University of Virginia Library

A MEMORIALL OF ALL THE ENGLISH MONARCHS, being in number 151. from Brute to King Charles.

TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE, Lionel Lord Viscount Cranefield, Earle of Middlesex, &c.

My humble Muse, in lofty manner sings
A Catalogue of Englands mighty Kings:
At first I do begin with Troian brvte,
And following Chronicles I do dispute,
Proceeding briefely with their Raignes and Names,
Till these blest dayes of our best Monarch Iames,
Tis but an Argument thats written here,
That in such time such and such Princes were:
But he that meanes their Actions more to know,
May read Boetius, Hollinshed, or Stow,
Or our true labouring Moderne Master How,
Which Authors, Learned Iudgement do allow:
Or if youle see how former times doe runne,
Reade the laborious paines of Middleton.
We haue had Kings since Brute of royall Blood,
One hundred forty sixe, some bad, some good,
Foure Queenes in all, this time did only Raigne,
Whose Memories in Histories remaine.
So in two thousand and seuen hundred yeeres,
We had thrice 50 Princes it appeares.
This Kingdome here was fiue times won and lost,
And Kings (as God decreed) oft chang'd and tost.
Sometimes one swaid the Scepter, sometime twaine,
And sometime seuen at once did rule and raigne,
Till sixe (by bloudy warres) lost life and throne,
And valiant Egbert ioyn'd them all in one.
But since (through Heauens high prouidence) I see,
Tis growne more great, and greater like to be.
Long may He liue, by whom in one 'tis guided,
And may they sinke that wish't againe diuided.
Then (Noble Lord) with good acceptance take
This Poem, for the Royall Subiects, sake,
And though it be not compleate as it should,
Beare with it, and accept of what I could,
The matter's worthy, though the manner's poore,
VVhich makes me heere your Patronage implore,
And may you be externall and internall,
Blest and aduanc'd to happinesse eternall.

I. [The first part.]

BRVTE, THE FIRST KING OF BRITTAINE, began his Reigne,

I. Brvte. Anno mundi, 2858. Before Christ, 1108.

Æneas from subuerted Troy exilde,
In Tuscan wedded King Latinus childe:
By whom the Realme of Italy he gain'd,
And after he had 3 yeeres fully raign'd
He died, and left Ascanius in his stead:
To whom Siluius Posthumus did succeed.
From which Posthumus Royall loynes did spring,
Great Brutus, Brittaines first commanding King:
The people then were (here) all voyd of pride,
Borne Naked, Naked liu'd, and Naked dy'd.
Three Sonnes Brute left, Locrinus was his Heire
To England, Cambria (Wales) was Cambers share,
To Albanact (the youngest) 'twas his lot,
To sway the Scepter of the valiant Scot.
Thus 'mongst his Sonnes this Ile he did diuide,
And after twenty foure yeeres Reigne he dy'd.

Locrine, 20. yeeres, 1084.

Locrinus , Eldest of old Brutus Sonnes,
By Valour vanquisht the inuading Hunnes:
He chas'd them, & their power did quite confound,
And their King Humber was in Humber drown'd:
This Locrine had a Queene, faire Guendolin,
Yet folly led him to the Paphæan sinne,
Besotted sence, and blood with lust inflam'd,
He lou'd a beautie, Beautious Estrild nam'd,
By whom he had a Daughter, Sabrin hight,
In whome the King had whole and sole delight,
For which the Queene made war vpon her Lord:
And in the Fight she put him to the Sword;
And after a reuengefull bloody slaughter,
Queene Guendoline tooke Estrild and her daughter,
And drownd them both (to quēch her ielous flame)
And so from Sabrine, Seauerne got the name.

Q. Guendoline, 1064.

About this time Saul was King of Israel.

VVhen 15. yeeres this Queen had wisely raign'd,
She dy'd, & then her Son the kingdome gain'd.

Madan, 1009.

VVhen forty yeers this King had rul'd this Ile,
(As Stories say) he died a death most vile:
The wide-mouth'd Wolfe, and keene-tusk'd brutish Bore,
Did eate his Kingly flesh, & drinke his gore.

Mempricius raigned 20. yeeres, 991.

Mempricius base, his brother Manlius slew,
And got thē Crowne, by murder, not as due:
Maids, wiues, and widdowes, he by force deflowr'd:
He liu'd a Beast, and dy'd, by a Beast, deuour'd.

Ebranke, 989.

King Dauid reigned ouer Israel.

At Edinburgh the Castle he did found,
Alcluid & York, he built new from the ground:
He builded Bambrough, and reigned sixty yeeres,
Belou'd, as it in Chronicles appeares.

Brute the second, 929.

If any noble act Brute Greeneeshield did,
Hee's wrong'd, because from Histories th'are hid:
Twelue yeeres he rul'd, that's all I of him read,
And how at Yorke, hee lyeth buried.

Leil. 917.

Leil Carleile built, and raign'd yeeres twenty fiue,
And as Fame still keepes dead mens acts aliue:
So Leil (though dead) shall euer liue by Fame,
He lyes at Carleile, which himselfe did frame.

Rudhudibrasse, 892.

This King built Canterbury, Winchester,
And Shaftbury, he from the ground did reare:
And after twenty nine yeeres reigne was past,
At Winchester sore sicke, he breath'd his last.

Bladud reign'd 20. 863.

Baathe was by Bladud to perfection brought,
By Necromanticke Arts, to flye hee sought:
As from a Towre he thought to scale the Sky,
He brake his necke, because he soar'd too high.

Leire, 844.

Leeire (as the Story saies) three daughters had,
The youngest good, the other two too bad:
Yet the old King lou'd thē that wrong'd him most,
She that lou'd him, he banisht from his Coast.
False Gonorel and Ragan, he betweene
Them gaue the Kingdome, making each a Queene.
But young Cordeilla wedded was by chance,
To Aganippus, King of fertile France:
The eldest Daughters did reiect their Sire,
For succour to the young'st hee did retire,
By whose iust aide the Crowne againe he gain'd;
And dyed when he full forty yeeres had reign'd.

Yeeres before Christ. Qu. Cordeilla, 805.

Mad Morgan, an vnmanner'd Cunedagne,
Their Aūt Cordeilla with fierce war did plague
They vanquish'd her, and her in Prison threw.
And hauing reign'd fiue yeeres, her selfe she slew.

Morgan Cunedagus, 800.

Then Morgan did 'gainst Cunedague contend,
And at Glamorgan, Morgan had his end,
Then Cunedagus sole King did abide,
Full three and thirty yeeres, and then he dyed.

Riuallo, before Christ, 766.

Three daies it rain'd blood, when Riuallo reign'd.
And great mortalitie the Land sustain'd;
Hee forty six yeeres rul'd in Kingly State,
And then surrendred to all humane Fate.

Gurgustus, 721. Scicillius, 684.

A common Drunkard was this wicked King,
Which vice did many other vices bring,
Yeeres thirty eight, the Diadem he wore,
Scicillius next raignd nine and forty more.

Iago, 636. Kimmacus, 612.

Of these two Kings, small mention I doe finde,
They left bare Names (for memorie) behinde;
One twentie fiue yeeres: th'other fifty foure,
Had in this Land Commanding Regall power.

Gorbodug, 559.

Gorbodug next did in the Throne succeed,
Was sixty three yeeres King, and last decreed,
'Twixt his two Sonnes this Kingdome to diuide,
At Yorke hee's buried, where in peace hee dy'd.

Ferex, and Porex, 496.

Porex , in Fight his brother Ferex kil'd,
For which their mother, Porex heart blud spil'd:
These murthers mercilesse, did quite deface,
These Princes, last of Royall Brutus Race.

Mulmutius Donwallo, 441.

The Land vnguided, Kinglesse did remaine,
Till great Mulmutius did the Wreathe obtaine.
He builded Temples, made Lawes, Ploughs, highwaies,
And 40. yeeres he liu'd in fame and praise.

Bellinus and Brennus reigned 26. yeeres. 401.

These brethren did diuide the Realme in twaine,
But Kings can brooke no partnership in reigne;
They fell at oddes, and Brennus fled, subdude
With slaughter of his warlike multitude.
To France he scap'd, and was receiu'd in State,
In London, Belline builded Bellinsgate,
Braue Brennus conquer'd Italy and Rome,
Bellinus lies heere in an honour'd Tombe.

Gurguintus, 373.

Gvrguintus was Belinus first-borne sonne,
Victoriously he Denmarke ouer-runne:
He the vnpeopled Ireland did supply,
Reign'd nineteene yeeres a King, and then did dye.

Guinthelinus, 456.

He married Mercia a renowned Dame,
From whom the iust, wife, Mercian Statutes came:
He sixe and twenty yeeres the Scepter swaide,
And then with honour in his Tombe was laide.

Cecilius, 330. Kimarus, 223.

Seuen yeeres Cecilius kept the Regall Chaire,
Three yeeres Kimarus rul'd as his sole Heire;
The Syre with loue did well and iustly reigne,
His sonne Kimarus was a hunting slaine.

Elanius, 321.

Elanius (as most Histories agree)
Was King of Brittaine yeeres iust three times three:
What Acts he did, or what Lawes he decreed,
They are vnwrit, and therefore are vnread.

Morindus reigned 8 yeeres, 311.

This King Morindus, valiant more then wise,
A rau'ning Monster from the Sea did rise:
Which many people to destruction brought,
Who kil'd this braue King as he brauely fought.

Gorbomanus 303.

This King eleuen yeers wore the Brittain crown,
He founded Cambridge, & built Grantham Town;
His subiects peace, past Kingdomes he prefer'd,
Lou'd and bewail'd, at London was inter'd.

Archigalo, and Elidurus. 392.

These brothers were not Kings both at one time,
But for extortion (an vnkingly crime,
The Eldest hauing gaind his Subiects hate)
Depos'd, and Elidurus got the State.
But he (not greedy after worldly reigne)
To Archigalo gaue it vp againe.
Rul'd tenne yeeres more: thus twenty yeeres in all,
His State Maiesticke, did twice rise and fall.

Elidurus, 272. Vigenius, Peredurus, 270.

Lud reigned II. yeeres, 66.

A long time after Troynouant was fram'd,
It was by Lud, Kair-Lud, or Lud-stone nam'd.
He made it strong with Battlements and Towres,
Defensiue against foes inuasiue pow'rs.
Of free Stone for Free-men Ludgate hee founded,
Where freemen (wanting freedom) are confounded.
He dy'd and left two Sonnes, too young for reigne,
Wherefore his brother did the Crowne obtaine.

Cassibelan, 17. yeeres. 58.

Lvd dead, the Nobles crown'd Cassibelan,
In whose reigne here the Romanes conquest wan,
Great Iulius Cæsar sailed out of France,
And in this Land his Eagle did aduance.
But Britaines bold scorn'd base at first to stoope,
Twice Cæsar fled, before their warlike troope.
The Ciuill warres, this Kingdome ouer-runnes,
Betwixt Cassibelan, and Luds two Sonnes,
Whilst they (vnnaturall) sought each others fall,
The Romanes tooke aduantage, conquer'd all:
Where Cæsar, by his high Imperiall doome,
Made Britaine Tributary vnto Rome.

Theomantius, 37.

Then Theomantius (of the royall blood)
The sole Sonne liuing of his Father Lud:
Reign'd three and twenty yeeres, a King in State,
Whose Picture stands on Luds vnlucky gate.

Cimbilinus.

In this Kings reigne, (the glorious King of Kings
In person came, and mans saluation brings)
When through the world all bloody wars did cease,
(For our soules peace) then came the Prince of peace.

Guiderius, anno Christi, 21.

This King and Subiects, brauely, nobly ioyne,
To hold from Rome the tributary Coyne:
But Claudius Cæsar with an Army came,
The Britaines bold rebellious hearts to tame;
One Hamon there (a Romane) did deuise,
Him selfe like to a Britaine to disguise,
Guiderius brauely chasde his foes amaine,
Was by disguised Hamon falsely slaine.

Aruiragus, 44.

Stout Aruiragus being in the fight,
The Kings death added fury to his might:
Perceiu'd the Britaine Host, almost dismaide,
In's brothers Armour hee himselfe array'd,
The Souldiers thought the King againe suruiu'd,
With courage new through euery veine deriu'd,
Braue Aruiragus, like a Tempest goes,
And pell mell topsieturuy throwes his foes.
Great Cæsar with his Romane army fled,
The King tooke Hamon, and cut off his head,
And more, with sharp reuenge his wrath t'appease,
Hew'd him piece-meale, and cast him in the Seas,
The place long time, this name did then allow,
Of Hamors hauen, or Southampton now.
The Emperour would quite the tribute free,
If Brittaines King his Sonne in law would be.
Then Aruarigue did faire Genisse marry,
And Claudius Cæsar heere a while did tarry,
He builded Gloster, whil'st he heere remain'd:
The King dyed hauing twenty eight yeeres reign'd.

Marius, 73.

In this Kings reigne the lawlesse proling Pict,
(A Nation strange) did the North part afflict:
But Marius, in a battell slew their King,
And all their power did to subiection bring.
The Picts from Scythia, into Scotland came,
Rude, barbarous, ingratefull, hard to tame:
For by the Scotsh Kings fauour hauing got
Possession, they oft warr'd vpon the Scot.
And more and more that Kingdome they annoy'd,
Till Kennith Scotlands King, them all destroy'd:
Yeeres fifty three reign'd Marius iust and wise,
Dyed: and at Carleile his Corps royall lies.

Coylus, 124.

In Rome this King was fostred all his youth,
He lou'd Peace, Iustice, Fortiude and Truth:
He builded Colchester, and did suruiue,
Till he had reign'd a Kings yeeres, fifty fiue.

Lucius, 179.

The first of Kings that was a Christian nam'd,
Was Lucius (with the spirit of God inflam'd)
The Bread of life he did receiue with ioy,
The Pagan Idols hee did all destroy,
The Flamines and Archflamines he downe cast,
And Bishops and Archbishops here he plac'd,
He lou'd and fear'd th'eternall Three in one,
And dyed when he had 12. yeeres kept the Throne.

Seuerus, 194.

This was a Romane Emperour, and was slaine
At York the eighteenth yeere of his proud reigne:
Hee was an Alien and a stranger heere,
And therefore bought his vsurpation deare.

Bassianus, 212.

Seuerus here did wed a Brittish Dame,
By whom this King (their Son) the Crowne did claime.
But after sixe yeeres time, he left this Land,
And had the Romane Empire at's command.

Carausius, 290. Alectus, 292.

This King (of meane birth) did the Crown attain
After seuen yeeres, was by Alectus slaine:
Three yeeres Alectus did in state recide,
Our Protomartyr then Saint Alban dyde.

Asclepiodatus, 299.

Asclepiodatus, (in a mortall Fight)
Subdude the Romane Generall Gallus might;
Kil'd him, and cast him head-long in a Brooke,
Whence Gallus or Wallbrooke, for name it tooke,
And as Alectus did Cardusius kill,
So did this King Alectus life bloud spill,
And after two yeeres reigne in mortall strife,
Asclepiodatus slaine lost Crowne and life.

Coil raigned 14. yeeres. 301.

Colchesters Duke Coil in the Throne inuested,
Was by Constantius Cæsar much molested:
Till Coil gaue's Daughter to him for his Bride,
And paid Romes tribute, that was long deuide.
The Lady was of beauty most diuine,
Faire Hellen, Mother to great Constantine.
The King at Colchester, dead, laide in's Tombe,
His Sonne Constantius did supply his roome.

Constantius, 305.

Spaine , Italy, France, Britaines Emperor,
Foure yeeres he raign'd heere, with Maiesticke power,
True Honour was the ayme at which he shot,
Iust, Valiant, these reports his Actions got.

Constantine, 306.

Great Emp'ror Constantine, surnam'd the Great:
In all respects a worthy Prince compleate,
The glorious Gospell, he ador'd, and fear'd,
Constantinople famously he rear'd,
Maxentius, Romes great Tyrant, (most abhor'd)
He made him flie from his Imperiall sword.
Belou'd, bewail'd, high honor'd and admir'd,
In grace with God and men, his dayes expir'd.

84. Constantinus, 337. 85. Constans, 340.

These two were Brothers of the Royall line,
And Sonnes vnto the Emperour Constantine:
Ambition and debate for Kingly Raigne,
Was the vnnaturall cause they both were slaine.

86. Octauius, 345. 87. Traherus, 349.

Octauius Duke of Windsore tooke the Crowne,
Traherus came from Rome and put him downe:
The Land was full with hurly-burlies fild,
Traherus by Octauius last was kild.

88. Constantius the third. 353.

The Romane Empire he did closely sway,
And as a King this Land did him obay:
Th'Apostate Iulian was the Emp'rour next,
By whom the Christians all were slaine, or vext.

89 Maximinianus. 375.

Next Iulian, raigned Valentinian,
And after him, succeeded Gratian:
Maximianus was of life depriu'd,
'Cause he with Gratian for the Empire striu'd.

90. Gratian. 376.

Then Gratian claim'd this Kingdome as his right:
But hauing gain'd it, he was slaine in fight:
Fierce warres the Romane Empire did deuide,
And Cæsars and their Viceroyes fought and dyde.
Honorius Romes Tribunall did obtaine,
Next after him did Theodosius raigne,
Then did the Scot ioyne with the barbarous Pict,
This headlesse, Kinglesse Kingdome to afflict.
The Romane Scepter we had long obayd,
Foure hundred eighty three yeeres Tribute payd;
And now this land shook off their wrongd cōmand
When Ciuill discord had neer spoyl'd this Land.

91 Vortiger. 447.

This King through murder did the Throne ascend,
And had a troublous Raigne, and murdrous end:
Constance (Constantines) lawfull Heyre and Sonne,
By Vortigers false meanes to death was done.
For which (to keepe the Crowne vniustly gain'd)
The Saxons for his ayde he entertain'd.
Then Hengist, with his Brother Horsus crue,
In Britaines best bloud did their blades embrew.
King Vortiger with doting loue inthral'd,
Match't Hengists daughter, beauteous Rowan cal'd:
But Saxons troopes, on troopes came in so fast,
That Britaines did depriue the King at last.

92. Vortimer. 454.

Then Vortimer, the Sonne of Vortiger,
Vpon the Saxons made succesfull warre:
Till he by Rowan was by craft o'r-tane,
From whose false hands, he dy'd by poys'nous bane.
Deposed Vortiger (his Sonne once slaine)
His ill gain'd, ill kept Crowne he gain'd againe:
Hengistus with his Saxon fresh supplies,
The Plaines of Salisbury did all surprize.
The King tooke counsell of his Brittaine Lords,
And all in generall to a Peace accords.
The Saxons and the Brittaines did agree,
That at this meeting all vnarm'd should be:
But traitrous Hengist did a watch-word speake,
Which did the Law of Armes, and Honour breake,
The Saxons vnsuspected drew forth Kniues,
Foure hundred, threescore Lords, all lost their liues,
All Brittaine Nobles, then the Saxons there,
Surpris'd the King, constraining him through feare
To giue Kent, Sussex, Suffolke, Norfolke, and
That Hengist, King should in those Lands command,
But after nineteene yeeres were quit expir'd,
Reuenging Fire, the King in's Castle fir'd.
And thus the Saxons, and Great Hengists Heyres,
Won Shire to Shire, till Brittaine all was theirs.

93. Aurelius Ambrose. 466.

In honour of the Nobles basely slaine,
This King set vp the Stones on Sarum plaine:
The Gospell with great zeale he dignifi'd,
Raign'd thirty two yeeres, and by poyson dy'd.

94. Vter Pendragon raigned 18 yeeres. 498.

This King (by Merlins meanes, a skilfull man)
Igrene, the Duke of Cornewals Dutchesse wan:
On her he got, (though illegittimate)
The Christian Worthy, Arthur, stilde the Great.

Yeeres after Christ. 95. Arthur. 516.

Of the nine Worthies was this Worthy one,
Denmarke, and Norway, did obey his Throne:
In twelue set Battels he the Saxons beat,
Great, and to make his Victories more great,
The Faithlesse Sarazons he ouercame,
And made them honour high Iehouah's Name.
The Noble order of the Table round,
At Winchester, his first inuention found.
Whilst he beyond Sea fought to win Renowne,
His Nephew Mordred did vsurpe his Crowne,
But he return'd, and Mordred did confound,
And in the fight great Arthur got a wound,
That prou'd so mortall, that immortally
It made him liue, although it made him dye.
Full sixteene yeeres the Diadem he wore,
And euery day gaind Honour more and more.

96 Constantine, the fourth. 542. 97 Aurelius Conanus. 545.

Constantine was by King Aurelius kil'd:
Aurelius (Brittaine) thirty three yeeres held,
Seuen Kingdomes heere at once the Saxons held,
And slaughter launc'd, when proud ambition sweld.

98 Uortiporus. 578. 99 Malgo. 581.

This Uortipore from good Kings did decline,
Kept his wiues Daughter as his Concubine:
And Malgo put his Wife to bloudy slaughter,
To liue in Incest with his brothers Daughter.

100. Careticus. 586.

Gvrmundus hither out of Ireland came,
And with the Saxons ioyn'd with sword and flame:
The King to Wales did flye, his life to saue,
Whereas he chang'd his Kingdome for a Graue.

Cadwane. 613.

This Cadwane did the Saxon force withstand,
Of Ethelfridus of Northumberland:
And made him to entreate and sue for peace:
Raign'd two and twenty yeeres, then did decease.

102. Cadwallin. 635.

Cadwallin slew King Edwin, Egfrids Sonne,
He Penda Mercias King did ouer-runne:
He neuer fought but Conquest home did bring,
And eight and forty yeeres did raigne a King.

103. Cadwallader. 685.

This King renowned was both neere and farre,
The last of Brittaines Kings, Cadwallader,
The name of Brittaine was quite alterd then,
The Kings of England, subiects, Englishmen.
Then in this Land, of Kings there raign'd so many,
That Subiects knew not to obey all, or any:
Their names and times of raigne I meane to tell,
Should I write more, my Book too big would swell.

These Kings following were of the West Saxons.

104. Athelstane reigned 15. yeeres. 905.

This King did tame the Welsh, the Danes subdu'd,
He conquered Scotland and the Marches rude:
The Danish Gyant Colebrand in Hyde-meads,
By Guy the Earle of Warwick was struck dead.

105. Edmund. 940. 106. Eldred. 640

Edmund , reign'd next his brother Athelstane,
And after fiue yeeres was vntimely slaine:
Nine yeeres was Eldred Englands King instil'd,
Th'insulting Danes, he from this Realme exilde.

107. Edwin. 955. 108. Edgar. 959.

Then Edwin (as his right) obtain'd the Crowne,
For Rape, and brutish Lust he was put downe.
His brother Edgar a man iust and wise,
By Edwins fall, vnto the Throne did rise.
The Church and Commoweale (long time deform'd)
He by his Iustice and good Lawes reform'd.
Raign'd sixteen yeeres, and then by death assail'd,
As he had liu'd belou'd, he dy'd bewail'd.

109 Edward. 975. 110 Etheldred. 978.

Edward was slain by his accurst Stepmother,
Ayded by Etheldred his cruell brother.
This Etheldred caus'd all the Danes be slaine:
And dyed the thirty eightth yeere of his raigne.

111 Edmond Ironside. 1016.

The Danes came to reuenge with sword and fire,
Both Kings to Combat single did desire:
On equall termes, their valours both were tride,
In loue the Realme betwixt them they deuide.

112 Canutus. 1018.

This mighty Danish King foure Kingdomes hold,
Danes, Norway, England, Scotland he compeld,
Taxes and toles he rais'd in England here,
And dyed when he had gouern'd twenty yeere.

113 Harold. 1038. 114 Hardicanutus. 1041.

Harold from England did exile his Mother,
And kild Allured his King and his Brother:
Hardianutus then the Crowne obtain'd,
Who quaffing died, when he 3. yeeres had raign'd.

115. Saint Edward. 1043. 116. Harold the second. 1066.

Saint Edward from the Danes this Kingdom freed,
And for he had no Heyre, he heere decreed,
That William Duke of Normandy should be
Next King, but Harold seeming to agree,
Assoone as Edward was laid in his Toombe,
This hasty Harold mounted in his roome,
But William came from Normandy amaine,
By whom King Harold was vnking'd and slaine.

2. The second part.

William Conquerour. An. Dom. 1066.

VVhen Britains, Romanes, Saxons, Danes had done,
The Normans (fiftly) Englands glory won,
New Lords brought in new Lawes incontinent,
And all were Conquer'd but the County Kent.
King William (after he had all surpriz'd)
Insulted, domineer'd, and tyranniz'd,
All Englishmen (like slaues) their doores must lock,
On paine of death, each night at eight of clocke.
The English from all Office were disgrac'd,
And in their places the proud French were plac'd.
Stil beating down the right, with wrong on wrong,
Disdaining men should speake the English tongue.
And so to bring our memory to naught,
The Grammar and the Lawes in French were taught.
King Swanus Sonnes, with Danes a mighty band,
Arriu'd in Humber to inuade the Land,
Then Yorke was burnt, the wealth away was borne,
And Danes on Composition home did turne.
A dearth in England was so great, that heere
Cats, Dogs, and mans flesh, was our wofull cheere.
The Mercians and Northumbers they rebel'd,
Strong warres the Scots within our Country held:
The Ile of Fly did the King surprize,
He caus'd the Rebels lose hands, feet, and eyes.
The Normans did rebell and were subdu'd,
Danes came and fled, with all their multitude.
The Kings sonne (Robert) by the French Kings ayd,
Did diuers parts of Normandy inuade.
The Scots spoild England, with all might and maine,
And Durhams Bishop in a broyle was slaine,
Heere euery Acre of mens Lands were measur'd.
And by a heauy taxe the King was treasur'd:
Slaine by a Deere the Kings sonne lost his life,
And Glassenbury Monkes were kill'd in strife.
The English Nobles almost were decay'd,
And euery place of rule the Normans swai'd.
And all mens goods and lands, and coyn were rated
Through England, and vnto the King related.
The French mens pride did England ouerwhelme,
And grieuous tributes did oppresse the Realme.
Churches and Chappels were throwne down with speed,
To make New Forrest as the King decreed:
Who hauing rul'd in trouble, toyle and care,
And tryannously pol'd this Kingdome bare,
Neere twenty one yeeres, death was then his bane:
He lyes in Normandy, enterr'd at Caue.

William Rufus. An. Dom. 1087.

William the cruell Conquerours second Sonne,
With ease, got what his Fathers paines had won,
Oppressed England he opprest and prest,
And great Exactions wrongfully did wrest.
For Symony, and base corrupting gold,
The King most Churches and Church-liuings sold,
And more, (his Subiects vilely to abuse)
Against them he in armes did arme the Iewes,
And swore if they the victory did gaine,
That he their faithlesse faith would entertaine.
Vpon his eldest brother hee raysd warres,
His youngest brother troubled him with iarres.
At London, such a furious winde did blow,
Which did sixe hundred houses ouerthrow.
The City Gloster was by Welshmen sack'd.
Northumberland was by King William wrack'd:
William de Oue, and William de Aluery.
In cruell torments dyed at Salisbury.
Duke Robert laid all Normandy to gage
Vnto the King, warres with the Turkes to wage.
Westminster Hall was built, the Danes came in,
And th'Orchades, and the Ile of Man did win,
But as the King was hunting in Hampshire,
Sir Walter Tirrill shooting at a Deere,
The Arrow glauncing 'gainst a Tree by chance,
Th'vnhappy King kild, by the haplesse Glaunce.
A Colliers Cart to Winchester did bring
The Corps, where vnbemoand they laid the King.

Henry the first. An. Dom. 1100.

This Henry (for his wisedome Beuclarke nam'd)
Th'vnlawfull Lawes and measures he reclaim'd.
The Norman Duke, eld'st Brother to the King,
To claime the Crowne a mighty Hoast did bring.
Saint Bartholomewes was founded and Saint Gyles,
And Henry stop'd Duke Roberts mouth with wiles.
Then peace was made; but after, warres did rise,
The King tooke's brother, and put out his eyes.
Here Windsor Church and Castle were erected,
And Wales (rebeld) most sharpely was corrected.
All the King's Sonnes and eight score persons more,
Were drown'd by tempest neere the Norman shore.
Thus all his Ioy in Childrens losse bereft,
Saue onely Maud, the Widdow Empresse left,
Whom Geffrey Anioy's Earle to wife did get,
From whom did spring the name Plantagenet.
The King proclaim'd his Daughter, or her seede,
After his death should in the Realme succeede,
And after thirty fiue yeeres time was past,
King Henry by a surfet breath'd his last.
Much trouble in his dayes this Kingdome wearied,
He dyed, and dead, at Redding he lies buried.
Thus God that lifts the low, casts downe the high,
Caus'd all the Conquerors sonnes vntimely dye.

King Stephen. An. Dom. 1135.

Stephen Earle of Boloign, (th'Earle of Bloys his son)
From th'Empresse Maud this famous Kingdome won.
Domesticke, forraigne, dangerous discords,
'Twixt factions factions, of the King and's Lords,
Wars 'twixt the King and th'Empresse for the crown,
Both tasted Fortunes fauours, and her frowne,
Now vp, now downe, like balles at Tennis tost,
Till Stephen gain'd the goale, and th'Empresse lost.
And after eighteene yeeres were come and gone,
The King not hauing any lawfull Sonne,
He dyed, and chang'd his Kingdome & his strength,
For a small Sepulcher of sixe foote length.

Henry the second. An Dom. 1154.

This King vnto the Empresse Maud was Heyre,
And lawfully obtain'd the Regall Chayre,
He was couragious, and yet most vnchaste,
Which Vice, his other Vertues all defac'd.
He lou'd faire Rosamond, the worlds faire Rose,
For which his wife and children turn'd his foes.
He made his sonne Copartner in his Crowne,
Who rais'd strong warres to put his Father downe.
Faire Rosamond at Woodstock by the Queene
Was poyson'd, in reuengefull iealous spleene.
In toyle, and trouble, with his Sonnes and Peeres,
The King raign'd almost fiue and thirty yeeres.
Hee neere his death did curse his day of birth,
Hee curst his Sonnes, and sadly left the earth,
Hee at Founteuerard in his Tombe was laid,
And his Son Richard next the Scepter swaid.

Richard Cordelion. An. Dom. 1189.

This braue victorious Lyon-hearted Prince,
The foes of Christ, in Iury did conuince:
Whilst at Ierusalem he wan Renowne,
His Brother Iohn at home vsurp'd his Crowne.
And as he home return'd, (his owne to gaine)
By Austria's Duke, the King was Prisoner tane.
His ransome was an hundred thousand pound,
Which paid, in England he againe was crown'd.
Yet after nine full yeeres, and 9. months raigne,
Hee with a Shot was kild in Aquitane,
His buriall at Founteuerard was thought meet,
At his dead Fathers, second Henries feet.

King Iohn. An. Dom. 1199.

John Earle of Morton tooke the regall Seate,
His state, his toyle, his pompe, his cares, all great:
The French, the Welsh, the Scotsh, all prou'd his foes,
The Pope King Iohn did from his Crowne depose.
His Lords rebel'd, from France the Dolphin came,
And wasted England much with sword and flame.
And after seuenteene yeeres were full expir'd,
King Iohn being poysoned, to his graue retir'd.

Henry the third. An. Dom. 1216.

Wars, bloody wars, the French in England made,
Strong holds, Towns, Towres & Castles they inuade.
But afterwards it was K. Henries chance,
By force perforce to force them backe to France.
Great discord 'twixt the King and Barons were,
And factions did the Realme in pieces teare.
A world of mischiefes did this Land abide,
And fifty sixe yeeres raign'd the King and dy'd.

Edward Long-shanks. An. Dom. 1272.

This was a hardy, wise, Victorious King,
The Welshmen he did to subiection bring:
He Scotland wan, and brought from thence (by fate)
Their Crowne, their Scepter, Chaire, and Cloth of state,
That Kingdome with oppression sore he brusde,
Much tyranny and bloodshed there he vsde.
When thirty fiue yeeres he the Crowne had kept,
At Westminster, he with his Father slept.

Edward of Carnaruan. An. Dom. 1307.

The hard mis-haps that did this King attend,
The wretched life, and lamentable end,
Which he endur'd the like hath ne'r bin seene,
Depos'd, and poyson'd by his cruell Queene.
Which when the poyson had no force to kill,
Another way she wrought her wicked will.
Into his Fundament a red hot Spit
Was thrust, which made his Royall heart to split.

Edward the third. An. Dom. 1326.

In Peace, and warre, this King was right, & good,
He did reuenge his murdred Fathers blood:
Hee, and the blacke Prince, his most valiant Sonne,
The Field at Cressie, and at Poytiers wonne,
At first and last in his victorious raigne,
Of French and Scots, were six score thousand slaine.
And more, (his glory further to aduance)
He tooke the Kings of Scotland and of France.
The noble order of the Garter, he
At Windsor, instituted caus'd to be.
When fifty yeeres this Land had him obaid,
At Westminster he in his tombe was laid.

Richard the second. An. Dom. 1377.

Yong King, rash coūsell, lawes & right neglected,
The good put downe, the bad in State erected:
The Court with knaues & flat'rers here did swarm,
The Kingdome, (like a Farme) was let to Farme.
The Commons rose in Armies, Routes, and throngs,
And by foule treason, would redresse foule wrongs.
In this Kings raigne, began the Ciuill warre,
(Vnnaturally) 'twixt Yorke and Lancaster.
Oppression on oppression, breedes Confusion,
Bad Prologue, bad Proceeding, bad Conclusion:
King Richard, twenty two yeeres raign'd, misse-led,
Deposed and at Pomfret knock'd ith'head.

Henry the fourth. An. Dom. 1399.

The Crown wrong got frō the wrong doing king,
More griefe then ioy did to King Henry bring:
France, England, Scotland, Wales, arose in Armes,
And menac'd Henry, with most fierce Alarmes:
Hot Percy, Dowglas, Mortimer, Glendowre,
At Shrewsbury, the King orethrew their power,
He fourteene yeeres did raigne, and then did dye,
At Canterbury buried, he doth lye.

Henry the fift. An. Dom. 1412.

This was a King Renowned neere and farre,
A Mars of men, a Thunderbolt of warre:
At Agencourt the French were ouerthrowne,
And Henry heyre proclaim'd vnto that Crowne.
In nine yeeres raigne this valiant Prince wan more,
Then all the Kings did after or before.
Intomb'd at Westminster his Carkas lyes,
His soule did (like his Acts) ascend the skies.

Henry the sixt. An. Dom. 1422.

This Infant Prince scarce being nine moneths old,
The Realmes of France and England he did hold:
But he vncapable through want of yeeres,
Was ouer-gouern'd by mis-gouern'd Peeres.
Now Yorke and Lancaster, with bloudy wars,
Both wound this kingdome, with deep deadly scars.
Whilst this good King by Yorke oppos'd, depos'd,
Expos'd to dangers, is captiu'd, inclos'd,
His Queene exilde, his sonne and many friends,
Fled, murdred, slaughtred; lastly, Fate contends
To crowne him once againe, who then at last
Was murdred, thirty nine yeeres being past.

Edward the fourth. An. Dom. 1460.

Edward , the 4. the house of Yorks great heire,
By bloudy wars attain'd the Regall Chaire,
The poore King Henry into Scotland fled,
And foure yeeres there was royally cloath'd and fed,
Still good successe with him was in the wane,
He by King Edwards power at last was tane.
But yet before the tenth yeere of his reigne,
Hence Edward fled, and Henry crown'd againe.
By Warwicks meanes sixe moneths he held the same:
Till Edward backe in armes to England came,
And fighting stoutly, made this kingdome yeeld,
And slew great Warwicks Earle at Barnet field.
Thus Ciuill wars on wars, and broyles on broyles,
And England against England spils and spoyles,
Now Yorke, then Lancaster, then Yorke againe,
Quels Lancaster; thus ioy, griefe, pleasure, paine,
Doth like inconstant waters ebbe and flow:
Ones rising is the others ouerthrow.
King Edward, twenty two yeeres rul'd this Land,
And lies at Windsor where his Tombe doth stand.

Edward the fifth. An. Dom. 1483.

High birth, blood, state, and innocent in yeeres,
Eclips'd, and murdred by insulting Peeres:
This King was neuer crown'd, short was his raigne:
For to be short, hee in short space was slaine.

Richard the third. An. Dom. 1483.

By Treason, mischiefe, murder and debate.
Vsurping Richard wonne the royall state:
Vnnaturally the children of his brother
The King, and Duke of Yorke he caus'd to smother.
For Sir Iames Tirrell, Dichton and Blacke Will,
Did in the Tower these harmlesse Princes kill,
Buckinghams Duke did raise King Richard high,
And for reward he lost his head thereby.
A fellow to this King I scarce can finde,
His shape deform'd, and crooked like his minde.
Most cruell, tyrannous, inconstant, stout,
Couragious, hardy, t'abide all dangers out,
Yet when his sinnes were mellow, ripe and full,
Th'Almighties Iustice then his plumes did pull:
By bloudy meanes he did the kingdome gaine,
And lost it so, at Bosworth being slaine.

Henry the seuenth. An. Dom. 1485.

VVhen Ciuill wars, full fourescore yeers & more,
Had made this kingdome welter in her Gore:
When eightie of the royall blood were kild,
That Yorke and Lancasters crosse faction held,
Then God in mercy, looking on this Land,
Brought in this Prince, with a triumphant band,
The onely Heire of the Lancastrian line,
Who graciously consented to combine,
To ease poore England of a world of mone,
And make the red Rose and the white but one,
By Marriage with Elizabeth the faire,
Fourth Edwards daughter, and Yorks onely heire.
But Margret Burgunds dutches storm'd & frown'd,
That th'heire of Lancaster in state was crown'd.
A counterfeit, one Lambert she suborn'd,
(Being with Princely ornaments adorn'd)
To claime the State in name of Clarence sonne,
Who in the Tower before to death was done.
Wars 'gainst the French King Henry did maintaine,
And Edward braue Lord Wooduile there was slaine.
Northumberlands great Earle (for the Kings right)
Was slaine by Northerne rebels in sharpe fight.
The King besiedged Boloigne, but a Peace
The French King sought, and so the siedge did cease.
Still Burgunds Dutchesse, (with inueterate hate)
Did seeke to ruine Henries Royall state:
She caus'd one Perkin Warbecke, to put on
The name of Richard, Edwards murdred sonne,
Which Richard, was the youngest of the twaine
Of Edwards sonnes that in the Tower was slaine.
The King at last these traitors did confound,
And Perkin for a counterfeit was found.
Sir William Stanley, (once the Kings best friend)
At Tower hill, on a Scaffold had his end.
On Blacke Heath Coruish rebels were o'rthrowne,
A Shoomaker did claime King Henries Crowne.
The Earle of Warwicke lost his haplesse head,
And Lady Katherine did Prince Arthur wed.
But ere sixe moneths were fully gone and past,
In Ludlow Castle, Arthur breath'd his last.
King Henry built his Chappell from the ground,
At Westminster, whose like can scarce be found.
Faire Margret eldest daughter to our King,
King Iames the fourth of Scotland home did bring,
Where those two Princes, with great pompe and cheare,
In State at Edenborough married were.
But as all Mortall things are transitory,
So to an end came Henries earthly glory.
Twenty three yeeres, and 8. months here he swaid,
And then at Westminster, in's Tombe was laid.
He all his Life had variable share,
Of Peace, Warre, Ioy, Griefe, Royaltie and Care.

Henry the eight. An. Dom. 1509.

From both the Lines, and both the Ioynes (did spring)
Of York & Lancaster, this mighty King:
Katherine that was his brothers wife of late,
He tooke to wife, and crown'd her Queene in state.
Empson and Dudley lost their heads at Tower,
For racking the poore Commons by their power.
Warres, dreadfull wars, arose 'twixt vs and France,
Lord Edward Howard, drowned by mis-chance
At Brest, he was high Admirall in fight,
Cast ouerboord, dy'd like a valiant Knight.
In England Suffolks Duke did lose his head,
The King to Turwin did an army lead,
Turney he wonne with his victorious blade,
King Iames of Scotland, England did inuade:
But Surries Earle, the Scotsh King ouercame,
Who lost life there, but wonne immortall fame.
Now Cardinall Wolsey, in the Kings high Grace,
Was rais'd to honours, from great place to place,
Lordship on Lordship laid vpon his backe,
Vntill the burthen was the bearers wracke.
The Duke of Buckingham, his head did lose,
And Luther stoutly did the Pope oppose,
Blinde ignorance that long had look'd awry,
Began to see Truth with a clearer eye,
And then the King (inspir'd with feruent Zeale)
Reformed both the Church and Common weale,
Iehouah with his power Omnipotent,
Did make this King his gracious Instrument,
T'vnmaske his Truth from Antichristian fables,
And purge this wofull Land from Babels bables.
This King at Boloigne was victorious;
In peace and warre, Magnifique, Glorious;
In his rage bounty he did oft expresse,
His Liberality to bee excesse,
In Reuels, Iusts, and Turnies he spent more,
Then fiue of his Fore-fathers did before,
His Auarice was all for Noble fame,
Amongst the Worthies to inrole his Name,
A valiant Champion for the Faiths defence,
Was the great Title of this mightie Prince.
Sixe wiues he had, 3 Kates, 2. Annes, one Iaue,
Two were diuorc'd, two at the blocke were slaine:
One sonne and two faire daughters he did leaue,
Who each from other did the Crowne receiue:
The first was Edward; Mary next, whose death
Left State, and Realme, to Queene Elizabeth.
He thirty eight yeeres kept this Royall Roome,
At Windsor hee's enter'd without a Tombe.

Edward the sixt. An. Dom. 1546.

Had this Kings reigne bin long, as it was good,
Religion in a peaceable state had stood,
What might haue his age bin, when his blest youth,
So valiantly aduanc'd Gods sacred truth?
At nine yeeres age, the Crowne on him hee tooke,
And ere sixteene, he Crowne and life forsooke.
Too good for earth, th'Almighty tooke his spirit,
And Westminster his Carkas doth inherit.

Queene Mary. An. Dom. 1553.

After a while this Queene had worne the Crown,
Idolatry was rais'd, and Truth put downe,
The Masse, the Images, the Beades and Altars,
By tyrannie, by fire, and sword and Halters,
Th'vngodly bloudy Antichristian sway,
Men were force, perforce forced to obey.
Now burning Bonner, Londons Bishop, he
Was from the Marshal-sea againe set free:
Iohn Dudley, great Duke of Northumberland,
And Sir Iohn Gates dyed by the Headsmans hand,
With them Sir Thomas Palmer likewise dy'd,
Hoping for heau'n, through Iesus Crucified.
In Latine Seruice must be sung and said,
Because men should not know for what they prai'd.
The Emp'rors sonne, great Philip King of Spaine
A marriage with Queene Mary did obtaine:
Against which match, Sir Thomas Wyat rose,
With powers of Kent the Spaniards to oppose.
But Wyat was or'throwne, his armie fled,
And on the Tower hill after lost his head.
Lord Gray the Duke of Suffolke also dy'd,
An Axe his Corps did from his head diuide,
A little after, the Lord Thomas Gray,
The Dukes owne brother went that headlesse way.
A Millers sonne assum'd King Edwards name,
And falsely in that name the Crowne did claime,
But he was tane and iustly whip'd and tortur'd,
And claiming it once more, was hang'd & quarterd.
King Philip won Saint Quintins with great cost.
But after to our shame was Callice lost,
Callice was lost, which threescore yeeres and ten,
Had beene a Garrison for Englishmen.
Thus by Gods mercy Englands Queene did dye,
And England gain'd much ease and rest thereby.
Fiue yeeres and 4. months was her bloudy reigne,
And all her glory doth one graue contame.
Though of her selfe this Queene was well inclin'd,
Bad-minded counsell altred much her minde.

Queene Elizabeth. An. Dom. 1558.

A Debora, a Iudith, a Susanna,
A Virgin, a Virago, a Diana:
Couragious, Zealous, Learned, Wise and Chaste,
With heauenly, earthly gifts, adorn'd and grac'd,
Victorious, glorious, bountious, gracious, good,
And one, whose vertues dignifi'd her bloud,
That Muses, Graces, Armes, and liberall Arts,
Amongst all Queens, proclaim'd her Queen of hearts,
She did repurifie this Land once more,
From the infection of the Romish whore.
Now Abbies, Abbots, Fri'rs, Monks, Nuns & Stews,
Masses, and Masse-priests, that mens soules abuse,
Were all cast downe, Lamps, Tapers, Relikes, Beads,
And Superstitions that mans soule misse-leads,
All Popish pardons, Buls, Confessions,
With Crossings, Cristening bels, Saints, Intercessions,
The Altars, Idols, Images downe cast,
All Pilgrimage, and Superstitious Fast,
Th'acknowledging the Pope for supreme head,
The holy water, and the god of bread,
The mumbling Mattins, and the pickpurse Masse,
These bables this good Queene did turne to grasse.
She caus'd Gods seruice to be said and sung,
In our owne vnderstanding English tongue.
In Scotland and in France, fierce warres she held,
The Irish she subdu'd when they rebeld,
The Netherlands her name doe still admire,
And Spaine her like againe doth not desire.
When forty foure yeers reigne was past and gone,
She chang'd her earthly for a heauenly Throne,
At Greenwich she was borne, at Richmond dy'd,
At Westminster she buried doth abide;
And as the fame of this Imperiall Maide,
Is through the world, (by the foure winds) displaid,
So shall her memory for euer grace
Her famous birth, her death, and buriall place.

King Iames. An. Dom. 1602.

VVhen as Elizaes wofull death was acted:
When this lamenting land was halfe distracted:
Whē tears each loyall heart with grief had drownd,
Then came this King and made our ioyes abound,
Ordain'd for vs by heauenly power diuine,
Then from the North this glorious starre did shine,
The Roall Image of the Prince of Peace,
The blest Concorder that made warres to cease;
By Name a Stevvard, and by Nature one,
Appointed from Iehouahs sacred Throne,
And by th'almighties hand supported euer,
That Treason or the Diuell should hurt him neuer:
And as his Zeale vnto his God was great,
Gods blessings on him were each way compleat,
Rich in his Subiects loue (a Kings best treasure)
Rich in content, (a Riches aboue measure)
Rich in his Princely Issue, and in them,
Rich in his hopefull Branches of his stemme;
Rich in Munition, and a Nauy Royall,
And richer then all Kings in seruants Loyall.
When Hell and Rome together did conspire,
To blow him and his kingdome vp with fire,
Then did the King of Kings preserue our King,
And all the Traytors to confusion bring.
And who so reckons vp from first to last,
The many hel-hatch'd dangers he hath past
Through all his daies, he will beleeue (no doubt)
That he with heauenly pow'rs was wall'd about.
All Christian Princes held his friendship deare,
Was fear'd for loue, and not belou'd for feare:
And Pagan Monarchs were in League combin'd
With him, as farre as is the Easterne Iude.
And like a flame amidst a Riuer fix'd,
So was his Iustice with his mercy mix'd:
He striu'd to imitate his Maker still,
And clemency preseru'd where Law would kill.
He hath cur'd England, and heal'd Scotlands wounds,
And made them both great (anciēt) Britains bounds:
All bloudy deadly feuds he caus'd surcease,
And canker'd hate he turn'd to Christian peace,
The mouth of warre he muzzled mute and dum,
He still'd the roaring Cannon and the Drum:
Secure in peace, his people sup and dine,
With their owne fig-trees shaded and their vine,
Whilst in an vprore most of Christendome,
One Nation doth another ouercome.
Vnto the King of Kings let's praises sing.
For giuing vs this happy peacefull King.
None know so well how they should peace prefer,
As those that know the miseries of warre:
Tis true (though old) and must not be forgot,
The warres are sweet to such as know them not.
Peace (happy peace) doth spread tranquillity,
Through all the bounds of Britaines Monarchy;
And may we all actions still addresse,
For peace with God, and warre 'gainst wickednesse.
Vnto which peace of God this King's ascended,
To reigne in glory that shall ne'r be ended.
His mortall part at Westminster enter'd,
His soule and Fame immortally prefer'd.

King Charles.

Two Williams, Henries 8. 1. Steuen, 1. Iohn,
Sixe Edwards, Richards 3. and 1. Queene Mary:
Elizabeth, and Iames, all dead and gone,
Our gracious Charles doth now the Scepter carry;
And may they liue and dye of God accurst,
Who wish the preiudice of Charles the first.