The fourth kingdome was of the West Saxons, and so called, bicause it
laie in the west part of the realme, as that of Essex did in the east,
[Sidenote: Cerdiic.]
and of Sussex in the south. It began in the yeare of Grace 519. vnder
Cerdijc, and indured vntill the comming of the Normans, including at
the last all Wiltshire, Barkeshire, Dorset, Southampton,
Somersetshire, Glocestershire, some part of Deuonshire (which the
Britons occupied not) Cornewall, and the rest of Surrie, as the best
authors doo set downe. At the first it conteined onelie Wiltshire,
Dorcetshire, and Barkeshire, but yer long the princes thereof
conquered whatsoeuer the kings of Sussex and the Britons held vnto the
point of Cornewall, and then became first Dorchester (vntill the time
of Kinigils) then Winchester the chéefe citie of that kingdome. For
when Birinus the moonke came into England, the said Kinigils gaue him
Dorchester, and all the land within seauen miles about, toward the
maintenance of his cathedrall sea, by meanes whereof he himselfe
remooued his palace to Winchester.
[Sidenote: Brennicia, aliàs Northumberland.]
The fift kingdome began vnder Ida, in the 548. of Christ, and was
called Northumberland, bicause it laie by north of the riuer Humber.
[Sidenote: Ida.]
And from the comming of Henghist to this Ida, it was onlie gouerned by
earls or Heretoches as an Heretochy, till the said Ida conuerted it
into a kingdome. It conteined all that region which (as it should
séeme) was in time past either wholie apperteining to the Brigants, or
whereof the said Brigants did possesse the greater part. The cheefe
citie of the same in like maner was Yorke, as Beda, Capgraue, Leyland,
and others doo set downe, who ad thereto that it extended from the
Humber vnto the Scotish sea, vntill the slaughter of Egfride of the
Northumbers, after which time the Picts gat hold of all, betweene the
Forth and the Twede, which afterward descending to the Scots by meanes
of the vtter destruction of the Picts, hath not béene sithens vnited
to the crowne of England, nor in possession of the meere English, as
before time it had béene. Such was the crueltie of these Picts also in
their recouerie of the same, that at a certeine houre they made a
Sicilien euensong, and slew euerie English man, woman and child, that
they could laie hold vpon within the aforesaid region, but some
escaped narrowlie, and saued themselues by flight.
[Sidenote: Deira.]
Afterward in the yeare of Grace 560. it was parted in twaine, vnder
Adda, that yeelded vp all his portion, which lay betweene Humber and
[Sidenote: Ella.]
the Tine vnto his brother Ella (according to their fathers
appointment) who called it Deira, or Southumberland, but reteining the
rest still vnto his owne vse, he diminished not his title, but wrote
himselfe as before king of all Northumberland. Howbeit after 91.
yeares, it was revnited againe, and so continued vntill Alfred annexed
the whole to his kingdome, in the 331. after Ida, or 878. of the birth
of Jesus Christ our Sauiour.
[Sidenote: Eastangles Offa, à quo Offlingæ.]
The seauenth kingdome, called of the East-Angles, began at Norwich in
the 561. after Christ, vnder Offa, of whom the people of that region
were long time called Offlings. This included all Norfolke, Suffolke,
Cambridgeshire, and Elie, and continuing 228. yeares, it flourished
onelie 35. yeares in perfect estate of liberte, the rest being
consumed vnder the tribut and vassallage of the Mercians, who had the
souereigntie thereof, and held it with great honour, till the Danes
gat hold of it, who spoiled it verie sore, so that it became more
miserable than any of the other, and so remained till the kings of the
West-saxons vnited it to their crownes. Some saie that Grantcester,
but now Cambridge (a towne erected out of hir ruines) was the chéefe
citie of this kingdome, and not Norwich. Wherein I may well shew the
discord of writers, but I cannot resolue the scruple. Some take this
region also to be all one with that of the Icenes, but as yet for my
part I cannot yeeld to their assertions, I meane it of Leland
himselfe, whose helpe I vse chéefelie in these collections, albeit in
this behalfe I am not resolued that he doth iudge aright.
The 8. & last was that of Mertia, which indured 291. yeares, and for
greatnesse exceeded all the rest. It tooke the name either of Mearc
the Saxon word, bicause it was march to the rest (and trulie, the
limits of most of the other kingdomes abutted vpon the same) or else
[Sidenote: Mertia.]
for that the lawes of Martia the Queene were first vsed in that part
of the Iland. But as this later is but a méere coniecture of some, so
[Sidenote: Creodda.]
the said kingdome began vnder Creodda, in the 585. of Christ, &
indured well néere 300. yeares before it was vnited to that of the
West-saxons by Alfred, then reigning in this Ile. Before him the Danes
had gotten hold thereof, and placed one Ceolulph an idiot in the same;
but as he was soone reiected for his follie, so it was not long after
yer the said Alfred (I saie) annexed it to his kingdome by his
[Sidenote: Limits of Mertia.]
manhood. The limits of the Mertian dominions included Lincolne,
Northampton, Chester, Darbie, Nottingham, Stafford, Huntington,
Rutland, Oxford, Buckingham, Worcester, Bedford shires, and the
greatest part of Shropshire (which the Welsh occupied not) Lancaster,
Glocester, Hereford (alias Hurchford) Warwijc and Hertford shires: the
rest of whose territories were holden by such princes of other
kingdomes through force as bordered vpon the same. Moreouer, this
kingdome was at one time diuided into south and north Mertia, whereof
this laie beyond and the other on this side of the Trent, which later
also Oswald of Northumberland did giue to Weada the sonne of Penda for
kindred sake, though he not long inioied it. This also is worthie to
be noted, that in these eight kingdomes of the Saxons, there were
twelue princes reputed in the popish Catalog for saints or martyrs, of
which Alcimund, Edwine, Oswald, Oswijn and Aldwold reigned in
Northumberland; Sigebert, Ethelbert, Edmond, and another Sigebert
among the Estangels; Kenelme and Wistan in Mertia; and Saint Edward
the confessor, ouer all; but how worthilie, I referre me to the
iudgement of the learned. Thus much haue I thought good to leaue in
memorie of the aforesaid kingdomes: and now will I speake somewhat of
the diuision of this Iland also into prouinces, as the Romanes seuered
it whiles they remained in these parts. Which being done, I hope that
I haue discharged whatsoeuer is promised in the title of this chapter.
The Romans therefore hauing obteined the possession of this Iland,
diuided the same at the last into fiue prouinces, as Vibius Sequester
[Sidenote: Britannia prima.]
saith. The first whereof was named Britannia prima, and conteined the
east part of England (as some doo gather) from the Trent vnto the
[Sidenote: Valentia.]
Twede. The second was called Valentia or Valentiana, and included the
west side, as they note it, from Lirpoole vnto Cokermouth. The third
[Sidenote: Britannia secunda.]
hight Britannia secunda, and was that portion of the Ile which laie
[Sidenote: Flauia Cæsariensis.]
southwards, betwéene the Trent and the Thames. The fourth was surnamed
Flauia Cæsariensis, and conteined all the countrie which remained
betweene Douer and the Sauerne, I meane by south of the Thames, and
wherevnto (in like sort) Cornewall and Wales were orderlie assigned.
[Sidenote: Maxima Cæsariensis.]
The fift and last part was then named Maxima Cæsariensis, now
Scotland, the most barren of all the rest, and yet not vnsought out of
the gréedie Romanes, bicause of the great plentie of fish and foule,
fine alabaster and hard marble that are ingendred and to be had in the
same, for furniture of houshold and curious building, wherein they
much delited. More hereof in Sextus Rufus, who liued in the daies of
Valentine, and wrate Notitiam prouinciarum now extant to be read.
_A Catalog of the kings and princes of this Iland, first from
Samothes vnto the birth of our sauiour Christ, or rather the
comming of the Romans: secondlie of their Legates: thirdlie
of the Saxon princes according to their seuerall kingdomes:
fourthlie of the Danes, and lastlie of the Normans and English
princes, according to the truth conteined in our Histories._
OF THE KINGS OF BRITAINE, FROM SAMOTHES TO BRUTE.
Samothes.
Magus.
Sarronius.
Druiyus.
Bardus.
Longho.
Bardus Iunior.
Lucus.
Celtes.
Albion.
Celtes after Albion slaine.
Galates.
Harbon.
Lugdus.
Beligius.
Iasius.
Allobrox.
Romus.
Paris.
Lemanus.
Olbius.
Galates. 2.
Nannes.
Remis.
Francus.
Pictus.
After whom Brute entreth into the Iland, either neglected by the
Celts, or otherwise by conquest, and reigned therein with
his posteritie by the space of 636. yeares, in such order as
foloweth.
Brute.
Locrinus.
Gwendolena his widow.
Madan.
Mempricius.
Ebracus.
Brutus Iunior.
Leil.
Rudibras.
Bladunus.
Leir.
Cordeil his daughter.
Cunedach and Morgan.
Riuallon.
Gurgustius.
Sisillus.
Iago.
Kimmachus.
Gorbodug.
Ferres and Porrex.
These 2. being slaine, the princes of the land straue for the
superioritie and regiment of the same, by the space of 50.
yéeres (after the race of Brute was decaied) vntill Dunwallon
king of Cornwall subdued them all, & brought the whole to his
subiection, notwithstanding that the aforesaid number of kings
remained still, which were but as vassals & inferiours to him,
he being their chéefe and onelie souereigne.
Dunwallon reigneth.
Belinus his sonne, in whose time Brennus vsurpeth.
Gurgwinbatrus.
Guittellinus.
Seisili.
Kymarus.
Owan aliàs Ellan.
Morwich aliàs Morindus.
Grandobodian aliàs Gorbonian.
Arcigallon.
Elidurus aliàs Hesidor.
Arcigallon againe.
Elidurus againe.
Vigen aliàs Higanius, & Petitur aliàs Peridurus.
Elidurus the third time.
Gorbodia aliàs Gorbonian.
Morgan.
Meriones aliàs Eighuans.
Idouallon.
Rhimo Rohugo.
Geruntius Voghen.
Catellus.
Coellus.
Pyrrho aliàs Porrex.
Cherinus.
Fulganius aliàs Sulgenis.
Eldadus.
Androgius.
Vrian.
Hellindus.
Dedantius Eldagan.
Clotenis Claten.
Gurguintus.
Merian.
Bledunus Bledagh.
Cophenis.
Owinus aliàs Oghwen.
Sisillus or Sitsiltus.
Blegabridus.
Arcimalus Archiuall.
Eldadus.
Ruthenis thrée moneths.
Rodingarus aliàs Rodericus.
Samulius Penysell.
Pyrrho 2.
Carporis aliàs Capporis.
Dynellus aliàs Dygnellus.
Hellindus a few moneths.
Lhoid.
Casibellane.
Theomantius.
Cynobellinus.
Aruiragus.
Marius.
Coellus.
Lucius.
Hitherto I haue set foorth the catalog of the kings of Britaine,
in such sort as it is to be collected out of the most ancient
histories, monuments and records of the land. Now I will
set foorth the order and succession of the Romane legates or
deputies, as I haue borowed them first out of Tacitus, then
Dion, and others: howbeit I cannot warrant the iust course of
them from Iulius Agricola forward, bicause there is no man that
reherseth them orderlie. Yet by this my dooing herein, I hope
some better table may be framed hereafter by other, wherof I
would be glad to vnderstand when soeuer it shall please God that
it may come to passe.
Aulus Plautius.
Ostorius Scapula.
Didius Gallus.
Auitus.
Veranius a few moneths.
Petronius Turpilianus.
Trebellius Maximus.
Vectius Volanus.
Petilius Cerealis.
Iulius Frontinus.
Iulius Agricola.
Hitherto Cornelius Tacitus reherseth these vicegerents or
deputies in order.
Salustius Lucullus.
Cneius Trebellius.
Suetonius Paulinus.
Calphurnius Agricola.
Publius Trebellius.
Pertinax Helrius.
Vlpius Marcellus.
Clodius Albinas.
Heraclius.
Carus Tyrannus.
Iunius Seuerus, aliàs Iulius Seuerus.
Linius Gallus.
Lollius Vrbicus.
Maximus.
Octauius.
Traherus.
Maximinianus.
Gratianus.
Aetius.
Other Legates whose names are taken out of the Scotish historie
but in incertein order.
Fronto sub Antonino.
Publius Trebellius.
Aulus Victorinus.
Lucius Antinoris.
Quintus Bassianus.
WALES
1.
¶ The Romans not regarding the gouernance of this Iland, the
Britons ordeine a king in the 447. after the incarnation of
Christ.
Vortiger.
Vortimer.
Aurelius Ambrosius.
Vther.
Arthur.
Constantine.
Aurelius Conanus.
Vortiporius.
Maglocunus.
Caretius.
Cadwan.
Cadwallon.
Cadwallader.
¶ The kingdome of Wales ceaseth, and the gouernance of the
countrie is translated to the Westsaxons by Inas, whose second
wife was Denwalline the daughter of Cadwallader: & with hir
he not onlie obteined the principalitie of Wales but also of
Corinwall & Armorica now called little Britaine, which then was
a colonie of the Britons, and vnder the kingdome of Wales.
KENT.
2.
¶ Hengist in the 9. of the recouerie of Britaine proclaimeth
himselfe king of Kent, which is the 456. of the birth of our
Lord & sauior Jesus Christ.
Hengist.
Osrijc aliàs Osca.
Osca his brother.
Ermenricus.
Athelbert.
Eadbaldus.
Ercombert.
Ecbert.
Lother.
Edrijc.
The seat void.
Withredus.
Adelbert Iunior.
Eadbert.
Alrijc.
Eadbert.
Guthred.
Alred.
¶ As the kingdome of Wales was vnited vnto that of the
Westsaxons by Inas, so is the kingdom of Kent, at this present
by Ecbert in the 827. of Christ, who putteth out Aldred and
maketh Adelstane his owne base sonne Hertoch of the same,
so that whereas it was before a kingdome, now it becometh an
Hertochie or Dukedome, and so continueth for a long time after.
SOUTHSEX.
3.
¶ Ella in the 46. after Britaine giuen ouer by the Romanes
erecteth a kingdom in Southsex, to wit, in the 492. of Christ
whose race succeedeth in this order.
Ella.
Cyssa.
Ceaulijn.
Celrijc.
Kilwulf.
Kinigils.
Kinwalch.
Ethelwold.
Berthun.
Aldwijn.
¶ This kingdome endured not verie long as ye may sée, for it was
vnited to that of the Westsaxons by Inas, in the 4689. of the
world, which was the 723. of Christ, according to the vsuall
supputation of the church, and 232. after Ella had erected the
same, as is aforesaid.
ESTSEX.
4.
¶ Erkenwijn in the 527. after our sauiour Christ beginneth to
reigne ouer Estsex, and in the 81. after the returne of Britaine
from the Romaine obedience.
Erkenwijn.
Sledda.
Sebertus.
Sepredus and Sywardus.
Sigebert fil. Syward.
Sigebert.
Swithelijn.
Sijgar and Sebba.
Sebba alone.
Sijgard.
Offa.
Selredus.
Ethelwold.
Albert.
Humbcanna.
Sinthredus.
¶ In the 303. after Erkenwijn, Ecbert of the Westsaxons vnited
the kingdome of Estsex vnto his owne, which was in the 828.
after the birth of our sauiour Christ. I cannot as yet find the
exact yéeres of the later princes of this realme, and therefore
I am constrained to omit them altogither, as I haue done before
in the kings of the Britons, vntill such time as I may come by
such monuments as may restore the defect.
WESTSEX.
5.
¶ Cerdijc entreth the kingdome of the Westsaxons, in the 519.
of the birth of Christ, & 73. of the abiection of the Romaine
seruitude.
Cerdijc aliàs Cercit.
Cenrijc.
Ceaulijn.
Kilriic aliàs Celrijc.
Kilwulf.
Kinigils.
Ceuwalch.
Sexburgh.
The seat void.
Centwinus.
Cadwallader.
Inas.
Ethelard.
Cuthredus.
Sigebert.
Kinwulf.
Brithrijc.
Ecbert.
Ethelwulf.
Ethebald.
Ethelbert.
Ethelfrid.
Alfrid.
Edward I.
Adelstane.
Edmund.
Eadred.
Edwijn.
Edgar.
Edward 2.
Eldred.
Edmund 2.
Canutus.
Harald.
Canutus 2.
Edward 3.
Harald 2.
¶ The Saxons hauing reigned hitherto in this land, and brought
the same into a perfect monarchie, are now dispossessed by the
Normans, & put out of their hold.
BERNICIA.
6.
¶ Ida erecteth a kingdome in the North, which he extended from
the Humber mouth to S. Johns towne in Scotland, & called it of
the Northumbers. This was in the 547. after the birth of our
sauiour Christ.
Ida.
Adda.
Glappa.
Tidwaldus.
Fretwulfus.
Tidrijc.
Athelfrid.
Edwijn.
Kinfrid.
Oswald.
Oswy.
Egfrid.
Alfrid.
Osred.
Kinred.
Osrijc.
Kilwulf.
Edbert.
Offulse.
Ethelwold.
Elred.
Ethelred.
Alswold.
Osred.
Ethelred.
Osbald.
Eardulf.
Aldeswold.
Eandred.
Edelred.
Redwulf.
Edelred againe.
Osbright.
Ecbert.
Ricisiuus a Dane.
Ecbert againe.
¶ Alfride king of the Westsaxons subdueth this kingdome in the
878. after our sauiour Christ, and 33. after Ida.
DEIRA.
7.
¶ Ella brother to Adda is ouer the south Humbers, whose
kingdome reched from Humber to the These, in the 590. after the
incarnation of Jesus Christ our sauiour.
Ella.
Edwijn.
Athelbright.
Edwijn againe.
Osrijc.
Oswald.
Oswijn.
¶ Of all the kingdomes of the Saxons, this of Deira which grew
by the diuision of the kingdome of the Northumbers betwéene the
sons of Ida was of the smallest continuance, & it was vnited
to the Northumbers (wherof it had bene I saie in time past
a member) by Oswijn in the 91. after Ella, when he had most
traitorouslie slaine his brother Oswijn in the yéer of the
world, 4618. (or 651. after the comming of Christ) and conteined
that countrie which we now call the bishoprike.
ESTANGLIA.
8.
¶ Offa or Vffa erecteth a kingdome ouer the Estangles or
Offlings in the 561. after the natiuitie of Christ, and 114.
after the deliuerie of Britaine.
Offa.
Titellius.
Redwaldus.
Corpenwaldus.
The seat void.
Sigebert.
Egricus.
Anna.
Adeler.
Ethelwold.
Adwulf.
Beorne.
Ethelred.
Ethelbert.
¶ Offa of Mercia killeth Ethelbert, and vniteth Estanglia vnto
his owne kingdome, in the 793. of Christ, after it had continued
in the posteritie of Offa, by the space of 228. yéers and yet
of that short space, it enioyed onelie 35. in libertie, the rest
being vnder the tribute of the king of Mercia aforesaid.
MERCIA.
9.
¶ Creodda beginneth his kingdome of Mercia, in the 585. of our
sauiour Christ, and 138. after the captiuitie of Britaine ended.
Creodda.
Wibba.
Cherlus.
Penda.
Oswy.
Weada.
Wulferus.
Ethelred.
Kinred or Kindred.
The seat void.
Kilred.
Ethebald.
Beorred.
Offa.
Egferth.
Kinwulf.
Kenelme.
Kilwulf.
Bernulf.
Ludicane.
Willaf.
Ecbert.
Willaf againe.
Bertulf.
Butred.
Kilwulf.
¶ Alfride vniteth the kingdome of Mercia, to that of the
Westsaxons, in the 291. after Creodda, before Alfred the Dane
had gotten hold thereof, and placed one Cleolulphus therein,
but he was soone expelled, and the kingdome ioyned to the other
afore rehearsed.
[*] _The Succession of the kings of England from_ WILLIAM
_bastard, unto the first of Queene_ ELIZABETH.
William the first.
William his sonne.
Henrie 1.
Stephen.
Henrie 2.
Richard 1.
Iohn.
Henrie 3.
Edward 1. aliàs 4.
Edward 2.
Edward 3.
Richard 2.
Henrie 4.
Henrie 5.
Henrie 6.
Edward 4. aliàs 7.
Edward 5.
Richard 3.
Henrie 7.
Henrie 8.
Edward 6.
Marie his sister.
Elizabeth.
¶ Thus haue I brought the Catalog of the Princes of Britaine
vnto an end, & that in more plaine and certeine order than hath
béene done hertofore by anie. For though in their regions since
the conquest few men haue erred that haue vsed any diligence,
yet in the times before the same, fewer haue gone any thing
néere the truth, through great ouersight & negligence. Their
seuerall yéeres also doo appéere in my Chronologie insuing.
OF THE ANCIENT RELIGION VSED IN ALBION.
CAP. IX.
It is not to be doubted, but at the first, and so long as the
posteritie of Iaphet onelie reigned in this Iland, that the true
[Sidenote: Samothes.]
knowledge and forme of religion brought in by Samothes, and published
with his lawes in the second of his arriuall, was exercised among the
Britans. And although peraduenture in proces of time, either through
curiositie, or negligence (the onelie corruptors of true pietie and
godlinesse) it might a little decaie, yet when it was at the woorst,
it farre excéeded the best of that which afterward came in with Albion
and his Chemminites, as may be gathered by view of the superstitious
rites, which Cham and his successours did plant in other countries,
yet to be found in authors.
What other learning Magus the sonne of Samothes taught after his
fathers death, when he also came to the kingdome, beside this which
concerned the true honoring of God, I cannot easilie say, but that it
should be naturall philosophie, and astrologie (whereby his disciples
gathered a kind of foreknowledge of things to come) the verie vse of
the word Magus (or Magusæus) among the Persians dooth yéeld no
vncerteine testimonie.
[Sidenote: Sarron.]
In like maner, it should seeme that Sarron sonne vnto the said Magus,
diligentlie followed the steps of his father, and thereto beside his
owne practise of teaching, opened schooles of learning in sundrie
places, both among the Celts and Britans, whereby such as were his
auditors, grew to be called Sarronides, notwithstanding, that as well
the Sarronides as the Magi, and Druiydes, were generallie called
[Sidenote: Samothei.]
[Sidenote: Semnothei.]
Samothei, or Semnothei, of Samothes still among the Grecians, as
Aristotle in his De magia dooth confesse; and furthermore calling them
Galles, he addeth therevnto, that they first brought the knowledge of
letters and good learning vnto the Gréekes.
[Sidenote: Druiyus.]
Druiyus the son of Sarron (as a scholer of his fathers owne teaching)
séemed to be exquisit in all things, that perteined vnto the diuine
and humane knowledge: and therefore I may safelie pronounce, that he
excelled not onlie in the skill of philosophie and the quadriuials,
but also in the true Theologie, whereby the right seruice of God was
kept and preserued in puritie. He wrote moreouer sundrie precepts and
rules of religious doctrine, which among the Celts were reserued verie
religiouslie, and had in great estimation of such as sought vnto them.
[Sidenote: Corruptors of religion.]
How and in what order this prince left the state of religion, I meane
touching publike orders in administration of particular rites and
ceremonies, as yet I doo not read: howbeit this is most certeine, that
after he died, the puritie of his doctrine began somewhat to decaie.
For such is mans nature, that it will not suffer any good thing long
to remaine as it is left, but (either by addition or subtraction of
this or that, to or from the same) so to chop and change withall from
time to time, that in the end there is nothing of more difficultie,
for such as doo come after them, than to find out the puritie of the
originall, and restore the same againe vnto the former perfection.
[Sidenote: _Cæsar._]
In the beginning this Druiyus did preach vnto his hearers, that the
soule of man is immortall, that God is omnipotent, mercifull as a
father in shewing fauor vnto the godlie, and iust as an vpright iudge
in punishing the wicked; that the secrets of mans hart are not
vnknowne, and onelie knowne to him; and that as the world and all that
is therein had their beginning by him, at his owne will, so shall all
things likewise haue an end, when he shall see his time. He taught
[Sidenote: _Strabo. li. 4._]
[Sidenote: _Socion. lib. success._]
them also with more facilitie, how to obserue the courses of the
heauens and motions of the planets by arithmeticall industrie, to find
[Sidenote: _Cicero diuinat._ I.]
out the true quantities of the celestiall bodies by geometricall
demonstration, and thereto the compasse of the earth, and hidden
natures of things contained in the same by philosophicall
contemplation. But alas, this integritie continued not long among his
successors, for vnto the immortalitie of the soule, they added, that
after death it went into another bodie, (of which translation Ouid
saith;
Morte carent animæ, sempérque priore relicta
Sede, nouis domibus viuunt habitántque receptæ.)
The second or succedent, being alwaies either more noble, or more vile
than the former, as the partie deserued by his merits, whilest he
liued here vpon earth. And therefore it is said by Plato and other,
that Orpheus after his death had his soule thrust into the bodie of a
swanne, that of Agamemnon conueied into an egle, of Aiax into a lion,
of Atlas into a certeine wrestler, of Thersites into an ape, of
Deiphobus into Pythagoras, and Empedocles dieng a child, after sundrie
changes into a man, whereof he himselfe saith;
Ipse ego námq; fui puer olim, deinde puella,
Arbustum & volucris, mutus quóq; in æquore piscis.