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❧ Of the first habitation of this Ilande, a short note to the Reader.
WHere it is recorded by the sacred and most aun∣tient* 1.1 Historie, that after the vniuersal floud, the Isles of the Gentiles were diuided by the posteri∣tie of Iapheth the sonne of Noah, wee doubt not but this Isle of Brytaine was also then peo∣pled by his progenie, the Historie of whom, as it is to be wished and appertinēt to this purpose, so sith it is irrecouera∣ble, not onely vnto vs, but also to other nations, I thinke it better to say nothing therein, than to set downe here Samothes, Magus, Sarron, Druys, and Bardus for his successours, which are vphol∣den and boulstered onely by the credite and authoritie of a newe smal pamphlet falsely forged, and thruste into the worlde vnder the title of the auntient Historian Berosus. For that is the censure of al the best learned, as concerning our cōmon Berosus, which at his first appering, about one hundred yers since, was partly suspect* 1.2 by Lodouicus Viues, afterwarde conuinced to be fabulous by the lerned Gas. Varrerius, in a seueral treatise, and now vniuer∣sally reiected of all skilful Antiquariesas, a mere fable vnworthy the name of Berosus. Therefore I dare not grounde the beginning of our Historie vppon the credite therof, vnlesse I woulde be pre∣iudicial to the trueth wherevnto I leuel al my endeauour. I hope it shal bee sufficient in this Historie for the Brytaines time, to follow the authoritie of the receiued Brytish Historie, which Gef∣frey Archdeacon of Monmouth translated out of the Brytishe tong about. 400. yeares since, beginning with Brute, who after the progenie of Iapheth seemeth to be firste discouerer, namer, and Ruler of this land. Yet before we enter into the History of Brute, it shal not bee impertinente to note here that where as Pompo∣nius Mela mētioneth that one Hercules killed Albion a Giant