Northern Europe - The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques And Discoveries Of The English Nation - Volume 1 - Collected By Richard Hakluyt
- Page 43 of 243 - First - Home
O Charitable Kingly Parent, That Was Touched
With Ardent Zeale, For Procuring The Publike Profite Of His Kingdome, Yea
And Also The Peaceable Enioying Thereof.
O, of an incredible masse of
treasure, a kingly portion, yet, in his coffers remayning:
If then he had,
(or late) before any warres, seeing no notable taxe, or contribution publike
is historically mentioned to haue bene for the charges leuied: if in peace
he himselfe flourished so wealthily: O marueilous politicall, & princely
prudencie, in time of peace to foresee, and preuent, (and that most
puissantly, and inuinciblly) all possible malice, fraude, force, and
mischiefe forrain. O most discreet liberalitie to such excellent vses,
powring out his treasure so abundantly. O faithfull English people (then,)
and worthy subiects, of such an Imperiall and godly Gouernour. O your true,
and willing hearts, and blessed ready hands (then,) so to impart such
abundance of victuals for those huge Names maintenance: so (I say) as
neither dearth of famine, seemed (fondly) to be feared of you, for any
intolerable want likely to ensue thereby, nor prices of victuals complained
of to be vnreasonable enhaunsed by you, finding, for their great sales so
good, and rare opportunitie.
This peaceable king Edgar, was one of the perfect Imperiall Monarches of
this British Empire, and therefore thus his fame remaineth (for euer)
recorded.
[Sidenote: Charta Regis Henrici secundi.] Anglici orbis Basileus, flos, &
decus Adgarus, non minus memorabilis Anglis, quam Cyrus Persis, Romulus
Romanis, Alexander Macedonibus, Arsaces Parthis, Carolus Francis, Anno vita
37. Regni sui cum fratre, & post 21. Idibus Iulij obijt, & apud Glascon
sepelitur. [Footnote: Translation: "The king of the English realm,
that flower (of kings) and renowned Edgar, not less famous amongst the
English than Cyrus amongst the Persians, Romulus amongst the Romans,
Alexander amongst the Macedonians, Arsaces amongst the Parthians, Charles
(the Great) amongst the Franks, in the 37th year of his age and 21st year
of his reign with his brother and alone, died on the Ides of July, and was
buried at Glastonbary."]
O Glastonbury, Glastonbury, the treasurie of the carcases of so famous, and
so many persons (Qua olim mater sanctorum dicta es, & ab alijs, tumulus
sanctorum, quam ab ipsis discipulis Domini, adificatam fuisse venerabilis
habet Antiquorum authoritas) how lamentable is thy case nowe? howe hath
hypocrisie and pride wrought thy desolation? though I omit here the names
of very many other, both excellent holy men, and mighty princes, whose
carcases are committed to thy custody, yet that Apostolike Ioseph, that
triumphant British Arthur, and nowe this peaceable and prouident Saxon king
Edgar, doe force me with a certaine sorowful reuerence, here to celebrate
thy memorie.
[Sidenote: Ranulphus Cestrinis.] This peaceable king, Edgar, (as by ancient
Recordes may appeare) his Sommer progresses, and yerely chiefe pastimes
were, the sailing round about this whole Isle of Albion, garded with his
grand name of 4000. saile at the least, parted into 4. equall parts of
petie Nauies, eche one being of 1000. ships, for so it is anciently
recorded.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 43 of 243
Words from 22049 to 22549
of 127955