Henry VIII, the Reign
An Epitome of the title that the Kynges Majestie of Englande
hath to the souereigntie of Scotlande
By Nicholas Bodrugan alias Adams 1548
Although I know right well (most noble Prince) that there be diverse which both by their council and writing, do to their uttermost powers swade the union of Scotland unto your highness, by the marriage of their Queen, a mean thereunto both honourable and Godly.
Yet nevertheless, the same study and further declarators of your majesties title to the superiority thereof seems unto me to be so indifferently pertaining to all men, which. do professes obedience to your highness, that no inannes study ought to be taken as vain or unthankful, which humbly brings further to that common use, whatsoever judgement, profit, or knowledge, he supposes to have found, either by study, or inquisition : foreseeing that in tempestuous upswellings of water or shipwreck, fire, or other like calamities of men, right acceptable unto us is the labour of those and thanks worthy, which willingly do run to help us, although in the meantime there be other sufficient number, to deliver vs from the peril! objected.
Here fore, most noble prince, pervsing the ancient histories of this great Britaigne, and finding such plenty of writers confessing your superiority of Scotland, as could not by any entendement so fully consent upon any untruth, I thought it my duty to offer up the same unto your highness, [aienstthe obstinacy of Scott is a nation often vanquished by the valiant manhood of jour noble progenitor and only left in life by their mercy], which histories like as almighty God hath from time to time, in favour of the truth and of your title preserved.
So hath his Godhead signified no less favour to your highness, vouchesauyng to nobilitate the same, in the person of your majesty, consented unto this your time the noble house of Seymour, whose ancestor Eldulph de Samour being then Earl of Gloucester, many hundreds years a gone, in the time of King Aurelius Ambrose slew Hengest the Saxon capital enemy of the Briton nation by which noble service like as this Eealme was delivered from the tyranny of Saxons, and restored to the whole Empire & name of great Briteigne; so we your obedient and loving subjects trust, that the right noble duke of Somerset, and the Lord Seymour of Sudeley, your graces high Admiral, your Majesties dear uncles, shall, in the service of your highness, for the like restitution of the name and Empire of great Briteigne unto your highness, shew themselves the worthy successors of such an auwcester.
Neither have I purposed herein, with opprobrious words to scold with the Scotts, and thereby to wipe of onedurt with another. Neither do I intend to build upon our own English authors, but all my purpose is, by indifferent writers, with plain and evident truth (which thing both time and manners do evermore require) to publish your majesties right and their defence, following therein for the more part Ueremund, Camphil, Corneliusde Hibernia, and Boccius their own authors: which peines because have assumed rather as a necessary service to my country, then for mine own glory, I trust I shall offend none but such, whom it should be ashamed to please.
Mine inclination is to have the good word of every man, but the diseased malice of some cannot say well of any. Albeit, touching the phrase and stile of this my writing, if the same to any man shall not satisfy his expectation, let him consider that in part it behoueth to use the words of the history, in which I am restrained by promise of an Epitome; and that in the residue it was not my mind to trifle with the fine flowers of Rhetoric, but to bring rather faithful, then painted glittering overture, unto things afflicted. The verity of the Histories I trust shall so hereby appear, that both the good men of Scotland, by reason and the enemies (if any such bee) by their own shame shall driven, to confess this mine assertion to be true, and the same such as though the marriage by the iniquity of some take not effect, yet to publish to the world sufficient cause, for the maintenance of your majesties action against them, wherein the honour of a king may not geue place to their wilful rebellion.
And for recovery whereof, undoubtedly almighty God, for your sincere favour to the auancement of his holy word, will by his promise as he has begun, continue your highness in felicity and victory, over all his and your enemies, where unto all your true subjects do say.
AMEN
Yet nevertheless, the same study and further declarators of your majesties title to the superiority thereof seems unto me to be so indifferently pertaining to all men, which. do professes obedience to your highness, that no inannes study ought to be taken as vain or unthankful, which humbly brings further to that common use, whatsoever judgement, profit, or knowledge, he supposes to have found, either by study, or inquisition : foreseeing that in tempestuous upswellings of water or shipwreck, fire, or other like calamities of men, right acceptable unto us is the labour of those and thanks worthy, which willingly do run to help us, although in the meantime there be other sufficient number, to deliver vs from the peril! objected.
Here fore, most noble prince, pervsing the ancient histories of this great Britaigne, and finding such plenty of writers confessing your superiority of Scotland, as could not by any entendement so fully consent upon any untruth, I thought it my duty to offer up the same unto your highness, [aienstthe obstinacy of Scott is a nation often vanquished by the valiant manhood of jour noble progenitor and only left in life by their mercy], which histories like as almighty God hath from time to time, in favour of the truth and of your title preserved.
So hath his Godhead signified no less favour to your highness, vouchesauyng to nobilitate the same, in the person of your majesty, consented unto this your time the noble house of Seymour, whose ancestor Eldulph de Samour being then Earl of Gloucester, many hundreds years a gone, in the time of King Aurelius Ambrose slew Hengest the Saxon capital enemy of the Briton nation by which noble service like as this Eealme was delivered from the tyranny of Saxons, and restored to the whole Empire & name of great Briteigne; so we your obedient and loving subjects trust, that the right noble duke of Somerset, and the Lord Seymour of Sudeley, your graces high Admiral, your Majesties dear uncles, shall, in the service of your highness, for the like restitution of the name and Empire of great Briteigne unto your highness, shew themselves the worthy successors of such an auwcester.
Neither have I purposed herein, with opprobrious words to scold with the Scotts, and thereby to wipe of onedurt with another. Neither do I intend to build upon our own English authors, but all my purpose is, by indifferent writers, with plain and evident truth (which thing both time and manners do evermore require) to publish your majesties right and their defence, following therein for the more part Ueremund, Camphil, Corneliusde Hibernia, and Boccius their own authors: which peines because have assumed rather as a necessary service to my country, then for mine own glory, I trust I shall offend none but such, whom it should be ashamed to please.
Mine inclination is to have the good word of every man, but the diseased malice of some cannot say well of any. Albeit, touching the phrase and stile of this my writing, if the same to any man shall not satisfy his expectation, let him consider that in part it behoueth to use the words of the history, in which I am restrained by promise of an Epitome; and that in the residue it was not my mind to trifle with the fine flowers of Rhetoric, but to bring rather faithful, then painted glittering overture, unto things afflicted. The verity of the Histories I trust shall so hereby appear, that both the good men of Scotland, by reason and the enemies (if any such bee) by their own shame shall driven, to confess this mine assertion to be true, and the same such as though the marriage by the iniquity of some take not effect, yet to publish to the world sufficient cause, for the maintenance of your majesties action against them, wherein the honour of a king may not geue place to their wilful rebellion.
And for recovery whereof, undoubtedly almighty God, for your sincere favour to the auancement of his holy word, will by his promise as he has begun, continue your highness in felicity and victory, over all his and your enemies, where unto all your true subjects do say.
AMEN
