A MEMORIAL FOR THE LEARNED: OR, MISCELLANY of choice Collections from most Eminent Authors.  
IN History, Philosophy, Physic, and Heraldry.  
By J. D. Gent.  Ex paucis plurima concipit Ingenium. 
Licenced.  
LONDON: Printed for George powel and William paul, over against Lincolns-Inn Gate in Chancery-Lane and in Holborn-Court in Gray's Inn 16 〈…〉   

〈◊〉 To the Right Honourable HENRY Lord GREY, BARON of RUTHYN, etc.  
My Lord,  
THE ensuing Treatise being sent me from a concealed Author, with permission to make it public, I soon had my Opinion of it confirmed by better Judgements; that as it discovered vast labour in the Compiling, so it would prove of equal Use and Advantage to the Reader. Hereupon I found a double Care incumbent upon me, both to secure it from Errors of the Press, and procure its Recommendation to the World, by the Patronage of some Honourable Person, which the Author's Modesty has rendered more needful. Whither therefore should I betake myself for protection of this Performance, but where 〈◊〉 and Generosity are united; and where is this Union more illustrious than in your Lordship, who are blest with such Endowments of Art and Nature, as even adorn your Quality, and bring access of Honour to your Family, already famous for a long Race of Ancestors. This were a sufficient Glory, when your Lordship had arrived to years of perfection; but your early Genius disdains the slower methods of Time, and makes you mature in Knowledge in the blossom of your Age. Beside the sweetness of Disposition and acquaintance with the Muses, your Lordship has already brought home the Improvement of Travel, to that eminent degree, as must soon render you an Ornament to our Court, and Blessing to our Country. Illud demùm absolutum esse Ingenium quod ad Rempublicam simulque scientias factum sit. This, in the opinion of Barclay, is the Perfection of a Gentleman, and a Character whereof your Lordship has already given signal Instances. It must never be forgotten, how early your Lordship (like another Scipio) was concerned for the Public, and (in our late Trouble) with generous Loyalty raised a Troop of Horse for his Majesties and your Country's Service. This single Specimen were enough to create that vast Expectation, which your Lordship will questionless make good. Wherefore that the present Age may long enjoy your Virtues and Aceomplishments, and Posterity your Example, is the zealous Prayer of  
My Lord, Your Lordship's most devoted humble Servant, N. Tate.   

The Author's PREFACE.  
THE true design of a Preface (according to my Apprehension) being to explain the meaning of the Title, and to give the Reader a more copious Notion of the ensuing Treatise, with its Design, I must first tell you, why we call this, A Memorial for the Learned. A Memorial implies something that reminds us of what we have known before; but the Memory has almost lost it, or some part of it, which makes our Notion imperfect, till it be recol●cted by this means. And by A Memorial for the Learned, we mean, a succinct Account of those things, wherewith the studious have been unacquainted by large and learned Tracts, which being apt to be forgotten, are presently remitted to memory by this small Treatise. The Propriety therefore of this part of our Title, I suppose no body will deny. As to the Books we have chosen to epitomise, they are certainly the best that could be thought on; the fame of whose Authors will certainly remain to the Worlds Nè plus ultra. It remains therefore, that we acquaint you with our Proceed, and justify our Method.  
First then, You have a short Memorial of English History, beginning before the Invasion of Britain by Julius Caesar, and from thence continued to September, 1682. wherein you have, The Length and Breadth of England; an Account of its first Inhabitants; the Romans Invasion of it; its Division into Parishes; the Dane and Saxon Invasions; the Foundation of Universities and Colleges; with all remarkable Passages before the Conquest: And from thence an Account of the Life and Death of each King; his most notable Acts, Coronation, Heirs and Issues, to the Death of King Charles the Second, of ever blessed memory; abstracted from the best Chronicles, and from thence continued, with the notable Passages of our present blessed Monarch's Reign, till the beginning of September, 1685.  
Secondly, You have a Collection of the most remarkable Occurrences, Adventures, notable Exploits, and wonderful Casualties, in Sir Richard Baker's Chronicle, discoursed with all possible Brevity. So that having had the material Remarks of a Chronicle before, Both together make One perfect; whereby you have in this small Treatise, what is most worthy notice in the largest Volumes.  
Thirdly, You have an Epitome of the most eminent Lord Bacon's Works; being Abstracts from his History of Life and D●●ath; the length and shortness of Life in living Creatures; length of Life in Man; Medicines for long Life, and the Porches of Death: In all which, we have scarce omitted any thing, though expressed here with much Brevity. We 〈◊〉 deseend to his Centuries; wherein there is much curious Learning, but most part fit only for Chemists and Physicians, that dive into the most hidden Secrets of Nature. Those Experiments that are either pleasant, or practicable, or of use, we have taken; wherein are many admirable Curiosities of Nature, especially fit for Countrey-Gentlemen to practise, and others to discourse of.  
Fourthly, You have the Epitome of Vulgar Errors; wherein we found a vast number, such as are most worthy Notice, or not publicly known. All which things our Author has handled with so curious a Pen, that every Sentence carries with it something that is extraordinary. Wherefore we have all along followed his Sail as close as we could, omitting (to the best of our judgement) nothing that is remarkable or pleasant.  
Fifthly, An Abridgement of Honour; wherein you have, first, The Privileges due to Gentility; and afterwards all the several Titles of Honour, and Privileges due to the female Sex; and lastly, the Precedence amongst the Nobility and Peers of the Land, with their Issues; extracted chief from Carter's Analysis of Honour, and other Treatises on that Subject. Wherefore this Compendium, if truly looked into, we question not, but the ingenious Reader will find it to answer its proposed Ends, in being a Memorial for the Learned, or Miscellany of Learning's most useful Parts. And that it may accordingly prove of Advantage to all that peruse it, is the only Hope and Aim of him, who will ever endeavour to prove himself, (as every Man ought)  
A true Servant of his Country, J. D.   

AN ALPHABTICAL Table TO THE Historical Part.  


A.  Aurelius' Ambrosius' Arrival. 
Page 4  Arthur King. 
ibid.  Armada Spanish. 
34  Argile. 
44  Athelstone his Miracle. 
48  Archbishops their Superiority. 
52  Auricular Confession and Transubstantiation. 
58  Aldermen first in London. 
60  Atheists first burnt. 
73  Annals forbidden to be paid to Rome. 
90  No more Appeals. 
ibid.  A strange Apparition. 
101  A sad Accident. 
107  Armies in the Air. 
108    


B.  Britains' Length and Breadth. 
Page 1  Boadicea. 
2  Bonds first sealed. 
10  Becket Tho. 
14  Black Prince. 
21  A Bishop's Chastity. 
49  Blasphemy. 
51  London-Bridge. 53. and finished. 
53  Shower of Blood. 
53  Barons. 
63  Barons first executed. 
64  A Bishop rescued from the King by force. 
ibid.  Shower of Blood. 
78  A miraculous Birth. 
95  Last Banneret in England. 
99  A Pond of Blood. 
108    


C.  CAractecus. 
Page 4  Cadwallader. 
ibid.  Constantine. 
ibid.  Cambridge founded. 
7  Church-Rights sold. 
10  Charles the I 
36  Charles the II. 
37  Committee of Safety. 
39  Canutus. 
48  Scotch Custom. 
49  Children born with Horse-tails. 
52  A barbarous Cruelty. 
57  Common-Councel-men first in London 
58  Charters confirmed. 
59  A false Christ. 
60  Richard Clare his Valour. 
61  Coronation-Chair brought from Scotland into England. 
62  The Value of Calais. 
66  Clergies Tax. 
ibid.  Chaucer. 
68  A noble Citizen of London. 
69  Combat between Katrington and Annesley. 
ib  Character of King Henry the V. 
75  A wonderful Cock. 
78  Cap of Maintenance. 
89  King Henry the VIII. supreme Head of the Church. 
90  First Registers in Churches. 
92  Cranmer Archbishop, his Heart not burnt. 
96  East-India Company. 
100  First Master of Ceremonies. 
103  A monstrous Child. 
105  King Charles murdered. 
108    


D.  DAnes first invade England. 
Page 6  Second Invasion of Danes. 
ibid.  Drake Captain. 
34  Dangerfield. 
45  A Dwarf. 
63  A great Dearth. 
65  First Dauphin of France. 
66  Dukes first created. 
67  An Appearance of the Devil. 
74  ●●fender of the Faith Title. 
90  Dolphins. 
95  Captain Drake. 
99  English first Drunkards. 
ibid.  Dublin-University. 
100  A great Drought. 
101  Deer-killers Penalty. 
104  Duels restrained. 
105  Countess of Derby's Resolution. 
108  Lady Eleanor Davis. 
109    


E.  ENgland's Length and Breadth. 
Page 2  Its first Inhabitants. 
ibid.  Their Wives. 
ibid.  England when so called, and why. 
6  Divided into Parishes. 
ibid.  Kings-Evil first cured. 
7  A dreadful Example. 
ibid.  Divided into Circuits. 
14  Edward the I. surnamed Longshanks. 
17  Edward Caernarven. 
ibid.  Edward the III. Crowned. 
19  Edward the IV. 
26  Edward the V. 
27  Edward the VI 
32  Elizabeth Queen. 
ibid.  Ethelred. 
48  Strange Earthquake. 
49, 53  Elephant first seen in England. 
60  Emperor takes Pay of King Henry. 
88  A prodigious Earthquake. 
100  Another. 
101    


F.  FIre in London. 
Page 39  Great Fire in London. 
49  A bountiful Feast. 
59  Vast Expenses in France. 
60  A great Frost. 
68  4000 French frighted at the Name of Salisbury. 
76  A Fort taken by one Man. 
99  A monstrous Fish. 
100    


G.  GOspel first preached in England. 
Page 3  First publicly professed here. 
ibid.  Gaviston. 
18  Garter first instituted. 
21. & 54  Lady Jane Grey. 
32  Gunpowder Plot. 
35  Guns first used. 
66  Knights of Garter first. 
ibid.  Guns first invented. 
72  First Garter King at Arms. 
74  Gold paid by Weight. 
75  King's Guard first ordained. 
85  Granada won by the Spaniards. 
86  An uncourteous Guest. 
94    


H.  HEptarchy. 
Page 4, & 5  Henry the I. Crowned at Westminster. 
11  His Death and Issue. 
12  Henry the II. Plantagenet. 
13  Henry the III. Crowned. 
16  Henry the IV. 
22  Henry the V. 
23  Henry the VI 
24  Henry the VII. 
28  Henry the VIII. 
29  Hell Kettles. 
40  First Burning in the Hand. 
87  Large Hailstones. 
ibid.  Ceremonies of Cutting off the Hand for Courtstriking. 
91  John Hopkins. 
97  Hacket's strange Reconciliation. 
99  King James presented with 70 Teams of Horses. 
103    


I.  IReland conquered. 
Page 14  John King Crowned at Westminster. 
15  First Justice of Peace. 
21  Joan de Lorraine. 
24  James the I. King. 
35  James the II. King. 
40  Installation at Windsor. 
45  First Lord of Ireland. 
50  Johannes de Temporibus. 
ibid.  Ireland first entered by the English. 
51  Submits to King Henry. 
52  King of Jerusalem's Title whence. 
54  Laws first in Ireland. 
58  A devout Jew. 
60  Man-Island conquered. 
66  A noble just. 
70  An Image made to speak. 
72  King Edward the iv sits as Judge. 
79  A melancholy Judge. 
80  A magnificent Interview. 
89  King Henry his just. 
ibid.  Viscount Lisle dies of Joy. 
92  St. James' built. 
93  English Laws in Ireland. 
95  A wonderful Journey. 
104    


K.  THe Kingdom interdicted by the Pope. 
P. 58  Knighthood compelled. 
60  Knights-Templers imprisoned. 
64  Earl of Kent beheaded. 
65  Manner of Knighting. 
70  Obligations of Knighthood. 
91  Knights-baronets' first created. 
104    


L.  A Learned Man became an Idiot. 
Page 59  Laws first pleaded in English. 
67  Legitimacy by Parliament. 
71  Barons first made by Letters Patents. 
ibid.  Lions die in the Tower. 
77  Judge Littleton. 
82  Wonderful Lightning at Whitecomb. 
108    


M.  FIrst Lord Mayor and Sheriffs of London. 
Page 15. & 55  Magna Charta. 
17  Evil May-day. 
29  Man hanged for his Master. 
32  Marry Queen. 
ibid.  Monmouth lands at Lyme. 
42  Defeated and beheaded. 
43  A Lord devoured by Mice. 
49  Miracles. 
58  Maid of Leicestershire. 
61  Montfort's Audacity. 
ibid.  Sir John Mandevil. 
65  Judgement on King Edward's Murderers. 
83  Name of Merchant-Taylors first given. 
87  Masking first used in England. 
88  Meat sold by Weight. 
93  Mass restored. 
96  A strange Mortality. 
98    


N.  Nun's of Codington. 
Page 48  French Navy of 1287. 
7  Necromantic Art. 
76  Last Nuncio in England. 
98    


O.  Oswald. 
Page 6  Oxford-University founded. 
7  Oliver Usurper. 
37  Oats his Plot. 
40  Perjury and Punishment. 
41  Oath of Allegiance. 
105    


P.  AN Englishman elected Pope. 
Page 15  Peterkin and Symnel. 
28  Protestancy founded. 
32  Abolished. 
33  Old Parr his Age. 
37  Plague in London. 
39  First Parliament in England. 
49  Two Popes at once. 
53  A Bondman came to be Pope. 
ibid.  King John resigns his Crown to the Pope. 
48  A wonderful Preservation. 
63  First Coronation-Pardon. 
65  A wonderful Pestilence. 
67  Great Plenty. 
68  A King obliged to attend the Parliament. 
70  A strange sort of general Pardon. 
71  Prince Henry made a Prisoner. 
73  King Henry the 5ths. Prophecy. 
74  Printing first used in England. 
77  A wonderful Prodigy. 
ibid.  The Fickleness of Parliaments. 
80  First suing in forma Pauperis. 
86  Pope's Authority abolished. 
91  First Gentlemen-Pensioners. 
93  Priests Children legitimated. 
95  A Plague. 
105    


R.  ROmans first enter England. 
Page 2  Their Departure. 
3  Rosamond. 
14  Richard Coeur de Lion. 
15  Robin Hood and Little John. 
ibid. & 55  Richard the II. 
22  Richard the III. 
28  King Richard's Reply to the Priest. 
56  A ●●ot of Sheep. 
64  A strange Rainbow. 
96  A vast Rain. 
ibid.  Rain of Fire from Heaven. 
110    


S.  SAxons Invasion. 
Page 4  Stephen Earl of Blois Crowned at Westminster. 
12  His Valour, Death, Issue. 
13  Salisbury Church built. 
16  Scotland subjected. 
17  Spencers. 
18  Scots invade England. 
20  Straw and Tyler. 
22  A wonderful Sorceress. 
53  William King of Scots does Homage to King John. 
57  Sterling Money. 
ibid. 58  King of Scots does Fealty to King Edward. 
62  Title to Scotland surrendered. 
65  Defrauding Soldiers punished. 
66  A Subsidy granted without ask. 
74  Scriptures ordered to be in Latin. 
75  A wonderful Slaughter. 
79  King Edward marries his Subject. 
80  Sheep sent to the King of Arragon. 
ibid.  Strange Examples of Severity. 
81  Length of Shoe Noses. 
82  Inundation of the Severn. 
84  Sweeting Sickness. 
85  A Carver made Sheriff. 
ibid.  A Just at Sheens. 
86  Sanctuaries abrogated. 
87  Stews put down. 
93  A great Sleeper. 
ibid.  Serges made in England. 
100  A Star at Noon at King Charles the 2ds. Birth. 
107    


T.  Order of Templars. 
Page 49  Wonderful Accident of Thunder. 
51  Thames almost dry. 
50  Decrease of Teeth in Men. 
68  1500 executed for Treason. 
69  Five M●●n hanged at Tyburn, yet lived after. 
77  A wonderful Tempest. 
97  Tobacco brought into England. 
99    


U.  UTer. 
Page 4  A strange Vision. 
89  A miraculous Victory. 
94    


W.  WIlliam surnamed Rufus. 
Page 10  His Expedition into Normandy. 
11  Death and Burial. 
ibid.  Wales subdued. 
17  Woolsey Cardinal. 
30  Woolston's Miracle. 
48  Westminster first built. 
49  Prince of Wales whence first. 
59  Wales and England united. 
 Apparel for Whores. 
67  King Edward and the Widow. 
81  A large Whale taken. 
101  〈◊〉 brought to London 
104    


Y.  YEomen of the Guard first instituted. 
Page 86     

Collections of Life and Death.  
NAture durable and not durable in Stones, Metals. 
Page 111  In Herbs and Fruit-trees. 
112  Length and shortness of Life in Creatures, viz. The Elephant, Camel, Dog, Sow, Vultures. 
ib  Birds, Fishes, Crocodiles, tame Animals. 
113  Of Nourishment. 
114  To make large Fruit. 
ibid.  Where Men live longest. 
ibid.  To try Healthfulness of Air: Signs of long Life: Medicines for long Life: Blood-letting: Strong Liquors and Spices: Spare Diet: Exercise. 
115  Of Joys, Grief and Fear, Anger and Envy, Pity and Shame, Love and Hope, Admiration. 
116  Chief Promoters of Longaevity; Deserts and Mountains, Anointings, Sweatings, Woollen Clysters, Bathing, Meats, etc. 
117, & 118   

The Porches of Death.  
SUdden Death, Poisons, Extreme Passions, Strangling. 
Page 119  To recall Life, if possible. 
120     

Collections of Natural History, containing many choice Experiments, viz.  
PErcolation, Separating Bodies by weight, etc. To make Vines fruitful: Meats and Drinks most nourishing: An admirable Drink: To keep long under Water: To prolong Life: Make Drink fresh: Keep Fruit green: Ripen Apples: To make Gold: Accelerate Growth: Make Whelps little: Preserving Rose-leaves: Candles long last: To make a hot Bed: Fruit grow into shape: To make Inscriptions on Trees: Fruit without Core, or Stone: To try Seeds if good: When to gather Fruits: Easiest Death: Of Drunkenness: Prognostics of unwholesome Years: Induration of Quicksilver: Apples without Core: Raise Water by Flame: Of Sneezing: Audacity: Food beneficial to the Brain: To help Courage and Ingenuity: Infallibly to take away Warts. From Page 121. to Page 132.   

Vulgar Errors.  

First Book.  
THeir Causes. 
Page 132  A further Illustration, 
133  Second Cause. 
135  Nearer and more immediate Causes in wise and common sort of People, viz. Misapprehension, Fallacy, Credulity, Supinity, Adherence to Authority, Antiquity and Tradition. 
137  Brief Enumeration of Authors. 
141  Of the same. 
143  The last Promoter of Common Errors, Satan. 
144    

Second Book.  
OF Crystal. 
Page 145  Of the Loadstone. 
148  Of Bodies Electrical. 
149  Tenants of Vegetables. 
151  Infects, and Properties of Plants. 
153    

Third Book.  
OF the Elephant. 
Page 154  Of the Horse. 
155  Of the Dove. 
156  Of the Beaver. 
157  Of the Badger. 
158  Of the Bear. 
ibid.  Of the Basilisk. 
159  Of the Wolf. 
160  Of the Deer. 
161  Of the Kingfisher. 
163  Of Griffins. 
164  Of the Phoenix. 
165  Of Frogs, Toads, and Toadstone, 
166  Of the Salamander. 
167  Of the Amphisbaena. 
168  Of the Viper. 
169  Of Hares. 
170  Of Moles. 
171  Of Lampreys. 
172  Of Snails. 
173  Of the Chameleon. 
174  Of the Ostrich. 
175  Of the Unicorns Horn. 
176  That all Animals of the Land are in the Sea. 
177  Common course of Diet, and choice, or abstinence from sundry Animals. 
178  Of Sperma Ceti. 
179  Tenants of Animals, false or dub●●. 
180  Swans Melody. 
ibid.  The Peacock. 
ibid.  Of the Stork, Toad, Spider, Lion, Cock, Snakes. 
181    

Fourth Book.  
Of the Erectness of Man. 
182  Of the Heart. 
184  Of Pleurisies, and 
185  the Ring-finger. 
185  Of the right and left Hand, 
186  Of Swimming and Floating. 
187  Of Weight. 
188  Passages of Meat and Drink. 
189  Of Sneezing. 
190  Of the Jews. 
191  Of Pigmies. 
193    

Fifth Book:  
OF Pictures. First, Of the Pelican. 
Page 194  Picture of the Dolphin. 
195  Serpent and Eve. 
196  Pictures of Eastern Nations, etc. 
197    

Sixth Book.  
OF the Beginning of the World. 
199    

Seventh Book.  
HIstorical Tenants. Of the forbidden Fruit. 
199  That a Man has one Rib less than a Woman. 
203  The Death of Aristotle. 
204     

Abridgement of Honour.  
Privileges due to the Gentry. 
205  Of the Esquire. 
206  Of Knighthood in general, and the Knight-Batchelor. 
207  Of the Knight of the Bath. 
208  Of Bannerets. 
209  Of Baronet's. 
210  Of Barons. 
211  Of a Bishop. 
212  The Viscount. 
213  Count or Earl. 
213  The Marquis. 
213  Of the Duke. 
214  Of the Archbishop. 
ibid.  The Prince. 
215  The King. 
216  Of Women. 
217  credence amongst the Peers of England. 
218    

A short MEMORIAL OF English History, Beginning before the Invasion of Britain by Julius Caesar, and from thence continued to the year 1686.  

BRITAIN.  
THE length of Britain, from 
Length and breadth of Britain.  the Luzard-point Southward, in Cornwall, to the Straithy-head in Scotland, containeth 624 miles: The breadth, from the Lands-end in Cornwall in the West, unto the Island Tenet in the East, containeth 340 miles.  
A Place so well stored with all necessary Commodities for this Life, that our English Lucan thus sings; 
The fairest Land, that from her thrusts the rest,  
As if she cared not for the World beside;  
A World within herself with Wonders blest.   
England's Dimension in length, from 
Length and breadth of England.  Barwick to the Lands-end, is 386 miles: In breadth, from Sandwich to the Lands-end, 279. In compass, about 1300 miles.  
The first Inhabitants of this Island were 
The first Inhabitants.  derived from the Gauls, and anciently few, and those of the better sort only did wear any sort of Clothing.  
Their Wives were 10 or 12, which they 
Their Wives.  held common amongst Parents and Brethren; yet was the Issue reputed his only, who first married the Mother when she was a Maid.  
It is observable in the time of the Romans, 
A valiant Queen.  of one Boadicea, Queen to Pratiosagus, after her Husband's Death receiving Incivilities from the Romans, opposed herself against them, and in one Battle slew 80000 of them, and got several other great Victories; but at length she was vanquished in Battle; when rather than live subject to her Foes, she poisoned herself.  
The Romans were opposed 100 years; nor were the Britain's then subdued but by their own Divisions.  
An. Mun. 3913. Julius Caesar first took 
Romans first ●●ed Britain.  Footing in Britain about Deal; before Christ 54.  
In the year of Redemption 67. Domitius Nero reigning the 6th. Emperor, Joseph of Arimathea was sent by Philip the Apostle, to 
First Preacher of the Gospel in Britain.  plant the Gospel in Britain, who laid the foundation of the Christian Faith at a Place then called Avalon, now Glastenbury, where he died, and was buried.  
A. D. 181. Aurelius Commodus being Emperor, 
The first public profession thereof.  was the Christian Faith in Britain first professed by public Authority under King Lucius, the first Christian King in the World.  
After 500 years that the Romans had 
Romans Departure.  swayed in Britain, they took their final farewell of it, A. D. 446.  
In this year the Saxons were called in, under 
450.  the Conduct of Hengist and Horsa; they came 9000. with their Wives and Children, to assist the Britain's against the Scots, which succeeded. Hengist afterwards inviting Vortigern (a British King) to a Feast, married his fair Daughter Rowenna to him: Upon which Hengist aspired to make this Island his Inheritance, sending for greater Forces over hither; but by the Britain's are defeated in three set battles, in the last whereof the Saxons were forced to flee England. However by the Practices of Rowenna, and relying on his Son Vortigern's Love, Hengist once more comes over to England, but pretends only to fetch away his Daughter, and on pretence of friendly Conference, appoints a Meeting on Salisbury-Plain: The wellmeaning Britain's came unarmed, according to Agreement; but the fraudulent Saxons, with Skeans under their Cassocks, with which they set upon the Britain's, at a Watchword killing 3, or as some say, 500 of the Nobility, taking the King Prisoner.  
●●relius Ambrose, a Roman born, but 
Aurelius Ambrose.  well affected to the Britain's, arrives to their Relief.  
To him succeeded Uter (his Brother, or 
Uter.  as others say, a Britain) surnamed Pendragon, from his Banner, on which was a golden Dragon's Head, which to this day, in our English Camps, is the imperial Standard.  
To him succeeded his valiant Son Arthur. 
King Arthur.  Amongst other famous Acts, he instituted the Order of the Knights of the round Table, to prevent Disputes of Precedence.  
To him succeeded Constantine; and than 
Constantine.  Aurelius Conanus, Nephew to Arthur; then Caractecus; and than Cadwallar, in whose 
Caractecus. Cadwallar.  time the Doctrine of Mahomet was broached in the East; a Famine happening, that drove Cadwallar over to France to his Cousin 
Saxon Invasion.  Alan. The Saxons taking advantage thereof, came over in great swarms, and possessed themselves of the whole Island.  
The first Kingdom of the Saxons begun 
First.  by Hengist, in the year 455, containing all Kent, and continued 372 years, during the Reign of 17 Kings.  
The second Kingdom of the Heptarchy 
Heptarchy. Second.  was of the South-Saxons, begun by Ella, in the year 488, containing all Sufsex, and continued 435 years, under five Kings Reigns successive.  
The third Kingdom of the Heptarchy 
Third.  was of the Westsaxons, begun by Credric, in the year 519. containing Cornwall, Devonshire, Somersetshire. Wiltshire, Hampshire, Berkshire, and continued 561 years, during the Reigns of 19 Kings.  
The fourth Kingdom of the Heptarchy 
Fourth.  was of the East-Saxons, began by Erchenwyn, in the year 527. containing Essex and Middlesex, and continued 281 years, during the Reigns of 14 Kings.  
The fifth Kingdom was of Northumberland, 
Fifth.  so called because it lay North of the River Humber, began by Ella and Ina, in the year 547. containing Yorkshire, Durham, Lancashire, Westmoreland, Cumberland, and Northumberland, continued 370 years, during the Reigns of 23 Kings.  
The sixth Kingdom was of Mercia, and 
Sixth.  began in Crida, in the year 522. containing Huntingdon, Rutland, Lincoln, Nottingham, Warwickshire, Leicestershire, Northampton, Derby, Oxfordshire, Cheshire, Shropshire, Gloucestershire, Staffordshire, Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, Hartfordshire, and continued 222 years, during the Reigns of 20 Kings.  
The seventh Kingdom was of the East-Angles, 
Seventh.  and began by Uffa, in the year 575. containing Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambridgshire, and the Isle of Ely: continued 353 years, under the Reigns of 15 Kings.  
The Saxon Kings striving with each other for Sovereignty, gained upon each other, till at last in the year 818. Ecbert, King of the Westsaxons, reduced them all under subjection, causing all the South of 
This Isle first called England, and why.  the Island to be called England, according to the Angles, from whom himself came, after whom they were no longer properly called Saxon Kings, but Kings of England. Then ensued the Race of Saxon Kings, who reigned sole Kings of this Island: The first 
Danes first invade England.  whereof was Egbert; the second Ethelwolph; the third Ethelbald; the fourth Ethelbert, in whose time the Danes first invaded England.  
Ethelbald married Judith incestuously, the Widow of his Father; from this Judith, afterwards married to the Earl of Flanders, after divers Descents, came Maud, the Wife of William the Conqueror, from whom are descended all our English Kings ever since.  
Oswald's-tree in Shropshire was so called 
Oswald's-tree, whence named.  from Oswald, a very godly Christian King, who reigned the fifth over the Deira, A. D. 633. and was there slain by Penda, King of Mercia, who tore his Body piece-meal.  
This Oswald being at Dinner upon Easter-day, 
His Charity to the Poor.  hearing of a great company of Poor in the Street that asked Alms of him, he commanded the Meat, prepared for his own Table, to be carried to them, and broke a silver Platter to pieces, and sent it amongst them.  
An. Dom. 636. Honorius, Archbishop of 
England divided into Parishes.  Canterbury, first divided England into Parishes.  
A. D. 866. the Danes made the first great 
The Danes invade England.  Invasion of England, under the Command of those cruel Captains, Inguar and Habba, who burned down the City of York, and at last killed King Ethelred in a pitched Battle, who was then King of England.  
It is said, that King Elfred of England, 
872. The University of Oxford founded.  A. D. 872. founded the University of Oxford, and therein University-Colledge.  
Balliol College was founded, by John Balliol, King of the Scots, A. D. 1263.  
Merton College, by Walter de Merton, Bishop of Rochester, 1274.  
Exeter College, by Stapleton, Bishop of Exeter, 1316.  
Oriel College, by King Edward the II. 1327.  
Queen's College, by Eglesfield, Chaplain to Queen Philip, Wife to Edward the III. 1340.  
New College, by William of Wickam, Bishop of Winchester, 1379.  
Lincoln College, by Rich. Fleming, Bishop of Lincoln, 1420.  
All-souls, by H. Chichely, Archbishop of Canterbury, 1437.  
Magdalen, by W. Winiflet, Bishop of Winchester, 1459.  
Brazen-nose College, by W. Smith, Bishop of Lincoln, 1513. but finished by R. Sutton.  
Corpus Christi, by R. Fox, Bishop of Winchester, 1516.  
Christ-Church, begun by Cardinal Wolsey, 1546. and by King Henry the Eighth ordained the Cathedral Church of the See of Oxford.  
Trinity, by T. Hatfield, Bishop of Durham, 1518.  
St. John's, by H. Chichely, Archbishop of Canterbury, 1437.  
Jesus College, by Dr. Hugh Price, 1562.  
Wadham, by Nich. Wadham, 1613.  
Some report that Cambridge was built by 
Cambridge Founded.  Cantabar, a Spaniard, 375 years before Christ. But as some contend, Cambridge began not to be an University, till Hugh Balsham, Bishop of Ely, founded the College of Peter-House, in A. D. 1256.  
Clare-Hall, by Eliz. de Bourgo, Countess of Clare, 1347.  
Pembroke-Hall, by Mary, Widow to the Earl of Pembroke, 1347.  
Corpus Christi College, by the Aldermen, 1351.  
Trinity College, by Dr W. Bateman, 1353.  
Gonvil College, by Edm. de Gonvil, 1353. Repaired by J. Caius, Dr. of Physic, 1557.  
King's College, by King Henry the Sixth, 1441.  
Queen's College, by Margaret his Wife, in the same Year.  
Katharine-Hall, by R. Woodlark, Provost of King's College, 1475.  
Jesus College, by J. Alcock, Bishop of Ely, 1497.  
Christ's College, by Mar. Countess of Derby, where the College of God's House stood, 1505.  
St. John's College, by the same, 1508.  
Magdalen College, by T. Audley, Lord Chancellor of England, 1542.  
Trinity College, by Henry the Eighth, 1546.  
Emmanuel College, by Sir Walter Mildmay, 1584.  
Sidney Su●● College, by Frances, Countess of Su●●, Daughter of Sir William Sidney, 1598.  
There is a story of King Edward the 
He Reigned A. D. 1042.  Confessor, that as he lay in his Bed in an Afternoon with his Curtains drawn, a Courtier came into his Chamber, where finding the King's Casket open (which Hugoline his Chamberlain had forgot to shut) he took out as much Coin as he could conveniently carry, and went away; and came again a second, and a third time; when the King spoke to him, and bade him speedily be packing whilst he was well, for if Hugoline should take him, he should not only lose all he had, but stretch an Halter: And when Hugoline came, and missing it, was troubled, the King said, be not troubled, for the man that had it, hath more need of it than we have.  
This King Edward was the first that 
The Kings-Evil first Cured.  cured the Kings-Evil.  
Earl Godwin (whose Daughter this King married) took Bread and eat it, in witness that he was not guilty of the death of 
A dreadful Example.  Prince Alfred; but as soon as he had received the Bread, he was choked at the Table before the King at Windsor.  
WILLIAM the Conqueror, was the 
A. D. 1066.  base Son to Robert Duke of Normandy. He began his Reign Octob. 14th. A. D. 1066. He was very cruel to the English, and took part of every man's Estate, and also exacted very great Taxes. He died at Rouen in Normandy, A. D. 1087. forsaken of all his Courtiers: his Body was left unburied, till one Harluims, a poor Country Knight, at his own charge conveyed it to Caen. His Issue were, Robert, Richard, William, Henry, and six Daughters.  
In his time it was decreed at Rome, That the See of York should be styled Primas Angliae; and that of Canterbury, Primas totius Angliae.  
The setting Seals to Bonds and Writings 
First use of sealing Bonds.  was now first used in England, there being before only Witnesses to them.  
WILLIAM, Surnamed Rufus, though 
A. D. 1087.  not eldest Brother, gained the voices of the Council, and was Crowned A. D. 1087.  
This King fairly promised to abolish the overhard Laws made by his Father.  
He set to Sale the Rights of the Church, 
The Church Rights sold.  preferring those therein that would give the most. He was wont to say, that Christ's Bread was sweet, dainty, and most delicate for Kings.  
When Duke Robert had mortgaged Normandy to him, hearing, as he sat at meat, the Main in Normandy was straight Besieged, and his Subjects distressed, he swore his wont Oath, By St. Luke's Face, that 
His Expedition into Normandy.  he would not turn his back till he was with them; and thereupon commanded the Wall of the House to be broke down, that he might go the next way, leaving orders for his Nobles to follow him; but the Winds being contrary, and the Seas raging, his Pilot desired him to stay, till they were appeased; to whom the King said, Hast thou ever heard that a King hath been drowned? Therefore hoist up thy Sails, I charge thee, and be gone: Which accordingly being done, the King making such haste, relieved the City, before it was expected, and settled all things in a short time; and being returned into England, as he was Hunting in New Forest, Sir Walter Tyrrel, a French Knight, shooting at a Stag, the Arrow glanced against a Tree, and struck the King into the Breast, with which he immediately died, August 1. A. D. 1100. 
His Death.  His Body, laid in a Collier's Cart, was drawn with one poor Jade, till the Cart broke, where for a while the Corpse was laid in the dirt; but afterwards was conveyed to Winchester, and there buried in 
Burial.  the Cathedral Church.  
There did several strange Wonders happen in this King's Reign; as Earthquakes, Blazing-stars, and the like.  
HENRY, for his Learning styled Beauclerk, 
A. D. 1100.  promising many good things, was with the general liking of the People Crowned at Westminster, in A. D. 1100. He constituted many good Laws, and rejected those that were formerly too severe, by which he wholly gained the hearts of the People.  
Robert being returned from the Holy Land, claimed the Kingdom; but at length the difference between these two Brethren was reconciled, on these terms: That Henr●● should enjoy the Crown during his life, paying to Robert 3000 Marks by the year.  
After this King had taken pleasure in Hunting in Normandy, he made a great repast of Lampreys, upon which he fell exceeding sick, and after seven days sickness, died, A. D. 1135. at the Town of St. Denis. 
His Death.  His Body was brought to Reading, and there buried in the Abbey which himself had founded.  
Besides his Lawful Issue, William and 
His Issue.  Maud, he is said to have had fourteen illegitimate.  
In the Year 1111. at Dunmow in Essex, the Lady Juga Founded a Priory for black Nuns, which afterwards became a House of Monks; who ('tis said) did allow a Gammon of Bacon to such married couples, as repent not of their bargain a year and a day after their Marriage, nor made any Nuptial transgression in word or deed. This they were to make a solemn Oath of.  
STEPHEN, Earl of Blois, Son to 
A. D. 1135.  Adelicia, Daughter to the Conqueror, was admitted King, by the working of his Brother Henry, Bishop of Winchester; but chief through the means of Hugh Bigot, who took this Oath, That King Henry upon his Deathbed had disinherited his Daughter, and appointed Stephen to succeed him. He was Crowned at Westminster on St. Stephen's day, in A. D. 1135.  
His entrance was peaceable, but by little and little civil discords increased, with which, and the incursions of the Welsh, Scots, and Maud the Empress, he was continually disturbed.  
He was a very valiant King, as was shown 
His Valour.  by his encounter with Robert, Earl of Gloucester, and Ranulph, Earl of Chester: where after a long Fight, his Horse and Foot flying, and leaving him almost alone, he, with his Battle-Ax, drove back whole Troops assailing him, with an undaunted courage, till his Battle-Ax broke; and after that, till his Sword flew in pieces; but was knocked down and taken, and carried to the Empress. So the Empress for a while ruled all; but Stephen, by the diligence of the Bishop of Winchester, after a while gained it again.  
He died at Dover, being troubled with 
His Death.  the Iliack Passion and the Hemorrhoids, A. D. 1154. and was buried at Feversham in Kent.  
He had Issue, Baldwin, Eustace, William, 
Issue.  Maud, Mary.  
HENRY the Second Plantagenet, the 
A. D. 1154.  Son of Maud, and Earl Geoffrey of Anjou, was Crowned at Westminster.  
This King went in Person against Lord Hugh de Mortimer, and other Rebels, where in the Siege of Bridgenorth he had been shot with an Arrow, had not Hubert de St. 
An Example of true Loyalty.  Clare interposed, and took the Arrow in his own bosom.  
Tho. Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, made great disturbances in this King's Reign, he was at last murdered in the Cathedral at Canterbury, and this was his Epitaph: 
Quis moritur? Praesul. Cur? Pro grege. Qualiter? Ense.  
Quando? Natali. Quis locus? Ara Dei.   
This King effected the Conquest of Ireland, 
Ireland conquered.  and reform the Irish Church.  
This King's Queen Eleanor and his Sons risen in Rebellions against him, and were assisted by the French and Scotch Kings, but he overcame them all.  
He died in the Church at Chinon, A. D. 
His Death.  1189. and was buried at Font Everard.  
His Issue were, William, Henry, Richard, 
Issue.  Jeoffrey, Philip, John, Maud, and Eleanor.  
He had to his Concubine fair Rosamond, 
Rosamond.  who was poisoned by the Queen in her Labyrinth at Woodstock, which the King had built for her. She had this Epitaph upon her Tomb; 
Hic jacet in Tumba Rosamundi, non rosa munda,  
Non redolet, sed olet, quae redolere solet.   
King Henry divided England into Circuits, 
England divided into Circuits.  appointing that two of his Judges should twice in a year, in each Circuit, administer Justice.  
In the beginning of his Reign, one Nicholas 
An English man elected Pope.  Breakspear, an Englishman, was elected Pope, by the name of Adrian the IV.  
RICHARD, from his exceeding Valour, 
A. D. 1189.  surnamed Coeur de Lion, was Crowned at Westminster.  
He spent great time in the Wars at the Holy Land, where he did many noble exploits; and as he was going, conquered Cyprus, where he solemnly took to Wife his beloved Lady Berengaria.  
He died of the wound of an Arrow, received 
His Death.  at the Siege of the Castle of Chaluz, belonging to the Viscount of Lymoges, April 6th. 1199. and was buried at Charron.  
In the first year of his Reign he appointed 
First Lord Mayor.  Henry Fitz-Alwin to be the first Lord Mayor of London, being formerly governed by Portgraves.  
Now lived Robin Hood and Little John.  
JOHN, by the assistance of his Mother 
A. D. 1199.  Eleanor, was by the great Council of the Realm admitted King, and was Crowned at Westminster. His Reign throughout was attended with great Troubles; either with the King of France, Scotland, or by Rebellion of his own Subjects.  
He was at last poisoned at Swinshed Abbey 
His Death,  by an envenomed Cup, presented to him by a Monk, tasting first thereof himself, so becoming the wicked Instrument of his own and Sovereign's death, Octob. 19 1216. He was buried at Worcester.  
His Issue were, Henry, Richard, Joan, 
Issue.  Eleanor, and Isabel.  
Now lived one Simon Thurvey, who for 
Example.  his Pride in Learning, especially for his Blasphemies against Moses and Christ, became so utterly ignorant, that he could hardly read a letter in a Book.  
HENRY the Third, at about ten years 
A. D. 1216.  of Age was Crowned King the ninth day after his Father King John's decease: The Noble Earl of Pembroke being by common consent of Peers and Prelates, constituted Guardian of him during his Nonage.  
This King was almost always at dissension 
His Troubles.  with his Barons.  
He lost all his Rights beyond the Seas to 
His Losses.  the French King.  
There were now at Oxford 15000 Students, 
The number of S tudents now at Oxford.  whose names were in the Metriculation Book.  
After he had gone through very many troubles, he fell grievously sick at the Abbey of St. Edmund in Suffolk, and there died. 
His De o'th' and Issue.  A. D. 1272. whose Issue was, Edward, Edmund, Richard, John, William, Henry, Margaret, Beatrice, and Catharine.  
Richard Beor, than Bishop of Sarum, 
The but ilding of Salisbury Ch●●rch.  built that stately Church at Salisbury, which hath in it as many Windows as are days in the year, as many Marble Pillars as hours, as many Doors as Months.  
Magna Charta, containing the sum of 
Magna char●● first instituted  all the written Laws of England, was ordained in the ninth year of his Reign.  
EDWARD the First, surnamed Longshanks, 
A. D. 1272.  at his Father's Death was employed in the Holy Wars, where he behaved himself very valiantly. He grieved much at his Father's death. At his arrival into England, he was most joyfully welcomed, and with his dearest Eleanor was Crowned at Westminster.  
The first of this King's exploits, was the 
Wales subdued.  subduing of Wales, and made his Son Edward, born at Caernarvan, Prince thereof.  
He was mighty indefatigable and successful in all his exploits. He brought Scotland 
Scotland subjected.  wholly in subjection, and was ever very well beloved of his Subjects.  
This Heroic King died of a Dysentery 
His. Death.  at Burgh upon Sands, A. D. 1307. and was buried at Westminster.  
His Issue were, John, Henry, Alphonso 
Issue.  (who died before him) Edward, Thomas, Edmund, and ten Daughters.  
EDWARD, called Caernarvan, so soon 
A. D. 1307.  as his Father was dead, repealed Pierce Gaveston, who in his Father's time, for abusing the Prince's years with wicked vanities, by common Decree was banished.  
He sailed into France, where at Bolein he was married to young Isabel, Daughter to Philip the Fair.  
This Gaveston forementioned caused many 
His Dissensions, with the Death of Gaveston.  dissensions, being a very debauched man, and the King wholly ruled by him. He was thrice banished by Parliament, the King still recalling him; but at last was Beheaded at Warwick Castle, by Guy Earl of Warwick, as an open Traitor to the Kingdom, which caused a lasting hatred between the King and Nobles.  
This opportunity Bruce, King of Scotland, took to set his Kingdom at liberty; and at Bannoxburn gave King Edward the greatest overthrow that ever they gave the English, and gained great spoils, the English 
The English beaten by the Scots.  coming as for a Triumph, having adorned themselves with all sorts of riches, whereon the Scots made these Rhymes, 
Long Beards, heartless, painted Hoods, witless,  
Gay Coats, graceless, make England thriftless.   
Then in Pierce Gaveston's place the King advanced the Spencers, Father and Son, 
The Spencers advanced.  whose intolerable insolences seemed to exceed the others, and caused more Civil Dissensions, and Civil Wars, in which, One Earl and fourteen Lords suffered death. After which, the Spencers behaved themselves so exceeding Lordly, that the Queen and discontented Nobles resolve to clear the World of them; and the King found but few Friends, because of the Mortal hatred that the People generally did bear to the Spencers; so that his part proving the weaker, Spencer the elder was taken at the Siege of Bristol, and there cut up alive, and quartered. The younger was taken with 
The death of the Spencers.  the King at the Abbey of Neath in Wales; which Spencer was ignominiously hanged. The distressed King being now shut up in Prison, at last yielded to resign the Crown 
The resignation of his Crown.  to his Son Edward; whereupon Sir William Trussel, in behalf of the whole Realm, renounced all Allegiance to him, A. D. 1327. His Issue were, Edward, John, Joan, and 
His Issue.  Eleanor.  
EDWARD the Third was Crowned 
A. D. 1327.  upon Candlemas-day. Soon after, Tho. de Gourney, and John Mattrevers conveyed the old King from Kenelworth to Berkley Castle, and there Murdered him, by running a 
Death of Edward the Second.  burning Spit into his Body, as he was easing Nature, Sept. 22. 1327. His Body was buried at Gloucester. To animate these Regicides, Adam de Torleton, Bishop of Hereford, sent them this ambiguous Phrase by Mortimer, 
Edwardum occidere nolite timere bonum est.   
This King made Edw. Balliol King of Scots, who did him Homage.  
In the year 1327. died Charles the Fair, King of France, by whose death the Crown 
Edward the Third his Title to France.  devolved to Edward, King of England, in right of his Mother Queen Isabel, who was Daughter to Philip the Fair, and Sister to Charles the Fair. But the French pretending a Fundamental Law, by which no Woman was inheritable to France, sought to debar King Edward of his right, receiving to the Crown Philip of Valois, whose Father was younger Brother to Philip the Fair, advancing the Brother's Son before the Daughters Son. Whereupon King Edward went into France with a puissant Army, 
His Expedition for his Right in France.  and overran all places in his way; at last, the French Army met him at Cressy in Ponthio, lying between the Rivers of Some and Anthy, being above 100000 men. A bloody Fight ensued, where the Black Prince, King Edward's Son, without the help of the Battle wherein his Father was, which stood idle, won so great a Victory of the French, 
A great Victory.  that they slew of their party 11 great Princes, and of Barons, Knights, and men of Arms, above 1500. and of the Commons about 30000. Of the English not one man of Note or Honour was slain.  
The Scots taking this Opportunity, in 
Scots invade England.  favour of the French invaded England, but were soon stopped, their King David taken Prisoner, and their chiefest Nobleses slain.  
After the King had taken many great places in France, at last there was a Peace concluded, though it continued not long ere the French broke the Agreement: In revenge whereof, King Edward entered 
His second Journey into France.  France with an Army, and spoilt it where he came; and after his return home, he bestowed the Duchy of Aquitain on the Black Prince, commanding him to defend his right. The Prince, furnished with a gallant Army, went to the chief City Bourdeaux, and John, King of France, encountered him with a great Army, having the odds of six to one; notwithstanding the Victorious Prince discomfited the French, 
Another great Victory by the Black Prince.  took Prisoners the King and his youngest Son, and many great Lords, and about 2000 Knights, Esquires, and Gentlemen, bearing Armouries, slew 52 Lords, and 1700 Knights and Gentlemen, besides common Soldiers 6000. Shortly after he returned home with his Prisoner King John, and a while after these Conditions were agreed 
The Agreement.  upon: That King John and his Heirs should have the Crown of France, and Duchy of Normandy; and King Edward and his Heirs Aquitain and Santain, and King John pay for his Ransom 500000 l. Sterling.  
Not long after this, the Martial Prince 
The death of the Black Prince.  Edward died on Trinity Sunday, 1376. about his age 46, and was buried at Canterbury: And his Father died soon after at Shene in 
The King's Death and Burial. His Issue.  Surrey, A. D. 1377. and was buried at Westminster. His Issue were, Edward the Black Prince, William, Lionel, John of Gaunt, Edmund, William of Windsor, Thomas, Isabel, Joan, Blanch, and Margaret.  
He was the founder of the Noble Order 
The first Order of the Garter.  of the Garter; so entitled, from the Garter he took up of the Countess of Salisbury's, which slipped off in a Dance. Also in his 
First Justices of the Peace.  first year was the Original of Justices of the Peace.  
RICHARD the Second, the Son of 
A. D. 1377.  the Black Prince, was Crowned King in the eleventh year of his Age; but ere the Crown was settled on his Head, the French braved it on the English Coasts, and the Scots set fire on the Tower of Roxborough; and through want of care in such who had the charge of State-matters in the King's behalf, things were declined to a shameful change; and the glorious Achievements of the two late Edward's fell under an Eclipse. Jack Straw and Wat Tyler caused 
Straw & Tyler.  great Rebellions, but were suppressed at last.  
King Richard married the Lady Ann, 
His Marriage.  Daughter to the Emperor Charles the iv and a Truce was concluded with France.  
After a great many Troubles by Civil Wars and Dissensions, he was caused to 
His resignation of the Crown.  resign the Crown to the Duke of Lancaster.  
Queen Ann, Wife to King Richard, first 
women's first riding on sidefaddles.  taught English Women to ride on side-saddles; before they road astride: and long train●● Gowns for Women.  
HENRY the Fourth, the Son of John 
A. D. 1399.  Duke of Lancaster, the fourth Son of King Edward the Third, was Crowned at Westminster. All that the old King said, was, I look not after such things, but my hope is, that after all this, my Cousin will be my good Lord and Friend. Many did strive to re-place Richard, but to no purpose: 
Death of King Richard.  And he at last died at Pontfract Castle by Hunger, Cold, and great Torments, and was buried at Langley in Hartford-shire. There was a great many Conspiracies afterwards against King Henry, but they all came off with the worst, and the Plotters thereby only hastened their own ruin. The King died at London, A. D. 
His Death and Issue.  1413. His Issue were, Henry, Thomas, John, Humphrey, Blanch, and Philippe.  
HENRY the Fifth, of Monmouth, whilst 
A. D. 1413.  he was Prince, did many things very incongruous to the greatness of his Birth; yet when he had attained the Crown, to begin a good Government, he began at home, banishing from Court those unruly Youths that had been his Consorts. He began his Reign in all things very advisedly. He sent into France to demand his Right; and the Dauphin in derision sent him a Tun of Paris Tennis Balls: But the King returned for Answer, that he would shortly send him London Balls, which should shake Paris Walls. And soon after went with an 
His Expedition into France.  Army into France, and first of all took Harflew, Sept. 22. 1414. Then went to Agincourt on Octob. 24. where the French had pitched with six, some say ten times the number of the English; whereupon the King offered to part, and surrender what he had won: but the French would not yield, making sure account of Victory, had prepared a Chariot for the Captive King, and all other things for that purpose. The Battle beginning, King Henry encouraged his Soldiers, and with their small company the English won the day, having every man his Prisoner. Of the English 
A wonderful Victory.  were slain the Duke of York, Earl of Suffolk, two Knights, one Squire, and 28 private Soldiers. Of the French were slain 4000 Princes, Nobles, Knights, and Esquires, and 10000 common Soldiers, and more than these taken. After which, he came home, and in a short time returned there with another Army, where at last he was Proclaimed Regent of France, and had 
He is Proclaimed Regent of France. His Marriage.  Homage sworn to him; and his Marriage with the Lady Catharine was with all Solemnity celebrated at Troy's. After which he hastes into England with his Queen, and in a short time after he went into France again, where he had not been long before 
His Death, Burial, and Issue.  he fell sick of a burning Fever and Flux, whereof he died, Aug. 31. 1422. and was buried at Westminster. His Issue was only Henry of Windsor.  
HENRY the Sixth, of Windsor, was 
A. D. 1422.  Crowned about the eighth Month of his Age. The Government of England was committed to Humphrey Duke of Gl●●ucester, and the Regency of France to John Duke of Bedford, under whom things succeeded very prosperously. In his time was that Famous French Shepherdess, Joan of Lorraine, 
Joan de Lorraine.  who put on Man's Apparel, and opposed the English with great success, but was at last taken, and was burnt for Sorcery.  
A. D. 1435. that Famous Patriot and General, John Duke of Bedford, died at Paris, after which, the English began to change their Affairs there for the worse, and lost most of their strong Holds. At last there was a Peace concluded between the two Kings.  
A. D. 1444. was King Henry married 
His Marriage.  with Margaret, Daughter to the Duke of Anjou and Lorraine; after which, the King's Fortune declined both in England and France. The Queen ruling all, contrived the death of Duke Humphrey, who was the only man that had hitherto kept things in 
His Troubles.  order by his Prudence. By this time were all the English Fortunes in France lost. The Duke of York raising many Rebellions in England, and at last in a great Battle at St. Alban, the King's greatest Friends were most slain, and himself taken. After which, York created himself Protector of England, and by degrees works out the King's ancient Counsellors; yet many stood up for the King, and many great Battles were fought, Fortune favouring sometimes one, and then another; at last the Duke himself was slain by the Queen's Forces near Wakefield. And now his Son Edward, Earl of March, maintains his Quarrel. The Queen's Forces recover the King again; howbeit, the L●●ndoners Proclaimed the Earl 
Earl of March Proclaimed King. His Issue.  of March King of England. King Henry's Issue was only Edward. He was a Prince free from Pride, very devout, chaste, and modest. He built Eton College, and King's College in Cambridge.  
The Art of Printing was found out in 
Printing first in England.  Germany, by John Guttenburg, and brought into England, by Will. Caxton, a Mercer of London, who first practised the same in the Abbey at Westminster, A. D. 1471.  
EDWARD the iv eldest Son to Richard 
A. D. 1461.  Duke of York, began to reign in the 20th. year of his Age; at which time Henry had many Friends, who sought to re-settle him on his Throne. On June the 28th. was 
His Coronation.  Edward crowned; and soon after King Henry and his Son Edward disinherited of their Claim to the Crown by Act of Parliament. He takes to Wife the Lady Elizabeth 
Marriage.  Grey, the Relict of his mortal Enemy Sir John Grey, slain at the Battle of St. Alban, who was crowned at Westminster, May 26. 1465. But this his Marriage below himself was much to his disadvantage, by making the Earl of Warwick, formerly his very good Friend, a strong Rebel against him, who took the King Prisoner; but the King made his Escape again. But afterwards the Earl of Warwick drove him out of the Land, and made Henry again King: After which King Edward returns, and in a Battle upon Gladmore, the Great Warwick fight courageously, was slain, 
Death of the Earl of Warwick.  and King Henry again put into the Tower. Afterwards Queen Margaret was defeated, and King Henry's Son Edward taken and brought before the King, where he speaking boldly was knocked down and murdered. Soon after Queen Margaret was taken; and not long after the crook-backed Duke 
Death of King Henry.  of Gloucester stabbed harmless King Henry to the heart, whose Body was buried at Chertsey in Surrey.  
A. D. 1483. King Edward fell into a 
His Death, and Burial.  dangerous and deadly Sickness, whereof April the 9th. he died, and was buried at Windsor, in the new-Chappel, whose Foundation himself had laid. 'Tis said of him, that he was just and merciful in Peace, fierce in War, and very familiar with his Subjects. His Issue were Edward, Richard, 
His Issue.  George, Elizabeth, Cicely, Ann, Bridget, Mary, Margaret, and Catharine.  
EDWARD the V the eldest Son of King 
A. D. 1483.  Edward the iv being but 12 years of Age when his Father died, was committed to the government of his Uncle Sir Anthony Woodville, a worthy Person; which much troubled Richard Duke of Gloucester his Enemy, who sought his Life, that thereby he might come to the Crown. By evil Suggestions he wrought upon the greatest Men to take his part against the old Queen; and as the King was coming to London to be crowned, with a small Company he seized those about him, and imprisoned Sir Anthony Woodville amongst the rest: Then brought the King to London, pretending to be his Friend, and there was made his Protector; after which he got the Duke of York, the King's Brother, out of Sanctuary from the Queen, and caused many of the chief Nobles to be barbarously massacred, and instead of King Edward, caused himself to be crowned King.  
RICHARD the III. Son of Richard, Duke 
A. D. 1683.  of York, was born with all his Teeth, and Hair to his Shoulders, which foreshowed his monstrous Proceed. July the 6th. he was crowned King at Westminster; soon after which he caused the young King and 
Edward the V and Brother murdered.  his Brother to be most inhumanely massacred: But King Richard lived most miserably ever after, being without the least quiet of Conscience; and soon after the Duke of Buckingham, his greatest Favourite, proved his greatest Enemy, raising Rebellions against him; but was overthrown, and hiding himself in one Banisters House by Shrewsbury: He for hope of gain betrayed his Master the Duke, who was thereupon taken and beheaded; but Banister was justly punished from Heaven. Henry Earl of Richmond afterwards came into England, where he raised a small Army, and met King Richard near Market-Bosworth in Leicestershire, where King Richard was slain, 
King Richard slain.  and his Army discomfited, Aug. 22. 1485.  
HENRY the VII. Earl of Richmond, was Son to Margaret, Countess of Richmond and 
A. D. 1485.  Derby, Daughter to John Duke of Somerset, Son to John Earl of Somerset, Son to John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, 4th. Son of Edward the III. Octob. 30. he was Crowned at Westminster.  
A. D. 1486. Jan. 18th. he married the 
His Marriage.  Lady Elizabeth, eldest Daughter of King Edward the iv and so joined the two Families of York and Lancaster. Yet by this means Peace was not so well secured, but that there were several Rebellions by Lambert Symnel, and others; amongst whom 
Symnel, and Peterkin.  was one Peterkin, under the Name of Rich. Plantagenet, second Son of King Edward the iv But this Impostor was at last taken and executed at Tyburn.  
The King falling sick of a consuming 
His Death. Issue.  Disease, died April 22. A. D. 1509. His Issue, Arthur, who died before himself, Henry, Edmund, Margaret, Elizabeth, Mary. King Henry left at his death 1800000 l. in 
His Riches and Buildings.  ready money; he built the Palace at Richmond, and the Chapel at Westminster.  
HENRY the VIII. was born at Greenwich, 
A. D. 1509.  June 22. 1491. His Youth was so trained up in Literature, that he was accounted the most learned Prince in Christendom. June 25. 1509. he was crowned at Westminster with his Queen Catharine.  
This King went with an Army into 
His Expedition into France.  France, and recovered many of his Rights; but at last by the procurement of the Pope, there was a Peace concluded.  
A. D. 1571. was Evil May-day, wherein 
Evil May-day.  the Prentices of London made an Assault upon the Strangers and Foreigners; John Lincoln, being the chief of them, was hanged, and the rest pardoned.  
About A. D. 1528. King Henry began to call in question the lawfulness of his Marriage with Queen Catharine, who was Daughter to Ferdinand, King of Spain, and ha●● been married to P. Arthur, his elder Brother; and soon after she was divorced from him. Also soon after the haughty Cardinal Woolsey was deposed of his Dignities; 
Woolsey.  he died at Leicester-Abby.  
After this, King Henry took upon him the Pope's Authority and Supremacy in England, and all persons were prohibited from appealing or making any Payments to Rome.  
A. D. 1533. Novemb. 14. was King Henry 
His 2d. Marriage.  married to Ann Bullen, Daughter to Sir T. Bullen, Earl of Wiltshire; and on Septemb. 
Lady Eliz. born.  7th. following, was born the Princess Elizabeth.  
And A. D. 1535. the Queen was accused of Incest and Adultery with her own Brother, George Lord Rochfort: And May 
The Queen beheaded.  19 1536. the Queen was beheaded upon a Scaffold erected on the Green within the Tower. 'Tis with good ground thought, that the Queen's death was procured by Popish Instruments, because she much favoured 
His 3d. Marriage.  the Protestant Divines. The next day the King was married to the Lady Jane Seymour, Daughter of John Seymour Kt.  
About this time began to flourish, Tho. Cromwell, a Blacksmiths Son of Putney, who in a short time was ordained Vicar-General over the Spirituality. This Great Cromwell procured it to be enacted in Parliament, That the Lords Prayer, Creed, and Ten Commandments, should be read in the English Tongue. He also caused the Churches to be purged of Images, and the Monasteries to be suppressed to the King's use: for which Reasons there arose several Rebellions, but were all suppressed.  
A. D. 1540 Jan. 6th. was King Henry 
His 4th. Marriage.  married to the Lady Ann, Sister to the Duke of Cleve, but they were soon after divorced.  
Now was the Great Cromwell attainted for Treason and Heresy, and beheaded on Tower-Hill.  
Then did the King marry the Lady Catharine 
His 5th. Marriage.  Howard, who was beheaded afterwards for Adultery. And now likewise were very many great Men put to death for Religion.  
A. D. 1547. and Jan. 28th. King Henry 
His Death.  yielded to death's imperial stroke, whose Body with great solemnity was buried at Windsor. His Wives were Catharine, Ann 
Wives.  Bullen, Jane Seymour, Ann of Cleve, Catharine Howard, and Catharine Parr.  
His Issue Henry, which lived not two 
Issue.  months; another Son not named, and Mary; these by Catharine of Spain: Elizabeth, and a Son stillborn, by Ann Bullen; Edward, by Jane Seymour. His natural Issue, Henry Fitz-Roy.  
King Henry by Act of Parliament assumed 
First King of Ireland.  the Title of King of Ireland, former Kings of England bearing only the style of Lords thereof.  
'Tis said that now Turkey, Carp, Hops, Pickarel, and Beer, came into England all in a year.  
EDWARD the 6th. was born, (but not 
A. D. 1547.  without the death of his Mother) A. D. 1537. Octob. 12.  
A. D. 1547. Feb. 20. he was crowned at Westminster; Edward Lord Seym●●ur, his Uncle, was made Protector over his Minority.  
The first thing that was done, was the purging all Churches of Images, for which Commissioners were appointed. This caused Rebellions, but they were soon suppressed: One of these Rebels being a Miller, he willed his Man to be Master in his turn, 
The Man that was hanged for his Master.  and when the King's Officer, Sir Anthony Kingston, called for the Master of the House, the Man in his Name presented himself, whom Sir Anthony strait commanded to the Gallows, which the Man hearing, would be Master no longer; but Sir Anthony said, Well, thou canst never do thy Master better service than to hang for him; and so he was trussed up on the next Tree.  
This King was a great Enemy to Popery, 
Protestancy founded.  and was the first Founder of the true Protestant Religion in England. He died 
His Death and Burial.  of a Consumption, July 6th. 1553. and was interred in St. Peter's Chapel at Westminster. He was a Prince of great Learning, and of a vast Memory, very merciful, and zealous for the Reformed Religion.  
The Lady JANE GREY was now by the 
A. D. 1553.  last Will of Edward, proclaimed Queen But the Tide soon turned, and Queen Mary succeeded to the Crown, promising to embrace the Gospel as King Edward had established it; but afterwards being petitioned to perform her promise herein, she both punished the Writer, and answered, they should one day well know, that they being but Members, should not direct her their Head. She removed the Protestant 
Protestancy again abolished.  Bishops, placing Papists in their Places; she was crowned at Westminster: The Lady Jane Grey was beheaded on Tower-hill, and many more great Men, for the reformed Religion. The proposal of her Marriage with Philip of Spain, caused great Insurrections, and great Troubles, and Sir Thomas Wyatt, one of the chief, was beheaded. These caused great suspicions of the Lady Elizabeth's having a hand in it; whereupon she was committed to the Tower, and then removed to Woodstock, where Stephen Garner (thinking to ensnare her Life) asked her the meaning of those words of Christ, Hoc est Corpus meum; to which the Princess answered, 
Christ was the Word that spoke it,  
He took the Bread and broke it;  
And what the Word did make it,  
That I believe and take it.   
A. D. 1555. Several Bishops were burnt 
Bishops burnt.  at Oxford, for the testimony of the Truth.  
A. D. 1554. July 25th. was the Marriage 
Her Marriage.  solemnised with Philip of Spain. King Philip proved a great Friend to the Lady Elizabeth. 'Twas thought that the Queen was with Child, and her delivery expected, but it proved otherwise. The English now lost their strong Holds in France.  
The Queen died of a burning Fever, 
HerDeath and Burial.  Novemb. 17. 1558. and was buried at Westminster.  
Queen ELIZABETH, the Restorer and 
A. D. 1558.  Defender of the public profession of the Apostolical Religion in England, begun her Reign Novemb. 17. 1558. Jan. 15. she was crowned; she soon put all things in the order as King Edward had left them. There were several Rebellions in the Land, but were all suppressed; several likewise attempted to murder the Queen, but were all taken, and suffered death.  
A. D. 1577. Novemb. 15. Captain Drake 
Captain Drake  set Sail from Plymouth, and in three years, wanting twelve days, he encompassed the Earth.  
A. D. 1588. the invincible Armado of the 
Spanish Armado.  Spaniards came against England; but the English played their parts so well, that they wearied out the Spaniards at Sea, so that they were forced to return home with great loss, and the English received a blessed deliverance.  

Octogesimus octavus, mirabilis annus.  
Called Papistarum, faustus ubique piis.   
The Queen now sent Forces against Spain, which had very great success, and annoyed them exceedingly.  
And now again there were several attempts to Murder the Queen by Poison and otherwise, but all being discovered, they received their deserts.  
There were likewise great Troubles in Ireland, which continued a long time.  
On the 24th. of March, 1602. died this 
Her Death and Burial.  most renowned Queen, and was buried in Henry the Seventh's Chapel at Westminster. 'Tis said she was, 
Spain's Rod, Rome's ruin, Netherland's relief,  
Earth's joy, England's Gem, World's wonder,  
Nature's chief.   
King JAMES his Title to the Crown 
A. D. 1602.  of England sprung from Henry the Seventh, whose Male Issue failing in Queen Elizabeth, the Offspring of Margaret his eldest Daughter, married to James the Fourth, King of Scotland, by him had Issue James the Fifth, whose only Daughter and Child, Queen Marry, was Mother to James the Sixth, King of Scotland: who hearing of Queen Elizabeth's death, came into England, and was received with great joy, and 
His Condonation.  July 21. 1603. King James and Queen Ann were Crowned at Westminster by John Whitguift, Archbishop of Canterbury. There were some now that plotted against the King's Person, but were taken and Executed. He then caused himself to be styled by Proclamation, King of Great Britain.  
A. D. 1604. Nou. 5. was that horrid 
Gunpowder Plot.  Popish Plot, of blowing up the Parliament House.  
A. D. 1612. Nou. 6. Prince Henry died of a Fever; who was very much lamented, being a very hopeful Prince.  
A. D. 1625. March 27. this Politic and 
His Death and Burial.  Peaceable Monarch died of an Ague at Theobalds', and was buried at Westminster.  
His Issue were, Henry, Charles, Elizabeth; 
His Issue.  and Mary, and Sophia, who both died young.  
CHARLES the First was born at Dunferling 
A. D. 1625.  in Scotland, Nou. 19 1600. No sooner had he celebrated his Father's Funerals, but he hastened the coming over of his dearest Consort, the Princess Henrietta Maria, Daughter to Henry the Fourth, King of France. He was Crowned at Westminster, 
His Coronation.  Feb. 2. 1626.  
A. D. 1630. May 29. was Prince Charles 
Prince Charles born.  born.  
The sad accidents in this King's Reign, have been the Thesis of so many Pens, that I think the inserting of it in this place to be needless; only some short notes.  
The first Blood that was spilt in this unhappy 
The beginning of the Civil Wars.  War, was near Hull, between the King's Forces and Sir J. Hotham, Aug. 24. 1642. The first remarkable Battle, at Edge-hill in Warwickshire, where His Majesty's Forces had something the better of the day.  
A. D. 1648. Jan. 30. was this most Christian 
His Death and Burial.  and right worthy King beheaded, and Feb. 9 was buried at Windsor by some of his Servants. His Issue were, Charles-James, 
His Issue.  who died almost as soon as born, Charles the Second, James the Second (whom God preserve) Henry, Mary, Elizabeth, Ann, Katherine, Henrietta Maria.  
1635. Tho. Parr died, aged 152 years. 
Tho. Parr.   
CHARLES the Second was then in Holland 
1648.  when his Father was murdered; and the than Parliament, instead of Proclaiming him King, resolved to assume the Government unto themselves; nevertheless he was Proclaimed in Scotland and Ireland. This Parliament, that made such a stir, were not above fifty Persons.  
Jan. 1. King Charles the Second was 
Crowned in Scotland.  Crowned at Scoon in Scotland. The English Parliament had very great success in all their attempts: They beat the Marquis of Ormond in Ireland, and overcame the Scots; beat the Dutch by Sea: In all which time, Oliver Cromwell was General of the Land-Forces. And A. D. 1653. April the 20. Oliver put a period to those long-winded Members at Westminster, and constituted a 
Oliver's height  Council of State of those he liked best, and takes the Supreme Power to himself.  
A. D. 1658. June 25th. the Town of Dunkirk was rendered by the Spaniards to the French, and from them to the English. Septemb. 3d. died that aspiring Usurper, 
Oliver's death.  and great Politician, Oliver, of an Ague, at Whitehall. He was courted or feared by most of the Princes of Europe.  
In Oliver's stead Richard his eldest Son was proclaimed Protector: But he wanting the Politic Head of his Father, the Army did what they pleased, and called a Parliament of their own choosing, to which Richard soon submitted. And now the Parliament rules all again. There were several Insurrections for the King, but suppressed. General Lambert, disliking the Parliament, goes with his Army and displaces it; and for a while he rules all, and makes a Committee of Safety, as he styled them. 
Committee of Safety.  And now there were more discontented men than ever, being murmuring in all places; and George Monk, a General in Scotland, comes into England with his Army, where he was received very graciously, being caressed by the Gentry all along his Journey, and Lambert's Fortune changed apace, most of his Friends forsaking him; and General Monk coming to London, was received with much joy, and every one had great hopes of a peaceable Government. Then he ordered a free Parliament to be chose, who A. D. 1660. April 20. assembled at Westminster; on May 1. voted, 
Votes for the King's return.  That, according to the Ancient and Fundamental Laws of this Kingdom, Charles the Second is the Lawful King of these Nations; which caused a general rejoicing over all England: And His Majesty from his Court at Breda, wrote very graciously to the General and Parliament, who then sent him 50000 l. for a Present; and the City, to show their gratitude, sent him 10000 l. And May the 8th. by Order of Parliament, Charles the Second was at London 
Proclaimed at London.  with very great Solemnity Proclaimed King of England, Scotland, etc. May 22. General Monk set forth of London to meet His Majesty, who landed at Dover, whom the King, for his excellent Service, was pleased to dignify with the Honour of Knight of the Garter, Master of his Horse, Duke of Albemarle, Earl of Torrington, Baron Monk of Botheridge, etc. chief General of all his Land-Forces in the three Kingdoms, and one of his Privy Council. And now was the general Joy so great, that it cannot be expressed. The Regicides and chief Offenders punished, and Loyalty truly recompensed.  
A. D. 1661. on St. George's day, was the 
His Coronation.  Magnificent Coronation of Charles the Second at Westminster, by Dr. Juxton, Archbishop of Canterbury. And now was the Book of Common-Prayer restored again to the Church. May 14. Katherine, the Infanta of Portugal, arrived at Portsmouth, 
His Marriage.  where she was married to Charles the Second, King of England. A. D. 1664. the War began with the Dutch: And 1665. in May began the Great Plague in London, 
Plague.  whereof died near 100000 Persons. Upon the second of September began that dreadful 
Fire.  Fire in London, the total Loss sustained by these devouring Flames was valued to be 9900000 l. Sterling.  
In Feb. 1674. after many great Conflicts 
Peace with Holland.  between the Dutch and England, was there a Peace concluded. A. D. 1677. was the Marriage between the Lady Mary and His Highness the Prince of Orange celebrated at St. James' by the Bishop of London.  
Anno Dom. 1679. began the sham-discovery 
Popish Plot.  of the Popish Plot, for which so many Persons suffered, and which plainly appeared to be afterwards a contrivance of the Non-conformists, from whom our gracious Monarch was wonderfully preserved, by a Fire at New-market, which occasioned him to leave that place sooner than he designed, and by that means escaped the designed Ambuscado that was to have destroyed him at Hodsdon. The extraordinary occurrences of his Reign about these times, are printed by themselves, and therefore here omitted.  
Feb. 6. 1684. At Whitehall died our most 
His Death.  gracious King Charles the Good and Just, which not only almost deluged England with Tears for so great a loss, but he was generally lamented through all the Christian World. He had no Legitimate Issue.  
Feb. 14. He was Interred in Henry the 
His Funeral.  Seventh's Chapel at Westminster.  
JAMES the Second, the only Royal 
A. D. 1684.  Brother to King Charles the Second, and his undoubted Heir, was on the sixth of February Proclaimed at London, to the unexpressible joy and satisfaction of all Loyal 
Proclamation.  Subjects; having the same day been graciously pleased to declare in Council, That he would maintain the Protestant Religion, as by Law established.  
And truly, we can attribute it to no less than the Divine Goodness and Mercy of Almighty God to these Kingdoms, that notwithstanding the late strange and unreasonable Animosities against our now gracious Sovereign, yet his coming to the Crown was received by his Subjects in all his Dominions, with the greatest expressions of content and satisfaction imaginable.  
April 23d. being St. George's day, he was 
His Coronation.  with very great State and Magnificence Crowned at Westminster, with his dearest Consort Marry, by Dr. Sancroft, and Dr. Dolben, the two Arch-Bishops; and Dr. Turner, Bishop of Ely, Preached the Coronation-Sermon.  
May the 16th. Titus' Oats (the chief 
Titus' Oats his Sentence for Perjury.  Evidence to the Popish Plot) being convicted upon two Informations of Perjury, received Sentence, That he should pay a Fine of one thousand Marks for each Perjury; should stand in the Pillory at Westminster-Hall Gate, and at the Royal-Exchange; be whipped twice, viz. from Aldgate to Newgate, and from Newgate to Tyburn; all this was to be done in that week. But besides, for an Annual commemoration of his admirable faculty of Swearing, it was ordered, that four times every year (upon the days on which he fathered his horrid falsities) so long as he lived, he should stand in the Pillory, and the places to be The Royal-Exchange, Temple-Gate, Charing-Cross, and Tyburn.  
May the 19th. the Parliament met, and 
Parliament met.  unanimously chose Sir John Trevor Speaker, who was also approved of by His Majesty.  
June the 11th. the Duke of Monmouth 
The Duke of Monmouth his Landing at Lyme.  (having Caballed with the Earl of Argyle, to put their rebellious Designs in practice in England and Scotland at the same time) landed at Lyme in Dorsetshire, with about 150 Men, after an Hostile manner, where many, of the like rebellious Principles, flocked to him; so that in few days he left Lyme, and took the Field, and marched with his Forces to Taunton and Bridgewater, 
His first Repulse.  and from thence near Bristol to Canisham-Bridge, where they were repulsed by a party of 100 of His Majesty's Horse, Commanded by Colonel Oglethorp, who there cut off two of Monmouth's best Troops of Horse: From thence the Rebels marched near to Bath, but His Majesty's Forces being joined there, they marched in much fear and confusion backwards towards from, and from thence to Philipsnorton, where the Duke of Grafton encountered them very smartly; in which Engagement, Mr. May, a Volunteer, was killed, with many common Soldiers. From thence they went to Shepton-Mallet, from thence to Wells, and so to Bridge-water, His Majesty's Forces, commanded by the Earl of Feversham, all the while pursuing them; on ●●uly the 5th. came to Weston, within three ●●iles of the Rebels, where they placed ●●hemselves in a very advantageous Post, ●●ronting a spacious Plain, having a Ditch before them; in which posture next Morn●●ng the late Duke of Monmouth resolved to attack them; and to that end, had with all possible silence in the Night, drawn his Forces out of Bridge-water, to the number of about 6000 Foot, and 1200 Horse, and towards Morning form them in Battle, and marched so with design to surprise the Earl of Feversham, but he having advice of it by his Scouts, was prepared to receive them, though the number of his Soldiers was but small, in comparison of the Rebels, having but 2000 Foot, and 700 Horse; but here God Almighty shown his Justice, declaring, as it plainly appeared, against such horrid Rebellions; for though they were so vastly numerous, in comparison of the King's Forces, besides took them upon the surprise, and so had the advantage of the onset; yet they were so bravely received, that first their Horse were routed by ours, who coming in afterwards upon the Foot, had so absolute a Victory, that they 
The Defeat of the Rebels.  killed 2000 upon the place, and took a vast number of Prisoners, so that they were not able to make the least head again. The next day the Lord Grey was taken, who was Commander of the Rebel's Horse; and on the 8th. of July, the late Duke of Monmouth was also taken, 
The Duke of Monmouth Beheaded.  and on the 15th. Beheaded on Tower-Hill. So that by the Divine Blessing of Almighty God, not only this rebellious attempt brought the deserved vengeance upon its common promoters, but even the very Root and Foundation is extirpated; so that 'tis to be hoped, that we shall never again be acquainted with such Domestic strifes, but may even forget what a Rebel means.  
The Loyal Party and the King's Forces 
Argyle in Scotland taken, his Party routed, and he Executed.  in Scotland were beforehand with us; for they took Argyle on the 18th. of June, and ruined his Forces, and on the 30th. of the same Month he was Beheaded at Edinburgh; by which means there is so absolute and serene a Peace and Concord amongst His Majesty's Subjects, and Affairs are in so happy a posture in all his Dominions, that perhaps England hardly ever knew the like.  
June the 29th. Mr. Richard Baxter was 
Mr. Baxter Fined.  Fined 500 Marks, and bound to his Good Behaviour for seven years, for publishing his seditious Annotations on the New Testament. And at the same time, Mr. Tho. Dangerfield, who the Term before was convicted 
Dangerfield's Sentence.  upon an Information, for writing and publishing a Scandalous Libel, received Sentence at the Kings-Bench-Bar, That he should stand in the Pillory at Westminster-Hall Gate, and the Royal-Exchange, be whipped from Aldgate to Newgate, and from Newgate to Tyburn, and that he should pay a Fine of 500 l. and find Sureties for his Good Behaviour during life. This man, after having received the last of these Punishments, viz. (his whipping from Newgate to Tyburn) was returning in a Coach, when being met by a Gentleman, to whom he gave a saucy Answer to an impertinent Question, the Gentleman being nettled, made at him with a small Bamboo Cane, which so unfortunately hit the Sufferer in 
Killed by a strange Accident.  the Eye, that it pierced to his Brain, and soon deprived him of Life; which being upon Trial judged Murder, the Gentleman was executed for it at Tyburn.  
On July the 2d. the Parliament was adjourned 
Parliament Adjourned.  till the 4th. of August, after the enacting of many good Statutes; and being met on the 4th. of August, they were farther adjourned till the 9th. of November.  
On July 22th. there was an Installation 
An Installation at Windsor.  at Windsor of three Knights of the Garter; Henry, Duke of Norfolk, Earl-Marshal of England, Henry, Earl of Peterborough, Groom of the Stool to His Majesty, and Laurence, Earl of Rochester, Lord High Treasurer of England. It was performed in the Royal Chapel of St. George, within the Castle, by the Dukes of Ormond and Beaufort, two Knights of the said Order, Commissioned thereunto by the Sovereign, with all the accustomed Ceremonies; after which, the new Installed Knights Entertained the Commissioners, and the other Noblemen and Persons of Quality there present, at a splendid Feast in the King's great Guard-Chamber, within the said Castle.  
His Majesty, for all the foresaid wonderful Blessings of Almighty God to himself, and all his happy Subjects, was pleased by Proclamation to order an Universal 
A General Thanksgiving.  Thanksgiving on July the 26th. throughout the Kingdom, to that Alwise and powerful King of Heaven and Earth; by whom all Earthly Monarch's Rule, and are preserved from the horrid Machinations and rebellious Designs of all Barbarous Caballers, and Seditious Plotters whatsoever. Wherefore what remains now, but that all True and Loyal Subjects unite their Prayers to Almighty God, for the long Life, and happy Reign of our most Wise, most Powerful, and most Excellent Monarch, And say, 
God Save King JAMES the Second.     

A COLLECTION Of the most remarkable Occurrences, Adventures, notable Exploits, and wonderful Casualties, mentioned in Sir Richard Baker's Chronicle.  
I Shall first take notice of the admirable 
A. D. 516. Arthur of Britain his great Deeds.  Arthur, Son to Uter, and King of Britain, who in twelve set battles discomfited the Saxons; and in one, his Sword Callibourn, managed by his own invincible Arm, gave Death to 800 of his Enemies; which is but one, and perhaps not the greatest of his wonderful Deeds.  
'Twas he instituted the Order of Knights of the Round Table.  
Cadwalladar about the year 687, going 
Cadwalladar.  against the Saxons, and praying to God for good success, was informed by an Angel, That it was God's pleasure that the Britain's should not rule this Land any longer; whereupon he desisted from his Enterprise, and so England became a Colony of the Saxons; anon England was made into an Heptarchy.  
Etheldred, Daughter to Anna, King of 
Etheldred.  the East-Saxons, was twice married, and yet continued a Virgin, and afterwards turned Nun.  
When the Danes first invaded England, 
A. D. 866. Nuns of Coldington.  the Nuns of Coldington to keep themselves from being polluted by the Danes, deformed themselves, by cutting off their upper Lips and Noses.  
King Athelstone going to encounter the 
A. D. 924. A Miracle.  Danes, prayed to God to show some sign of his rightful Cause; whereupon striking with his Sword, he struck it an ell deep into a hard Stone.  
Canutus, the first Danish King of England, 
A. D. 1017. A precious Jewel.  gave to the Church of Winchester a precious Jewel, in form of a Cross, valued at as much as the yearly Revenues of all England. 'Twas he that convinced his Flatterers of his small Power, by his endeavouring to command the Tides of the Sea at Southampton.  
Bishop Wolston, in King William the Conqueror's 
A. D. 1066. A strange Wonder.  Time, being commanded by the King to leave his Bishopric; Wolston answered, A better than thou, O King, gave me these Robes, and to him I will restore them; and thereupon went and struck his Staff upon St. Edward's Monument, (who had made him a Bishop) where it stuck so fast, that by no strength it could be removed, till himself removed it with ease, which so terrified the King, that he entreated him again to accept of his Bishopric.  
In this King's Time there happened the 
A Fire.  greatest Fire that ever was in London, by which the Cathedral of Paul's was utterly destroyed.  
A great Lord sitting at a Feast, was set 
A Lord devoured by Mice.  upon by Mice, and though he were removed from Land to Sea, and from Sea again to Land, yet the Mice still followed him, and at last devoured him.  
In William the Conqueror's Time, a private 
A brave Soldier.  Norwegian Soldier, alone upon a Bridge, resisted the whole Army of the English, slew 40, and maintained the Place for several hours, till one getting under the Bridge, found means to thrust up a Spear into his Body, and killed him.  
Till the Time of Malcolme, King of Scots, 
A Scots Custom.  (who was Co-temporary with William, the 2d. of England) it was the custom among the Scots, that when any Man married, his Lord should lie the first night with his Wife. This Law was abrogated by Margaret, than Queen, and was altered to a payment in Money.  
Westminster-Hall was built by King William 
Westminster-Hall built.  the II. being 270 Foot long, and 74 broad.  
The High Court of Parliament was first 
First Parliament.  instituted by Henry the I.  
And in his Time the Order of the Templars 
Order of Templars.  began.  
In this King's Time the Archbishop of 
A worthy Bishop.  York being desperate sick, was told, that nothing would cure him but to lie with a Woman; but he answered, That the Remedy was worse than the Disease, and so died a Virgin.  
In the Time of Henry the I. the River 
Thames almost dry.  Thames was so low, that between the Tower and the Bridge men walked over on foot for the space of two days.  
At this time in Lombardy there was an 
A strange Earthquake.  Earthquake that continued 40 days, and removed Towns and Houses far from their former residence.  
Raynerus, a wicked Minister, in the Reign of King Stephen, going over Sea with his Wife, the Ship in the midst of the Sea stood still, and could not be moved, till he was cast out of it.  
In this King's Time lived Johannes de 
An old Man.  Temporibus, of whom it is recorded that he lived 361 years.  
Ireland first submitted itself to Henry the 
First Lord of Ireland.  II. who was first Lord thereof.  
In this King's days, in the Territory of 
Hell Kettles.  Derlington, in the Bishopric of Durham, the Earth lifted up herself in the manner of a high Tower, and so continued all day, being Christmas-day, and at night fell with a most horrible noise, and the Earth swallowed it up, that the Holes are to be seen at this day, and are called by the Name of Hell Kettles.  
At this time near Orford in Suffolk, was taken a Fish that had the shape of a Man in all parts.  
King Henry the II. caused his Son Henry 
King Henry causes his Son to be Crowned.  to be Crowned in his Time, and carried the first Dish to the Table; whereupon the Archbishop Roger said merrily to the new King, What a wonderful Honour is this to have so noble a Waiter: Why (saith he) what great Honour is it for him that is but the Son of a Duke, to do service to me that am the Son of a King and Queen.  
King Lewis, now of France, did the like by his Son.  
Henry the II. was so troubled for the loss 
King Henry's Blasphemy.  of Mentz, that he said, He should never hereafter love God any more, that had suffered a City so dear unto him to be taken from him.  
It is memorable, and worth observing, 
A wonderful Accident of Thunder.  That when Philip, King of France, and King Henry, had a Meeting between Turwyn and Arras, for reconciling of Differences, there suddenly happened a Thunderbolt to light just between them, with so terrible a crack, that it forced them for that time to break off their Conference. And afterward at another Meeting, the like Accident of Thunder happened again, which so amazed King Henry, that he had fallen off his Horse, if he had not been supported by those about him.  
Robert Fitz-Stephen was the first of all 
Ireland first entered by the English.  Englishmen, after the Conquest, that entered Ireland, the first day of May, in the year 1170, with 390 men, and there took Wexford, in the behalf of Der●●tius, Son of Merclerdach, called Mac Murg, King of Leymster. In September following, Richard Earl of Chepstow, surnamed Strongbow, sailed into Ireland with 1200 men, where he took Waterford and Dublin, and married Eve, the Daughter of Dernutius, as he was promised.  
From these beginnings, King Henry being 
The Irish submit to King Henry.  then at rest from all hostile Arms, both at home and abroad, takes into his consideration the Kingdom of Ireland, as a Kingdom which oftentimes afforded assistance to France; and therefore purposing with himself by all means to subdue it, he provides a mighty Army, but to little purpose; for without any Action the Irish soon submitted to him, all but Roderick, King of Connaght, who then stood out: But after some time he also submitted, and all the Irish, together with the Popes, have agreed that King Henry and his Heirs shall be their King.  
This King left behind him in his Coffers 
Henry the II. his Riches.  900000 l. besides Plate and Jewels.  
In his 21st. year he divided England into 
Beginning of the Law Cir●●uits.  Circuits, and appointed Judges, three for every Circuit, to go twice a year, to hear and determine Causes between Man and Man.  
'Tis for certain said, That some Persons 
Children born with Horses Tails.  cutting off the Horse's Tails of Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, their Children for several Generations were born with Horses Tails.  
In this King's Time there was contention 
Superiority in the Archbishoprics.  for Superiority in the two Archbishoprics, and the Pope gave it to Canterbury.  
In this King's Reign there were two 
Two Popes at once.  Popes at once, who continued for almost 20 years.  
In this Time a Bondman of Langley in 
A Bondman came to be Pope.  Hertfordshire, came to be Pope, by the Name of Adrian the IV.  
This King began the Foundation of the 
London-Bridg.  Stone-Bridge over Thames.  
In the 11th. year of this King's Reign, 
A greatEarthquake.  there was so great an Earthquake in Ely, and Norfolk, and Suffolk, that it overthrew those that stood on their feet, and made the Bells to ring in the Steeples.  
In the 23d. year, a shower of Blood reigned 
A shower of Blood.  in the Isle of Wight for two hours together.  
Morgan, base Son to this King, rather 
An Honour to be a King's Bastard.  than disown his Father, and be a true Son accounted of a Knight, refused the Bishopric of Durham.  
As King Henry was carried to be buried, his Son Richard coming near the Corpse, it fell a bleeding at the Nose afresh.  
There was a Princess in the Family of 
A wonderful Sorceress.  Anjou, Ancestors to this King, who being desired to take the blessed Eucharist, she suddenly flew out at the Church-window, and was never seen after.   

NOTABLE EVENTS In the Reign of King RICHARD the First.  
'TIS thought that the Order of the Garter 
A. D. 1189. Order of the Garter whence.  began from blue Ribbons, that King Richard the I. gave to his Noblemen, with an Oath to be true to him, when he was going his Expedition into the holy Land.  
When King Richard was in the holy 
A City that was built before theFlood  Land, he took particular care of Joppa, and put a Colony in it of Christians, for that it is a City of Palestine, that was built before the Flood, and hath belonging to it a Haven of great convenience.  
After this Expedition of King Richard's 
Whence the Title of Kings of Jerusalem.  into the holy Land, the Kings of England for a long time were styled Kings of Jerusalem. 
A worthy Servant.   
Once when the King was hawking in the holy Land, he was set upon by several Turks, and had not escaped, but that one of his Servants, named William de Batrellis, cried out in the Saracen Tongue, That himself was King, and so to save his King, let himself be taken.  
King Richard sitting once at Dinner in 
His strange haste to relieve Vernoil.  his little Hall, was advertised, that King Philip had besieged Vernoil: He was so moved at it, that he presently caused 〈◊〉 Wallbefore him to be beat down, and swore a great Oath, that he would not turn his face, until he were revenged. Thus in haste he goes to Vernoil, whither he was no sooner come, but the King of France made as much haste to be gone, not without some loss, and more disgrace.  
In this Time there was a Trouble at 
Robin Hood and little John  home, though not to the King, yet to the Kingdom: For Robin Hood, accompanied with one little John, and a 100 stout Fellows more, molested all Passengers upon the Highway; of some it is said, that he was of noble Blood, at least made noble, no less than an Earl, for some deserving Services; but having wasted his Estate in riotous Courses, very Penury forced him to take this course; in which yet it may be said, that he was honestly dishonest; for he seldom hurt any Man, never any Woman, spared the Poor, and only made prey of the Rich; till the King setting forth a Proclamation to have him apprehended, it happened he fell sick at a certain Nunnery in Yorkshire, called Berkleys, and desiring there to be let Blood, was betrayed, and bled to death.  
This King granted the City of London to 
Mayor and Sheriffs first of London.  be governed by two Sheriffs and a Mayor, as now it is, and to give the first of these Magistrates the Honour to be remembered: The Names of the Sheriffs were Henry Cornhill, and Roger Reyner; and the Name of the first Lord Mayor was Henry Fitz-Alwin, who continued Mayor during his Life, which was 24 years. Fabian only says, these were Bailiffs, and that there was no Mayor or Sheriffs of London, till the 10th. year of King John.  
A certain Priest told King Richard, that 
King Richard's Daughters how disposed.  he had three Daughters, viz. Pride, Covetousness, and Lechery; which the King taking merrily, called the Company about him, and said, I am told by a Priest here, that I have three Daughters, and I desire you to be witness how I would have them bestowed: My Daughter Pride upon the Templars and Hospitalers; my Daughter Covetousness upon the Monks of the Cistercian Order, and my Daughter Lechery upon the Clergy.   

NOTABLE EVENTS In the Reign of King JOHN.  
ABout this Time, William King of Scots, 
A. D. 1199.  came to London, to visit King John, 
William, King of Scots, did Homage to King John.  and there did Homage to him, for his Kingdom of Scotland; though some say, but only for the Counties of Northumberland and Cumberland.  
King John divorced his Wife Avis, for 
King John divorceth his Wife.  being akin to him in the 3d. degree, and marries another.  
This King being at variance with his Nobles, they sent to Lewis, the French King's Son, to head them, who came over, and was kindly received at London.  
This King made very hard Taxations of 
Barbarous Cruelty.  all Persons, especially of the Jews; amongst whom there was one that would not be ransomed, till the King caused every day one of his great Teeth to be pulled out, by the space of seven days; and then he was content to give the King 10000 Marks of Silver not to pull the other out, having but one left.  
King John was the first that caused Sterling 
Sterling Money.  Money to be coined.  
In his Time the English Laws were first 
Laws first in Ireland.  planted in Ireland; and he enlarged the Royal Style with the Title of Lord of Ireland.  
This King surrendered his Crown to Pandulphus, 
King John surrendered his Crown to the Pope.  the Pope's Legate, to be disposed of as the Pope should think fit. Pandulphus kept the Crown several days, before he restored it; and did not then, but upon condition that he and his Successors should hold the Kingdom of the See of Rome, at the annual Tribute of a 1000 Marks.  
About this Time the Kingdom was interdicted 
The Kingdom interdicted.  by the Pope for six years; in which Time there was no public Exercise of Religion, no Churches open, nor no Sacrament administered.  
The Later an Council was now held, under 
Auricular Confession, and Transubstantiation.  Pope Innocent the III. in which was established the Pope's Power over Princes; and in Matters of Faith, Auricular Confession, and Transubstantiation.  
In this King's Time the Stone-Bridge of 
London-Bridge finished.  London was finished by the Merchants.  
By this King, 35 of the most substantial 
Common-Council-men first in London.  Citizens of London were chosen out for the Common-Council of the City.  
In this King's Time were great Thunders and Lightnings, and Showers, with Hailstones as big as Eggs; Fishes taken armed with Helmets and Shields, like Knights, but much greater in proportion. In Suffolk a Fish was taken that was like a Man.  
Simon Turvey, a wonderful Scholar both 
A learned Man becam●● an Idiot.  for Parts and Reading, became so dull, that he could scarce read; it was thought a Judgement upon him for his Pride in Learning.   

NOTABLE EVENTS In the Reign of King HENRY the Third.  
KIng Henry the III confirmed the Charters 
A. D. 1216. Charters confirmed.  of Magna Charta, and Charta de Forestis, granted by King John.  
This King keeping his Christmas at York, 
A bountiful Feast.  the Marriage was solemnised between Alexander King of Scots, and Margaret his Daughter; to the Feast of which Solemnity, it is said the Archbishop gave 600 fat Oxen, which were all spent at one Meal; and besides the Feast cost him 4000 Marks.  
This King's Son Edward, marrying Eleanor, 
Prince of Wales whence first.  the King of Spain's eldest Daughter, was invested by his Father with the Dukedom of Aquitain, Ireland, Wales, Bristol, Stamford and Grantham; and from hencesorward, the King's eldest Son was immediately upon his Birth, Prince of Wales, and Earl of Chester.  
This King in his Journey to France spent 
Vast Expenses in France.  2700000 l. which was more then, than ten times so much now.  
In the 25th. year of this King, aldermans 
aldermans first in London.  were first chosen within the City of London, who then had the rule of the City, and of the Wards of the same, and were then yearly changed, as now the Sheriffs are. The City of London was now allowed to present their Mayor to the Barons of the Exchequer to be sworn, which before was to be presented to the King, wherever he were.  
In this King's Time a Proclamation was 
Who obliged to be Knighted.  set forth, That all such as might dispend 15 l. a year in Land, should receive the Order of Knighthood; and those that would not or could not, should pay their Fines.  
There was a Man now that took upon 
A false Christ.  him to be Christ, and had five Wounds made in his Body, in resemblance of our Saviour's; and continuing obstinate in this humour, he was taken and immured between two Walls.  
A certain Jew chancing to fall in a Privy 
A devout Jew.  on a Saturday, would not that day be taken out because it was the Sabbath; the Earl of Gloucester would not suffer him to be taken out the next day, because it was the Christian Sabbath; and on the third day he was taken out dead.  
In this King's Reign, there was sent by 
An Elephant first in England.  the King of France, the first Elephant that was ever seen in England.  
Matthew Paris relates of a Maid now in 
A Miracle of Nature.  Leicestershire, that being exactly watched, was found in seven years together, neither to eat nor drink, but only that on Sundays she received the Communion, and yet continued fat and in good liking.  
Also in this Time, a Child born in the 
A Dwarf.  Isle of Wight, at 18 years of Age was but three Foot high, who being brought to the Queen, she kept him for a Monster of Nature.  
Richard de Clare, Earl of Gloucester, in a 
A valiant Earl  Battle against Baldwin de Gisnes, a valiant Fleming, employed by King Henry, himself alone encountered 12 of his Enemies; and having his Horse slain under him, he pitched one of them by the Leg out of the Saddle, and leapt into it himself, and continued the Fight without giving ground, till his Army came to rescue him.  
Simon Montford was a Man of so audacious 
The strange Audacity of Montford.  a Spirit, that he gave King Henry the Lie to his face; and in presence of all his Lords, the King feared him strangely, for being frighted off the Thames by Thunder, and meeting Montford, who bid the King not fear, for the danger was passed; the King said, No, Montford, I fear not the Thunder so much as thee.   

NOTABLE EVENTS In the Reign of King EDWARD the First  
IN King Edward the First's Time, Leolin, 
A. D. 1274. Leolin the last Welsh Prince.  being the last Prince of Welsh Blood, for Rebellion was slain, and his Head set upon the Tower of London.  
This King, by the Statute of Rutland, in 
Wales and England united.  the 12th. year of his Reign, united the Government of Wales to England.  
At this time there were ten Competitors 
Balliol, Scots King, does Fealty to K. Edward.  for the Scotch Crown; at last King Edward determined the Business, and Balliol was chosen, who did Homage, and swore Fealty and Allegiance to King Edward, as his liege Lord.  
King Edward caused the fatal Chair, 
The Coronation-Chair brought into England.  wherein the Kings of Scotland used to be inaugurated, to be brought into England, and put in Westminster-Abbey amongst the Monuments, where it still remains.  
All the Scots swore Allegiance to this 
The Scots swear Allegiance to King Edward.  King, except William waleys, who of a private Gentleman came to be their Guardian Angel.  
In his Time, three Men for rescuing of a Prisoner, had their right Hands cut off at their Wrists.  
In this King's Time, the Title of Baron 
Barons.  was confined to such only, as were called by Writ to serve in Parliament.  
In this King's Time, there was a Rot of 
A Rot of Sheep.  Sheep, which continued for 25 years together, which 'twas thought began by a Ship of incredible greatness brought out of Spain.  
In his 16th. year, it chanced in Gascoin, 
A wonderful Preservation.  that as the King and Queen sat in their Chamber upon a Bed talking together, a Thunderbolt coming in at the Window behind them, passed betwixt them, and slew two of their Gentlemen that stood before them.   

NOTABLE EVENTS In the Reign of King EDWARD the II.  
THis King going towards Scotland, to 
A. D. 1307. King Edward beaten by the Scots.  raise the Siege of Striveling, with an 100000 Men, was defeated by the Scots, who had but 30000 Men.  
This King being always at dissension 
First noble Blood shed since the Conquest.  with his Barons, and they rebelling against him, there was many of them taken and executed, being the first that suffered in this manner in England since William the Conqueror.  
This King was persuaded in his own 
Edward the TWO: deposed.  Life-time, to surrender his Crown to his Son, and all Persons renounced Allegiance to him.  
In this King's Time, an Ordinance was 
Knights-Templers imprisoned.  made against Knights-Templers, accused of Heresy, and other Crimes; and they were all apprehended, and committed to divers Prisons.  
The Bishop of Hereford being by this 
A Bishop rescued from the King by force.  King arrested for high-Treason, the other Bishops came and rescued him by force.  
In this King's 8th. year, was so great a 
A greatDearth  Dearth, that Horses and Dogs were eaten, and Thiefs in Prison plucked in pieces those that were newly brought in amongst them, and eat them half alive; which continuing three years, brought in the end such a Pestilence, that the living scarce sufficed to bury the dead.  
In this King's Time lived John Mandevile, 
Sir John Mandevile.  the great Traveller, a Doctor of Physic, and a Knight.   

NOTABLE EVENTS In the Reign of King EDWARD the III.  
AT the Coronation of Edward the III. 
A. D. 1327. The first Coronation-Pardon.  a general Pardon was proclaimed, which was the precedent and foundation of the Custom since used by all Kings; that at their first coming to the Crown, a general Pardon is always granted.  
This King surrendered all his Title to 
Title to Scotland surrendered.  Scotland, which his Grandfather had obtained there.  
Edmond, Earl of Kent, this King's Uncle, 
Edmond, Earl of Kent, beheaded.  being condemned for high-Treason, was so generally beloved, that he stood on the Scaffold, from one a Clock till five before any one could be found to execute him.  
In this King's Time, the Isle of Man was 
Man-Island conquered.  conquered by William M●●ntacute, Earl of Salisbury; for which Service, King Edward gave him the Title of King of Man.  
'Tis said, that this King at the Siege of 
Guns first used.  Calais, first made use of Guns.  
About this Time, Philip, King of France, 
First Dauphin of France.  died, leaving his Son John to succeed him; in the beginning of whose Reign, Humbert, Prince of Dauphin, dying without Issue, made him his Heir; and thereupon Charles, King John's Son, was made first Dauphin of France.  
Sir John Midsterworth Knight, about this 
Defrauding Soldiers punished.  Time, was hanged, drawn, and quartered, at Tyburn, for Treason by him committed, in defrauding Soldiers of their Wages.  
There was an Offer made to King Edward, 
The Value of Calais.  to leave him 1400 Towns, and 3000 Fortresses in Aquitain, upon condition he would render Calais, and what he held in Picardy.  
In the 45th. year of this King, in a Parliament 
The Clergy grant a Tax.  at Westminster, the Clergy granted him 50000 l. to be paid the same year, and the Laity as much; which was levied, by setting a certain rate of 5 l. 15 s. upon every Parish, which were found in the 37 Shires, to be eight thousand six hundred.  
Some say, this King instituted the Order 
Knight of the Garter first.  of Knight of the Garter.  
This King caused all Pleas in Law, 
Law first pleaded in English.  which were before in French, now to be made in English, that the Subject might understand the course of the Law.  
In this Time, at the instance of the Londoners, 
Apparel for Whores.  an Act was made, That no common Whore should wear any Hood, except striped with divers colours; nor Furs, but Garments reversed the wrong side outwards.  
This King also was the first that created 
Duke's first created.  Dukes, of whom Henry of Bullingbrook, Earl of Lancaster, created Duke of Lancaster, in the 27th. year of his Reign, was the first; but afterward he erected Cornwall into a Duchy, and conferred it upon the Prince: after which Time, the King's eldest Son used always to be Prince of Wales, Duke of Cornwall, and Earl of Chester.  
In the 22d. year of his Reign, a contagious 
A wonderful Pestilence.  Pestilence arose in the East and South Parts of the World, and spread itself all over Christendom; and coming at last into England, it so wasted the People, that scarce the 10th. Person of all sorts were left alive. There died in London, (some say, in Norwich) between the 1st. of January, and the 1st. of July, 57374 Persons. In Yarmouth, in one year, 7052 Men and Women; before which Time, the Parsonage there was worth 700 Marks a year, and afterwards was scarce worth 40 l. a year. This Plague began in London about Alhollantide, in the year 1348, and continued till the year 1357, where it was observed, that those who were born after the beginning 
Decrease of Teeth in men.  of this Mortality, had but twenty eight Teeth, whereas before they had two and thirty.  
In this King's Time, a Frost lasted from 
A great 〈◊〉.  the midst of September, to the Month of April.  
In the 11th. year of his Reign, there was 
Plenty of all things.  so great Plenty, that a quarter of Wheat was sold at London for two Shillings; a fat Ox for a Noble; a fat Sheep for sixpence; five Pigeons for a penny; a fat Goose for Twopences; a Pig for a penny; and other things after that rate.  
In this King's Time lived the so much 
Chaucer.  famed Sir Geoffry Chaucer, the famous English Poet.   

NOTABLE EVENTS In the Reign of King RICHARD the II.  
IN the beginning of this King's Reign, 
A. D. 1377. A noble Act of a Citizen of London.  one Mercer, a Scottish Pirate, committing many Outrages upon the Seas, against the English Merchants, a Citizen of London, one John Philpot, at his own Charges set forth a Fleet, and in his own Person encountering Mercer, took him and all his Ships.  
About this Time, one Sir John Annesley 
A Combat between Katrington and Annesley.  Knight, accused Thomas Katrington Esq for betraying the Fortress of St. Saviour to the French; which Katrington denying, at the suit of Annesley, a solemn Combat is permitted to be between them; at which Combat, the King and all the great Lords were present: The Esq Katrington was a man of a mighty stature, the Knight Annesley a little man; yet through the justness of his Cause, after a long Fight, the Knight prevailed, and Katrington the day after the Combat died.  
After the Rebellion of Wat Tyler and 
〈◊〉 executed for Treason.  Jack Straw, in this King's Time, Sir Robert Tresilian, Lord Chief Justice, being appointed to sit in Judgement against the Offenders, 1500 being found guilty, were all executed.  
The manner of Knighting in these days 
Manner of Knighting.  thus: They caused him to put a bassenet upon his Head, and then the King with a Sword in both his Hands struck him strongly upon the Neck. This King added the Dagger to the Arms of London.  
This King for a considerable time kept the Great Seal in his own hands.  
The French, in this King's Time, designing 
The French prepare a Navy of 1287 Ships.  to invade England, presuming no less than to make a Conquest of it, prepared 1287 Ships; but the Attempt, as it was impertinent, signified nothing.  
A Parliament, in this King's Time, declared 
The King obliged to attend the Parliament.  to the King, That by an old Ordinance it was enacted, that if the King should absent himself 40 days, not being sick, from his Parliament, the Houses might lawfully break up and return home.  
This King being at dissension with his Lords, could procure none to fight against them.  
'Tis almost wonderful what is related of 
A strange Accident in a Family.  the Family of the Hastings, Earls of Pembroke, that for many Generations the Sons never saw the Fathers, the Father's being always dead before the Sons were born.  
In this King's 13th. year, a Royal Just 
A noble just.  was proclaimed to be holden within Smithfield in London; which being published, many Strangers came hither, of the most noble Families of Europe: At the day appointed there issued out of the Tower, about three a Clock in the afternoon, 60 Coursers apparelled for the Justs, and upon every one an Esquire of Honour riding a soft pace; after them came forth almost 40 Ladies of Honour, mounted on Palfreys, and every Lady led a Knight with a Chain ofGold; and so they came riding through the Streets of London to Smithfield, where the Just held 24 days.  
At this Time, in a Parliament, the Duke 
A Bastard legitimated by Parliament.  of Lancaster caused to be legitimated, the Issue he had by Catharine Swinford, before he married her; of whom Thomas Beaufort was created Earl of Somerset.  
In a Parliament, about this Time, the 
What Articles first to be handled in Parliament.  Judges gave their opinions, that when Articles are propounded by the King to be handled in Parliament, if other Articles be handled before those are determined, that it is Treason in them that do it.  
A general Pardon was now granted for 
A strange sort of general Pardon.  all Offences, to all the King's Subjects, but only 50, whose Names he would not express, but reserved them to his own knowledge, that when any of the Nobility offended him, he might at his pleasure name him to be one of the number excepted, and so keep them still within his danger.  
In his 11th. year, King Richard created 
Baron's first made by Letters Patents,  John Beauchamp of Holt, Baron of Kiderminster, by his Letters Patents, the first that was so made; for before this Time, Barons were always made, by calling them to Parliaments by the King's Writ.  
In a Parliament, in this King's Time, 
An Image made to speak  there was a certain Image of Wax made by Necromancy, which at an hour appointed spoke these words: The Head shall be cut off; the Head shall be lift up aloft; the Feet shall be lift up above the Head.  
About the year 1280, the making of 
Guns first invented and used.  Guns was found by a Germane; who having beaten Brimstone in a Mortar to powder, and covering it with a Stone, it happened that as he struck Fire, a spark chanced to fall into the Powder, which caused a Flame of such force, that it raised the Stone a great height; which after he perceived, he made a Pipe of Iron, and tempered the Powder with some other Ingredients, and foe finished that deadly Engine. The first that used it were the Venetians, against the Inhabitants of Genoa.   

NOTABLE EVENTS In the Reign of King HENRY the IU.  
THis King Henry fight against the 
A. D. 1399. This King's Valour.  Nobles that rebelled, slew 36 with his own hands.  
Prince Henry, this King's Son, being very 
Prince Henry made a Prisoner.  disorderly, and keeping ill Company, one of his Companions being arraigned for Felony before the Lord Chief Justice, he went to the King's Bench-Bar, and offered to take the Prisoner away by force; but being withstood by the Lord Chief Justice, he stepped to him, and struck him over the Face; whereat the Judge nothing abashed, risen up and told him, That he did not this Astrint to him, but to the King his Father, in whose Place he sat; and therefore to make him know his Fault, he commanded him to be committed to the Fleet: The Prince quietly submitted to the Sentence, and suffered himself to be led to Prison.  
In this King's days, Burning and Execution 
Burning Atheists when first.  by Fire, for Controversies in Religion, was first put in practice.  
In the 3d. year of this King, at Danbury 
An Appearance of the Devil.  in Essex, the Devil appeared in likeness of a grey Friar; who entering the Church, put the People in great fear, and the same hour, with a Tempest of Whirlwind and Thunder, the top of the Steeple was broken down, and half the Chancel scattered abroad.   

NOTABLE EVENTS In the Reign of King HENRY the Fifth.  
THE first Parliament, in this King's 
A. D. 1412. A Subsidy granted without ask.  Time, grant him a Subsidy without ask for it; the like of which was never known before nor since, the Kings being in capacity to ask.  
At the Siege of Seyns in France, King 
First Garter-King at Arms.  Henry created an Officer of Arms, to be King of Heralds over the Englishmen, and entitled him Garter.  
This King having notice of his Son's 
The King's Prophetical Saying.  Birth and Christening, Prophetically said, Good Lord, I Henry of Monmouth, shall small time reign, and much get; and Henry born at Windsor, shall long time reign, and lose all; but God's Will be done.  
In his 9th. year, in a Parliament holden 
Gold paid by weight.  at Westminster, it was ordained, That no man should offer Gold in payment, unless it were weight; and thereupon were appointed Balances and Weights.  
In a Synod at Rochester, in this King's 
The Scriptures ordered to be in Latin, for which a just Judgement falls on the Bishop of Canterbury.  Time, Sir John Oldcastle was pronounced to be an Heretic, by the Archbishop of Canterbury; who then enacted a Decree, That the holy Scriptures ought not to be translated into the English Tongue: But mark the Judgement that fell upon his Tongue, whose Roots and Blade soon after grew so big in his Mouth and Throat, that he could neither speak, nor swallow down Meat, but in horror lay languishing, till at last starved by Famine, he died.  
This King was perhaps the greatest that 
King Henry the V his Character.  ever reigned in England: 'Tis said, he was so temperate in his Diet, and so free from Vainglory, that 'twas truly said, he had something in him of Caesar, that Alexander the Great had not, that he would not be drunk; and something of Alexander, that Caesar had not, viz. that he would not be flattered.   

NOTABLE EVENTS In the Reign of King HENRY the Sixth.  
IN King Henry the Sixth's Time, the 
A. D. 1422. 40000 French frighted with the Name of Salisbury.  Earl of Salisbury got so great a Name in France, that only naming of him was enough to fright 20000 French; as appeared, when the French Constable with 40000 Men, besieged the Town of St. James de Benuron, and having made a breach fit for Assault, whilst his Captains stood straining of courtesy, which of them should first enter, Sir Nicholas Burdet with all his Forces sallied forth, crying aloud, A Salisbury, A Salisbury; which Name-struck such a Consternation in the Besiegers, that they all stood like men amazed; of whom 600 were slain, 200 drowned in the Ditches, 50 taken Prisoners, with 18 Standards, and the Constable was glad to quit the Place, and desert the Siege.  
'Tis said, that Roger Bullingbrook, a Necromancer, 
A Necromantic Art.  and Margery Jordan, the Witch of Eye in Suffolk, devised a Picture of Wax, in proportion of the King, by Sorcery, that had such effect on the King's Body, that as the Wax consumed, so the King's Body consumed; for which they were both condemned.  
Soon after the good Duke of Gloucester 
Five Men hanged at Tyburn, yet lived after.  was secretly murdered, five of his menial Servants, viz. Sir Roger Chamberlain Kt. Middleton, Herber, Artzis, Esq and John Needham Gent. were condemned to be hanged, drawn, and quartered; and hanged they were at Tyburn, let down quick, stripped naked, marked with a Knife to be quartered; and then the Marquis of Suffolk brought their Pardon, and delivered it at the Place of Execution, and so their Lives were saved.  
It was observed of this King, that no 
His Misfortune in War.  Enterprise of War ever prospered when he was present.  
In the 32d. year of this King, the Lord 
Lord Mayor goes by Water to take his Oath.  Mayor of London first began to go by Water to Westminster, to take his Oath, where before they used to go by Land.  
In this King's Time, the Art of Printing 
Printing first in England.  was found out at Mogunce in Germany, by a Knight called John Guttenburg, and brought into England by William Caxton, a London Mercer, who first practised the same in the Abbey at Westminster, A. D. 1471.  
In the 18th. year of this King, all the 
The Lions died.  Lions in the Tower died.  
In his 22d. year, on New-years-day, near 
A wonderful Prodigy.  unto Bedford, a very deep Water, which ran between the Towns of Swelstone and Harlsewoad, stood suddenly still, and divided itself, so that by the space of three miles, the bottom remained dry.  
In the three and thirtieth year of his 
A wonderful Cock.  Reign, besides a great Blazing-star, there happened a strange Sight; a monstrous Cock came out of the Sea, and in the presence of a multitude of People at Portland, made a hideous Crowing three times, each time turning about and clapping his Wings, and beckoning towards the North, the South, and the West; as also many prodigious Births.  
In his six and thirtieth year, in a 
A shower of Blood.  Town in Bedfordshire, it reigned Blood.  
In this King's Time, Richard Nevil, 
The Valour of the Earl of Warwick.  Earl of Warwick, was so brave a Soldier, that he could make whom he pleased K.ing.   

NOTABLE EVENTS In the Reign of King EDWARD the IU.  
IN the beginning of this King's Reign, 
A. D. 1460. A wonderful Slaughter.  there was so bloody a Battle fought between his Forces, and those of the late King Henry, that there was on both sides 38000 Men slain, all Englishmen, which perhaps was a greater Slaughter, than at one Encounter has been known for many Ages.  
In the 4th. year of King Edward the iv 
The Mayor of London offended.  there were made eight Sergeants at Law, who held their Feast at the Bishop of Ely's Place in Holborn, where the Lord Grace of Ruthin, than Lord Treasurer of England, was placed before the Lord Mayor of London, being invited to the Feast; which gave such a distaste to the Mayor, that he presently departed with the Aldermen and Sheriffs, without tasting of their Feast; and it was registered to be a Precedent in time to come.  
This King, in Michaelmas Term, in the 
This King sirs as Judg.  2d. year of his Reign, sat three days together publicly, with his Judges, on the King's-Bench, in Westminster-Hall, to observe what needed Reformation in it, either at Bench or at Bar.  
This King falling desperately in Love 
King Edward marries his Subject.  with the Lady Elizabeth Grace, Widow of Sir John Grace of Groby, not being able to prevail upon her Chastity, was forced to marry her; he was the first King since the Conquest that married his Subject.  
This King sent a score of Cotsal Ewes, 
Shraep sent to the King of Arragon.  and five Rams, to John King of Arragon, for a Present; which how small soever the Present appeared, was great in effect, by their increase there to admiration.  
Sir John Hawksford, one of the Chief 
A Judge strangely melancholy.  Justices about this Time, grew so melancholy, that one day he called to him the Keeper of his Park, charging him with negligence, in suffering his Deer to be stolen; and thereupon commanded him, that if he met any man in his Night-circuit that would not stand or speak, he should not spare to kill him, whosoever he were: The Knight having thus laid his foundation, and meaning to end his doleful days, in a certain dark Night secretly conveyed himself out of the House, and walked alone in his Park: The Keeper hearing one stirring and coming towards him, asked, Who was there? but no Answer being made, he commanded him to stand; which he refusing to do, the Keeper shot, and killed him.  
Here was a great Example of the Fickleness 
The Fickleness of Parliaments.  of the Minds of Parliaments; for in the space of half a year, one Parliament proclaimed King Edward an Usurper, and King Henry a lawful King, and another proclaiming Edward a lawful King, and King Henry an Usurper: So that we may see, in humane Affairs there is nothing certain.  
In this King's Time, one Walter Walker, 
Strange Examples of Se●●rity.  living at the Crown in Cheapside, was hanged, for only saying to hi●● Child when it cried, That if it would be quiet, he would make it Heir of the Crown. And Thomas Burdet Esq of Arrow in Warwickshire, having a Buck killed by the King that he much esteemed, wished it Horns and all in the Belly of him that counselled the King to kill it; and because none counselled the King to kill it but himself, it was thought those words were not spoken, without a malignant reflecting on the King; and thereupon Burdet was arraigned, condemned, and beheaded at Tyburn.  
In Edward the Fourth's Time, there was 
A merry Passage between the King and an old Widow.  used a way for raising Money, called a Benevolence; and it is memorable of an old rich Widow, to whom King Edward calling among others, merrily asked, What she would willingly give towards his great Charges? By my troth, (quoth she) for thy lovely Countenance thou shalt-have twenty pounds: The King not looking for half the Sum, thanked her, and lovingly kissed her; which so wrought with the old Widow, that she presently swore, He should have twenty pounds more; and paid it willingly.  
Whereas before this King's Time, the 
The length of the Noses of Shoes.  Noses or Beaks of Shoes were so long, that they were fain to be tied, some with Chains, and some with Silk, to their Knees, their length was now by Proclamation contracted to two inches.  
In this King's Time lived Thomas Littleton, 
Judge Littleton.  a Reverend Judge of the Common-Pleas, who brought a great part of the Law into method, which lay before confusedly dispersed, and composed his Book of Tenors.   

The most Notable EVENTS In the Reign of King EDWARD the V, AND RICHARD the III.  
THE most notable thing that happened 
A. D. 1483. King Edward murdered, and God's Judgement on his Executioners.  about this Time, was the murdering of King Edward the V and his Brother, in the Tower, by the Order of their Uncle, the Duke of Gloucester, who being appointed their Protecto●●, usu●●ped the Kingdom; sure the most horrid Villainy that was ever perpetrated, and must needs excite the divine Revenge, to make Examples of such villainous Miscreants, as durst attempt the Lives of two such Royal Infants: which indeed was not very slow; for Miles Forrest, one of these damnable Executioners, rotten away piece-meal: Dighton, another, lived at Calais a long time after, but detested of all men, died in great misery: Sir James Tyrrel, the chief Engine, was beheaded afterwards on Tower-hill for Treason: and King Richard had never after a quiet Mind, being forced by his frightful Dreams, often to start out of Bed, and run about his Chamber, as if all Hell's Furies were tormenting him; so that it was truly verified in him, 
Ultrix Tisiphone vocat agmina saeva sororum. 
An Inundation of the River Severn.    
In the second year of King Richard the Third, when the Duke of Buckingham meant to pass with his Army over Severn, there was so great an Inundation of Water, that Men were drowned in their Beds, Houses were over-turned, Children were carried about the Fields, swimming in Cradles, Beasts were drowned on Hills: Which rage of Water continued ten days, and has been ever since called, The Duke of Buckingham's Water.   

The most NOTABLE EVENTS In the Reign of King HENRY the VII.  
KIng Henry the VII. whether doubting 
A. D. 1485. The King's Guard first ordained.  any sudden Attempt upon his Person, or whether he d●●d it to follow the Example of France; ●● the ●●ery beginning of his Reign, he ordered a Band of tall personable Men to be attending upon him, which was called the King's Guard; which no King before, and all Kings since have used.  
In this King's Time was the sweating-Sickness 
The Sweeting Sickness its Cure.  in London, of which two Lord Mayor and six Aldermen died in eight days time: The Cure for it was, If it took them in the day, to lie down in their clothes for 24 hours, and not stir; if in the night, not to stir out of Bed for the like time, and to keep themselves from motion as much as could be.  
In the 2d. year of King Henry the VII. 
A Carver made Sheriff of London.  John Persival, the Mayor of London's Carver, waiting at his Table, was chosen one of the Sherifss of London, only by Sir John Collet's, then Mayor, drinking to him in a Cup of Wine, (as the custom is to drink to him whom he list to name Sheriff) and forthwith the said Persival sat down at the Mayor's Table, and covered his Head, and was afterward Mayor himself.  
In the 6th. year of Henry the VII. th●● 
Granada won by the Spaniards.  Spaniards won the great and rich City and Country of Granada from the Moors; and thereupon the King of Spain was entitled, The Catholic King.  
In the Month of May was holden a solemn 
A Justs at Sheen.  just, at the King's Palace of Sheen, now called Richmond, which continued the space of a Month; in which jousts, Sir James Parker, running against a Gentleman named Hugh Vaughan, by reason of a faulty Helmet, was hit in the Mouth at the first Course, so that his Tongue was born to the hinder part of his Head; so that he died upon the Place.  
This King, by his good Husbandry, and 
His Riches at his Death.  oppression of his Subjects, by those hated Persons Empson and Dudley, left behind him at his Death 1800000 l.  
This King was the first that ordained a 
Yeomen of the Guard when first instituted.  Company of tall strong men, (naming them Yeomen of the Guard) to be attending about the Person of the King, to whom he appointed a Livery by which to be known, and a Captain by whom to be chosen.  
In this Time was made that excellent 
First suing in forma pauperis.  Law, for admission of poor Suitors, in forma Pauperis, without paying Fee to Councillor, Attorney, or Clerk.  
Another, That Murderers should be 
First Burning in the Hand.  burnt on the brawn of the left Hand with the Letter M. and Thiefs with the Letter T. so that if they offended a second time, they should have no mercy, but be put to death; and this to reach to all Clerks convict.  
In his 18th. year, King Henry being himself 
The Name of Merchant-Taylors first given  a Brother of the Tailor's Company, as divers Kings before had been, viz. Richard the III. Edward the iv Henry the VI Henry the V Henry the IV and Richard the II. also 11 Dukes, 28 〈◊〉, and 48 Lords; he now gave to them the Name and Title of Merchant-Taylors, as a Name of Worship to endure for ever.  
In this King's Time, the Privilege of 
Sanctuaries abrogated.  Sanctuaries was very much abated with permission of the Pope.  
In his 1●●th. year, on Bartholomew-day, 
Large Hailstones.  at the Town of St. Needs in Bedfordshire, there fell Hailstones, that were measured 18 inches about.   

The most notable and extraordinary EVENTS In the Reign of King HENRY the VIII.  
AMongst many of King Henry the 
A. D. 1509. Masking first in England.  Eighth's jovial Devices, he at Greenwich, with TWO more, was disguised, after the manner of Italy, called A Mask, a thing not seen before in England: They were apparelled all in Garments long and broad, wrought all with Gold, with Vizards and Caps of Gold; and after the Banquet done, these Maskers came in, with six Gentlemen disguised in Silk, bearing staff-Torches, and desired the Ladies to dance; and after they had danced and communed together, took their leave and departed.  
In a War that King Henry the VIII. had 
The Emperor takes Pay of King Henry.  with France, the Emperor Maximilian took Pay of King Henry as his Soldier; an Honour never done before to any King of Europe.  
It is a strange thing what George Buchanan relates, as being present, of James now King of Scotland, who intending to have a 
A strange Vision.  War with England, a certain old Man of venerable Aspect, and clad in a long blue Garment, came to him, and leaning familiarly on the Chair where the King sat, said, I am sent to thee, O King, to give thee warning, that thou proceed not in the War thou art about, for if thou do, it will be thy ruin: And having so said, he pressed through the Company, and vanished out of sight, for by no enquiry it could be found what became of him.  
Pope Julius the II. sent to King Henry a 
Henry the VIII. had the Title of Christianissimus.  Cap of Maintenance and a Sword, and being angry with the King of France, transferred, by Authority of the Lateran Council, the Title of Christianissimo, from him upon King Henry. Soon after which, King 
A just.  Henry had a Justs, wherein himself and the Duke of Suffolk were Defendants against all comers; who having the Duke of Longueville, and the Lord of Clermont, to be Spectators, spread the Fame of their Chivalry into foreign Nations. He used a new kind of just, in manner volant, as fast as one could follow another, which was very delightful to the Beholders.  
This King, and Francis King of France, 
A magnificent Interview.  had an Interview, which was so magnificent, that the Vale of Audrea where they met, is since called, The Camp of Cloth of Gold: The Particulars are too tedious for this place, so that he that would see more, may find it at large in Page 266.  
This King, for writing against Luther, 
The Title of Defender of the Faith given.  had by the Pope the Title given him, of Defender of the Faith.  
In this King's Time, Sir William Fitz-Williams, 
A noble Action.  landing in the Haven of Tr●●pert, with 700 Men, he beat 6000 French, that sought to impeach his Landing, took their Bulwarks, and much Ordnance in them, burned the Suburbs of the Town of Treport, and all in five hours, and then returned.  
A. D. 1531. An Act was made, That 
Annats forbidden to be paid to Rome.  Bishops should pay no more Annats, or Money for Bulls, to the Pope, forasmuch as it was proved, there had been paid for Bulls of Bishops, since the 4th. year of H●●nry the VII. an 160000 l. besides what had been paid for Pardons, and other Dispensations.  
Another Act was also then made, That 
No more Appeals to Rome.  no Person should appeal for any Cause out of this Realm to the Court of Rome, but from the Commissary to the Bishop, and from the Bishop to the Archbishop, and from the Archbishop to the King, and all Causes of the King to be tried in the Upper House of the Convocation.  
The Clergy of England, being now charged 
King Henry supreme Head of the Church  by the King's Council, to be in a Praemunire, for maintaining the Cardinal Woolsey's Legantine Power, in their Convocation concluded an humble Submission in writing, and offered the King an 100000 l. to have their Pardon by Parliament: Which Offer, after some labour, was accepted, and their Pardon promised; in which Submission, the Clergy called the King, The supreme Head of the Church.  
About the Time that this King married 
Obligations of Knighthood.  Ann Bullen, all men that had 40 l. a year Land, were either obliged to be Knighted, or to pay a Fine.  
In the 26th. year of this King, there was 
The Pope's Authority abolished.  an Act made, which authorised the King to be supreme Head of the Church of England, and the Pope's Authority to be utterly abolished.  
On the 10th. of June, 1541. Sir Edmund 
The Manner and Ceremony of cutting off the Hand of one that strikes in the King's Court.  Knevet of Norfolk Kt. was arraigned before the Officers of the Green-cloth, for striking Mr. Clear of Norfolk, within the Tennis-Court of the King's House. Being found guilty, he had Judgement to lose his right Hand, and to forfeit all his Lands and Goods: Whereupon there was called to do Execution, First, The Serjeant-Surgeon, with his Instruments pertaining to his Office; then the Sergeant of the Woodyard, with a Mallet, and a Block to lay the Hand upon; then the King's Master-Cook, with a Knife to cut off the Hand; then the Sergeant of the Larder, to set the Knife right on the Joint; then the Serjeant-Farrier, with fearing Irons to fear the Veins; then the Sergeant of the Poultry with a Cock, which Cock should have his Head smitten off on the same Block, and with the same Knife; then the Yeomen of the Chandry with Cerecloths; then the Yeomen of the Scullery, with a Pan of Fire 〈◊〉 heat the Irons, and two Forms for all Officers to set their Stuff on; then the Sergeant of the Cellar, with Wine, Ale, and Beer; then the Sergeant of the Ewery, with Basin, Ewer, and Towels. All things being thus prepared, Sir William Pickering Knight-Marshal, was commanded to bring in his Prisoner, to whom the Chief Justice declared his Offence; which the said Knevet confessed, and humbly submitted himself to the King's mercy; only he desired, the King would spare his right Hand, and take his left; Because, said he, if my right Hand be spared, I may live to do the King good service. Of whose Submission, and reason of his Suit, when the King was informed, he granted him to lose neither of his Hands, and pardoned him also of his Lands and Goods.  
A. D. 1542. About this Time, Arthur 
Viscount Lisle dieth of excess of Joy.  Plantagenet, Viscount Lisle, base Son to King Edward the iv having been imprisoned upon suspicion of a Practice, for betraying of Calais to the French, whilst he was the King's Lieutenant there, was found to be innocent of the Fact: And thereupon the King to make him some reparation for his Disgrace, sent him a Ring, and a very gracious Message; whereat the Viscount took so great Joy, that the night following, of that very Joy he died.  
In the 30th. year of this King, it was ordained 
First Registers in Churches.  by Cromwell, the King's Vicar-General, That in all Churches there should be kept a Register of every Wedding, Christening, and Burial, within the same Parish for ever.  
In his 31st. year, the King first instituted 
First Gentlemen Pensioners.  and appointed 50 Gentlemen, called Pensioners, to wait upon h●●s ●●erson, assigning to each of them 50 l. a year, for the maintenance of themselves and two Horses.  
In his 37th. year, the Brothel-houses, 
Stews put down.  called the Stews on the Bankside in Southwark, were put down by the King's Commandment; and it was done by Proclamation, and sound of Trumpet.  
In his 23d. year, it was enacted, That 
Meat sold by weight.  Butchers should sell their Meat by weight; Beef for a half penny the pound, and Mutton for three farthings.  
King Henry in his 24th. year, built his 
St. James built.  Mansion-house of St. James, where he made a fair Park.  
In this King's Time, one Foxley, Potmaker 
A great Sleeper.  to the Tower of London, fell asleep, and could not be wakened at 14 days.  
In this King's Time also l●●ved Anthony 
Anthony Fitz-Herbert.  Fitz-Herbert, who has writ 〈◊〉 learnedly of the Law.   

The most NOTABLE EVENTS In the Reign of King EDWARD the Sixth.  
THE Reign of King Edward the VI 
A. D. 1547. A miraculous Victory.  was ushered in with a miraculous Victory over the Scots, the Duke of Somerset, the Protector of England, being General of the English Forces; in which Battle there were of the Scots slain above 14000, and on the English Party, only 50 Horsemen, and one Footman.  
After some Rebellions in the West, in 
An uncourteous Guest.  this King's days, Sir William Kingston being Provost-Marshal, one Boyer, Mayor of Bedwin in Cornwall, had been amongst the Rebels, but enforced: The Provost sent him word, he would come and dine with him; the Mayor hereupon made great Provision: A little before Dinner, the Provost took the Mayor aside, and required him to put up a pair of Gallows against Dinner was done; which the Mayor did: Presently after Dinner, the Provost taking the Mayor by the Hand, entreated him to lead him to the Gallows; where being come, he asked the Mayor, If they were strong enough: Yes, (said the Mayor:) Well then, said the Provost, get you up speedily, for they were provided for you; and the Mayor was hanged accordingly.  
A. D. 1551. In the Reign of King Edward 
English Laws in Ireland.  the VI the charge was given, that Ireland should be governed by English Laws.  
In a Parliament, in the 4th. year of this 
Priest's Children legitimate. A Miraculous Birth.  King, Priests Children were legitimate.  
In his 6th. year, at Middleton-stony, 11 miles from Oxford, a Woman brought forth a Child which had two perfect Bodies from the Navel upwards, the Legs for both the Bodies grew out at the middle, where they both were joined, and had but one Issue for the Excrements of them both. They lived 18 days, and were Women-childrens.  
This year also were taken at Quinborough 
Dolphins.  three Dolphins, and at Black-wall six more, the least of which was bigger than any Horse.   

EXTRAORDINARY EVENTS In the Reign of Queen MARY.  
QUeen Mary, soon after her coming to 
A. D. 1553. Mass restored.  the Crown, introduced Mass again, which had been abolished by her Brother.  
It is remarkable in this Queen's Reign, 
A Judgement on Judge Morgan.  that Judge Morgan, who gave the Sentence upon the Lady Jane Grace, shortly after s●●ll mad, and in his raving, cried continually to have the Lady Jane taken from him, and so ended his miserable Life.  
It was very remarkable of Cranmer, 
Cranmers Heart not burnt with his Body.  Archbishop of Canterbury, who being burnt at Oxford in this Queen's days, his Heart remained in the midst of the Fire, untouched by that devouring Element.  
In this Queen's Time, there died for Religion 
How many died for Religion.  in all, two hundred threescore and seventeen.  
In her 2d. year, on the 15th. of February, 
A strange Rainbow.  there appeared in the Sky a Rainbow reversed, the Bow turning downwards, and the two ends standing upwards.  
In her 5th. year, within a mile of Nottingham, 
A wonderful Tempest  so marvellous a Tempest of Thunder happened, that it beat down all the Houses and Churches in two Towns thereabouts, cast the Bell to the outside of the Churchyard, and some Webs of Lead, 400 Foot into the Field; the River of Trent running between the two Towns, the Water, with the Mud in the bottom, was carried a quarter of a Mile, and cast against Trees, with the violence whereof, the Trees were pulled up by the Roots, and cast twelvescore off; five or six Men thereabouts were slain, and neither Flesh nor Skin perished; also a Child was taken out of a man's hand, and taken two Spears length high, and then let fall 200 Foot off.  
Also this year, on the last of September, 
A vast Rain.  fell so great store of Rain, that Westminster-hall was full of Water, and Boats were rowed over Westminster-bridge into Kings-street.  
About this Time, John Hopkins translated 
John Hopkins.  many of David's Psalms into English Meeter, which are to be found amongst those appointed to be sung in the Church.   

EXTRAORDINARY EVENTS In the Reign of Queen ELIZABETH.  
QUeen Elizabeth was Crowned by the 
A. D. 1558. The last Nuncio in England  Bishop of Carlisle.  
This Queen re-introducing Protestancy, the Abbot Mortinengi was the last Nuncio thatever was sent by the Pope into England, and Sir Edward Carne, now dying at Rome, was the last Leaguer that was ever sent to the Pope by the Kings of England.  
In the 19th. year of this Queen, at the 
A strange Mortality.  Assizes at Oxford, suddenly, the Court sitting at the Crown-bar, they were surprised with a pestilent Savour; from whence it came, is uncertain, but all that were there present, within 40 hours died, except Women and Children, and the Contagion went no farther: There died the Lord Chief Baron, with many Knights and Justices of the Peace, and others, to the number of 300.  
A. D. 1580. Captain Drake returned 
Captain Drake  from his Voyage about the World, being the first that succeeded in that Attempt.  
In the Dutch Wars, in this Queen's Time, 
English first Drunkards.  the English (who of all Dwellers in the Northern Parts of the World, were hitherto the least Drinkers, and deserved praise for their Sobriety) learned to be Drunkards.  
About 1585. one Ralph Lane, who came 
Tobacco brought into England.  with Captain Drake from Virginia, brought the first Tobacco into England, which the Indians take against Crudities of their Stomach.  
The Earl of Leicester assaulting Zutphen, 
A Fort taken by one Man.  and there setting upon a Fort, one Edward Stanley (of the Stanleys' of Elford) catching hold of a Spaniard's Lance, that was brandished at him, held it so fast, that by it he was drawn into the very Fort; whereupon the Spaniards being affrighted, (thinking all the Enemies were coming up, forsook the Place.  
A. D. 1587. died Sir Ralph Sadler, 
Last Banneret of England.  Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, the last Banneret of England, with which Dignity he was adorned at the Battle of Musselborough in Scotland.  
At this Time was memorable the prodigious 
Hacket's strange Reconciliation.  Carriage of one Hacket, a mean Fellow, of no Learning; who when in show of Reconciliation to one with whom he had been at variance, he embraced him, he bitten off his Nose, and the Man desired to have his Nose again, that it might be sewed on while the Wound was green, he most villainously eat it up, and swallowed it down before his face. This Man was afterwards executed, for taking upon him to be Christ, without Recantation.  
This Queen made the College at Dublin 
Dublin made an University.  in Ireland, an University, which was formerly the Monastery of All-saints, endowing it with Power to confer Scholastical Dignities.  
This Queen was the first that allowed 
Judges.  the Judges any thing upon their Circuits.  
She first ordained the Company of East-India 
East-India Company.  Merchants.  
The Stone called, Lapis Calaminaris, 
Lapis Calaminaris.  which is of great use in Brass-works, was first brought into England at this Time, and in plentiful manner.  
Likewise this Queen was the first that 
Gunpowder made in England.  caused Gunpowder to be made in England, which before was had from foreign Parts, and at dear Rates.  
In her 6th. year, in the Month of December, 
A monstrous Fish.  at Grimsby in Lincolnshire, was driven on shore a monstrous Fish: in length 19 yards, his Tail 15 foot broad, and 6 yards between the Eyes; 12 Men stood upright in his Mouth to get the Oil.  
In her 10th. year, the Dutch brought into 
Serges made in England.  England, the Art of making Bays, Sesse and Serges, and all woven Stuffs, both woollen and linen.  
In her 13th. year, a prodigious Earthquake 
A prodigious Earthquake.  happened in the East Parts of Herefordshire: The Earth opened, and a Hill with a Rock under it (making at first a hideous noise) lifted itself up a great height, and began to travel, bearing along with it the Trees that grew upon it, the Sheepfolds, and Flocks of Sheep: in the Place from whence it was first moved, it left a gaping distance 40 Foot broad, and 80 els long; the whole Field was about 20 Acres. Passing along, it overthrew a Chapel in the way, removed an Yew-tree planted in the Churchyard, from the West into the East; with the like force it thrust before it Highways, Sheepfolds, Hedges and Trees, made tilled Ground Pasture, and Pasture fit for Tillage. Having walked in this sort from Saturday Evening, till Monday Noon, it stood still.  
In her 17th. year, a vast mighty Whale 
A large Whale taken.  was cast upon Thanet-Isle in Kent, 20 els long, and 13 Foot broad from the Belly to the Backbone, and 11 Foot between the Eyes, one of his Eyes being taken out of his Head, was more than a Cart with six Horses could draw; the Oil being boiled out of his Head, was Parmacittee.  
In her 22d. year, a strange Apparition 
A strange Apparition.  happened in Somersetshire: 60 Personages all clothed in black, a Furlong distance from those that beheld them: then another like Number and Company appeared; these encountered one another, and then vanished away: and again they appeared all in bright Armour, and encountered one another, and so vanished away. This was examined before Sir George Norton, and sworn by four honest Men that saw it, to be true.  
In her six and twentieth year, being 
Another Earthquake.  the year 1588., in Dorsetshire, a Field of three Acres in Blackmore, with the Trees and Fences, moved from its Place, and passed over another Field, travelling in the Highway that goeth to Herne, and there stayed.  
In her five and thirtieth year, many 
A great Drought.  cattle died for want of Water, and the River of Thames did so fail, that a Horseman might ride over at London-Bridge.   

EXTRAORDINARY EVENTS In the Reign of King JAMES.  
AS King James, coming first to London, 
A. D. 1603. King James presented with 70 Teams of Horses.  at Godmanchester, near Huntingdon, the Bailiffs of the Town presented him with 70 Team of Horse, all traced to tail new Plows: At which the King wondering, they said, It was the ancient Custom so to do, when any King of England passed through the Town, and by which, as being the King's Tenants, they held their Land.  
King James, having now Ambassadors 
The first Master of the Ceremonies.  sent to congratulate his coming to the Crown from all Parts, first erected the Place of Master of the Ceremonies, allowing 200 l. a year Fee; and the first that had the Place, was Sir Lewis Lewkenor, a Gentleman, who besides other good Parts, was very skilful in the neighbouring Languages.  
In the year 1612, King James began 
Knights-baronets' first created.  the Order of Knights, called Baronet's, because they take place next to Barons younger Sons; and he appointed certain Laws, to make them capable that should be admitted. First, That they should maintain the number of 30 Foot-soldiers in Ireland for three years; then that they should be Gentlemen of Blood of three Descents; and lastly, should have Land of Inheritance, in possession, or immediate reversion, to the value of a 1000 l. per annum: And to keep the number from swarming, he confined it to 200; and as the Issue should fail, the Order to cease.  
In this King's Time, Mr. Hugh Middleton, 
Water brought to London.  a Goldsmith of London, brought Water to the City; from the two great S●●rings of Chadwel, and Amwel in Hertfordshire, having cut a Channel from thence to a Place nea●● Islington, whither he conveyed it to a large Pond, and from thence in Pipes of young Elms, to all Places of the City.  
In the 17th. of this King, Bernard Calvert 
A wonderful Journey.  of Andover, road from St. Georges-Church in Southwark to D●●ver, from thence passed by Barge to Calais in France, and from thence returned back to St. Georges-Church the same day, setting out about Three in the morning, and returned about Eight at night, fr●●sh and lusty.  
This King set forth a Proclamation, restraining 
Penalties for Deer-killers.  all Persons under great Penalties for killing of Deer, or any kind of Fowl used for Hawking.  
In a Parliament holden the third year 
The Oath of Allegiance.  of his Reign, the Oath of Allegiance was devised and ordained, and soon after ministered to all sorts of People.  
By this King's Appointment, a strict 
Duels restrained.  Decree passed in the Star-Chamber, against Duels, or single Combats; and a strict Law against Stabbing.  
This King added one Judge to every 
Five Judges in every Court.  Court, which made them five; and increased the number of Gentlemen-Pensioners to 200.  
In his first year, in London, there died in 
A Plague.  one Week 3090 Persons.  
In the year 1613, on the 17th. of April, 
A monstrous Child.  in the Parish of Standish in Lancashire, a Maiden Child was born, having four Legs, four Arms, two Bellies joined to one Back, one Head with two Faces, the one before, the other behind, like the Picture of Janus.  
This year also, in the Parish of Christs-Church, 
A Man and Child burnt to death by Lightning.  in Hampshire, John Hitton lying in Bed with his Wife, and a young Child by them, was himself and Child burnt to death with Lightning, no Fire appearing on them, though they continued burning three days, till they were consumed to ashes.   

EXTRAORDINARY EVENTS In the Reign of King CHARLES the I.  
THE first year of King Charles' Reign, 
A. D. 1625. A Term at Reading.  the Term, because of the Plague in London, was kept at Reading, and special Instructions were given to the Judges, to put the Laws in execution against Recusants.  
About the Month of July, 1629, there 
A Fray in Fleerstreet.  happened a great Fray in Fleetstreet, upon the rescue of Captain Bellingam, which was attempted by some Students of the Temple, wherein some were hurt, and carried to Prison. This drew together about 500 Gentlemen, who beat the Sheriff's Officers, and released their Friends; then the Lord Mayor and Trained-Bands coming, the Trained-Bands fired only with Powder; at this the Gentlemen having Pistols, engaged very fiercely in earnest, and killed five of the Trained-Bands, but were by number at last overcome, and Ashurst and Stamford, two of their Captains, taken, who were afterwards for the Murder executed at Tyburn.  
Leighton, a Scotchman, for writing a seditious 
A strange Punishment.  Book, called Zi●●ns Plea, was sentenced in the Star-Chamber, to be whipped, and stigmatised, to have his Ears cropped, and Nose slit; which Sentence was soon after inflicted upon him.  
About the year 1630, Sir Giles Allington 
Sir Giles Allington marries his Niece.  married his Niece; for which in a Court consisting of eight Bishops, and four other Commissioners, he was sentenced to be fined to the King 12000 l. to stand obliged in the Penalty of 20000 l. never to cohabit or come near his Niece more; and to be committed to Prison, or put in sufficient Bail, till both he and his Niece shall have done Penance at Pauls-Cross, and at Great St. Mari●●s at Cambridge, at a day appointed by the Court. The Judges offering to proceed in this Business, received a Check from the King.  
In the 7th. year of this King, May the 
A Star seen at Noon, at the Birth of King Charles the II.  29th. a Star appeared visibly at Noon, the Sun shining clear; at which Time the King road to St. Paul's Church, to give thanks for the Queen's safe delivery of her 2d. Son Prince Charles.  
In his 16th. year, the Earl of Haddington 
A sad Accident.  in Scotland, having recovered some Pieces of Ordnance, which the Garrison of Berwick had seized at Dunce, returned back to Dowglass, where sitting merry at Dinner, with about 20 Knights and Gentlemen, on a sudden the Magazine of Powder that lay in a vaulted Room, took Fire by Accident, whereby the Earl and his Company were blown up.  
The same year, a Pond in Cambridge became 
A Pond of Blood.  red as Blood, the Water whereof being taken up in Basins, retained still the same Colour. Many Sights were seen in 
Armies in the Air.  the Air, as Armies fight one against another, which were looked upon as sad Presages of the future Wars.  
In the 14th. year of his Reign, at Whitecomb, 
A wonderful Lightning at Whitecomb.  in the County of Devon, a Ball of Fire was seen to come into the Church in the time of Divine Service, whereby three Persons were killed, and 62 hurt, divers of whom had the linings of their clothes burnt, though their outward Garments were not so much as singed, and most of the Seats were turned upside down, and the Pillars, Steeple and Church, more endamaged, than the expense of 300 l. could repair.  
On Tuesday, the 30th. of January, 1648, 
King Charles murdered.  was perpetrated that horrid and damnable Murder of the most Gracious of Kings, Charles the I. an Act so wicked and diabolical, so unjust and cruel, that possibly the whole World since the Creation, cannot produce its Parallel.  
The most wonderful Remark of Courage, 
The wonderful Resolution of the Countess of Derby.  in the Troubles of this King, was showed by the Noble Earl of Derby, and his Renowned Lady; which Lady, by her admirable Courage and Magnanimity, maintained her House of Latham for the King, against the Parliaments Forces, who besieged it, from Feb. 28. 1644, till the 27th. of May following, when the Siege was raised by Prince Rupert.   

EXTRAORDINARY EVENTS In the first 13 Years of the Reign of King CHARLES the Second.  
ANno 1652. This year died the Lady 
A. D. 1648. The Lady Eleanor Davis.  Eleanor Davis, Wife to Sir John Davis, the King's first Sergeant at Law in England, who was a Lady that has the greatest Character for Piety, Virtue, Wit and Prudence, that I ever read; and her Predictions most wonderful: Of the death of the Duke of Buckingham long before: In the most flourishing condition of the Nation, she foretold its unparallelled Troubles; and in the depth of those Troubles, she foretold that happy Restauration to Peace and Settlement, which we at this day (through the mercy of God) enjoy under our most Gracious Sovereign; and in every one she long before prefixed the Time of their Accomplishment.  
Anno 1656. It was related by the young 
Rain of Fire from Heaven.  Marquis Francisco de Lopez, who with his Brother and Sisters was brought up to London, being lately come from Peru, that the Cities of Luma and Calao in Peru, were destroyed by an Earthquake, and Fire raining from Heaven, in which Ruin perished 11000 Spaniards, and about 100 Indians.  
As for the other Events occurring in the late King's, and this happy Monarch's Reign, I shall omit them here, being so extraordinary and innumerable, that they cannot be comprised but in large Volumes, of which upon that occasion we have many extant.   

SHORT COLLECTIONS OF Life and Death.  

Nature durable and not durable.  
MEtals at last decay by Rust only, Gold excepted; Quicksilver decays only by Fire.  
Stones at last decay by a kind of Nitre; Precious stones and Crystals grow less orient by age. 
Metals.   
'Tis observed, that Stones lying towards the North, decay sooner than towards the South; but Iron the contrary, as may be 
Stones.  seen in all Buildings.  
Glass and Bricks, having passed the fire, last very long; Gums, Wax and Honey, last very long.  
Note, that these continue longest, being always wet, or always dry.  
Colder Herbs die yearly, both in Root and Stalk; but hot Herbs bear their age better.  
The Vine and Rosemary attain to 60 
Herbs and Fruit-trees.  years, White Thorn and Ivy above 100  
The Oak and Elm do commonly come to 800 years: Most Fruit-trees attain to about 60 years; but the sourer the Fruit, the longerlived is the Tree.  
All sorts of Fruits and Flowers might be long kept in earthen Vessels close stopped, and much longer, if the Vessels, whether earthen or glass, be sunk in the Water, or buried in the Earth.  
Fruits closed in Wax, or any the like Case, keep green very long.   

Length and shortness of Life in Living Creatures.  
THE Elephant grows till 30, and lives 
Elephant.  commonly till 200 years.  
The Camel sometimes attains to 100 
Camel.  years.  
The Dog or Fox seldom reach 20 years. 
Dog.   
The Sow lives 15 years; the Cat about 8. 
Sow. Vultures.   
Vultures live to near 100 years; as also all Birds that eat Flesh and Prey, live long.  
The Swan and Goose commonly reach 
Birds.  100 years.  
The Parrot also lives long; Ringdoves reach 20 years, but Doves or Turtles not above 8.  
Of Fishes, the Dolphin is said to live 30 years.  
Lampreys were found in Caesar's Fishponds 
Fishes.  to live 60 years.  
The Pike, longest liver of fresh Fish, reaches 40. Carp, Bream, Tench and Eel, reach 10 years.  
Crocodiles grow as long as they live, and 
Crocodile.  are very long-lived.  
It is generally observed, that there are 
Birds and Beasts.  more Birds long-lived than Beasts, though most come to their full growth in a year: The Reason is thought to be, because they partake more of the substance of the Mother than of the Father, and so are not so hot; and also their mixed and easy motion is a great help.  
Upon this account it is noted, that those 
What men live longest.  Men who more resemble the Mother than Father, live longest, as most participating of her substance, and thereby the cooler.  
Feeders on Grass are shorter-lived, than those that feed on Flesh, Seeds, or Fruits.  
Good Clothing helps much to long Life.  
Tame Animals by degenerating are 
Tame Animals.  much shorter-lived.   

Of Nourishment.  
The Slip of any Tree grafted on a Stock, comes on most kindly.  
To make an Onion very large, place 
To make Fruit large.  the Seed in another Onion under ground.   

Length of Life in Man.  
Before the Flood Men lived many hundred 
When men lived long.  years, though none reached 1000; and 'tis observed, that those of the holy Line did not live so long as the Line of Cain, there being of these but 8 Generations, and of the other 11 Generations before the Flood. But soon after the Flood, 
Man shorter-lived.  Man was brought down to a 4th. part of his primitive Age. Here the Lord Bacon numbers up many long livers since the Flood; and here also he observes, that though Virgil divined, and men are wholly 
Of man's Decay.  carried away with an opinion, that there is a continual decay by succession of Ages, as well in the term of man's Life, as in the stature and strength of his Body, yet within these last 3000 years, a time whereof we have sure memory, there hath been no sensible alteration.  
It is also observed, that in cold Country's 
Where men live longest.  men live longer commonly than in hot, and in Islands, than in the Continent.  
Places observed for long livers are, Arcadia, Aetolia, India, Brasil, Taprobane, Britain, and Ireland, the Orcadeses and Hebrides.  
To try the healthfulness of Air: Take 
To try the healthfulness of Air.  a lock of Wool, and expose it to the open Air a few days, if the weight-be not much increased; another by a piece of Flesh, if it corrupt not too soon. Of these inquire further.  
Fair in Face, or Skin, or Hair, are shorter 
Signs of long Life.  livers: Black, red, or freckled, longer: A pale colour in Youth betokens long Life; so also a hard Skin, and hard curled Hair: Grey Hairs for Baldness signify nothing; much Hairiness in the upper Parts betokens short, but in the lower Parts long Life.  
A broad Breast, somewhat crooked Shoulders, a Hand large, etc. are signs of a long Life.   

Medicines for long Life.  
Often letting of Blood is certainly beneficial 
Blood-letting.  for long Life; as also emaciating Diseases, if well cured.  
Saffron often taken in Meat, is a great 
Strong Liquors and Spices.  help: Spices, Wine, and strong Drinks, must be used very moderately, for they yield a predatory heat unto the Spirits.  
There conduce to the robust heat of the 
Venus.  Spirits, Venus often excited, rarely performed.  
A spare Diet, as is approved by Experience, 
Spare Diet.  rendereth a man long lived.  
Exercises, wherein the Strength is too 
Exercise.  much extended, hurteth much; but used moderately, benefit.  
Great Joys attenuate the Spirits; familiar 
Joys.  Cheerfulness strengthens them.  
Joy communicated sparingly, comforts 
Grief and Fears.  the Spirits; Grief and Sadness, if void of Fear, and not too violent, prolong Life; but great Fears injure much.  
Anger suppressed is an Enemy to Longevity, 
Anger and Envy.  but let lose, it helpeth it; but of all Passions, Envy is the greatest Abbreviator of Life.  
Pity without Fear is good, otherwise 
Pity and Shame.  dangerous; light Shame hurteth not, but much and of long continuance is pernicious.  
Love, if not too unfortunate and violent, 
Love and Hope.  hath good effects; and Hope, if not too much frustrated, is the most beneficial of all Affections.  
Admiration and light Contemplation, 
Admiration.  are very powerful to the prolonging of Life.  
Note, that all these produce their Effects, by the several operations on the Spirits.  
It is a very great advantage to Longevity, 
The chief pr●●moters of Longevity.  when the Spirits are in a placid and healthful state, (that which will be seen by the tranquillity of their mind, and cheerful disposition) that they cherish them, and not change them. Now the Spirits are contained in the same state, by a restraining of the Affections, temperateness of Diet, abstinence from Venus, moderation in Labour, indifferent Rest and Repose.  
Certainly living in Caves and Dens, 
Deserts and Mountains.  where the Air is not heated with the Sun, helps length of Life, as hath been always observed: Also living upon Mountains, as those in Barbary, produceth the same effect.  
But that which hath the most potent operation 
Anointing the Skin.  to long Life, is the anointing the Skin very finely every morning, either with Oil of Olives, or sweet Almonds, which stops the Pores, and exceedingly refreshes and advantages the Spirits. And 'tis certain, that Sweats commonly advanceth 
Sweats.  Health, but derogateth much from long Life.  
But note, that Anointing is very subject to many Inconveniences.  
Woollen worn next the Body, is likewise 
Woollen.  very advantageous.  
The next thing for the advancement of 
Clysters and Bathe.  long Life, is the keeping of the Blood cool, which is done by often taking Clysters, and in the Summertime Bathe.  
To keep the juice of the Body somewhat hard, which much conduces to long 
Meats.  Life, these Meats are necessary: Beef, Swines-flesh, Deer, Goat, Kid, Swan, Goose, Ring-dove, especially a little powdered; Fish likewise salted and dried, old Cheese, and the like; and for Bread, any Corn makes more solid Bread than Wheat.  
Generally all Fish-eaters are long lived; 
Fish-eaters.  likewise little and dry Aliment is very advantageous.  
Pure Water usually drunk, benefits 
Water.  much; but more, if you add a little Nitre.  
Cold Baths are much better than hot; 
Swimming.  and Swimming, as all other Exercises abroad are, very good.  
For Liquors, very old Beer or Wine is 
Liquors.  very profitable, especially if you put Swines-flesh or Deers-flesh well boiled in the Vessel, that the sharp Spirits feeding upon these might lose their mordacity.  
Likewise Ale would be very useful for 
Ale.  long Life, if it were made not only of Grain, but that it were mixed with a third part of sweet Roots, as Potado-roots, and the like.  
Such things as are good for the Stomach, 
Simples for the Stomach.  above other Simples are these: Rosemary, Elecampane, Mastic, Wormwood, Sage, Mint.  
And note, that nothing is worse than in 
Note.  a morning fasting to put any thing into the Stomach which is purely cold.  
It is altogether requisite to long Life, 
Motion.  that the Body should never rest long in one posture, but that every half hour at least it change the posture, save only in Sleep.  
Great variety of Meat without doubt is 
Variety of Meat.  a great prolonger of Life; as also good and well chosen Sauces.  
Roast and baked Meats be much better than boiled.  
It is certain that Diets that are now in 
Changing the Juice.  use, as Guaiacum, Sarsaperilla, China, and Sassafras, if they be continued for any time, do first attenuate the whole Juice of the Body, and after consume it and drink it up, and thereby is very useful and beneficial in Age to alter the old Juice, and after to place new Juice, which must needs be a great promoter of long Life; for it is apparently manifest, that men who by these Diets are brought to be extreme lean, pale, and as it were Ghosts, will soon after become fat, well coloured, and apparently young again.  
We do confidently affirm, that often 
Purges,  Purges, and made even familiar to the Body, do much conduce to long Life; but the best Purges for this intention are those, which are taken immediately before Meat, because they dry the Body less, and therefore they must be of those Purges which do least trouble the Belly.   

The Porches of Death.  
If Blood or Phlegm get into the ventricles 
Sudden Death  of the Brain, it causeth sudden Death; as also a great Blow on the Head.  
All Poisons presently expel the Spirits; 
Poisons.  also extreme Drunkenness, or Feeding, sometimes cause sudden Death.  
Extreme Grief or Fear, cause the like; 
Extreme Passions.  as also Joys excessive and sudden, have bereft many of their Lives.  
Strangling or stopping the Breath, cause 
Strangling.  Death, for want of refrigeration to the Heart; if it were possible that Pulse beating, or Systole and Diastole of the Heart, could be stopped, without stopping the Breath, Death would follow more speedily thereupon than by Strangling.  
For reviving those again which fall into 
How to recall Life, if possible  sudden Swooning, and Catalepsis of Astonishment, these things are used: Putting hot and cordial Waters into their Mouths, bending the Body forwards, stopping the Mouth and Nostrils hard, wring the Fingers, pulling the Hairs of the Beard, or Head, rubbing of the Parts, etc.    

SHORT COLLECTIONS OF Natural History.  

Century I.  
DIG a Pit upon the Seashore, somewhat 
1. Experiment Percolation.  above the High-water Mark, and sink it as deep as the Low-water Mark, and as the Tide cometh in, it will fill with Water fresh and potable; which is caused by its being strained through the Sands, by which the saltness is clearly taken away.  
Take a glass Bottle, fill the belly (in 
14. Exper. Separating Bodies by Weight.  part) with Water; take also a large Drinking-glass, whereinto put Claret-wine and Water mingled; reverse the first Glass, stopping the Neb with your Finger; then dip the mouth of it within the second Glass, and remove your Finger; continue it in that posture for a time, and it will unmingle the Wine from the Water; and Wine ascending and settling in the upper Glass, and the Water descending: And so of all other Liquors, if they differ in weight, the heavier being set uppermost.  
Take a small Wax-candle, and set it upright 
31. Exper. Concerning the Flame of a Candle.  in a Porringer full of spirit of Wine heated; then set both on fire, and you shall see the flame of the Candle open itself, and become four or five times bigger than otherwise it would have been, and appear in figure Globular, and not in Pyramid; which shows that Flame would still ascend upwards in one greatness, if it were not quenched by the pressure of Air on the sides.  
Take an Arrow, and hold it in the 
32. Exper. Of the different force of Flame on the sides and in the middle.  Flame for the space of ten Pulses, and you shall find those parts which were on the outside of the Flame, more blacked and burnt than the part held in the midst; which shows, that Heat or Fire is not violent or furious, but when it is checked or penned; and also that, as the Peripatetics held, the pure Elemental fire, in his own place, and not irritated, is but of a moderate heat.  
It is certainly affirmed, that a lump of 
33. Exper. The decrease of the motion of gravity deep in the Earth, as well as removed a distance from the Earth.  Ure, in the bottom of a Mine, will be moved by two men, which above ground is hardly moved by six; so that the opinion of all dense Bodies moving to the Centre, is a mere vanity.  
It is reported of credit, that if you lay 
35. Exper. Solitary Touching making Vines more fruitful.  good store of Kernels of Grapes, or other Kernels, about the root of a Vine, it will make the Vine come earlier, and prosper better, because the Kernels draw out of the Earth Juice fit to nourish the Tree; but the root being of greater strength, robbeth and devoureth the nourishment. 
45. Exper. In consort, touching Meats and Drinks that are most nourishing. 46. Exper. An admirable Drink.   
In Vegetables, Grains and Roots nourish more than Leaves; Marrow is more nourishing than fat; the yolks of Eggs are clearly more nourishing than the whites.  
Take two large Capons, perboyl them upon a soft fire, till in effect all the blood be gone; add in the Decoction the Pill of a sweet Lemmon, and a little Mace; cut off the Shanks; then mince them Bones and all as small as ordinary minced Meat; put them into a large neat Boulter; then take a Kilderkin sweet and well seasoned, of four Gallons of Beer of 8 s. strength, new as it cometh from the tunning; make in the Kilderkin a great Bunghole on purpose; then thrust into it the Boulter with the Capons; let it steep in it three days and three nights, the Bunghole open to work; then close the Bunghole, and so let it continue a day and a half; then draw it into Bottles, and you may drink it well after three days bottleing; it will last six weeks (approved;) it drinketh very pleasant and fresh, and is an admirable Drink for a Consumption.   

Century II. & III.  
LET a man take a Pail, and put it 
Exper. the 155. How to keep long under Water.  over his Head, going into a Bath, and so douk, keeping the mouth of the Pail levelly with the water, that the Air might not get under the sides, and he may take his breath freely a great while; and if he than speak, he may be heard to those above, but it will seem very remote and exile.  
It is observed (and a very strange thing) 
205. An Observation of sight.  that to men standing below on the ground, those that be on the top of Paul's, seem much less than they are, and cannot be known: but to men above, those below seem nothing so much lessened, and may be known; yet it is true, that all things to them above seem also somewhat contracted, and better collected into figure.  
It much conduceth unto long Life, that 
292. Touching prolongation of Life.  men's actions be free and voluntary, & secundum genium, or that men's actions be full of regulation, and commands within themselves, the performance whereof giveth a good disposition to the Spirits, and hinders them from consuming the juice of the Body.   

Century IU. V & VI.  
IT is tried, that the burying of Bottles of drink well stopped, either in dry 
315. To make Drink fresh and quick.  Earth a good depth, or in the bottom of a Well within Water; and best of all, the hanging them in a deep Well somewhat above the Water, for some fortnight's space, is an excellent means of making drink fresh and quick.  
Take an Apple, and enclose it in Wax, 
318. Keeping Fruit green & fresh.  and you will find, that after several mo●●hs (if the Apple was green before) you cannot perceive any alteration, either in colour or taste.  
Hang an Apple in the smoke, it will 
319. Quick maturation of Apples.  turn like an old mellow Apple, wrinkled, dry, soft, sweet, and yellow within, in a very short time.  
Let there be a small Furnace made of a 
327. To make Gold.  temperate heat, let the heat be such as may keep the Metal perpetually moiten, and no more, for that above all importeth to the work. For the material, take Silver (next which, Copper is the best) put in also with the Silver a tenth part of Quicksilver, and a twelfth part of Nitre by weight, and so let the work be continued by the space of six Months at the least. I wish also, that there be sometimes an insection of some oiled substance, such as they use in the recovering of Gold, which by vexing with Separations, hath been made churlish; and this is, to lay the parts more close and smooth, which is the main work.  
For the nature of the Nourishment, it 
354. Experiment touching the Acceleration of Growth.  may not be too dry, and therefore Children in Dairy Countries do wax more tall, than where they do feed more upon Bread and Flesh. Secondly, the Nourishment must be of an opening nature; for that attenuateth the Juice, and furthereth the motion of the spirits upwards. Sitting much in Youth is a great Enemy to growth. This hath been tried, that a Whelp that hath been fed with Nitre in Milk, hath become very little, but extreme lively; 
To make Whelps little.  Nitre being of a very cold nature.  
Take Damask Roses, and pull them, 
365. Experiment solitary, touching preserving of Rose-leaves both in colour and smell.  then dry them upon the top of an House, upon a Lead or Terrace in the hot Sun, in a clear day, between the hours (only) of twelve and two, or thereabouts: Then put them into a sweet dry earthen Bottle or Glass, stuffing them close together, but without bruising; stop the Bottle close, and these Roses will retain, not only their smell perfect, but their colour fresh for a year at least. Note, that nothing doth so much destroy any Plant, or other Body, either by putrefaction or arefaction, as the adventitious moisture which hangeth lose in the Body, if it be not drawn out. 
371. To make Candles continue long.   
It is observed, that laying Candles, whether of Wax or Tallow, in Bran or Flower, by which they are much hardened, makes them last longer in burning by half in half.  
Take Horse-dung, old and well rotten, 
401. To make a hot Bed.  lay it upon a bank half a foot high, supported round about with Planks, and upon the top cast sifted Earth some two fingers deep; and then theSeed sprinkled upon it, having been steeped all Night in Water, mixed with Cowdung. This will bring forward any sorts of Plants or Seeds four times sooner than otherwise.  
Here the Lord Bacon sets down very many useful Experiments, for those that employ themselves in Gardens; as Acceleration, Retardation of Germination; Melioration of Fruits and Plants, making Herbs and Fruits Medicinable; with very many more. Also, to make Apples, or 
502. To make fruit grow into any shape desired.  other Fruit, into any shape desired; which is done by making a mould for it in your desired shape, which must be placed conveniently over the Fruit whilst it is young, and as it increases it will fill the concave, and so turn into the desired Figure.  
So you may have Inscriptions in Fruit 
503. To make Inscriptions in Fruit or Trees.  or Trees, by writing with a Needle or Bodkin, when the Fruit or Trees be young; for as they grow, so the letters will grow more large and Graphical.  
Take a Cions or shoot fit to be set in the 
514. Tomake fruits without core or stone.  Ground, out of which take the Pith finely, not all, but leave some of it, the better to save life; it will bear Fruit with little or no core, or stone. It is also reported, that 
517.  watering Trees perpetually with warm Water, will produce the like effect.  
To try Seeds, if they be good or not, 
520. To try good Seeds.  put them into Water gently boiled, and if they be good, they will sprout within half an hour.   

Century VII. VIII. IX. & X.  
SUCH Fruits as you appoint for long 
626. When to gather Fruits.  keeping, you must gather before they be full ripe, and in a fair dry day, towards Noon, and when the Wind bloweth not South, and when the Moon is under the Earth, and in decrease.  
The death that is most without pain, 
643. The easiest Death.  hath been noted to be upon the taking of a Potion of Hemlock; which in Humanity was the form of Execution of Capital Offenders in Athens. The cause is, because these Vapours quench the spirits by degrees, like the death of an extreme old man.  
Men are sooner drunk with small 
726. Of Drunkenness.  draughts than with great. And again, Wine, or any Liquor sugared, inebriateth less than Wine pute; and it is thought to be some Remedy against inebriating, if Wine sugared be taken after Wine pure. And the same effect is wrought either by Oil or Milk taken upon much drinking.  
The Wind blowing much from the South 
801. Prognostics of unwholesome years.  without Rain; as also plenty of all Animals bred of Putrefaction, doth portend pestilential years.  
Great and early Heats in the Spring, 
802. 803.  (and namely in May) without Winds, portend the same; and generally so do years with little Wind or Thunder: As also great Droughts, lasting till towards the end of August, and then some gentle Showers, and then dry weather again, do portend a pestilent Summer the year following.  
A dry March, and a dry May, portend 
807.  a wholesome Summer, if there be a showering April between; but otherwise it is a sign of a pestilential year.  
Generally a moist and cool Summer, 
813.  portendeth a hard Winter: The Cause is, for that the Vapours of the Earth are not dissipated in the Summer by the Sun, and so they rebound upon the Winter; and an 
815.  open and warm Winter, portendeth a hot and dry Summer.  
Take Lead and melt it, and in the midst 
847. Induration of Quicksilver.  of it, when it beginneth to congeal, make a little Dint or Hole, and put Quicksilver wrapped in a piece of Linen into that Hole, and the Quicksilver will fix, and run no more, and endure the Hammer; which is caused by Sympathy, and the motion of Excitation to imitate.  
It is reported, That a Cions of an Apple, 
854. Apples without a Core.  grafted upon a Colewort-stalk, sendeth forth a great Apple without a Core: We add also, That if the Cions be grafted the small ends downwards, it will make Fruit have little or no Cores, or Stones.  
Take a Glass, and set a Candle lighted 
889. Rise of Water by means of Flame.  in the bottom of a Basin of Water, and turn the mouth of the Pot or Glass over the Candle, and it will make the Water rise; which appeareth plainly to be by the motion of Nexe, which they call, Ne detur vacuum.  
It hath been a practice to burn Guiney-Pepper, 
903. Of Sneezing.  which hath such a strong Spirit, that it provoketh a continual Sneezing in those that are in the Room.  
Audacity and Confidence doth, in civil 
943. Of Audacity and Confidence.  Businesses, so great Effects, as a man may (reasonably) doubt, that besides the very daring, and earnestness, and persisting, and importunity, there should be some secret binding and stopping of other men's Spirits to such Persons.  
It hath been observed, That the Diet of 
977. Exper. Touching Food beneficial to the Brain.  Women with Child, doth work much upon the Infant: As if the Mother eat Quinces much, and Coriander-seed, (the nature of both which is, to repress Vapours that ascend to the Brain) it will make the Child ingenious. And on the contrary side, if the Mother eat much Onions or Beans, or such vaporous Food, or drink Wine or strong Drink immoderately, or fast much, or be given to much musing, (all which draw Vapours to the Head) it endangereth the Child to become Lunatic, or of imperfect Memory. And I make the same Judgement of Tobacco, often taken by the Mother.  
It is reported, That the Heart of any 
978. Of helping Courage and Ingenuity.  bold Animal worn near the Heart, comforteth the Heart, and increaseth Audacity: As also the Heart of any witty Beast worn near the Head, helpeth the Wit; of which Beasts the chief are, The Ape, Fox, Lion, and the Cock, with several others.  
Take a piece of Lard with the Skin on, 
997. Exper. How infallibly to take away Warts.  and rub the Warts all over with the Fat-side, then nail the piece of Lard any where, with the Fat towards the Sun, full South, and they will certainly wear away in a short time.    

AN EPITOME OF VULGAR ERRORS.  

CHAP. I. Of the Causes of Common Errors.  
THE first and Father-cause of Common Error, is the common Infirmity of humane Nature; which may well be excused in us, by the depravity of those Parts, whose Traductions were pure in our first Parents, who committed the first and greatest Error.  
Yea, his Error is so much the greater, in that he is supposed by some, to have been the wisest Man that ever was; and as others have conceived, he was not ignorant of the Fall of the Angels, and had thereby Example and Punishment to deter him.  
But Man was not only deceivable in his Integrity, but the Angels of Light in all their Clarity. He that said, he would be like the Highest, did err, if in some way he conceived himself so already; whereby vainly attempting not only Insolences, but Impossibilities, he deceived himself as low as Hell. In brief, there is nothing infallible but God, who cannot possibly err.   

CHAP. II. A further Illustration of the same.  
BEing thus deluded before the Fall, it is no wonder if their Conceptions were deceitful, and could scarce speak without an Error after: For what is very remarkable, (and what few have as yet observed) in the Relations of Scripture before the Flood, there is but one Speech delivered by Man, wherein there is not an erroneous Conception; the Pen of Moses having recorded but six: The first that of Adam, when upon the Expostulation of God he replied, I heard thy Voice in the Garden, and because I was naked, I hide myself. In which Reply there is a capital Error, in infringing the Omnisciency and essential Ubiquity of his Maker, who as he created all things, so is he beyond, and in them all.  
The second is that Speech of Adam unto God: The Woman whom thou gavest me to be with me, she gave me of the Tree, and I did eat. Wherein there is involved a very impious Error, in accusing his Maker of his Transgression; as if he had said, If thou hadst not given me a Woman, I had not been deceived.  
The third was that of Eve: The Serpent beguiled me, and I did eat. In which Reply, there is an erroneous translating her Offence upon another, to excuse the Fact; much more upon the suggestion of a Beast, which was before in the strictest terms prohibited by her God.  
The fourth was that Speech of Cain, upon the demand of God, Where is thy Brother? and he said, I know not. In which Negation, beside the open Impudence, there was implied a notable Error, for returning a Lie unto his Maker, and denying the Omnisciency of God. The Answer of Satan, in the case of Job, had more of Truth, Wisdom, and Reverence, than this: Whence comest thou Satan? and he said, From compassing the Earth.  
The fifth is another Reply of Cain, upon the denouncement of his Curse: My Iniqiry is greater than can be forgiven. The Assertion was not only desperate, but the Conceit erroneous, overthrowing that glorious Attribute of God, his Mercy, and conceiving the sin of Murder impardonable.  
The last Speech was that of Lamech: I have slain a man to my wounding, and a young man to my hurt: If Cain he avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy and sevenfold. Now herein there seems to be a very erroneous Illation, concluding a regular Protection from a single example: he despaired of God's mercy in the same Fact, where this presumed it; though the sin was less, the error was as great.  
Thus may we perceive, how weakly our Fathers did err before the Flood; how continually and upon common discourse they fell upon Errors after; it is therefore no wonder we have been erroneous ever since.   

CHAP. III. Of the second Cause of popular Errors; the erroneous disposition of the People.  
HAving thus declared the infallible Nature of Man, even from his first Production, we have beheld the general Cause of Error. But as for popular Errors, they are more nearly founded upon an erroneous Inclination of the People; the sensitive quality most prevailing upon vulgar Capacities. Thus they conceive the Earth to be far bigger than the Sun; the fixed Stars lesser than the Moon, their Figures plain, and their Spaces from the Earth equi-distant; for thus their Sense informeth them.  
And their individual Imperfections being great, they are moreover enlarged by their Aggregation; and being erroneous in their single Numbers, once huddled together, they will be Error itself. By this means, Thudas an Impostor was able to lead away 4000 in the Wilderness, and the Delusions of Mahomet almost a fourth part of Mankind.  
Now how far they may be kept in Ignorance, there is a great example in the People of Rome, who never knew the true and proper Name of their own City; for beside that common Appellation received by the Citizens, it had a proper and secret Name concealed from them; lest the Name thereof being discovered unto their Enemies, their Penates and patronal Gods might be called forth by Charms and Incantations: For according to the Tradition of Magicians, the tutelary Spirits will not remove at common Appellations, but at the proper Names of things, whereunto they are Protectors.   

CHAP. IU. Of the nearer and more immediate Causes of popular Errors, both in wiser and common sort; Misapprehension, Fallacy, or false Deduction, Credulity, Supinity, Adherence unto Antiquity, Tradition and Authority.  
THE first is a Mistake, or a Mis-conception of things, either in their first Apprehensions, or secondary Relations. So Eve mistook the Commandment, either from the immediate Injunction of God, or the secondary Relation of her Husband. Thus began the Conceit of Centauris, in the mistake of first Beholders, as is declared by Servius: When some young Thessalians on Horseback were beheld afar off, while their Horses watered, they were conceived by the first Spectators to be but one Animal; and answerable hereunto have their Pictures been drawn ever since.  
Next there is the Fallacy of Equivocation and Amphibology, which conclude from the ambiguity of one Word, or the ambiguous Syntaxis of many put together. By this way, many Errors crept in, and perverted the Doctrine of Pythagoras, whilst men received his Precepts in a different sense from his intention, converting Metaphors into Proprieties, and receiving as liberal Expressions, obscure and involved Truths: So he commands to deface the print of a Cauldron in the Ashes, after it hath boiled; which strictly to observe, were condemnable Superstition. But hereby he covertly adviseth us, not to persevere in Anger, but after our Choler hath boiled, to retain no impression thereof; and the like in several others.   

CHAP. V Of Credulity and Supinity.  
A Third Cause of Common Errors, is the Credulity of men; that is, an easy Assent to what is obtruded, whereby men often swallow Falsities for Truths, without examination assenting unto things, which from their Natures and Causes do carry no Persuasion. Thus many wise Athenians so far forgot their Philosophy, that they descended to a Belief, that the Original of their Nation was from their great Mother, Earth.  
The fourth is a Supinity, or Neglect of Enquiry, even of Matters whereof we doubt, rather doubting with ease, than believing with difficulty. Had our Forefathers sat down in these Resolutions, the face of Truth had been obscure to us, whose lustre in some part their Industries have revealed.   

CHAP. VI Of Adherence unto Antiquity.  
BUT the mortalest Enemy unto Knowledge, hath been a peremptory Adhesion unto Authority; and more especially, the establishing our Belief upon the Dictates of Antiquity, whereby many times we manifestly 
Some remarkable Mistakes among the Ancients.  delude ourselves, and widely walk out of the Track ofTruth. For how many Falsities do we find in Antiquity? As their conceiving the Torrid Zone to be inhabitable; 
* St. Austin.  their denying the Antipodes: Both which the Experience of our enlarged Navigations, can now assert beyond all Dubitation. And the so famed Aristotle in his Problems enquireth, Why a Man doth cough, and not an Ox or Cow? whereas the contrary is often observed by Husbandmen; so he hath the like in several others: So that surely it is unreasonable to adhere to them in all things, as if they were infallible, or could not err in any.   

CHAP. VII. Of Authority.  
TO speak generally an Argument from Authority to wiser Examinations, is but a weaker kind of proof, it being but 〈◊〉 topical Probation, depending upon a naked Asseveration, not carrying with 〈◊〉 any reasonable Inducements of Knowledge; without which, our advanced Beliefs are not to be built upon Dictates, but upon the surer Base of Reason. So though Ptolemy affirm, That the Sun is bigger than the Earth, yet Astronomers will not assent thereto, without convincing Arguments, or a demonstrative Proof thereof. What wise man will rely upon the Antidote delivered by Pierius in his Hieroglyphics, against the Sting of a Scorpion? That is, to sit upon an Ass with ones Face towards the Tail; for so the Pain leaveth the Man, and passeth into the Beast. As likewise that which is delivered in Riranides; That the left Stone of a Weasel, wrapped up in the Skin of a she-Mule, is able to secure Incontinency from Conception.  
Such as these, with Swarms of others, have men delivered in their Writings, whose Verities are only supported by their Authorities; but being neither consonant to Reason, nor correspondent unto Experiment, their Affirmations are no Axioms, and are accounted but in the List of Nothing.   

CHAP. VIII. A brief Enumeration of Authors.  
THE first in order, is Herodotus of Halicarnassus, an excellent and very elegant Historian, termed by Cicero, Historiarum Parens; yet he received from some, the style of Mendaciorum Pater: And truly he hath delivered many things fabulously, and not to be accepted as Truths; whereby nevertheless if any man be deceived, the Author is not so culpable as the Believer; for he confesseth he writeth many things by Hear-say.  
2. In the second place is Ctaesias the Cnidian, who wrote the History of Persia, and many Narrations of India; whose Writings were many of them 〈◊〉 by our Countryman Sir John Mandevil Knight, and Doctor in Physic, but surely to be read with great suspicion.  
3. There is a Book, De 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, ascribed to 〈◊〉: Another, De mirabilibus narrationibus, to Antigonus: Another of the same Title, by Plegon Trallianus, translated by 〈◊〉 All which may be read with Caution.  
4. Dioscorides Anaxarbeus, wrote many Books in Physic; an Author of good Antiquity and use, yet all he delivereth is not to be conceived Oraculous. It were a strange effect, and Whores would forsake the Experiment of Savin, if that were a Truth which he delivereth of Brake, or female Fern, That only treading over it, it causeth a sudden Abortion.  
5. Plinius Secundus of Verona; a Man of great Eloquence, and Industry indefatigable, who collected his Natural History out of 2000 several Authors: There is scarce a popular Error passant in our days, which is not either directly expressed, or diductively contained in this Work.  
6. Claudius' Aetienus, an elegant and miscellaneous Author; he left two Books, His History of Animals, and his Varia Historia.  
7. Athenaeus, a delectable Author, and of excellent use.  
8. Julius Solinus.  
9 Nicander, a Poet of good Antiquity.  
10. Philes, who in Greek iambics delivered the Proprieties of Animals.  
11. Basil and Ambrose.  
12. Albertus, Bishop of Ratisbone; for his Learning, surnamed Magnus. Likewise Jeronimus Cardanus, a famous Physician. All which Authors, though of excellent advantage, yet in the perusing thereof we must use very great Caution.   

CHAP. IX. Of the same.  
THERE are besides these Authors, and such as have positively promoted Errors, divers others which are in some way accessary; in which account are many holy Writers, Preachers, Moralists, Rhetoricians, and Poets; wherein although their Intention be sincere, and that course not much condemnable, yet doth it notoriously strengthen common Errors, and authorise Opinions injurious to Truth.  
Thus have Divines drawn into Argument the Fable of the Phoenix; made use of that of the Salamander, Pelican, and Basilisk, and divers Relations of Pliny, deducing from thence most worthy Morals; and even upon our Saviour, which is often occasion of Error to vulgar Heads.   

CHAP. X. Of the last and common Promoter of false Opinions, the Endeavours of Satan.  
BUT beside the Infirmities of humane Nature, there is an invisible Agent, whose Actions are undiscerned, the professed Opposer of Truth, the Devil; whose Endeavours cease not to persuade Man, there is no God at all; introducing into men's Minds the Notions of Fate, Destiny, Fortune, Chance, and Necessity, with a thousand more Delusions; the Examples whereof are so common to all sorts of People, that it is not worth while in this place to proceed to Particularities.  
The End of the First Book.    

The Second Book. Of sundry popular Tenants concerning mineral and vegetable Bodies, generally held for truth; which examined, prove either false or dubious.  

CHAP. I. Of Crystal.  
HEreof the common Opinion hath been, That Crystal is nothing else but Ice, by duration of Time congealed beyond Liquation; of which, if the numerosity of Assertors were a sufficient Demonstration, it would pass for an unquestionable Truth; Pliny, Seneca, Basil, and Austin, being positive in this Opinion.  
Nevertheless it is with much more Reason denied, than is as yet affirmed, and that likewise by very learned Authors; as Diodorus, who saith, Crystallum esse lapidem ex aqua pura concretum, non tamen frigore, sed divini caloris vi. Solinus, who transcribed Pliny, hath in this Point dissented from him, with several others.  
Now besides Authority, there are very strong Reasons to the contrary: For if it be a Stone, as it is confessedly received, it must have lapidifical Principles of its own; therefore whilst in a fluid Body, 'twas very unfit for Conglaciation; for mineral Spirits do generally resist, and scarce submit thereto.  
But whether this Congelation be simply made of Cold, or by the operation of any nitrous Coagulum, or Spirit of Salt; (whereby we observe, that Ice may be made with 
How to make Ice at any time of the year.  Salt and Snow by the Fireside, as is also observable from Ice made of Saltpetre and Water, duly mixed and strongly agitated at any time of the year;) were a considerable Enquiry.  
But as Ice is several ways dissolvable, this is only one, and that with very great difficulty; which is by reducing it by Art to a subtle Powder, and then with a vitreous Commixture, it will be dissolved by a violent dry Heat.  
Again, It differs from Ice, in that Ice will swim in the thinnest Water that can be, and this will sink, be it never so thick; which shows that there is in it a greater Ponderosity.  
Ice is likewise of a homogeneous Creation, whose Material is properly Water, and but accidentally exceeding the simplicity of that Element: But the body of Crystal is mixed, and its Ingredients many; for besides the Spirit and Mercurial Principle, it containeth a sulphureous, or inflammable part, and that in no small quantity, and upon Collision with Steel will actively send forth its Sparks, not much inferiourly unto a Flint.  
It containeth also a Salt, and that in some plenty, which may occasion its Fragility; as is also observable in Coral. Briefly, it consisteth of Parts so far from an icy Dissolution, that powerful Menstruums are made for its Emollition. As for its Colour, when reduced to powder, it hath a vail and shadow of Blue.  
They have also contrary Qualities elemental; for Ice is cold and moist, and Crystal cold and dry, according to the condition of Earth.  
Having thus declared what Crystal is 
WhatChrystal is.  not, it may afford some satisfaction to manifest what it is. To deliver therefore what with the Judgement of approved Authors, and best Reason consisteth: It is a mineral Body in the difference of Stones; transparent, and resembling Glass or Ice, made of a lentous Percolation of the Earth, drawn from the most pure and liquid Juice thereof, owing to the coldness of the Earth some Concurrence or Co-adjuvancy, but not immediate Determination and Efficiency; which are wrought by the hand of its concretive Spirit, the seeds of Petrifaction and Gorgon of its self: As sensible Philosophers conceive of the Generation of Diamonds, Iris, and Beryls.   

CHAP. II. Concerning the Loadstone.  
AND first the Earth is conceived to be a magnetical Body, having not only a Power attractive, but naturally disposing its self to an invariable and fixed Situation. And such is the magnetical virtue o●● the Globe of the Earth, that if it were violently removed, yet would it not forgo its natural Points, nor pitch in the East or West, but return to its polary Position again.  
But to leave this: It is observable that Steel and good Iron, though not excited by the Loadstone, have a polary Faculty, whereby being conveniently placed, they do septentrionate at one Extreme, and australize at another. And a Needle untouched, being hanged above a Loadstone, will convert into a parallel Position thereto. Likewise Iron being heated in the Fire red hot, and cooled in the Meridian from North to South, will presently contract a polary Power; and being poised in Air or Water, convert that part unto the North, which respected that Point in its Refrigeration.  
Likewise if a Loadstone be made r●●d hot, it loseth its former magnetical Vigour, and acquires another from the Earth in its Refrigeration.  
It is observed, that Attraction is reciprocal between a Loadstone and Iron, by several Experiments. For if a piece of Iron be fastened in the side of a Bowl or Basin of Water, a Loadstone swimming freely in a Boat of Cork, will presently make unto it, as a Needle doth to a Loadstone. Again, if a Loadstone be finely filled, the atoms or dust thereof will adhere to Iron that was never touched, even as the filings of Iron doth also to a Loadstone.   

CHAP. III. Of Bodies Electrical.  
BY Electrical Bodies, we understand all such, as being rightly prepared, and conveniently placed unto their Objects, attract all Bodies palpable whatsoever, so they be not too ponderous; only excluding Fire, which consumes its Effluctions by which it should attract. In which number we place Diamonds, Saphires, Carbuncles, Iris, Opals, Amethysts, Beryl, Crystal, Bristol-stones, Sulphur, Mastic, hard Wax, hard Rosin, Arsenic, Salgem, Roach-Allum, common Glass, Stibium, or Glass of Antimony, white Wax, Gum-Elemi, Gum Guaica, Pix Hispanica, and Gipsum; also Gum-Anime, Benjamin, Talcum, China-dishes, Sandaraca, Turpentine, Styrax-liquida. All which discover a sufficient power to stir the Needle, settled freely upon a well-pointed Pin, and so as the Electrick may be applied unto it without all disadvantage.  
But their Attraction is very different; for refinous or unctuous Bodies, and such as will flame, attract most vigorously, as Anime, Benjamin, and most powerfully good hard Wax, which will convert the Needle almost as actively as the Loadstone, but most of the other but very weakly.  
The manner hereof Cabeus wittily attempteth, affirming, That this Effluvium attenuateth and impelleth the neighbour Air, which returning home in a Gyration, carrieth with it the obvious Bodies unto the Electrick.   

CHAP. IU. Of sundry Tenants concerning Vegetables or Plants, which examined, prove either false or dubious.  
MANY Molas and false Conceptions there are of Mandrakes: The first from great Antiquity, conceiving the Root thereof resembleth the shape of a Man; which is a Conceit not to be made out by ordinary inspection, any more than what accidentally happens to Carrots, Parsnips, etc.  
But the main Axis which supported this Opinion, was daily Experience, and visible Testimony of Sense; there being many who carry about Roots, which handsomely make out the shape of a Man or Woman. But these are not Productions of Nature, but Contrivances of Art, as Mathiolus plainly detected, and learned the way to make them of one of those Cheaters; which is thus: They take the Roots of Canes, Briony, and other Plants, and in these, yet fresh and virent, they carve out the Figures of Men and Women, sticking Grains of Barley or Millet, where they intent the Hair should grow; then bury them in Sand, till the Grains shoot forth their Roots. All which, like other Impostures once discovered, is easily effected, and in the Root of white Briony may be practised every Spring.  
Some assert, That it naturally groweth under Gallows, and Places of Execution, arising from Fat or Urine that drops from the Body of the Dead.  
Another affirmeth, That Roots of Mandrakes do make a noise, or give a Shriek, upon Eradication. Both which are indeed ridiculous, and false, below Confute.  
The last was, That some evil Fate pursues those that pull it up, and they live not long after; which were to introduce a second forbidden Fruit.  
2. That Cinnamon, Ginger, Clove, Mace, and Nutmeg, are but the several Parts and Fruits of the same Tree, is the common belief of those which daily use them; whereof to speak distinctly, Ginger is the Root of no Tree, but of an herbaseous Plant, resembling the Water-flower Deluce, very common in many Parts of India.  
Cinnamon is the inward Bark of a Cinamon-tree; whereof the best is brought from Zeilan.  
Clove is likewise the Fruit itself growing upon a Clove-tree, found but in few countries'; the best in the Isles of Molucca.  
Nutmeg is the Fruit of a Tree differing from all these, growing in divers Places, but fructifying in the Isle of Banda, the covering whereof is that we call Mace. Now because they are all from the East-Indies, they are all precipitately supposed to be but one Plant.   

CHAP. V Of some Infects, and the Properties of several Plants.  
FEW Ears have escaped the noise of the Dead-watch; that is, a little clicking Sound heard often in many Rooms; and this is conceived to be of an evil Omen, or Prediction of some Person's Death. Now this noise is only made by a little sheath-winged grey Insect, found often in Wainscoat, Benches, and Wood-work, in the Summer, which knocketh against the Wood with a little Trunk, (like a Wood-pecker against a Tree) and striketh 10 or 11 strokes at a time.  
He that hath a desire to see farther into the Properties of Plants, and all these things, more at large, may view Sir Tho. Brown's Vulgar Errors.  
The End of the Second Book.    

The Third Book. Of divers popular and received Tenants concerning Animals, which examined, prove either false or dubious.  

CHAP. I. Of the Elephant.  
OF the Elephant, there generally passeth an Opinion, that it hath 〈◊〉 Joints; being a very ancient Error, as bein●● related by Aristotle, and several other learned Men: But we have had sure eviden to the contrary, even by our own sight.  
But otherwise it stands contrary to al●● Reason, that so large an Animal could move without Joints; though every day we see some small Animals, which have their Progression only by their Trunk, 〈◊〉 Serpents, Worms, and Leeches; but these are of a contrary form. They forget what is delivered by Xiphilinus and Suetonius, in the Lives of Nero and Galba, That Elephants have been instructed to walk on Ropes: And also that memorable Show of Germanicus, wherein 12 Elephants danced unto the sound of Music, and after laid them down in the Tricliniums, or Places of festival Recumbency.   

CHAP. II. Of the Horse.  
THE second Assertion is, That an Horse hath no Gall, and that very general, and received by good Veterinarians. It is also very ancient, being plainly set down by Aristotle and Pliny, and yet repugnant to Experience and Reason: First calling in question the provision of Nature; also Experience, in that we have found it placed in the Liver, but not so large as usually in other Beasts; which causes the Horse to dung more often than many other Creatures; the overflowing of the Gall being a strong Purgation, and a natural clyster.   

CHAP. III. Of the Dove.  
THE third Assertion is, That a Dove or Pigeon also hath no Gall; which hath its Antiquity from Pierius, and averred by many holy Writers: But the contrary is averred by Aristotle, Pliny, and Galen.  
This is also contrary to Experience; for Anatomical Enquiry discovereth them to have a Gall, and that adhering unto the Guts.  
The ground of this Conceit, is partly like the former; the obscure situation of the Gall, and out of the Liver; wherein it is commonly enquired. But this is a very unjust Illation, not well considering, with what variety this Part is seated in Birds.   

CHAP. IU. Of the Beaver.  
THAT a Beaver to escape the Hunter, bites off his Testicles or Stones, is a Tenent very ancient: For 'tis found in the Hieroglyphics of the Egyptians, touched by Aristotle in his Ethics, and seriously delivered by Aetian, Pliny, and Solinus. Yet many wise Men have deserted this opinion; and it is also refuted by Sestius a Physician, (recorded by Pliny;) also by Dioscorides, who plainly affirms the Tradition is false.  
But otherwise it is impossible to eunuchate or castrate themselves; their Testicles, properly so called, being of a small magnitude, and seated inwardly upon the Loins; but he hath a Bag called Castorcum hanging lower, which may well be taken for the Stones. But Logic will not permit this Illation, that is, from things alike, to conclude a thing the same.   

CHAP. V Of the Badger.  
THAT a Brock or Badger, hath the Legs on one side shorter than on the other, is a very general Opinion; which notwithstanding upon enquiry is sound repugnant unto the three Determinators of Truth, Authority, Sense, and Reason: For first Aldrovandus affirmeth, there can be no such Inequality observed; likewise upon our Observation we can discover no difference.   

CHAP. VI Of the Bear.  
THAT a Bear brings forth her Young informous, which she fashioneth after, by licking them over, is a very ancient Opinion, and was an Hieroglyphic with the Egyptians; Solinus, Aetian, and Pliny, affirm it: Which is not only repugnant to the sense of Enquirers into it, but the exact and deliberate Experiment of three 〈◊〉 Philosophers; 1. Mathiolus. 2. us Scaliger; And lastly, Aldrovandus. All which affirm it from their own sight, 〈◊〉 young ones ta●●en out of old Bears that were killed, being perfectly shapen, and complete in every part.  
Some give this Reason for it, That the slender time of the Bear's Gestation, or going with her Young, being but a Month, the Exclusion becomes precipitous, and the young ones consequently informous.   

CHAP. VII. Of the Basilisk.  
MANY Opinions are passant concerning the Basilisk, or little King of Serpents, commonly called, the Cockatrice. It cannot be denied, but there is such an Animal; but certainly that which we vulgarly call a Cockatrice, is not the Basilisk of the Ancients, of which such Wonders are delivered. For this of ours is 
A description of a Cockatrice.  generally described with Legs, Wings, a serpentine and winding Tail, and a Crist or Comb somewhat like a Cock; but the 
The description of a Basilisk.  Basilisk of elder Times was a proper kind of Serpent, not above three Palms long, as some account; and differenced from other Serpents, by advancing his Head, and some white Marks or coronary Spots upon the Crown, as all authentic Writers have delivered.  
Nor is the Cockatrice only unlike the Basilisk, but of no real shape in Nature, but a mere Hieroglyphical Fancy.  
The Existency only of a Basilisk is not considerable, but many things delivered thereof, particularly its Poison and Generation. Concerning the first, it is affirmed, That it killeth at a distance, and by priority of Vision; of which there is no high improbability in the Relation, no more than that of the Torpedo delivering their Opium at a distance, and stupifying beyond themselves.  
But as for the Generation of the Basilisk, that it proceedeth from a Cock's Egg, hatched under a Toad or Serpent, it is a Conceit as monstrous as the Brood itself.   

CHAP. VIII. Of the Wolf.  
SUCH a Story as the Basilisk, is that of the Wolf, That a Man becomes hoarse or dumb, if a Wolf have the advantage first to eye him; which Pliny affirmeth. Thus the Proverb is to be understood, When during a Discourse, there ensueth a sudden Silence, it is usually said, Lupus est in Fabula. Which Conceit being already convicted, not only by Scaliger, Riolanus, and others, but daily confutable almost every where out of England, we shall not further refute.  
The Original hereof, was probably the Amazement, the unexpected appearance of Wolves, do often put upon Travellers, not by a venomous Emanation, but a vehement Fear, which naturally proceedeth from Obmutescence.   

CHAP. IX. Of the Deer.  
THE common Opinion is, That the Deer may live hundreds of Years; which we crave liberty to doubt, from these ensuing Reasons.  
The first is that of Aristotle, drawn from the Increment and Gestation of the Animal; that is, its sudden arrivance to Growth and Maturity, and the small time of remainder in the Womb: Neither of which afford an Argument of long Life.  
And as Scaliger saith, Of Animals viviparous, such as live long, go long with Young, and attain but slowly to maturity of Stature. So the Elephant, that liveth an 100 years, beareth its Young above a year, and arriveth unto perfection at 20. On the contrary, a Sheep or Goat, which live but 8 or 10 years, go but five months, and attain to their perfection at two years. And so the Deer that endureth the Womb but 8 months, and is complete at 6 years, cannot in a proportionable allowance live much more than 30.  
The next Reason is, its unparallelled excess of Venery, which is supposed to shorten the Lives of Cocks, Partridges, and Sparrows; certainly an undeniable Enemy unto Longaevity. Hence it is observable, that castrated Animals in every species, are longer lived than they which retain their Virilities.  
A third Reason is, the Marks of Age, of which betwixt 20 and 30 years of Age they have several; as is observed here in England in losing their Teeth, and their Horns growing less branched, with several other Marks of Age.  
The Ground and Authority of this Conceit was first Hieroglyphical, the Egyptians expressing Longaevity by this Animal.  
Another Ground might be that Poetical passage of Hesiod: 

Ter binos deciesque novem super exit in annos,  
Just a senescentem quos implet vita virorum.  
Hos novies superat vivendo garrula cornix,  
Et quater, ●●greditur cornicis saecula cervus,  
Alipidem cervum ter vincit corvus.—   

To ninety six the Life of Man ascends,  
Nine times as long that of the Chough extends.  
Four times beyond the Life of Deer doth go,  
And thrice is that surpassed by the Crow.    
A Conceit so hard to be made out, that many have deserted the common and literate Construction. So Theon in Aratus would have the number of Nine not taken strictly, but for many years.  
Another Reason was, the defect of a Gall: Which Assertion is defective in the verity concerning the Animal alleged; for though it hath no Gall in the Liver like other Beasts, yet hath it that Part in the Guts.   

CHAP. X. Of the King-fisher.  
THAT a King-fisher hanged by the Bill, showeth in what Quarter the Wind is, by an occult and secret Propriety, is a received Opinion, and very strange, but not made out by Reason, or Experience.  
Unto Reason it seemeth very repugnant, that a Body disanimated should be so 〈◊〉 with every Wind; though in sundry Animals there is a natural Meteorology, or innate presention both of Wind and Wether; yet that proceedeth from Sense, cei●●ing Impressions from the first mutation of the Air.   

CHAP. XI. Of Griffins.  
THAT there are Griffins in Nature, that is, a mixed and dubious Animal, in the forepart resembling an Eagle, and behind the shape of a Lion, with erected Ears, four Feet, and a long Tail, many affirm, and most, I perceive, deny it not. The same is averred by Aetian, Solinus, Mela, and Herodotus, and was an Hieroglyphic of the Egyptians.  
Nevertheless by diligent Enquiry we find a contrary Assertion, by Albertus, Pliny, and the learned Aldrovandus. Mathias Michovius, who writ of those Northern Parts, wherein men place these Griffins, hath positively concluded against it.  
Now for the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Gryps, sometimes mentioned in Scripture, properly understood, it signifies some kind of Eagle or Vulture.   

CHAP. XII. Of the Phoenix.  
THAT there is but one Phoenix in the World, which after many hundred years burneth itself, and from the Ashes thereof ariseth up another, is a Conceit of great Antiquity, and frequently expressed by holy Writers; by Cyril, Epiphanius, Ambrose, and Tertullian. All which notwithstanding, we dare not affirm there is any Phoenix in Nature; for though many Writers have much enlarged hereon, yet is there not any ocular Describer; and primitive Authors herein deliver themselves very dubiously. So Herodotus in his Euterpe, delivering the Story hereof, presently interposes, (which account seems to me improbable;) and much after the same manner conclude several others.  
As for that in the Book of Psalms, Vir justus ut Phoenix florebit, it was only a mistake upon the Homonymy of the Greek word Poenix, which signifies also a Palmtree.  
But were the Existence of this Animal granted, yet many things are questionable which are ascribed thereto; its Unity, long Life, and Generation. As for its Unity, it is repugnant to holy Scripture; which plainly affirms, There went two of every sort into the Ark of Noah; and other Places.   

CHAP. XIII. Of Frogs, Toads, and Toadstone.  
THAT the Toad by pissing diffuseth his Venom, is generally received in all Parts. So Scaliger observes, and Mathiolus, That it communicates its Venom not only by Urine, but by the Slaver of its Mouth. As for pissing, we may as well ascribe that action to Crows and Kites, which have but one Vent, and common Place of Exclusion.  
As for the Stone, commonly called the Toad stone, there is no substantial Reason, why in a Toad there may not be found such lapideous Concretions; for the like is observed in Cod, Carp, and Pearches.  
Though a thing not impossible, yet a Rarity, that by our Enquiry may be doubted, Whether there be really such a Stone in the Head of a Toad at all; for Writers of Minerals conceive the Stones that bear this Name, to be of a mineral Concretion. When Brassavolus after a long search had discovered one, he affirms, it was rather the Forehead-bone petrified, than a Stone within the Cranny; and of this belief was Gesner, and several others. But to conclude, some of these Stones may be mineral, and few animal, to be met with in Toads, and in substance not unlike the Stones in Crabs Heads.  
Concerning the Generation of Frogs, he tells us nothing but what is vulgarly known.   

CHAP. XIV. Of the Salamander.  
THAT a Salamander is able to live in Flames, is an ancient Assertion, and confirmed by frequent, and not contemptible Testimony; affirmed by very famous Authors: All which notwithstanding, there is on the negative, Authority and Experience. Sextius and Dioscorides affirmed it a point of folly to believe it. Galen saith, That it endureth the Fire a while, but in continuance is consumed therein. Mathiolus affirmeth, That he saw a Salamander burnt in a very short time; and several others that have experienced it.  
The ground might be, Some sensible Resistance of Fire, observed in the Salamander; being cold in the fourth, and moist in the third degree, may thereby a while endure the Flame.  
Nor is this Salamander's Wool, so called, desumed from any Animal, but a mineral Substance, metaphorically so called, from this received Opinion; though it is very remarkable what the Ancients called Asbeston, whereof were weaved Napkins, Shirts, and Coats, inconsumable by Fire.   

CHAP. XV. Of the Amphisboena.  
THAT the Amphisboena, being a smaller kind of Serpent, which moveth forward and backward, hath two Heads, was affirmed first by Nicander; and afterwards by Galen, Pliny; and most confidently by Aetian.  
But were there really such a natural kind of Animal, it would be hard to make good those six Positions of Body, which according to the three Dimensions, are ascribed unto every Animal; that is, infra, supra, ante, retro, dextrosum, sinistrosum: For the Senses being placed at both Extremes, doth make both ends anterior, which is impossible; and the Poets Geryon or Cerberus, would be less monstrous than the Amphisboena.  
And therefore we must crave leave to doubt of this double-headed Serpent, until we have the advantage to behold, or have an iterated ocular Testimony concerning it.   

CHAP. XVI. Of the Viper.  
THAT the young Vipers force their way through the Bowels of their Dam, or that the female Viper, in the act of Generation, bites off the Head of the male, is a very ancient Tradition; affirmed by Herodotus, Plutarch, Jerom, Basil, and several others: Notwithstanding which Authorities, upon enquiry we find the same repugnant unto Experience and Reason.  
And first this seems not only injurious unto the Providence of Nature, but it frustrates the great Benediction of God: God 
Gen. 1.  blessed them, saying, Be fruitful and multiply. Now if these be the Fruits of fructifying in the Viper, it cannot be said that God did bless, but curse this Animal. Again, it overthrows the paternal provision of Nature, whereby the young ones newly excluded, are sustained by the Dam.  
For the Experiment, it is found otherwise by worthy Enquirers, as Apollonius, Scaliger, and several others.  
It is here observed, That a Viper containeth no Humour or Part, which either eat or drank is able to kill any: That the Remorsores, or Dog-teeths, are two; and though they by't or prick therewith, yet are they not venomous, but only open a way and entrance unto the Poison, which notwithstanding is not poisonous, except it attain unto the Blood.   

CHAP. XVII. Of Hares.  
THAT every Hare was both male and female, was the affirmative of Archelaus, Plutarch, Philostratus, and many more.  
As for the mutation of Sexes, or transition into one another, we cannot deny it in Hares, it being observable in Man; but that it is natural in all Hares, Experience shows the contrary.  
Here Sir Tho. Brown makes a very large and learned Discourse of Hermaphrodites, in several Creatures.   

CHAP. XVIII. Of Moles, or Molls.  
THAT Moles are blind, and have no Eyes, is an Opinion received with much variety. Some affirm, That they have Eyes and no Sight; some, neither Eyes nor Sight; as Albertus, Pliny, and the vulgar Opinion; some, both Eyes and Sight, as Scaliger, Aldrovandus, and some others. Of which, the last with some restriction is most consonant to Truth: For that they have Eyes in their Head, is manifest to any, that wants them not in his own; but that they be comparatively incomplete, we need not to deny, being they are not perfectly blind, nor yet distinctly see.   

CHAP. XIX. Of Lampreys.  
WHether Lampreys have nine Eyes, as is received, we durst refer it unto Polyphemus, who had but one to judge it. An Error concerning Eyes, occasioned by the Error of Eyes, deduced from the appearance of divers Cavities or Holes on either side, not only refutable by Experience, but also repugnant unto Reason. It were a thing superfluous, for the two Extremes might behold as much as all the rest together.  
Again, They are placed from the Head, and have no Communication with the Brain; without which they are useless.   

CHAP. XX. Of Snails.  
WHether Snails have Eyes, some learned Men have doubted: For Scaliger terms them, but Imitations of Eyes; and Aristotle denieth them. But this now seems sufficiently asserted by the help of exquisite Glasses, which discover those black and atramentous Spots to be their Eyes.  
That they have two Eyes, is the common Opinion: But if they have two Eyes, we may grant them to have no less than four, that is, two in the longer Extensions above, and two in the shorter Horns below. And this number may be allowed in these inferior and exanguious Animals, since we observe the articulate and latticed Eyes in Flies, and nine in some Spiders; and in the great Phalangium Spider of America, we plainly number eight.  
But in sanguineous Animals, quadrupedes, bipedes, or Man, no such number can be regularly verified.   

CHAP. XXI. Of the Chameleon.  
COncerning the Chameleon, there generally paffeth an Opinion, That it liveth only upon Air, and is sustained by no other Aliment; which is affirmed by Solinus, and Pliny, and others: Yet upon enquiry I find the Assertion controvertable.  
And first for its Verity; some have positively denied it, as Augustinus, Niphus, with very many more. Others have experimentally refuted it, as namely Johannes Landius, who observed a Chameleon to lick up a Fly from his Breast; and Belionius, upon Exenteration, found these Animals in their Bellies: And the Experiments of the worthy Peireschius, and learned Emanuel Vizzanius, in that Chameleon, which had been often observed to drink Water, and delight to feed on Meal-worms.  
Likewise this Animal hath all Parts official unto Nutrition; which were its Aliment the empty reception of Air, their Provisions had been superfluous.  
It hath likewise a Tongue; for which there is two Ends, Either the formation of Voice, or for Taste. It cannot be used for the first, it being a mute Animal. As for Taste, if their Nutriment be Air, neither can it be an instrument thereof, for the body of that Element is ingustible. His Tongue also seemeth contrived for Prey, for in so little a Creature it is at least a Palm long; and it hath in this Part a very great Agility, and hath in the Tongue a mucous and slimy Extremity, whereby upon a sudden Emission, it inviscates and tangleth those Infects.   

CHAP. XXII. Of the Ostrich.  
THE common Opinion of the Ostrich, Struthiocamelus, or Sparrow-camel, conceives that it digests Iron; which is confirmed by the Affirmations of many learned Authors: Yet the Negative pleads with more Reason; for Pliny, Aetian, and Leo Africanus, who lived in those Countries wherein they most abound, only say, The Digestion is wonderful in this Animal; and Riolanus in his Comment thereof, positively denies it. Some have experimentally refuted it, as Albertus' magnus; and most plainly Ulysses Aldrovandus, who observed an Ostrich to swallow Iron, but yet to exclude it undigested again: and beside Experiment, it is in vain to attempt against it by Philosophical Argument.  
The ground of this Conceit is, its swallowing down fragments of Iron, which men observing, have therefore conceived, it digested them. Just as men swallow Cherry-stones, which conceive a durable and strong Heat in the Stomach, and so help Digestion, and prevent the Crudities of the Fruit; but they themselves came out undigested. And to the same purpose do other Animals swallow small Stones; and thus may the Ostrich swallow Iron.   

CHAP. XXIII. Of Unicorns-horn.  
GREAT account and much profit is made of that which beareth the Name of Unicorns-horn; wherein many suspect an Imposture: For that which is used under that Name is white, whereas all agree, that have had a sight of that Animal, that his Horn is red. Briefly, many of those commonly received, and whereof there be so many Fragments preserved in England, are not only no Horn, but a Substance harder than a Bone, that is, parts of the Tooth of a More or Sea-horse; in the midst of the solider part contained a curled grain, which is not to be found in Ivory.   

CHAP. XXIV That all Animals of the Land, are in their Kind in the Sea.  
THIS, though received as a Princ●●ple, is a Tenent very questionable, and will admit of Restraint. For some in the Sea are not to be matched by any Enquiry by Land, and hold those Shapes which terrestrious Forms approach not; as may be observed in the Moon-fish, or Orthrageriscus, the several sorts of Raia's, Torpeda's, Oysters, and many more. And some there are in the Land, which were never maintained to be in the Sea, as Panthers, Hyaena's, Camels, Sheep, Molls, and others, which carry no Name in Icthyology, nor are to be found in the exact Descriptions of Rondoletius, Gesner, or Aldrovandus.   

CHAP. XXV. Concerning the common course of Diet, in making choice of some Animals, and abstaining from eating others.  
WHY we confine our Food unto certain Animals, and totally reject some others: Whether this Practice be built upon solid Reason, or chief supported by Custom or Opinion, may admit Consideration.  
And first, there is no absolute necessity of eating any: For before the Flood, our Fathers from vegetable Animals, preserved themselves unto longer Lives; and it was after the Deluge, when for the present the nature of Vegetables was destroyed or infirmed. It is delivered, Every moving thing 
Gen. 9 3.  that liveth, shall be Meat for you.  
But when ever it be acknowledged, that men began to feed on Flesh; yet how they betook themselves after to particular Kind's thereof, is a Point not clearly determined. Whether Moses' distinction before the Flood, were not only in regard of Sacrifices, as that after was in regard of Food, is not yet resolved.  
If we will give credit to Authors, we shall understand, that there is no kind of Animal, but one time or other hath been used for Food in some Parts; and many refuse not to eat of that, which is more impure than what they reject.  
But to conclude, Without doubt there is an ample sufficiency, without all Flesh, in the food of Honey, Oil, and several sorts of Milk; and also in Vegetables, which would be very beneficial unto Health, and much prolong our days.   

CHAP. XXVI. Of Sperma Ceti, and the Sperma Ceti Whale.  
WHAT Sperma Ceti is, and that it was not the Spawn of a Whale, Philosophers have always doubted. That it proceedeth from a Whale, it is indubitably determined, by a Sperma Ceti Whale cast on our Coast of Norfolk; which contained 
A description of a Whale.  no less than 60 Foot in length; the Head somewhat peculiar, with a large Prominency over the Mouth; Teeth only in the lower Jaw, received into fleshly Sockets in the upper, the weight of the largest about two pound; the Eyes but small; the Pizel large and prominent; out of the Head of this Whale, flowed streams of Oil, and Sperma Ceti. This many conceive was the Fish which swallowed up Ionas.   

CHAP. XXVII. Compendiously of sundry Tenants concerning other Animals, which examined, prove either false or dubious.  
1. AND first; From great Antiquity, and 
The Melody of Swans.  before the Melody of Sirens, the musical Notes of Swans have been commended, and that they sing sweetly before their death; for thus we read in Plato: Thus was it the Bird of Apollo; and hath never wanted Assertors.  
All which notwithstanding, it is doubtfully received by famous Authors, and some expressly have refuted it.  
That which probably confirmeth this, is the strange and unusual length of the Windpipe, or conformation of the vocal Organ in this Animal. But this is thought only to be contrived, to contain a larger stock of Air, that they might the longer space detain their Heads under Water.  
2. That there is a special property in 
Of the Peacock.  the Flesh of Peacocks, roast or boiled, to preserve a long time incorrupted, hath been the Assertion of many: and the same by Experiment we can confirm ourselves, if so hanged up by a Thread, that they touch no place whereby to contract a moisture.  
3. That Storks will only live in free 
Of the Stork.  States, is a petty Conceit, and a vulgar Error; the contrary being known in many Parts of the World.  
4. The Antipathy between a Toad and 
Of an  a Spider; and that they poisonously destroy each other, is very famous; and solemn Stories have been written of their Combats, wherein most commonly the Victory is given to the Spider: But we having included a Toad in a Glass with several Spiders, observed him to swallow them down to the number of seven.  
5. Whether a Lion be afraid of a Cock, 
Os a Lion and a Cock.  is related and believed by most: although how far they stand in fear of that Animal, we may sufficiently understand, from what is delivered by Camerarius, whose words are these: In our Time, in the Court of the Prince of Bavaria, one of the Lions leapt down into a Neighbour's Yard, where nothing regarding the crowing of the Cocks, he eat them up, with many other Hens.  
6. That Snakes and Vipers do sting, or 
Of Snakes.  transmit their Mischief by the Tail, is a common expression, not easily to be justified; and a determination of their Venom's into a Part, wherein we could never find 〈◊〉, the Poison lying about the Teeth, and communicated by By't, in such as are destructive.  
The End of the Third Book.    

The Fourth Book. Of many popular and received Tenants concerning Man, which examined, prove false or dubious.  

CHAP. I. Of the Erectness of Man.  
THAT only Man hath an erect Figure, and for to behold and look up towards Heaven, according to that of the Poet, 
Pronaque cum spectant animalia caetera terram,  
Os homini sublime dedit coelumque tueri  
Jussit, & erectos ad sydera tollere vultus.   
Is a double Assertion; whose first Part may be true, if we take Erectness strictly, and so as Galen hath defined it: For they only, saith he, have an erect Figure, whose Spine and Thigh-bone are carried in right Lines: and so indeed of any Animal, yet known, Man only is erect.  
But for the end of this Erection to look up to Heaven, is not so readily to be admitted. It was anciently rejected by Galen, who determines, That Man was erect, because he was made with Hands, and was therewith to exercise all Arts, which in any other Figure he could not have performed.  
And as to looking up to Heaven, Man hath a notable advantage in his Eyelid; whereof the upper is far greater than the lower, which abridgeth the sight upwards; contrary to those of Birds, who herein have the advantage of Man: Insomuch that the learned Plempius is bold to affirm, That if he had had the formation of the Eyelid, he would have contrived it quite otherwise.   

CHAP. II. Of the Heart.  
THAT the Heart of a Man is seated in the left side, is an Assertion, which strictly taken, is refutable by Inspection; whereby it appears, the Base and Centre thereof is in the midst of the Chest, though the Mucro or Point inclineth toward the left: Nevertheless we cannot properly say, 'tis placed in the left.  
That Assertion also, That Man hath the largest Brain, is a thing much doubted; but upon trial is found very true; the Brains of a Man weighing 4, and sometimes 5 pound: If therefore a Man weigh 140 pound, and his Brains 5, his weight is 27 times as much as his Brain. Now in a Snipe, which weighed 4 ounces 2 drachms, the Brains weigh but half a drachm; so that the weight of the Body exceeded the weight of the Brain 67 times and/ m?/. A Sparrow in the total we found to weigh 7 drachms and 24 grains, whereof the Head a drachm, but the Brain not 15 grains; which answereth not fully the proportion of the Brain of Man.   

CHAP. III. Of Pleurisies.  
THAT they are only on the left side, is an absurd and dangerous Tenent. The Membrane, which is inflamed, and causes the Pain, is properly called the Plura, (whence the Disease hath its Name) and investeth not only one side, but overspreadeth the whole Cavity of the Chest   

CHAP. IU. Of the Ring-finger.  
A Common Opinion there is, that presumeth therein a cordial Relation; but it is a common Error, men only making use of that, as most convenient for that purpose.   

CHAP. V Of the right and left Hand.  
THAT men naturally make use of the right, and that the use of the other is a digression or aberration from that way, which Nature generally intendeth; though it is preferred before the other in almost all Parts of the World, yet in submission to future Information, we are unsatisfied to great dubitation.  
For did it arise from a constant Root in Nature, we might expect the same in other Animals, wherein we can discover no complying account.  
Again, Were it so, why have they not the same difference in their Senses, which we find equal on both sides? As for their dextral Activity, it proceeds only from the more use.  
And likewise that a Woman upon a masculine Conception advanceth her right Leg, will not be found to answer strict Observation and that Males are conceived in the right side of the Womb, Females on the left, (though supported by ancient Testimony) will make no infallible account. It is also suspicious what is delivered concerning the right and left Testicle, That Males are begotten from one, and Females from the other: and therefore that way which is delivered for masculine Generation, to make a straight Ligature about the left Testicle, thereby to intercept the Evacuation of that Part, deserveth Consideration.   

CHAP. VI Of Swimming and Floating.  
THAT Men swim naturally, if not disturbed by Fear; that Men being drowned and sunk, do float the ninth day when their Gall breaketh; that Women drowned, swim prone, but Men supine; are popular Affirmations, whereto we cannot assent. And first, That Men swim naturally, as other Animals, we are not forward to conclude; for other Animals swim in the same manner as they go, without alteration in the stroke of their Legs, or position of their Bodies.  
But Man altars his natural Posture, and swimmeth prone, whereas he walketh erect. Likewise to support and advance the Body, is a point of Art, and such, that some in their young and docile years could never attain; though it hath somewhat more of Nature than other Arts, for being once obtained, there is not any who from disuse did ever yet forget it.  
Secondly, That Persons drowned, arise and float the ninth day, when their Gall breaketh, is questionable both in the Time and Cause. For the time of Floating is uncertain, and according to the time of Putrefaction; which is soon in fat Bodies, and not to be imputed to the breaking of the Gall; of which Experiment hath informed us.   

CHAP. VII. Concerning Weight.  
THAT Men weigh heavier dead than alive, if Experiment hath not failed us, we 〈◊〉 reasonably grant. A Man will weigh lighter when he sleepeth, than when he waketh; as also he is by many pounds lighter by Transpiration, in Summer, than in Winter. Likewise we have convicted that Opinio●● by Experiment, of Men being lighter after Meals than before; but a Man in the Morning is lighter in the Scale, because in Sleep some pounds have perspired.  
And to speak strictly, a Man that holds his Breath, is weightier while his Lungs are full, than upon Expiration.   

CHAP. VIII. Of the Passages of Meat and Drink.  
THAT there are different Passages for Meat and Drink, is a popular Tenent in our days, and the Assertion of learned Men of old: For the same was affirmed by Plato, Eustathius, and Eratosthenes, and several others. But here they contradict Experience, not well understanding Anatomy; for it is an Error to think, that Drink should descend by the Weasand, it being only inservient to the Voice and Respiration.  
Besides we have an Epiglottis, or Flap, on the opening of the Larinx, or Throttle, which openeth for the admission of Air, but always closeth when we swallow; and when either Meat or Drink get in thereat, it occasioneth a Cough, until it be ejected: and this is the Reason why a Man cannot breathe and drink at the same time.   

CHAP. IX. Of Sneezing.  
THE Custom of blessing People upon their Sneezing, is generally believed to have its Original from a Disease, wherein such as sneezed died: But though it hath been much used both amongst the Grecians and Romans, yet is it no Argument that this was the first Rise of it.  
Now the Reason of this might be, because Sternutation is taken as a very good sign: For Sneezing being properly a motion of the Brain, suddenly expelling through the Nostrils what is offensive unto it, it cannot but afford some evidence of its Vigour; and therefore, saith Aristotle, Those that hear it, honour it, as a sign of Sanity in the diviner Part. And this he illustrates from the Practice of Physicians, who in Persons near their Death, do use such Medicines as provoke unto Sneezing; and if that Faculty awaketh, they conceive hopes of Life, and with Gratulation receive the signs of Safety.   

CHAP. X. Of the Jews.  
THAT the Jews stink naturally, that is, that in their Race and Nation there is an evil Savour, is a received Opinion we know not how to admit: Though we will acknowledge, that certain Odours attend on Animals, no less than certain Colours and pleasant Smells are found in divers Animals; and in some more richly than in Plants, as the Pard, the Civet-cat, Gazela, and many sorts of Monkeys.  
Upon the Consult of Reason, there will be found no easy assurance to fasten a material or temperamental Propriety upon any Nation; much more will it be difficult to make out this Assertion in the Jews, whose Race however pretended to be pure, must needs have suffered inseparated Commixtures with Nations of all sorts.  
But should we concede, there were such a National Unsavouriness in any People, yet should we find the Jews less subject hereto than any; for they observe a spare and simple Diet, whereby they prevent the generation of Crudities, which should be the chief Cause of it.  
Likewise they avoid all Copulation, either in the Uncleanness of themselves, or Impurity of their Women; which not so much being observed amongst us, many times causes the Offspring to be weak and sickly: From which likewise learned Men derive the Cause of Pox and Measles.  
Lastly, It is not in the least observable by those that traffic with them, or have been amongst great Assemblies of them.   

CHAP. XI. Of Pigmies.  
THAT there is a dwarfish sort of People, called Pigmies, whose Stature is comprehended in one Cubit, or as some will have it, two Foot, or three Spans, not singly, but nationally considering them; though hereof Affirmations be many, and Testimonies frequent; yet that there ever was such a Race or Nation, upon exact and confirmed Testimonies, o●● strictest Enquiry receives no satisfaction.  
For though many learned Men speak hereof, yet were they 〈◊〉 Relators, and the primitive Author 〈◊〉 Homer, who made this, Fancies, for Similes to delight the Ear.  
Again, Many professed Enquirers have rejected it, as Strabo, Julius Scaliger, Eustathius, and several others: All which conclude the Story fabulous, and a poetical Account of Homer.  
The End of the Fourth Book.    

The Fifth Book. Of many things questionable, as they are commonly described in Pictures.  

CHAP. I. Of the Picture of the Pelican.  
THE Pelican is in every place pictured, opening her Breast with her Bill, and feeding her young ones with Blood distilled from her; as likewise it is set forth in the Crest and Escutcheon of many noble Families.  
Notwithstanding upon Enquiry we find no mention hereof in ancient Zodiographers, and such as have particularly discoursed upon Animals, as Aristotle, Aelian, Pliny, Solinus, and many more, who never leave out Proprieties of such a nature.  
They also much differ in the Picture, by an erroneous Representation; for in its proper Colour it is inclining to white; about the bigness of a Swan, with a 
A description of a Pelican.  long flat Bill, palmipedous like a Swan; lastly, it hath under its Bill, a Chowl, or Bag, of Capacity almost beyond credit, wherein it receiveth Oysters, Cockles, Scollops, and other testaceous Animals; which being not able to break, it retains until they open, and vomiting them up, takes out the Meat contained.   

CHAP. II. Of the Picture of Dolphins.  
THAT they are crooked, is a common conceived Tenent, to be their natural and proper Figure.  
But to speak strictly: In their natural Figure they are strait, as Scaliger plainly affirmeth, and ocular Enquiry informeth.   

CHAP. III. Of the Picture of the Serpent tempting Eve.  
HErein the Serpent is often described with humane Visage, as it is delivered by Beda, and others: But nevertheless it is a Conceit not to be admitted, and the plain and received Figure is that, which better Reason embraced.  
And whereas it is thought, she would be amazed to hear a Serpent speak; some conceive, she might not yet be certain, that only Man was privileged with Speech.   

CHAP. IU.  
ANother Mistake there might be, in the delineating our first Parents; as their Posterity with Navels: Which is observed in many old Draughts; which cannot be allowed, except the Creator affected Superfluities, or ordained Parts without Use or Office.  
For the use of the Navel is, to continue the Infant unto the Mother, and by the Vessels thereof, to convey its Aliment and Sustention, which after Birth, the Midwife cutteth off, from whence ensueth that complicated Nodosity we usually call the Navel: So that it cannot be well imagined, at the Creation of Adam, who immediately issued from the Artifice of God.   

CHAP. V Of the Pictures of Eastern Nations, and the Jews at their Feasts, especially our Saviour at the Passover.  
COncerning the Pictures of the Jews, and Eastern Nations, at their Feasts; concerning the Gesture of our Saviour at the Passover, who is usually described sitting upon a Stool or Bench, at a square Table, in the midst of the Twelve, may make great doubt; (and though they concede a Table-gesture) will hardly allow this usual way of Session.  
It is very certain, that many Nations used the way of Accubation at Meals; as the Persians, and Parthians, with several others; and likewise formerly the Romans.  
As for their Gesture or Position: The 
The ancient Position of the Body at Feasts.  Men lay down, leaning on their left Elbow, their Back being advanced by some Pillow; the second lay so, with his Back towards the first, that his Head attained about his Bosom; and the rest in the same order. For Women, they sat sometimes distinctly with their Sex, sometimes promiscuously with the Men, according to Affection or Favour, as is delivered by Juvenal, 
— Gremio jacuit nova nupta mariti.   
That this Discumbency at Meals was in use in the days of our Saviour, is probable from several Speeches of his expressed in that phrase, as Luke 14. Cum invitatus fueris ad huptias, non discumbas in primo loco; and beside many more.  
The End of the Fifth Book.    

The Sixth Book. Of sundry common Opinions, Cosmographical and Historical.  

CHAP. I. Concerning the beginning of the World, that the time thereof is not precisely to be known, as men generally suppose.  
COncerning the World, and its temporal Circumscriptions, who ever shall strictly examine both Extremes, will easily perceive, there is not only Obscurity in its end, but its beginning; that as its Period is inscrutable, so is its Nativity indeterminable.  
For first: The Histories of the Gentiles afford us slender Satisfaction; for some thereof (and those the wisest amongst them) are so far from determining its beginning, that they opine and maintain it never had any at all, as Epicurus and Aristotle declare.  
Thus the Heathens afford us no satisfaction herein; for the Account of their ancientest Records, arise no higher than 95 years after the Flood.  
Now what is delivered in holy Scripture, is most likely to manifest the truth; and what is set down in the sacred Chronology of Moses, who distinctly sets down this Account. But amongst the Christians, this Account hath received many Interpretations, and many have differed much herein: But that which agreeth to most learned Men, and most inquisitive herein is; wherein ours was 1645, it is from the year of the World, 7154; which Account they reckon by at Constantinople, and by the Muscovite, and many more. Thus seeing the wide Dissent of men's Opinions; the Hebrews not only dissenting from the Samaritans, the Latins from the Greeks, but every one from another: Insomuch that all can be in the right, it is impossible; that any one is so, not with assurance determinable.  
The End of the Sixth Book.    

The Seventh Book. Concerning many Historical Tenants, generally received, and some deduced from the History of holy Scripture.  

CHAP. I. Of the forbidden Fruit.  
THAT the forbidden Fruit of Paradise was an Apple, is commonly believed and confirmed by Tradition; and some from thence have derived the Latin word Malum, because that Fruit was the first occasion of Evil; wherein notwithstanding Determinations are presumptuous, and many are of another belief; for some have conceived it a Vine, others a Fig. Again, Some Fruits pass under the Name of Adam's Apples, which in common acceptation admit not that Appellation; described by Mathiolus to be a very fair Fruit, and not unlike a Citron, but somewhat rougher, chopped and cranied, vulgarly conceived the Marks of Adam's Teeth. But yet we cannot from hence infer, they were this Fruit in question; no more than Arbour Vitae, so called, to obtain its Name from the Tree of Life in Paradise, or Arbour Judae, to be the fame which supplied the Gibbet unto Judas.  
Again, There is no Determination in the Text; wherein is only particularised, that it was the Fruit of a Tree good for Food, and pleasant unto the Eye, in which regards, many excel the Apple; and therefore learned Men do wisely conceive it inexplicable; and Philo puts Determination unto Despair, when he affirmeth, the same kind of Fruit was never produced since.  
Now the Ground or Reason that occasioned this expression by an Apple, might be the Community of this Fruit, and which is often taken for any other: And to speak strictly, in this Appellation, they placed it more safely than any other; for beside the great variety of Apples, the word in Greek comprehendeth Oranges, Lemons, Citrons, Quinces; and as Ruellius defineth, 〈◊〉 Fruits as have no Stone within, and a soft Covering without.  
Since therefore after this Fruit, Curiosity 〈◊〉 enquireth, we shall surcease our Inquisition; rather troubled that it was tasted, than troubling ourselves in its Decision. Here many likewise strive to 〈◊〉 the species of the Serpent that deceived, but to the same purpose.   

CHAP. II. That a Man hath one Rib less than a Woman.  
THAT a Man hath one Rib less than a Woman, is a common Conceit, derived from Genesis, wherein it stands delivered, that Eve was framed out of the Rib of Adam.  
But this will not consist with Reason or Inspection; for if we survey the Skeleton of both Sexes, and therein the Compage of Bones, we shall readily discover, that Men and Women have 24 Ribs, that is, 12 on each side, 7 greater annexed unto the Sternon, and 〈◊〉 lesser, which come short thereof.   

CHAP. III. Of the Death of Aristotle.  
THAT Aristotle drowned himself in Euripus, as despairing to resolve the cause of its Reciprocation, or Ebb and Flow 7 times a day, with this Determination, Si quidem ego non capio te, tu capies me, was the Assertion of learned Authors, and is generally believed among us. Now an Euripus is any Straight, Fret, or Channel of the Sea, running between two Shores.  
But to pass this over: Diogenes Laertius tells us, That being accused of Impiety, he withdrew into Chalcis, where drinking Poison, he died: And Apollodorus, That he died there of a natural Death, in his 63d. or great Climacterical year.  
It is likewise false what is said of this Euripus, of its Ebb and Flow 7 times a day; for as we have it from very good Evidence, it ebbeth and floweth by 6 hours; as it doth at Venice.  
Primus sapientiae gradus est, falsa intelligere.    

AN ABRIDGEMENT OF HONOUR.  

Privileges due to Gentility.  
FROM the word Gentil-homme, or 
Gentleman unde.  Gentil-hombre, (which we received from the French, for till the Normans we had it not) we made out this word Gentleman, which was before called Aedel.  
But this word Generosus hath been in use 
Generosus.  amongst us but since the Time of Henry the Eighth, since when it hath been constantly used for a Gentleman, of what sort soever, if he had no Title above it.  
Some of the Privileges to Gentlemen are these:  
1. In Crimes of equal Constitution, 
His Punishment.  (provided not capital) a Gentleman shall be punished with more favour than a common Person.  
2. In giving Evidence he hath much 
Evidence.  the precedence; as also in Elections by Vote.  
3. The Clow●● may not challenge a 
Combat.  Gentleman to Combat, quia conditione impares.  
Many others there he, but it would be too tedious to insert them; I refer the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sir John Fern, his Glory of Generosity.  
To the making of which Gentleman 
A complete Gentleman.  perfect, in his Blood, was required, a lineal descent of the part of his Father's side, from Atavus, Abavus, Proavus, Auus, and Pater: And as much on the Mother's Line; then he is not only a Gentleman of Blood perfect, but of Ancestors too.   

Of the Esquire.  
THE division of these Dignities of Honour, 
Titles of Honour.  by the addition of a Knight-Baronet, is into 13 parts. The first 5 only Noble, as the Gentleman, Esquire, Knight-Batchelor, Knight-Banneret, and Knight-Baronet. The other 8 Princely, and are allowed Coronets, as the Baron, Viscount, Earl, Marquess, Duke, Prince, King, and Emperor.  
The Esquire, or Escuyer, 〈◊〉 called in 〈◊〉 
The Esquire.  Armiger, but more anciently Scaliger, 〈◊〉 the Office of bearing a Shield, as 〈◊〉 upon a Knight, and were (〈◊〉 ordinis) Candidati in the Field.  
Of these there are 4 sorts: By 〈◊〉, by Birth, by Dignity, and by Office.  
The Esquire by Creation, are the Heralds 
By Creation.  and Sergeants at Arms, and are sometimes made by Patent: The King gives them a silver Spur, from whence they are called White-spurs.  
His paternal Coat is also bettered, and the eldest Son of that Coat-Armour is ever an Esquire.  
Esquires by Birth are the younger Sons 
By Birth.  of the Nobility, as of Earls, Viscounts, and Barons; and the eldest Sons of Knights, their eldest Sons successively.  
Those by Office are the Sergeants at 
By Office.  Law, Sheriffs, Escheators, the Sergeant of every Office in the Court; but these Dignities die with themselves and their Offices.   

Of Knighthood in general, and of the Knight-Batchelor.  
OF the Distinctions by Knighthood, 
Distinctions of Knights.  there are many in other Parts of the World, but in England only these, Knights-Batchelors, Knights of the Bath, Knights-Bannerets, Knights-baronets', and Knights of the Garter.  
This Titl●● coming to be a Reward 〈◊〉 Degree of Honour, is thought to be in imitation of the Equestris Order in Rome, to which men were only advanced for extraordinary Virtue, and notable Merit, who only were admitted to beautify the Caparisons of their Horses and their Armour with Gold; from whence they were called Equites aurati.  
The usual Ceremony of late in Dubbing 
The Ceremony in Dubbing.  a Knight, is a stroke over the Shoulder with a Sword, with these words, Sois Chivaler 〈◊〉 nom de Dieu; by the King, or some by his Commission; though the Spur hath lately been observed also.  
Landfrank, Archbishop of Canterbury, made William the 2d. a Knight in his Father's Time; but the Name of Bachelor 
Knight Bachelors when first.  added to it, seems not to have been till the 33d. of Henry the 3d.   

Of the Knight of the Bath.  
IT is ever to be observed, that when the word Knight is found without any addition of Distinction, it is meant by the Knight-Batchelor. Of the Order of the Bath, the first that are taken notice of, is in Froissart, who gives an account of 46 
When first.  made by Henry the 4th. but Mr. Selden is of an opinion they were long before.  
The Honour is invested with a great deal of noble Ceremony, too tedious to insert.  
They are distinguished ordinarily by the 
Their Distinction.  〈◊〉 of a red Ribbon cross the left 〈◊〉, as Knights of the Garter by the 〈◊〉; and have this Privilege above all 〈◊〉, their Sons are free from Wardship.   

Of Bannerets.  
THIS was anciently an Order in France, 
Manner of the Creation.  and (except that in England, they are not created by Patent, nor the Title hereditary) the same: The Creation is almost the same with theirs, by the solemn delivery of a Banner, charged with the Arms of 〈◊〉 that is to be created, and cutting off the end of a Pennon or Streamer, to make it square into the shape of a Banner, are called by some, Equites vexilliarii.  
This Knight is only made (by the King 
By whom.  if present, otherwise by the General) only for his Deserts in the Field.  
This Order was of so great estimation, that divers Knights-Batchelors and Esquires served under them; and by Decree of King James it is established, That such as were made, the King being personally present, under his Standard, displayed in an Army Royal, in open War, should take place before all Baronet's.   

Of Baronet's.  
THE Title of Baronet was erected by 
When first.  King James, in the 9th. year of his Reign. He made divers on the 22d. day of May, the Proem or Argument being for 
to what end.  the propagating a Plantation in Ulster in Ireland, to which the Aid of these Knights was ordained, which was the Maintenance of 30 Soldiers in that Province for three years. Their Titles were to descend to the Heirs male of their Body, and to take place before all Knights-Batchelors, Knights of the Bath, and Knights Bannerets; and that the Name of Baronet in all Writs, Commissions, and Styles, should be added to his Surname; and that the addition of Sir: should precede in all mentionings of his Name, (as the Title of Lady or Madam to the Wives of them) and their Successors; and that they should take place according to the date of their Patents inter se, and so to their Successors. They are created by Patent.   

Of Barons.  
THIS word Baron is most properly derived 
Whence.  from the word Baria in Greek, which signifies Authoritas gravis.  
This Honour of Baronage is of three 
The several kinds.  kinds: By Tenure, by Creation, and by Writ.  
Those by Tenure, are Peers of the Land, 
By Tenure.  and are the Barons spiritual.  
Those by Writ, are such as the King is 
By Writ.  pleased to summons to Parliament, though but Gentlemen or Knights, and is by some esteemed only temporary, pro termino 〈◊〉 〈◊〉; but this cannot be, by reason of the great Ceremony at their Creation. The Title is also allowed to be hereditary.  
Since these two sorts of Barons in the Time of Richard the 2d. hath another been established, which is Barons by Patent, and 
By Patent.  indeed more usual in our later Times than those by Writ.  
Thus in case there want Heirs male, it many times descends to the Heirs female, though not to her Husband, but to their Issue.  
This Dignity, though the youngest, hath 
Privilege.  also the Privileges belonging to all the Lords of th●● Parliament. As first, in all Trials of criminal Causes, he is tried by the Bench of Peers, who all give Verdict not upon the●● Oaths, but upon their Honour; with a great many more Privileges.  
But note that Marquesses and Earls Sons, their Father's living, have not these Privileges.  
A Baron must go after the Ancientry of 
His 〈◊〉.  his Ancestors Creation, and the Baroness his Wife must go after the same.  
A Baron's eldest Son shall have the Place of the Banneret, their younger Sons precede Knights-Batchelors, and their Daughters go according to their Father's Creation.  
The form of their Creation is too tedious.   

Of a Bishop.  
THEY are with us three ways Barons of the Realm: By Writ, by Patent, and by Consecration. They precede all under the degree of Viscount in the Parliament House, always placed on the King's right Hand.  
They cannot be indicted for any Crime, without special licence from the King; they have likewise very many Privileges.   

The Viscount.  
THE word in Latin is Vicecomes, and it is a degree between an Earl and Baron.   

The Count or Earl.  
HE is the same that in Germany they call Grave, as Palsgrave, Landgrave, etc.  
The Dignity is of divers kinds, for an Earl acknowledging no Superior, is equal to a Prince.   

The Marquis.  
THIS word Marquis at first was used 
Whence first.  to all Earls and Barons, that were Lords Marchers, or Lords of the Frontiers, and came afterward into a special Dignity, between that of Duke and Earl: The Ceremony of Creation much the same with that of an Earl, and the Title Hereditary.   

Of the Duke.  
〈◊〉 is said to be called Duke, à ducendo, 
Whence so called.  from his leading an Army 〈◊〉 There is not any Creation required 〈◊〉 this Honour; and note, that in all 〈◊〉 degrees of Honour, where a lesser degree is conferred on a Person of a 〈◊〉, there needs nothing but mere Patent, without any Ceremony of Creation.   

Of the Archbishop.  
HE is so highly honoured, that he is made the first Peer of the Realm, next to the Royal Family, and precedes all Dukes not of the Blood.  
The Coronation of the King belongs to 
His Prerogative.  him. He hath the Prerogative to consecrate all Bishops; and besides these great Privileges, has very many more.  
The Archbishop of York takes place next him, and hath many of the same Privileges. He hath the Privilege of crowning the Queen; and he is styled Primate of England, as the other is styled Primate of all England.   

The Prince.  
THE next, and first, immediately subordinate to the Crown, amongst these radiant Stars is, The Prince; though in England only is the Prince of Wales, the first born of the King.  
And unless he were King, 'tis impossible 
HisPriviledges  he should enjoy more Privileges; for it is high-Treason to imagine the Death of his Person, as also to v●●olate his Wife.  
He doth only acknowledge a Reverence, 
His Motto.  not only as to a Father, but Sovereign; and to that purpose continues that Motto, which the Black Prince took up, (Ick dien) I serve.  
The first that we read of in England, 
The first in England.  was Edward, eldest Son to Henry the 3d. and after him, the eldest Son of the King hath been ever by Patent, and Ceremonies of Instalment, created Prince of Wales, Earl of Chester, and Flint, being born Duke of Cornwall.  
Of these Titles, the Duke, Marquess, 
Princely Titles.  and Earl, are esteemed Princely, especially the two last. These also are allowed to hear their Crests with Helmets, the Beaver directly forward; whereas a Gentleman, Knight, and Baron, bear them with half the Beaver seen.   

The King.  
THE King is the next, and in our Nations the highest, being subordinate to no sublunary Power, as those of Spain, Portugal, and other Kingdoms of Europe, and other Parts of the World are. He is the true Fountain, from whence all these Rivulets and swelling Streams of Honour spring,  
He is God's Vicegerent, and to be obeyed accordingly, both in Church and State; good, he is a Blessing; if bad, a 〈◊〉.  
The Ceremonies at his Coronation are 
Ceremonies at his Coronation.  any, and in England more than any other ountreys; as the anointing with Oil, 〈◊〉 sacred Consecration, and his Crown 〈◊〉 on his Head with many religious 〈◊〉: Besides the Ensigns of Regality, 〈◊〉 are, A Ring, to signify his 〈◊〉; a Bracelet, for good Works; a 〈◊〉, for Justice; a Sword, for 〈◊〉; purple Robes, to attract Reverence; and a Diadem triumphant, to blazon his Glory.   

Of Women.  
ALthough Women are not allowed to sit in Parliament, yet do they enjoy 〈◊〉 all the Privileges due to the other Sex.  
The Honourable feminine Dignities are, 
Dignities.  Princess, Duchess, Marchioness, Countess, Vicountess, and Baroness; which are either by Creation, by Descent, or by Marriage.  
By Creation, it is very rare, though we 
By Creation.  have had several Examples of it.  
By Descent, we have continual Examples: 
By Descent.  When any Daughter of an Earl or Viscount shall continue a Virgin, or marry an Esquire, she shall retain that Honour that springs from her Father's Blood, take Place accordingly, and be saluted by the Title of Lady.  
The Heirs females of any Count or ●●icount, shall enjoy both the Estate divided and Titles too, if they be to be divided and they shall be enjoyed by their Husbands, if they marry, in the right of their Wives.  
A Woman who received Honour by a 
By Marriage.  former Husband, if she then marry an ignoble Person, her Honours are 〈◊〉, And thus much of Honour.   

Precedence amongst the Peers of England.  
IT is to be observed, That (after the Kings, and Princes of the Blood, viz. the Sons, Grandsons, Brothers, Uncles, or Nephews of the King, and no farther Dukes amongst the Nobility, have the sirs Place; then Marquesses, Duke's eldest Sons, Earls, Marquis' eldest Sons, Dukes younger Sons, Viscount's, Earls eldest Sons, Marquesses younger Sons, Barons, Viscount's eldest Sons, Earls younger Sons, Baron's eldest Sons, Viscount's younger Sons, Barons younger Sons; the younger Sons of Viscount's and Baron's shall yield precedence to all Bannerets, and Knights of the Garter, quatenus tales, etc.  
FINIS.