The firste [laste] volume of the chronicles of England, Scotlande, and Irelande conteyning the description and chronicles of England, from the first inhabiting vnto the conquest : the description and chronicles of Scotland, from the first original of the Scottes nation till the yeare of our Lorde 1571 : the description and chronicles of Yrelande, likewise from the first originall of that nation untill the yeare 1571 / faithfully gathered and set forth by Raphaell Holinshed.

Guiderius.* 1.1

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GViderius y^e firste son of Kymbaline (of whome Harri∣son sayeth no∣thing,* 1.2) beganne his raigne in y^e seuententh yere after the incar∣natiō of Christ. This Guider∣us being a man of stout courage, gaue occasiō of breach of peace betwixt the Britaynes and Ro∣maynes, denying to pay the tribute, and procu∣ring the people to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 insurrections, the whyche by one meane or other made open rebellion,* 1.3 as Gildas hath. Wherevpon, the Emperour Cali∣gula (as some thinke,) tooke occasion to leauie a power, and as one vtterly misliking the negli∣gence (as he called it) of Augustus & Tiberius his predecessors, he meant not only to reduce the I∣land vnto the former subiection, but also to search out the vttermost boundes thereof, to the behoofe of himselfe, and of the Romayne Monarchie.

Greate prouision therefore was made by the sayde Caligula to performe that noble enter∣prise, and this was in the fourth yeare of hys raigne. The lyke preparation was made on the other side by Guiderius, to resist the forayne ene∣mies, so that hauing all things in a readinesse, he ceassed not dayly to looke for the comming of the Emperour, whome hee meante to receyue with harde entertaynemente if hee durst aduenture to set towarde Britayne. But see the sequeale: the mayne army beeyng thus in a readinesse,* 1.4 de∣parteth from Rome in the .79. yeare after the buylding of the Citie, and marching foorthe,

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at length commeth to the Belgique shore, from whence they mighte looke ouer, and beholde the cliffes and coast of Britaine, whiche Caligula & his men stood gasing vpō with great admiratiō & wonder. Furthermore he caused them to stand in battel array vpon the coast, where he heard, howe the Britaynes were in a redinesse to withstande his entrāce: but he entring into his galley, as no∣thing discouraged w^t these newes, rowed a flight shot or two from the shore, and foorthwith retur∣ned, [ 10] & then going vp into an high place like a pul∣pet, framed & set vp there for the nonce, he gaue y^e token to fight vnto his souldiers by sound of trū∣pet, and therewith was each man charged to ga∣ther cockle shels vpō the shore, which he called the spoyle of the Ocean,* 1.5 and caused them to be layde vp vntill a time cōueniente. With the atchieuing of this exployt (as hauing none other wherewith to beautifie his triumph) he seemed greatly exal∣ted, thinking that now he had subdued the whole [ 20] Ocean, and therefore highly rewarded his soul∣diers for their paynes susteyned in that collection of tockle shelles, as if they had done him some no∣table peece of seruice. He also carried of the same shelles with him to Rome, to the ende he myghte there boast of his voyage, and bragge how well he had sped: and required therefore very earnestly to haue a triumph decreede vnto him for the ac∣complishment of this enterprise. But whē he saw she Senate grudge at the free and liberall graun∣ting [ 30] of a grace in that behalfe, and perceiued how they refused to attribute deuine honors vnto him, in recompence of so foolish an enterprise, it wan∣ted little that he had not slayne them euery one. From thence therefore he wente vp into a throne or royall seate, and calling therewith the commō people about him, he tolde them a long tale what aduentures had chanced to him in his conquest of the Ocean, and when hee perceyued them to shoute and crie, as if they had consented that hee [ 40] should haue bin a God for this his greate trauell and valiant prowes, he to increase their clamour, caused great quantities of golde and siluer to bee scattered amongst them, in the gathering where∣of, many were pressed to deathe, and diuers also stayne with y^e inuenomed caltrops of iron, which he did cast out with the sayd money, of purpose to doe mischiefe, the same caltrops beeing in forme small and sharp, so that by reason of the preasse of people, muche hurte was done by them ere they [ 50] were perceyued. And this was the ende of the ri∣diculous voyage of Caligula attempted against the Britaynes.

But after the death of this Caligula,* 1.6 the Em∣peroure Claudius (as Suetonius hath,) moued warre against the Britaynes, bycause of a sturre and Rebellion reysed in that lande, for that suche fugitiues as were fled from thence, were not a∣gaine restored when request was made for the same.

Dion Cassius writeth, how one Beri•…•…us,* 1.7 be∣ing expelled out of Britayne, perswaded y^e Em∣peroure Claudius to take the warre in hande at this time against the Britaynes, so that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Au∣lus Plautius a Senator, and as then Preior, was appoynted to take the army that soiourned in Fraunce then called Gallia, and to passe ouer with the same into Britayne. The Souldyers hearing of thys voyage, were loth to goe with him, as men not willing to make warre in ano∣ther worlde: and therefore delayed tyme, till at length one Narcissus was sente from Claudius (as it were) to appease y^e souldiers, & procure thē to set forward. But whē this Narcissus wēt vp into the tribunal throne of Plautius, to declare y^e cause of his comming, y^e Souldiers taking great indignation therewith cried, O Saturnalia, as if they should haue celebrated their feast day so cal∣led. When the seruants apparrelled in their mai∣sters robes, represented the roomth of their mai∣sters, and were serued by them, as if they hadde bin their seruants, and thus at length constrey∣ned through very shame, they agreed to followe Plautius. Herevpon being embarqued, he deui∣ded his nauie into three partes, in the ende, that if they were kept off from arriuing in one place, yet they might take land in another. The Shippes suffered some impeachment in their passage by a contrary winde that droue them backe againe: but yet the Marriners and men of warre takyng good courages vnto them, the rather bicause there was serue a fyery leame to shoote out of the East towardes the West, which way their course lay, made forwarde againe with their Shippes, and landed without finding anye resistaunce. For

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the Britaynes looked not for their comming: wherefore, when they hearde howe their enimies were a lande, they gote them into the Wooddes and marisses, trusting that by l•…•…ngering of tyme

the Romaynes would be constreyned to departe, as it had chanced in time past to Iulius Cesar aforesayd.

Plautius therefore had muche adoe to fynde them out, but after hee had found them, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 hee vanquished Cataratacus, and after Tog•…•…dum∣nus the sonnes of Cynobellinus: for theyr father was dead not very long before.* 1.8 These therefore fleeing their wayes, Plautius receyued parte of the people called Bodumni (which were subiects [ 10] vnto them that were called Catuellani) into the obeysance of the Romaynes:* 1.9 and so leauing there a garrison of Souldiers, he passed further till hee came to a riuer whiche coulde not well be passed without a bridge: wherevppon the Britaynes tooke small regard to defend y^e passage, as though they had bin ••••re inough. Put Pl•…•…ntius 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in∣ted a dertai•…•…e 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of Germay•••• whyche he had there with him. (being vsed 〈…〉〈…〉, although neuer so swift) to get ouer, whi∣che they did, sleaing & wounding the Britaynes Horses whiche were fastned to that w•…•…ggens or Cha•…•…rets, so that the Britaynes were not a∣ble to doe anye peece of their accustomed seruice with the •…•…ame.

He•…•…rewith also was 〈…〉〈…〉 (that afterwards was Emperour) with his bro∣ther S••••inus 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ouer that riuer, which beeyng gote to the further side, flewe a greate number of the enimies. The res••••re of the Britaynes fled, but the nexte daye proffered 〈◊〉〈◊〉 battell, in the which they also fought so stoutly, that the victo∣ry

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depended long in doubtfull ballance, till C. Sidius Geta being almost at poynt to be taken, did so handle the matter, that the Britaynes fi∣nally [ 30] were put to flight: for the whiche his vali∣ant doings, triumphante honors were bestowed vpon him although he was no Consul.

The Britaynes after this Battell, withdrew to the Riuer of Thames, nere to the place where it falleth into the Sea, and knowing the ••••••l∣lowes and firme places thereof, easily passed o∣uer to the further side, whome the Romanes fol∣lowing through lacke of knowledge in the na∣ture of the places, they fel into y^e mar••••••e groūds, [ 40] and so came to lose many of their men, namely of the Germaynes, which were the first that pas∣sed ouer the Riuer to follow the Britaines, part∣ly by a bridge whiche lay within the countrey ouer the sayde Riuer, and partly by swimming, and other such shift as they presently made. The Britaynes hauing lost one of theyr Rulers,* 1.10 that is to witte, Togodumnus, of whome yet haue hearde before, were nothing discoraged, but ra∣ther the more egrely set on reuenge. Plautius [ 50] perceyuing their fiercenesse, went no further, but stayed and placed garrisons in steedes, where neede required, to keepe those places whiche hee had gotten, and with al speede sent aduertisemēt vnto Claudius, accordingly to that he hadde in commaundement, if any vrgent necessitie should so moue him. Claudius therefore hauing all things before hand in a readinesse, streightwayes vpon the receyuing of the aduertisement, depar∣ted from Rome, and came by 〈◊〉〈◊〉 vnto O∣stia, and from thence vnto Massilia, & so through Fraunce, sped his iourneys till hee came to y^e side of the Ocean sea, and then emb••••••uing hym∣selfe with his people passed ouer into Brit•…•…ine, & came to his army which abode 〈…〉〈…〉 neere to y^e Thames 〈◊〉〈◊〉, where being ioined, they pas∣sed the Riuer agayne, fought wh•…•…he Britaines in a p•…•…ght 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and getting the 〈◊〉〈◊〉, t•…•…ke the towne of Cam•…•…lodunum, 〈…〉〈…〉 the chie∣fest Citie apperteyning vnto 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Hee reduced also many other people into his ••••••iecti∣on, some by force, and some by 〈◊〉〈◊〉, wherof he was called 〈◊〉〈◊〉 by the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Empe∣rour, which was against the 〈…〉〈…〉 Ro∣manes: for it was not lawfull to any to take y^e name vppon him, oftner than 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in any one voyage.

Moreouer, Claudius tooke from the Bri∣taynes their armor and weapons, and commit∣ted the gouernement of them vnto Plautius, cō∣maunding him to endeuor himselfe to subdue the residue.

Thus hauing broughte vnder a parte of Britayne,* 1.11 and hauing made his abode therein not past a sixteene dayes, he departed, and came backe agayne to Rome with victory in y^e sixth moneth after his setting foorth from thence,* 1.12 gy∣uing after his returne, to his son, the surname of Britannicus.

This warre he finished, in manner as before is sayd, in the fourth yeare of his raigne, whyche fell in the yeare of the worlde .4011. and after the birth of our Sauioure .44. after the building of Rome .79.* 1.13

There be that write, how Claudius subdu∣ed and added to the Romaine Empire, the Isles of Orkney, situate in the North Ocean beyonde Britayne, which might well be brought to passe eyther by Plautius, or some other his Lieute∣nant: [ 10] for Plautius indeede for his noble prowes and valiant actes atchieued in Britayne, after∣wards triumphed. Titus the sonne of Vespasian also wanne no small prayse for deliuering hys father out of daunger in his time, beeing be sette with a company of Britaynes, whiche the sayde Titus bare downe and put to flight with greate slaughter. Beda following y^e authoritie of Sue∣tonius, writeth briefly of this matter, and sayth, that Claudius passing ouer into this Isle, to the [ 20] whiche neyther before Iulius Cesar, nor after him any straunger durst come, within few days receyued the most part of the countrey into hys subiection without battell or bloudshed.

Gildas also writing of this reuolting of the Britaynes, sayth thus, when information there∣of was gyuen to the Senate, and that hast was made with a speedy army to reuenge the same, there was no warlike nauie prepared in the Sea to fyghte valiantly for defence of the countrey, no square battell, no right wing, nor any other prouision appoynted on the shore to bee seene, but the backes of the Britaynes in steade of a shielde are shewed to the persecuters, and their neckes ready to bee cutte off with the sworde through 〈◊〉〈◊〉 feare running through their bo•…•…ies, whi∣che stretched foorth their handes to be bound like womanly creatures, so that a common Pro∣uerbe followed thereof, whiche was commonly vsed and spoken, that the Britaynes were ney∣ther valiant in warre, nor faythfull in peace: and so the Romaynes sleaing many of the Rebelles, reseruing some, and bringing them to bondage, that the lande shoulde not lye altogither vntilled and desert, returned into Italy out of that lande which was voyde of wine and oile, leauing some of their men there for gouernors to chastise the people, not so muche with an army of men, as with scourge and whippe, and if the matter so required, to apply the naked sworde vnto theyr sydes: so that it might be accompted Rome and not Britayne. And what coigne eyther of brasse, siluer, or golde there was, the same to be stamped with the Image of the Emperoure. Thus farre Gildas.

In the Brittish historie we finde other report as thus,* 1.14 that Claudius at his comming a lande at Porchester, besieged that towne, to the reshew

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whereof came Guinderius, and giuing battell [ 50] to the Romaynes, put them to the woorse, till at length, one Hamo, beeyng on the Romaynes syde, chaunged hys shielde and armoure, appar∣rellyng hymselfe lyke to a Britayne, and so en∣tring into the thickest preasse of the Brittishe host, came at length to the place where the King was, and there slewe him. But Aruiragus per∣ceyuing this mischiefe, to the ende the Brytaines shoulde not be discouraged therewith, he caused himselfe to be adorned with the Kings coate ar∣mour, and other abiliments, and so as Kyng continued the fight with such manhood, that the Romaynes were put to flighte. Claudius f••••e∣ing backe to hys Shippes, and Hamo to the nexte Wooddes, whome Aruiragus pur∣sued, and at length droue hym vnto the Sea syde, and there slewe hym ere hee coulde take

Hamo to the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 wooddes, whome Aruiragus pursued, and at length, droue him vnto the Sea side, and there slewe hym ere hee coulde take the hauen which was there at hand, so that the same hauen tooke name of hym, and was called long tyme after Hamons hauen, and at lēgth by corruption of speeche, it was called Hampton, and so continueth vnto thys day commonly called Southampton.

Thus haue you hearde howe Guyderius or [ 10] Guinderius (whether you will) came to his ende, which chanced (as some write) in the .28. yeare of his raigne.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Guide∣rius.
• * 1.2

  From hence∣forth yee shall finde the yere of the Lord in the margente.
• * 1.3

  Caligula.
• * 1.4

  Dion Cassius. lib. 59.
• * 1.5

  The spoyle of the Ocean.
• * 1.6

  Suetonius.
• * 1.7

  Dion 〈◊〉〈◊〉
• * 1.8

  〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.9

  ••••••ellani.
• * 1.10

  Togodu••••∣•…•…us.
• * 1.11

  Dion Cassius.
• * 1.12

  Suetonius.
• * 1.13

  44
• * 1.14

  Gal. M•…•…. Mat. VV •…•…