people either of them in foure battels: and vpon Halidon hill, beside
Berwike, met these two hoasts, and there were discomfited of the Scots
fiue and twentie thousand and seauen hundred, whereof were slaine eight
earles, a thousand and thrée hundred knights and gentlemen. This
victorie doone, the king returned to Berwike, & then the towne with the
castell were yéelded vp vnto him. In the eight yeare of the reigne of
king Edward of England, Edward Balioll king of Scots came to Newcastell
vpon Tine, and did homage for all the realme of Scotland.
In the yeare of our Lord 1346, Dauid Bruse by the prouocation of the
king of France rebelled, and came into England with a great hoast vnto
Neuils crosse: but the archbishop of Yorke, with diuerse temporall men,
fought with him; and the said king of Scots was taken, and William earle
of Duglas with Morrise earle of Strathorne were brought to London, and
manie other lords slaine, which with Dauid did homage to Edward king of
England.
And in the thirtith yeare of the kings reigne, and the yeare of our Lord
1355, the Scots woone the towne of Berwicke, but not the castell.
Herevpon the king came thither with a great hoast, and anon the towne
was yéelded vp without anie resistance.
Edward Balioll, considering that God did so manie maruellous and
gratious things for king Edward, at his owne will gaue vp the crowne and
the realme of Scotland to king Edward of England at Rokesborough, by his
letters patents. And anon after the king of England, in presence of all
his lords spirituall and temporall, let crowne himselfe king there of
the realme of Scotland, & ordeined all things to his intent, and so came
ouer into England.
Richard the sonne of Edward, called the Blacke prince, sonne of this
king Edward, was next king of England, who for that the said Iane, the
wife of the said king Dauid of Scotland was deceassed without issue, and
being informed how the Scots deuised to their vttermost power to breake
the limitation of this inheritance touching the crowne of Scotland, made
foorthwith war against them, wherein he burnt Edenbrough, spoiled all
their countrie, tooke all their holds, & held continuallie war against
them vntill his death, which was Anno Dom. 1389.
Henrie the fourth of that name was next king of England, he continued
these warres begun against them by king Richard, and ceassed not vntill
Robert king of Scots (the third of that name) resigned his crowne by
appointment of this king Henrie, and deliuered his sonne Iames, being
then of the age of nine yeares, into his hands to remaine at his
custodie, wardship and disposition, as of his superiour lord, according
to the old lawes of king Edward the confessor. All this was doone Anno
Dom. 1404, which was within fiue yeares after the death of king Richard.
This Henrie the fourth reigned in this estate ouer them fouretéene
yeares.
Henrie the fift of that name, sonne to this king Henrie the fourth, was
next king of England. He made warres against the French king, in all
which this Iames then king of Scots attended vpon him, as vpon his
superiour lord, with a conuenient number of Scots, notwithstanding their
league with France. But this Henrie reigned but nine yeares, whereby the
homage of this Iames their king (hauing not fullie accomplished the age
of one & twentie yeares) was by reason and law respited. Finallie the
said Iames with diuerse other lords attended vpon the corps of the said
Henrie vnto Westminster, as to his dutie apperteined.
Henrie the sixt, the sonne of this Henrie the fift, was next king of
England, to whome the seigniorie of Scotland & custodie of this Iames by
right, law, and reason descended, married the same Iames king of Scots
to Iane daughter of Iohn earle of Summerset, at saint Marie ouer Ise in
Southwarke, and tooke for the value of this mariage, the summe of one
hundred thousand markes starling.
This Iames king of Scots at his full age, did homage to the same king
Henrie the sixt, for the kingdome of Scotland at Windsore, in the moneth
of Ianuarie.
Since which time, vntill the daies of king Henrie the seuenth,
grandfather to our souereigne ladie that now is, albeit this realme hath
béene molested with diuersitie of titles, in which vnmeet time neither
law nor reason admit prescription to the prejudice of anie right: yet
did king Edward the fourth next king of England, by preparation of war
against the Scots in the latter end of his reigne, sufficientlie by all
lawes induce to the continuance of his claime to the same superioritie
ouer them.
After whose death, vnto the beginning of the reigne of our souereigne
lord king Henrie the eight, excéeded not the number of seauen and
twentie yeares, about which time the impediment of our claime of the
Scots part, chanced by the nonage of Iames their last king which so
continued the space of one and twentie yeares. And like as his minoritie
was by all law and reason an impediment to himselfe to make homage; so
was the same by like reason an impediment to the king of this realme to
demand anie, so that the whole time of intermission of our claime in the
time of the said king Henrie the eight, is deduced vnto the number of
thirteene yeares. And thus much for this matter.
OF THE WALL SOMETIME BUILDED FOR A PARTITION BETWEENE ENGLAND AND THE
PICTS AND SCOTS.
CHAP. XXIII.
Hauing hitherto discoursed vpon the title of the kings of England, vnto
the Scotish kingdome: I haue now thought good to adde herevnto the
description of two walles that were (in times past) limits vnto both the
said regions, and therefore to be touched in this first booke, as
generallie appertinent vnto the estate of the whole Iland; and no lesse
famous than that which Anastasius Dicorus made afterward from the Euxine
vnto the Thracian sea, conteining 420 furlongs in length, and twelue
foot in bredth, & distant from Constantinople 280 furlongs, albeit that
of Hadrian was made of turffe and timber. The author therefore of the
[Sidenote: The first beginner of the Picts wall.]
first wall was Hadrian the emperour, who (as Ælius Spartianus saith)
erected the same of foure score miles in length, twelue foot in heigth,
and eight in bredth, to diuide the barbarous Britons from the more
ciuill sort, which then were generallie called by the name of Romans
ouer all.
[Sidenote: The finisher of the wall.]
After his time Seuerus the emperour comming againe into this Ile (where
he had serued before in repression of the tumults here begun, after the
death of Lucius) amongst other things he made another wall (but of
stone) betwéene eightie and a hundred miles from the first, & of thirtie
two miles in length, reaching on both sides also to the sea, of whome
the Britons called it S. Murseueri, or Gwall Seueri, that is, The wall
of Seuerus, or Seuerus dale, which later indureth vntill these daies in
fresh memorie, by reason of the ruines & square stones there oft found,
whose inscriptions declare the authors of that worke. It is worthie the
noting also, how that in this voiage he lost 50000 men in the Scotish
side, by one occasion and other, which hinderance so incensed him, that
he determined vtterlie to extinguish their memorie from vnder heauen,
and had so doone in déed, if his life had indured but vntill another
[Sidenote: The wall goeth not streict by a line,
but in and out in manie places.]
yeare. Sextus Aurelius writing of Seuerus, addeth, how that the wall
made by this prince conteined two and thirtie miles, whereby the bredth
of this Iland there, and length of the wall conteineth onelie so manie
miles, as may be gathered by his words. But chéeflie for the length of
the wall, Spartianus who touching it among other things saith of Seuerus
as followeth: "Britanniam (quod maximum eius imperij decus est) muro per
transuersam insulam ducto, vtrinq; ad finem oceani muniuit," that is, He
fortified Britaine (which is one of the chéefe acts recorded of his
time) with a wall made ouerthwart the Ile, that reached on both sides
euen to the verie Ocean.
[Sidenote: The stuffe of the wall.]
That this wall was of stone also, the ruines therof (which haue
ministred much matter to such as dwell néere therevnto in their
buildings) is triall sufficient. Heereby in like sort it commeth to
passe, that where the soile about it is least inhabited, there is most
mention of the said wall, which was wrought of squared stone, as vntill
this daie maie euidentlie be confirmed. Howbeit, these two walles were
not the onelie partitions betwéene these two kingdoms, sith Iulius
[Sidenote: Two other wals.]
Capitolinus in vita Antonini Pij dooth write of another that Lollius
Vrbicus made beyond the same, of turffe, in the time of the said prince,
who (for his victories in Britaine) was also called Britannicus, which
neuerthelesse was often throwne downe by the Scots, and eftsoones
repared againe, vntill it was giuen ouer and relinquished altogither. It
runneth (as I take it) also within the wall about an arrow shot from
that of stone: but how farre it went, as yet I cannot find. This onlie
remaineth certeine, that the walles made by Hadrian & Seuerus, were
[Sidenote: A rampire.]
ditched with notable ditches and rampires made in such wise, that the
Scotish aduersarie had much a doo to enter and scale the same in his
assaults. And yet for all this, I read that the Scots oftentimes pulled
downe great parcels of the same, to make their accesse more easie into
the south parts: but as it was eftsoons repared againe, so the last time
of all it was amended by the Romane soldiors, which came ouer verie
little before the time of Vortiger, at which season the land was in
maner left void of soldiors and munition. Betwixt Thirlewall and the
north Tine, are also in the waste grounds, manie parcels of that wall of
Seuerus yet standing, whereof the common people doo babble manie things.
[Sidenote: The course of the wall from west to east.]
Beginning therefore with the course thereof, from the west sea, I find
that it runneth from Bolnesse to Burgh, about foure miles, and likewise
from thence within halfe a mile of Carleill, and lesse on the north
side, and beneath the confluence of the Peder and the Eden. From hence
it goeth to Terrebie, a village about a mile from Caerleill, then
through the baronie of Linstocke, and Gillesland, on the north side of
the riuer Irding or Arding, and a quarter of a mile from the abbeie of
Leuercost. Thence thrée miles aboue Leuercost, and aboue the confluence
of Arding, and the Pultrose becke (which diuideth Gillesland in
Cumberland, from south Tindale in Northumberland) it goeth to Thirlwall
castell, then to the wall towne, next of all ouer the riuer to Swensheld,
Carraw (peraduenture Cairuoren tower) to Walwijc, and so ouer south
Tine, to Cockelie tower, Portgate, Halton sheles, Winchester, Rutchester,
Heddon, Walhottle, Denton, and to Newcastell, where it is thought that
saint Nicholas church standeth on the same. Howbeit Leland saith, that
it goeth within a mile of Newcastell, and then crooketh vp toward
Tinmouth vnto Wallesend, three miles from the mouth of the said riuer,
so called bicause the aforesaid wall did end at the same place. And thus
much I read of the Pictish wall. As for the Romane coine that is often
found in the course thereof, the curious bricks about the same néere
vnto Caerleill, beside the excellent cornellines and other costlie
stones alreadie intailed for seales oftentimes taken vp in those
quarters, I passe them ouer as not incident to my purpose.
In like maner I would gladlie also haue set downe the course of Offaes
ditch, which was march betwéene the Mercian dominions, and the Welshmen
in his time: but for so much as the tractation thereof is not to be
reférred to this place, bicause it is not a thing generall to the whole
Iland, I omit to speake of that also. Yet thus much will I note here, as
well by the report of one (who saith how he did tread it out) that he
followed it from the Dee to Kirnaburgh hill through Treuelach forrest,
by est of Crekith Cauchhill, Montgomerie castell, the New castell and
Discoid, and hauing brought it hitherto, either lost it, or sought after
it no further: as by the testimonie of another, who writing thereof,
saith, that it stretched from the south side by Bristow, along vnder the
mounteins of Wales northwards, ouer the riuer of Sauerne, and to the
verie mouth also of the Dée, where it falleth into the sea. And so much
of such things as concerne the generall estate of the whole Iland, which
labour herein I could verie well haue spared, and would, if Quintus had
performed the request of Cicero his brother, who promised to send him
ouer a sound aduertisement of the condition of Britaine in those daies:
as appeareth in the second booke of his familiar epistles, where he
saith; "Modò mihi date Britanniam, quam pingam coloribus tuis penicillo
meo, &c." But sithence that was not performed, and the treatise of
Demetrius and other of the same argument are perished, which were of
some value, let this trifle (I beseech you) not be reiected, till some
other man of better skill shall haue drawne a more absolute péece of
workemanship, wherevnto my vnskilfulnesse (I hope) shall prooue no
hinderance.
OF THE MARUELS OF ENGLAND.
CHAP. XXIV.
Such as haue written of the woonders of our countrie in old time, haue
spoken (no doubt) of manie things, which deserue no credit at all: and
therefore in séeking thankes of their posteritie by their trauell in
this behalfe; they haue reaped the reward of iust reproch, and in stéed
of fame purchased vnto themselues nought else but méere discredit in
their better and more learned treatises. The like commonlie happeneth
also to such, as in respect of lucre doo publish vnprofitable and
pernicious volumes, wherby they doo consume their times in vaine, and in
manifold wise become preiudiciall vnto their common wealths. For my part
I will not touch anie man herein particularlie, no not our Demetrius, of
whom Plutarch speaketh in his oracles (if those bookes were written by
him, for some thinke that Plutarch neuer wrote them, although Eusebius
lib. 4. cap. 8. dooth acknowledge them to be his) which Demetrius left
sundrie treatises behind him, conteining woonderfull things collected of
our Iland. But sith that in my time they are found to be false, it
should be far vnmeet to remember them anie more: for who is he which
will beléeue, that infernall spirits can die and giue vp their ghosts
like mortall men? though Saxo séeme to consent vnto him in this behalfe.
In speaking also of the out Iles, he saith thus: Beyond Britaine are
manie desolate Ilands, whereof some are dedicated to the Gods, some to
the noble Heroes. I sailed (saith he) by the helpe of the king vnto one
that laie néere hand, onelie to see and view the same, in which I found
few inhabitants, and yet such as were there, were reputed and taken for
men of great pietie and holinesse. During the time also that I remained
in the same, it was vexed with great storme and tempest, which caused me
not a little to doubt of my safe returne. In the end, demanding of the
inhabitants what the cause should be of this so great and sudden
mutation of the aire? they answered, that either some of the Gods, or at
the least of the Heroes were latelie deceased: for as a candle (said
they) hurteth none whilest it burneth, but being slenderlie put out
annoieth manie with the filthie sauour: so these Gods, whilest they
liued, were either not hurtfull, or verie beneficiall to mankind; but
being once deceassed, they so mooue the heauens and aire, that much
mischéefe dooth insue eftsoones vpon the same.
Being also inquisitiue of the state of other Iles not farre off, they
told him further, how there was one hard by, wherein Saturne being
ouertaken with a dead sléepe, was watched by Briareus as he laie, which
Saturne also had manie spirits attending vpon him in sundrie functions
and offices. By which reports it is easie to conceiue, with what vaine
stuffe that volume of Demetrius is interlaced. But of such writers as we
haue too too manie, so among the said rable Geruase of Tilberie is not
the least famous, a man as it were euen sold to vtter matters of more
admiration than credit to the world. For what a tale telleth he in his
De otio imperiali, of Wandleburie hilles, that lie within sight & by
south of Cambridge (where the Vandals incamped sometime, when they
entered into this Iland) and of a spirit that would of custome in a
moone shine night (if he were chalenged and called therevnto) run at
tilt and turneie in complet armor with anie knight or gentleman
whomsoeuer, in that place: and how one Osbert of Barnewell, hearing the
report thereof, armed himselfe, and being well mounted, rode thither
alone with one esquier, and called for him, who foorthwith appeared in
rich armour, and answered his chalenge, so that running togither verie
fiercelie, they met with such rigor, that the answerer was ouerthrowne
and borne downe to the ground. After this they bickered on foot so long,
till Osbert ouercame and draue him to flight, who departed, leauing his
horsse behind him, which was of huge stature, blacke (as he saith) of
colour, with his furniture of the same hue, and wherevpon he seized,
giuing him vnto his page, who caried him home, and there kept him till
it was néere daie, during which space he was séene of manie. But when
the daie light began to shew it selfe somewhat cléere, the beast stamped
and snorted, and foorthwith breaking his raine, he ran awaie, and was no
more heard of to his knowledge in that countrie. In the meane season
Osbert being verie faint, and waxing wearie (for he was sore wounded in
the thigh, which either he knew not of, or at the leastwise dissembled
to know it) caused his leg-harnesse or stéele bootes to be pulled off,
which his fréends saw to be full of bloud spilled in the voiage. But let
who so list beléeue it, sith it is either a fable deuised, or some
diuelish illusion, if anie such thing were doone. And on mine owne
behalfe, hauing (I hope) the feare of God before my eies, I purpose here
to set downe no more than either I know my selfe to be true, or am
crediblie informed to be so, by such godly men, as to whom nothing is
more deare than to speake the truth, and not anie thing more odious than
to discredit themselues by lieng. In writing therefore of the woonders
[Sidenote: Foure woonders of England.]
of England, I find that there are foure notable things, which for their
rarenesse amongst the common sort, are taken for the foure miracles and
woonders of the land.
The first of these is a vehement and strong wind, which issueth out of
the hilles called the Peke, so violent and strong, that at certeine
times if a man doo cast his cote or cloake into the caue from whence it
issueth, it driueth the same backe againe, hoising it aloft into the
open aire with great force and vehemencie. Of this also Giraldus
speaketh.
The second is the miraculous standing or rather hanging of certeine
stones vpon the plaine of Salisburie, whereof the place is called
Stonehenge. And to saie the truth, they may well be woondered at, not
onelie for the manner of position, whereby they become verie difficult
to be numbred, but also for their greatnesse & strange maner of lieng of
some of them one vpon another, which séemeth to be with so tickle hold,
that few men go vnder them without feare of their present ruine. How and
when these stones were brought thither, as yet I can not read; howbeit
it is most likelie, that they were raised there by the Britons, after
the slaughter of their nobilitie at the deadlie banket, which Hengist
and his Saxons prouided for them, where they were also buried, and
Vortigerne their king apprehended and led awaie as captiue. I haue heard
that the like are to be séene in Ireland; but how true it is as yet I
can not learne. The report goeth also, that these were broght from
thence, but by what ship on the sea, and cariage by land, I thinke few
men can safelie imagine.
The third is an ample and large hole vnder the ground, which some call
Carcer Acoli, but in English Chedderhole, whereinto manie men haue
entred & walked verie farre. Howbeit, as the passage is large and
nothing noisome: so diuerse that haue aduentured to go into the same,
could neuer as yet find the end of that waie, neither sée anie other
thing than pretie riuerets and streames, which they often crossed as
they went from place to place. This Chedderhole or Chedder rocke is in
Summersetshire, and thence the said waters run till they méet with the
second Ax that riseth in Owkie hole.
The fourth is no lesse notable than anie of the other. For westward vpon
certeine hilles a man shall sée the clouds gather togither in faire
weather vnto a certeine thicknesse, and by and by to spread themselues
abroad and water their fields about them, as it were vpon the sudden.
The causes of which dispersion, as they are utterlie vnknowne: so manie
men coniecture great store of water to be in those hilles, & verie néere
at hand, if it were néedfull to be sought for.