary Reynold Lord Grey, and takes him Prisoner, yet with pro­mise of releasment, if this Lord would Marry his Daughter; which offer though the Lord Grey at first not only refused but scorned, yet was at last obli­ged to accept thereof, though his treacherous Fa­ther in Law delayed his inlargement till he died.

The Welsh much animated with this first success break furiously into the Borders of Herefordshire, plundring and destroying all before them, being op­posed only by the Lord Edmund Mortimer who had formerly withdrawn himself to the Castle of Wigmore. He having assembled what Forces he was able, gave them Battel, and was taken Prisoner, and then fet­tered & cast into a deep and filthy Dungeon. It was thought that if Glendour had as well known how to use his Victory as to get it, he might at this time have much endangered the English Dominion over the Welsh: But having killed 1000 English he thought he had done enough for that time, and so giving over the pursuit retired. The inhumanity of the Welsh Women was here memorable, who stript the dead Carcasses of the English, and then cut off their Privy [Page 161]Parts and Noses, whereof the one they thrust into their Mouths, the other they pressed between their Buttocks.

King Henry was compell'd to suffer these affronts at this time from the Welsh, being ingaged in a dan­gerous War with Scotland, that K. having Invaded England with a great Army, but with very ill success, his Forces being first defeated by the Earl of Nor­thumberland: And afterward by Henry Piercy his Kinsman called Hot-spur, and George Earl of March who at a place called Hamilton kill'd 10000 Scots, and took 500 Prisoners.

In the mean time Glendour had solicited the French King for aid, who sent him 1200 men of qua­lity, but the Winds were so contrary that they lost 12 of their Ships, and the rest returned home. The English deriding this ill success of the French, so ex­asperated the French K. that presently after he sent 12000 more, who landed safely and joined with the Welsh, but when they heard of the approach of the English Army, whether mistrusting their own strength, or suspecting the Welshmens faithfulness, they ran to their Ships & disgracefully went home.

Although King Henry IV. was advanced to the Crown by the Parliament of England who Deposed King Richard II. for his misgovernment, yet many of those who were instrumental therein, grew in a short time discontented upon one account or another, as is usual in such cases, insomuch that several Conspiracies were made against him. Among others the Peircies Earls of Northumberland and Wor­cester with Henry Hot-spur began about this time to fall off from him, one reason whereof was, because the King at their request, as well as of several other Noblemen, refused to redeem their Kinsman Morti­mer from Glendour's slavery, for Henry was deaf of that Ear, and could rather have wished both him and his two Sisters in Heaven, for then he should be [Page 162]free from concealed Competitors. And another cause was, his denying them the benefit of such Pri­soners as they had taken of the Scots, whereupon they went of themselves, and procured Mortimer's Delivery, and then entred into a League Offensive and Defensive with Glendour, and by their Proxies in the House of the Arch-Deacon of Bangor, they agreed upon a Tripartite Indenture under their Hands and Seals, to divide the Kingdom into three parts, whereby all England from Severn and Trent South and Eastward was to be given to Edmund Mortimer Earl of March. All Wales and the Land beyond the Severn West were assigned to Owen Glendour and all the remaining Land from Trent to the North to be the Partition of the Lord Piercy. Wherein Glendour persuaded them they should accomplish an old Welsh Prophecy against the Mole or Mouldwarp of England. That K. Henry was this Mouldwarp cursed of God's own Mouth, and they were the Lion, the Dragon, and the Wolf which should divide the Land among them.

At this time King Henry, utterly unacquainted with this Conspiracy, published a Proclamation in­timating that the Earl of March had voluntarily caused himself to be taken Prisoner, to the end that the Welsh Rebels having him in their custody might have some pretence for their Insurrection, and therefore he had little reason to be concerned for his Redemption. Upon this the Piercy's assisted with some Scots, and drawing to their Party the E. of Stafford, Rich. Scroop Archbishop of York, and many others, they drew up certain Articles against King Henry, and sent them to him in writing, name­ly, ‘That he had falsified his Oath given at his land­ing, That he came but only to recover his Inhe­ritance, and would not meddle with the King or the Crown, That most Traiterously he had taken arms against his Soveraign Lord, imprisoned him, [Page 163]and then most barbarously caused him to be mur­thered. That ever since the death of K. Richard II. he had unjustly kept the Crown from his Kinsman Edmund Mortimer Earl of March to whom of right it belonged. That upon no occasion he had im­posed divers large Taxes upon the People. That by his Letters he procured Burgesses and Knights of Parliament to be chosen. For which Causes and many others they defied him, and vowed his de­struction, and the restoring the Earl of March to his Right.’

K. Henry could not but know that much of this was true, yet since it did not hinder him from seek­ing to get the Crown when he had it not, it could less hinder him from seeking to keep it now he had it, and if he were able being a private man to get it from a King, he was likely to be more able now to keep it from a private man. And for any objections that Conscience could make, he had enough to an­swer them all. For if his Title were good against K. Richard II. by his Resignation, it was good against Mortimer by his swearing Allegiance, Upon these grounds he satisfied himself, and raised an Army against these Lords, whom he prevented from join­ing with the Welsh, and near Shrewsbury ingaged them, where though Henry Hot-spur shewed suffi­cient Courage, yet he was slain, and the K. obtain­ed the Victory, taking several Prisoners of note, and among others the Earl of Worcester whom he caused to be Beheaded, and many of the rest to be Hanged and Quartered, and their Heads to be set upon Lon­don Bridg. There fell 6000 of the Rebels that day, whereof K. Henry kill'd 36 with his own hands. And the young P. (afterward Henry V.) though wounded in the Face with an Arrow, yet was not wounded in his Courage but continued fighting till the end of the Battel. After this the K. sent his Son Henry P. of Wales with his whole Army into that Country, [Page 164]but before his coming Owen Glendour was forsaken by all his Company, and lurking about the Woods was there famished to death for want of sustenance. Such was the miserable end of this aspiring ambi­tious Britain. After this Rebellion was supprest, K. Henry enacted several rigorous Laws for preventing the like in time to come, as 1. That no Welshman should purchase Lands or be chosen into office in any City, Town or Burrough, or wear arms within any City. 2. That if a Welshman should sue an Englishman the cause should be tryed by an English Jury. 3. That all English Burgesses who married Welshwomen should forfeit their Liberties. 4. No meeting nor Council to be permitted to the Welsh but in the presence of the Officers of the L. of the Mannor. 5. No Victuals to be carried into Wales without License of K. or Council. 6. No VVelshman should possess any Castle, or Fortified House. 7. No VVelshman to be ca­pable of any Office of State, or in any Court of Judicature. 8. No Englishman marrying a Welshwoman should enjoy any office in Wales.

Thomas ap VVilliam ap Thomas ap Richard ap Howel ap Vaughan Esquire was born of an antient Family at Moston in this County. This Gentleman being called at a Pannel of a Jury by all these names was advised by the Judge in the reign of K. Henry VII. to contract them, whereupon he nominated himself Moston. A lead­ing case to the Gentry in VVales, who leaving their Pedigrees at home, carry one Sirname only abroad with them.

Flint though the Shire Town is no Market Town, no nor St. Asaph though a City and Bishop's See till made so very lately. But it is near VVest-Chester the Market General of these parts, and besides every Village hath a Market in it self, as affording all ne­cessary commodities. This County was part of the County Pala­tine of Chester, paying 2000 Marks (called a Mize) at the change of every Earl of Chester till the year 1568 for then upon occasion of one Thomas Radford committed to Prison by the Chamberlain of Chester, this County disjoined it self from that Earldom, and uni­ted to the Principality of VVales. It is divided into five Hundreds, had seven Castles, hath only one Market Town Calerwis, and 28 Parish Churches. Near Kelkin a small Village in this County is a little Well whose Water riseth and falleth according to the mo­tion of the Sea Tydes.

GLAMORGAN SHIRE (so called as is thought from P. Mor­gan the Possessor thereof, or from Morgan Abby founded by VVill. E. of Glocester upon the Sea-shore on the South of this County) is bounded on the East by Monmouth-shire, on the North by Breck­neck, on the West, by Carmarthen-shire, on the South, by the Se­vern Sea, in length 40. in breadth 20. and in circumference 112 [Page 165]Miles. The North part of this Shire is Mountainous, the South Plain and very fruitful, being called the Garden of VVales, abound­ing with Cattel, pleasant Springs, and Fruits. Tare is the chief River, upon the Eastern Shoar of which, Cardiffe the fairest Town of all South-wales is situated, which Fitz Hannon fortified with a Wall and Castle in the reign of VVilliam Rufus, when he and his Norman Knights had conquered Rhese or Rice Prince of these Parts, and deprived Jestine of his legal Inheritance. After which he made it his own Court of Justice, ordaining his Followers, to whom he disposed of the Lands, to hold them in Vassalage of him. The Castle was strong in which K. Henry I. Sirnamed Beuclark kept his Elder Brother Robert called Courthose twenty six years Prisoner, they being both Sons of K. VVilliam the Conqueror.

The City and Bishoprick of Landaff is seated in this County, be­ing one of the most antient Bishops Sees either in England or Wales, and claimeth a direct succession from the Archbishops of Caerleon upon Ʋsk. The first Bishop we read of was St. Dubritius, con­fearated by Lupus and Germanus when they came hither out of France for extirpating the Pelagian Heresie. The Cathedral is de­dicated to St. Telian successor to Dubritius, founded upon the Ri­ver Tassi or Tare, and thence called Landaff, Llan in VVelsh being a Church. This Church was formerly well endowed, so that it might have been reckoned one of the richest in Christendom, but now enjoys not the Tenth of the former revenue, the ruin thereof coming in the time of Bishop Dunstan alias Kitchin. This Diocess contains most part of Glamorgan and Monmouth-shire, wherein are 177 Parish Churches.

Giraldus Cambrensis reports that in the Island of Barrey in this County there is a chink in a Rock, to which if you lay your Ear, you will hear a noise like that of Smiths at work, one while blow­ing the Bellows, then striking with the Hammer on the Anvile, sometimes the noise of a Grindstone grinding Tools, afterward the hissing of Iron quenched, and the puffing sound of Flames un­der a Furnace. Clemens Alexandrinus writes of a place in Britain, which is thought to be this, That on the top of an Hill there is a gaping Chink, into which when the VVind is gathered and moved to and fro in the hollows thereof there is heard above a musical sound like that of Cymbals.

Likewise near Newton on the Bank of the River Ogmore near the Severn, there is a VVell the water whereof is so low at the flowing of the Sea that you can hardly get a dishful, but at the Ebb and Fall of the Tyde it riseth amain, which may be occasion­ed by the wind or air, which not finding a passage out stops up the passages of the springs, but when the water is gone and the air has room to vent it self the water boils up abundantly. On the the same shoat of Severne on the top of an Hill called Minyd Mor­gan is erected a Monument inscribed with strange Character and [Page 166]the People thereabout have a tradition, that if any man read the same he shall dye soon after, meaning, I suppose, that it is im­possible to be read.

At Lauellin in Gouersland in this Shire, happened many very strange Passages in 1656. as they were sent in several Letters to Mr. R.B. an eminent Divine lately deceased, the substance where­of I shall briefly relate. In this place dwelt one Bowen a Lieute­nant Colonel in the late Wars, who by his Valour obtained a good repute, but the War being over, his case and preferment led him to a careless sensual life, and at length he grew so vain and notional that he was Cashiered from his Command, and being then at liberty to sin without restraint, he became an absolute Atheist, denying Heaven and Hell, God and Devil, acknowledging only a Power like that which the antient Heathens called Fate, account­ing Temporal Pleasures all his expected Heaven, so that at last he became hateful, and hating all civil society, though before he had been famous for Profession of Religion. He said he would give ten thousand pound to know the Tru [...]h about God, and denied the Being of the Spirit of God. In Decemb. 1655. he went over to Ireland, and some time after his Wife a very religious VVo­man living in his House in Glamorganshire was very much troubled one night with a great noise much like the sound of a VVhirl­wind, and a violent beating of the doors and walls, as if the whole House had been falling down. She being in her Chamber with most of her Family, after praying to God, accounting it sinful in­credulity to yield to fear, and being naturally of a couragious temper, went to bed, when suddenly one in the likeness of her Husband, and in his very posture, presented himself, and asked her whether he should come to bed, she sitting up and praying to God told him, that he was not her Husband and he should not. He urged more earnestly, What! not the Husband of thy bosom? What! not the Husband of thy bosom? She replied, Christ was her Husband, at which it vanisht, without having any power to hurt her. Upon this she with some other good People spent the rest of the night in Prayer being very often interrupted by this Ap­parition.

The next night Mr. Miles a Pious Minister and four other good Christians came to watch and pray with her, in which holy ex­ercise they continued all night without any disturbance. But the night following Mrs. Bowen with several other Devout Women being in the House, the noise of the Whirlwind began again with more violence than before, and the Apparition walked in the Chamber, attended with an unsufferable stench like that of a pu­trified Carcase, filling the Room with a thick smoak smelling like Brimstone, darkning the light of the Fire and Candle but not quite extinguishing it. Sometimes going down the Stairs, and coming up again with a dreadful noise. Disturbing them in their [Page 167]Prayers, one while with the sound of words which they could not understand, then striking them, so that the next Morning their Faces were black with Smoak and their Bodies swoln with bruises.

Another Night was very remarkable, and had not the Almigh­ty defended the Gentlewoman and her two Maids they had pro­bably been destroyed. As Mrs. Bowen was going to bed, by the impression thereon she supposed that some body had lain in it, and opening the bed he smelt the smell of a Carcase somewhile dead, however she went to bed, and presently perceived upon the Tester which was of cloth something rolling from side to side, and being forced out of her bed, she had not time to dress her self, such lamentable cries and noises so much amazing her. Yet having scarce any cloths on, she with her two Maids got upon their Knees at the bed-side to beg God's help and assistance, but were ex­treamly assaulted. Oftentimes the Gentlewoman would, by some­thing which felt like a Dog under her Knees, be lifted up a foot or more from the Ground. Some were heard to talk on the other side of the bed, which the Maid hearkening to, she had a blow upon the back. Divers assaults would be made by fits. It would come with a cold breath of wind, there were horrible screeching howlings and cries heard, and both within and without the House horrid suffocating smells of Brimstone and Gun-powder. This continued from nine at night till about three next morning, Mrs. Bowen and her Maids all smelt of this filthy Sulphur. At other times Fires have been seen upon the House and in the Fields, Mr. Bowen's Voice hath been heard, luring his Hawks, a Game he delighted in, as also the Bills of Hawks. His tread, his posture, sighing, humming were heard frequently in the Parlour. In the day time often the shadow of one walking would appear upon the Wall. I could wish (saith my Author) that they who questi­on the existency of Spirits had been but one night at Lauellin to receive satisfaction to their objections.

These disturbances continued so violent that Mrs. Bowen and her Family left the house, lest they should tempt God by their over­bold staying in such danger. She sent the Atheist her Husband the sad news of this Apparition, who in May following coming to England expressed more love and respect to his VVife than for­merly, yet telling her that he could not believe her relation of what she had seen, as having not a power to believe any thing but what he himself saw. But he had not the Courage to go to his House and make Tryal of the certainty thereof. However he continued as Atheistical as ever, all his Religion being compriz­ed in the acknowledging of a Power which, he saith, we may call God, and waiting for some miraculous appearance to verifie to him all the rest which we own as our Religion. Sure if ever a Blasphemer was unworthy to live (saith my Author) this is the [Page 168]man. He afterward returned again to Ireland, and shut up him­self in a small Castle without any company but one Boy, who re­ported that he rose in the night, and talked as if some body were discoursing with him. Others relate that he was continually haunted with Ghosts and Apparitions, but what his end was my Author does not mention. However, the former surprizing Acci­dents have sufficient confirmation from Mr. Jones and Mr. Bedwell, two worthy Ministers in that Country, from Mrs. B [...]wen her self, a Woman much praised for her true Piety and Courage. From Colonel Wroth Rogers then Governour of Hereford, from Mr. Sa­muel Foley, Colonel John Bridges, and many other Persons of ho­nesty and reputation.

Sir Edward Carne descended from a good Family flourishing at Wenny in this County. He was bred in Oxford Dr. of the Civil Law, and Knighted by Charles V. Emperor of Germany. He was dispatcht to Rome by K. Henry VIII. to remonstrate to the Pope, That if he cited his Master to appear at Rome, as he had intelli­gence was intended, that his Highness was not bound by Law to appear, This he effectually performed, pleading that the Empe­ror was so powerful at Rome that he could expect no Justice there in the matter of the Divorce, Q. Katherine being of the House of Austria: Declaring that if the Pope persisted in this arbitrary way, the King must appeal from thence to some able men in some indifferent Universities, and if this were refused, he protested against all Proceedings in that Court as null and void. A beha­viour that discovered this Gentleman to have as much courage as ability. Queen Mary highly prized him, and no whit the less for his Cordial appearing for K. Henry in the matter of her Mo­thers divorce, imputing it to the discharge of his Imployment in him who was otherwise a through paced Romanist, and whom she afterward sent Ambassador to the Pope.

After her death he still resided at Rome, and by command of Q. Elizabeth had audience of Paul IV. to acquaint him that his Mistriss was advanced to the Crown of England. To whom the Pope returned answer, ‘That England was a Fee of the Church of Rome, and that she could not succeed as being Illegitimate.’ This Pope would allow no Prince to be his Equal, but that all should be subject under his Foot. Besides he commanded Sir Ed­ward to lay down his Character of Ambassador, and under pain of the greater Excommunication, and Confiscation of his Goods not to go out of the City of Rome, but take upon him the Go­vernment of the English Hospital there. So that Queen Eliza­beth cannot justly be taxed by the Papists for a Schistmatick, be­ing thrust from the Church of Rome by the Pope himself, so un­reasonably treating her Ambassador before she had made any al­teration in Religion. Though some think the crafty old Knight was well contented with his restraint, wherein he died, 1561.

[Page 169]The County of Glamorgan is the furthest bounds of South-Wales, and lying exposed to Foreign Invasions was antiently fortified with 25 strong Castles, which Time and Storms have so intirely ruined that the very names of them are almost obliterated. It had likewise three Monasteries besides Landass, called Neath, Margan and Cardiss, which fell in the general Whirlwind upon Abbys in the Reign of King Henry VIII. This Shire is divided in­to ten Hundreds, wherein are six Market Towns, and 118 Pa­rish Churches. It gives the Title of Earl to Henry Somerset Duke of Beufort.

MERIONETH-SHIRE hath Denhigh and Carnarvan­shires on the North, Montgomery on the East, Cardig an shire on the South, and the Irish Sea on the West, whose raging Waves, it is thought, have swallowed up great quantities of Land in former Ages. The form of the County is like a Welsh Harp, though it yields but dull musick to the Inhabitants, being the roughest and most barren Shire of all Wales as Giraldus the Welsh Histo­rian acknowledges, the Air giving little pleasure, unless to those that admire the furious and blusting Winds that roar from the adjacent Hills and Mountains, which are so high, and yet so near together that it is reported men may discourse from the tops there­of one to another and yet hardly meet in a day's time, so that if the Shepherds should fall out in the morning and challenge one another to fight, before they can come together, the day will be spent, and the Heat of their fury abated after they have slept till Morning. These Mountains did formerly abound with Wolves which much annoyed the People, to prevent which King Edgar Sirnamed the Peaceable imposed a yearly Tribute of 300 Wolves heads upon Ludwall Prince of Wales, where by in three years time they were utterly destroyed, and now the Hills are covered with Flocks of Sheep which are the only Riches of this County, for by reason of the unevenness and rockiness of the Soil the Plow cannot go, nor the Corn thrive here, though some have causlesly imputed the sacarcity of Grain to the sloth of the People.

The Inhabitants were formerly the Ordovices already mention­ed, who by the advantage of these Mountains long defended their Liberties against the Romans, and were never wholly sub­dued till the time of King Edward I. There are only three Mar­ket Towns in this Shire, Bala, near which is a Pool called Pimble Mear, or Lin Tegid in Welsh, covering near an hundred and Sixty Acres of ground, of which it is reported that the Land Floods though never so great do never cause it to rise or swell, whilst a blast of Wind will quickly make it mount above its bounds and banks. Into the South part of it runs the River Dee with a swift stream, and glides through the same without any mixture of its Waters as the People imagine, because the Salmon usually taken [Page 170]in Dee is never found in that Pool, and on the contrary th [...] Fish called Guiniad bred in that Mear is never seen in the River Dee.

Delgethe is another Market Town in this Shire, of which I know not whether it be worth relating what is known for a Truth. 1. That the Walls thereof are three Miles high, that is, the Mountains which surround it. 2. That men come into it over the Water, but go out of it under the Water: Because they go in over a fair Bridge, but the Water falling from a Rock is cou­veyed in a wooden Trough under which Travellers make shift to pass. 3. The Steeple thereof doth grow therein, since the Bells if they have more than one, hang in a Yew-Tree. 4. There are more Ale-houses than Houses, for Tenements are divided into two or three Tipling Houses, and Barns without Chimneys are used to that purpose.

Harlech is the last Market Town, standing on the Sea-shore, cold and barren enough but only of Fowl and Fish, having few houses and meanly built. Here is a little decayed Chapel and out of use, wherein Sir Richard Thimbleby an English Knight lyes buried, who for the delight he took in Fishing and Fowling re­moved his dwelling from a far better Soil. Here likewise was erected a strong and beautiful Castle upon an Hill, with a double Bulwark walled about, commanding the Sea, to impede the en­trance of all Invaders. Near this are two great Inlets into the Sea which People pass over at low VVater, and upon the Shoar, as upon all the Sea coasts in this Country abundance of Herrings are caught, and are therefore much frequented at the season of the year by People of several Nations.

St. Thelian, educated by Dubritius Bishop of Landaff afore­mentioned, was born in this Shire. He was much envied for his Holy Life by one of the Pictish Princes who harassed this Country. This Captain sent two lewd Strumpets to him, supposing that by their Tempting Tricks this Devout man might have been inticed to folly. These VVomen counterfeited madness that they might take the more liberty to themselves of filthy discourse, but re­turned Distracted indeed, not having sense nor understanding enough to relate the cause of their sad misfortune, which had such effect on this Commander, that he received the Chri­stian Faith (saith my Author) and was Baptized, retain­ing ever after a great veneration for this our Saint, who as­terward accompanied St. David Bishop of Menerin to Jerusalem and returning into his own Countrey by his fervent Prayers freed Scotland from the Plague wherewith it was then much infested He died about 563.

Mr. Camden takes special notice of the beauty and comelines [...] of the Inhabitants of this Shire. During the differences betwix [...] the Houses of York and Lancaster, David ap Jenkig, ap Enion [Page]stout Gentleman on the Lancastrian side, resolutely defended the Castle of Harlech against King Edward IV. until Sir William Herbert, afterward Earl of Pembroke, so furiously stormed it that he was obliged to surrender. This County is divided into six Hundreds wherein are 37 Parish Churches.

MONMOƲTH-SHIRE hath Hereford-shire on the North, Glamorgan on the VVest, Glocester-shire on the East, and the So­vern Sea on the South. It is 24 Miles in length, 19 in bredth, and 77 in compass. The Air is temperate, clear and healthful, the Soil hilly, woody, and fruitful of Cattel, Corn and all other accommodations of Life. It was antiently inhabited by the Si­lures whose chief City is called by the Emperor Antoninus Venta Silurum, by the Welsh Caerwent, and now Caerleon, and was by Tathai the British Saint made an Academy and a place of Divine VVorship, where the second Roman Legion called Augusta re­sided, (as appears by their Coins, Altars, Tables and Inscriptions sound there daily in digging up old Foundations.) Giraldus saith, That King Arthur kept his Court in this City, whither the Ro­man Ambassadors resorted to him, and that there was a School or Academy, of 200 Philosophers skilful in Astronomy and other Sciences erected therein. St. Aaron a wealthy Citizen of Caer­leon was Martyred under Dioclesian the Roman Tyrant in 3031 Note that the three first British Martyrs, namely Alban, Amphi­balus and Aaron, have, the first a Latin, the second a Greek, and the third an Hebrew name. St. Julius of Caerleon, suffered with Aaron aforesaid. St. Amphilalus the Instructor of St. Alban in the Christian Faith, was also a Citizen of Caerleon. This Town though now but small, was once a great City reaching a Mile in length, and comprehending St. Julian's a house of late Sir Wil­liam Herbert's, now a Mile distant from the Town. But as all humane Glory hath its period, so this City formerly renowned for beauty, circuit and magnificence is now deplorably decayed.

Monmouth is a Market Town in this County, and had antient­ly a very strong Castle with many lofty Towers, as the ruins do still demonstrate. The Town is pleasantly situated between the Rivers Monnow and Wye, and hath an handsome Church with three Isles. And at the East end of the Town is another decay­ed one called the Monks Church. Monmouth is in good repair, and well frequented, governed by a Mayor, two Bayliffs, 19 Common-Council men, a Town-Clerk, and two Sergeants. Se­veral Monasteries were erected and suppressed in this County, the most memorable being at Caerleon, Chepstow, God-cliff, Monmouth and Llantony, which last stood so solitary among the high Hill that the Sun did shine upon it not above two or three hours in a day. As for Manufactures the best Caps were formerly made at Monmouth, where the Cappers Chapel doth still remain. In Q. Blizabeth's Reign an Act of Parliament was made, enacting that [Page]all Persons should wear Monmouth Caps, but about twenty five years after it was repealed.

Geffery of Monmouth the Welsh Historian was born in this Coun­ty, and in the Monks Church aforenamed is said to have written his History of Britain, having translated, compiled and collect­ed the various British Authors into one Volume. He had many things from the British Bards or Poets, which though impro­hable may not be untrue. His Book was prohibited by the Pope whilst the lying Legend of Romish Saints is permitted to be read without controll. If Geffery be guilty of mistakes they are such as make not for the Pope's advantage, and therefore it seems a great mistake in those who avouch that the Pope made him a Cardinal. He flourished 1160 under King Henry II.

Walter Cantilupe Son to William Lord Cantilupe, whose chief Residence was at Abergavenie in this County, was made Bishop of Worcester by King Henry III. He would not yield to the Pope's Legate, who complained of many Clergymen, keeping their Liv­ings against the Canons, intending to make room for the Pope's Favourites, or force such irregular Incumbents to a composition. He was of a keen temper, whose two edged Spirit did cut on both sides against the King and Pope. Against the former he fided with the Barons to whom he promised Heaven for the re­ward of their Rebellion against their Prince, though it cost him an Excommunication from the Pope, who was the more forward in denouncing that fatal sentence against him, because the Bishop had told Rusland his Legate, That he would prefer him to be hanged on the Gallows rather than ever consent to such expila­tion of the Church as aforesaid. He died in 1267. Thomas of Monmouth wrote an History of St. VVilliam, the Child that was Crucified by the Jews at Norwich in hatred of our Saviour. He flourished 1160 in the Reign of King Henry II.

Richard de Clare, alias Strongbow, born probably at Stringule Castle was Earl of Stringule and Pembroke. It happened that Ma [...] Murrugh in 1167. being expelled his Territories for several Tyrannies by the Lords of Meath and Connaught repaired to King Henry II. and invited him into Ireland. That politick King sent over this Rich. Strongbow with 1200 men, who soon possest him­self of the Ports of Leinster and Munster, with large Lands there­unto belonging, insomuch that the King growing jealous of his greatness recalled him home, commanding him to surrender his Acquisitions into his hands, which done, he received them back by a Grant from the King, who only reserved the City of Dub­lin for himself. He was commonly called Domitor Hibernia, The Tamer of Ireland. Yet some of the Great Lords there, did still retain the Power and Title of King. Witness the Preface to the Commission, whereby King Henry II. made William Fitz. Adelme his Lieutenant of Ireland, which was directed, To al [Page 173]Archbishops, Bishops, Kings, &c. Health. This Earl died at Dub­lin, 1177.

Henry Plantaginet Duke of Lancaster was born in Monmouth Castle the chief Seat of his Barony. He is commonly Sirnamed The Wryneck, and by others more rightfully, The good Duke of Lancaster. He founded Corpus Christi College in Cambridg, and was buried at Leicester 1361. Henry V. the victorious Conque­ror of France was likewise born in this Castle, of whom I have already given an account. Sir Roger VVilliams born of an an­tient Family at Penress, was first a Souldier of Fortune in the Ne­therlands ander the Duke of Alv [...], and afterward served Queen Elizabeth. He was a man extreamly forward to fight. VVhen a Spanish Captain challenged Sir John Norris to fight a single com­bate, which he could not accept, as being below him who was a General, this Sir Roger undertook the [...]on. And after they had fought for some time, in the view of both Armies, with­out any hurt, they pledged each other a deep draught of VVine and so friendly departed. Another time at midnight he assault­ed the Camp of the Prince of Parma nigh Venloe, slew some of the Enemies Souldiers, and pierced to the very Tent of the Gene­ral. Byron Marshal of France once saying, That he did not like the March of the English Drum because it was so slow; Sir Reger hearing him, sharply replied, As slow as it is, yet it hath gone through all France. He bravely defended the Town and Fort of Sluce in Flanders, whilst there was any hope of relief, but as length being forced to surrender it, he returned to the Court, whom some of Queen Elizabeth's Ladies of Honour reproached and pointed at, crying, That's the Valiant man that delivered up Sluce. Ay Ladies, said he, and if you had been so hard put to it as I was you would have delivered up your Sluces too.

William Herbert Earl of Pembroke with Sir Richard his Brother were both vassant men, and as fast friends to King Edward IV. as professed Foes to Richard Nevil the Great Earl of Warwick. Leading the Army of the Welsh in the Battel of Banbury, these two Brothers with their Pole-axes twice made way through the Battel of the Northern men which sided with King Henry VI. without any mortal wound. There passeth a Tradition in the Noble Family of the Herbert's of Cherbury, that this Sir Richard their Ancestor slew that day 140 men with his own hands, in passing and repassing through the Army. Guns not being then in fashion the Poll axe was the next mortal Weapon especially in such a dead doing hard as this Knight had. He is likewise re­ported to be of a Giant's Stature, the Peg or Pin being yet to be seen in Montgomery Castle, whereon he used to hang his Hat at Dinner, which no man of an ordinary height can reach with his hand at this day. It is recorded that by the courage of these two Brothers the Battel of Banbury had certainly been won, had not [Page 174] John Clapham Esquire, and Servant to the Earl of Warwick [...] played his Lord's Colours, and from an high Hill cryed out, a Warwick, a Warwick, whereat the Welshmen were so terrified, supposing VVarwick with the whole Army to be there that they turned their backs and fled, knowing how unable they were to withstand VVarwick's Forces, since upon a quarrel the Night before between the Earl of Pembroke and the Lord Stafford the last had withdrawn his Party from them, so that the General and his Brother were left alone in the Field, who valiantly fighting were incompassed and taken, with the Neath of 5000 of their Men. The Earl with his Brother Sir Ri­chard Herbert were brought to Banbury where (with ten other Gentlemen) they lost their Heads, the Earl was buried at Tinterne, and Sir Richard at Abergavenny in this County.

VVilliam Jones born at Monmouth was forced to fly his Country for not being able to pay ten Groats. Coming to London he be­came first a Porter and then a Factor, and going over to Ham­burg had such a vent for VVelsh Cottons that he gained a very considerable Estate in a short time. He founded a fair School in Monmouth allowing 50 pound yearly to the Master, and 100 pound Salary to a Lecturer, besides a stately Alms house for 20 poor People, each of them having two Rooms and a Garden, and half a Crown a week. All which he left to the oversight of the Company of Haberdashers in London, who discharge their trust therein to this day.

VVilliam Evan's of this Shire was two yards and an half in height being Porter to King Charles I. He was somewhat lame, knocking his knees together, and going out squalling with his seet, yet he made a shift to Dance in an Antimask at Court, where he drew little Jeffery the Dwarf out of his Pocket. The Moor or Marish near Chepstow suffered great loss in 1606. by the River Severn overflowing its banks, drowning many Cattel, some People, and overthrowing divers Houses.

Monmouthshire may be called an English VVelsh County. For whereas formerly all VVelsh Counties sent but one Knight to Parliament this has the privilege of two, and is not subject to the VVelsh Jurisdiction but to the governance of the Itenerant Judges who ride Oxford Circuit. It was subdued by King Henry II. who passed the Nant Pen-carne a small Brook, and of no dan­ger, yet held fatal by the VVelsh, who were over credulous of a Prophecy of Merlin's that predicted, ‘That when a stout King with a freckled face should pass over a Ford called Ryd-pencarn in a River called Nant pen-carn the VVelsh should be conquered,’ and therefore when King Henry who was freckle faced passed over it, the Welshmen remembring this Prophecy submitted them­selves, and became an easie Conquest to the English, and it may be the King being sensible of their credulity, thinking their [Page 175]Hearts might fail them, chose to go over this Ford to facilitate his Conquests. Monmouth was made a Shire in the reign of King Henry VIII. It hath six Market Towns, 127 Parish Churches, is divided into six Hundreds, and had formerly 14 Castle. It gives the Title of Earl to Charles Lord Mordant.

MONTGOMERY-SHIRE hath Denbigh-shire on the North, Radnor and Cardigan on the South, Merioneth on the West, and Shrop-shire on the East. In this County are many high Hills, and divers Vales, Springs and Rivers, of which the Soverne is the Chief, being the second River in the Kingdom, whose head ri­sing from the vast high Mountain Plymlimon, and being joined with other smaller streams runs through the East part of this Shire. It is said to have taken its name from Abren the beauti­ful natural Daughter of King Loerinus, begotten out of VVedlock upon Estrildis the Daughter of Humber the Seythian King, who invaded this Land, both of them being drowned by Gwendolena the surviving VVidow of Locrinus, the Daughter in this River, and the Father in the other bearing his name. Of this Jeffery of Monmouth writes,

The antient Inhabitants were the Ordovices, who also peopled the Counties of Merioneth, Carnarvan, Denhigh and Flint, whose Hearts and Hills kept them free a long time, both from the Ro­man and English Yoke, opposing themselves against the first till the reign of Domitian, and the other till their total Conquest by King Edward I. They are a generous and affable People, comely and fair of body, courteous to strangers, and very Loyal to the English Crown.

Montgomery is the chief Town, and is one of the new Shires taken out of the Marches of Wales, and made a County of King Henry VIII. so called from Roger de Montgomery a Noble N [...]r­man, Earl of Shrewsbury, who gaining much Land hereabout from the Welsh, first built it to secure his Conquests, as likewise a very fine Castle standing not far from the banks of the River Severn upon the rising of a Rock, from whence it hath a very pleasant prospect into a curious Plain that lyeth beneath it.

There is a Proveb in this County, Y Tair Chiwiorydd, in Eng­lish The three Sisters, whereby was meant the three Rivers of Wye, Severn, and Rhiddial, arising all three in this County. The Tradition is, That these three Sisters were to run a Race which should be first Married to the Ocean. Severn and Wye having a great Journey to go, chose their way through soft Mea­dows, and kept on a Travellers pace, whilst Rhiddial, presum­ing on her short journey, staid before she went out, and then to recover her lost time runs furiously in a distracted manner [Page 176]with her mad stream over all opposition. It is applicaple to Chi­dren of the same Parents, but of different dispositions and courses of life, so that their Cradles were not so near, but their Coffins are as far asunder. There is another Proverb, Pywys Paradwys, Cymri, that is, Powis is the Paradice of Wales. This Proverb re­ferreth to Teliesten the Author thereof, that Powis contain­ed all that pleasant Land lying betwixt Wye and Severn. A third Proverb is, Gwan di Brwlin Hafren, Plafren fydd hifel cynt, that is, Fix thy Pale in Severn, (with intent to fence out his Wa­ter) Severn will be as before, that is run its course, applied to those who undertake projects above their power to perform.

Hawis Gadarn a Lady of remark, sole Daughter and Heir to Owen ap Griffith Prince of Powis-land, was justly Sirnamed Ga­darn, that is, The Hardy. Her four Uncles, Leoline, Griffith, Vaughan and David detained her inheritance from her. Give, said they, A Girl a little Gold and Marry her, God and Nature made Land for men to manage. Hereupon Hawis complained to King Edward II. who commiseraring her condition consigned his Servant John Charlton born at Apple in Shrepshire, a vigorous Knight to Marry her, creating him in her right Baron of Powis. Being assisted with the King's Forces, he took three of her Uncles Prisoners, and brought the fourth to composition. And finally recovered all his Wives Estate, procuring also the Lands of her Uncles in default of their Issue Male to be setled on her.

George Herbert born at Montgomery-Castle, was bred Fellow of Trinity-College in Cambridge, and Orator of the University, where he made a Speech of the return of Prince Charles out of Spain. Waving Wotldly Preferment he served at God's Altar. Of so Pious a Life, that as he was a Copy of Primitive Christia­nity, so he might be a Pattern of Sanctity to Posterity. He ne­ver mentioned the name of Jesus but with this addition My Ma­ster. Next God the Word, he loved the Word of God, being heard often to protest, That he would not part with one leaf there­of for the whole World. By his good example he gained much to the Church. He was Preacher at Bemmerton nigh Salisbury, where he built a fair House for his Successor, and Prebendary at Leighton in the Diocess of Lincoln, where he built a fair Church with the assistance of some Friends free Offerings. When a tfriend of his went about to comfort him with the remembrance hereof as a good work, he returned, It is a good work if sprinkled with the Blood of Christ.

Edward Herbert his Brother was Knighted by King James I. who sent him over Ambassador to France King Charles I. created him Baron of Castle-Island in Ireland, and after Baron of Cherbury in this County. He was a most excellent Artist and a rare Linguist, Studied both in Books and Men. He wrote a Treatise of the Truth in French, extant with great honour in the [Page 177] Vatican Library at Rome. He Married the Daughter of Sir Wil­liam Herbert of St. Julian's in Monmouthshire, with whom he had a large Inheritance both in England and Ireland. He died in 1648. and was buried in St. Giles's in the Fields London. A fair Monument of his own Invention was begun and almost si­nisht in the Church of Montgomery.

In the Year 1661. Dec. 20. about Sunsetting the Inhabitants of Weston in Montgomeryshire, discovered a great number of Horsemen about 400 paces from them, marching two a breast in Military order upon the Common, and were half an hour before the Reer came up, seeming to be about 500 in all; the specta­tors were amazed, thinking them to be an Army of Roundheads going to release the Prisoners at Montgomery, (there being at that time several Ministers and Gentlemen in Prison) and therefere several of them went to the top of the next Hill, where they had another full view of them, and could distinguish their Horses to be of several Colours, as white, grey, black, &c. and that they marched in three Companies, and betwixt every Division they had two Horse colours flying; but as they drew toward them they still marched from them, so that they could not come near­er than 100 Yards; they asked a man (who was thatching a House all that day, which they judged the Horsemen went by) whether he saw all those Souldiers which marched by, who said that he saw none, neither was there any Tract of the Horses to be seen that night, nor the next morning, so that they conclud­ed it to be a wonderful Apparition, and deposed the Truth of these particulars before the Lord Herbert, and several other Justices of the Peace of this County; at the same time a Wo­men coming from Bishops Castle over the same Common, fell off her Horse, being much terrified with the sight of a blazing Star, which she and six men with her saw, sometimes white and some­times red, with a Tail like an Arrow, which seemed to hang just over their heads from Bishops Mount to this Common, being three Miles, and the People of the house where the VVoman fell, when they came out, saw the Star also.

This County is very plentiful of Cattle, especially Horses, which for their shape and swiftness are much valued. It is di­vided into seven Hundreds, wherein are six Market Towns, and forty seven Parish Churches, and gives the Title of Earl to Tho­mas Lord Herbert, who is likewise Earl of Pombroke. Cherbury the Title of Baron to Henry Lord Herbert.

PEMBROKE-SHIRE is bounded by Carnarthen on the East, and Cardigan shire on the North-East. On all sides else it is surrounded by the Sea. In length 26. in breadth 20. and in circumference 93 Miles. It was antiently Peopled by the Dime­tree, as well as Cardigan and Carmarthen-shires, part of this County was after inhabited by the Flemmings sent thither by [Page 178]King Henry I. who lost their Country by the breaking in of the Sea, whereby a great part of Flanders was drowned, and whose Posterity continue there to this day, and speak so good English that their Division is called, Little England beyond Wales. The Commodities of this shire are Corn, Cattel, Sea-fish and Fowl, and in the days of Giraldus Cambrensis, they had Wines for sale, the Havens being so commodious for Traffick, particularly Tenby and Milford, the last of which is so large a Port that six­teen Creeks, five Bays, and thirteen Roads, distinguisht by par­ticular names are all contained within it.

Pembroke is the Shire Town, which appears more antient than it is, it was formerly Walled and had three Gates, with a large Castle, and a Causey leading over to the decayed Priory of Mon­ton. The Town consists principally of one long street, on a long narrow Point of a Rock, and hath within the Walls thereof, two Churches. St. David's is a Barren old City, having neither Trees to defend it, nor is it pleasant with Fields or Meadows, but lyes exposed to Winds and Storms. It is now the seat of a Bishop, but was once an Archbishoprick in the British Church. At the first planting of the Gospel in the reign of King Lucius there were three Archbishops Seats appointed, London, York, and Caerleon. The last in the Reign of Arthur King of the Britains was translated from thence to St David's as being farther off from the Saxon's fury. Twenty seven of them retained the Title of Archbishops; the last whereof was Samson who remov­ed the Archi-episcopal Dignity to D [...]le in Bretaign a Province in France. Yet his Suceessors though they lost the name, retain­ed the power of the Archbishop, the Welsh Bishops being con­secrated by him till the Reign of King Henry I. when Bernard the 47th Bishop of this See was forced to submit himself to the Church of Canterbury. The Cathedral here hath been often ruin­ed by the Danes, Norwegians and other Pirates, as standing near the Sea in an extream Corner of this County, that which we now see was built by Bishop Peter, and by him dedicated to St. David. In the middle of whose Quire Edmund Earl of Rich­mond Father to King Henry VII. lies buried, whose Monument secured the Church from being defaced in the Reign of King Henry VIII. The roof of this Church is higher than any in Eng­land.

Calphurnius a British Priest (who Married Concha Sister to St Martin, and had St. Patrick the Apostle of Ireland to their Son, was born at St. David's. Likewise Justinian a Noble Britain, with his own Inheritance built a Monastery in the Island of of Ramsey in this County, where many Monks dwelt happily un­der his Jurisdiction, until three of them Murdered him out of envy and emulation for his Plous Life. His Body was brought to [...] or St. David's, and there interred, and his Tomb after­ward [Page 179]much famed for many supposed Miracles. Giraldus Cam­brensis whose Sirname was Barry (some write Fitz Girald) the Welsh Historian, was born at Tenby in this County, being Son to William Barry an Englishman by his Wife Angareth, daughter of Nesta, Daughter of Rhese, or Rice Prince of South-Wales. He was Nephew to David the second Bishop of St David's, by whom he was made Arch-Deacon of Brecknock. He was wont to complain, ‘That the English did not love him because his Mo­ther was a Welshwoman, and the Welsh hated him because his Father was an Englishman.’ Though by his excellent Writings he deserved of England well, of Wales better, and of Ireland best of all, making an exact description of all three, and acting in the last as Secrety to King John, with great industry and ex­pence. Having Travelled to Jerusalem he writ a Book of the Wonders of the Holy Land. He had no great success at Court, and therefore attained to no considerable Dignity, till at length he was offered a very mean Bishoprick in Ireland, and his highest Preferment was to this of St. David's, of which he gives the true reason, ‘That he was looked upon with a Jealous Eye, because being a Welshman by the Mother, the furer side, he was thought to have a natural antipathy against the English, since it was be­lieved no good Subject could come out of Walee.’ Being now Bishop of St. David's he went to Rome, and there was very im­portunate for an exemption of that Diocess from the Authority of Canterbury, whereby he highly offended Hubert the Archbishop thereof. Whereupon being rather overborn with bribes than overcome in his Cause, he returned without effecting it, and dying was buried in his own Cathedral about 1215.

When King Henry II. was at St. David's in this County, and from thence in a clear day discovered the Coast of Ireland, in an huffing bravado he said, I with my Ships am able to make a Bridge thither if it be no farther. Which Speach of his being re­lated to Murchard King of Lemster in Ireland, he asked whether he did not say, He would do it with the help of God: and be­ing told no, he chearfully answered, Then I fear him the less, since he trusted more to himself than to the help of God. The same King Henry coming back from Ireland arrived at St. David's where being told that there is an old Prophecy of Merlin's, That the Conqueror of Ireland returning that way should dye upon a stone called Lechlaver near the Church-yard. He thereupon be­fore a multitude of People passed over it unhurt, and reproving the Welshmen said, ‘Now who will hereafter credit that Lyar Merlin.’

The County of Pembroke hath been fortified with sixteen Castles, besides two Block-houses or Forts Commanding the Mouth of Milford Haven, and hath five Market Towns, is divi­ded into seven Hundreds, wherein are forty five Parish [...] [Page 180]It gives the Title of Earl to Thomas Lord Herbert, who is also Earl of Montgomery.

RADNOR-SHIRE hath Monmouth on the North, Here­ford and Shropshire on the East, Brecknock on the South, and Car­diganshire on the West. In length twenty four, in breadth twen­ty two, and in circuit ninety miles. The Air is sharp and cold, as generally it is through all Wales, whereby the Snow lies long unmelted under those vast Mountains, Hills and Rocks that over­shadow the Valleys, yet the East and South parts are somewhat fruitful, indifferently stored with Woods, and watered with Ri­vers and Mears. The riches of the North and West consist chiefly in the Cattel which they produce. The antient Inhabitants were the Silures, who by their own courage and the assistance of their inaccessible Mountains preserved their freedom very long against all the attempts of the Romans. These Rocks are so dreadful (saith Mr. Speed) that I feared to look down from them into those deep and dark Vallies through which I passed, which seemed to be the entrance into the Kingdom of Darkness. Among these dismal Vales Historians say that unhappy Prince Vertigern, (who invited in the Saxons to the ruin of his Country) was with his incestuous Wife consumed with Fire from Heaven in his Castle called Guartiger Maur. Though others write it was near Besh­kelleth in North Wales. Fatal was this place also to Leoline the last Prince of the British Race, who being betrayed by the men of Buelth, fled into these vast Mountains of Radnor, where by Adam Franston he was slain, and his Head Crowned with Ivy set upon the Tower of London.

Radnor is the Chief Town in this County, from whence it re­ceives its name, called antiently Magi, where the Pacensian Le­gion of the Romans lay, and thought to be Magnes mentioned by me Emperor Marcus Antoninus. It had formerly a VVall, with a large and strong Castle. Prestayn is the best Town in this Shire for handsome Buildings, and good Trading. Knighton is also a Market Town, under which is to be seen the Tract of Offa's Ditch along the Edge of the Mountain. The fourth place re­markable is, Raihader Gewy, from which word Raihader the English, It is thought, named the County Radnor. It is also cal­led Meliueth, from the yellowish Mountains thereof, which stretch from Offa's Dyke to the River Wye, which River cutteth over­thwart the West corner of this Shire, where meeting with some Rocks that impede its passage, for want of ground to glide on it hath a violent downfall, with a continual noise, and is called The Fall of Wye. At this Town the Market day was formerly kept on a Sunday; but is since altered. This Shire is divided into six Hundreds, wherein are three Forests, four Market Towns, and fifty two Parish Churches, and formerly six Castles. It gives the Title of Earl to Charies Lord Roberts.

[Page 181]There are several other Proverbs in Wales besides those already mentioned, as 1. Her Wash Blood is up: and 'tis no wonder that a very antient Gentleman being deprived of his Country, should digest his losses with great difficulty. 2. As long as a Welsh Pe­digree, and as high too, seeing commonly a Welsh Gentleman can clime up to a Princely Extraction. 3. Give your Horse a Welsh Bait. That is stop on the top of the Mountains, where the poor Palfrey is forced to make shift with Cameleons Commons, the clear Air. 4. Calen y Sais wrah Gimro. That is, the Heart of an Englishman toward a Welshman; This was invented while England and Wales were at deadly feud, and applied to such as are possessed with prejudice, and only carry an outward com­pliance without cordial affection. 5. Ni Che [...]w Cymbro oni Golle, That is, The Welshman keeps nothing until he hath lost it. When the Brittish recovered their loft Castles from the English, they doub­led their Diligence and Valour, keeping them more tenaciously than before. 6. A fo Pen, bid Bout, That is, He that will be a Head let him be a Bridge. This is of a ficticious Original, for Benigridan a Welsh General is said to have carried his Army (one by one, we must imagine) upon his Back over a River in Ireland, where there was neither Bridge nor Ferry, and therefore deser­vedly was made their Prince. 7. There was an antient Play in Wales wherein the stronger put the weaker into a Sack, from whence came the Proverb, He is able to put him up in a bag. The Princes of Wales are very ancient and numerous, yet they never had any Coin of their own, as Mr. Camden observes. In the reign of King William the Conqueror, upon the Sea shore in Wales was found the body of Gawen, Sisters Son to Arthur the Great K. of Britain reported to be fourteen foot in Length. In 1662. July 2. were seen above an hondred Porpusses together near Newport, which seemed very strange and prodigious to the Inhabitants. Walter Brute was born in Wales, A Siuner, Layman, Husband­man and a Christian: They are his own words in a certain Pro­testation which he made. He was bred in Oxford, and being accused to the Bishop of Hereford, he by a solemn subscription sub­mitted himself, principally to the Evangely (or Gospel) of Jesus Christ, to the determination of the General Councils of Holy Kirk, to Austin, Ambrose, Jerem and Gregory: And lastly to his Bishop, as a Subject ought to his Bishop. It seems this Walter was the first that was vext about the Doctrines of Wickliff.

To conclude, the Principallity of Wales was modelled into Shires in the reigh of King Henry VIII. In the thirteen Counties whereof aforementioned are reckoned one Chase, thirteen Fo­rests, thirty three Parks, two hundred thirty Rivers, an hundred Bridges, four Cities, fifty five Market Townt, forty one Castles of old erection, four Bishopricks, and a thousand and sixteen Pa­rish Churches, and elects thirty Parliamont Men.