Now, forsomuch as it pleased God by his hid and secret iudgement so to
dispose the realme of England, and in such wise, as that the
gouernance thereof should fall after this maner into the hands of
William duke of Normandie, I haue thought good before I enter further
into this historie (being now come to the conquest of the realme, made
by the foresaid duke of Normandie) to set downe his pedegrée, thereby
to shew how he descended from the first duke of that countrie, who was
named Rollo, and after by receiving baptisme called Robert.
The said Rollo or Rou, was sonne to a great lord in Denmarke called
Guion, who hauing two sons, the said Rou and Gourin, and being
appointed to depart the countrie, as the lots fell to him and other
(according to the maner there vsed, in time when their people were
increased to a greater number than the countrie was able to susteine)
refused to obeie that order, and made warre there against the king,
who yet in the end by practise found meanes to slea the foresaid
Guion, and his sonne Gourin; so that Rou or Rollo, hauing thus lost
his father and brother, was compelled to forsake the countrie, with
all those that had holpe his father to make warre against the king.
Thus driuen to séeke aduentures, at length he became a christian, and
was created duke of Normandie, by gift of Charles king of France,
surnamed le Simple, whose daughter the ladie Gilla he also maried: but
she departing this life without issue, he maried Popée daughter to the
earle of Bessin and Baileux, whome he had kept as his wife before he
was baptised, and had by hir a sonne named William Longespée, and a
daughter named Gerlota.
William Longespée or Longaspata, had to wife the ladie Sporta,
daughter to Hubert earle of Senlis, by whome he had issue Richard the
second of that name duke of Normardie, who married the ladie Agnes,
the daughter of Hugh le grand, earle of Paris, of whome no issue
procéeded: but after hir deceasse, he maried to his second wife a
gentlewoman named Gonnor, daughter to a knight of the Danish line, by
[Sidenote: Ye must note that there was one Richard duke of Normandie
before Rollo.]
whom he had thrée sonnes, Richard that was after duke of Normandie,
the third of that name, Robert and Mauger. He had also by hir three
daughters, Agnes otherwise called Emma, married first to Egelred king
of England, and after to K. Cnute: Helloie, otherwise Alix, bestowed
vpon Geffrey earle of Britaine: and Mawd coupled in marriage with
Euldes earle of Charters and Blais. Richard the third of that name
maried Iudith, sister to Geffrey earle of Britaine, by whome he had
issue thrée sonnes, Richard, Robert, and William, and as manie
daughters: Alix, married to Reignold earle of Burgogne, Elenor married
to Baldwine earle of Flanders; and the third died yoong, being
affianced to Alfonse king of Nauarre. Their mother deceassed after she
had beene married ten yéeres, and then duke Richard married secondlie
the ladie Estric, sister to Cnute king of England and Denmarke, from
whome he purchased to be diuorsed, and then married a gentlewoman
called Pauie, by whome he had issue two sonnes, William earle of
Arques, and Mauger archbishop of Rouen.
Richard the fourth of that name, duke of Normandie, eldest sonne to
Richard the third, died without issue, and then his brother Robert
succéeded in the estate, which Robert begat vpon Arlete or Harleuina
daughter to a burgesse of Felais, William surnamed the bastard,
afterward duke of Normandie, and by conquest king of England. Of whose
father duke Robert, & his paramour Arlete, take this pleasant
remembrance for a refection after the perusing of the former sad and
sober discourses.
[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm. lib._ 3. _cap._ 1.]
[Sidenote: _Ranulph. lib._ 6. _cap._ 19.]
In the yéere of Christ 1030, Robert, the second sonne of Richard the
second duke of Normandie, and brother to Richard the third duke of
that name there hauing with great honour and wisedome gouerned his
dukedome seuen yéeres, for performance of a penance that he had set to
himselfe, appointed a pilgrimage to Jerusalem; leauing behind him this
[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm. lib._ 3. _cap._ 1.]
[Sidenote: _Ranulph. lib._ 6. _cap._ 19.]
William a yoong prince, whome seuen yéeres before he had begotten vpon
his paramour Arlete (whom after he held as his wife) with whose
beautifull fauour, louelie grace and presence, at hir dansing on a
time then as he was tenderlie touched, for familiar vtterance of his
mind what he had further to say, would néeds that night she should be
his bedfellow, who else as wiuelesse should haue lien alone: where
when she was bestowed, thinking that if she should haue laid hir selfe
naked, it might haue séemed not so maidenlie a part: so when the duke
was about (as the maner is) to haue lift vp hir linnen, she in an
[Sidenote: _Ran. li._ 6. _ca._ 19.]
humble modestie staid hir lords hand, and rent downe hir smocke
asunder, from the collar to the verie skirt. Heereat the duke all
smiling did aske hir what thereby she ment? In great lowlines, with a
feate question she answerd againe; "My lord, were it méet that any
part of my garments dependant about me downeward, should presume to be
mountant to my souereignes mouth vpward? Let your grace pardon me." He
liked hir answer: and so and so foorth for that time.
[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._]
[Sidenote: _lib._ 3. _cap._ 1.]
[Sidenote: _Ran. ibid._]
This duke before his voiage, calling at Fiscam all his nobilitie vnto
him, caused them to sweare fealtie vnto his yoong sonne William, whome
he then at his iournie betooke vnto the gouernance of earle Gilbert,
and the defense of the gouernour vnto Henrie the French king. So
Robert passing foorth in his pilgrimage, shewed in euerie place and in
[Sidenote: _Ran. ibid._]
all points a magnanimitie and honour of a right noble prince, and
pleasant withall; who once in Iurie not well at ease, in a litter was
borne toward Ierusalem vpon Saracens shoulders, & méeting with a
subiect of his that was going home toward Normandie: Friend (quoth he)
if my people at thy returne aske after me, tell them that thou sawest
[Sidenote: _Ran. ibid._]
[Sidenote: _Wil. Mal. idem._]
[Sidenote: _Ran. idem._]
their lord carried to heauen by diuels. The Norman nobilitie during
duke Roberts life, did their dutie to the yoong prince faithfullie,
but after they heard of his fathers death, they slackened apace,
euerie one shifting for himselfe as he list, without anie regard
either of oth or obedience toward the pupill their souereigne. Whereby
not manie yéeres after, as Gilbert the gouernour, by Rafe the childes
coosine germane, was slaine; the dukedome anon, by murther and
fighting among themselues was sore troubled in all parts. Thus much a
little of duke Robert the father, and of prince William his sonne for
part of his tender yéeres.
* * * * *
_A notable aduertisement touching the summe of all the foresaid
historie, wherin the foure great and notable conquests of this land
are brieflie touched, being a conclusion introductorie, as is said in
the argument._
In the former part of this historie it is manifest to the heedful
[Sidenote: Britaine inhabited by Brute.]
reader, that (after the opinion of most writers) Brute did first
inhabit this land; and called it then after his owne name, Britaine,
in the yéere after the creation of the world 2855, and in the yéere
before the incarnation of Christ 1108. ¶ Furthermore the said land of
[Sidenote: 1 Britaine conquered by the Romans.]
Britaine was conquered by C. Iulius Cesar, and made tributarie to the
Romans in the 50 yéere before the natiuitie of Christ, and so
continued 483 yéeres. So that the Britains reigned without tribute and
vnder tribute, from Brute, vntill the fourth yeere of the reigne of
king Cadwalladar, which was in the yéere of our Lord 686. And so the
Britains had continuance of the gouernement of this land the space of
1794 yéeres. Then was the realme of Britaine an heptarchie, that is,
diuided into seuen kingdoms. And Britaine receiued the faith of Christ
[Sidenote: 2 Britaine conquered and ouercome by the Saxons.]
in the 7 yéere of the reigne of king Lucius, which was in the 187
yéere after the birth of Christ. ¶ Next after the Britains entered the
Saxons, in the third yéere of king Vortiger; and in the yéere of our
Lord 450, and they gouerned vntill the last yéere of king Athelstane,
which was in the yéere of Christ 938. So that the time of the Saxons
first entrance into this realme, and the time of their regiment was
the space of 487 yéeres. ¶ Howbeit, in the time of their gouernement,
that is to say, in the 9 yéere of king Britricus, which was in the
[Sidenote: 3 Britaine conquered and ouercome by the Danes.]
yéere of our Lord 387, the Danes entred into this land, spoiling and
persecuting the people therin most gréeuouslie. At the last, Sweno or
Swaine the Dane obteined possession roiall, in the yéere of Grace
1012, whose time of regiment lasted about three yéeres. After whom his
sonne Canutus succeeded, and reigned 19 yéeres. After him Harold his
sonne, who ruled thrée yeeres: and after him Hardicnute the sonne of
Canutus, whose gouernement continued but thrée yeeres. This Hardicnute
was the last king of the Danes, at which time the Danes were expelled
and hunted out of the realme, which was in the yéere of our Lord 1042.
So that it may appeare by this collection, that the Danes ruled as
kings in this land by the space of 28 yéeres. Hereby also it is
euident, that from the time of the first entrance of the Danes into
[Sidenote: 4 Britaine conquered and possessed by the Normans.]
this realme, vntill their last expulsion & riddance, was 255 yéeres. ¶
Finallie the Normans entred this land likewise, and conquered the same
as before is expressed, in the yéere of our Lord 1067, which is since,
vntill this present yéere of our Lord 1585, drawing néere to the
number of 600 and od yéeres.
Now let these alterations of regiments be remembred [touching the
which read a notable animaduersion in the description of Britaine,
pag. 49, 50, 51] and teach vs that therein the iudgements of God
reuealed themselues to speciall purposes. And whatsoeuer hath béene
mentioned before, either concerning the subuersion of people, the
desolation of prouinces, the ouerthrow of nobles, the ruine of
princes, and other lamentable accidents diuerslie happening vpon
sundrie occasions; let vs (I say) as manie as will reape fruit by the
reading of chronicles, imagine the matters which were so manie yéeres
past to be present, and applie the profit and commoditie of the same
vnto our selues; knowing (as one wisely said) _Post sacram paginam
chronica vivum veritatis typum gerere_, that next vnto the holie
scripture, chronicles doo carie credit. But now to the sequele, and
first to duke William of Normandie.
_Thus farre the historie of England from Noah and his sonnes,
&c; to William duke of Normandie. Hereafter followeth a
chronologicall continuation beginning at the first yeere of the
said dukes reigne ouer this land, vntill the 25 yeere of the
Queenes most excellent maiestie Elizabeth, &c; whose daies God
in mercie prolong (like the daies of heauen) in peace and
prosperitie, &c._