Historical antiquities, in two books the first treating in general of Great-Brettain and Ireland : the second containing particular remarks concerning Cheshire / faithfully collected out of authentick histories, old deeds, records, and evidences, by Sir Peter Leycester, Baronet ; whereunto is annexed a transcript of Doomsday-book, so far as it concerneth Cheshire, taken out of the original record.

CHAP. IV.

How the Saxons derive their Pedegree from Sem, as I find it Registred by Asser Menevensis, pag. 1. in the Pedegree of Alfred: Also by Ailredus Abbas Rievallis, in his Pedegree of King Henry the Se∣cond: Also Florentius, pag. 294. And also by Matthew Paris, in the Edition put out by Dr. Wats, Anno Christi 1640. pag. 94. as followeth.

• 1. Beadwig, Son of Sem.
• 2. Wala.
• 3. Hathra.
• 4. Itermod.
• 5. Heremod.
• 6. Celdwa.
• 7. Beu.
• 8. Garwa, or Cetwa.
• 9. Geta, pro Deo habitus.
• 10. Fingondulf.
• 11. Frederwolf.
• 12. Freolf.
• 13. Fredwald.
• 14. Woden.
• 15. Bealdag.
• 16. Brand.
• 17. Freodgar. These three are omitted by Asser, as it is Printed from Cambden's Copy, 1603. also by Simon Du∣nelmensis, pag. 119.
• 18. Frewin. These three are omitted by Asser, as it is Printed from Cambden's Copy, 1603. also by Simon Du∣nelmensis, pag. 119.
• 19. Wigg. These three are omitted by Asser, as it is Printed from Cambden's Copy, 1603. also by Simon Du∣nelmensis, pag. 119.
• ...

  20. Gewis: Iste fuit Caput Gentis suae: à quo & tota Gens illa nomen accepit à Britonibus: Gewissorum Gens fuit Hantshire, sive Regio Win∣toniae: Ordericus lib. 4. pag. 512. See also Bede de Hist. Ang. lib. 4. cap. 15.

  Gewis is omitted in Mat. Paris Copy.

• 21. Edda: omitted by Asser, and called Egla by Mat. Paris.
• 22. Elesa.
• 23. Ceordwic. He lived Anno 520.
• 24. Creoda.
• 25. Chenric, or Kenrick.
• 26. Cheulin.
• 27. Cuthwin.
• 28. Cutha, Son of Cuthwin.
• 29. Ceoldwald.
• 30. Ceonred.
• 31. Ingels: cujus Frater fuit Ina Rex fa∣mosissimus Occidentalium Sax∣onum.
• 32. Eoppa.
• ...

• 33. Offa, ceù Eafa.
• 34. Alcmund.
• 35. Egbert, or Egbricht, the first Saxon Monarch of all England. Obiit Anno Christi 836.
• 36. Ethelwolf. Obiit Anno 856.
• 37. Alfred. He Reigned not till 872. because his Brothers Reigned before him. Obiit 899.
• 38. Edward the Elder. Obiit Anno Christi 924.
• 39. Edmund. Obiit Anno Christi 946.
• 40. Edgar the Peaceable. Obiit Anno Chri∣sti 975.
• 41. Ethelred. He plotted to kill all the Danes in their Beds on the 12^th of November at night, An. 1012. Obiit Anno. Christi 1016.
• 42. Edmund Ironside. He died Anno Christi 1017.
• 43. Edward the Outlaw. He was never King, though Right Heir: Cnut the Dane dispossessed him.
• 44.
  • Margaret, Wife of Malcolme the third, King of Scotland.
  • Christian, a Nun at Ramsey in Hunting∣ton-shire, 1086. Si. Dunel∣mensis.
  • Edgar Athe∣ling, Right Heir to the Crown, cre∣ated Earl of Oxford 1065 Stowe and Cambden.
• 45. Maud, Wife of Henry the First, King of England.
• 46. Maud the Empress, Daughter and Heir. She was after married to Geffrey Plantagenet, Earl of An∣jou in France, 1127.
• 47. Henry the Second, King of England, Son of Geffrey and Maud. &c.

{fleur-de-lys} This Descent carrieth great uncertainty, both for the defect of time wherein each lived, and also for want of Authority vouched; but chiefly, for that Bedwig, the first here named, is made the Son of Sem: Howbeit the later part of it is very true; but the making of Bedwig Son of Sem, is either foisted into the Copy by some ignorant Person, or else is to be understood as descended from Sem originally, not immediate∣ly; as Christ is called the Son of David, the Son of Abraham, Matthew, cap. 1. ver. 1. For Sem the Son of Noah died Anno Mundi 2158. & Anno post Diluvium 502. which was 1790 Years before Christ was born: And no Learned Man, versed in Antiquities, can imagine the Descents here reckoned up to Bedwig from King Alfred, to exceed 1000 Years: So that reckoning from Alfred's death, which was in Anno 899. it cannot be supposed that these Descents can reach much above the time of Christ's Birth, if they reach so high, admitting them to be exactly true so far as they reach; which would yet fall short 1700 Years from the death of Sem.

Besides we find no such Son of Sem, as Bedwig, mentioned in the Sacred Scriptures: And if we well observe the third Chapter of S. Luke, we shall find 66 Descents recko∣ned up between Sem and Christ, containing the Revolution of 2000 Years and more, if we account the Age wherein Sem lived: And S. Matthew reckons up onely 52 De∣scents to that time by another Line, besides three Kings omitted by him between Jo∣ram and Ozias, for some Reasons best known to the Holy Spirit of God; which will better appear by comparing S. Matth. 1. ver. 8. with 1 Chron. cap. 3. ver. 11, 12. So as the whole Descents therein make up onely 55. And although some Mens Lives are longer, and some shorter, yet the Generations carry some proportion one with ano∣ther, as we may easily observe in others where the Descents are exactly put down.

But now between Sem and Alfred are onely 37 Descents here reckoned up, which cannot comprehend above 1000 Years; and between Sem and Alfred are effluxed

2690 Years, accounting from both their deaths: So that unless some Descents be here skipped over in many places, it is impossible that any of these should reach the Age of Sem; and then these cannot be exact and true Descents through. Besides, those more ancient Descents between Bedwig and Gewis, not having been proved by some good Authority, may yield them uncertain to relie upon.

So much for the Descent of the Saxons before-mentioned.