Britain, or A chorographicall description of the most flourishing kingdomes, England, Scotland, and Ireland, and the ilands adjoyning, out of the depth of antiquitie beautified vvith mappes of the severall shires of England: vvritten first in Latine by William Camden Clarenceux K. of A. Translated newly into English by Philémon Holland Doctour in Physick: finally, revised, amended, and enlarged with sundry additions by the said author.

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PRINCES OF WALES.

AS concerning the Princes of Wales of British bloud in ancient times, you may reade in the Historie of Wales published in print: For my part I thinke it re∣quisite and pertinent to my intended purpose to set downe summarily those of latter daies, descended [ B] from the Roiall line of England.

King Edward the First, unto whom his Father King Henry the Third had graunted the Principalitie of Wales, when hee had obtained the Crowne, and Lhewellin Ap. Gryffith the last Prince of the British race was slaine, and thereby the sinnewes as it were of the Principalitie were cut: in the twelfth yeere of his Reigne, united the same unto the Kingdome of England:* 1.1 And the whole Province sware fealty and allegeance unto [ C] Edward of Caernarvon his Sonne whom he made Prince of Wales. But King Edward the Second conferred not upon his Sonne Edward, the title of Prince of Wales, but onely the name of Earle of Chester and of Flint, so farre as I ever could learne out of the Records, and by that title summoned him to Parliament being then nine yeeres old. King Ed∣ward the Third first Created his eldest Sonne Edward surnamed the Blacke Prince the Mirour of Chivalry (being then Duke of Cornwall and Earle of Chester) Prince of Wales by solemne investure,* 1.2 with a cap of e∣state, and Coronet set on his head,* 1.3 a gold ring put upon his finger, and [ D] a silver vierge delivered into his hand, with the assent of the Parliament: who in the very floure of his martiall glory was taken away by untimely death too too soone, to the universall griefe of all England. Afterwards King Edward the Third invested with the said honour Richard of Bur∣deaux the said Princes Sonne, as heire apparent to the Crowne, who was deposed from his Kingdome by King Henry the Fourth, and having no issue was cruelly dispatched by violent death. The said King Henry the Fourth at the formall request of the Lords and Commons bestowed [ E] this Principalitie with the title of Chester and Flint, with solemne in∣vesture, and a kisse in full Parliament upon his eldest Sonne, who glori∣ously bare the name of King Henry the Fifth. His Sonne King Henry the Sixth who at his Fathers death was an Infant in the cradle, confer∣red likewise this honour which he never had himselfe, upon his young Sonne Edward, whose unhappie fortune it was to have his braines da∣shed out cruelly by the faction of Yorke, being taken prisoner at Tewkes∣bury [ F] field. Not long after King Edward the Fourth having obtained the Crowne created Edward his young Sonne Prince of Wales, who was afterwards in the lineall succession of Kings, Edward the Fifth of that name. And within a while after his Unkle King Richard the Third

who made him away, ordained in his roome, Edward his owne Sonne, [ A] whom King Edward the Fourth had before made Earle of Salisburie, but he died quickly after. Then King Henrie the Seventh created his eldest sonne Arthur, Prince of Wales, and when he was dead, Henrie, his other Sonne well knowne in the world by the name of King Henrie the Eighth. Every one of these had the Principality of Wales given un∣to them by the foresaid solemne investure, and delivery of a Patent, To hold to themselves and their Heires, Kings of England. For Kings would not bereave themselves of so excellent an occasion to doe well by their El∣dest [ B] Sonnes, but thought it very good policie by so great a benefit to oblige them when they pleased. Queene Mary, Queene Elizabeth and King Edward, the Children of King Henrie the Eighth, although they never had investure, nor Patent, yet were commonly named in their order Princes of Wales. For, at that time, Wales was by authoritie of Parliament so annexed and united to the Kingdome of England, that both of them were governed vnder the same Law:

or, that you may reade it abridged out of the Act of Parliament. The Kings Country [ C] or dominion of Wales shall stand and continue for ever incorporated, united, and annexed, to and with the Realme of England and all and sin∣gular person and persons borne and to be borne in the said Principali∣tie, Country, or Dominion of Wales, shall have, enioy, and inherit all and singular freedomes, liberties, rights, priviledges, and Lawes, within this Realme, and other the Kings Dominions, as other the Kings Sub∣iects naturally borne within the same, have, enioy, and inherit: and the Lawes, Ordinances, and Statutes of the Realme of England for ever, [ D] and none other shall he had, used, practised, and executed in the said Country, or Dominion of Wales, and every part thereof, in like man∣ner, forme, and order, as they be and shall be in this Realme, and in such like manner and forme, as heereafter shall be further established and or∣dained.

This Act, and the calme command of King Henrie the Seventh preparing way for it, effected that in a short time, which the violent power of other Kings armes, and especially of Henrie the Fourth with [ E] extreame rigour also of Lawes, could not draw on in many yeeres. For e∣ver sithence the British Nation hath continued as faithfully and dutiful∣ly in their Loyall Allegiance to the Crowne of England, as any other part of the Realme whatsoever. Now am I to returne out of Wales into England, and must goe unto the Brigantes.

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Notes

• * 1.1

  See page 114
• * 1.2

  See page 164
• * 1.3

  Afterward a golden vierge was used.