A chronicle at large and meere history of the affayres of Englande and kinges of the same deduced from the Creation of the vvorlde, vnto the first habitation of thys islande: and so by contynuance vnto the first yere of the reigne of our most deere and souereigne Lady Queene Elizabeth: collected out of sundry aucthors, whose names are expressed in the next page of this leafe.

The Epitaphe of the reuerend father in God William Bishop of London, who of his great loue and charitie towarde the Citizens of the same, did first obteyne for them of William the Conquerour theyr Charter, liberties and priuileges, as by the inscription of the sayde stone may apéere, the contentes and effect whereof foloweth, first in Latine, and then in Englishe.

GVilielmo viro sapientia & vitae sanctitate claro, qui primū diuo regi & cōfessori familiaris, nu∣pèr in episcopū Lōdinensis erectus, nec multo post apud inuictissimū principem Guilielmum Angliae regem eius nominis primum, ob prudentiam, fidemq́ue singularem in consilium abhibitus: amplissima huic Vr∣bi celeberrimae priuilegia ab eodem impetrauit, Senatus populusq́ue Londinensis bene merenti posuit. Sedit Episcopus annos. 16. decessit anno à Christo nato. 1067.

Haec tibi, clare pater, posuerunt marmora Ciues: Praemia, nòn meritis, aequiperanda tuis: Hic sibi nam populus te Londinensis amicum Sensit, & huic Ʋrbi nòn leue praesidium. Reddita libertas ductè: donata{que} multis Te duce res fuerat publica muneribus, Diuitias, gemmas, formam, breuis opprimit hora Haec tua sed pietas, & benefacta manent.

The same in Englishe foloweth.

TO William a man famous in wisedome and holynesse of lyfe, who first wyth Saynt Edward King and Confessor be∣yng familiar, of late preferred to be By∣shop of London: and not long after, for his wisedome and sincere fidelitie admit∣ted to be of Counsaile with the most victorious Prince William king of England of that name the first, who obteyned of the same great and large priulieges to this famous Citie. The Senate and Citizens of London to him hauing well deserued, haue made this. He conti∣nued Bishop .xvj. yeres, and dyed in the yere of Christ a thousand three score and seuen.

These Marble monumentes to thee thy Citizens assigne Rewardes (O father) farre vnfit to those deserts of thine. Thee vnto them, a faythfull friend, thy London people found, And to this towne, of no small weight, a stay both sure and sound. Their liberties restored to them, by meanes of thee haue bene, Their publike weale by meanes of thee, large gifts haue felt and sene Thy riches, stock and beuty braue one houre it hath opprest Yet these thy vertues and good deedes, with vs for euer rest.

The aforesayde Charter is written in the Saxon tongue.