The Parliaments and Councils of England, chronologically arranged, from the reign of William I. to the Revolution in 1688

Front matter

THE tterlfometvts? atitr Couurilse OF <BnQlantof CHRONOLOGICALLY ARRANGED, FROM THE REIGN OF WILLIAM I. TO THE REVOLUTION IN 1688. DEDICATED, BY PERMISSION, TO HER MAJESTY. LONDON : JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET. MDCCCXXXIX. PRINTED BY HENRY EDMUND CARRINGTON, ST. JAMES STREET, AND WEYMOUTH STREET, BATH. TO HER MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY THE QUEEN. Madam, The condescension with which Your Majesty has been graciously pleased to sanction this first attempt to place in the hands of all Your Majesty's Subjects, a Digest of the Records which relate to the Parliamentary and Con stitutional History of our Country, calls forth my warmest acknowledgments. At a Period, when, under the blessings of a continued peace, Knowledge is diffusing itself amongst all Classes of the Community, and when, by British energy and intelligence, the Sciences and Arts are making unexampled progress, it has been regretted that this important branch of our Historical Literature should have received little attention, and that the means of attaining authentic Constitutional DEDICATION. information, should, therefore, still be inaccessible to a great majority of the Inhabitants of these Realms.

It is hoped, that, by abridging the labour of research, the following Exposition of the Records which illustrate our Parliamentary History, may facilitate the acquisition of sound Political Knowledge, and that an acquaintance with the Principles and Practice of the British Constitution, may tend to give stability to Your Majesty's Throne, and to sustain the Prosperity and Magnificence, which, during so many Centuries, have distinguished the British Empire. That it may please the Sovereign Ruler of the Universe to grant Your Majesty a long and prosperous Reign, and that, by the exercise of tbose Personal Virtues which are hailed and acknowledged by all Your Majesty's loyal Subjects, it may be permitted You to promote the substantial welfare and glory of Your People, and Your own enduring Happiness and Renown, is, Madam, the earnest Prayer of Your Majesty's Most obedient and devoted Servant, CHARLES HENRY PARRY Summer Hill, Bath, 1839.

Preface

. "Parliamentary Scientia quærenda ab omnibus, incog nita multis." The lapse of more than two centuries has not diminished the force of either of these Propositions advanced by Sir Edward Coke. It will scarcely be denied, that, in these times, such knowledge is desirable, or that upon few subjects of general interest, is the want of it more conspicuous, than in questions connected with the origin and developement of the Constitutional History of our own Country. This ignorance may generally be ascribed to one of two causes, either to a conceit which does not prevail to the sane extent in any other department of inquiry, or to the difficulty of obtaining information on a subject of unquestionable im portance. It was a saying of Socrates, that though no man undertakes a trade which he has not learned, in that of Government, the hardest of all trades, every one considers himself sufficiently qualified by the gifts which he has received from nature.

It is no less true, in our own days, that, though in all other sciences and in every mechanical art, a long experience and much industry are considered necessary for the attainment of a moderate degree of excellence, in the difficult science of Legislation, these means are not unfrequently neglected in the pursuit of the same end. Hence it happens that many incompetent Persons, fancying themselves endowed with talents, which instinctively fit them for immediate action, enter, with confidence, upon the business of Legislation ; and b

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. that others, under the impulse of caprice or prepossession, exercise the responsible function of determining by their votes, the merits of those who are to be the Eramers of Constitutional Enactments. To this unfavourable combination of circumstances, may be traced numberless errors, which have proved the abundant source of national misfortunes. If, however, these observations are generally true and im portant, it must also be acknowledged that, in no period of our History, have intelligence and correct information been more necessary, than in the days in which we live. At no previous moment, has the want of preparatory acquirements been more calculated to produce extensive mischief, than under the changes which have been recently introduced in the Political relations of the People. By the extension of their Privileges, they have been compelled suddenly to decide upon measures which very intimately affect their own welfare, and the common prosperity of the Empire.

They have been called upon to express their sentiments on Public Affairs, and by their conduct, to determine the most influential consequences. It can scarcely excite surprise, that under these newly-acquired Powers, and labouring under some degree of unavoidable ignorance as to the nature of that Constitution, which they are bound to protect and support, they should sometimes commit errors of speculation and practice : or, that in the selection of those, who are to represent their unrestrained feelings and opinions, they should sometimes be disposed to seek, as the only security for the discharge of com plicated and momentous duties, the pledge given to a particular Party, to pursue, at all events, a prescribed line of conduct, whether consistent, or otherwise, with the permanent and enduring interests of the Commonwealth. Can it, indeed, be fairly expected that Persons so circum stanced, should follow the advice of Lord Bacon, « Ut cum

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. calculis suffragiorum, sumant magnanimitatem Reipublicæ;" put off private considerations, and raise their thoughts to the Public State ; or, at the sacrifice of their imaginary interests, adopt, universally, "the scheme of policy which the Public interest requires?" That such a state of things may exist without any very heavy imputation on a numerous class of individuals, who are placed under great disadvantages, may, perhaps, be easily conceded. Neither can it be denied, that the removal of this twofold source of error would materially tend to the increase of political prudence, and to a caution more conservative of our valuable Institutions. It appears, indeed, sufficiently desirable that the presumption against Constitutional know ledge should no longer be tolerated, and that increased facili ties for its attainment should be offered to those, who otherwise must often decide in ignorance of their actual position, and their relative obligations.

That the Parliamentary History of England is, at present, a sealed Book to the Community of these Kingdoms, will not be disputed by those who, in the search after precise Constitu tional information, have had occasion to refer to the voluminous collections of the original Records, or to those of the contem porary Historians, the only sources from which authentic materials for such an inquiry can safely be derived. The opportunity of consulting these documents, is extremely rare, and many advantages must concur to render such an opportu nity available. Beyond the Metropolis, few Public or Private Libraries contain a series so extensive and costly; and pre suming that a facility of reference does exist, our researches can only be prosecuted under an unlimited command of leisure, and by the application of an unremitting industry and atten tion, (a) To these impediments may be added, in many (a) The great advantages, with regard to literary pursuits, which result

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. instances, a disregard of the pecuniary sacrifice which must attend the possession of many indispensable, but highly expensive volumes. A brief Review of the Authorities to which a reference must be made by those who would obtain accurate Parliamen tary data, will shew that the difficulties are not exaggerated, under which investigations of this nature must now be con ducted. Such a Summary will tend, also, to remove any wonder, that error should often occupy the place of correct knowledge, that assumptions at variance with the facts of History, should, sometimes, be adopted as undoubted truths, and that conclusions not sanctioned by a correct and compre hensive view of historical relations, should be maintained as legitimate and applicable rules of political conduct. The authorized Sources of all Constitutional information may be divided into Four Classes.

First, the Original Records themselves, " the authentic and uncontrollable testimonies in writing, contained in Rolls of Parchment, and preserved in Courts of Record;" " Vetustatis et Veritatis Vestigia." Secondly, the ancient and contemporary Historians. Third/y, the Collections derived from these Sources; and Fourthly, Separate Treatises, Manuscript or otherwise, of authority on these subjects. from a residence in London, cannot better lie exhibited, Ihpn by a reference to the means and accommodations offered by that admirable Institution, the British Museum. In a note to the 12th and 13th pages of his Observations on the State of Historical Literature, Sir H. Nicolas has bestowed upon it commendations, the justice of which will be warmly acknowledged bv all who have had occasion to avail themselves of its proffered benefits.

"Any thing more delightful than that establishment cannot be imagined; and the important benefit which the Public derive from it, is irrefragable evidence in favour of rendering every other Repository of information, and above all every public Repository, as easy of access, as well arranged, as properly conducted, and as free from the disgrace of Fees and Perquisites." PHEFACE. 9 I. The Originals of the several Documents, which are denominated " Records," are to be met with in various Public Offices and Depositories. An Index to these was published, anonymously, by Dr. Strachey, in the year, 1739. A full account was also given by Dr. Nicholson, late Bishop of Carlisle, in his English, Scotch, and Irish Historical Libraries, of which a second Edition appeared in 1776, and which was afterwards copied by Dr. Priestley in his " Lectures on His tory."

The Reports from the Commissioners on the Public Records, published 1800-1819, in two Folio Volumes, give more ample and safe information on this subject. " The Observations, of Sir Harris Nicolas, on the State of Historical Literature," 1830, may, also, be consulted with advantage ; as well as a valuable "Directory for searching the Public Records in the Metropolis," in the Companion to the British Almanack for 1838. (b) The following account is confined to the authorized Pub lications from the Originals, which have, at different times, been edited under the direction, and with the sanction, of Government. (1) The first Work, printed by Authority, was that en- (b) See Quarterly Review, vol. xxxix., p. 41, for a valuable article on Records and Registration. It is said at p. GO, " anterior to the Reign of Edward I., our knowledge of Parliamentary Proceedings is derived either from the unsatisfactory narrative ofthe Monkish Chronicles, or from the incidental entries upon the Close and Patent Rolls."

In the History of the ancient Palace and late Houses of Parliament by Messrs. Brayley and Britton, is noticed, at p. 25, the recent Publication of the Close Rolls. "The Records intituled, ' Rotuli Literarum Clausarum,' or Close Rolls, commence, 6 K. John, ad. 1204, in which are recorded all Mandates, Letters, and Writs of a private nature. They are denominated Close, in contradistinction to another Series of Rolls called Patent. They are Letters, addressed in the King's name, to individuals for special and particular purposes, and were folded or closed up, and sealed on the outside with the Great Seal."

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. 10 titled the " Fœdera," the Conventions, Letters and Public Acts of every kind, between the Kings of England, and other Sovereigns or Communities. By Warrants from Queen Mary, Aug. 20, 1693, and of King William, April 12, 1694, Mr. Rymer undertook the Publication, and, in 1704, edited the First Volume, commencing with the year 1101. A third Warrant from Queen Anne, May 3, 1707,' included Mr. Robert Sanderson as an Assistant. In the life time of Mr. Rymer, Fourteen Volumes were published, and Volumes 15 and 16, then prepared for the press, were afterwards published by Mr. Sanderson, who, himself, added Four others, thus completing the Work in Twenty-four Volumes, Folio, and embracing a Period of 553 years_down to Charles I. Three several Editions of this Series, have appeared; the First in the years 1704 to 1717; the Second, in 1727 to 1735 : and a Third, printed at the Hague, in 1 738-9, in Ten Folio Volumes.

In consequence of an Address from the House of Commons to his Majesty George III., respecting the Public Records of the Kingdom, it was resolved to publish a more extensive and correct Edition of this important Collection, and Dr. Adam Clarke and Frederick Holbrooke, Esq., of the Inner Temple, were appointed to superintend the Publication. It com menced in the year 1816, and was, by them, continued to the year 1821, and from Vol. II., P. II., by Mr. Holbrooke and John Caley, Esq., to the year 1830. Conjointly, these Gen tlemen have edited Six Volumes, or more properly, Three Volumes and Three Parts, which commence with the year 1066, and extend, at present, to that of 1377 ; or from William the Conqueror to the Reign of Edward III., as follows : — Vol. I. Part I. William I. to Henry III. 108G to 1272 Part II. Edward 1 1272 1307 Vol. II. Part I. Edward II 1307 KS27

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. 11 Vol. II. Part II. Edward III 1327 1344 Vol. III. Part I. Edward III 1344 1361 Part II. Edward III 13C1 1377 It appears that nine additional Volumes will only bring the Work down to Richard III., an. 1485, instead of Charles II., 1654, when Sanderson's Edition closes, a difference of 169 years. It is greatly to be regretted, with regard to this Work, and to all the other National Records, that the operations ofthe Record Commission have been suspended since the beginning of 1838, and it can scarcely be deemed consistent with the character of a Great Nation, like England, that from a false and mistaken economy, an interdict should have been placed on the prosecution of labours so truly national, and so conducive to the elucidation of truth, in all matters connected with her Histo rical Literature.

With regard to the immediate subject of the present Volume, there is no greater desideratum, than the continued Publication of Documents so illustrative and indispensable. (2) The Rolls of Parliament have also been printed in Six Folio Volumes. The Copy after which these Records of Par liament were printed, was collated by the Rev. Mr. Philip Morant, and John Topham, of Lincoln's Inn, Esq., down to the Second Year of Henry IV. ; then by Thomas Astle, Esq., Keeper of the Records in the Tower, and by Mr. Topham. The Transcripts, pursuant to an Order of the House of Peers, were deposited in thex«British Museum by the Rev. Dr. John Strachey, who corrected the Press during the printing of the " Rotuli Parliament., Petitiones et Placita in Parliamento." The Volumes are arranged as follows : — Vol. I. Edward I. II. II. Edward III. III. Richard II. Henry IV IV. Henry V. VI. V. Henry VI. Edward IV. VI. Edward IV. Richard III. Henrv

PREFACE.

. In the First Volume of the Lords' Journals, commencing 1 Henry VIII., the Rolls are carried on from the Parliament prorogued to Nov. 4, a. r. 4, through the whole Reign of this King to 1 Mary. They thus supply a large deficiency which exists in the Journals themselves. (3) In 1528, an Abridgment ofthe Statutes, from Magna Charta, to the 19th Henry VIII., was published by Owen, but William Rastall, in 1618, first put Marginal Notes to the Statutes at large, and collected all in force from Magna Charta to the 4th year of Philip and Mary. In the Reports from the Commissioners on the Public Records, is, in Volume I., p. 86, a Plan for an authentic Collection of the Statutes of the Realm, of which, under the Authority of Parliament, the First Volume appeared in 1811. Nine Volumes are now published in the following Series: — Vol. I. contains Charters Henry I. Statutes Henry III.

Stephen. Edward I. Henry II. II. John Uncertain date. Henry III. Edward Ill- Edward I, Vol. II Statutes. Richard II. Henry IV. V. Edward IV. Richard III. Henry VII. Vol. Ill Henry VIII. Vol. IV. Part I Edward VI. Mary Philip and Mary Elizabeth to a. 27. Part II. Elizabeth 28 to 43. James I. Vol. V Charles I. II Vol. VI James II. William and Mary. Vol. VII ... William

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. Vol. A'HI Anne 1 to C inclusive. Vol. IX Anne 7 to 13 inclusive. An Alphabetical Index to the Statutes was published in 1824, and contains under the word " Parliament," a List of all Bills passed. A Chronological Index from Magna Charta to Queen Anne, was also published in 1828. Other Editions of the Statutes reach to the present day. (4) The Journals of the Lords and Commons, the former commencing 1 Henry VIII., and, in 1836, extending to 91 Folio Volumes ; the latter from Nov. 8, 1 547, 1 Edward VI., (Vol. I. terminating March 2, 1628, 4 Car. I.) and extending, in 68 Volumes, to the same period, were orignally printed by Authority of the Houses, and are continued in a regular series from their first dates, with a few intermissions occasioned by the loss of the original Records, to the present day.

A complete Journal of the Transactions of both Houses, from 1 Henry VIII. to 7 Edward VI., was drawn up by Robert Bowyer, sworn Clerk of Parliaments, A d. 1609, and is in the Cotton Library. The Original Records are in the Tower, and Parliament Office. (5) Many Collections of the " Writs of Summons to Par liament," made at different Periods by the labour and researches of individual Authors, will be noticed under the Third Class. The present authorized Edition, embraces only the Reigns of Edward I. and II. It was collected and edited by Sir Francis Palgrave, and printed by Command of His Majesty King George IV., in pursuance of an Address of the Commons House of Parliament. ' The First volume was published in 1827; the Second, in two Parts, in 1830; and a Third Division to the same Volume, containing an Alphabe tical Digest and Index, in 1834, by Command of His Majesty King William IV. c

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. In the Preface to the Second Volume a notice is given of the additions which have been made in the present work, to those previously collected and published by Prynne. It is observed, by Sir Harris Nicolas, that " the Editor of the Parliamentary Writs has executed his task in a satisfactory and able manner, with one exception, that of not commencing the Series with the earliest Writs upon Record." He considers it the only well edited volume the Commission has published. These are the principal Records illustrating the subject of Parliamentary History, which have hitherto been published by the authority of Government. Many other Documents, from which casual and incidental information may be obtained, appear in the list of volumes edited by the Record Commis sion, for which their Report may be consulted.

There is also, without doubt, much authentic information to be found in the Repositories of the British Museum and of many Local Couits, of which we have at present no certain knowledge. Thus in the 24th volume of the Archæologia (1832) at p. 317, are published " Portions of the Proceedings of the Corpora tion of Lynn Regis, Norfolk, from 1430 to 1731, taken from the Hall Books." From 1392, 15 Rich. II., to 1453, 32 Hen. VI., the Records are imperfect. From this latter period, they are perfect to the present day. To the year 14S7, 4 Hen. VI., they are written in Latin ; since that time in English. II. The Second Class of Authentic Documents tending to illustrate our Constitutional History, consists of the Historians who were contemporary to, or shortly followed, the events which they relate.

Of these, many Collections and separate Editions have been, at different times, published. Of such Historical Records, the Sa.xon Chronicle is un doubtedly the earliest and most important. It contains the

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. 15 original testimony of contemporary Writers on the Transac tions of our Forefathers, from their first arrival, to the year 1154. Professor Abraham Wheloc first translated and pub lished it, at Cambridge, in 1644, as an Appendix to his Saxon Bede. His " Chronica Anglo- Saxonica" extend only to 62 folio pages. An improved Edition was published by Edmund Gibson, afterwards Bishop of London, at Oxford, in 1692, which contains nearly four times as much as Wheloc's Extract, but is still not the entire Chronicle. The honour of having printed the first literal version of the Saxon Annals was reserved for a learned Lady, Miss Gurney, of Keswick, Nor folk. Her Work was finished in 1819, but has not been published. In the year 1823, the Rev. J. Ingram published the first complete Edition, from a Collation of all the Manu scripts, and with an English Translation.

This volume con tains 374 pages. In the Preface, the Author gives an Account of the other sources of our History, prior to Henry II., when this invaluable Document terminates. Such were Gildas, and Nennius who repeats him, Bede, Aserius, and Ethelward, the most extraordinary and faithful Follower of the Saxon Annals, who seems to have disregarded all other Sources. For nearly a Century after the Conquest, the Saxon Annalists appear to have been eye witnesses of the Transactions which they relate, Where the Saxon Chronicle ends, Geoffrey of Monmouth begins. At this Period, almost every Great Monastery had its Historian, and we are indebted to these Institutions for all the authentic early information we possess as to the occur rences and events of those remote times. In each mitred Abbey of the Order of St. Benedict, says Matthew Paris, some of the Fraternity were appointed to register the most considerable Events, and after the death of every King, these Memoirs were laid before a Chapter of the Order, to be re-

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duced to a body of History, which was preserved in their Archives. Florence of Worcester closely followed Bede, Asserius, and the Saxon Chronicle. The same may be said of the Annals of Gisburne, of Margan, Melros, and Waverley. Thomas Wikes, in his Latin Chronicle of English Affairs, from the Conquest down to 1304, does not add much to Bede, William of Newburgh, and Matthew of Paris. William of Malmesbury is to be selected from all his competitors for superiority of genius. His deficiencies and inaccuracies may be corrected by a reference to the Sa.xon Chronicle. Suc ceeding Writers to the Chronicle of Simeon of Durham, who transcribes Florence of Worcester, are the two Priors of Hexham, Gervase, Hoveden, Brompton, Stubbes, the two Matthews, of Paris and of Westminster, and others. It appears, that however numerous these Writers may have been, every thing original and authentic as to the above period, may be traced to the Saxon Annals, (c) Nicholson, in his Historical Libraries, p. 40-1, has given a list of Saxon Authors, and, at p. 34, in defence of the Saxon Records, says, " Many are lost, but there are still more remaining than any of our neighbour Nations can pretend to shew, relating to the transactions of those Ages."

That many Documents are lost, which indicated their careful attention to Historical Proceedings, is rendered probable by the allusions of Andrew Horn, Author of the " Mirroir de Justice," who lived under Henry II. He quotes the Rolls of the Saxon Times, and even their Year Books, of which no remains exist. This Author makes the further statement that he had perused all the Laws of this Island, since the time of King Arthur. (c) On the probable Authors of these Annals, see Ingrain's Preface p. x., &c.

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. 17 The Series of Ancient Historians is very extensive. For a tolerably accurate account of these Writers, chronologically arranged, the Volumes of Nicholson and Priestley may be consulted. The Report of the Record Commissioners con tains also a reference to many which are the most important. The " Onomasticon Literarium" of Saxius, (7 Vols. Traj. ad Rhenum 1775-1790) and the Catalogues of the Harleian Library, 2 Vols. 8° 1743, are valuable Indexes on this subject. See also Balæus de Scriptoribus Britannicis (Gippevici. 1548) and particularly Leland's " Commentarii," Oxon. 1709. Considering the importance of these early Writers towards a knowledge of our early History, and the little acquaintance the Public at large have with them, it cannot be deemed superfluous to give a more extended account in this place, of the principal Volumes in which most of them have been pub lished collectively.

The Collection entitled " Rerum Britannicarum Scriptores vetustiores et præcipui," was published in one Folio Volume, at Heidelberg, in the year 1587, and contains the following Authors : — Galfred. Monumetensis (Geof. of Monmouth) cognomiue Arturi (fl. about 1150.) Pontius Virunnius or Virumnius (fl. 1490.) Gildas Badonicus or Sapiens (fl. 512-580.) Beda Anglo-Saxonicus (b. 6C5. d. 735 æt. 70.) Continuator ejusdem, Lib. 3. Gulielmus Neubrigensis (Petyte or Parvus) fl. 1200. Johannes Frossard (b. 1333. d. 1402.) A Second Collection, " Rerum Anglicarum Scriptores post Bedam," published, in one Folio Volume, by H. Savile, at London, 1596, and at Frankfort, 1601, contains — GuL Monach. Malmsburiensis (fl. 1141.) Henr. Archid^- Huntindon (fl. under Stephen and Hen. 2.) Rogeri Hoveden Annales (fl. under Rich 1, and John.) Chronicon Ethelward (Edward Patricius) fl. 1000. Ingulph Abbas de Croyland (b. 1030. d. 1109.)

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. In the year 1652, were published by Twysden, " Historiæ Anglicæ Scriptores Decem," at London, by Flecker, and at Leyden, by John and Daniel Elsevier. The Authors con tained in this Volume are — Simeon Monach. Dunelm. (fl 1164.) Joh. Prior Hagulstad (d. abnut 1190.) Ricard Prior Hagulstad (fl. about 1160 ) Serlo, fourth of that name, (fl. about 1160.) Ailredus Abbas Rievallensis (d. 1166.) Radulph de Diceto, or Rizeto, Londons- (fl. 1197-1210.) Joh. Brompton, Jornallensis"(under Edward 3.) Gervasius, Monach. Dorobern (fl. 1128. 1200.) Thomas Stobæus (Stubbes) Dominicanus (fl. 1360.) Gul. Thorn Cantuar, (fl. about 1380.) Henry Knyghton, Leicestrensis (fl. 1377, &c.) A Fourth Volume, [" Rerum Anglicarum Scriptores," was published at Oxford, " e Theatro Slieldoniano," in 1684. It includes the following Authors: — Ingulph.

Croyland Hist, (from a. d. 626-1091.) Petrus Blesensis (Blois) (d. about 1209) continues Ingulph from a. d. 1100, to 1118. Chronicon de Mailros (extends from a.d. 735-1270.) Annales Burtonenses (from 1104 to 1263.) Hist. Croyland Continuator (from 1149 to 1486.) A Fifth Volume, " Historiæ Anglicanæ Scriptores Quin que," published by Thomas Gale, at Oxford, e Theatro Sliel doniano, in 1687, contains — Annal. de Margam. from a. d. 1066 to 1232. Chron. Thomæ Wikes (fl. 1290, Edward 1) from 1066 to 1304. Ann. Waverleienses (under Edgar Atheling and Will. ],) from 1066 to 1291. Galfredus Vinesalvus (de Vino Salvo, Vinesauf, under Rich, and John.) Walterus de Hemingford Wrote from a. d. 1066 to 1273-1300. A Sixth Volume, " Historiæ Britannicæ, Saxonicæ, Anglo- Danicæ Scriptores Quindecim," was also published by Gale, at Oxford, in 1691, and contains — Gildas (fl. 512, 580.) Eddius (fl. 720.) Anonymus Elyensis (fl. 1099) Thomas Elyensis (fl. 1166.)

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. Nennius (fl. 620. ) Asserius (d. 909.) Joh. Wallingford (d. 1214.) Rad.de Diceto (fl. 1210.) Anonymus. Gul. Malmesburs- (fl. 1141.) Anonymous Malmesb. Joh. Fordun (after 1360.) Anonymous Ramesensis(fl. Hen. 1.) Alcwinus Flaccus (fl. 780.) Besides these Collections, and separate Editions of the same Authors, published by Heame and others, the Works of many valuable Historians, not here included, have appeared in distinct Volumes. Of these, the principal, are Marian us Scotus, a Monk of Mentz, who flourished about the year 1100. Florentius Bravonius, a Monk of Worcester, already alluded to, and the earliest Historian of the 12th Century, who died in 1118; Eadmer, a Monk of Canterbury, a Writer of unquestionable Authority, who lived under the two first Williams and Henry I., and wrote their History from 1066 to 1122; Matthew Paris, a Monk of St. Alban's, one of the most renowned Historians of the Kingdom, who gives the Annals of eight Kings, from the beginning of William I., to Henry III.

From the year, 1259, when he died, his History is continued by William de Rishanger, a Monk of the same Fraternity, to the end of this latter Reign ; and with these, is published the History of Roger Wendovre de Wendovre, a Prior of Bealvoir, sometimes called de Windleshore ; Ode ricus Vitalis, a Writer of Ecclesiastical History, who lived about the year 1141 ; Benedictus Abbas, Petroburgensis, who wrote the Lives of Henry II. and Richard I ; Matthew, a Benedictine Monk of Westminster, called Florilegus, as a Collector from former Historians, who ends his History in 1307, which year, probably, he did not long survive, and whose work was continued by Adam Merioneth, Canon of St. Paul's, to 1380, the date of this Author's death; Thomas Walsingham, a Benedictine Monk of St. Alban's, who flou rished about 1440, and begins his History at the conclusion

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. of Henry III., where Matthew Paris ends, continuing it to the end of Henry V. (d) In addition to these and other ancient Authors, many Annals and Chronicles, which supply correct and authentic information, have been derived from the various Monastic Establishments. Such are the Chronicon, sive Annales Pri oratus de Dunstaple (Ed: Hearne, 1733); the Annals, Chronicles or Registers, of Lichfield, Reading, Norwich, Glaston, Coventry, Lincoln, Ely, Worcester, Canterbury, Abingdon, St. Edmund's, Winchester, St. Alban's, of the Monastery de Bello and Monastery Bartoniense, and many similar Works referred to by Cotton, Hody, and other Writers. To these succeeded, in the 15th, 16th, and 17th Centuries, the Histories and Collections of John Ross, William Caxton, Robert Fabian, Polydore Vergil, Edward Hall, William Harrison, Ralph Hollingshead, John Stow, John Speed, Francis Godwin, Richard Baker, William Camden, Thomas Sprat, Sir Winston Churchill, and those of Saudford, Brady, Tyrrel, Echard, Carte, Guthrie, Clarendon, Burnet, Rapin, Hume, Robertson and numberless other Writers on General History, on the Lives of particular Sovereigns, or on circumstances of particular Reigns.