A COPY OF THE GREAT TABLET HANGING IN THE SAME PLACE, BY THE SAID TOMB OF THE SAID ROGER LATELY BISHOP OF LONDON.
The ages of the world.
In the beginning God created the heaven and earth and all things which are in them. But on the sixth day from the creation of the world, was made the first-formed Adam. 1.The first age of the world, from Adam to Noeh according to the Hebrews, contains a thousand, six hundred and fifty six years; according to the Seventy Interpreters, two thousand two hundred xliiij years. But according to Jerome not completely two thousand; according to Metodus two thousand. The cause of which diversity is, that these do not compute according to the manner of sacred Scripture the minutiæ of times, or of years, which are over and above the thousands and hundreds of years. From the beginning of the world until Noeh’s flood, are two thousand two hundred fifty six years. 2.The second age from Noeh until Abraham, contains according to the Seventy Interpreters, a thousand and seventy two years: according to the Hebrews, a thousand two hundred and twenty two years. 3.The third age from Abraham until David, contains according to the Hebrews, eight hundred and xl two years; but according to the Seventy Interpreters much less, since they are deficient by two years. 4.The fourth age from David until the carrying away captive into Babylon, contains according to the Hebrews, four hundred and seventy three years; according to the Seventy Interpreters little less, for they are deficient in one year. 5.The fifth age, from the carrying away captive into Babylon, until Christ, contains five hundred and eighty five years. According to others, five hundred and ninety years. 6.The sixth age is from Christ until the end of the world. The years from the beginning of the world until the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ, are five thousand ninety nine. The years from the incarnation of the same until his passion, thirty three incomplete. The years from the creation of the world until the destruction of Troy, iiij ml xxx years. From the destruction of Troy until the erection of new Troy, which is now called London, lxiiij years. From the erection of new Troy to the erection of the Roman city, ccclxxxx years. From the building of the city until the coming of Christ, dcc.xv years. From the beginning of the world iiij ml lxxxxiiij years, after the destruction of Troy, namely, in the mc and fifth year before the incarnation of Christ; Brutus, a certain noble person sprung of the Trojan race, with a great multitude of Trojans, through the response of the goddess Diana, entered into the island formerly called Albion and inhabited by giants; and destroyed all the giants, amongst whom was one very mighty, by name Gogmagog; and he called that land after his own name Britain. Afterwards by the Saxons or Angles that conquered it, it was called England. And the same Brutus the first king of the Britons constructed the first city of Britain, which is now called London, in remembrance of the Troy before destroyed, calling it Trinovantum, that is new Troy, which for a long time was called Trinovans. Ely the priest was then reigning in Judea, and the ark of the testimony captured by the Philistines. After the death of Brutus there reigned in Britain lviij kings. Afterwards reigned king Lud, who strongly built the walls of the city of the Trinovantes, which was by him called Caerlud, in English Loudesdon, and surrounded it with innumerable towers; which he loved above all the cities of the realm, and therefore directed that they should build houses and edifices, which should surpass the buildings of other cities. At his death his corpse was most nobly laid up in the aforesaid city near the gate which he himself built, and was called from his name Ludesgate. At length the English called it Londene: afterwards the Normans called it Loundres which in Latin is called Londonia. After the death of Lud reigned Cassibellanus his brother, namely, in the lviijth year before Christ’s incarnation; in whose time came Julius Cesar into Britain with a copious multitude, and being twice overcome and routed and driven off, the third time being recalled into Britain, he, by the aid of Androgeus duke of Kent, made it tributary to the Roman power.
Verses.
“Whosoever thou art: if thou wishest to know the English kings or laws, thou wilt read by perusing these. I will record the greater or nobler kings; when they reigned, and where the people buried them. Four thousand and a score years was Adam made before Brutus.”
Brutus in the xvth year of his age departing from Italy, arriving at the island Leogecia in his ship, consulted there Diana, saying:
The Words of Brutus: Verses.
“O mighty Goddess of the woods, terror of the wild boars, who hast power to pass through ethereal space and the infernal abodes: unfold earthly fate; and say what lands thou wishest us to inhabit; Tell also the dwelling in which I shall venerate thee for ever; in which I shall consecrate temples to thee with virgin dances.”
The Reply of Diana.