Erōologia Anglorum. Or, An help to English history Containing a succession of all the kings of England, and the English-Saxons, the kings and princes of Wales, the kings and lords of Man, and the Isle of Wight. As also of all the arch-bishops, bishops, dukes, marquesses, and earles, within the said dominions. In three tables. By Robert Hall, Gent.

Saint Albans.

S. Albans is the fairest and the goodliest town in the County of Hertford. It arose out of the ruines of old Verulamium, a towne more strong and ancient ••arre, (as being the strong∣est Fort of all the Britaines, in the time of Caesar) though not hai••e so beautifull. It took both name, original, & Grandour, from Alban, once a Citizen of Verulamium: who suffe∣ring Martyrdome for the faith of Christ, du∣ring the persecution of Dioc••••••ian; had first a faire Church built in memoriall of him, in that very place: or if you will, Ecclesia mi∣randi operis, atque ejus martyrio condigna, in the Authors language. (Bedae hist. lib. 1. c. 7). But this Church and towne of Verulam being both destroyed, in those fierce warres, which were betweene the Saxons and the Britains, Offa the great and puissant K. of the Mercians, built not farre off from the old seate, a Mo∣nastery

to the honour of Saint Alban; en∣dowed it with a great revenue, and many goodly priviledges, as well Ecclesiasticall as Temporall. This in short time, improved the Monastery into a towne: the Abbat in re∣gard of his great possession••, and juris∣diction correspondent, drawing no ordinary con••••••ence of all sorts of people, Pope A∣drian, borne at A••bats-Langley, about five miles off, added this honour to the place, that as Saint Alban was the first Martyr of the En∣gllsh nation: so should the Abbat have pre∣cedencie of all English Abbats. This house was valued at the suppression, at 2510. li. 6. s. 1. d. per annum▪ and was surrendred into the hands of Sir Thomas Pope, Doctor Petre, and Master Cavendish, for the use of K. H. 8. Decemb. 5. Anno 1639. The Abby Church being a stately and magnificent fabrick is le••t standing still▪ townesmen purchasing the same at the price of 400. li. and turning it into a Parish Church, as it now remaines. For the great battels fought about this towne, and in the very streets thereof, between the two con∣tending houses of York and Lancaster; I leave you to the common Chronicles. The persons which it hath ennobled, are these that follow.

Viscounts and Earles.

1620	1	Francis Bacon, L. Verulam, and L. Chan. of England, created Visc. S. Albans, Jan. 18.

1628	2	Rich. de Burgh, E. of Clan-Ricard in the Kingd. of Irel▪ creat. E. of S. Albans, Aug. 23
1636	3	Vlike de Burgh, E of S. Albans, and Clan-Ricard, now living. 1641.