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diff --git a/13624-0.txt b/13624-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..99341c1 --- /dev/null +++ b/13624-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1073 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 13624 *** + +THE SECOND BOOKE + +OF THE + +HISTORIE OF ENGLAND. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Of Brute and his descent, how he slue his father in hunting, his +banishment, his letter to king Pandrasus, against whom he wageth battell, +taketh him prisoner, and concludeth peace vpon conditions._ + +THE FIRST CHAPTER. + + +Hitherto haue we spoken of the inhabitants of this Ile before the comming +of Brute, although some will néeds haue it, that he was the first which +inhabited the same with his people descended of the Troians, some few +giants onelie excepted whom he vtterlie destroied, and left not one of +them aliue through the whole Ile. But as we shall not doubt of Brutes +comming hither, so may we assuredly thinke, that he found the Ile peopled +either with the generation of those which Albion the giant had placed +here, or some other kind of people whom he did subdue, and so reigned as +well ouer them as ouer those which he brought with him. + +[Sidenote: _Humfr. Lhoyd_.] +This Brutus, or Brytus [for this letter (Y) hath of ancient time had the +sounds both of V and I] (as the author of the booke which Geffrey of +Monmouth translated dooth affirme) was the sonne of Siluius, the sonne of +Ascanius, the sonne of Aeneas the Troian, begotten of his wife Creusa, & +borne in Troie, before the citie was destroied. But as other doo take it, +[Sidenote: _Harding. Alex. Neuil. W. Har._] +the author of that booke (whatsoeuer he was) and such other as follow +him, are deceiued onelie in this point, mistaking the matter, in that +Posthumus the sonne of Aeneas (begotten of his wife Lauinia, and borne +after his fathers deceasse in Italie) was called Ascanius, who had issue +a sonne named Iulius, who (as these other doo coniecture) was the father +of Brute, that noble chieftaine and aduenturous leader of those people, +which being descended (for the more part in the fourth generation) +from those Troians that escaped with life, when that roiall citie was +destroied by the Gréekes, got possession of this woorthie and most famous +Ile. + +To this opinion Giouan Villani a Florentine in his vniuersall historie, +speaking of Aeneas and his ofspring kings in Italie, séemeth to agrée, +where he saith: "Siluius (the sonne of Aeneas by his wife Lauinia) fell +in loue with a néece of his mother Lauinia, and by hir had a sonne, of +whom she died in trauell, and therefore was called Brutus, who after +as he grew in some stature, and hunting in a forrest slue his father +vnwares, and therevpon for feare of his grandfather Siluius Posthumus he +fled the countrie, and with a retinue of such as followed him, passing +through diuers seas, at length he arriued in the Ile of Britaine." + +Concerning therefore our Brute, whether his father Iulius was sonne to +Ascanius the sonne of Aeneas by his wife Creusa, or sonne to Posthumus +called also Ascanius, and sonne to Aeneas by his wife Lauinia, we will +not further stand. But this, we find, that when he came to the age of 15. +yéeres, so that he was now able to ride abrode with his father into +the forrests and chases, he fortuned (either by mishap, or by Gods +[Sidenote: Brute killeth his father.] +prouidence) to strike his father with an arrow, in shooting at a déere, +of which wound he also died. His grandfather (whether the same was +Posthumus, or his elder brother) hearing of this great misfortune that +had chanced to his sonne Siluius, liued not long after, but died for +verie greefe and sorow (as is supposed) which he conceiued thereof. And +the young gentleman, immediatlie after he had slaine his father (in maner +before alledged) was banished his countrie, and therevpon got him into +Grecia, where trauelling the countrie, he lighted by chance among some of +the Troian ofspring, and associating himselfe with them, grew by meanes +of the linage (whereof he was descended) in proces of time into great +reputation among them: chieflie by reason there were yet diuers of the +[Sidenote: Pausanias.] +Troian race, and that of great authoritie in that countrie. For Pyrrhus +the sonne of Achilles, hauing no issue by his wife Hermione, maried +Andromache, late wife vnto Hector: and by hir had thrée sonnes, Molossus, +Pileus, and Pergamus, who in their time grew to be of great power in +those places and countries, and their ofspring likewise: whereby Brutus +or Brytus wanted no friendship. For euen at his first comming thither, +diuers of the Troians that remained in seruitude, being desirous of +libertie, by flocks resorted vnto him. And amongst other, Assaracus was +one, whom Brute intertained, receiuing at his hands the possession of +sundrie forts and places of defense, before that the king of those +parties could haue vnderstanding or knowledge of any such thing. Herewith +also such as were readie to make the aduenture with him, repaired to him +on ech side, wherevpon he first placed garisons in those townes which +had bene thus deliuered vnto him, and afterwards with Assaracus and the +residue of the multitude he withdrew into the mountains néere adioining. +And thus being made strong with such assistance, by consultation had with +them that were of most authoritie about him, wrote vnto the king of that +countrie called Pandrasus, in forme as followeth. + +_A letter of Brute to Pandrasus, as I find it set downe in Galfride +Monumetensis._ + +"Brute leader of the remnant of the Troian people, to Pandrasus king of +the Gréekes, sendeth greeting. Bicause it hath beene thought a thing +vnworthie, that the people descended of the noble linage of Dardanus +should be otherwise dealt with than the honour of their nobilitie dooth +require: they haue withdrawne themselues within the close couert of the +woods. For they haue chosen rather (after the maner of wild beasts) to +liue on flesh and herbs in libertie, than furnished with all the riches +in the world to continue vnder the yoke of seruile thraldome. But if this +their dooing offend thy mightie highnesse, they are not to be blamed, but +rather in this behalfe to be pardoned, sith euerie captiue prisoner +is desirous to be restored vnto his former estate and dignitie. You +therefore pitieng their case, vouchsafe to grant them their abridged +libertie, and suffer them to remaine in quiet within these woods which +they haue got into their possession: if not so, yet giue them licence to +depart forth of this countrie into some other parts." + +The sight of these letters, and request in them conteined, made Pandrasus +at the first somewhat amazed, howbeit deliberating further of the matter, +and considering their small number, he made no great account of them, but +[Sidenote: Pandrasus prepareth an armie to supress the Troian ofspring.] +determined out of hand to suppresse them by force, before they should +grow to a greater multitude. And to bring his intention the better to +[Sidenote: Sparatinum.] +passe, he passed by a towne called Sparatinum, & marching toward the +woods where he thoght to haue found his enimies, he was suddenlie +assalted by Brute, who with three thousand men came foorth of the woods, +and fiercelie setting vpon his enimies, made great slaughter of them, +so that they were vtterlie discomfited, & sought by flight to saue +[Sidenote: Peraduenture Achelous.] +themselues in passing a riuer néere hand called Akalon. Brute with his +men following fast upon the aduersaries, caused them to plunge into the +water at aduenture, so that manie of them were drowned. Howbeit Antigonus +[Sidenote: Antigonus, the brother of Pandrasus.] +the brother of Pandrasus did what he could to stay the Grecians from +fléeing, and calling them backe againe did get some of them togither, +placed them in order, and began a new field: but it nothing auailed, for +the Troians, preasing vpon him, tooke him prisoner, slue and scattred +his companie, and ceased not till they had rid the fields of all their +aduersaries. + +[Sidenote: Brute entreth into Sparatinum.] +This doone, Brute entering the towne, furnished it with six hundred able +souldiours, and afterwards went backe to the residue of his people that +were incamped in the woods, where he was receiued with vnspeakeable ioy +for this prosperous atchiued enterprise. But although this euill successe +at the first beginning sore troubled Pandrasus, as well for the losse of +the field, as for the taking of his brother, yet was he rather kindled +in desire to séeke reuenge, than otherwise discouraged. And therefore +assembling his people againe togither that were scattered here and there, +he came the next day before the towne of Sparatinum, where he thought to +haue found Brute inclosed togither with the prisoners, and therfore he +shewed his whole endeuour by hard siege and fierce assaults to force them +within to yeeld. + +To conclude, so long he continued the siege, till victuals began to waxe +scant within, so that there was no way but to yeeld, if present succour +came not to remoue the siege: wherevpon they signified their necessitie +vnto Brute, who for that he had not power sufficient to fight with the +enimies in open field, he ment to giue them a camisado in the night +season, and so ordered his businesse, that inforsing a prisoner (named +Anacletus whome he had taken in the last battell) to serue his turne, by +constreining him to take an oth (which he durst not for conscience sake +breake) he found means to encounter with his enimies vpon the aduantage, +that he did not onelie ouerthrowe their whole power, but also tooke +[Sidenote: Pandrasus taken prisoner.] +Pandrasus prisoner, whereby all the trouble was ended: and shortlie after +a perfect peace concluded, vpon these conditions following. + +[Sidenote: The conditions of the agréement betwixt Brute & Pandrasus.] +First, that Pandrasus should giue his daughter Innogen vnto Brute in +mariage, with a competent summe of gold and siluer for hir dowrie. + +Secondlie, to furnish him and his people with a nauie of ships, and to +store the same with victuals and all other necessaries. + +Thirdlie, that Brute with his people should haue licence to depart the +countrie, to séeke aduentures whither so euer it should please them to +direct their course, without let, impeachment, or trouble to be offered +anie waies by the Gréeks. + +To all these conditions (bicause they touched not the prerogatiue of his +kingdome) Pandrasus did willinglie agrée, and likewise performed. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Brute and his wife Innogen arriue in Leogitia, they aske counsell of an +oracle where they shall inhabit, he meeteth with a remnant of Troians on +the coasts neere the shooting downe of the Pyrenine hills into the sea._ + +THE SECOND CHAPTER. + + +Al things being thus brought to passe according to Brutes desire, wind +also and wether seruing the purpose, he with his wife Innogen and his +people imbarked, and hoising vp sailes departed from the coasts of +Grecia. Now after two daies and a nights sailing, they arriued at +Leogitia (in some old written bookes of the British historie noted downe +Lergetia) an Iland, where they consulted with an oracle. Brute himselfe +knéeling before the idoll, and holding in his right hand a boll prepared +for sacrifice full of wine, and the bloud of a white hinde, spake in this +maner as here followeth: + + + Diua potens nemorum, terror syluestribus apris, + Cui licet anfractus ire per æthereos, + Infernasq; domos, terrestria iura resolue, + Et die quas terras nos habitare velis: + Dic certam sedem qua te venerabor in æuum, + Qua tibi virgineis templa dicabo choris. + + +These verses (as Ponticus Virumnius and others also doo gesse) were +written by Gildas Cambrius in his booke intituled _Cambreidos,_ and may +thus be Englished: + + + Thou goddesse that doost rule + the woods and forrests greene, + And chasest foming boares + that flee thine awfull sight, + Thou that maist passe aloft + in airie skies so sheene, + And walke eke vnder earth + in places void of light, + Discouer earthlie states, + direct our course aright, + And shew where we shall dwell, + according to thy will, + In seates of sure abode, + where temples we may dight + For virgins that shall sound + thy laud with voices shrill. + + +After this praier and ceremonie done, according to +the pagane rite and custome, Brute abiding his answer, fell asléepe: in +which sléepe appeared to him the said goddesse vttering this answer in +the verses following expressed. + + + Brute, sub occasum solis trans Gallica regna, + Insula in oceano est, vndiq; clausa mari, + Insula in oceano est, habitata gigantibus olim, + Nunc deserta quidèm, gentibus apta tuis: + Hanc pete, námq; tibi sedes erit ilia perennis, + Hîc fiet natis altera Troia tuis: + Hîc de prole tua reges nascentur, & ipsis + Totius terræ subditus orbis erit. + + + + Brute, farre by-west beyond the Gallike + land is found, + An Ile which with the ocean seas + inclosed is about, + Where giants dwelt sometime, + but now is desart ground, + Most meet where thou maist plant + thy selfe with all thy rout: + Make thitherwards with speed, + for there thou shalt find out + An euerduring seat, + and Troie shall rise anew, + Vnto thy race, of whom + shall kings be borne no dout, + That with their mightie power + the world shall whole subdew. + + +After he awaked out of sléepe, and had called his dreame to +remembrance, he first doubted whether it were a verie dreame, or a true +vision, the goddes hauing spoken to him with liuelie voice. Wherevpon +calling such of his companie vnto him as he thought requisite in such +a case, he declared vnto them the whole matter with the circumstances, +whereat they greatlie reioising, caused mightie bonfires to be made, in +the which they cast wine, milke, and other liquors, with diuers gums +and spices of most sweet smell and sauour, as in the pagan religion was +accustomed. Which obseruances and ceremonies performed and brought to +end, they returned streightwaies to their ships, and as soone as the wind +served, passed forward on their iournie with great ioy and gladnesse, as +men put in comfort to find out the wished seats for their firme and sure +[Sidenote: Brute with his companie landed in Affrike.] +habitations. From hence therefore they cast about, and making westward, +first arrived in Affrica, and after kéeping on their course, they passed +the straits of Gibralterra, and coasting alongst the shore on the right +hand, they found another companie that were likewise descended of the +[Sidenote: The mistaking of those that haue copied the British historie +putting _Mare Tyrrhenum_, for _Pyrenæum_] Troian progenie, on +the coasts nere where the Pyrenine hils shoot downe to the sea, whereof +the same sea by good reason (as some suppose) was named in those daies +Mare Pyrenæum, although hitherto by fault of writers & copiers of the +British historie receiued, in this place Mare Tyrrhenum, was slightlie +put downe in stead of Pyrenæum. + +The ofspring of those Troians, with whom Brute and his companie thus did +méet, were a remnant of them that came away with Antenor. Their capteine +hight Corineus, a man of great modestie and approoued wisedome, and +thereto of incomparable strength and boldnesse. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Brute and the said Troians with their capteine Corineus doo associat, +they take landing within the dominion of king Goffarus, he raiseth an +armie against Brute and his power, but is discomfited: of the citie of +Tours: Brutes arrivall in this Iland with his companie._ + +THE THIRD CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: Brute and Corineus ioin their companies together.] +After that Brute and the said Troians, by conference interchangeablie +had, vnderstood one anothers estates, and how they were descended from +one countrie and progenie, they vnited themselves togither, greatlie +reioising that they were so fortunatlie met: and hoising vp their sailes, +[Sidenote: They arrive on the coasts of Gallia, now called France.] +directed their course forward still, till they arriued within the mouth +of the riuer of Loire, which diuideth Aquitaine from Gall Celtike, where +they tooke land within the dominion of a king called Goffarius, surnamed +Pictus, by reason he was descended of the people Agathyrsi, otherwise +[Sidenote: Goffarius surnamed Pictus _Les annales d'Aquitaine_.] +named Picts, bicause they used to paint their faces and bodies, insomuch +that the richer a man was amongst them, the more cost he bestowed in +[Sidenote: Agathyrsi, otherwise called Picts, of painting their bodies. +_Marcellus Plinie. Herodotus li.4_.] +painting himselfe; and commonlie the haire of their head was red, or (as +probable writers say) of skie colour. Herodotus calleth them [Greek: +chrysothórous] bicause they did weare much gold about them. They vsed +their wives in common, and bicause they are all supposed to be brethren, +there is no strife nor discord among them. Of these Agathyrsi, it is +recorded by the said Herodotus, that they refused to succour the +Scythians against Darius, giving this reason of their refusall; bicause +they would not make warre against him who had doone them no wrong. And +of this people dooth the poet make mention, saieng, + +[Sidenote: _Virg. Aeneid. 4_.] +Cretésq; Dryopésq; fremunt pictíq; Agathyrsi. + +[Sidenote: _Cæsar com. li. 5_.] +To paint their faces not for amiablenesse, but for terriblenesse, the +Britons in old time vsed, and that with a kind of herbe like vnto +plantine. In which respect I sée no reason why they also should not be +called Picts, as well as the Agathyrsi; séeing the denomination sprang +[Sidenote: _P. Mart; com. part 2. sect. 60_.] +of a vaine custome in them both. And here by the way, sithens we have +touched this follie in two severall people, let it not séeme tedious to +read this one tricke of the Indians, among whom there is great plentie of +pretious stones, wherewith they adorne themselves in this maner; namelie, +in certein hollow places which they make in their flesh, they inclose and +riuet in precious stones, and that as well in their forheads as their +chéekes, to none other purpose, than the Agathyrsi in the vse of their +painting. + +The countrie of Poictou (as some hold) where the said Goffarius reigned, +tooke name of this people: & likewise a part of this our Ile of Britaine +now conteined within Scotland, which in ancient time was called Pightland +[Sidenote: Pightland or Pictland.] +or Pictland, as elsewhere both in this historie of England, and also of +Scotland may further appeare. But to our purpose. + +[Sidenote: Goffarius sendeth vnto Brute.] +When Goffarius the king of Poictou was aduertised of the landing of these +strangers within his countrie, he sent first certeine of his people to +vnderstand what they ment by their comming a land within his dominion, +without licence or leaue of him obteined. They that were thus sent, came +by chance to a place where Corineus with two hundred of the companie +were come from the ships into a forrest néere the sea side, to kill some +veneson for their sustenance: and being rebuked with some disdainfull +speach of those Poictouins, he shaped them a round answer: insomuch that +[Sidenote: Corineus answereth the messengers. Imbert.] +one of them whose name was Imbert, let driue an arrow at Corineus: but he +auoiding the danger thereof, shot againe at Imbert, in reuenge of that +[Sidenote: Imbert is slaine by Corineus.] +iniurie offered, and claue his head in sunder. The rest of the Poictouins +fled therevpon, and brought word to Goffarius what had happened: who +[Sidenote: Goffarius raiseth an armie.] +immediatlie with a mightie armie made forward to encounter with the +Troians, and comming to ioine with them in battell, after a sharpe and +[Sidenote: Goffarius is discomfited.] +sore conflict, in the end Brute with his armie obteined a triumphant +victorie, speciallie through the noble prowesse of Corineus. + +[Sidenote: Goffarius séeketh aid against Brute.] +Goffarius escaping from the field, fled into the inner parts of Gallia, +making sute for assistance vnto such kings as in those daies reigned in +diuers prouinces of that land, who promised to aid him with all their +forces, and to expell out of the coasts of Aquitaine, such strangers as +without his licence were thus entred the countrie. But Brute in the meane +[Sidenote: Brute spoileth the countrie.] +time passed forward, and with fire and sword made hauocke in places where +he came: and gathering great spoiles, fraught his ships with plentie of +riches. At length he came to the place, where afterwards he built a citie +[Sidenote: Turonium or Tours built by Brute.] +named Turonium, that is, Tours. + +[Sidenote: Goffarius hauing renewed his forces, fighteth eftsoones with +Brute.] +Here Goffarius with such Galles as were assembled to his aid, gaue +battell againe vnto the Troians that were incamped to abide his comming. +Where after they had fought a long time with singular manhood on both +parties: the Troians in fine oppressed with multitudes of aduersaries +(euen thirtie times as manie mo as the Troians) were constreined to +retire into their campe, within the which the Galles kept them as +besieged, lodging round about them, and purposing by famine to compell +them to yéeld themselues vnto their mercie. But Corineus taking counsell +with Brute, deuised to depart in the darke of the night out of the campe, +to lodge himselfe with thrée thousand chosen souldiers secretlie in a +wood, and there to remaine in couert till the morning that Brute should +come foorth and giue a charge vpon the enimies, wherewith Corineus should +breake foorth and assaile the Galles on the backes. + +This policie was put in practise, and tooke such effect as the deuisers +themselues wished: for the Galles being sharplie assailed on the front by +Brute and his companie, were now with the sudden comming of Corineus (who +set vpon them behind on their backes) brought into such a feare, that +incontinentlie they tooke them to flight, whom the Troians egerlie +pursued, making no small slaughter of them as they did ouertake them. In +this battell Brute lost manie of his men, and amongst other one of his +nephues named Turinus, after he had shewed maruellous proofe of his +manhood. Of him (as some haue written) the foresaid citie of Tours tooke +the name, and was called _Turonium_, bicause the said Turinus was there +buried. + +[Sidenote: _Theuet_.] +Andrew Theuet affirmeth the contrarie, and mainteineth that one Taurus +the nephue of Haniball was the first that inclosed it about with a pale +of wood (as the maner of those daies was of fensing their townes) in the +[Sidenote: 3374.] +yeare of the world 3374. and before the birth of our sauiour 197. + +But to our matter concerning Brute, who after he had obteined so famous +a victorie, albeit there was good cause for him to reioise, yet it sore +troubled him to consider that his numbers dailie decaied, and his enimies +still increased, and grew stronger: wherevpon resting doubtfull what to +[Sidenote: Brute in dout what to doo.] +doo, whether to procéed against the Galles, or returne to his ships to +séeke the Ile that was appointed him by oracle, at length he chose the +surest and best way, as he tooke it, and as it proued. For whilest the +greater part of his armie was yet left aliue, and that the victorie +remained on his side, he drew to his nauie, and lading his ships with +excéeding great store of riches which his people had got abroad in the +countrie, he tooke the seas againe. +[Sidenote Brute with his remnant of Troians arriue in this ile. _Anno +mundi. 2850_. 1116.] +After a few daies sailing they landed at the hauen now called Totnesse, +the yeare of the world 2850, after the destruction of Troy 66, after +the deliuerance of the Israelites from the captiuitie of Babylon 397, +almost ended; in the 18 yeare of the reigne of Tineas king of Babylon, +13 of Melanthus king of Athens, before the building of Rome 368, which +was before the natiuitie of our Sauior Christ 1116, almost ended, and +before the reigne of Alexander the great 783. + + * * * * * + + + +_Brute discouereth the commodities of this Iland, mightie giants +withstand him, Gogmagog and Corineus wrestle together at a place beside +Douer: he buildeth the citie of Trinouant now termed London, calleth this +Iland by the name of Britaine, and diuideth it into three parts among his +three sonnes._ + +THE FOURTH CHAPTER. + + +When Brute had entred this land, immediatlie after his arriuall (as +writers doo record) he searched the countrie from side to side, and from +end to end, finding it in most places verie fertile and plentious of wood +and grasse, and full of pleasant springs and faire riuers. As he thus +[Sidenote: Brute encountered by the giants.] +trauelled to discouer the state and commodities of the Iland, he was +encountred by diuers strong and mightie giants, whome he destroied and +slue, or rather subdued, with all such other people as he found in the +Iland, which were more in number than by report of some authors it should +appeare there were. Among these giants (as Geffrey of Monmouth writeth) +there was one of passing strength and great estimation, named Gogmagog, +[Sidenote: Corineus wrestleth with Gogmagog.] +whome Brute caused Corineus to wrestle at a place beside Douer, where it +chanced that the giant brake a rib in the side of Corineus while they +stroue to claspe, and the one to ouerthrow the other: wherewith Corineus +being sore chafed and stirred to wrath, did so double his force that he +got the vpper hand of the giant, and cast him downe headlong from one of +[Sidenote: Gogmagog is slaine.] +the rocks there, not farre from Douer, and so dispatched him: by reason +whereof the place was named long after, _The fall or leape of Gogmagog_, +but afterward it was called _The fall of Douer_. For this valiant déed, +and other the like seruices first and last atchiued, Brute gaue vnto +[Sidenote: Cornwall giuen to Corineus.] +Corineus the whole countrie of Cornwall. To be briefe, after that Brute +had destroied such as stood against him, and brought such people vnder +his subiection as he found in the Ile, and searched the land from the one +end to the other: he was desirous to build a citie, that the same might +be the seate roiall of his empire or kingdome. Wherevpon he chose a plot +of ground lieng on the north side of the riuer of Thames, which by good +consideration séemed to be most pleasant and conuenient for any great +multitude of inhabitants, aswell for holsomnesse of aire, goodnesse of +soile, plentie of woods, and commoditie of the riuer, seruing as well to +bring in as to carrie out all kinds of merchandize and things necessarie +for the gaine, store, and vse of them that there should inhabit. + +Here therefore he began to build and lay the foundation of a citie, in +the tenth or (as other thinke) in the second yeare after his arriuall, +which he named (saith Gal. Mon.) Troinouant, or (as Hum. Llhoyd saith) +Troinewith, that is, new Troy, in remembrance of that noble citie of Troy +from whence he and his people were for the greater part descended. + +When Brutus had builded this citie, and brought the Iland fullie vnder +his subiection, he by the aduise of his nobles commanded this Ile (which +before hight Albion) to be called Britaine, and the inhabitants Britons +after his name, for a perpetuall memorie that he was the first bringer +of them into the land. In this meane while also he had by his wife. +iii. sonnes, the first named Locrinus or Locrine, the second Cambris or +Camber, and the third Albanactus or Albanact. Now when the time of his +death drew néere, to the first he betooke the gouernment of that part of +the land nowe knowne by the name of England: so that the same was long +after called Loegria, or Logiers, of the said Locrinus. To the second he +appointed the countrie of Wales, which of him was first named Cambria, +diuided from Loegria by the riuer of Seuerne. To his third sonne Albanact +he deliuered all the north part of the Ile, afterward called Albania, +after the name of the said Albanact: which portion of the said He lieth +beyond the Humber northward. Thus when Brutus had diuided the Ile of +Britaine (as before is mentioned) into 3. parts, and had gouerned the +[Sidenote: In the daies of this our Brute Saule and Samuell gouerned +Israell.] +same by the space of 15. yeares, he died in the 24 yeare after his +arriuall (as Harison noteth) and was buried at Troinouant or London: +although the place of his said buriall there be now be growne out of +memorie. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Of Locrine the eldest sonne of Brute, of Albanact his yoongest sonne, +and his death: of Madan, Mempricius, Ebranke, Brute Greenesheeld, Leill, +Ludhurdibras, Baldud, and Leir, the nine rulers of Britaine successiuelie +after Brute._ + +THE FIFT CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: LOCRINE THE SECOND RULER OF BRITAIN. _Gal. Mon. Mat. West. +Fa. out of G. de Co. Gal Mon. Mat. West._] +Locrinus or Locrine the first begotten sonne of Brute began to reigne +ouer the countrie called Logiers, in the yeare of the world 1874, and +held to his part the countrie that reached from the south sea vnto the +riuer of Humber. While this Locrinus gouerned Logiers, his brother +Albanact ruled in Albania, where in fine he was slaine in a battell by a +king of the Hunnes or Scythians, called Humber, who inuaded that part +of Britaine, and got possession thereof, till Locrinus with his brother +Camber, in reuenge of their other brothers death, and for the recouerie +of the kingdome, gathered their powers togither, and comming against +the said king of the Hunnes, by the valiancie of their people they +[Sidenote: It should seéme that he was come over the Humber. +_Gal. Mon._] +discomfited him in battell, and chased him so egerlie, that he himselfe +and a great number of his men were drowned in the gulfe that then parted +Loegria and Albania, which after tooke name of the said king, and was +called Humber, and so continueth vnto this daie. + + +Moreouer in this battell against the Hunnes were thrée yong damsels taken +of excellent beautie, specially one of them, whose name was Estrild, +daughter to a certeine king of Scythia. With this Estrild king Locrine +fell so farre in loue, notwithstanding a former contract made betwixt him +and the ladie Guendoloena, daughter to Corineus duke of Cornwall, that he +meant yet with all spéed to marie the same Estrild. But being earnestlie +called vpon, and in manner forced thereto by Corineus, hée changed his +purpose, and married Guendoloena, kéeping neuertheles the aforesaid +Estrild as paramour still after a secret sort, during the life of +Corineus his father in law. + +Now after that Corineus was departed this world, Locrine forsooke +Guendoloena, and maried Estrild. Guendoloena therefore being cast off by +hir husband, got hir into Cornewall to hir friends and kinred, and there +procured them to make warre against the said Locrine hir husband, in the +which warres hée was slaine, and a battell fought néere to the riuer of +[Sidenote: _Mat. West._] +Sture, after he had reigned (as writers affirme) twentie yeares, & was +buried by his father in the citie of Troinouant, leauing behind him +a yoong sonne (begotten of his wife Guendoloena) named Madan, as yet +vnméete to gouerne. +[Sidenote: Shée is not numbred amongst those that reigned as rulers in +this land by _Mat. West._] + +Guendoloena or Guendoline the wife of Locrinus, and daughter of Corineus +duke of Cornewall, for so much as hir sonne Madan was not of yeeres +sufficient to gouerne, was by common consent of the Britons made ruler of +the Ile, in the yéere of the world 2894, and so hauing the administration +in hir hands, she did right discreetlie vse hir selfe therein, to the +comfort of all hir subiects, till hir sonne Madan came to lawfull age, +and then she gaue ouer the rule and dominion to him, after she had +[Sidenote: _Gal. Mon_.] +gouerned by the space of fifteene yeares. + +[Sidenote: MADAN THE THIRD RULER] +Madan the sonne of Locrine and Guendoline entred into the gouernement of +Britaine in the 2909, of the world. There is little left in writing of +his doings, sauing that he vsed great tyrannie amongst his Britons: and +therefore after he had ruled this land the tearme of 40. yeares, he was +deuoured of wild beastes, as he was abroad in hunting. He left behind +him two sonnes, Mempricius and Manlius. He builded (as is reported) +Madancaistre, now Dancastre, which reteineth still the later part of his +name. + +[Sidenote: MEMPRICIUS THE FOURTH RULER. _Fabian_. Manlius is slaine. +_Gal. Mon._ Slouth engendred lecherie] +Mempricius the eldest sonne of Madan began his reigne ouer the Britons in +the yeare of the world 2949, he continued not long in peace. For his +brother Manlius vpon an ambitious mind prouoked the Britons to rebell +against him, so that sore and deadly warre continued long betweene them. +But finallie, vnder colour of a treatie, Manlius was slaine by his +brother Mempricius, so that then he liued in more tranquillitie and rest. +Howbeit, being deliuered thus from trouble of warres, he fell into slouth, +and so into vnlawfull lust of lecherie, and thereby into the hatred of +his people, by forcing of their wiues and daughters: and finallie became +so beastlie, that he forsooke his lawfull wife and all his concubines, +and fell into the abhominable sinne of Sodomie. And thus from one vice he +[Sidenote: Mempricius is deuoured of beastes.] +fell into another, till he became odious to God and man, and at length, +going on hunting, was lost of his people, and destroied of wild beastes, +when he had reigned twentie yeares, leauing behind him a noble yoong sonne +named Ebranke, begotten of his lawfull wife. + +[Sidenote: EBRANKE THE FIFT RULER. Ebranke had 21. wiues: his thirtie +daughters sent into Italie. _Bergomas lib. 6_.] +Ebranke the sonne of Mempricius began to rule ouer the Britons in the +yeare of the world 2969. He had as writers doo of him record, one and +twentie wiues, on whom he begot 20. sonnes and 30. daughters, of the +which the eldest hight Guales, or Gualea. These daughters he sent to +Alba Syluius, which was the eleuenth king of Italie, or the sixt king of +the Latines, to the end they might be married to his noble men of the +bloud of Troians, because the Sabines refused to ioine their daughters +with them in marriage. Furthermore, he was the first prince of his land +that euer inuaded France after Brute, and is commended as author and +originall builder of many cities, both in his owne kingdome, and else +where. His sonnes also vnder the conduct of Assaracus, one of their +eldest brethren, returning out of Italie, after they had conducted their +sisters thither, inuaded Germanie, being first molested by the people of +that countrie in their rage, and by the helpe of the said Alba subdued a +great part of that countrie, & there planted themselues. Our histories +say, that Ebracus their father married them in their returne, and aided +[Sidenote: The citie of Caerbranke builded. _Matth. West._] +them in their conquests, and that he builded the citie of Caerbranke, +now called Yorke, about the 14, yeare of his reigne. He builded also in +Albania now called Scotland, the castle of Maidens, afterward called +Edenburgh of Adian one of their kings. The citie of Alclud was builded +likewise by him (as some write) now decaied. After which cities thus +[Sidenote: Fortie yeares hath _Math. West._ and _Gal. Monuine_.] +builded, he sailed ouer into Gallia, now called France, with a great +armie, and subduing the Galles as is aforesaid, he returned home with +great riches and triumph. Now when he had guided the land of Britaine +in noble wise by the tearme of fortie yeares, he died, and was buried +at Yorke. + +[Sidenote: BRUTE GREENESHIELD THE SIXT RULER. _Iacobus Lef._] +Brute Greeneshield, the sonne of Ebranke, was made gouernor of this +land in the yeare of the world 3009, Asa reigning in Iuda, and Baasa in +Israell. This prince bare alwaies in the field a gréene shield, whereof +he tooke his surname, and of him some forraine authors affirme, that he +made an attempt to bring the whole realme of France vnder his subiection, +which he performed, because his father susteined some dishonor and losse +in his last voiage into that countrie. Howbeit they say, that when he +came into Henaud, Brinchild a prince of that quarter gaue him also +a great ouerthrow, and compelled him to retire home againe into his +countrie. This I borrow out of William Harison, who in his chronologie +toucheth the same at large, concluding in the end, that the said passage +of this prince into France is verie likelie to be true, and that he named +a parcell of Armorica lieng on the south, and in manner vpon the verie +loine after his owne name, and also a citie which he builded there +[Sidenote: _Strabo lib. 4_.] +Britaine. For (saith he) it should séeme by Strabo. lib. 4. that there +was a noble citie of that name long before his time in the said countrie, +whereof Plinie also speaketh lib. 4. cap. 7. albeit that he ascribe it +vnto France after a disordered maner. More I find not of this foresaid +Brute, sauing that he ruled the land a certeine time, his father yet +liuing, and after his decease the tearme of twelue yeares, and then died, +and was buried at Caerbranke now called Yorke. + +[Sidenote: LEILL THE SEVENTH RULER. Carleil builded. Chester repaired.] +LEILL the sonne of Brute Greeneshield, began to reigne in the yeare of +the world 3021, the same time that Asa was reigning in Iuda, and Ambri in +Israell. He built the citie now called Carleil, which then after his +owne name was called Caerleil, that is, Leill his citie, or the citie of +Leill. He repaired also (as Henrie Bradshaw saith) the citie of Caerleon +now called Chester, which (as in the same Bradshaw appeareth) was built +before Brutus entrie into this land by a giant named Leon Gauer. But what +authoritie he had to auouch this, it may be doubted, for Ranulfe Higden +in his woorke intituled "Polychronicon," saith in plaine wordes, that it +is vnknowen who was the first founder of Chester, but that it tooke the +name of the soiourning there of some Romaine legions, by whome also it is +not vnlike that it might be first built by P. Ostorius Scapula, who as we +find, after he had subdued Caratacus king of the Ordouices that inhabited +the countries now called Lancashire, Cheshire, and Salopshire, built in +those parts, and among the Silures, certeine places of defense, for the +better harbrough of his men of warre, and kéeping downe of such Britaines +as were still readie to moue rebellion. + +But now to the purpose concerning K. Leill. We find it recorded that he +was in the beginning of his reigne verie vpright, and desirous to sée +iustice executed, and aboue all thinges loued peace & quietnesse; but as +yeares increased with him, so his vertues began to diminish, in so much +that abandoning the care for the bodie of the commonwealth, he suffered +his owne bodie to welter in all vice and voluptuousnesse, and so +procuring the hatred of his subiects, caused malice and discord to rise +amongst them, which during his life he was neuer able to appease. But +leauing them so at variance, he departed this life, & was buried at +Carleil, which as ye haue heard he had builded while he liued. + +[Sidenote: LUD or LUDHURDIBRAS THE EIGHT RULER. +Kaerkin or Canterburie is builded. Caerguent is builded. Paladour is +builded.] +Lud or Ludhurdibras the sonne of Leill began to gouerne in the yeare of +the world 3046. In the beginning of his reigne, hée sought to appease the +debate that was raised in his fathers daies, and bring the realme to +hir former quietnesse, and after that he had brought it to good end, he +builded the towne of Kaerkin now called Canterburie: also the towne +of Caerguent now cleped Winchester, and mount Paladour now called +Shaftsburie. About the building of which towne of Shaftsburie, Aquila +a prophet of the British nation wrote his prophesies, of which some +fragments remaine yet to be scene, translated into the Latine by some +ancient writers. When this Lud had reigned 29 yeares, he died, and left a +sonne behind him named Baldud. + +[Sidenote: BALDUD OR BLADUD THE NINTH RULER. +_Gal. Mon._ The king was learned. Hot bathes.] + +Baldud the sonne of Ludhurdibras began to rule ouer the Britaines in +the yeare of the world 3085. This man was well séene in the sciences of +astronomie and nigromancie, by which (as the common report saith) he made +the hot bathes in the citie of Caerbran now called Bath. But William of +Malmesburie is of a contrarie opinion, affirming that Iulius Cesar made +those bathes, or rather repaired them when he was here in England: which +is not like to be true: for Iulius Cesar, as by good coniecture we haue +to thinke, neuer came so farre within the land that way forward. But of +these bathes more shall be said in the description. Now to procéed. This +[Sidenote: _Mat. West._ The prince did flie.] +Baldud tooke such pleasure in artificiall practises & magike, that he +taught this art throughout all his realme. And to shew his cunning in +other points, vpon a presumptuous pleasure which he had therein, he tooke +vpon him to flie in the aire, but he fell vpon the temple of Apollo, +which stood in the citie of Troinouant, and there was torne in péeces +after he had ruled the Britaines by the space of 20 yeares. + +[Sidenote: LEIR THE 10. RULER. _Mat. West._ Leicester is builded.] +Leir the sonne of Baldud was admitted ruler ouer the Britaines, in the +yeare of the world 3105, at what time Ioas reigned in Iuda. This Leir +was a prince of right noble demeanor, gouerning his land and subiects in +great wealth. He made the towne of Caerleir now called Leicester, which +standeth vpon the riuer of Sore. It is written that he had by his wife +three daughters without other issue, whose names were Gonorilla, Regan, +and Cordeilla, which daughters he greatly loued, but specially Cordeilla +the yoongest farre aboue the two elder. When this Leir therefore was +come to great yeres, & began to waxe vnweldie through age, he thought to +[Sidenote: _Gal. Mon._] +vnderstand the affections of his daughters towards him, and preferre hir +whome he best loued, to the succession ouer the kingdome. Whervpon he +first asked Gonorilla the eldest, how well she loued him: who calling hir +[Sidenote: A triall of loue.] +gods to record, protested that she "loued him more than hir owne life, +which by right and reason should be most déere vnto hir. With which +answer the father being well pleased, turned to the second, and demanded +of hir how well she loued him: who answered (confirming hir saiengs with +great othes) that she loued him more than toong could expresse, and farre +aboue all other creatures of the world." + +Then called he his yoongest daughter Cordeilla before him, and asked of +hir what account she made of him, vnto whome she made this answer as +followeth: "Knowing the great loue and fatherlie zeale that you haue +[Sidenote: The answer of the yoongest daughter.] +alwaies borne towards me (for the which I maie not answere you otherwise +than I thinke, and as my conscience leadeth me) I protest vnto you, that +I haue loued you euer, and will continuallie (while I liue) loue you as +my naturall father. And if you would more vnderstand of the loue that I +beare you, assertaine your selfe, that so much as you haue, so much you +are woorth, and so much I loue you, and no more. The father being nothing +content with this answer, married his two eldest daughters, the one vnto +[Sidenote: The two eldest daughters are maried. The realme is promised to +his two daughters.] +Henninus the duke of Cornewall, and the other vnto Maglanus the duke of +Albania, betwixt whome he willed and ordeined that his land should be +diuided after his death, and the one halfe thereof immediatlie should +be assigned to them in hand: but for the third daughter Cordeilla he +reserued nothing." + +Neuertheles it fortuned that one of the princes of Gallia (which now +is called France) whose name was Aganippus, hearing of the beautie, +womanhood, and good conditions of the said Cordeilla, desired to haue hir +in mariage, and sent ouer to hir father, requiring that he might haue hir +to wife: to whome answer was made, that he might haue his daughter, but +as for anie dower he could haue none, for all was promised and assured +to hir other sisters alreadie. Aganippus notwithstanding this answer of +deniall to receiue anie thing by way of dower with Cordeilla, tooke hir +to wife, onlie moued thereto (I saie) for respect of hir person and +amiable vertues. This Aganippus was one of the twelue kings that ruled +Gallia in those daies, as in the British historie it is recorded. But to +proceed. + +[Sidenote: He gouerned the third part of Gallia as _Gal. Mon._ saith.] +After that Leir was fallen into age, the two dukes that had married his +two eldest daughters, thinking it long yer the gouernment of the land did +come to their hands, arose against him in armour, and reft from him the +gouernance of the land, vpon conditions to be continued for terme of +life: by the which he was put to his portion, that is, to liue after a +rate assigned to him for the maintenance of his estate, which in processe +of time was diminished as well by Maglanus as by Henninus. But the +greatest griefe that Leir tooke, was to see the vnkindnesse of his +daughters, which seemed to thinke that all was too much which their +father had, the same being neuer so little: in so much that going from +the one to the other, he was brought to that miserie, that scarslie they +would allow him one seruant to wait vpon him. + +In the end, such was the vnkindnesse, or (as I maie saie) the +vnnaturalnesse which he found in his two daughters, notwithstanding their +faire and pleasant words vttered in time past, that being constreined of +necessitie, he fled the land, & sailed into Gallia, there to seeke some +comfort of his yongest daughter Cordeilla, whom before time he hated. The +ladie Cordeilla hearing that he was arriued in poore estate, she first +sent to him priuilie a certeine summe of monie to apparell himselfe +withall, and to reteine a certeine number of seruants that might attend +vpon him in honorable wise, as apperteined to the estate which he had +borne: and then so accompanied, she appointed him to come to the court, +which he did, and was so ioifullie, honorablie, and louinglie receiued, +both by his sonne in law Aganippus, and also by his daughter Cordeilla, +that his hart was greatlie comforted: for he was no lesse honored, than +if he had beene king of the whole countrie himselfe. + +Now when he had informed his sonne in law and his daughter in what sort +he had béene vsed by his other daughters, Aganippus caused a mightie +armie to be put in a readinesse, and likewise a great nauie of ships to +be rigged, to passe ouer into Britaine with Leir his father in law, to +sée him againe restored to his kingdome. It was accorded, that Cordeilla +should also go with him to take possession of the land, the which he +promised to leaue vnto hir, as the rightfull inheritour after his +decesse, notwithstanding any former grant made to hir sisters or to their +husbands in anie maner of wise. + +Herevpon, when this armie and nauie of ships were readie, Leir and his +daughter Cordeilla with hir husband tooke the sea, and arriuing in +Britaine, fought with their enimies, and discomfited them in battell, in +the which Maglanus and Henninus were slaine: and then was Leir restored +to his kingdome, which he ruled after this by the space of two yéeres, +[Sidenote: _Matth. West_] +and then died, fortie yeeres after he first began to reigne. His bodie +was buried at Leicester in a vaut vnder the chanell of the riuer of Sore +beneath the towne. + + * * * * * + + + + +_The gunarchie of queene Cordeilla, how she was vanquished, of hir +imprisonment and selfe-murther: the contention betweene Cunedag and +Margan nephewes for gouernement, and the euill end thereof._ + +THE SIXT CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: QUEENE CORDEILLA] +Cordeilla the yoongest daughter of Leir was admitted Q. and supreme +gouernesse of Britaine, in the yéere of the world 3155, before the +bylding of Rome 54, Vzia then reigning in Iuda, and Ieroboam ouer +Israell. This Cordeilla after hir fathers deceasse ruled the land of +Britaine right worthilie during the space of fiue yéeres, in which meane +time hir husband died, and then about the end of those fiue yéeres, +hir two nephewes Margan and Cunedag, sonnes to hir aforesaid sisters, +disdaining to be vnder the gouernment of a woman, leuied warre against +hir, and destroied a great part of the land, and finallie tooke hir +prisoner, and laid hir fast in ward, wherewith she tooke such griefe, +being a woman of a manlie courage, and despairing to recouer libertie, +there she slue hirselfe, when she had reigned (as before is mentioned) +the tearme of fiue yéeres. + +[Sidenote: CUNEDAG AND MARGAN.] +Cunedagius and Marganus nephewes to Cordeilla, hauing recouered the land +out of hir hands, diuided the same betwixt them, that is to saie, the +countrie ouer and beyond Humber fell to Margan, as it stretcheth euen to +Catnesse, and the other part lieng south and by-west, was assigned to +Cunedagius. This partition chanced in the yéere of the world 3170, before +the building of Rome 47, Uzia as then reigning in Iuda, and Ieroboam +in Israell. Afterwards, these two cousins, Cunedag and Margan, had not +reigned thus past a two yéeres, but thorough some seditious persons, +Margan was persuaded to raise warre against Cunedag, telling him in his +eare, how it was a shame for him being come of the elder sister, not to +haue the rule of the whole Ile in his hand. Herevpon ouercome with pride, +[Sidenote: Margan inuadeth his cousine Cunedag.] +ambition, and couetousnesse, he raised an armie, and entring into the +land of Cunedag, he burned and destroied the countrie before him in +miserable maner. + +Cunedag in all hast to resist his aduersarie, assembled also all the +power he could make, and comming with the same against Margan, gaue him +battell, in the which he slue a great number of Margans people, and put +the residue to flight, and furthermore pursued him from countrie to +countrie, till he came into Cambria, now called Wales, where the said +Margan gaue him eftsoones a new battell: but being too weake in number +of men, he was there ouercome and slaine in the field, by reason whereof +[Sidenote: Margan is slaine. _Matt. West._] +that countrie tooke name of him, being there slaine, and so is called to +this daie Glau Margan, which is to meane in our English toong, Margans +land. This was the end of that Margan, after he had reigned with his +brother two yéeres, or thereabouts. + +[Sidenote: CUNEDAGUS ALONE.] +After the death of Margan, Cunedag the sonne of Hennius and Ragaie +(middlemost daughter of Leir before mentioned) became ruler of all the +whole land of Britaine, in the yeare of the world 3172, before the +building of Rome 45, Vzia still reigning in Iuda, and Ieroboam in +Israell. He gouerned this Ile well and honourablie for the tearme of 33 +yeares, and then dieng, his bodie was buried at Troinouant or London. +Moreouer, our writers doo report, that he builded thrée temples, one to +Mars at Perth in Scotland, another to Mercurie at Bangor, and the third +to Apollo in Cornewall. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Of Riuallus, Gurgustius, Sysillius, Iago, and Kinimacus, rulers of +Britaine by succession, and of the accidents coincident with their +times_. + +THE SEUENTH CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: RIUALLUS THE I3. RULER.] +Riuallus, the sonne of Cunedag, began to reigne ouer the Britaines in the +yeare of the world 3203, before the building of Rome 15, Ioathan as then +being king of Iuda, and Phacea king of Israel. This Riuall gouerned the +Iland in great welth and prosperitie. In his time it rained bloud by the +[Sidenote: It rained blood. _Matth. West._] +space of thrée daies togither; after which raine ensued such an excéeding +number and multitude of flies, so noisome and contagious, that much +people died by reason thereof. When he had reigned 46 yeares he died, and +[Sidenote: Rome builded.] +was buried at Caerbranke now called Yorke. In the time of this Riuals +reigne was the citie of Rome builded, after concordance of most part of +writers. Perdix also a wizard, and a learned astrologian florished and +writ his prophesies, and Herene also. + +[Sidenote: GURGUSTIUS THE 14. RULER.] +Gurgustius, the son of the before named Riuall, began to gouerne the +Britaines in the yeare after the creation of the world 3249, and after +the first foundation of Rome 33, Ezechias reigning in Iuda. This +Gurgustius in the chronicle of England, is called Gorbodian the sonne of +Reignold, he reigned 37 yeares, then departing this life, was buried at +Caerbranke (now called Yorke) by his father. + +[Sidenote: SYSILLIUS THE 15. RULER.] +Sysillius, or after some writers SYLUIUS, the brother of Gurgustius, was +chosen to haue the gouernance of Britaine, in the yere of the world 3287, +and after the building of Rome 71, Manasses still reigning in Iuda. This +Sysillius in the English chronicle is named Secill. He reigned 49 yeares, +and then died, and was buried at Carbadon, now called Bath. + +[Sidenote: JAGO THE 16. RULER.] +Iago or Lago, the cousin of Gurgustius, as next inheritor to Sysillius, +tooke vpon him the gouernement of Britaine, in the yeare of the world +3386, and after the building of Rome 120, in whose time the citie of +Ierusalem was taken by Nabuchodonozar and the king of Iuda, Mathania, +otherwise called Zedechias, being slaine. This Iago or Lago died without +issue, when he had reigned 28 yeares, and was buried at Yorke. + +[Sidenote: KINIMACUS THE 17. RULER.] +Kinimacus or Kinmarus the sonne of Sysillius as some write, or rather the +brother of Iago, began to gouerne the land of Britain, in the yere of the +world 3364, and after the building of Rome 148, the Iewes as then being +in the third yeare of their captiuitie of Babylon. This Kinimacus +departed this life, after he had reigned 54 yeares, and was buried at +Yorke. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Of Gorbodug and his two sonnes Ferrex and Porrex, one brother killeth +another, the mother sluieth hir sonne, and how Britaine by ciuill warres +(for lacke of issue legitimate to the government) of a monarchie became a +pentarchie: the end of Brutes line_. + +THE EIGHT CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: GORBODUG THE 18. RULER.] +Gorbodug the sonne of Kinimacus began his reigne ouer the Britains, in +the yeare after the creation of the world 3418, from the building of +the citie of Rome 202, the 58 of the Iews captiuitie at Babylon. This +Gorbodug by most likelihood to bring histories to accord, should reigne +about the tearme of 62 yeares, and then departing this world, was buried +at London, leauing after him two sonnes Ferrex and Porrex, or after some +writers, Ferreus and Porreus. + +[Sidenote: FERREX THE 19. RULER] +Ferrex with Porrex his brother began iointlie to rule ouer the Britaines, +in the yeare of the world 3476, after the building of Rome 260, at which +time, the people of Rome forsooke their citie in their rebellious mood. +These two brethren continued for a time in good friendship and amitie, +till at length through couetousnesse, and desire of greater dominion, +prouoked by flatterers, they fell at variance and discord, wherby Ferrex +[Sidenote: Ferrex fled into Gallia.] +was constreined to flée into Gallia, and there purchased aid of a great +duke called Gunhardus or Suardus, and so returned into Britaine, thinking +to preuaile and obteine the dominion of the whole Iland. But his brother +Porrex was readie to receiue him with battell after he was landed, in the +which battell Ferrex was slaine, with the more part of his people. The +English chronicle saith, that Porrex was he that fled into France, & +at his returne, was slaine, and that Ferrex suruiued. But Geffrey +of Monmouth & Polychronicon are of a contrarie opinion. Matthew +[Sidenote: _Matth. West._] +Westmonasteriensis writeth, that Porrex deuising waies to kill Ferrex, +atchiued his purpose and slue him. But whether of them so euer suruiued, +the mother of them was so highlie offended for the death of him that was +slaine, whom she most intierlie loued, that setting apart all motherlie +affection, she found the meanes to enter the chamber of him that suruiue +[Sidenote: The mother killeth hir son.] +in the night season, and as he slept, she with the helpe of hir maidens +slue him, and cut him into small péeces, as the writers doo affirme. Such +was the end of these two brethren, after they had reigned by the space of +foure or fiue yeares. + +After this followed a troublous season, full of cruell warre, and +seditious discord, whereby in the end, and for the space of fiftie +yeares, the monarchie or sole gouernement of the Iland became a +pentarchie, that is, it was diuided betwixt fiue kings or rulers, +till Dunwallon of Cornewall ouercame them all. Thus the line of Brute +(according to the report of most writers) tooke an end: for after the +[Sidenote: _Robert Record_.] +death of the two foresaid brethren, no rightfull inheritor was left aliue +to succéed them in the kingdome. The names of these fiue kings are found +in certeine old pedegrées: and although the same be much corrupted in +diuers copies, yet these vndernamed are the most agréeable. + +But of these fiue kings or dukes, the English chronicle alloweth Cloton +king of Cornewall for most rightfull heire. There appeareth not any time +certeine by report of ancient authors, how long this variance continued +[Sidenote: _Fabian_. Ciuill warres 51. yeares.] +amongst the Britains: but (as some say) it lasted for the space of 51 +yeres, coniecturing so much by that which is recorded in Polychron, who +saith, who it endured euen till the beginning of the reigne of Mulmucius +Dunwallon, who began to gouerne from the time that Brute first entred +Britaine, about the space of 703 thrée yeares. (sic) + +¶ Here ye must note, that there is difference amongst writers about the +supputation and account of these yeares, insomuch that some making their +reckoning after certeine writers, and finding the same to varie aboue +thrée C. yeares, are brought into further doubt of the truth of the +whole historie: but whereas other haue by diligent search tried out +the continuance of euerie gouernors reigne, and reduced the same to a +likelihood of some conformitie, I haue thought best to follow the same, +leauing the credit thereof with the first authors. + + +THE PENTARCHIE. + +1 Rudacus king of Wales. +2 Clotenus king of Cornewall. +3 Pinnor king of Loegria. +4 Staterus king of Albania. +5 Yewan king of Northumberland. + + + +THE END OF THE SECOND BOOKE. + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 13624 *** |