The laboryouse iourney [and] serche of Iohan Leylande, for Englandes antiquitees geuen of hym as a newe yeares gyfte to Kynge Henry the viij. in the. xxxvij. yeare of his reygne, with declaracyons enlarged: by Iohan Bale Leland, John, 1506?-1552. This text is an enriched version of the TCP digital transcription A05300 of text S108451 in the English Short Title Catalog (STC 15445). Textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. The text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with MorphAdorner. The annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). Textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. This text has not been fully proofread Approx. 131 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 65 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. EarlyPrint Project Evanston,IL, Notre Dame, IN, St. Louis, MO 2018 A05300 STC 15445 ESTC S108451 99844110 99844110 8896 2240903041

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Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A05300) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 8896) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1475-1640 ; 58:05) The laboryouse iourney [and] serche of Iohan Leylande, for Englandes antiquitees geuen of hym as a newe yeares gyfte to Kynge Henry the viij. in the. xxxvij. yeare of his reygne, with declaracyons enlarged: by Iohan Bale Leland, John, 1506?-1552. Bale, John, 1495-1563. aut [128] p. Printed by S. Mierdman for John Bale] To be sold [by R. Foster] in fletestrete at the signe of the Croune next vnto the whyte Fryears gate, [London : [1549] Colophon reads "Emprented at London by Iohan Bale, Anno. M.D.XLIX." Actual function of Bale as publisher, and Foster's name, from STC. Signatures: A-H. The last leaf is blank. Reproduction of the original in the British Library. eng Authors, English -- Early works to 1800. England -- Antiquities -- Early works to 1800. eebo The laboryouse iourney [and] serche of Iohan Leylande, for Englandes antiquitees, geuen of hym as a newe yeares gyfte to Kynge Henry the viij. in the. Leland, John 1549 130 22121 39 0 0 0 0 0 17.63 C The rate of 17.63 defects per 10,000 words puts this text in the C category of texts with between 10 and 35 defects per 10,000 words. 2004-03 Assigned for keying and markup 2004-05 Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2004-06 Sampled and proofread 2004-06 Text and markup reviewed and edited 2004-07 Batch review (QC) and XML conversion

The laboryouse Iourney & serche of Iohan Leylande , for Englandes Antiquitees , geuen of hym as a newe yeares gyfte to kynge Henry the viij . in the. xxxvij . yeare of his Reygne , with declaracyons enlarged : by Iohan Bale .

iii. Macha . ij .

He that begynneth to wryte a storye , for the fy●●●e , muste wyth hys vnderrstand●●●●●ther the matter togyther , 〈◊〉 wordes in ordre , and dylygently seke out on euery parte .

To be sold in Fletestrete at the signe of the Croune next vnto the whyte Fryears gate .

To the most vertuouse , myghtye , and excellent Prynce , Edward the. vi . by the grace of God kynge of Englande , Fraunce , and Irelande , Defender of the faythe , and in earth vndre Christe , of the Churches of the sayde Englande , and Irelande the supreme head , your most humble subiecte Iohan Bale wysheth all honour healthe and felycyte .

AM●●ge all the nacions ▪ in whome I haue wandered , for the knoweledge of thynges ( moste benygne soueraygne ) I haue founde noise so negligent and vntoward , as I haue found England in the due serch of theyr auncyent hystoryes , to the syngulare fame and bewtye therof . Thys haue I ( as it were ) wyth a wofulnesse of hert , sens my tendre youthe bewayled , and so muche the more , for that I haue not , accordinge to the naturall zele whyche I beare to my contreye , ben able to redresse it for vng●● tyll pouerte . A much forther plage hath fallen of late yeares Idolorouslye lamente so greate an ouersyghte in the moste lawfull ouerthrow of the sodometrouse Abbeyes & Fryeryes , when the most worthy monumentes of this realme , so myserably peryshed in the spoyle . Oh , that men of learnyng & of perfyght loue to there nacyon , were not then appoynted to the serche of theyr lybraryes , for the conser●●ciō of those most noble Antiquitees . Couetousnes was at that tyme so busy aboute pryuate commodite , that publyque wealthe in that moste necessarye and godly respecte , was not any where regarded . Yf your most noble father of excellent memory , Kynge Henry the viij . had not of a godly zele , by specyall commyssyon , dyrected maystre Iohan Leylande , to ouerse●● nombre of theyr sayde libraries , we had lost infynyte treasure of knowledge , by the spoyle , which anon after folowed of their due suppression .

By that meanes we are yet in hope of somwhat to come forewarde , to the inestymable glory of the lande , namely hys worthye worckes , de Antiquitate Britannica , & de illustribus uiris , with hys Epigrammes and Epicedes , whiche a great nombre of godly men most feruently despereth . This treatyse folowynge , of hys laboriouse progresse , haue I with al mekenesse , dedycated to your magnificent Maiestie , as a iust possession to the ryght inherytour . For fyrste was it geuen of the Authour , to youre most noble father of famouse memory in steade of a lowly newe yeares gyft , now do I restore it to youre worthye hyghnesse , his naturall sonne and only true successour in kingely dygnyte , as youre owne propre good , with all submission decent . I shall not nowe neade to recite to your learned maiestie , what profyte aryseth by continuall readinge of bokes , specyally of aunceyent hystories , after the necessayre searche of the Byble scryptures , for the treatyse here folowinge will plenteously declare it . They treat what is in ych commonwelth to be folowed , and what to be chefely eschewed . What causeth a realme to floryshe , and what doth dyminish the estate therof , wyth a thousande of like matters . They much deceyue Christen Prynces , that disswade them from vertuouse studie of the sacred scryptures , and Chronicles , as the vprulent papystes haue done vp al practyses possible to make them the ymages of theyr beastin father of Rome , Apoc. xiij .

Moste of all it becometh a kynge , to knowe the lawes of the Lorde , for he here in earthe by power representeth hys eternall maieste . Be learned ( saith Dauid ) ye kinges that iudge the world embrace good instruccyons , least he in his anger do iustly abhorre yow . Psal. ij . The honour of a kynge ( sayth Salomon . ) standeth not in strengthe , and ryches , but in the searche of wholsome doctryne , to dyuide the drosse from the syluer , and to folowe Goddes holy commaundementes , Prouer. xxii . A saying it was a thousande , a hondred , and. xxx yeares ago , suche tyme as Paulus Orosius was here a wryter , that the doctryne of Christ was cause of the decay of the commen wealth of the Romanes . Against them that so blasphemously babled , the sayde Orosius wrote . vij . noble bokes , as a confutacion of that pernycyouse errour : yet is that moste vnhappy and deuylyshe opynyon , nowe raysed vp agayne from hell , and brought hyther into Englande , by a great nombre of obstynate Papystes , and desperate lybertynes ( it is to be feared ) to the dreadfull dampnacyon of manye . Yf any plage or ponishement for synne do chaunce vpon vs , by the ryghtful hand of God , then is the Gospel or message of saluacyon , wrongfully accused and noysed abroade , to be the chefe cause , and sturrer vp therof , and not theyr owne fornycacyon and brybery wyth a thousande myschieues more , whiche calleth to God for dayly vengeaunce .

We had neuer good worlde ( saye they ) sens thys newe learnynge came in , neyther are we lyke to haue , tyll it be clerely bannyshed agayne . O voyce more aparaunt to come from deuylles then from men christened . The sonne of the lyuinge God Iesus Christ sheweth vs the playne cause , why these wycked persones so obstynatlye dwell in the hate of hys heauenly word . Euery one ( sayth he ) that worketh wyckednesse doth abhorre that lyghte , because they wyll not their myschieues therby to be knowne . For that lyghte manyfesteth to the worlde , their fowle naughty doynges , and shameful oppressions to rebuke . Iohn . iij. These seke but to reigne here in a fleshelye lyberte , ouer other mennes wyues & goodes , for the time of theyr cursed lyues , whiche the scriptures wyl not permyt them . And therfore they fret at the very harte , & would haue them bannyshed the contrey , that they so myghte lyue here wythoute checke . These wyth suche other moste detestable abuses , whose due reformacyon chiefely belongeth to a king , may as in a clere mirrour , be seane in the said scryptures and chronycles . It may also in them be perceyued , wherof they aryse , and how they may wele by good ordre be abolyshed . And therfore I recken the contynual searche of them , to a Christen Gouernoure most necessary .

We fynde Exodi . i. that the mighty Magistrate vndre God Moyses , among his other most worthy actes , droue the deuouryng locustes , which had in Egypte destroyed al that was greue vpon the earthe , into the reade sea , and there drowned them so , that they were no more sene . The like wrought your highnesses most noble father of excellent memory Kynge Henry the. viij . though it were in an other kinde , suche time as he dyscharged this his realme of Antichristes noyful cattel , Monkes , Chanons , Frires , Nonnes , Heremites , Perdoners , and soule syngers , with other execrable sectes of perdicion . Neuerthelesse oure Egypcyanes both of the clergye , and layte , haue soughte euer sens , and yet seketh to this daye , to leade youre Maiesties people in a palpable kynde of darkenesse vp their masses , and other sorcerouse witchcraftes , as lately apered in the last commocyon of Cornewale and Deuenshyre , to reduce them agayne to the olde obedyence of the great Pharao of Rome , in the stynkyng kyngedome of ydolatry . But your noble counsell , to withstande thys vyolence , hath hytherto moste worthelye wrought , in the myghtie worde of the Lorde , & in the stronge power of your regall rodde , to dryue thys horryble plage of darkenesse from the face of thys earthe , and our good hope is , that they wyl gracyously so styll continue .

Salomon is commended of Iesus the sonne of Syrach , Eccle. xlvij . for that the Lorde had hym replenyshed wyth all wysdome , & for hys sake had dryuen the enemyes awaye farre of , that he myghte buylde an howse in hys name , and prepare vnto hym a sanctuary for euer , whych al to this daye we behold in youre kyngelye persone fulfylled , prayeng vnto God that it maye so styl endure . As in your pryncelye begynnynges ye apere vnto as a very Iosias both in youre tendre youthe & vertuouse educacyon , so our specyal hope is , that in your dayly procedinges we wyl styl perseuer the same . The lykelyhodes in dede are very aparaunte , Gods name be praysed for it . For by your gracyouse commaundement , hath bene taken awaye the abhomynacyons of the vngodlye . Whyche is a playne token , that ye haue dyrected youre noble harte to the lyuynge Lorde , intendynge to set vp hys true worshyppynges agayne . That we delyuered ( as Zacharias the marryed prest sayth , Luce. i. ) out of the cruell handes of oure enemyes , maye serue hym from hens fourth wythout feare , all the dayes of oure lyfe . These moste godlye pryncyples refresheth your christen subiectes , and so greatly delyteth their obedyent hartes , that the onely remembraunce of youre maiesties name , is to them now more plesaunt , swete , & delycyouse , than is any other pleasure wordly , lyke as was the name of the fyrst Iosias to the people of that age . Eccle. xlix . The eternall lyuynge God prospere youre hyghnesse in all kyndes of learnynge & vertue , and preserue you in longe lyfe vpon earth , to the glorye of hys holye name & conforte of your louynge subiectes . Amen .

Iohan Bale to the Reader .

IN what estymacion Antyquytees haue bene had amonge men of graue wyttes and iudgementes , Antiquitees . the hystoryes whyche are , as testyfyeth Cicero , the mastresses of lyfe & exposytours of tymes , haue not omytted to declare . The most auncyent and authorysable Antiquytees are those , whych Moses left to the Hebrues , and Berosus to the Caldeanes , as moste precyouse treasure , and lyuelye memoryalles in wrytinge , that both the Iewes and the Gentyles , peoples and in them all nacyons of the worlde myghte therby knowe theyr orygynall begynnynges . What hath bene done besydes in the partycular Kyngedomes abroade by theyr antique wryters , it is knowne to them whyche haue of longe time bene exercysed in the readyng of theyr most auncyent chronycles . Though Gyldas Badonicus do reporte on the one syde , in his fyrst treatise de excidio Britanniae , that all the olde monumentes of the Brytaynes hadde peryshed afore hys tyme , and were partlye brente by the enemyes , and partlye conueyed into other landes by them that fledde from hens . And although that Bedas Girminus also on the other syde , Bedas . in settynge fourth the hystorye of the Englyshe Saxons , doth omyt the Antiquytees of the seyd Brytaynes their predecessours , partly of hate , as it is supposed , and partly for want of theyr olde wrytynges . Yet remayned there of late yeares in serten lybraryes of thys realme ( I haue seane parte of them ) the moste worthye monumentes , Lybraryes . concernynge Antiquite , of Ninianus , Patricius , Ambrosius Merlinus , Gildas Albanius , Merlinus Syluester , Thelesinus , Melkinus , Kentigernus , Nennius , Samuel , & other lyke , wryters of whome the more parte wrote longe afore them .

But thys is hyghly to be lamented , of all them that hath a naturall loue to their contrey , Loue . eyther yet to lerned Antiquyte , whyche is a moste syngular bewty to the same . That in turnynge ouer of the superstycyouse monasteryes , so lytle respecte was had to theyr lybraryes for the sauegarde of those noble & precyouse monumentes . I do not denye it , but the monkes , Monkes . chanons , & fryres , were wycked both wayes , as the oyled Byshoppes and prestes for the more part are yet styll . Fyrst for so much as they were the professed souldyours of Antichrist , & next to that , for so muche as they were moste execrable lyuers . For these causes , I must confesse them most iustly suppressed . Yet this would I haue wyshed ( and I scarsely vtter it wythout teares ) that the profytable corne had not so vnaduysedly and vngodly peryshed wyth the vnprofytable chaffe , abbeyes nor the wholsome herbes with the vnwholsome wedes , I meane the worthy workes of men godly mynded , and lyuelye memoryalles of our nacyon , wyth those laysy lubbers and popyshe bellygoddes . lubbers But dyuerse were the workers of thys desolacyon , lyke as the thynges dyssypated were dyuerse . The veryte and promyse of our eternall God , made an ende of the popes dysguysed rable , as it wyll do of hys remnaunt , whyche are wele knowne by their frutes . All plantes ( sayth Christe ) whyche my heauenlye father hath not planted , Masmongers . shall be plucked vp by the rootes , least anye longar the blynde leaders shoulde leade the blynde multytude . Math. xi .

Auaryce was the other dyspatcher , whych hath made an ende both of our lybraryes and bokes wythout respecte lyke as of other moste honest commodytees , couetyse to no small decaye of the commen welthe . Cyrus the Kynge of Perseanes ( as testifyeth Esdras ) had a noble lybrary in Babylon , Cyrus . for the conseruacyon both of the landes Antiquytees & also of the prynces actes , lawes , & commaundementes , that whan necessyte shoulde requyre it , the certentie of thynges myghte there be sought and founde out . i. Esdre . vi . Nehemias the Nehemias . Prophete made a lybrarye also , and gathered into it bokes from all contreyes , specyally the bokes of the prophetes and of Dauid , the epystles and actes of the kynges , with serten annotacyons and writynges , Iudas Machabeus addynge dyuerse vyctoryes to the same . ij . Ma●ha . ij . Thus are buylders of lybraryes commended in the scriptures , than must their destroyers haue of the same , Destroyers . their iustly deserued infamyes , namelye whan couetousnesse is founde the most busy doar , whose workes are alwayes to be detested . Wherfore Salomon sayth : A dyscrete & iuste rular muche profyteth a lande , where a couetouse rauenour destroyeth it agayne , Prouer. xxix . O most wycked auaryce , Auaryce Saynte Paule calleth the a worshyppynge of ydolles , whyche is a takynge awaye of all godly honour , Collos. iij. He sayth , thou art suche a temptacyon and snare of the deuyll , as bryngeth all to perdycyon . Yea , he reporteth the to be the roote of all my schefe . i. Timot. vi . Nothynge vpon earth ( sayth Iesus Syrach ) is so euyll , as a couetouse man . Eccle. x.

Neuer had we bene offended for the losse of our lybraryes , Lybraryes . beynge so many in nombre , and in so desolate places for the more parte , yf the chiefe monumentes and moste notable workes of our excellent wryters , had bene reserued . If there had bene in euery shyre of Englande , but one solempne lybrary , to the preseruacyon of those noble workes , and preferrement of good lernynges in oure posteryte , it had bene yet sumwhat . But to destroye all without consyderacyon , Destruccyon . is and wyll be vnto Englande for euer , a moste horryble infamy amonge the graue senyours of other nacyons . A great nombre of them whych purchased those superstycyouse mansyons , reserued of those lybrarye bokes , some to serue theyr inkes , some to scoure theyr candelstyckes , & some to rubbe their bootes . Some they solde to the grossers and sope sellers , grossers & some they sent ouer see to the bokebynders , not in small nombre , but at tymes whole shyppes full , to the wonderynge of the foren nacyons . Yea , the vnyuersytees of thys realme , are not all clere in this detestable fact . But cursed is that bellye , whyche seketh to be fedde with suche vngodly gaynes , and so depelye shameth hys natural contreye . I knowe a merchaunt man , A Merchaunt . whych shall at thys tyme be namelesse , that boughte the contentes of two noble lybraryes for . xl . shyllynges pryce , a shame it is to be spoken . Thys stuffe hath he occupyed in the stede of graye paper by the space of more than these . x. yeares , & yet he hath store ynough for as many yeares to come . A prodygyuose example is this , An example . & to be abhorred of all men which loue their nacyon as they shoulde do .

O cyties of Englande , whose glory standeth more in bellye chere , than in the serche of wysdome godlye . How cometh it , that neyther you , nor yet your ydell masmongers , norwich haue regarded thys most worthy commodyte of your contrey ? I meane the conseruacyon of your Antiquytees , and of the worthy labours of your lerned men : I thynke the renowme of suche a notable acte , wolde haue much longar endured , than of all your belly bankettes & table tryumphes , eyther yet of your newely purchased hawles to kepe s. Georges feast in . Gylde hawles . What els made the auncyent Grekes & Romanes , famouse to the world , but suche vertuouse & necessary prouysyons in their commen welthes ? What els hath made the Iewes now an obscure nacyon , but the decaye of their kyngedome & continuall destruccyons besydes . Yea , what maye bryng our realme to more shame & rebuke , England than to haue it noysed abroade , that we are despysers of lernynge ? I iudge thys to be true , & vtter it wyth heauynesse , that neyther ●he Brytaynes vnder the Romanes & Saxons , nor yet the Englyshe people ●ndre the Danes and Normannes , had ●uer suche dammage of their lerned mo●umentes , dammage as we haue seane in our time . Oure posteryte maye wele curse thys ●ycked facte of our age , thys vnreaso●able spole of Englandes moste noble ●ntiquytees , vnlesse they be stayed in me , and by the art of pryntynge be ●ought into a nombre of coppyes . The ●ukes kepte them vndre duste , the ydle headed prestes regarded them not , Prestes . theyr lattre owners haue moste shamefullye abused them & the couetouse merchauntes haue solde them away into foren nacions for moneye . Steppe you fourth now last of all , ye noble men & women ( as there are in these dayes a great nombre of you most nobyllye lerned , nobylite prayse be to God for it ) and shewe your naturall noble hartes to your nacyon . Treade vndre your fete the vnworthy examples of these Herostrates or abhomynable destroyars . And brynge you into the lyghte , that they kept longe in the darkenes , or els in these dayes seketh vtterly to destroye . As ye fynde a notable Antyquyte , Antiquitees . suche as are the hystoryes of Gildas & Nennius amonge the Brytaynes , Stephanides & Asserius among the Englyshe Saxons , lete them anon be imprented , & so brynge them into a nombre of coppyes , both to their and your owne perpetuall fame . For a more notable poynt of nobylyte can ye not shewe , than in suche sort to bewtyfie your contrey , Contreye & so to restore vs to suche a truthe in hystories , as we haue longe wanted . We haue the fable of Dioclecyane & hys . xxxiij . Doughters , Fables . and how thys realme was called Albion ab albis rupibus , wyth lye and all , but the veryte as yet we haue not , how thys lande was fyrst inhabyted . If we fynde them mixed wyth superstycyons , we shall measure them by the scriptures , & sumwhat beare with the corrupcyon of their tymes . Corrupcyon . Vnknowne is it not vnto you , but that the most noble conquerours of the worlde , haue euermore had in muche pryce the Antiquytees of storyes , and haue lerned of them the thynge which hath most incresed their worthy fame .

Now come we to the author of thys present treatyse , whyche plenteouslye hath declared the abundaunce of a noble harte to hys contreye . Thys was Iohan Leylande , Leylande an excellent oratour and poete , moreouer a man lerned in many sondrye languages , as Greke , Latyne , Frenche , Italion , Spanyshe , Brittyshe , Saxonyshe , Walshe , Englyshe , and Scottyshe . A most feruent fauourer was thys man , and a moste dylygent sercher of the Antiquytees of thys oure Englyshe or Bryttyshe nacyon , Antiquarius . as wyll apere not onelye by thys treatyse folowynge , but also by many other notable workes whyche he hath lernedly compyled . Bycause I wyll not stande alone in the prayse of hym and hys worthye actes , I wyll now brynge fourth an other wytnesse , A witnesse . a man lerned and louynge hys contrey also , whych wrote vnto me . iij. yeares ago , dolourouslye lamentynge hys soden fall . Maistre Leyande ( sayth he ) whose prynted workes I haue sent yow , is in suche a frenesy at thys present , that lytle hope I haue of hys recouer , wherby he myghte fynyshe such thynges as he began , and would haue ended , yf lyfe , helthe , and ryghte reason had serued hym therunto . There be dyuerse whyche ( by report of hys enemyes , Oblocutours . as Polydore Vergyle and others ) saye , that he wolde neuer haue set fourth suche thynges as he promysed , affirmynge hym to be a vaynegloryouse persone , whyche woulde promyse more , than euer he was able or intended to perfourme .

I muche do feare it that he was vaynegloryouse , and that he had a poetycall wytt , whyche I lament , Lamentable . for I iudge it one of the chefest thynges that caused hym to fall besydes hys ryghte dyscernynges . But thys dare I be holde to saye , as one that knoweth it ( for I sawe and redde of them in his stody , dyuerse and many tymes ) that he neuer promysed to set fourth so manye workes as he had dygested in an ordre , workes and had in a forwarde redynesse to haue set fourth . And surelye in suche a sort he handeled the matters by hym treated of , that ( by my symple iudgement ) if he had so fynyshed them and set them fourth accordynge as he than intended and wolde haue done . Truly I suppose no lesse , but it wolde haue byn a wondre ( yea , A wondre . a myracle to the worlde ) to haue redde them . And that all other authors , whyche haue wrytten of vs and of oures in tymes paste , concernynge thynges memorable , to be chronycled , eyther yet put in writynge , shoulde haue bene counted but as shaddowes , or of small estymacyon in respect of hym . So lernedlye , lyuelye , euydently , and groundedlye , and with such authorytees ( Yea , Autorytees . and as it were wyth a serten maiestie ) woulde he haue fullye and whollye paynted , described , or set fourth thys oure realme and all thynges therin , wyth all the domynyons therof , and wyth all suche thynges as haue from tyme to tyme byn done in them .

I was as famylyarlye acquaynted wyth hym , Acquainted . as wyth whome I am best acquaynted , and do knowe certenlye , that he from his youth was so ernestly studyouse and desperouse of our Antiquytees , that alwayes hys whole studyes were dyrected to that ende . And for the true and full attaynynge therunto , he not onlye applyed hym selfe to the knowledge of the Greke and Latyne tongues , wherin he was ( I myghte saye ) excellentlye lerned . But also to the stodye of the Bryttyshe , Saxonyshe , & Walshe tongues , Tongues & so muche profyted therin , that he most perfitelye vnderstode them . And yet not herwyth all content , he dyd fully and whollye both labour and trauayle in hys owne persone , throughe this our realme and certen of the dominions therof , because he woulde haue the perfyte and full knoweledge of al thynges that myghte be gathered or learned , bothe for thynges memorable , and for the sytuacyon of the same . And as for all authors of Greke , Authors Latyne , Frenche , Italian , Spanyshe , Bryttyshe , Saxonyshe , Walshe Englyshe , or Scottyshe , towching in any wyse the vnderstandynge of oure Antiquitees , he had so fully redde and applyed them , that they were in a manner graffed in hym as of nature . So that he myght well cal him selfe Antiquarius .

Surely my frynde , I can not therfore but lament this hys estate , boldelye affirminge , Doloously . that Englande neuer sawe ( nor as I beleue , shal se , excepte God saye Amen therto ) a man to him herin in al thynges to be compared . For vndoubted he was in these matters wonderfull and peerlesse , so that as concerninge them , Englande had yet neuer a greater losse . But what shall we saye ? It hath pleased god that he shuld thus be depryued of hys wyttes , that lord knoweth best what he hath to do , hys name for euermore blessed . 〈◊〉 But thys shal be my prayer styll , that yf the Lorde wyll not geue hym his ryghte vnderstandinge agayne , that it maye yet pleased his goodnesse , to put in the mindes of some that best may , to do it . That not only such thinges as maistre Leylande intended to haue set fourth of hys owne , Old writers . but also suche olde authors as he hath gathered together into hys lybraryes ( and as yet not prynted ) may ( and that with spede ) be set fourth in prynte , for the necessary knowledge of all men touchynge Antiquitees . But after suche rate and forte as Maystre Leylande hym selfe ( yf hys ryght reason had serued hym , woulde haue set them fourth , for that do I neuer loke . But hereof ones to make an ende as Terence feately sayth , Terencius . ut quimus , quando ut uolumus non licet . We must do as we may , when we can not do as we woulde , All these are the testymonies of my frynde .

Thus am I not alone in opynyon concernyng Iohan Leylande and such other for Antiquitees sake , but haue so manye more with their good willes to assiste me as naturallye fauoreth Englande . Not alone . By thys worthye propertye ( sayth Cassiodorus ) is a noble citezen knowen . He seketh the commodite , praise and aduauncement of hys countreye . Swete is the remembraunce of a mannes naturall lande , to hym that is absent . The byrdes that flye abroade , do loue their owne nestes . The beastes that ronne astraye , Creatures . seketh their accustomed cowches . And the fyshes within the water , resorteth to their hollow dennes . Ryght notably was it alleged of Plato , that we are not borne onlye to our owne commoditees . But we ought to haue respect both to our countrey & kyndred . Of our natural countrey we haue our parentes , our fode , our norishment , frendship , frindes , acquayntaunce howse , wyfe , chyldren , with such lyke . The fathers in the olde lawe , Fathers had such an inwarde loue to their natyue soyle , that they woulde no where els be buried . Though Christ our moste louynge maystre sayde it . That a Prophete is not withoute honour but in his owne countrey and kindred . Matth. xiij . Yet bewtifyed it he aboue al nacyons , both with his doctrine and miracles , alledgynge many of their noble Antiquitees in Noe , Loth , Abraham , Isaac , Iacob , Dauid , Salomon , Elias , Eliseus , and other to confirme than in the true faith . He that naturallye loueth hys lande , obeyeth therwyth the commaundementes of God concernyng the loue of his neyber , and the faythful obedyence of kynges . Whych I instauntly desyre al godly subiectes to folow , to the prayse of him which gaue those necessarye commaundementes .

So be it .
The laboriouse Iourney & serche of Iohan Leylande , for Englandes Antiquitees , geuen of hym as a newe yeares gyfte to Kyng Henry the. viij . in the xxxvij . yeare of his raygne , with declaracyons enlarged by Iohan Bale .

NO man ( I thinke ) there is whiche beareth goood affeccyon to Englande , or that nombreth the loue of his naturall contreye amonge comlye and necessary vertues , Contrey loue . but wyl commende the honest affecte , stodye , labour , and diligence of the author of thys present treatyse . And not onely that , but vpon the same he wyll hym selfe endeuer : yea , yche man to hys talente , to folowe the lyke in effect . Iohan Leylande in thys and manye other workes , whyche he hath in hys tyme compyled , haue not shewed hym selfe a barreyne and vnfruteful clodde of earthe wythin hys owne nacyon , Clodde . suckynge the moysture , A clodde and not renderynge frute to the commodite thereof as manye doth , the more is the pyty . But he hath muche fructyfyed in bryngynge manye thynges to clere knowledge , whyche haue longe remayned in horrible darkenesse . He is here vnto vs in Englande , in these hys frutefull labours , as was Ioannes Annius to the Italianes , and as were bothe Conradus Celtes and Franciscus Irenicus to the Germanes , Sim●les . whyche brought many most wonderfull Antiquitees of theirs to lyghte . Hys laboures in collectynge the same to the syngular commodyte of oure nacyon , will apere here after abundaunt , to them that shall dylygentlye peruse this small treatyse , whyche he gaue to Kynge Henry , the. viij . as a newe yeares gyft , The title in the yeare of oure Lorde a M. D. XLVI . The whyche as I haue receyued of a specyall frynde , so do I agayne fryndelye commuycate it , to the fryndely louers of my countreye . And thus it begynneth :

Iohan Leylande .

Where as it pleased youre hyghnesse vpon very iuste consyderacyons , to encorage me , by the authoryte of your moste gracyouse commyssion , in the. xxxv . yeare of your prosperouse reygne , Studium antiquitatis in , principe . to peruse and dylygentlye to searche all the lybraryes of Monasteryes and collegies of thys your noble realme , to the entent that the monumentes of auncyent wryters , as wel of other nacyons as of your owne prouynce , myghte be brought out of deadly darkenesse to lyuelye lyght , and to receyue lyke thankes of their posteryte , as they hoped for at suche tyme , as they employed their longe and great studyes to the publyque wealthe .

Iohan Bale .

Se here the wysdome of thys worthy and noble Prynce , Kyng Henry the. viij . how prudentlye he dysposeth matters . Accordynge to the Pryncely admynystracyon , Princely of God to hym committed , he hath here consyderacions diuerse respectinge as wele the dysposycyons of his subiectes , as those thynges also , whyche myght seme to be profytable in a Christen commen welth . Not only marked he the natural inclinacyon of this Leylande , but also prouoked him to folowe it in effect , to the conseruacion of the landes Antiquitees whyche are a most syngulare bewtye in euery nacyon . Antiquite . He gaue hym out his autorite and commission , in the yeare of oure Lorde a M. D. xxxiij . to serche and peruse the Libraries of hys realme in monasteries , couentes , and colleges , before their vtter destruccyon , whyche God then appoynted for their wyckednesses sake . The rular ( saythe S. Paule ) beareth not the swerde in vayne , A kinge . but is the minister of God , to take vengeaunce on them that do euyl , Roma . xiij . And his noble purpose was thys , to saue the precyouse monumentes of auncyent wryters , whych is a most worthy worke , and so to brynge them from darkenesse to a lyuely light , to the notable fame and ornature of this land . Thus was there in this kynge , besides that is spoken afore , a stodye of thynges memorable , Studoouse . and a regardynge of noble Antiquite , whyche bothe are to be commended hyghly .

Iohan Leylande .

Yea , and furthermore , that the holy scrypture of God myght both be syncerely taught and learned , all maner of superstycyon , and crafty coloured doctryne of a rowte of Romayne Byshoppes , Cura religionis in Principe . totally expelled oute of thys your most catholyque realme . I thinke it now no lesse , than my very dewtye , breuely to declare to your Maiestie , what frute haue spronge of my laboriouse iourney and costly enterprise , both roted vpon your infynyte goodnesse and lyberalyte , qualytees ryght highly to be estemed in all Prynces , and most specyally in yow , as naturally your owne wele knowne proprietes .

Iohan Bale .

An other cause Iohan Leylande bryngeth fourth here , of thys serche of lybraries , which is , that the scriptures of God myght therby be more purely taught then afore in the Romish popes time . Moreouer , the truthe . that al kyndes of wicked superstycyons , and of the sophystycall doctrynes myghte be remoued hens , to the amendement or els more clere aperaunce of the true Chrysten fayth . For though the more part of writers , were wholly geuen to serue Antichristes affectes in the parelouse ages of the churche . Apo. ix . Yet were there som amonge them , Sūgood whiche refusynge the office , sought the onlye glory of their Lorde God . In the middest of al darkenesse , haue some men by all ages , had the liuynge sprete of Goddes chyldren , what though they haue in some thynges erred . Gal. iiij . Neuer yet were the spelunkes of Abdias wythoute the true Prophetes of God , what though that wycked Iezabel , Iesabel . the Romyshe churche most cruelly sought their bloud . iij. Re. xviij . The worthy workes of these , this noble kyng sought to saue by this Leylande , afore the suppressinge of the monkyshe monasteryes , which commendeth in hym ( as good reason geueth it ) both the care of Christen relygyon , and also the disanullynge of most deuylysh idolatry . Suche a discrete and circumspect kyng doth the wyse man cal , A kynge a welfare of the worlde , and an vpholdynge of the people . Sapi. vi . The frutes sprynginge of Leylandes laboriouse iourney now foloweth in effecte .

Iohan Leylande .

Fyrst I haue conserued many good authors , Examplariaueterū authorum conseruata the whych otherwyse had ben lyke to haue peryshed , to ●o small incommodyte of good letters , Of the which parte remayne in the most magnificent libraryes of your royall palaces . Part also remayne in my custodie , Auctae Bibliothecae palatinae wherby I trust right shortly , so to describe your moste noble realme , and to publyshe the Maiestie of the excellente actes of youre progenytours , hytherto sore obscured , bothe for lacke of empryntynge of such workes as saye secretely in corners .

Iohan Bale .

Yf he be worthy prayse , whyche seketh to profyte a common wealthe Iohan Leyland is not to be neglected here , for thys hys laboryouse iourney and costuouse enterpryse . Iourney For therby he hath sau●d the profitable workes of many excellent wryters , which els had bene loste , to no small decaye of that wholsome veryte , whiche is both to be sought in the scriptures of the Byble , and also in the moste olde and autentyck Chronycles of our prouynce . Heded wele to commyt certen of those worthy workes to the kinges noble Libraries to their conseruacyon , Libraryes . and also in reseruynge a certen of them to hymselfe , at that tyme myndynge to haue polyshed our Chronycles , by fabulouse wryters sore blemyshed . But a moste noble acte shoulde he do , that wold clerely redeme them from dust and byrdfylynges , or pryuate vse to no profyte , and so bryng them fourth to a commēwealth of godly knowledge and lernynge , Good bokes . to the worthy fame of England , and increace of vertue . No godly man lyghteth a candle to put it vndre a bushel , but to set it a broade to the confort of many . Luce. xi . To locke vp the gates of the true knowledge , from them that affectuously seketh it to the glory of God , is a property belongynge onlye to the hypocryiysh Pharisees , and false lawers . Mat. xxiij . A more sygne of ignobylyte can not be sene , Ignobilite . then to hyde such noble monumentes , neyther can growe a more famouse report , than to sende them fourth a broade amonge men . And for that purpose ( I thynke ) God hath in thys age geuen the noble art of prentynge .

Iohan Leylande .

And also because men of eloquence hath not enterprised , to set them fourth in a floryshynge style , Stylus aegrestis ueterum scriptorum . in some tymes past not commenly vsed in Englande of writers , otherwise wele learned , and nowe in suche estymacyon , that except truth be delycately clothed in purpure her written verytees can scant fynde a reader . That all the worlde that euydently perceyue , that no particular region , maye iustely be more extolled , than yours for true nobylyte and vertues at all poyntes reuoumed .

Iohan Bale .

Muche haue the excellent and lyuelye actes of Kynges bene obscured , ( as is wrytten afore ) for so muche as these noble Antyquytees haue not bene ere thys tyme reueled , Antiquitees . but tyed vp in cheanes , and hydden vndre dust in the monkes and fryres libraryes . The greate want of them hath caused our latter Chronicles , specyally Iohan Hardynge , Wyllyam Caxton , Robert Fabiane , and now last of al Polydor Vergyll , so depely to erre , as they haue done in many poyntes . And. ij . thynges chefely haue caused them ( Leylande sayth ) so longe to be witholden from vs . ij . things The one is the slackenesse of empryntynge , that no studiouse persone , myndynge the veritees preferrement , hath laboured their settynge out , to the commen profite . An other is the want of ornature , that they haue not bene changed into a more eloquent stile , to the ful satisfyenge of delycate eares and wyttes . The fyrst I woulde wyshe to be folowed , eloquence as a thynge very necessary to our Englysh commen wealthe . The other for the fyrst tyme , myghte wele be spared . For vndoubtedly , authoryte it woulde adde vnto them , to apere fyrst of all in their owne simplycyte or natiue colours without bewtie of speche . The scriptures are not to be reiected , Scriptures . though they for the more part , want that same plesaunt order , which is commenly sought amonge prophane wryters . God hath chosen ( S. Paule saith ) the folyshe and weake thynges of the worlde , to confounde the wyse and myghtye i. Cor. i.

Iohan Leylande .

Farther more part of the exemplaries , curyously sought by me , and fortunately found in sondry places of this youre dominion , Exemplaria praeliscōmissa hath b●ne emprynted in Germany , and now be in the presses chefely of Frobentus , that not alonly the Germanes , but also the Italianes themselfe , that counte as the Grekes ded full arrogantly , all other nacyons to be barbarouse & vnlettered , sauinge their owne , shall haue a direct occasyon , openly of force to say . That Britannia prima fuit parens , altrix ( addo hoc etiam , & iure quidem optimo ) conseruatrix eum uirorum magnorum , tum maxime , ingeniorum .

Iohan Bale .

Here sheweth Leylande , howe the thirde or latter part of hys colleccions out of the Englyshe lybraryes , was bestowed to profyte . But where as he maketh report here , Of bokes . a serten of them to haue bene emprynted in Germany . I suppose he partlye speaketh it for the worke of Iosephus Deuonius , which he wrote in paraphrasticall verses , vpon the treatyse of Dares Phrygius concerninge the destruccyon of Troye , and in . vi . bokes dedicated it to Baldewine than archebyshop of Canterbury : whiche worke ( sayth he in Syllabo antiquarum dictionum ) was prynted in Germany , Lelandus . but very corruptly vnder the tytle of Cornelius Nepos a Romane . Wherof Guilhelmus Fastregicus in his fyrste boke de Originibus rerum maketh also mencyon . Of the bokes which shoulde be in the handes of Hieronymus Frobenius , can I nothyng heare . Yet haue I made thydre most instaunt sute and labour by diuerse honeste men , at the least to haue had but theyr tytles , but I neuer coulde obtayne them . Coniecture . Whiche maketh me to thinke , that eyther they haue peryshed by the waye , or els that they are throwne a syde in some corner , and so forgotten . Yet Conradus Gesnerus sumwhat conforteth me agayne , whyche in the seconde part of hys vnyuersall Biblyotheke , fol. clvij. confesseth serten olde Brittyshe hystorianes yet to remayne . For so lytle estemynge our true Antiquytees , the proude Italyanes haue alwayes holden vs for a Barbarouse nacyon . Loke Iohan Boccatius in hys sixt boke de genealogia Deorum , Cap. lvij . where as he treateth of Syluius posthumus and of our Brute , Neglygence . besydes their hystoryans . Where as , yf we had by all ages set them abroade , they had bene iustly occasyoned , to haue named Brytayne , a mother , a nource , and a mayntener , not only of worthy men , but also of moste excellent wyttes .

Iohan Leylande .

And that profyte hath rysen by the aforsayd iourneye , in bryngynge full manye thynges to lyght , as concernynge the vsurped autoryte of the Byshopp of Rome and hys complyces , Antiphilarchia repellens ambitiosum Ro. Epi. Imperium . to the manyfest and vyolent derogacyon of kyngely dygnyte , I referre my selfe moste humbly to your moste prudent , lerned , & hygh iudgement , to dyscerne my dylygence in the longe volume , wherin I haue made answer for the defence of your supreme dygnyte , alonly leuynge to the stronge pyllour of holye scripture agaynste the whole college of the Romanystes , clokynge their crafty assercyons and argumentes , vndre the name of one poore Pighius of Vltraiecte in Germany , Albertus Pighius . and standynge to them as to their onlye anker holde agaynst tempestes that they knowe wyll aryse , yf truthe maye be by lycens lette in , to haue a voyce in the generall counsell .

Iohan Bale .

By the hystoryes of Antiquyte , are the natures of all ages of the worlde manyfested from tyme to tyme , & also both the prophecyes of Daniel and of S. Iohans reuelacyon more easely of their readers vnderstanded . Prophecyes . For he that marketh not by the serche of ernest chronycles , the dysposycyon of tymes , shall neuer beholde those godly prophecyes fulfylled in effect . And therfore sayth Leylande here , that thys profyte amonge other hath rysen of hys studyouse labour . Antichrist and hys mynysters are lyke to be the better knowne , Antichrist . and their tyrannouse vsurpacyons perceyued , how shamefullye they haue abused the dygnyte of kynges . Whose power S. Paul declareth , not to be of the proude Romysh popet , as they haue bene persuaded by hys false prophetes in euery nacyon , but immedyatly from the omnypotent God of heauen . Roma . xiij . In all ages haue there bene some godly writers in Englande , writers . which haue both smelled out , & also by theyr writynges detected the blasphemouse fraudes of thys Antichrist . Dyuerse , of those christen workes ded Leylande fynde , and was by them occasyoned to write a great boke , called Antiphilarchia , agaynst the ambycyouse empyre of the Romysh byshop . And in thys he chefely withstode the subtyle assercyons & sophystycall reasonynges of an ydell brayned papyste , a papyst called Albertus Pighius , sumtyme a catty stayled canon in the great cathedral mynster of vtrecht in Hollande . Wherin he wylleth that the veryte maye ones fynde gentyll hearers , agaynst those wycked enemyes .

Iohan Leylande .

Yet herin only I haue not pytched the supreme worke of my labour , whervnto your grace moste lyke a kyngelye patrone of all good learnynge ded anymate me . Affectus autoris erga patriam . But also consyderynge and expendynge with my selfe , how great a numbre of excellent godlye wyttes and wryters , learned wyth the best , as the tymes serued , hath bene in thys your regyon . Not onely at suche tymes as the Romane emprours had recourse to it , but also in those dayes that the Saxons preuayled of the Brytaynes , and the Normannes of the Saxons , coulde not but with a feruent zele and an honest corage , commende them to memory . Els alas , lyke to haue bene perpetually obscured , or to haue bene lyghtelye remembred , as vncerteyne shaddowes .

Iohan Bale .

Not onelye ded Iohan Leylande collect these frutefull auncyent authors togyther , that men mgyhte by them inueye agaynste the false doctryne of papystes , doctrine corruptynge both the scriptures of God and the chronycles of thys realme , by execrable lyes & fables but also that their wyttye workes myghte come to lyght and be spredde abroade to the whorthye fame of the land . For by them maye it wele apere , the tymes alwayes consydered , that we are no Barbarouse nacyon , as contemptuouslye the Italyane wryters doth call vs . Yet Cornelius Tacitus a noble Romane , Conelius Tacitus in the lyfe of Iulius Agricola , commendeth the bryngynge vp of noble mennys chyldren in the lyberall scyences amonge the Brytaynes , and preferreth the pregnauncy of their wittes afore the laboryouse stody of the Galles , whome we now call Frenche men . Moreouer afore that , he reporteth the seyd Brytaynes , britayne to be famously remembred of manye worthy writers , which is no note of obscuryte or barberousnesse . And thys noble nacyon had afterwarde most wyttie writers and men of grounded learnynge , vndre the Saxons , Danes , & Normannes so wele as they had afore tyme vndre the Romane Emprours . A fylthy bastarde is he to Englande , and a moste cruell enemy to all good lernyng , that wyll now obscure their names and destroye their workes , to the landes perpetuall dyscommodyte . Bastardes . As some vnnaturall chyldren haue done now of late , to serue their pryuate affeccyons more than the commen welthe . God shorten their vnprofytable lyues , if they cease not of that myschefe in tyme .

Iohan Leylande .

Wherfor I knowynge by infynyte varyete of bokes , and assyduouse readynge of them , Libri quatour de uiris illustribus , siue descriptoribus Britannicis . who hath bene learned and who hath written from tyme to tyme in this realme , haue digested into iiij . bokes , the names of them wyth their lyues and monumentes of learnynge . And to them added thys lytle , De uiris illustribus , folowynge the profytable example of Hierome , Gennadie , Cassiodore , Seueryane , and Trittemie a late writer . But alwaye so handlynge the matter , that I haue more exspacyated in thys campe , than they ded , as in a thynge that desyred to be sumwhat at large , & to haue ornature . The fyrst boke begynnynge at the Druides , is deducted vnto the tyme of the commyng of S. Augustyne into Englande . The seconde is from the tyme of Augustyne , vnto the aduente of the Normanes .

Iohan Bale .

In thys ded Iohan Leylande declare a noble kynde of stody and a naturall hart to hys contrey . The Lorde of heauen sende England more of suche louers , More fryndes and take awaye those vnprofytable cloddes , whyche seketh not els but them selues in the destruccyon of thynges memorable & necessarye . The boke of S. Hierome de uiris illustribus , is iudged of them that be godly , wyse , and lerned , to be a worke verye excellent , and muche profytable to the Christen commen vse . For it sheweth what writers there were in the prymatyue churche , Church & what frute spronge of their doctryne . If anye learned man hadde shewed thys ordre in the Brittyshe churche , whyche contynued from the Apostles tyme by Ioseph of Arymathie , and other godlye mynysters , tyll the commynge of Augustyne , we had knowne of their christianyte muche more than we now do . Bedas in the Englysh churche , wrote De scriptoribus Ecclesiae , whych had clerelye peryshed Gesnerus sayth ) yf one Honorius Augustudimensis had not into his boke of the same tytle , Honorius conuayed a certen of them . Other collectors of the names & workes of lerned writers , had we none here in Englande , that I euer hearde of , sauynge one Bostonus of Bury , whyche was verye copyouse in that matter . Now commeth Iohan Leylande with hys . iiij . bokes de uiris illustribus , & he so abundauntlye wyll satisfye the hungry expectacyon of many , maye hys worke come ones to lyght , Leyland . that muche more is not therin to be desyred . Blessed be that man , whyche shall set that worthy worke abroade . And contrary wyse , cursed be he for euer and euer , that shall in sphyght of hys nacyon , seke therof the destruccyon .

Iohan Leylande .

The thirde from the Normans , to the ende of the most honourable reigne of the myghtie , famouse , and prudent Prynce , Henry . the. vij . your father . The fourth begynneth wyth the name of your maieste , whose glorie in learnynge is to the worlde so clerely knowne , that though emonge the lyues of other learned men I haue accuratelye celebrated the names of Bladudus , Principes eruditi . Molinutius , Constantinus magnus , Sigebertus , Alfridus , Alfridus magnus , Athelstanus , & Henry the fyrste , Kynges and your progenytours . And also Ethelwarde , seconde sonne to Alfride the greate , Hunfryde Duke of Glocester , and Tipetote earle of worcestre , yet conferred with your grace , they seme as small lyghtes ( yf I maye frely saye my iudgement , your hygh modestie not offended ) in respect of the daye starre .

Iohan Bale .

Of many ydell wytted braggers , whych iudge them selues lerned and are nothynge lesse , is the tytle of thys worke , the tytle de uiris illustribus , contempned and ill spoken of . But what wyse men do thynke of them that so frantycklye on their ale benches do prattle , it is easy to coniecture . Saynt Hierome , Gennadius , Cassiodorus , Seuerianus & Tritemius , whome Leylande here nameth for example , thought not the argument lyghte , whan they wrote workes of that tytle . No more ded Suidas Grecus , Isidorus , Hildefonsus , Prosper , Sigebertus , Honorius , Trissa , Bostonus , Bostius , Bergomas , & a great sort more , Authores . in doynge the same . The ordre of Leylandes worke into . iiij bokes deuyded , begynnynge at the Druides , & endyng in the lattre yeares of Kynge Henry the. viij . as he hath herin vttered , is very commendable . Sumwhat more is it than a yeare past , sens I put fourth a worke of the same argument , entytled de scrpitoribus Britannicis , Scriptores . conteynynge . v. bokes wyth serten addycyons whych I gathered togyther beynge out of the realme . Sens I returned agayne therunto , by the serche of dyuerse most ruynouslye spoyled , broaken vp , and dyspersed lybraryes , I haue collected by no small labour & dylygence , so muche as wyll make so many bokes more , besydes the necessarye recognycyon and frutefull augmentacyon of the seyd first worke . Thys lattre worke intende I to set fourth also , Aliud opus . to the commodyte of my contrey , as it is ones fynyshed , yf pouerte withstande me not , as it is my most doubt . Yet wolde I haue no man to iudge my rude labours , to Leylandes fyue workemanshyp in any poynt equal but at all tymes to geue place vnto it .

Iohan Leylande .

Now farther to insynuate to your grace , of what matters the writers , whose lyues I haue congested into . iiij bokes , hath treated of . Ingenia scriptorum Britannicorum omni genere eruditionis exercitata . I maye ryghte boldely saye , that besyde the cognycion of the. iiij . tungues , in the whych part of them hath excelled , that there is no kynde of lyberall scyence , or any feate concernynge learnynge , in the whych they haue not shewed certayne argumentes of great felycyte of wytte . Yea and concernynge the interpretacyon of holy scripture , both after the auncyent forme , and sens the scholastycall trade they haue reygned as in a certayne excellencye .

Iohan Bale .

In thys parcell Leylande expresseth , the most excellent wyttes , the knowledge of tungues , and the manyfolde lyterature of hys Englyshe writers , Lyterature . whose lyues he vttereth in hys . iiij . former bokes at large . Many of them ( he sayth ) were excellent in the thre pryncypall languages , Hebrue , Greke , & Latyne . As concernynge the Hebrue , Hebrues it is to be thought , that many were therin wele learned in the dayes of Kynge Athelstane . For at the instaunt request of his prelates , he caused the scriptures out of that tungue to be by certen doctours translated into the Saxonysh or Englyshe speche , as in the chronycles is mencyoned . Robert Grosthede of Sothfolke , a famouse learned man , & sumtyme byshop of Lyncolne , extracted many thynges out of the Hebrues commentaryes , specyally , he translated the Testament of the Patryarkes , and out of the Greke certen workes of Aristotle , Grekes . Dionyse , and Suidas , besydes that Helena the mother of great Constantyne ded in her tyme . Gildas Cambrius , Claudia Rufina , Constantinus magnus , Maildulphus Scotus , Aldelmus Bladunius , Thobias Cantianus , Bedas Girwinus , Daniel Wentanus , Flaccus Albinus , Ioannes Erigena , Odo Seuerus , Iosephus Denouius , and a grat sort more , in the Greke tungue were very notable . The numbre of good Latyne autours within thys realme , Latines were to longe at thys tyme to be rehearced , besydes the infynyterable of the barbarouse and brawlyng sentencyoners . These he for hys part , and I for my part , haue moste plenteously descrybed , with the dyuersyte of matters in their workes comprehended .

Iohan Leylande .

And as touchyng hystorycall knowledge , Ingens numerus scriptorum rerum Britānicarū . there hath bene to the nombre of a full hundreth or mo , that from tyme to tyme hath with great dylygence , and no lesse , faythe , wolde to God wyth lyke eloquence , perscribed the actes of your moste noble predecessours , and the fortunes of thys your realme , so incredyblye great , that he that hath not seane and throughlye redde theyr workes , can lytle pronounce in thys parte .

Iohan Bale .

Now cometh he in with the talke of hystoryanes and chronyclers of Englande , Chronyclers . whyche hath by all ages most plenteously described the noble actes and fortunes of the same . The nombre of them after hys reckenynge , cometh to more than a full hundreth , great pytie it is , that we haue not abroade those worthye and auncyent monumentes of oure predecessours . Lete no man fynde faulte with thys their nombre , for though it be great , & at the fyrst shewe apereth incredyble to them whych haue not trauayled in that kynde of stodye , yet I perfyghtly knowe it to be true , and also reported here wyth the least . Hystorianes . If we lose the treasure of these authors herin contayned , by the malyce or els flouthfull neglygence of thys wycked age , whych is muche geuen to the destruccyon of thynges memorable , we maye wele lamente and saye wyth the noble clarke Erasmus of Roterdame . Erasmus Wyth muche payne I absteyne from wepynge ( sayth he in a certen Epystle ) so oft as I in readynge the Cataloges of olde writers , do beholde what profyghtes , yea , what pusaunce , ayde , and confort we haue lost . My grefe is also augmented , so oft tymes as I call to remembraunce , what yll stuffe we haue in stede of their good writynges . We fynde for true hystoryes , most fryuolouse fables and lyes , Fables . that we myghte the sonner by the deuyls suggestion , fall into moste depe errours , and so be lost , for not beleuynge the truthe . ij . Tessa. ij .

Iohan Leylande .

Wherfor , after that I had perpended the honest and profytable studyes of these hystoryographers , I was totallye enflamed wyth a loue , to se throughlye all those partes of thys your opulent and ample realme , Peragratio laboriosa totius Britaniae primae . that I hadde redde of in the aforsayd wryters . In so muche that all my other occupacyons intermytted , I haue so traueled in your domynions both by the see coastes and the myddle partes , sparynge neyther labour nor costes by the space of these . vi . yeares past , that there is almost neyther cape nor baye , hauen , creke or pere , ryuer or confluence of ryuers , breches , washes , lakes , meres , fenny waters , mountaynes , valleys , mores , hethes , forestes , woodes , cyties , burges , castels , pryncypall manor places , monasteryes , and colleges , but I haue seane them , and noted in so doynge a whole worlde of thynges verye memorable .

Iohan Bale .

Se what worthy trauayle , this learned man hath taken here ▪ for the many folde commodytees of hys naturall contrey , as a naturall frynde to the same . A frynd Fyrst he perused the profytable monumentes of thys great nombre of olde wryters , and by the serche of them , his studyouse harte was enflamed to procede yet farther . For after he had redde them ouer , he toke vpon hym a verye laboryouse iourney , ouer all the realme euery waye , both by see , and by lande , by the space of . vi . yeares that he might knowe the costes therof , vi . year● . as we le by practyse as by speculacyon , and therby geue instruccions to other . Marke herin his laboriouse and fruteful doinges , and ye shal fynde him no lesse profytable to vs , in the descrypcion of this particular nacyon , that were Strabo , Pliny , Ptholome , and other Geographers to their perusers , Geography . in the pycturinge out of the vniuersall worlde . No smal dyscommodyte were it now to this lande , yf these his worthy labours should after any yll sort perishe . For out of them myght men of sondry occupienges , fatch most wonderful knowledge , for their necessary affayres euery where . Consydre a multitude of thinges here named , yf all their specialtees were broughte fourth ones into lyght , as he hath collected them together , it woulde apere one of the greatest wonders , wonders . that euer yet was seane in this regyon . The heauenly father graunt the conseruacyon of them .

Iohan Leylande .

Thus instructed , I trust shortly to se the tyme , Desriptio totius Britanniae primae in quadrata argenti tabula . that like as Carolus Magnus had among his treasures thre large and notable tables of syluer , rychely enameled , one of the fyte and descripcion of Constantynople , an other of the site and figure of the magnificent citie of Rome , and the third of the descripcion of the worlde . So shall your Maiestie haue thys your worlde and impery of Englande so sett fourthe in a quadrate table of syluer , yf God sende me lyfe to accomplyshe my beginning , that your grace shall haue ready knowledge at the fyrst sighte of many right delectable , fruteful , and necessary pleasures , by contemplacion therof , as often as occasyon shall moue yow to the syghte of it .

Iohan Bale .

Folowinge the example of Charles the great , which had not only the chefe cities of the Greke and Latyne Empires , but also the whole worlde in syluer tables artificially ingraued , Carolus thys Leyland after long dyscourse , set forth in portiture a ryght descripcion of this noble ylande , according to that he hath seane . But whether he perfourmed hys former promyse to Kynge Henry the viij . ( to whome he dedicated thys present treatyse ) whiche was to haue done it in a. iiij . square table of siluer , or other wyse , that can I not groundedly tel . For why , the next yeare after , both the king deceaced , Hērus and Leylande also by a most pytiefull occasion fell besides his wittes , and is not yet fully amended , the heauenly father restore him agayne , to this landes most singular commodite . In that he calleth Englande an empire he doth not otherwyse than ded bothe Iosephus and Egesippus , wyth other notable Historianes . For Iosephus in lib. ij . cap. xxvi . de bello Iudaico , Iosephus sayth in the oracyon of King Agrippa . The Romanes sought an other worlde beyond the great Occeane , sending their mighty power and host in to Britayne , whom they coulde neuer afore those dayes atteyne . The Romanes by strength ( saith Egesippus ) obtayned and other worlde beyonde the Occeane sea , in Brytayne farre from them , Britaine li ij . de excidio Heiroso lymae . The empire therof is manifest in kinge Brennus , in great Constantyne , in Arthure , and in Edwarde the third . This bringe I in here , that men should not disdaynously scorne , that they are yet ignoraunt of .

Iohan Leylande .

And because that it may be more permanent , and farther knowne , then to haue it engraued in syluer or brasse . Liber de Topographia Britanniae primae . I entend by the leaue of God , within the space of . xij . moneths folowyng , such a descripcion to make of your realme in wryttinge , that it shall be no mastery after , for the grauer of painter to make the lyke by a perfect example .

Iohan Bale .

Not only haue this notable wryter and specyall frynde to Englande , collected the monumentes of learnynge & hystorical knowledge , as is afore rehearced , Diuesite but also hath searched oute by his syx yeares labour , al hauens , crekes , ryuers , mountaines , hethes , valleyes , woodes cities , townes , holdes , wyth suche other lyke , after a most wonderful sort . And to make vnto vs an orderly rehersal of the same , he consequently gaue him selfe to the compylinge of a boke , whome in the margende he thus intitled , Liber de Topographia Britanniae primae , Topography . a boke concerninge the descripcyon of the first Britayne . Yf this worke were not yet fully accomplished ( as the matter is now in doubte ) by reason of his troublous dysease , great pytie it were but his labours shoulde come to some learned mannes hande , that he mighte laudably finish it to the commen vse . And although it were not so exactly folowed as he hath begunne it , yet shoulde he be worthy perpetual memory in thys noble nacion , memory for his good wyll and diligence . Many noble workes we reade of , that were left vnperfyght , as their fyrst authors were preuented of deathe , yet for theyr vtilite they haue bene fynished by other good men . As now in oure tyme , the Epitome of Chronicles begunne by Thomas Lanquet , A Chronycle . was laboriously folowed and profytably ended by Thomas Couper a man worthy of continual prayse for so studiouse labours . The lyke also may be sayd of hym , that brought to lyghte the great worke of Edwarde Halle . The Lord dayly prosper so profytable affayres .

Iohan Leylande .

Yea , and to wade further in thys matter , where as now almost no man can wele gesse at the shaddow of the auncyent names of hauens , Restituta uetera locorum in Britannia nomina . ryuers , promontories , hilles , woodes , cities , townes , castelles , and varyete of kyndes of people , that Cesar , Liui , Strabo Diodorus , Fabius Pictor , Pomponius Mela , Plinius , Cornelius Tacitus Ptolomeus , Sextus Rufus , Ammianus , Marcellinus , Solinus , Antoninus , and dyuerse other make mencyon of . I trust so to open this wyndow , that the lyght shal be seane , so long , that is to say , by the space of a whole thousand yeares stopped vp , & the old glory of your renoumed Britaine to reflorish through the worlde .

Iohan Bale .

Folowinge hys most profytable processe , for the syngular bewtye of Englande , he calleth agayne to lyuely memory , the auncyent names of cyties townes , Cytyes . castelles , hylles , hauens , ryuers , and suche lyke , whiche haue bene longe buryed in obliuion , and had vtterly perished , had not those noble wryters , whome he here recyteth , reserued them in their worthie workes to oure behoue . Muche more are we bounde in that poynt , to these foren authors , than to al oure owne Hystorianes , sens the worldes beginninge . And whether we maye iustly ascrybe that to the neglygence of oure forefathers , Negligence . eyther els to the churlyshenesse of them , which hath vnnaturally witholden them so longe tyme from vs , I leaue it to be iudged of them that shal reade this treatise . In this kinde of writinge , haue Leylande plenteously done his part in Commentario Cygneae cantionis , Olde names . in Elencho antiquorum nominum , and in Syllabo dictionum ueterum , besydes hys other labours , whiche we most desierously loke for , at the handes of som worthy man , that wyl shewe his natural harte therin to hys countrey . Greatly is this vnwont maner of stodie , ac●epted now a dayes amonge men of knowledge , and much was vsed of S. Hierome and Lactantius , and is so wele exemplyfyed in the sacred scriptures , Scryptures . as in the profane hystories of the nacions . For Moses calleth Bethlehem , Ephrata , Ge. xxxv . so doth Dauid , and Micheas . Psal. cxxxi . Mic. v. Because that olde name shoulde neuer growe out of knowledge . The cyty that Mathew calleth Cesarea Philippi , Mat. xvi . is named in the olde lawe Lesen , and Laisa , Iosue . xix . and Esa. x. Constantynople of olde wryters is called Bizantium , Roma Latium , and London Trenouantum . London . At this wyll the Papistes and sectaryes laugh scornefully , whiche neyther delyte in kynge , nor contrey , but only seke by subtyltees to vpholde their owne fylthy fleshe in the wicked kyngedome of Antichrist .

Iohan Leylande .

This done , I haue matter at plenty , already prepared to this purpose , that is to saye , to wryte an hystorie , to the whiche I entende to adscribe this title de Antiquitate Britannica , or els ●iuilis historia . De Antiquitate Britannica siue de Ciuili historia , libri quinquaginta . And this worke I entende to dyuyde into so many bokes , as ther be shires in Englande , and shyres & great dominions in wales . So that I esterne that thys volume wyl enclude a fyfty bokes , wherof eche one seuerally shall conteyne the beginninges , encreases , and memorable actes of the chiefe townes , and castelles of the prouince allotted to it .

Iohan Bale .

By this fulfilleth he hys former promyse , which is to clarifye those thinges that oure negligent predecessours , by more then a thousand yeares space , had dyuersely darkened . He hath prepared to our vse , a most noble Chronicle of the Antiquitees of Brytaine , A Chronycle , called the Cyuile hystorie , and conteyninge fyfty bokes . Therin hath euery shire both of Englande and wales , hys particulare boke , comprehendyng theyr orygynalles and contynuall successes bothe of their peoples and gouernours . In them may euery Englysh man , and walshe man as in a clere mirrour seuerally beholde , the memorable actes , prouysions , For all men , commodytees and buyldynges of his owne natyue shyre in it selfe . All the Chronicles of this noble realme , which hathe bene made afore thys age , what though their authors for the more part were men pythely learned , yet at the syghte herof wyll apere , but mistes and shadowes . Shadowes . For neyther obserued they thys most decent order , nor yet declared in so ample maner , matters so necessary , and so manye in nombre . Lete vs therfore moste ernestly praye vnto God the moste plenteouse geuer of all good gytfes , that this noble worke be not cast away by som cruel caterpiller or papyst which disdayneth to further hys owne nacion , neither yet that it be destroyed by an ignoraunt keper or an ydel possessor . But that it may fortunably lighte into the handes of suche a good stuarde of hys , A frynd as is learned and louynge to his nacion , that our natural bretherne and contrey men may ones tast of the swetnesse of so precyouse a frute , and not therof be depryued , to their inestymable discommodyte .

Iohan Leylande .

Then I entende to dystrybute in to syx bokes , Libri sex de insulis Britanniae adiacent bus . suche matter as I haue already collected , concernynge the Isles adiacent to your noble realme , and vndre your subieccion . Wherof . iij. shal be of these Isles , Vecta , Mona , and Menauia , somtime kingedomes .

Iohan Bale .

Consequently hath he herin stretched fourth his hande to the foren Iles parteynynge to this nacyon , the yles for these two naturall purposes . First that his natural contrey men , myghte knowe the sytuacion and hystorycall commoditees of them , and afterwardes that all men dwellynge vndre the worthy dominion of Englande , myghte of his studyouse labours take profyte . No reasonable creature can iustly reprehende a loue extendinge so farre in wele doynge , but rather wyth gentylnesse of humanyte , commende it . Yf all men had remembred this brotherly office , Amyte England had neuer bene so wretchedly spoyled of so many noble monumentes of Antiquite , by a meny of vnnaturall chyldren , yea , rather curyshe bastardes , nothyng els sekinge , but theyr bellyes . And as concernynge the Iles , he hath not done amys in descrybynge them , for as the scriptures mencyoneth , Scryptures . the Lorde hath alwayes had vnto them a respect . For as the kynde of man ouerspredde the whole worlde , by the natural ofspring of Noah , in the hundreth year after the dyluuy or general floude , Gene. ix . the Iles of the Gentyles were anon after , to a serten of them dyuyded , euery man sorted in his kindred , speche , and nacion Gene. x. Gloryfie God in doctrynes . ( sayth Esay ) yow that do dwell in the Iles of the sea , Esaias . and magnyfie the name of the Lorde God of Israel . Esa. xxiiij . And in an other place . The Iles farre of ( sayth almyghty God ) whiche haue not hearde me spoken of , neyther yet haue seane my glory spredde , shall declare my prayse largely , amonge the Gentyles , Esa. lxvi .

Iohan Leylande .

And to superadde a worke as an ornament and a ryght comely garlande , to the enterpryses afore sayd , I haue selected stuffe to be distributed into thre bokes , the which I purpose thus to entytle , De nobilitate Britannica . De nobilitate Britannica libritres . Whereof the fyrst shal declare the names of kynges and quenes wyth theyr chyldren , dukes , earles , lordes , capitaynes , and rulers in this realme to the commynge of the Saxons and their conquest . The seconde shal be of the Saxons and Danes , to the vyctorye of Kyng Willyam the greate . The thirde from the Normannes to the reygne of youre most noble grace , descendynge lyneally of the Brytayne , Saxon , and Norman kynges , So that all noble men shal clerely perceyue theyr syneal parentele .

Iohan Bale .

Se what order he obserueth here , in the ende of this matter . After long discourse of hys laboryouse processe , concernyng the serch of libraries , descripcyon of the lande , edycyon of bokes , Summ● and declaracyon of theyr necessary argumentes , he concludeth with nobilite commendyng it as an ornature of bewtie of all the other . And in hys thre bokes of that tytle , that is to say , of the nobilitie of Brytayne , he comprehendeth the whole succession of kinges with the true dyssent of all noble kynredes vndre them , for the tyme of the raignes of the Brytaynes , nobylyte Saxons , and Normans , whiche only here continued . So that euery noble man within thys regyon , hauinge that worthy worke , myghte clerely beholde as in a pure glasse , hys parentage and successe in bloud , wyth their falles and raises , as the variete of tymes heue geuen it . Whiche were a wonderful matter , and vnto them for dyuerse causes much commodiouse . A noble harte surely had this present author , Noble hart . and a most louynge mynde to hys contrey , employenge hys manifold labours to so diuerse & nedefull matters concerninge the same . Consydre ye noble men , the worthinesse of this noble worke , what profyt might therby arise not only to yow , but also to them , which delyght in the readynge of hystoryes : & as ye beare noble hartes to your contrey & kinredes , do that lyeth in yow , that it perysh not . Make labour that it maye frutefully come abroade , Helpe it as it is frutefully of him collected , that both yow , the realm & the autor may haue honor therof .

Iohan Leylande .

Now yf it shal be the pleasure of almyghty God , that I maye lyue to perfourme these thynges that be alreadye begonne , and in a greate forwardnesse , Conclusio a delectabili & utili . I trust that thys your realme shall so we le be knowne , ones paynted with hys natyue colours , that the renoume therof shal geue place to the glory of no other regyon . And my great laboures and costes , procedinge from the moste habundaunt fountayne of your infinite goodnesse towardes me your pore scholar and most humble seruaunt , shall be euydently seane , to haue not only pleased , but also profyted the studyouse , gentil , and equal reders . This is the briefe declaracyon of my laboriouse iourney , taken by mocyon of your hygnesse , so much studyeng at all houres , about the frutefull preferrement of good letters and auncyent vertues .

Iohan Bale .

Many other workes hath he written , Prynted of whome some are emprinted , as the assercyon of kinge Arthure , the byrthe of Prynce Edwarde , the songe of the swanne , the decease of sir Thomas wiet , the wynnynge of Bullein , and the commendacion of peace . Some are not yet printed , as his colleccions of the Byshoppes of Brytayne , of the vniuersytees of the same , of the orygynall and increase of good learnynges there , of hys Epigrammes and Epitaphes , Vnpryntedr and the lyfe of kynge Sygebert , with many other more . Now in the conclusion , he promysed the ful perfourmaunce of of all his workes to the profyte and pleasure of thys noble nacyon . God lendyng hym lyfe and healthe conuenyent . And hys hope was as myne is , and as is the truthe of the matter , that these thinges ones done , Englande whyche hath of the Italianes , and French men be reckened a barbarouse nacyon , Obscure theyr Monumentes afore tyme not knowne , wyll apere from thens fourthe , equall with the prowdest of them , in prowesse , wysedome , eloquence , polycyes , and in all kyndes of learnynge . Though the stody and labour were Leylandes , in collectynge these noble Antiquitees , yet was the first prouocacyon therunto Kynge Henryes , Kynge Henry . wyth the payment of all hys charges . And so wele ought the one as the other to be therupon perpetually famed . Yf learned men were thus set a worke , euery one in hys vocacyon , of them whyche are men of power , nobylyte wolde shyne more bryghte , & doctryne apere more pure . But alas pryuate cares dystayneth nobylyte , and beggery blemysheth learnynge .

Iohan Leylande .

Christ contynue your most royall estate , and the prosperyte , Cōmunenotum . wyth succession in kyngely dygnyte , of your dere and worthylye beloued sonne prynce Edwarde , grauntynge yow a numbre of pryncely sonnes , by the moste gracyouse , benygne , and modest lady your quene Cataryne .

Ioannes Leylandus Antiquarius .

Iohan Bale .

With S. Paule here in the ende of hys briefe declaracyon , concernynge hys laboryouse iourney , Leylande prayeth for the Kynge , Prayer . takynge Christ as an only medyatour in that behalfe , thynkynge it also an acceptable offyce afore God , so to do i. Timoth. ij . But now that thys noble gouernour is departed and gone to God , it is mete that we from hens fourth returne to the sonne , that in those dayes was due to the father . That is to saye , to desyre that Lorde almyghty through Iesus Christ , Herytag to maynteyne in all vertue , hys most royall estate . For that whych by the scripture was due to the father by hys lyfe tyme , is now by the same , the sonnes ryghte inherytaunce , he beynge dead and gone . Lete vs therfor in our dayly prayers , moste affectuously desyre , that our moste redoubted soueraigne , Kynge Edwarde the sixte , maye haue a prosperouse and longe contynuaunce vpon this earthe , wyth frutefull successyon in kyngelye dygnyte , whan tyme and age shall requyre it . Obedyence . Also for our partes , lete vs endeuer our selues to obeye both hym & hys magistrates in the true feare of God , as those men that of hym hath authoryte and power , to represse malefactours , and to ayde all vertuouse doers , i. Pet. ii . Yf we be bounde to do thys to Ethnyckes and Idolaters , for the publyque offyce sake , muche more lete vs do it to them that be of our christen professyon , and do dayly seke wyth all dylygence possyble , the manyfeste glorye of hys moste holye name . The eternall father confirme both them and vs in the puryte of hys worde , Pray , pray . and graunt that we fashyon our lyues therafter in all mekenesse of sprete , through Iesus Christe hys sonne & the holye Ghost .

So be it . Ioannes Balaeus .
The conclusyon .

MArke sens the worldes begynnynge , how studyouse & dylygent men haue alwayes bene , for the conseruacyon of noble Antiquytees , Antiquytees . Yea , afore any kyndes of letters were yet in vse . For the chyldren of Seth ( as testyfieth Iosephus ) admonyshed by Adam of the destruccyon that shulde folowe by water & fyer , engraued in . ij . pyllours the necessary memoryals of their age . And consydre agayne the wyckednesse of our tyme , how vngracyouse and vntowarde we are in the myddes of floryshynge lyterature , to exercyse ourselues in that moste worthye offyce . Their labour was to holde thynges in remembraunce , Auncetours . whych otherwyse had most wretchedly peryshed . Our practyses now are , to do so muche as in vs lyeth , to destroye their frutefull foundacyons . They were not so ready in settynge vp for their tymes , but we in these dayes are as prompte to plucke downe ( I meane the monumentes of lernynge ) as though the worlde were now in hys lattre dottynge age , nygh drawynge to an ende . The Hebrues , Grekes , and Romanes , Examples . were neuer so towarde in thys noble veyne of workynge , but we haue bene by all ages as vntowarde . Notwithstandynge some worthy doars we haue had , whose noble workes we muche lesse esteme in these dayes , than ded the popysh monkes and prestes for their ydle tymes . For they at the least permytted them a dwellynge place in their lybraryes , though it were amonge wormes and dust . We will not suffre them to abyde wythin our lande , Ignomeny . but eyther we geue them leaue to rotte in vyle corners , or drowne them in our iakes , or els we sende them ouer the see , neuer to returne agayne . Alas I am heauy to tell this tale , yet the naturall loue of my contrey most strongely compelleth me to saye sumwhat therin .

We sende to other nacyons to haue their commodytees , and all is to lyttle to feade our fylthye fleshe . But the syngular commodytees within our owne realme , Commodytees . we abhorre and throwe fourth as most vyle noysome matter . Auydyously we drynke the wynes of other landes , we bye vp their frutes & spyces , yea , we consume in aparell their sylkes & their veluettes . But alas our owne noble monumentes and precyouse Antiquytees , whych are the great bewtie of our lande , we as lyttle regarde as the parynges of our nayles , Antiochus , Herode , & Dyoclecyane , are wonderfully yet spotted in the most authorysed chronycles , & haue vpon their heades a double note of tyranny , Tyrauntes . for cruellye destroyenge the monumentes of nacyons , specyally of christen relygyon . The moste spyghtfull acte of the seyd Dioclecyane , Gyldas Badonicus muche lamenteth in hys worke of the destruccyon of Brytayne , declarynge how he in the open stretes there , brent all the scriptures & godlye writynges that myghte anye where be founde . Eutropius sheweth in the sixt boke of hys Romane hystory , Eutropius . that Achillas a duke sekynge to do myschefe agaynste hys emprour , fyered a lybrary of fortie thousande bokes , a syngular monument of study & of dylygence amonge the Grekes , whyche wyth excedynge labour and layser had gathered so wurthye workes of so noble wyttes in so great nombre togyther . Iacke Strawe and watte Tyler . ij . rebellyouse captaynes of the commens in the tyme of Kynge Richarde the seconde , Iack Straw . brent all the lawers bokes , regesters , and writynges within the cytie of London , as testifyeth Iohan Maior and Fabyane in their chronycles .

The Anabaptystes in our tyme , Anabaptistes . an vnquyetouse kynde of men , arrogaunt without measure , capcyose and vnlerned , do leaue non olde workes vnbrent , that they maye easely come by , as apered by the lybraryes at Mynster in the lande of Westphaly , whom they most furyously destroyed . An able wytnesse of thys their wycked custome , is Petrus Plateanus amonge many others in hys treatyse agaynst their dogged doynges . Libros omnes exurunt ( inquit ) indignantes se ab alio , quam ab ipso suo spiritu doctos uideri Miserum est cernere Bibliothecas non ignobiles ab execranda secta hoc modo aboleri . Lybraryes . The Anabaptistes burne all bokes ( sayth he ) without respect , thynkynge scorne of any other sprete to seme learned , than of theyr owne fanatycall braynes . A wretched thynge it is to beholde , the noble lybraryes so to be destroyed of that execrable secte . Antonius Coruinus sayth also in hys boke agaynst them . Coruinus Anabaptistarum furor , optimos quosque autores , ac●ictustissima uenerande Antiquitatis exemplaria absumpserunt in Bibliotheca Osnaburgensi . The fury or frantycke madnesse of the Anabaptistes , hath consumed awaye the most excellent writers and the moste noble exemplaryes of honorable Antiquyte , in the worthie lybrary of Osnaburg . I coulde brynge out a great nombre of lyke testimonyes , Lerned men . from Oecolampadius , Zuinglius Bullinger , Caluyne , and Philyppe Melanchton , wyth other of the most notable wryters of our age , concernynge thys vngracyouse vyolence of these chymney prechers and benche bablers , but lete these two rehearced at thys tyme suffyse .

I wyshe all naturall noble hartes , and fryndely men to theyr contrey , as we le worldelye occupyers as men of bloude ryall , to consydre those myscheuouse examples of these cruell tyrauntes & wycked Anabaptistes , Examples . that they myghte so abhorre them , and wyth all endeuour possyble auoyde the lyke . And that they maye gather an erneste occasyon so to do , I brynge them in here moste worthye examples of theyr forefathers in thys lande , to contrary and blemysh theyr frantycke and furyouse factes . Nennius Helius that noble Brytayne , Nennius primus . brother to Cassibellanus and Luddus , is reported the fyrst that euer collected the famouse actes of the Britaynes . And therto ( some men saye ) he was fyrst moued , by that he hadde hearde of Reutha the Kynge of Scottes , whyche sumwhat afore hys tyme hadde done the lyke concernynge that regyon . An other sorte applyeth it vnto the contencyon , whiche was betwyn Kynge Luddus hys brother and hym , Opynions . suche tyme as he transposed the cytie of Troynouaunt now called London . For in the transposynge therof , he chaunged the name , and from thens fourth called it Luddes towne , whyche as a frynde to Antiquyte , he greuouslye toke , for so muche as the noble name of Troye , shoulde by that meanes come to vtter oblyuyon wythin the lande . Those colleccyons Nennius the Prouost of Bannochor , Nennius alter not farre from Westchestre , a man christenlye lerned for hys tyme , more than . vi . hondred yeares after translated into Latyne out of the Brittyshe language , as it is reported of the olde Brityshe wryters .

Huldricus Mutius rehearceth in the. viij . boke of hys chronycle of the Germanes , that Charles the great so muche regarded Antiquytees , Charles that he intermytted no daye , but at one tyme or other he alwayes therin redde eyther some auncyent hystorye or els the sacred scriptures . Alcuinus the Deacon , an Englyshe man , whyche was in those dayes hys chefe instructour , in a serten epystle that he writeth to the vniuersall churche of Englande , he muche commendeth a Biblyotheke or lybrary in Yorke , buylded by the archebyshoppe Egbert , Alcuinus for the noble monumentes that were conserued therin .

Date mihi ( inquit ) eruditionis libellos , quales in patriae mea Anglia , per industiam magisti mei Egberti habui , & remittam uobis aliquos ex pueris nostris , ut excipiant inde necessaria , & reuehant in Franciam flores Britanniae . Et non sit tantum in Eboraco hortus conclusus , sed etiam in Turonia emissiones paradisi . Permyt me to coppie out ( sayth he ) suche lerned volumes or bokes of erudycyon , Bobes . as I sometyme had rule of , in my natyue contreye Englande , by the appoyntment of my mastre Egbert . And I shall sende of oure yonge men thydre to coppye out thynges necessarye , and so to brynge into Fraunce the swete smellynge floures of Britayne . Lete not the wele kepte garden be so reserued in Yorke , but that we maye also taste in Turon the frutes of that swete paradyse . Dylygence . Se how studyouse and laboryouse men were in those dayes , not onlye for the conseruacyon of their lerned mennyes labours , but also that other nacyons shoulde haue profyte of them . Muche altered are we from that golden worlde , nowadayes .

Lyke storyes do we reade , of Kyng Sigebert and Kynge Alphrede here in Englande , Kynges whyche not only sought out the best lerned men of theyr tymes to instruct their owne persones and famylyes , but also they appoynted certen houres euerye daye , for theyr owne pryuate studyes . In the ende , for increase of all kyndes of lernynge , they reared vp the. ij . vnyuersytees or generall studyes of Cambridge and Oxforde , bryngynge thydre all monumentes of doctryne , as a most necessarye mayntenaunce and ornature to the same , whyche are in our dayes full myserablye decayed to oure realmes no small dyshonour . decayed But the cause therof maye easely be coniectured . In these lattre dayes , wherin Christ hath geuen to hys tyered congregacyon , the sylence of halfe an houre , or peace for a tyme without persecucyon of tyrauntes furyouse , Apoca. viij . God hath geuen to vs here in Englande wythall , that he sumtyme gaue to hys chosen people the Hebrues in the foren prouynces . He hath changed the harte of the lyon into the hate of our mortall enemye , Edward vtterlye to destroye hym and all suche as consent to hys myschefes , Hester in the. xiiij . cap. The harte of our noble Kynge is clerelye auerted from the cruell Haman of Rome , and from hys dysgysed tormentours that so gredyly sought the innocent bloude of hys people . Wherupon that rable of papystes careth not now what becometh of thys realme . They muche reioyce whan the honour therof turneth to destruccyon , as in thys decaye of lybraryes . papistes So longe as Antichrist reygned , they were both writers and speakers , but sens Christ came abroade eyther grace and lernynge hath fayled them , or els they mynde to bestowe non vpon hym . Yet some in corners hath bene folebolde , as hath wele apered by that wytlesse monstre whyche made the laste wylle of heresye , and forte of moste open Idolatrye , wyth suche other dottynge dastardes .

Now to turne agayne to the worthye examples , of them that hadde respect to the honour of theyr contrey . That noble and valyaunt captayne syr Iohan Oldecastell , called also the Lorde Cobham , Iohan Cobham . perceyuynge the outrage of the Romyshe popes clergye in hys tyme agaynste the good doctryne of Iohan Wicleue , caused all hys workes to be coppyed oute by moste fayre wryters , at his owne great cost and charge , and so connayed them into the lande of Berne , that they myghte be there preserued from destruccyon . Some parauenture wyll not allowe thys facte , wicleue for so muche as their pope hath condempned Iohan Wicleue for an heretyke . But lete suche lewde papystes dwell styll in theyr accustomed frenesie , we knowe by hys doctryne that he was a true Apostle of Christ . Humfrey the good Duke of Glocestre , Humfrey . for the fauer he bare to good letters , purchased a wonderfull nombre of bokes in all scyences , wherof he frely gaue to a lybrary in Oxforde , a hondred and. xxix . fayre volumes . Thomas Gascoigne reporteth in hys boke of the floudes of Babylon , that the kynges here in Englande , were wonte to holde a great nombre of good writers within the monasteryes of their foundacyons , to non other ende , but only to coppie out the memorable workes of olde writers specyally of the hystoryanes and chronyclers , that they myghte in their lybraryes perpetually remayne , appoyntynge them great stypendes . And thys worthie example they had from tyme to tyme of their fathers and predecessours . writers . But alas ( sayth he ) they now peryshe and come in great nombre to nought for want of renuynge . What myghte thys good man haue sayde in our tyme , yf he had seane this pyteouse desolacyon that we now beholde ?

A fewe of vs there be , that woulde gladly saue the moste necessary monumentes of their dyspersed remnaunt . But wretched pouerte wyll not permyt vs , Pouerte to shewe to our contrey suche a naturall and necessary benefyte . Neyther wyll they permyt vs theyr olde coppyes , whyche haue them in possessyon , but rather they suffre them to rotte vndre their handes . Whan Bedas of Iaru wrote the chronycles of the Englyshe Saxons , he had all the helpe that myghte be of the byshoppes & lerned men here . Helpers Cymbertus wrote vnto hym all that was done in the prouynce of Lyndesay , now called lyncolne shiere . Nothelmus sent to hym also all that he hadde gathered togyther in Sussex , Sothray , & Kente . Alcuinus gaue hym hys labours & colleccyons for the prouynce of Yorke . Daniel of wynchestre made hym peny of all that was done amonge the West saxons . And from all other quarters of the land , were letters , scroules , and wrytinges , dyrected by massengers vnto him , to ayde that godly enterprise of his . As it was ones noysed abroade in our tyme , that Conradus Gesnerus a great learned man of Tygur in Germany , Gesnerus was minded to put fourth his vniuersall Bibliotheke of all kindes of wryters , a nombre of learned men in Germany , Fraunce , & Italy , serched out the names of many straunge authors , with the tytles of their workes , and sente their good labours vnto him to amplifie the same . So ded the printers also the cataloges and regestres of their printed workes , to the furtheraunce of good learninge and honest report of their names , Helpers as vndoubted they all for so doynge are worthye . I would to our lord that we had within this lande a nombre of learned men of the same honest zele to letters . So shulde our noble Antiquitees and monumentes of learninge be knowne to our posteryte , and our people be replenished with all kyndes of good knowledge .

In all ages of the churche ( saythe Baptista Mantuanus in Apologetico ) had we men of eloquence and lernynge , Mantuanus . so we le whan it was in the Apostles time planted , as whan it was in the dayes of the Martyrs watered , and vndre the auncyent fathers and doctours noryshed and refreshed . Whyche sentence myghte as wele be founde true in thys oure Bryttyshe nacyon , as eyther in Asia , Palestyne , or Rome , in Ioseph of Arimathy and hys companyons which fyrst taught vs the Christen fayth here , in Lucius the kynge , teachers Amphibalus , Aaron and Iulius . And last of all in Ninianus , Patricius , Elcutus , Dubrice Dauid , Congellus , Kentingerne , Asaph Gildas , and a greate sorte more , yf we had not in place of our true Antiquitees , moste deuylyshe fables and lyes . Whan the boke of Gods lawe , whiche Moses wrote , was founde in the chest of the Leuytes , good kynge Iosias with the congregacyon of the Lorde , Iosias very muche lamented the blindnesse and ignoraunce of theyr fathers , for the want therof , and their owne mysfortune ( as they than thought it ) that they had ben so longe wythout it . ij . Parali . xxxiiij . A notable maner had the Prophane or Ethnyck Prynces and Magistrates , in reseruyng the excellent frutes of profounde and rare wyttes for theyr posteryte , as are the noble workes of Socrates , Plato , Cicero , Virgyl , Arystotle , and Pliny . The nature of the ignoble and curryshe generacyon of Antichrist , Antichrist . hath alwayes ben busied , seking contrary wyse to obscure all thynges , that contayned any veryte necessarye . So come all sciences for the time of his reygne , barbarysed , darkened and peruerted , by the Sophysters and subtyle Summistes , besydes their fylthie handelynges of the sacred scryptures .

Christ condempned the pharisees , not for professynge the knowledge of the lawe , but for hydinge and corruptinge the ryght vnderstandinge therof , & for holdynge the people in a very wycked blyndnesse , Math. xxiij . Pharsees . And contrary wyse he most amyably perswaded his dere dyscyples and fryndes , that they shoulde in no wise hyde or conuaye vndre a bushel , the lyghte whyche he had appointed to be shewed fourth abroad . Luce. xi . Yf we that by a name of Christianyte , professe hys relygon in baptym , be not wyth hym , we are vtterly agaynste hym , and so procure to oureselues . Helpers Mathe. xij . Lete one noble man therfore , nowe that the scryptures are plenteously spredde , bring fourth one noble author , and an other emprinte an other , to the conseruacion of Englandes Antiquitees . In lyke case lete one ryche merchaunte brynge one worthye worke of an auncyent wryter to lyght , and an other put fourth an other , to the bewtie of our nacyon . Besides the Bryttyshe authors , whome I oft named afore , lete one bryng fourth Bedas ge gestis Anglorum , Bedas an other Willyam of Malmesbery de gestis Pontificum & Regum . Lete an other brynge fourth Simeon of Durham wyth Rycharde and Iohan of Haugustalde , an other Aldrede , and Wyllyam of Rieuall wyth Marianus the Scott . An other Giraldus Cambrensis , an other Henry of Huntyngton , an other Alphrede of Beuerlay , an other Florence of Worcestre , and an other Walter of Excestre An other Roger Houeden , an other Mathew Parys , on other Iohan Beuer , an other Radulphus Niger , Writers an other Radulphus de Diceto , an other William Newburg of Bridlington , an other Iohan of Oxforde , An other Scala temporum , an other Flores historiarum , Asserius , Obseruus , Geruasius , Stephanides , and Richardus Diuisiensis of winchestre , wyth a wonderfull nombre besydes .

As muche , yea , rather more , is vnfrutefully consumed at one belly banket than woulde paye the charges of thre of these famouse workes . Let all noble hartes consydre the vanyte therof , Considre & what honest fame might aryse by these doynges , as we le to their owne persones as to their maturall contrey . Plinius ( as I remembre ) hathe thys very notable sentence , that one to helpe an other , is a most comelinesse in the mortal kynde of man . The Philosopher sayth also , the more commen to mannes vse , and good thyng is made , the more profitable and precyouse it is . Mark it So wele is he worthy of perpetuall fame that bringeth a good worke to lyghte , as is he that fyrst ded make it , & ought alwaies to be reckened the second father therof . For as Vlpianus reporteth in his Pandectes , it is all one , a thynge not to be , and not to apere to the commen vse . No edyfyenges on the earth , are to be compared to thys , yf we haue respecte to durable fame and renoume . All the Pantheons , Palaces , Amphitheaters , Castels , Capitols , and other monstruouse buyldinges of the worlde , buildinges . are not to vs so notable , as is yet the name of one Theophilus a citiezen of Antioche , to whom S. Luke in his tyme only dedicated his Gospel and Actes . No , neyther the Labyrinth of Dedalus , nor yet the great pyllers of Hercules , neyther yet here in England the Stonheng of Salysbury playne , whyche ) they say ) was brought thydre from Irelande , by Merlyne the Prophete of Wales . Merline What els hath reduced the name of sir Iohan Bourchier the lord Barners to a fame immortal , but hys translacyon of frossardes Chronycle from Frenche into Englyshe .

O that we had now the floryshyng workes of Gildas , Gildas . surnamed Cambrius , that moste noble Poete and Historyane of the Britaines , which wrote in the tyme of kynge Aruiragus , when S. Peter yet preached to the dispersed bretherne . The Venecyans more than lxxxviij . yeares ago for theyr commodite coulde fatche them out of Irelande , & haue them yet commen both at Venys and Rome , accountynge them a very specyal treasure . We neyther seke them , couete them , nor regarde them , though they be of our land the most precyouse Antiquitees and excellent memoryalles of learnynge , antiquite as testyfyeth both Lilius Gyraldus in uitis poetarum , and also Pontius Virunnius in historia Britannica . I pray God we may ones rightly way our owne slouthful neglygence in thynges which myghte be greatlye to our honour . Then shoulde we sone perceyue , what a poynt it were of ignobylyte , to suffre such workes to perysh as we dayly with our eyes beholde . I haue hearde it amonge straungers reported , Straungers . that Englysh men are fryndely in thinges which lasteth not , as in bankettes and late suppers . But lete thys be veryfyed of the vayne and inconstant Papistes of our nacyon , and not of vs Christianes , whyche ought to be of a farre other disposycyon . Lete vs applye our studyes , to geue to our foren Christen fryndes , thynges lastyng & durable , durable . as they haue full learnedly done vnto vs in most ample maner . Suche may be most of al the noble and worthie monumentes of our lande here , truly gathered , to the manyfolde prayse of our eternall lyuynge God , whyche hathe in these lattre dayes , visited both them , & vs wyth innumerable giftes of his heauenly grace . To whom be glory wythout ende . Amen .

Thus endeth the laboriouse iourney and searche of Iohan Leyland , for Englandes Antiquitees , with declaracyons enlarged by Iohan Bale . Anno , M.D.XLIX . Haue loue to your naturall countrey , as had Abraham , Isaac , Iacob , Ioseph , Moses , Iosue , Gedeon , Mathathias , and other noble capitaynes to the lande of Israel . Seke the confort and honor therof , as ded these worthy fathers , and not the cruel desolacyon as ded Ismael , Esau Ouan , Nabal , Achitofel , Antiochus , Alchimus , Triphon , the Prestes of Bahal , and other notatable traitours . A wyse man whiche applyeth hys mynde to vnderstande Goddes lawe , wyll busy hym selfe to seke wysedome out from all Antiquite , and exercyse his wittes in the prophets . He obserueth the sayenges , of famouse men , and laboureth to perceyue darke sentences , of wysdome . Ecclesiast. xxxix .

As I had fynyshed this present Treatyse , a frind of Iohan Leylande brought me these verses of hys , to emprint them wyth the worke , leaste any thinge shulde perysh that came from hym . And I was as glad to perfourme it , as he was to desyre it . I woulde I myghte so wele geue vnto my readers the most noble worke of his Epigrammes , as these fewe verses folowynge .

MOlliter hic tumulus Thomae legit ossa Milonis , Cui ter quinque Deus lustra uidere dedit . Sic uitam instituit sanctam , moresque pudicos , Illius ut cuncti fa●ta suprema gemant , Sic ornamentis sacra hanc decorauit & aedem Se dibus ut niteant aurea quaeque suis. Ergo s●meritis pateat locus ullus , amoenum Inter coelicolas possidet ille locum . ☞ De calumniante Croco , Me fatuum Curuus , fatuorum maximus ille Imperio quodam praedicat esse suo . Vt sim , me Furiae non torquent , illius urgent Clade Mathematicum nocte dieque caput .
A Regystre of the names of Englysh Wryters , whome the seconde part of my worke , de Scriptoribus Britannicis , shall comprehend as it cometh fourthe .
Iohan Bale to the readers .

AN occasyon ( me thinketh ) is offered me here , to exhybit som part of my studious labours to the vse of my brethren , I wold I were as able to geue them the whole contentes therof , as I coulde fynde in my harte to do it out of hande frely . Sens I returned home agayne from Germany , where as I both collected , and emprented my symple worke , de Scriptoribus Britannicis I haue for the full correccyon and further augmentacyon of the same , perused many libraries both in Cambridge and Oxforde . In the famouse cytye of London , is but one knowne library , so farre as I can learne , whyche also by fauer I haue seane ouer . But alas for pytie , that it shoulde be reported of so noble a cytie , to haue but one lybrary , and that to be so slendre a thing as it is The tyme hath bene , whan it hath had a great nombre of the noblest libraries in all Christendome , their destenecyon at this daye , of men godly mynded , is muche to be lamented . Though the acte were most commendable , to suppresse the dysgysed sectes of the Romyshe Antichrist , and so to bannyshe them hens , yet can not the sufferaunce of this so heauy a ruine of Englandes noble monumentes , be so iudged of men wyse & learned , but alas , farre otherwyse .

Their temples for the more parte , 〈◊〉 their other buyldynges , remayne yet styll , vnbroken , Alac whie myghte not theyr libraries as we le haue remained to the commen wealth of learnynge , vndestroyed ? Among the stacyoners & bokebynders , I found many notable Antiquitees , of whom I wrote out the tytles , tymes , and begynnynges , that we myghte at the leaste shewe the names of them , though we haue not as now , their whole workes to shewe . Yf the byshop of Romes lawes , decrees decretals , extrauagantes , clementines and other suche dregges of the deuyll , yea yf Heytesburyes ●●phlsmes , Porphyryes vniuersals , Aristotles olde so gyckes and Dunse & dyuynyte , wyth such other lowsy legerdemaynes , and frutes of the bottomlesse pytte , had leaped out of our libraries , and so becomen couerynges for bokes comminge from the foren nacyons , we might wele haue ben therwith contented . But to put our auncient Chronicles , our noble hystoryes , our learned commentaryes & homelyes vpon the scriptures , to so homely an office of subieccyon & vtter contempte we haue both greatly dishonoured our nacyon , and also shewed our selues very wycked to our posteryte .

Now lete me returne to my laboriouse serche for olde and new wryters . I haue bene also at Norwyche , oure seconde cytie of name , and there all the library monumentes , and turned to the vse of their grossers , candelmakers sope sellers , and other worldly occupyers , so studyouse haue we ben there for a commen wealth , and so careful of good lernyng , o negligence most vnfryndly to our nacion . I woulde haue bene sory to haue vttered so obscure a facte , had not the vngentilnesse of the thing required it , to the warnyng of them whiche shall come after , for doyng the lyke to the hinderaunce of the realme . As much haue I saued both there & in certen other places of Northfolke and Southfolke concerning the authors names & tytles of their workes , as I could , & as much wold I haue done through our the whole realm , yf I had bene able to haue borne the charges , as I am not . Wherfor my dere con●rey men , such as are zelouse to their nacion & desirouse of good knowledge , in the residue shall accept at thys tyme , my good wil for my facte . These are the notable writers , whose names I haue gathered , & whose manifold frutes of doctrine I am redy to shew , yf the lord make me of power to perfourme it besides the diligent recognicion & increacementes of my first labors .

The names . ADalbertus spaldingēsis Adamus Cartusiensis . Adamus abbas dorensis . Adamus anglicus Cisterciensis . Adamus abbas Rieuallis . Adamus Saxlyngham . Adamus Hemlynghton . Adamus Eston Cardinalis . Adamus Salthus . Adamus de Nidzarde . Adamus Mirymouth . Adelardus Bathomensis . Achardus Anglicus . Aegidius de foeno . Albertus episcopus Lincolnie . Albanus somniator . Allexander de S. Albano . Alexander Carpentarius . Alexander Barkeley . Alfricus Archiepiscopus . Alphredus Capellanus . Alienora Regina . Andreas Horne . Andreas Ammonius . Anglicus Ceriptor . Antonius fizherberde . Antonius Cooke . Antonius Gylby . Arnoldus Ciuis Londinensis . Arnulphus Abbas . Astulphus Monachus . Arturius Kelton . Atroclius , et Isanus . Baldewinus Cantuariensis . Bartholomeus Dunelmensis . Bartholomeus de Culey . Bartholomeus Exoniensis . Benedictus Anglicus . Bernardus Syluester . Bernardus Morlanensis . Bylyngham Philosophus . Brito Monachus Nordouicensis . Bridferthus Ramesiensis . Bridlyngtonus quidam . Brenkyll Monorita . Bocfastus Philosophus . Boedanus Anglus . Bostonus Buryensis . Canonicus Regularis . Caratocus Nancaruan . Castertonus Monachus . Christophorus Nolhamsensis . Christophorus Seyn Iermayn . Clemens Lanthoniensis . Cornelius Hibernus . Chronica Anonymorum . Commentatores Merlini . Cowtonus Archiepiscopus . Cuthbertus de Iaru . Cuthwinus Wiremuthensis . Daniel Ceretus . Daniel Churche . Dauid Taualegus . Dauid Lyndesey . Dionysius Holkam . Dynley Carmelita . Downeham Theologus . Eadmundus de Abendon . Eadmundus Dudley . Eadmundus Alen. Eboracensis Episcopus . Edwardus Foxus . Edwardus Walshe . Edwardus . vi . Anglorum Rex . Elbodus Cpiscopus . Eremita quidam . Franciscanus Historicus . Franciscus Bygot . Frater Perscrutator . Fridegodus Anglus . Frisyngfelde Grammaticus . Foluyle Minorita . Fuldebertus Persorensis . Galfridus de Hyngham . Galfridus Vinesauf . Galfridus Lynge . Gawinus Douglas . Georgius folberius . Georgius Lilius . Gerardus Puella . Geraldus Cornubiensis . Geruasius Tilberius . Geruasius de Partho . Gilbertus Westmonasteriensis . Gilbertus Buckenham . Gilbertus de Legle . Gilbertinus Anglicus . Gisla et Richtruda . Glaundenyle Iurista . Godfridus Wintoniensis . Godfridus Cornubiensis . Godfridus Eglyn . Godwinus Sarisburiensis . Gregorius de Cairguent . Gregorius de Huntyngdon . Gregor●us Bridlyngtonensis . Gualtherus Archiepiscopus . Gualtherus Mapes . Gualtherus Euesham . Gualtherus de Hibernia . Gualtherus Bokedene . Gualtherus Heston . Gualtherus Gysborne . Gualtherus Wymborne . Gualtherus Tiryngton . Gualtherus Excestre . Gualtherus Mogolanensis . Gualtherus Catchepoll . Gualtherus de Hylton . Gualtherus de Landu . Gualtherus Britte . Gualtherus Parker . Guido de Marchis . Guilhelmus Gemeticensis . Guilhelmus Hanaberg . Guilhelmus Myluerley . Guilhelmus Heythisbury . Guilhelmus de Pagula . ij . Guilhelmus Notyngham . Guilhelmus Radynges . Guilhelmus Sudbury . Guilhelmus de Kyngesham . Guilhelmus Encourt . Guilhelmus Lyncolne . Guilhelmus Conches . Guilhelmus Brunyarde . Guilhelmus Northfelde . Guilhelmus Lubbenham . Guilhelmus Massiliensis . Guilhelmus de Burgo . Guilhelmus de Rubrouke . Guilhelmus de sancta fide . Guilhelmus Wigorniensis . Guilhelmus Norton . Guilhelmus de Dalton . Guilhelmus Sternefelde . Guilhelmus Briton . Guilhelmus Suthflet . Guilhelmus Haruy. Guilhelmus Beanfu . Guilhelmus de sancto Albano . Guilhelmus Leycestre , de montibus . Guilhelmus de Ramesey . Guilhelmus Harsick . Guilhelmus Wyckham . Guilhelmus Bongeuilla . Guilhelmus Salisbury . Guilhelmus Beckle . Guilhelmus Rimyston . Guilhelmus Iue . Guilhelmus Seyton . Guilhelmus Stapylhart . Guilhelmus Galyon . Guilhelmus Copynger . Guilhelmus Whetley . Guilhelmus Grene. Guilhelmus Chireburg . Guilhelmus Lyssy . Guilhelmus Docreda . Guilhelmus Anglicus . Guilhelmus Southampton . Guilhelmus Sutton . Guilhelmus Excestre . Guilhelmus Butler . Guilhelmus Rowell . Guilhelmus Paris . Guilhelmus Byntre . Guilhelmus de Nangis . Guilhelmus de Risshang . Guilhelmus Botoner . Guilhelmus Shubbis . Guilhelmus Horman . Guilhelmus Grocinus . Guilhelmus Latimerus . Guilhelmus Melton . Guilhelmus Roye . Guilhelmus Barlowe . Guilhelmus Thynne . Guilhelmus Parfeius . Henricus de Esseburne . Henricus Crixstede . Henricus Salteriensis . Henricus Costesay . Henricus Bracton . Henricus Harkeley . Henricus Swmesius . Henricus La vyle . Henricus Parker . Henricus Bradsha . Henricus Bulle●us . Henricus Brinkelowe . Henricus Howerde comes . Helizabetha filia Regis . Herebertus Nordouicensis episcopus . Hibernicus quidam . Huggonus Pseudo propheta . Hugo de Euesham . Hugo de sancto Neoto . Hugo de Nouo caltro . Hugo Sotouagina . Hugo Legat. Hugo de Hibernia . Hugo de Snexeth . Hugo de Matiscon . Ioannes Chilmarke . Ioannes Tartais . Ioannes Rocheforth . Ioannes Anglicus . Ioannes Bampton . Ioannes Langdene . Ioannes Wyckam . Ioannes Lutterell . Ioannes Oxrach . Ioannes Bloxham Carmelita . Ioannes Bloxham Mertonensis . Ioannes de Beuerlaco . Ioannes Somerset . Ioannes Athon vel Acton . Ioannes Repyngale . Ioannes Ridenaus . Ioannes Sharpe . Ioannes Hylton . Ioannes Wylton . Ioannes de sancto Eadmundo . Ioannes Dumbleton . Ioannes Seuerle . Ioannes Fordeham . Ioannes Cornubiensis . Ioannes Clippeston . Ioannes Rodyngton . Ioannes Somerton . Ioannes Alyngton . Ioannes Seguarde . Ioannes Elyn . Ioannes Driton . Ioannes Goodwyck . Ioannes Amundysham . Ioannes Withamstede . Ioannes Multon . Ioannes Wellys monachus . Ioannes Palmer . Ioannes Wychyngham . Ioannes Manduyt . Ioannes Louey . Ioannes Sloley . Ioannes de Tynmouth . Ioannes de Burgo . Ioannes Lathbury . Ioannes Latimerus . Ioannes Holbroke . Ioannes de Mare . Ioannes Dewros . Ioannes Bury . Ioannes botrell . Ioannes Felton . Ioannes Flete . Ioannes Dalton . Ioannes Stukey . Ioannes Langton . Ioannes de Musca . Ioannes Kylyngworth . Ioannes de Merisco . Ioann●s brydlyngton . Ioannes Ouynhell . Ioannes Blak●n●y . Ioannes Gower . Ioannes Eboracensis Cardi. Ioannes Basyngstoke . Ioannes Colley . Ioannes Garlande . Ioannes Lelandus senior . Ioannes Aldar . Ioannes Euerisden . Ioannes Kenyngale . Ioannes Estby . Ioannes Kent . Ioannes Maylart . Ioannes Roxburgensis . Ioannes Stambrigius . Ioannes Spyne . Ioannes Claymundus . Ioannes Constable . Ioannes Skelton . Ioannes Batmanson . Ioannes Sowle . Ioannes Basset . Ioannes Rixe . Ioannes Skuysh . Ioannes Freas . Ioannes Gwynneth . Ioannes Dedecus . Ioannes Houghton . Ioannes Byrde . Ioannes Heliar . Ioannes Mylis . Ioannes Longlonde . Ioannes Robyns . Ioannes Powelus . Ioannes Felde . Ioannes baretus . Ioannes Rhesus . Ioannes Aldristus . Ioannes Marbeck . Ioannes Hales . Ioannes Heron. Ioannes Veron . Ioannes Olde . Ioannes Foxus . Iocelinus de Brakelonde . Isanus et Atroclius . Iuliana barnes . Iulianus Britannus . Iunetus Anglus . Kilyngtonus Decanus Pauli . Karewe Oxoniensis . Laurentius Dunelmensis . Laurentius Cunde . Laurentius de Somercote . Laurentius Russius . Lachbertus Abbas . Lenthwardinus Theologus . Leonardus Coxus . Libri Anonymorum . Liuinus Archiepiscopus . Lucas Bosden . Lucas Sheparde . Ludouicus Cairleon . Ludouicus Sharleton . Ludouicus wager . Machutes Britannus . Martinus de Clyuo . Martinus Sculthorpe . Mattheus Vtudocinensis . Michael Cornubiensis . Minorita Herefordensis . Monachus de Euesham . Nicolas Brekendale . Nicolaus Mamacutius . Nicolaus Fakynham . Nicolaus Botlesham . Nicolaus Bungey . Nicolaus Bollare . Nicolaus Astone . Nicolaus Ratclyff . Nicolaus Cartusianus . Nicolaus Hostresham . Nicolaus Grimoaldus . Nicolaus Brigan . Nicolaus Lesseus . Nigellus de Werekere . Nigellus Eligensis . Ocleff Anglus . Odo de Ceritonia . Oliuerus Britannus . Osbertus de Clara. Paulus Middelburge . Petrus Londinensis canonicus . Petrus Babyon . Petrus de quesnell . Petrus Rugiensis . Petrus Kenyngale . Petrus wattes . Philippus Nycols . Prior Trinitatis Londini . Pupwell Sophista . Radulphus Niger . Radulphus de Diceto . Radulphus Archiepiscopus . Radulphus Spaldynge . Radulphus Strodus . Radulphus Westmonasteriensis . Radulphus de Longo campo . Radulphus de Coggeshale . Radulphus bockynge . Radulphus Acton . Radulphus de Marham . Radulphus Ratclyff . Radulphus Skynner . Reginaldus Cantuariensis . Reginaldus Langham . Reginaldus de Piperno . Reginaldus Mohun . Reginaldus Polus . Ricardus Diuisiensis . Ricardus prior Eligensis . Ricardus Medicus . Ricardus Belgraue . Ricardus walyngforth . Ricardus Hagustaldensis . Ricardus Crolandiensis . Ricardus blyton . Ricardus Wetheringsete . Ricardus Folsham . Ricardus Londini Decanus Ricardus Depedale . Ricardus Remyngton . Ricardus Snedysham . Ricardus Porlonde . Ricardus Tenet . Ricardus Flemmynge . Ricardus le Ruys . Ricardus Conyngton . Ricardus Wichyngham . Ricardus Feribrydge . Ricardus Langlande . Ricardus Premonstratensis , Ricardus Ryce . Rhithmi Plures . Robertus Crickladensis . Robertus dux Glocestrie . Robertus Veyse . Robertus Dodeforde . Robertus Tuyforde . Robertus Alyngton . Robertus Oxforde . Robertus Curson . Robertus Ormeskirke . Robertus Balsac . Robertus de monte Michaelis . Robertus Pullus seu Polenius . Robertus Fynyngham . Robertus Mascall . Robertus Strodus . Robertus Scriba de bridlyngton . Robertus de Leycestria . Robertus Bale scriba Londinensis . Robertus Bale Burnehamensis . Robertus Shyngleton . Robertus Whyttyngton . Robertus Recorde . Robertus Crowley . Rogerus whelpedale . Rogerus Computista . Rogerus Cestriensis . Rogerus Swynesheade . Rogerus de Wyndore . Rogerus Herefordensis . Rogerus Dymmocke . Rogerus blake Monachus . Rogerus de Waltham . Rogerus Glacton . Rogerus Ascam . Rolandus Harryson . Samson Demeta . Scotici Scriptores . Serlon Anglus . Seruanus et Teruanus . Simon de Fraxino . Simon de Tunstede . Simon de Gurnay . Simon de Feuersham . Simon Alcock . Simon de Langton . Simon de Doreston . Simon de Henton vel Horneton . Simon de bredon . Simon Burneston . Simon Fishe . Specula Nonnulla . Stanfordiensis Preceptor . Stephanus Hawis . Teruanus & Seruanus . Theobaldus Stampensis . Thinredus Doueriensis . Thomas Eboracensis . Thomas de Wynchecombe . Thomas Ismaelita . Thomas de Hibernia . Thomas Newe Market . Thomas Peuerell . Thomas Walsyngham . Thomas Langle . Thomas Wylton . Thomas Hasylwode , Thomas Stacy . Thomas Gascoigne . Thomas Dando . Thomas Merke . Thomas Palmer . Thomas Esseby . Thomas Stāshaue Thomas Dockinge Thomas Baiocensis . Thomas de Hanneya . Thomas Brinton . Thomas Bungey . Thomas Phaier . Thomas de Stureia Thomas Sarisburiensis . Thomas Monumetensis . Thomas Rudborne Monachus . Thomas Eboral . Thomas Lupsetus . Thomas Spenser . Thomas Artour . Thomas Philomelus . Thomas Solimount . Thomas Lanquet . Thomas Serneholde . Thomas Swynnerton . Thomas Cowper . Tipitotus Wygorniensis . Vignalocus Britannus . Vincentius Minorita . Visiones quedam . Vite quorundam . Vtredus monachus Waldewinus Wigorniensis . Waruerus Westmonasteriensis . Watertonus Buriensis . Whetley Anglicus . Wigmore Concionator .

THus haue I mynystred here , a taste of my labours , to them that be fryndely harted to their contrey and fauorable to good letters , doynge them therby to know , that I wold do gretter thinges to their honest commodyte , yf I were of power . I haue geuen them a great nombre of the names of their famouse and notable workemen which wrote in this nacyon from age to age , some wele some yll , accordynge to the dyuerse nature of their times , like as the holy Ghost foreiudged of theyr doynges in S. Iohans reuelacion . Yf ye had with the seid names , their actes , their ages , and the tytles of their bokes , whiche I haue now in a redinesse to shew , ye might parauenture se many vnknowne wonders . But yf ye had their whole workes in dede , as they were in substaunce & fashyon , whyche now for the more part are peryshed , ye shoulde haue seane most wonders of all . Their ages are as necessary to be knowne as their doctrynes , and the tytles of their bokes so we le as their manyfest actes , to them that wyl throughly iudge things as they are , & not be deceiued by colours

For what thynge more clerely tryeth the doctrynes of men , what they are , than do their ages or times ? Either yet , what more proueably manifesteth the goodnesse or euylnesse of their actes , than do the tytles , or argumentes of their workes ? He that wyll thus trye Dominick and Frances , the founders of two new relygyons , whiche with their shulders vndrepropped the greate temple of Laterane , or stowte synagoge of Rome , than fallyng downewardes , as pope Innocent the thirde behelde ones ( they saye ) in S. Peters churche in a vision , shall fynde the one a murtherer of the bodye the other a murtherer of the sowle , the one an Hypocryte afore God , the other before the world . The other two sectes of begging frires , to apere of an highar perfeccyon , ded fatche their foundacions much farther of , that is to say , from Helias , Mary , and Augustyn , yet coulde they neuer precede them in Hypocresy to dascll the eyes of the worlde for lucre . The boke of Dominickes docrine , no fyer ( they say ) was able to burne , yet now whan his vertu shuld be tried therby , it is not vpon the earth to be seane . The doctrine of Fraunces is apparunt to this day , both in his rule & testament to be a blasphemouse professyon of hypocresy in the ydolatrouse kingedome of Antichrist .

Yf these men be proued hypocrites & sowle murtherers , by their execrable doctrines & examples , as they are conferred wyth the noble rules of the pure scriptures , what shall we iudge of all their ydel folowers , eyther yet of theyr frantyck frutes , of vowes , constytucyons , ceremonies , & theyr other fryuolouse obseruacions ? Yea , what shall we report of those vpholders of Sodomebe they doctours , lawers , iustyces , gentylmen , or men of other sort , that wyll yet vngentylly contende by sophystycall argumentes voyde of all veryte , those Gomorreal rules and vowes to be so indispensable , that they can geue no place to Gods fre institucyon of marryage ? I saye as I thynke , & as I wyll wryte , whan I come ones to the tryeng out of the worthie truthe from theyr execrable poyson , that they are neyther learned , wise , nor noble , but vnsauerly smel of their beggerly bagges , whose lowsy wallettes they shake . As the sayeng is , suche lyppes , suche letuce , suche harpe suche melody , bot now to conclude . The vi . viij . ix . and xi . chapters of S. Iohans Apocal. are as a perfighte & sure towchstone , wherby all ages , doctrines , actes & tytles are from tyme to tyme tryed , of what estymacyon and value they apere in Gods sighte , to make vs godly wyse in receyuynge them .

In the supplecyōs of my . v. hondred of Brytysh & Englysh wryters ( of whom I haue not . vi . persones here named ) to som one haue I added more than . lx. workes with their beginnings , to some . xl . to some . xx . to som more , to some lesse , as I haue them collected of the libraryes . Wherin men may behold the diligence of our forefathers in the tyme of supersticion , & the vntowarde negligence of vs now a dayes in the myddes of learnynge & syght . Yf any men louing the learned fame of their nacyon , do know of more learned wryters than I haue here , & in thy other boke named ( as it is not in my power to trauayle in all quarters , yf ●hey in season sende me the names , tymes , tytles , nombres , and beginninges of theyr workes . I wyl registre them , as I haue done those . The same wyll I do also , for them whych ar now liuing , or of late yeares haue deceased , yf I may obtayne the lyke at their handes , to the famouse commodyte of Englande in so many noble frutes . Moreouer yf any honest godly man , English Brityshe , Scottysh or Irysh , haue any Antiquite notable , concernyng hystory ( which otherwyse myght peryshe and be loste ) yf he for thys good purpose vouchesafe to lende his coppy , he shall not only haue bokes for it , but also in the ende , the sayde coppy agayne . The grace of our Lorde Iesus Christ , be euermore to them assistent , that loue hys heauenvly truth wythoute superstycyon vnfaynedly . Amen .

Emprented at London by Iohan Bale , Anno. M.D.XLIX .

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