HOLINSHED'S
CHRONICLES
ENGLAND, SCOTLAND,
AND
IRELAND.
IN SIX VOLUMES.
VOL. I.
ENGLAND.
LONDON:
PRINTED FOR J. JOHNSON; F. C. AND J. RIVINGTON; T. PAYNE; WILKIE
AND ROBINSON; LONGMAN, HURST, REES, AND ORME;
CADELL AND DAVIES; AND J. MAWMAN.
1807.
AMS PRESS INC.
NEW YORK
AMS PRESS INC.
NEW YORK, N.Y. 10003
1965
MANUFACTURED in the U.S.A.
[Original Title.]
THE
FIRST AND SECOND VOLUMES
of
CHRONICLES,
comprising
1 The description and historie of England,
2 The description and historie of Ireland,
3 The description and historie of Scotland:
first collected and published
BY
RAPHAELL HOLINSHED,
WILLIAM HARRISON, AND OTHERS:
Now newlie augmented and continued (with manifold matters of singular note and worthie memorie)
TO THE YEARE 1586,
By JOHN HOOKER aliàs VOWELL Gent.
AND OTHERS.
WITH CONUENIENT TABLES AT THE END OF THESE VOLUMES.
HISTORIÆ PLACEANT NOSTRATES AC PEREGRINÆ.
THE CONTENTS OF VOLUME I
Page Advertisement. iv Dedication. v The Names of the Authors from whom this Historie of England is collected. ix An Historicall Description of the Iland of Britaine, Book I 1 An Historicall Description of the Iland of Britaine, Book II 221 An Historicall Description of the Iland of Britaine, Book III 369 The Historie of England 424 The First Booke of the Historie of England 427 The Second Booke of the Historie of England 437 The Third Booke of the Historie of England 451 The Fovrth Booke of the Historie of England 482 The Fifth Booke of the Historie of England 551 The Sixt Booke of the Historie of England 638 The Seuenth Booke of the Historie of England 702ADVERTISEMENT.
The chronicles of holinshed having become exceedingly scarce, and, from their Rarity and Value, having always brought a high Price whenever they have appeared for Sale, the Publishers have thought they should perform an acceptable Service to the Public by reprinting them in a uniform, handsome, and modern Form.
It cannot now be necessary to state the Importance and interesting Nature of this Work. The high Price for which it has always sold, is a sufficient Testimony of the Esteem in which it has been held. Holinshed's Description of Britain is allowed to contain the most curious and authentic Account of the Manners and Customs of our Island in the Reign of Henry VIII. and Elizabeth, in which it was written. His History of the Transactions of the British Isles, during these Periods, possesses all the Force and Value of contemporary Evidence, collected by a most skilful Observer; and the peculiar Style and Orthography in which the Work is written, furnish a very interesting Document to illustrate the History of the English Language.
The original Edition of the Chronicles of Holinshed, it is well known, was published by their Author in a mutilated State. A Number of Pages, which had obviously been printed with the rest of the Work, were found to be omitted, except in a few Copies obtained by some favoured Persons. In the present Edition, these Castrations are faithfully restored; and in order that the Purchaser may depend upon finding an exact as well as a perfect Copy, it has been a Law with the Publishers, not to alter a single Letter, but to print the Work with the utmost Fidelity from the best preceding Edition, with the Author's own Orthography, and with his marginal Notes. The only Liberty taken, has been to use the Types of the present Day, instead of the old English Letter of the Time of Elizabeth.
The Publishers submit to the Public this Edition of a curious and valuable Chronicle of our History, with a confident Hope, that it will gratify both the Historical Student and the General Reader. If it meet with the Reception which they anticipate, they will be encouraged to select some others of the rarest and most important of our ancient Chronicles, and reprint them, in like Manner, for the Convenience and Gratification of the Public.
TO THE
RIGHT HONORABLE, AND HIS SINGULAR GOOD LORD AND MAISTER,
S. WILLIAM BROOKE KNIGHT,
lord warden of the cinque ports, and baron of cobham, all increase of the feare and knowledge of god, firme obedience toward his prince, infallible loue to the common wealth, and commendable renowme here in this world, and in the world to come life euerlasting.
Hauing had iust occasion, Right Honorable, to remaine in London, during the time of Trinitie terme last passed, and being earnestlie required of diuers my freends, to set downe some breefe discourse of parcell of those things, which I had obserued in the reading of such manifold antiquities as I had perused toward the furniture of a Chronologie, which I haue yet in hand; I was at the first verie loth to yeeld to their desires: first, for that I thought my selfe vnable for want of skill and iudgment, so suddenlie & with so hastie speed to take such a charge vpon me: secondlie, bicause the dealing therein might prooue an hinderance and impechment vnto mine owne Treatise: and finallie, for that I had giuen ouer all earnest studie of histories, as iudging the time spent about the same, to be an hinderance vnto my more necessarie dealings in that vocation & function wherevnto I am called in the ministerie. But when they were so importunate with me, that no reasonable excuse could serue to put by this trauell, I condescended at the length vnto their yrkesome sute, promising that I would spend such void time as I had to spare, whilest I should be inforced to tarie in the citie, vpon some thing or other that should satisfie their request; and stand in lieu of a description of my Countrie. For their parts also they assured me of such helps as they could purchase: and thus with hope of good, although no gaie successe, I went in hand withall, then almost as one leaning altogither vnto memorie, sith my books and I were parted by fourtie miles in sunder. In this order also I spent a part of Michaelmas and Hilarie termes insuing, being inforced thereto I say by other businesses which compelled me to keepe in the citie, and absent my selfe from my charge, though in the meane season I had some repaire vnto my poore librarie, but not so great as the dignitie of the matter required, and yet far greater than the Printers hast would suffer. One helpe, and none of the smallest that I obtained herein, was by such commentaries as Leland had somtime collected of the state of Britaine, books vtterlie mangled, defaced with wet and weather, and finallie vnperfect through want of sundrie volumes: secondlie, I gat some knowledge of things by letters and pamphlets, from sundrie places & shires of England, but so discordant now and then amongst themselues, especiallie in the names and courses of riuers and situation of townes, that I had oft greater trouble to reconcile them one with an other, than orderlie to pen the whole discourse of such points as they contained: the third aid did grow by conference with diuers, either at the table or secretlie alone, wherein I marked in what things the talkers did agree, and wherin they impugned ech other, choosing in the end the former, and reiecting the later, as one desirous to set foorth the truth absolutelie, or such things in deed as were most likelie to be true. The last comfort arose by mine owne reading of such writers as haue heretofore made mention of the condition of our countrie, in speaking wherof, if I should make account of the successe, & extraordinarie cōming by sundrie treatises not supposed to be extant, I should but seeme to pronounce more than may well be said with modestie, & say farder of my selfe than this Treatise can beare witnes of. Howbeit, I refer not this successe wholie vnto my purpose about this Description, but rather giue notice thereof to come to passe in the penning of my Chronologie, whose crums as it were fell out verie well in the framing of this Pamphlet. In the processe therefore of this Booke, if your Honor regard the substance of that which is here declared, I must needs confesse that it is none of mine owne: but if your Lordship haue consideration of the barbarous composition shewed herein, that I may boldlie claime and challenge for mine owne, sith there is no man of any so slender skill, that will defraud me of that reproch, which is due vnto me for the meere negligence, disorder, and euill disposition of matter comprehended in the same. Certes I protest before God and your Honour, that I neuer made any choise of stile, or words, neither regarded to handle this Treatise in such precise order and method as manie other would haue done, thinking it sufficient, truelie and plainelie to set foorth such things
Your Lordships humble seruant
and houshold Chaplein.
W. H.
¶ THE NAMES OF THE AUTHORS
FROM WHOME THIS
HISTORIE OF ENGLAND
IS COLLECTED.
A.
- Aelius Spartianus.
- Aelius Lampridius.
- Asserius Meneuensis.
- Alfridus Beuerlacensis.
- Aeneas Syluius Senensis.
- Auentinus.
- Adam Merimouth with additions.
- Antoninus Archiepiscopus Florentinus.
- Albertus Crantz.
- Alexander Neuill.
- Arnoldus Ferronius.
- Annius Viterbiensis.
- Amianus Marcellinus.
- Alliances genealogiques des Roys & Princes de France.
- Annales D. Aquitaine per Iean Bouchet.
- Annales de Bourgoigne per Guilamme Paradin.
- Annales de France per Nicol Giles.
- Annales rerum Flandricarum per Jacobum Meir.
- Antonius Sabellicus.
- Antonius Nebricensis.
- Aurea Historia.
B.
- Biblia Sacra.
- Beda venerabilis.
- Berosus.
- Brian Tuke knight.
- Blondus Forliuiensis.
- Berdmondsey, a Register booke belonging to that house.
C.
- Cæsars Commentaries.
- Cornelius Tacitus.
- Chronica Chronicorum.
- Chronica de Dunstable, a booke of Annales belonging to the Abbey there.
- Chronicon Io. Tilij.
- Chronica de Eyton, an historie belonging to that colledge, although compiled by some Northernman, as some suppose named Otherborne.
- Chronicles of S. Albon.
- Chronica de Abingdon, a booke of Annales belonging to that house.
- Chronica de Teukesburie.
- Claudianus.
- Chronicon Genebrard.
- Chroniques de Normandie.
- Chroniques de Britaine.
- Chroniques de Flanders published by Denis Sauage.
- Continuation de Historie and Chroniques de Flanders by the same Sauage.
- Couper.
- Cuspinianus.
- Chronica Sancti Albani.
- Caxtons Chronicles.
- Carion with additions.
- Crockesden, a Register booke belonging to an house of that name in Staffordshire.
D.
- Diodorus Siculus.
- Dion Cassius.
- Dominicus Marius Niger.
E.
- Edmerus.
- Eusebius.
- Eutropius.
- Encomium Emmæ, an old Pamphlet written to hir, conteining much good matter for the vnderstanding of the state of this realme in hir time, wherein hir praise is not pretermitted, and so hath obteined by reason thereof that title.
- Enguerant de Monstrellet.
- Eulogium.
- Edmund Campian.
F.
- Fabian.
- Froissart.
- Franciscus Tarapha.
- Franciscus Petrarcha.
- Flauius Vopiscus Siracusanus.
- Floriacensis Vigorinensis.
G.
- Gviciardini Francisco.
- Guiciardini Ludouico.
- Gildas Sapiens.
- Galfridus Monemutensis, aliàs Geffrey of Monmouth.
- Giraldus Cambrensis.
- Guilielmus Malmesburiensis.
- Galfridus Vinsauf.
- Guilielmus Nouoburgensis.
- Guilielmus Thorne.
- Gualterus Hemmingford, aliàs Gisburnensis.
- Geruasius Dorobernensis.
- Geruasius Tilberiensis.
- Guilielmus Gemeticensis de ducibus Normaniæ.
- Guilielmus Rishanger.
- Guilielmus Lambert.
- Georgius Lillie.
- Guilamme Paradin.
H.
- Higinus.
- Henricus Huntingtonensis.
- Henricus Leicestrensis.
- Hector Boece.
- Historie Daniou.
- Historia Ecclesiastica Magdeburgensis.
- Henricus Mutius.
- Historia quadripartita seu quadrilogium.
- Hardings Chronicle.
- Halles Chronicle.
- Henricus Bradshaw.
- Henricus Marleburgensis.
- Herodianus.
- Humfrey Luyd.
I.
L.
- Liber constitutionum London.
- Lucan.
- Lælius Giraldus.
M.
- Marianus Scotus.
- Matthæus Paris.
- Matthæus Westmonaster. aliàs Flores historiarum.
- Martin du Bellay, aliàs Mons. de Langey.
- Mamertinus in Panegyricis.
- Memoires de la Marche.
N.
- Nicephorus.
- Nennius.
- Nicholaus Treuet with additions.
O.
- Orosius Dorobernensis.
- Osbernus Dorobernensis.
- Otho Phrisingensis.
P.
- Pausanias.
- Paulus Diaconus.
- Paulus Aemilius.
- Ponticus Virunius.
- Pomponius Lætus.
- Philip de Cumeins, aliàs M. de Argenton.
- Polydor Virgil.
- Paulus Iouius.
- Platina.
- Philippus Melancthon.
- Peucerus.
- Pomponius Mela.
R.
- Rogerus Houeden.
- Ranulfus Higeden, aliàs Cestrensis the author of Polychronicon.
- Radulfus Cogheshall.
- Radulfus Niger.
- Register of the Garter.
- Records of Battell Abbey.
- Richardus Southwell.
- Robert Greene.
- Radulfus de Diceto.
- Robert Gaguin.
- Rodericus Archiepiscopus Toletanus.
- Records and rolles diuerse.
S.
- Strabo.
- Suetonius.
- Sigebertus Gemblacensis.
- Sidon Appollinaris.
- Simon Dunelmensis.
- Sextus Aurelius Victor.
T.
- Trebellius Pollio.
- Thomas More knight.
- Thomas Spot.
- Thomas Walsingham.
- Titus Liuius de Foroliuisijs de vita Henrici. 5.
- Titus Liuius Patauiensis.
- Thomas Lanquet.
- Thomas Couper.
- Taxtor a Monke of Berry.
- Theuet.
- Thomas de la More.
- Tripartita Historia.
V.
- Vvlcatius Gallicanus.
- Volfgangus Lazius.
W.
- Whethamsted, a learned man, sometime Abbat of Saint Albons a Chronicler.
- William Harrison.
- William Patten of the expedition into Scotland. 1574.
- William Proctor of Wiats rebellion.
Besides these, diuers other bookes and treatises of historicall matter I haue seene and perused, the names of the authors being vtterlie vnknowne.
REGVM ANGLIÆ
SERIES & CATALOGUS.
Wil. Rufus.
Henricus 1.
Stephanus.
Henricus 2.
Richardus 1.
Ioannes.
Henricus 3.
Eduardus 1.
Eduardus 2.
Eduardus 3.
Richardus 2.
Henricus 4.
i Henricus 5.
Henricus 6.
Eduardus 4.
Eduardus 5.
Richardus 3.
Henricus 7.
Henricus 8.
Eduardus 6.
Phil. & Mar.
Elisabeth.
Conquestor, Rufus, prior Henricus, Stephanúsque,
Alter & Henricus, Leonino corde Richardus,
Rex & Ioannes, Henricus tertius inde:
Eduardus primus, Gnatúsque, Nepósque sequuntur:
His infœlicem Richardum iunge secundum:
Henricus quartus soboles Gandaui Ioannis,
Præcedit Gnato quinto, sextóque Nepoti:
Eduardus quartus, quintus, homicida Richardus,
Septimi & Henricus octauus clara propago:
Eduardus sextus, regina Maria, Philippus:
Elisabeth longos regnet victura per annos,
Seráque promisso fœlix potiatur olympo.
CARMEN CHRONOLOGICON
THOMÆ NEWTONI CESTRESHYRIJ.
Loydus.
Lelandus.
Prisius.
Stous.
Holinshedius.
Lambardus.
Morus.
Camdenus.
Thinnius.
Hallus.
Vocalis aliàs Hookerus.
Graftonus.
Foxius.
Harrisonus.
Hardingus.
Gildas.
Staniherstus.
Beda.
Neuillus.
Flemingus.
Parkerus.
Gramine, fluminibus, grege, principe, fruge, metallis,
Lacte, feris, armis, vrbibus, arte, foris,
Quæ viget ac floret generosa Britannia, quæque,
Obruta puluereo squalluit ante situ:
Exerit ecce caput, genuinum nacta nitorem,
Et rutilum emittit cum grauitate iubar.
Et quod blæsa hominum mutilarat tempore lingua,
Illud habet rectum pumice tersa nouo.
Loydus in hac pridem gnauus prolusit arena,
Lelandus, Prisius, Stous, Holinshedius,
Lambardus, Morus, Camdenus, Thinnius, Hallus,
Vocalis, Grafton, Foxius, Harrisonus,
Hardingus, Gildas, Staniherstus, Beda, Neuillus,
Doctáque Flemingi lima poliuit opus:
Nec te cane senex, magne ô Parkere, silebo,
Cui decus attulerat pontificalis apex.
Omnibus his meritò est laus debita & optima merces,
Quòd patriæ accendant lumina clara suæ.
Longa dies opus hoc peperit, longæua senectus,
Et libri authores perbeet, atque librum.
AN
HISTORICALL DESCRIPTION
OF
THE ILAND OF BRITAINE;
WITH A BRIEFE REHERSALL OF
THE NATURE AND QUALITIES OF THE PEOPLE OF ENGLAND,
AND
SUCH COMMODITIES AS ARE TO BE FOUND IN THE SAME.
COMPREHENDED IN THREE BOOKES, AND WRITTEN BY W. H.
A TABLE OF SUCH CHAPITERS AS ARE CONTEINED IN THE FIRST BOOKE
OF THIS DESCRIPTION.
Page 1 Of the diuision of the whole earth. 2 2
OF THE DIUISION OF THE WHOLE EARTH.
CHAPTER I.
Noah first diuided the earth among his sonnes. We read that the earth hath beene diuided into thrée parts, euen sithens the generall floud. And the common opinion is, that Noah limited and bestowed it vpon his three sons, Japhet, Cham, and Sem, preserued with him in the Arke, giuing vnto each of them such portions thereof as to him séemed good, and neuerthelesse reteining the souereigntie of the whole still vnto himselfe: albeit as yet it be left vncertaine how those seuerall parts were bounded, and from whome they tooke such names as in our times are attributed to each of them. Certes the words, Asia, Europa, and Africa, are denominations giuen but of late (to speake of) vnto them, and it is to be doubted, whether sithens the time of Noah, the sea hath in sundrie places wonne or lost, added or diminished to and from each of them; or whether Europa, and Lybia were but one portion; and the same westerlie regions of late discouered (and now called America,) was the third part (counting Asia for the second) or the selfe region of the Atlantides, which Plato and others, for want of traffike thither in their times, supposed to be dissolued and sunke into the sea: as by their writings appeereth.
The diuision of the earth not yet certeinlie knowne. Not long before my time, we reckoned Asia, Europa, and Africa, for a full and perfect diuision of the whole earth, which are parcels onelie of that huge Iland that lieth east of the Atlantike sea, and whereof the first is diuided from the second by Tanais (which riseth in the rocks of Caucasus, and hideth it selfe in the Meotine moores) and the Ocean sea; and the last from them both by the Mediterrane and red sea, otherwise called Mare Erythræum. But now all men, especially the learned, begin to doubt of the soundnes of that partition; bicause a no lesse part than the greatest of the thrée ioined with those Ilands and maine which lie vnder the north and Southpoles, if not double in quantitie vnto the same, are found out and discouered by the diligence of our trauellers. Hereby it appeereth, that either the earth was not exactlie diuided in time past by antiquitie; or els, that the true diuision thereof came not to the hands and notice of their posteritie, so that our ancestors haue hitherto as it were laboured in the Cimmerian darkenesse, and were vtterlie ignorant of the truth of that whereabout they indeuoured to shew their trauels and knowledge in their writings. Some peece of this confusion also is to be found amongst the ancient and Romane writers, who (notwithstanding their large conquests) did sticke in the same mire with their successors, not being able (as appeereth by their treatises) to deliuer and set downe the veritie. For Salust in his booke De Variance among the writers about the diuision of the earth. bello Iugurthino cannot tell whether Africa be parcell of Asia or not. And with the same scruple Varro in his booke De lingua Lat. is not a litle incumbred, who in the end concludeth, that the whole earth is diuided into Asia and Europa: so that Africa is excluded and driuen out of his place. Silius also writeth of Africa, (as one not yet resolued wherevnto to leane,) that it is;