Observations of all the Kings of England, To the reader
TO THE CURTEOUS AND CANDID READER.
Reader:
I Here present thee with Choice Observations of all the Kings of England. I suppose the Subject will not be unpleasing to an Englishman, if the work be answerable to the Title. I have excerped my Materials out of the best Latine Writers; the Monks (to whom we are especially beholding for the History of our Kings of England) and chiefest English Chroniclers and Annalists, and such as have written of a few, or any one of our English Princes. Bedes Historia Gentis Anglorum, set out by Wheelock, of whom Petavius in his History of the world, lib. 8. cap. 4. saith thus, Bede made his Brittain famous with no lesse Godlinesse and Learning than History, who even unto the year 735 hath concluded the Christian beginnings of that Nation. Rerum Anglicarum Scriptores post Bedam praecipui, See Mr Wheare De Method… legendi Historias, pag. 52.in Latine in folio, set out by Sr Henry Savill, containing the History of Gulielmus Malmesburiensis, Henry Huntington, Roger Hoveden and others. Anglica, Normannica, Hibernica, Cambrica, a veteribus Scripta, in Latine also in Folio, put out by Camden. Matthew Paris his Works, set out by Dr Watts, who is a faithfull Historian, and hath written the Reigns of the first seven Kings after the Conquest.Daniel doth very well so far as he goes, He is continued by Trussell. Of the English Chroniclers, Speed, Martin, and Baker seem to be the best. Voluminous Hollingshead, Stow and How are not much esteemed by the Learned. Sr John Hayward hath written well of the three Norman Kings, and Edward the sixth, he hath written briefly also of Henry the eourth. Godwin of Henry the eighth, Edward the sixth, and Queen Mary, and also of the Bishops of England, in Latine and English. Sr Robert Cotton of Henry the third, Habington of Edward the fourth, Sr Thomas More of Richard the third, both in Latine and English, and Buck, my Lord Bacon excellently of Henry the seventh, my Lord Herbert of Henry the eighth, Camden Annals of Queen Elizabeth, and Dr Heylin (as is said) of King Charles the first.Historia est testis temporum, lux veritatis, vita memoriae, magistra vitae, nuncia vetustatis, Cicero l. 2. De Oratore History is both pleasing and profitable, especially the memorable things of all our own Kings and Governours, who have for so many years Raigned amongst us. Examples of Superiours especially are very prevalent, which of the Rulers believed in him*Regis ad exemplum totus componitur orbis. OneaAschams Schoolemaster, l. 1. p. 20. saith, if King Edward the sixth had lived a little longer, his only example had bred such a Race of worthy learned Gentlemen, as this Realm never yet did afford. Here are examples of all sorts, good and bad, to be followed and eschewed. Some loose, vain, and licentious; others learned, wise, valiant, minding the publick welfare of the Nation. The Pope could but little prevaile here in England, during the Raign of King Edward the third, and Richard the second. Henry the eighth cast him out then, when he had too great power and command over other Princes. As he cast out the Pope, so did his children Edward *It was a very pious care, and of singular example in so young a Prince, to intend & endeavour the reformation of Religion, and the Church within his Realms. For which even at this day we have cause to acknowledge the good providence of Almighty God in …aising him up to become so blessed an instrument of his glory and our good. BP Sandersons Episcopacy not prejudicial to Regall Power. In the time of King Edward there was more I suppose, than what one calls it, a wambling toward the Genevah Discipline; but neither very earnest, nor very popular.the sixth, and Queen Elizabeth cast out Popery out of England, and so freed us from his spirituall bondage, as the other did from his Temporall May their memory be therefore still precious amongst us, as the Reformation we enjoy chiefly by their means, is a singular blessing. Let Him be accounted our English Josias, and Her our English Deborah, on whom those Verses were made, Spains Rod, Romes Ruine, Netherlands Relief: Earths Joy, Englands Gem, Worlds Wonder, Natures chief.
Prince Henry likewise, eldest Son to King James, was a virtuous and hopefull Prince, had he not been taken away in the flower of his youth, he would (its thought) have much opposed the Pope and Spaniard. I have read somewhere of him, that he would not swear, no, not at his Sports and Recreation; and being demanded the reason t…ereof, he said, they were not of that weight, as to draw an oath from him. I hope therefore this Nation, having had such worthy Princes, and not being ignorant of the slavery they formerly indured, when the Pope called England his Ass, will never be so foolish, as to turn back again into Egypt. As long as Mr Foxe his Martyrology is so common to be read, eighty eight, and the fifth of November are so fresh in our remembrance, let us valew the losse of Rome here amongst us, no more than that Emperour Honorius did, of whom Zonaras aAnnal Tom… …. p. 33.writes, that he had a Hen called Roma, and it being told him Rome was last, he was troubled, and said, She was here even now, yea said the other, the Hen is here, but the City is lost, he was then well pleased. Our Countriman Beda hath prophetically expounded that Roman S. P. Q. R. of our Englishmen travelling to Rome, Stul…us Populus Quaerit Roman. Though perhaps in some bWhereas the Papists unjustly charge the Protestant Churches with Schism for departing from their Communion: it could not but be a great scandall to them, to confirm them in that their uncharitable opinion of us, if we should utterly condemn any thing as unlawfull, because it had been used in the times of Popery, or abused by the Papists. B. Sanders. Epise. not prejudiciall to Regall Power.cases, one may go too far from Rome; yet since some of our Bishops formerly have written well against Antichrist, and others have made the Pope to be Antichrist; and since also the Iesuites are still busie amongst us, I wish there may be no unwarrantable compliance either with the Romish Doctrine or Rites.
Thomas Lever (who Preached before King Edward the sixth, and escaped the fury of Queen Maries dayes) is commended by Bullinger, in his Epistle to Hooper. He was the first setled constant Preacher at the Temple,cAs Father Gilpin, and Father Latimer. Father Lever, for so by my Father and others, I alwayes heard him stiled. Mr Gatakers Discourse Apologeticall against Lilie. I have two Sermons of his, Preached in the same year at Pauls 1550, one in Pauls Church, the other at the Cross, St Thomas Chaloner was ordinary Embassadour from Queen Elizabeth into Spain almost four years,Annal. Rerum Anglicarum parte prima. p. 101, 102. Ubi (saith Camden) de Republica Ang…icana instauranda terso & erudito Carmine quinque libros composuit, dum ut ille dixit, hieme in furno aestate in horreo degeret; which is thus Englished by one Darcie, who first (after a fashion) Translated Camden into English, though it be better rendred since. St Tho. Chaloner wrote a Book whilst he was in Spain, which he Entitled, Hieme in furno aestate in horreo, not so jolly an Inscription, as that Libell Intituled, The Arraignment of Persecution, &c. Printed for Bartholmew Bang-Priest, Mr Lyfords Conscience Informed touching our late Thanksgivings.and are to be sold at his Shop in Tolleration-street, at the Sign of the Subjects Liberty, right opposite to Persecution Court, 1645. I remember I have heard a story of a valiant man, that thus answered one inquiring after his name and lodging: My name is Dangerfiel'd, I lye at the Sign of the Sword and Buckler, over against the Bleeding-Heart, in Gunpowder Allie: But too much of this. I hope this Book with the other already out, will give some light to the knowledge both of the Kings and Kingdome of England, in confidence whereof, I rest
Thy hearty well-wisher Edward Leigh.