Volume 1

• Front Matter:

  • [engraved_title_page]
  • [illustration]
  • TO THE RIGHT Honorable and his ſingular good Lorde, Sir VVilliam Cecill, Baron of Burghleygh, Knight of the most noble order of the Garter, Lord high Treaſou|rer of England, Maiſter of the Courtes of Wardes and Lyueries, and one of the Queenes Maieſties priuie Counſell.
  • THE PREFACE to the Reader.
  • ¶The names of the Authours from whome this Historie of England is collected.

  Body Text:

  • AN HISTORICALL DE|ſcription of the Iſlande of Britayne, with a briefe re|hearſall of the nature and qualities of the people of Englande, and of all ſuch com|modities as are to be founde in the ſame.
    • To the Right Honorable, and his ſingular good Lord and maiſter, S. William Brooke Knight, Lord warden of the cinque Portes, and Baron of Cobham, all increaſe of the feare and knowledge of God, firme obedience towarde his Prince, infallible loue to the common wealth, and commen|dable renowne here in this wo illegible lde, and in the worlde to come, lyfe euerlaſting.
    • The deſcription of Britaine. ¶Of the ſcituation and quantitie of the Iſle of Britayne. Cap. 1.
    • Of the auncient names of this Iſlande. Cap. 2.
    • What ſundry Nations haue inhabited in this Iſlande. Cap. 3.
    • Whether it be likely that there were euer any Gyaunts inhabiting in this Iſle or not. Cap. 4.
    • Of the generall Language vſed from time to time in Britaine. Chap. 5.
    • Into how many kingdomes the Iſle of Bri|taine hath bene deuided at once in olde time. Cap. 6.
    • Of the auncient Religion vſed in this Iſland, from the comming of Samothes vnto the conuerſion of the ſame vn|to the faith of Chriſt. Cap. 8.
    • Of the number and names of ſuch ſalt Iſlands, as lye diſperſed rounde about vppon the coaſt of Brytaine. Cap. 8.
    • Of the ryſing and falles of ſuch ryuers and ſtreames, as deſcende into the ſea with|out alteration of their names, and firſt of thoſe that lye betweene the Thames and the Sa|uerne. Cap. 9.
    • Of the Sauerne ſtreame and ſuch falles of ry|uers as go into the ſea, betweene it and the Humber. Cap. 10.
    • ¶Of ſuch Riuers as fall into the Sea, betweene Humber to the Thames. Cap. xj.
    • Of the foure hyghe wayes ſometyme made in Brytaine, by the Princes of thys Lande. Chap. 12.
    • Of the ayre and ſoyle of Britaine. Chap. 13.
    • Of the generall conſtitution of the bodyes of the Brytaines. Cap. 14.
    • How Britayne grew at the firſt to be deuided into three portions. Chap. 1.
    • That notwithſtanding the former diuiſion made by Brute vnto his children, the ſoue|reigntie of the whole Iſlande remained ſtill to the prince of Lhoegres and his poſteritie after him. Chap. xvj.
    • Of the wall ſometime buylded for a parti|cion betweene Englande and the Pictes. Cap. 17.
  • The second Booke, of the hystoricall description of Britaine, conteining these chapters following.
    • Of ryuers and waters that loſe their before they come at the ſea. Cap. 1.
    • Of the Sauerne, and ſuch riuers as fall into the ſame, as alſo of other, whereby the reſt afore mencioned, are increaſed be|fore we come to the Humber. Chap. 2.
    • Of ſuch ſtreames as fall into the maine ri|uers betweene Humber and the Thames. Cap. 3.
    • Of the deuiſion of Englande as it is now generally named into Shyres Cap. 4.
    • Of the number of Biſhoprijcks in Englande and Wales, and of the preſent ſtate of the churche there. Cap. 5.
    • Of Vniuerſities. Cap. 6.
    • Of Cities and townes, within the realme of Englande. Cap. 7.
    • Of Caſtelles and holdes. Cap. 8.
    • Of Pallaces belonging to the prince, and court of Englande. Cap. 9.
    • Of the maner of Buylding and furniture of our houſes. Cap. 10.
    • Of Fayres and Markettes. Cap. 11.
    • Of Armour and Munition. Cap. 12.
    • Of the Nauie of Englande. Cap. 13.
    • Of Bathes and hote welles. Cap. 14.
    • ¶Of Parkes and Warrens. Cap. 15.
    • Of Wooddes and marriſes. Cap. 16.Great a|bundance of wood ſometime in Eng|land.
    • ¶Of the Antiquities, or auncient Coines found in England. Cap. 17.
    • Of the Marueyles of Englande. Cap. 18.
  • ¶The thirde Booke of the hiſtoricall deſcription of Brytaine, conteyning theſe chap|ters inſuing.
    • ¶ Of the foode and diet of the Engliſhe. Cap. 1.
    • Of our apparell and attire. Cap. 2.
    • ¶ Of the Lawes of England. Cap. 3.
    • Of the degrees of people in the common wealth of Englande. Cap. 4.
    • ¶Of prouiſion made for the poore. Cap. 5.
    • Of ſundrie punishments appoynted for malefactors. Cap. 6.
    • Of ſauuage beaſtes and vermines. Cap. 7.
    • ¶Of Cattell kept for profite. Cap. 8.
    • Of vvilde and tame Fowles. Cap. 9.
    • Of fiſhe taken vpon our Coaſtes. Cap. 10.
    • Of Hawkes and Rauenous foules. Cap. 11.
    • ¶ Of venemous beaſtes. &c. Cap. 12.
    • Of Engliſhe Dogges. Cap. 13.
    • ¶ Of Engliſh Saffron. Cap. 14.
    • Of Quarries of ſtone for buylding. Cap. 15.
    • ¶Of ſundry Mineralles. Cap. 16.
    • ¶ Of common or artificiall Salt made in Englande. Cap. 17.
    • Of Mettalles. Cap. 18.
    • Of precious ſtones. Cap. 19.
    • ¶Of the Coynes of Englande. Cap. 20.
    • Of our accompt of time, and partes thereof. Cap. 21.
    • Of the maner of meaſuring the length and bredth of things after the Engliſh vſage. Cap. 22.
    • Of Engliſh weightes and their compa|riſon with others. Cap. 23.
    • Of liquide meaſures. Cap. 24.
    • Of the drie meaſures of Englande, and their compariſon with others. Cap. 25.
  • ¶Faultes eſcaped.
    • In the Firſt Booke.
    • In the ſeconde Booke.
  • THE HISTORIE of Englande.
    • Noe.
    • Iaphet.
    • Samothes.
    • Magus.
    • Sarron.
    • Druis.
    • Bardus.
    • Albion.
    • BRVTE.
    • Locrinus, the ſecond ru|ler of Britayne.
    • Madan the third Ruler.
    • Mempricius the fourth Ruler.
    • Ebranke the fifth Ruler.
    • Brute Greeneſhielde the .6. Ruler.
    • Leill the ſeuenth Ruler.
    • Lud Hurdibras the eight Ruler.
    • Baldud the .9. Ruler.
    • Leir the .10. Ruler.
    • Cordeilla Queene.
    • Cunedag and Margan contende for the gouernement.
    • Ryuall the .13. Ruler.
    • Gurguſt the .14. Ruler.
    • Syſillius the .15. Ruler.
    • Iago the .16. Ruler.
    • Kinimak the 17. Ruler.
    • Gorbodug the .18. Ruler.
    • Ferrex the .19. Ruler.
    • Mulmu illegible ius the firſt crowned King of Britayne.
    • Belinus and Brennus, the ſonnes of Mulmucius.
    • Gurguint.
    • Guintolinus.
    • Sicilius.
    • Kimarus.
    • Elanius.
    • Morinde.
    • Gorbonian.
    • Archigallo.
    • Elidure.
    • Archigallo againe.
    • Elidure againe.
    • Vigenius and Peredurus.
    • Elidurus the thirde time.
    • Lud.
    • Caſsibellane.
    • Theomantius.
    • Kymbelyne or Cimbeline,
    • Guiderius.Guide|rius.
    • Aruiragus.
    • Marius, otherwiſe Meurig, or Maue.
    • Coyllus.
    • Lucius.
    • Seuerus.
    • Carauſsius.
    • Alectus.
    • Aſclepiodotus duke of Cornewall.
    • Coellus.
    • Conſtantius.
    • Conſtantine.
    • Octauius.
    • Maximianus, or rather Maximus.
    • Gracianus.
    • Conſtantinus.
    • Conſtantius.
    • Vortigerne.
    • Vortimer.
    • Vortigerne the ſeconde time.
    • Aurelius Ambroſius.
    • Vter Pendragon.
    • ArthurArthure.
    • Conſtantine.
    • Conanus.
    • Vortiporus.
    • Malgo.
    • Careticus or Caretius K. of Brita illegible n.
    • Cadwan.
    • Cadwallo or Cadwalline.
    • Cenwalch King of VVeſt Saxons.
    • Swidhelme.
    • King Ethelred.
    • Cadwallader.
    • Ceadwalla.
    • Inas king of VVeſt Saxons.
    • Ethelard.
    • Cuthred.
    • Sigibert.
    • Kinewulfe.
    • Brightrichus.
    • Ethelbald and Ethelbright.
    • Ethelred.
    • Alvred or Alfred.
    • Edwarde the elder.
    • Adelſtane.
    • Edmonde.
    • Edredus or Edred.
    • Edwin.
    • Edgar.
    • Edwarde.
    • Egelredus.
    • Edmond ſurnamed Yronſide.
    • Canute or Cnute.
    • Harolde, the baſe ſonne of Cnute.
    • Hardiknought, or Hardic illegible ute.
    • Edwarde.
    • Harolde.

Volume 2

• Front Matter:

  • [engraved_title_page]
  • [list_of_sources]
  •  TO THE RIGHT Honorable the Lorde Robert Dudley, Earle of Leyceſter, Baron of Denbigh, Knight of the moſt noble order of the Garter, Maister of the Queenes Maieſties Horſe, and one of hir highneſſe priuy Counſell.
  • THE DESCRIPTION OF Scotlande, written at the firſt by Hector Boethus in Latin, and afterwarde tranſlated into the Scottish ſpeech by Iohn Bellendon Archdeacon of Murrey, and now finally into Engliſh, for the benefite of ſuch as are ſtudious in the Hi|ſtories, by W.H.
  • TO THE RIGHT VVORSHIPFVL Maiſter Thomas Secford Eſquier and Maiſter of the Requeſtes, William Hariſon vvisheth all knovvledge of God, with dayly increaſe of his giftes at this preſent, and in the worlde to come life euerlaſting.

  Body Text:

  • [description_of_Scotland]
    • ¶The boundes of Albion with the ſundry commodities thereof, and of the great infirmities that fall vnto the people there for their intemperancy, and finally of the Religion vſed there in old tyme. Chap. 1.
    • The deſcription of the Eaſt weſt and middle bor|ders of Scotland, with the moſt notable townes and flouds therof. Chap. 2.
    • The Deſcription of Galloway, Kyle, Carricke and Cunningham, with the notable Townes, Lakes and Riuers in the ſame. Chap. 3.
    • The ſituation of Renfrew, Cliddiſdall, Lennox, Lowmund, Argile, Louchquhaber, Lorne, and Kentyre, with all the notable things contay|ned in the ſame. Chap. 4.
    • The diſcourſe of Ros, Stranauern, and M illegible rr illegible y land, with the lake illegible , riuers and notable townes in them. Chap. 5.
    • Of Boene, Anze, Buchquhaue, Mar, Meruis, Fiffe, and Angus, with the lakes, floudes, Abbeyes, townes, and other notable things contey|ned in the ſame. Chap. 6.
    • The deſcription of Lowthian, Striueling, Men|teth, Calidon wood, Bowgewall, Gar illegible oth, with the notable Cities, Caſtels and Floudes thereof. Chap. 7.
    • Of the great plenty of Hares, redde Dere, and o|ther wilde beaſtes in Scotland, of the ſtrange properties of ſundry Scottiſh Dogges, and of the nature of Salmon. Chap. 8.
    • Of the ſundry kindes of Muſkles and Cockles in Scotland, and pearles gotten in the ſame: of the vncouth and ſtrange fiſh there to be ſeene, and of the nature of the herbe Cythiſus commonly called Hadder. Chap. 9.
    • Of the Iles of Scotland, and ſuch notable things as are to be found in them. Chap. 10.
    • Of the nature of the Claike geeſe, and ſundry maners of their procreation, and of the Ile of Thule. Chap. 11.
    • Of the deſcription of Orkenay, and Shetland with ſundry other ſmal Iles, and of the maners and conditions of the people dwelling in the ſame. Chap. 12.
    • Of the maners of the Scottes in theſe dayes, and their compariſon with the behauiour of the old, and ſuch as liued long ſince with|in this Iland. Chap. 13.
    • The deſcription of an auncient Pict. Chap. 14.
    • The number of Biſhoppes in Scot|land. Chap. 15.
  • THE HISTORIE of Scotlande.

  Back Matter:

  • A Table of the principall matters touched in the Hiſtorie of Scotland, where note that the firſt number ſignifieth the page, the ſecond the line, not accounting aboue 58. line in the firſt Colume at the moſt.

Volume 3

• Front Matter:

  • [engraved_title_page]
  • ¶ The Authors out of whome this Hiſtorie of Irelande hath bene gathered.
  •  TO THE RIGHT Honourable ſir Henry Sydney Knight, Lorde Deputie Generall of Irelande, Lorde preſident of Wales, Knight of the moste noble Order of the Garter, and one of hir Maieſties priuie Counſel within hir Realme of Englande.

  Body Text:

  • ¶ A Treatiſe contayning a playne and perfect Deſcription of Irelande, with an Introduction, to the better vnderſtanding of the Hyſtories, appartayning to that Iſlande: compyled by Richard Stanyhurst, and written to the Ryght Honorable, Syr Henry Sydney Knight, Lorde Deputie of Irelande, Lorde preſident of Wales, Knight of the moſt noble order of the Garter, and one of hir Maieſties priuie Counſell with|in hir realme of England.
    • Of the nature of the ſoyle, and other incidentes. Chap. 2.
    • The names of the ciuities, borroughes and hauen townes in Irelande. Cap. 3.
    • Of the eſt illegible g illegible nd wonderfull places in Irelande. Cap. 4.
    • Of the Lordes Spirituall of Irelande. Cap. 5.
    • The lordes temporall, as well Engliſh as Iriſhe, which inhabite Ireland. Chap. 6.
    • The names or ſurnames of the learned men and authors of Ireland. Chap. 7.
    • The diſpoſition and maners of the meere Iriſh, commonly called the wyld Iriſhe. Chap. 8.
  • THE HISTORIE of Irelande.
  • The ſeconde Booke of the Hiſtories of Irelande, in which the conqueſt made by Henry the ſecond of that name, King of Englande, is comprehended.
    • ¶ Edwarde the ſeconde.
    • Edward the third.
    • ¶ Richard the ſeconde.
    • ¶ Henrie the fourth.
    • ¶ Henrie the fift.
    • ¶ Henrie the ſixt.
    • Edwarde the fourth, And Edward the fifth.
    • ¶ Richard the third.Richard the third.
    • ¶ Henry the ſeuenth.
  • The thirde Booke of the Hiſtorie of Ireland, compriſing the raigne of Henry the eyght: continued by Richard Stanihurſt, and vvritten to the right honorable Sir Henrie Sidney Knight, Lord Deputie of Ireland, Lord preſident of VVales, Knight of the moſt noble order of the Garter, and one of hir Maieſties priue Counſayle within hir Realme of Englande.

  Back Matter:

  • The yeares of our Lorde.The names of the Gouernors, Lieutenants, Lord Iuſtices, and Deputies of Ireland, ſince the conqueſt thereof by king Henrie the ſecond.
  • A TABLE EXACTLY DRAVVEN for the Hiſtorie of Irelande.
  • [errata]
    • Faultes and ouerſightes eſcaped in the printing of the Hyſtorie of Scotlande.
    • Faultes eſcaped in the imprinting of the deſcription of Ireland.
    • Faultes and ouerſightes eſcaped in the printing of this Hiſtorie of Irelande.

Volume 4

• Front Matter:

  • [engraved_title_page]
  • [illustration]
  • THE PREFACE to the Reader.

  Body Text:

  • [history]
    • The politique Conqueſte of VVilliam the firſt.
    • VVilliam Rufus.
    • ¶Henry the firſt.
    • King Stephen.
    • Henry the ſeconde.
    • Richarde the firſte.
    • King Iohn.
    • Henry the thirde.
    • Edward the fyrſte.
    • Edward the ſecond.
    • King Edward the thirde.
    • King Richard the ſeconde.
    • King Henrie the fourth.
    • King Henrie the fifth.
    • Henry the ſixte.
    • King Edward the fourth.
    • ¶The hiſtorie of king Edward the fifth, and king Richard the third vnfiniſhed, written by Maiſter Thomas Moore then one of the vnder She|riffes of London, about the yeare of our lorde .1513. according to a Copie of his owne hande: Printed among his other woorkes.
    • King Richard the third.
    • King Henry the ſeuenth.
    • King Henry the eyghte.
    • King Edwarde the ſixthe.
    • Queene Marie.
    • Queene Elizabeth.

  Back Matter:

  • A Table ſeruing vnto both parts of the Chronicles of England, wherein, for thy better inſtruction (gentle Reader,) thou ſhalt vn|derſtand, that the firſt number ſignifyeth the page, and the ſecond number, the line of the page, which in ſome places thou ſhalt finde diuided into the lynes of the Columes, and in ſome other, to followe the number of the whole lynes of the page, ſome pages are by ouerſight eſcaped faultie, which it may pleaſe thee to correct, and ſo vſe it to thy profite.
  • Faultes and ouerſightes eſcaped in the printing of the firſt part of the Engliſh Historie before the Conqueſt.