Choice observations of all the kings of England from the Saxons to the death of King Charles the First collected out of the best Latine and English writers, who have treated of that argument / by Edward Leigh ...

TO THE CURTEOUS AND CANDID READER.

Reader:

I Here present thee with Choice Ob∣servations of all the Kings of Eng∣land. I suppose the Subject will not be unpleasing to an Englishman, if the work be answerable to the Title. I have excerped my Materials out of the best La∣tine Writers; the Monks (to whom we are especi∣ally beholding for the History of our Kings of England) and chiefest English Chroniclers and Annalists, and such as have written of a few, or any one of our English Princes. Bedes Historia Gentis Anglorum, set out by Wheelock, of whom Petavius in his History of the world, lib. 8. cap. 4. saith thus, Bede made his Brittain famous with no lesse Godlinesse and Learning than History, who even unto the year 735 hath concluded the Christian beginnings of that Nation. Rerum Anglicarum Scriptores post Bedam praecipui,* 1.1 in Latine in folio, set out by S^r Henry Savill, con∣taining the History of Gulielmus Malmesburien∣sis, Henry Huntington, Roger Hoveden and others. Anglica, Normannica, Hibernica, Cam∣brica,

a veteribus Scripta, in Latine also in Folio, put out by Camden. Matthew Paris his Works, set out by D^r Watts, who is a faithfull Historian, and hath written the Reigns of the first seven Kings after the Conquest.* 1.2 Of the English Chroniclers, Speed, Martin, and Baker seem to be the best. Voluminous Hollingshead, Stow and How are not much esteemed by the Learned. S^r John Hayward hath written well of the three Norman Kings, and Edward the sixth, he hath written briefly also of Henry the eourth. Godwin of Henry the eighth, Edward the sixth, and Queen Mary, and also of the Bishops of Eng∣land, in Latine and English. S^r Robert Cot∣ton of Henry the third, Habington of Edward the fourth, S^r Thomas More of Richard the third, both in Latine and English, and Buck, my Lord Bacon excellently of Henry the seventh, my Lord Herbert of Henry the eighth, Camden Annals of Queen Elizabeth, and D^r Heylin (as is said) of King Charles the first.* 1.3 History is both pleasing and profitable, especially the memorable things of all our own Kings and Governours, who have for so many years Raigned amongst us. Examples of Superiours especially are very prevalent, which of the Rulers believed in him* 1.4 Onea 1.5 saith, if King Edward the sixth had lived a little longer, his on∣ly example had bred such a Race of worthy learn∣ed Gentlemen, as this Realm never yet did afford. Here are examples of all sorts, good and bad, to be followed and eschewed. Some loose, vain, and licentious; others learned, wise, valiant, minding

the publick welfare of the Nation. The Pope could but little prevaile here in England, during the Raign of King Edward the third, and Richard the second. Henry the eighth cast him out then, when he had too great power and command over other Princes. As he cast out the Pope, so did his children Edward* 1.6 the sixth, and Queen Eliza∣beth cast out Popery out of England, and so freed us from his spirituall bondage, as the other did from his Temporall May their memory be there∣fore still precious amongst us, as the Reformation we enjoy chiefly by their means, is a singular bles∣sing. Let Him be accounted our English Josias, and Her our English Deborah, on whom those Verses were made, Spains Rod, Romes Ruine, Netherlands Relief: Earths Joy, Englands Gem, Worlds Wonder, Natures chief.

Prince Henry likewise, eldest Son to King James, was a virtuous and hopefull Prince, had he not been taken away in the flower of his youth, he would (its thought) have much opposed the Pope and Spaniard. I have read somewhere of him, that he would not swear, no, not at his Sports and Recreation; and being demanded the reason t••ereof, he said, they were not of that weight, as to draw an oath from him. I hope therefore this Nation, having had such worthy Princes, and not being ignorant of the slavery they formerly in∣dured, when the Pope called England his Ass, will

never be so foolish, as to turn back again into E∣gypt. As long as M^r Foxe his Martyrology is so common to be read, eighty eight, and the fifth of November are so fresh in our remembrance, let us valew the losse of Rome here amongst us, no more than that Emperour Honorius did, of whom Zonarasa 1.7 writes, that he had a Hen called Ro∣ma, and it being told him Rome was last, he was troubled, and said, She was here even now, yea said the other, the Hen is here, but the City is lost, he was then well pleased. Our Countriman Beda hath prophetically expounded that Roman S. P. Q. R. of our Englishmen travelling to Rome, Stul••us Populus Quaerit Roman. Though perhaps in some b 1.8cases, one may go too far from Rome; yet since some of our Bishops formerly have written well against Antichrist, and others have made the Pope to be Antichrist; and since also the Iesuites are still busie amongst us, I wish there may be no unwar∣rantable compliance either with the Romish Do∣ctrine or Rites.

Thomas Lever (who Preached before King Edward the sixth, and escaped the fury of Queen Maries dayes) is commended by Bullinger, in his Epistle to Hooper. He was the first setled constant Preacher at the Temple,c 1.9 Father Lever, for so by my Father and others, I alwayes heard him stiled. M^r Gatakers Discourse Apologeticall against Li∣lie. I have two Sermons of his, Preached in the same year at Pauls 1550, one in Pauls Church, the other at the Cross, S^t Thomas Chaloner was ordi∣nary Embassadour from Queen Elizabeth into

Spain almost four years,* 1.10 Ubi (saith Camden) de Republica Ang••icana instauranda terso & eru∣dito Carmine quinque libros composuit, dum ut ille dixit, hieme in furno aestate in horreo de∣geret; which is thus Englished by one Darcie, who first (after a fashion) Translated Camden into English, though it be better rendred since. S^t Tho. Chaloner wrote a Book whilst he was in Spain, which he Entitled, Hieme in furno aestate in hor∣reo, not so jolly an Inscription, as that Libell Intituled, The Arraignment of Persecution, &c. Printed for Bartholmew Bang-Priest,* 1.11 and are to be sold at his Shop in Tolleration-street, at the Sign of the Subjects Liberty, right opposite to Per∣secution Court, 1645. I remember I have heard a story of a valiant man, that thus answered one inquiring after his name and lodging: My name is Dangerfiel'd, I lye at the Sign of the Sword and Buckler, over against the Bleeding-Heart, in Gunpowder Allie: But too much of this. I hope this Book with the other already out, will give some light to the knowledge both of the Kings and Kingdome of England, in confidence where∣of, I rest

Thy hearty well-wisher Edward Leigh.

Notes

• * 1.1

  See M^r Wheare De Method•• le∣gendi Historias, pag. 52.
• * 1.2

  Daniel doth very well so far as he goes, He is conti∣nued by Trus∣sell.
• * 1.3

  Historia est te∣stis temporum, lux veritatis, vita memoriae, magistra vitae, nuncia ve∣tustatis, Cicero l. 2. De Oratore
• * 1.4

  Regis ad ex∣emplum totus componitur or∣bis.
• a 1.5

  Aschams Schoolema∣ster, l. 1. p. 20.
• * 1.6

  It was a ve∣ry pious care, and of singu∣lar example in so young a Prince, to in∣tend & endea∣vour the refor∣mation of Reli∣gion, and the Church within his Realms. For which even at this day we have cause to acknowledge the good pro∣vidence of Al∣mighty God in ••aising him up to become so blessed an in∣strument of his glory and our good. BP San∣dersons Episco∣pacy not pre∣judicial to Re∣gall Power. In the time of King Edward there was more I suppose, than what one calls it, a wambling toward the Ge∣nevah Discipline; but neither very earnest, nor very popular.
• a 1.7

  Annal Tom•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉. p. 33.
• b 1.8

  Whereas the Papists unjust∣ly charge the Protestant Churches with Schism for de∣parting from their Commu∣nion: it could not but be a great scandall to them, to confirm them in that their uncharitable opinion of us, if we should ut∣terly condemn any thing as unlawfull, be∣cause it had been used in the times of Po∣pery, or abused by the Papists. B. Sanders. Epise. not pre∣judiciall to Re∣gall Power.
• c 1.9

  As Father Gilpin, and Fa∣ther Latimer.
• * 1.10

  Annal. Rerum Anglicarum parte prima. p. 101, 102.
• * 1.11

  M^r Lyfords Conscience Informed touching our late Thanks∣givings.