Elidure.
This Elidurus in the English Chronicle na∣med Hisider, or Esoder, proued a most righteous Prince, and doubting least he should do otherwise than became him, if hee did not take care for his brother Archigallos estate. A man might wonder what diligence he shewed in traueyling with the Nobles of the Realme to haue his brother resto∣red [ 30] to the Crowne againe.
And as it chaunced one day (being abrode on hunting in the Wood called Calater) neare vnto Yorke, he found his brother Archigallo wandring there in the thickest of that wildernesse,* 1.2 whom in most louing maner he secretly conueyed home to his house, being as then in the Citie of Aldud, o∣therwise called Acliud.
Shortly after he feyned himselfe sicke, and in al hast sent Messengers about to assemble his ba∣rons, [ 40] who being come at the day appoynted, hee called them one after another into his priuie chā∣ber, & there hādled thē in such effectuous sort with wise and discrete wordes, that hee got their good willes to further him to their powers for the redu∣cing of the kingdome eftsoones into the handes of his brother Archigallo.
And after this he assembled a counsel at York, where he so vsed the matter with the commons, that in conclusion, when the sayd Elidurus had [ 50] gouerned the land well and honourably the space of three yeres, he resigned wholy his Crowne and kingly title vnto his said brother Archigallo, who was receyued of the Brytaynes againe as King, by mediation of his brother in maner as afore is sayde.* 1.3 A rare example of brotherly loue, if a man shall reuolue in his mind what an inordinate de∣sire remayneth amongest mortall men to atteyne to the supreeme soueraintie of ruling, and to keepe the same when they once haue it in possession. For this greate good will and brotherly loue by hym shewed thus towards his brother, he was surna∣med the godly or vertuous.