Written in the lustie moneth of May
in our Palace, where many a million
of louers true haue habitation,
The yeere of grace ioyfull and iocond,
a thousand, foure hundred and second.
[Footnote 1: Algezer in Granado.]
[Footnote 2: Layas in Armenia. Froysart. lib. 3. cap. 40.]
[Footnote 3: Satalie in the mayne of Asia neere Rhods.]
[Footnote 4: Tremisen is in Barbarie.]
[Footnote 5: Or, Palice. Froysart lib. 3. cap. 40.]
* * * * *
The original proceedings and successe of the Northren domestical and forren
trades and traffique of this Isle of Britain from the time of Nero the
Emperour, who deceased in the yeere of our Lord 70. vnder the Romans,
Britons, Saxons, and Danes, till the conquest: and from the conquest,
vntill this present time, gathered out of the most authenticall histories
and records of this nation.
* * * * *
A testimonie out of the fourteenth Booke of the Annales of Cornelius
Tacitus, proouing London to haue bene a famous Mart Towne in the reigne
of Nero the Emperour, which died in the yeere of Christ 70.
At Suetonius mira constantia medios inter hostes Londinium perrexit,
cognomento quidem colonia non insigne, sed copia negociatorum & commeatu
maxime celebre.
The same in English.
But Suetonius with wonderfull constancie passed through the middest of his
enemies, vnto London, which though it were not honoured with the name and
title of a Romane Colonie, yet was it most famous for multitude of
Marchants and concourse of people.
* * * * *
A testimome out of Venerable Beda (which died in the yeere of our Lord
734.) proouing London to haue bene a Citie of great traffike and
Marchandize not long after the beginning of the Saxons reigne.
Anno Dommina incarnationis sexcentesimo quarto Augustinus Britanniarum
Archiepiscopus ordinauit duos Episcopos, Mellitum videlicet & Iustum:
Mellitum quidem ad pradicandum prouincia Orientalium Saxonum, qui Tamesi
fluuio dirimuntur a Cantia & ipsi Orientali Mari contigui, quorum
Metropolis Londonia Ciuitas est super ripam prafati fluminis posita & ipsa
multorum emporium populorum, terra marique venientium. [Footnote: Beda
Ecclesiastica historia Gentis Anglornm lib. 2. cap 3.]
The same in English.
In the yeere of the incarnation of Chnst 604. Augustine Archbishop of
Britaine consecrated two Bishops, to wit Mellitus and Iustus. He appoynted
Mellitus to preach to the East Saxons which are diuided from Kent by the
riuer of Thames, and border vpon the Easterne sea, whose chiefe and
Metropolitane Citie is London seated vpon the banke of the aforesaid riuer,
which is also a Marte Towne of many nations, which repayre thither by sea
and by land.
* * * * *
The league betweene Carolus Magnus and Offa King of Mercia concerning safe
trade of the English Marchants in all the Emperours Dominion. This Offa
died in the yeere of our Lord 795.
