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A Brief CRONOLOGY of GREAT BRITAIN, From the first discoveries of this Isle, through the severall Conquests of the ROMANS, SAXONS, DANES, and NORMANS.
THe Isle of Great Britain is Bounded on the South with Normandy and France, upon the East with Germany and Denmark, upon the West with Ireland and the Atlantick Ocean, and upon the North with the vast Deucalidon Seas.
The ancient Government of Great Britain was at first rather after the manner of an Aristocratie, that is by certain great Nobles and po∣tent men, or Petty Kings, so Caesar himselfe found the state of Britain.
The Glorious Romans that were become Lords of the world, were the first that set foot with displayed Ensign for the Conquest of Bri∣tain, and the first that Assayed this was Julius Caesar from the coasts of Gallia. But this Jewel which was so much desired and had been kept with as great Care, after 500. years claim was now laid at stake to the that could win it, and thus was Britain abandoned by the Romans.
The next Actors upon Britains stage were the Saxons, a People of Germany fierce, bold, and irreligious, these infested the coasts of Bri∣tain by Piracies.
But Britain being through Tumultuous uprores much wasted by the Scots and Picts Ancient Enemies, and albeit the stone wall that was raised athwart the whole continent to impeach their inroads, yet that availed little, their assaults were so great whereupon the Saxons were sent for, and in their first service freed the Britains from those raging Picts, and undertook the Lands defence, and the inhabitants consented to maintaine the charge which was received thankfully whilst it was giving onely; for they emptied faster then the Britains could fill, and ever complained they had not enough, till at last by surprize they got the whole possession, and then was the British Isle devided into an Heptarchie, or of one Imperial Crown they had seven Diadems to adorne their own heads; which were not long worne, without intestine warrs, each striving to in large his own.
But Egbert forbad the Islands old name, and commanded these Pro∣vinces to be called Anglia. Yet almost as soon as this was accomplish∣ed, a savage Nation the Danes succeed, which endeavoured all they could to impoverish where they had possession for five and twenty years. These Danes were a People descended from the Scythians, as Andrew Velley a Danish Writer reporteth but Dudo of Saint Quintin wil have them come from Scandia an Island scituate Northward, not far from the continent of Denmark.
The Normans a people fierce and valorous; William the Bastard, won the English Crown from King Harold, that held it in a bloody field at battail in Sussex. And by changing laws, disinheriting of No∣bles, and bestowing the Lands revenues upon his, he laid the founda¦tion of a glorious Monarchy; His two younger successively wearing it, to the prejudice of their elder; Stephen having no right, but such as intruders pretend.
But Henry Plantagenet placed on the Throne. 331 years taken up in the Reigns of 14 Kings of his line; but these branches were torn down by home-bred broyls, till Teuder of Lancaster with Plantagenet of Yorke, gave them sap by marriage, whereby the long dead stem began to bud forth, and five renowned Princes of that name succeeded.
The first of them, the richest and wisest King of this Western world; viz. Henry 7.
The second, the wonder of the Papal Authority; Henry 8.
The third, the hopefullest in pious actions; Edward 6.
The fourth, fervent for Romes Religion; Queen Mary.
The fifth renowned, Queen Elizabeth; under whose Reigns one hundred and sixteen years did compleatly run.
And from her in the person of one Soveraign, Britain returned again to the old Britains, and to her old name, viz. King James.
Brief observitions upon the untimely ends of the Roman Emperours.
SOme slew themselves, as did Nero and Othe; some were smothered to death, as was Tiberius; some poysoned by their Wives, as Claudius and Commodus; some torn in pieces by their own Subjects and Souldiers, as Vitellius, Heliogabalus, Pupienus and Balbinous; some stabbed by them they most trusted, as Caligula, Domitian, Didius, Gallienus, and many others; some tumultuously murthered, as Pertinax, Severus, Maximius, Aemilius, and Probus; some slain in battail and de∣fence of their titles, as Macrinus and Gallus; some hanged themselves, as Gordianus and Maximianus did; some drowned and swallowed up, as Decius and Maxen∣tius were, some slain by a Thunder boult from Heaven, as Carus was; some died in most miserable captivity, as Valerianus did, whose skin was fleaed off, he yet alive; some cut their own veins and bled to death, as Quiutillius and Florianus did; some dying mad, as Dioclesian did; some few (and them favouring Chri∣stians) died in their beds.
Severall memorable passages worthy observation.
THe continuance of the Roman Monarchies was but little above five hun∣dred years.
And the state of Gods own peculiar people, from the promise to Abraham and giving of the Law, was four hundred and thirty years, Gal. 3. 17.
And from Israels departure out of Egypt until the building of Solomons Temple, were four hundred and eighty years.
And from the anointing of David the first King set upon Judahs Throne, unto the death of Zedekiah the last King thereof, slain by Nebuchadnezzar, and the holy Tem••le consumed by fire, were four hundred and seventy years.
And other Politique States have stood much upon the like space of time. The Kingdom of Athens, set up by Cecrops the first King thereof, unto Codrus the last, is said to continue four hundred and ninety years.
The Lacedemonians state from Lycurgus their law giver, untill Alexander the great, that overthrew it, flourished four hundred ninety one years.
From the expulsion of Romes Kings under Tarquinius unto the affected Empire in Julius Caesar, were four hundred ninety and nine years.
And from Caesars first Invasion of Britain, unto the dayes of Valentinian the third, wherein the Romans did quite abandon it, were five hundred years.
From the Saxons Intrusions and division of this Realm, into an Heptarchy under their government, until the united Monarchy made by King Egbert, were four hundred sixty nine years.
And from the Norm••n•• Conquest, unto the death of Queen Elizabeth, when began again the nam•• of great Britain, and the union of the whole Island to be brought into one ent••re Monarchy by the entrance of King James, are five hun∣dred thirty six years, which so continued until the 25. year of the Reign of Charles where that line is ••xtinct.