Ebook Holinshed's Chronicles of England, Scotland, and Ireland

Romane yoke, are 4461 yeares, at which timethe Britains chose them a king, and betooke themselues to his obedience. But neither they nor their king being then able to hold out the Scots and Picts, which dailie made hauocke of their countrie; the-said Vortiger in the third yeare of his teigne (which was the 63. Septenarie after Christ) did send for the Saxons, who arriued here in the 449. And 450. Yeares of Grace, in great companies, for our aid and suc cour, although that in the end their entrances turned to our vtter decaie and ruine, in that they made a conquest of the whole lle, and drane vs out of our linings. Hereby we séc therefore how the. Preparatiue began in the 449. But how it was finished in the tenth noue narie, the sequele is too too plaine. In like sort in the 43. Nouenarie or 387. After the com. Ming of the Saxons, the Danes entred, who miserablie afflicted this Ile by the space of 182. Yeates or 46. Septenaries, which being expired, they established themselues in the kingdome by Canutus. But their time lasting not long, the Normans followed in the end of the 49. Yeare, and thus you see how these numbers do hold exactlie vuto the conquest. The like also we find of the continuance of the Normans or succession of the Conquerour, which indured but 89. Yeares, being extinguished in Stephen, and that of the Saxons restored in Henrie the second, although it lacke one whole yeare of ten nouenaries, which is a small thing, sith Vpon diners occasions the time of the execution of any accident may be preuented or pro toged, as in direction and progression astronomicall is oftentimes perceiued. From hence to the infamous excommunication of England in king Iohns daies, wherevpon insued the resig nation of his crownes and dominions to the pope, are eight septenaries or 56. Yeares. Thence againe to the deposition of Richard. 2. And vsurpation of Henrie 4. Are 77. Yeares or 1 1. Sep tenaries. From hence to the conspiracie made against Edward. 2. After which he was deposed 8r murdered are 117. Yeates, or 13. Nouenaries. From hence to the beginning of the quarell betweene the houses of Yorke and Lancaster (wherein foure score and 0d persons of the blood roiall were s'aine and made awaie first and last, and which warres beganne in the 1448. And the yeare after the death of the Duke of Glocester, whose murther seemed to make free passage to the said broile) are 72. Yeates or eight nouenaries. From hence to the translation of the crowne from the house of Lancaster to that of Yorke, in Edward the 4.'are 14. Yeares or two septenaries, and last of all to the vnion of the said houses in Henrie the eight, is an exact quadrat of seuen multiplied in it selfe, or 49. Yeares, whereof I hope this may in part suffice.