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.

Leill the seuenth Ruler.

[illustration]

LEil the son of Brute Greeneshielde,* 1.1 began to raigne in the yeere of the world .3021. the same time that Asa was raig∣ning in Iuda, and Am∣bri in Israel. He built the Citie nowe called Car∣lile,* 1.2 which then after hys owne name was called Caerleil, that is, Leil his Citie, or the Citie of Leil. He repayred also (as Henry Bradshawe hathe, the Citie of Caerleon now called Chester,* 1.3 which as by the same Brad∣shaw it appeareth, was built before Brutus en∣tring into this lande by a Giaunte named Leon Gauer. But what authoritie he hadde to auouche this, it may be doubted, for Ranulfe Higdē in his worke entituled Policronicon, saith in playne wordes, that it is vnknowen who was the firste founder of Chester, but that it toke the name of y^e soiourning there of some Romayne Legions, by whom also it is not vnlike that it might be firste built by P. Ostorius Scapula, who as we find, after he had subdued Caratacus king of y^e Ordouices y^t inhabited y^e countreys now called Lancashire, Chesshire, & Salupshire, built in those partes, & a∣mong y^e Silures, certain places of defence, for the better herbourgh of his men of warre, & keeping down of suche Britaynes as were still ready to moue rebelliō. But now to y^e purpose concerning K. Leil. We find it recorded y^t he was in y^e begin∣ning of his raigne very vpright, & desirous to see iustice executed, & aboue all things loued peace & quietnesse, but as yeres encreased with him, so his vertues began to diminish, in so much, that abā∣doning y^e care for the body of y^e common welth, he suffered his own body to welter in all vice and voluptuousnesse, & so procuring the hatred of hys subiectes, caused malice and discorde to ryse a∣mōgst them, which during his life, he was neuer able to appease. But leauing them so at variāce, departed this life, and was buried at Careleil which as ye haue heard he had builded, whyle hee liued.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Leil.
• * 1.2

  Carele•••• ded.
• * 1.3

  Chester ••••payred.