A borough, having separate jurisdiction and the head of a union, locally in the hundred of Kibbor, county of Glamorgan. 158 miles west from London. The borough consists of the parishes of St John Baptist and St Mary, both discharged vicarages consolidated in the diocese of Llandaff.
English information from Samuel Lewis, A Topographical Dictionary of England (S. Lewis & Co: London, 1831)
Welsh information taken from Samuel Lewis, A Topographical Dictionary of Wales(Lewis & Co: London, 1840)
The reason for the use of these works of reference is that they present the jurisdictional and ecclesiastical position as it was before the major Victorian changes. The descriptions therefore approximate to those applying in the sixteenth century, after the major changes of 1535-42. Except for the physical locations, which have not changed, the reader should not therefore take these references as being accurate in the twenty-first century.
[Back to Top]For the which most wicked euils he is excommunicate from the sea Apostolike, so that he may not exercise either kingdome or power ouer vs which be Catholicke And whereas you burden vs with hatred of our brethren, knowe you that we purpose not to hate any of affection, but of a godly zeale. MarginaliaA zeale, but farre from knowledge. God forbidde that we should thinke Harry worthy to be accompted amongst our christian brethren, who in deede is reputed for an Ethnike and Publicane, in that he refused to heare the Church which so oft hath reproued him. The hatred of whome we offer vnto God for a great sacrifice, MarginaliaAnd when they shall slay you, they shall thinke they doe God great seruice. Iohn. 16. saying with the Psalmist: Lord shall not I hate them that hate thee? and shall not I triumph ouer thine enemies? I hate them with an inward hatred that be ennemies to me for thy sake. The truth it selfe commending the worthines of this hatred, doth say: If any do not hate father and mother, brethren and sisters for my sake, he cannot be my disciple. We are not therefore iustly to be reproued of hatred, which doe geue ouer our owne soule to be in the way of God: MarginaliaYea true, if he had cōpelled you to forsake the name of Christ, which hee neuer did.who in deede are commanded to hate father and mother, and euery affection which doth withstād vs for walking in the path of God. Hereof it commeth, that we labor withall our studie and endeuour to beware of the enemies of the church, and them to hate. Not for that they be our enemies, but gods. Farther, where you doe perswade peace to be had with all men: you must remember what the Apostle doth put before, if it may be. But if it can be that we can haue peace with them, who can be contrary to God? Who doth not know the Lord our Sauiour, to commend not onely peace, when as he sayth: my peace I geue vnto you, my peace I leaue vnto you? but that he is the peace, as sayeth the Apostle: he is the peace which made of both one: For he calleth him our peace, speaking in commendation of the peace: Thincke not (sayeth hee) that I came to sende peace. For I came not to send peace, but the sworde. What is meant by this? Why is peace called a sword? Or doth peace bid battel? MarginaliaOh how craftely doth Sathan here shape himselfe to an Angell of light. Yea truely, to destroy the peace of the deuill. For the deuil hath his peace, whereof the Lord speaketh: When as the strong man keepeth his house, he doth possesse all his substance in peace. Oh howe mightely doeth the deuil kepe his souldiours and his house in this time: who with the shield of falshoode, and the helmet of vntruth, so doth defend him, that he will not suffer either arrow or dart of truth to pearse him. Neuertheles, our Lord being more strongly armed, & fiercely comming vpon your Giaunt, is able to ouercome him, and to take away his weapons, wherein he putteth his trust. We are not therfore to be blamed, if we do detest that peace, more cruel then any warre. The which the truth it selfe did reproue, weeping ouer Hierusalem, and saying: Truely, it grieueth me this day to see sinners in peace, being like vnto that peace, wherat the Psalmist was offended. Whereas you condemne Pope Gregory, king Rodolphus, and Marques Eggerbertus, as men that haue died of an vnhappy death, & do magnifie your Lord, because he doth ouerliue them: it doth plainly (forsoth) appeare that you remaine voide of all spiritual consideration. Is it not better to die well, then to liue ill? They be truely happy, who suffer persecution for righteousnes sake. by the same reason may you esteme Nero, Herod, and Pilate happy, in that they ouerliued Peter, Paul, Iames Apostles, & Iesus Christ. What can be said more foolish and wicked then this opinion? Wherfore refraine your babling toung from this blasphemie, least that you place your selfe in the number of them, which seeing the end of the iust to be glorious (themselues doing late & vnfruitfull penance, bewailing in the anguish of the spirite) shall say: These be they whom sometime we had in derision, & laughed to scorne: we being out of our wits, thought their liues madnes, and their end to be without honor. Behold howe they be allowed to be amongst the children of God, and their portion is amongst the Saints. Wherfore we haue erred from the way of truth, & the brightnes of righteousnesse did not shine vpon vs. What did our pride auaile vs? And what profit did the boasting of our richesse bring vnto vs? They are all vanished away like a shadowe. The which wordes we haue registred vp into perpetual memorie, & we do despise euery attēpt that shal lift vp it self against the truth of God. And reioycing in troubles, we may be reprooued, put to shame and rebuked, yea and finally be slaine and killed, but we wil neither yeeld, nor be ouercome. And with great triumph will we reioyce in our fathers doings: of whom, you (as a beardles boy, & of smal knowledge) haue not rightly conceiued: who in dede despising Princes cōmandements, haue deserued euerlasting reward.
[Back to Top]MarginaliaEx vetusto chronico.There is a certaine Chronicle in olde English meter, which among other matters speaking of William Rufus, declareth him to be so sumptuous & excessiue in pompous apparel, that he being not contented with a paire of hose of a lowe price which was iij. shillings: caused a paire to be bought of a marke, whereupon his chamberlaine procuring a paire much worse then the other before, sayd:
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That they costenid a marke, and vnneth he them so bought,
Ye belamy (quoth the king) these are well bought.
Wherby is to be noted what difference is to be sene betweene the hose of Princes then, and the hose of seruingmen now.
MarginaliaKinges ceased in Wales.After the time of this king William, the name of kings ceased in the country of Wales among the Britaines, since king Ris. who in the raigne of this king, the yeare of oure Lorde 1093 was slaine in Wales. Ex continuatione Roger. Houeden.
MarginaliaAnno. 1100.HEnry first of that name, the third sonne of W. Conquerour, succeeding his brother Rufus: began his raigne in England, the yere of our Lord 1100.
The Foxe Project was not able to complete the commentary on this section of text by the date by which this online edition was compiled (23 September 2008). This commentary will become available in due course from the 'Late Additions and Corrections' page of the edition.
In the second yere of his reigne, Robert his elder brother Duke of Normādy, who being occupied in the Christen warres against the Turkes, and being elect (as yee heard) king of Hierusalem, hearing of the death of Rufus, refused the kingdom therof. MarginaliaExample what it is to leaue off the Lordes busines.For the which (as is thought) he neuer sped wel after. Thus the saide Robert, leauing of the Lordes busines, and returning into Normandy, made there his preparation, and came ouer into England, with a great hoste to chalenge the Crowne. But by mediation of the Lordes it was agreed, that Robert shoulde haue yearely during his life iij. M. markes, as was likewise promised him before, by K. Rufus his brother. And whether of them ouer liued the other, to be others heyre. And thus Robert departed again vnto Normādy, to the great discontentation of his Lords there. But in few yeares after, the forenamed tribute of iij. M. Markes, through the meanes of Queene Maude, was released to the King his brother. In proces of time, variance falling betwene king Henry, and the sayd Robert his brother: at length Robert in his warre MarginaliaDuke Robert taken prisoner.was taken prisonner and brought ouer into England, & was put into the Castel of Cardife in Wales, where he continued as prisoner while he liued.
[Back to Top]MarginaliaThe hospitall of Bartholomew founded.In this time, as about the iij. yeare of this king: the hospitall of S. Bartholomewe in Smithfield was founded (by meanes of a minstrell belonging to the King) named Rayer. MarginaliaRayer, and Richard Whittington founders of S. Bartholomewes. in London. And after was finished by Richard Whittyngton, Alderman and Maior of London. This place of Smithfield was at that day, a lay stowe of all ordure or filth, & the place where the felones & other transgressors of the kings lawes were put to execution.
[Back to Top]Diuers strait lawes were by this king prouided, especially against theeues and felones: that who so were taken in that fault, no money should saue him from hanging.
Item, that who so did counterfait false money, shoulde haue both his eyes, and nether partes of his body cut off.
Item, in the same Councell was decreed, an order for Priestes to be sequestred from their wiues, whych before were not forbidden, according as the wordes of mine author doe purporte, whose wordes be these: MarginaliaEx Henr lib. 7. Anselmus.Anselmus prohibuit vxores sacerdotibus Anglorum, antè non prohibitas. Quòd quibusdam mundissimum visum est, quibusdam periculosum, ne dum mundicias viribus maiores appeterent, in immundicias horribiles ad Christiani nominis summum dedecus inciderent. &c. Hen. Hunt.
[Back to Top]Item, it was then decreed, that Monkes and Priests should beare no rule ouer lay persons.
Item, it was then decreed, concerning broydering of heare, and wearing of garments.
Item, that the secrete contract betwene a yong lad and a yong maid should not stand: with other things mo concerning the excommunication of Sodomites. &c.
In the storie of William Rufus before, was declared how Anselmus Archbishop of Canterbury departing out