The general history of England, as well ecclesiastical as civil. Vol. I from the earliest accounts of time to the reign of his present Majesty King William : taken from the most antient records, manuscripts, and historians : containing the lives of the kings and memorials of the most eminent persons both in church and state : with the foundations of the noted monasteries and both the universities / by James Tyrrell.

THE General History OF BRITAIN, NOW CALLED ENGLAND: As well Ecclesiastical, as Civil. BOOK I. From the Earliest Accounts of TIME, to the First Coming of JULIUS CAESAR. (Book 1)

SINCE I design (with God's Permission) to write and digest the most Remarkable Things and Transactions that have occurred in this King∣dom from the earliest Accounts of Time, I shall follow Venerable Bede, as well as other Histo∣rians, in first giving a brief Description of this Island.

Britain, the largest of all the Europaean Islands, (and one of the biggest in this Habitable Globe,) is scituate between 50 Degrees 16 Minutes, and 59 Degrees 30 Minutes North Latitude, the whole Isle lying in length from Dunsby-Head, the most Northerly Promon∣tory of Scotland, to Dover, the space of near Six hundred Miles; yet is the Climate more mild and temperate than could be expected in so Northerly a Scituation; the Winds from the Seas encompassing it on all sides, so tempering the Air, that it is neither so cold in Winter, nor yet so hot in Summer, as the opposite Continents of France, Germany, and the Low-Countries; and also by the Indulgence of Hea∣ven, as well as the Fertility of its Native Soil, it is plentifully fur∣nished with all Things necessary for Human Life.

It was anciently called by the Greeks Albion, but whether from a Giant of that Name feigned to be the Son of Neptune, after the

Fabulous Humour of those Times, in giving Names to Countries from Giants and Heroes; or else from the Greek word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, which accor∣ding to Festus signifies White; since, this Island is on many sides of it encompassed with Rocks of that Colour; or else from the Phoenician word Alp, which signifies High; or from Alben, which in the Hebrew Tongue signifies White, is uncertain, and therefore needless to be insisted on too much.

As for the Name of Britain, which Nennius and divers other British Writers derive from Brutus, (whom they likewise call Brito;) but others of them from the British words Pryd Cain, i. e. Forma candida, a white Form; it seems too far fetch'd; and besides, we do not find that the Na∣tives of this Isle ever called it Britain.

* 1.1Mr. Camden derives it from the Welsh word Brith, which signifies Painted, (for the ancient Britains used to paint themselves of a pale blewish Colour with Glastum, or Woad;) and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, which in Greek signifies a Region, or Country. But this Etymology has this Inconve∣nience in it, that it is derived from too far different Languages; and besides it seems very improbable, that such an Accidental Custom as that of painting their Bodies, should give a Name to the whole Island, as well as its Inhabitants. Nor does this word, Brith, signifie in the Welsh Tongue, Painted, but rather Spotted with divers Colours; whereas the ancient Britains, as some write, did not paint themselves with various Co∣lours, but only stained their Bodies with one simple Colour, viz. Blue. We must therefore endeavour to derive it from some other Language, if it was not the Britains themselves, but other Nations (as is most pro∣bable) that first called this Island Britain. Now it is certain, that there is no Word in the Greek Tongue from whence 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 can well be derived, which Name only the more modern Greek Historians have given this Island; for thô * 1.2 Strabo in his Geography calls it 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, yet since this word is an Adjective, it is plain that 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, i. e. Insula, an Island, is to be understood: So that it seems the word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 must be more ancient than 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and therefore Mr. Camden's derivation of it will scarcely hold good: Yet Ptolomy never calls this Island 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, but 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, for when he speaks of all the Islands lying toge∣ther in these Seas towards the North, he calls them 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, or 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉; i. e. Insulae Britannicae, the British Islands. And * 1.3 Pliny in his Natural History speaking of all these Islands, says, Albion ipsi nomen fuit, cum Britannicae vocarentur omnes; i. e. The particu∣lar Name was Albion, but the Islands together were called British.

But Monsieur Bochart, in his most Learned Work, Entituled * 1.4 Cha∣naan, where he Treats of the Colonies and Language of the Phoeni∣cians, hath given us a more probable derivation of the Name of Bri∣tain, which he supposes to be derived from the Phoenicians, who in their Language called this Island (as well as some others near it) Barat Anac, or more contractedly Bratanac, i. e. in the Land or Coun∣try of Tin or Lead; which being thus given it by the Phoenician Mari∣ners, that first sailed thither and discovered those Islands, might after∣wards by the Greeks be mollified into 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Now, that the Phoenicians were the first that discovered those Isles, (which the Graecians called Cassiterides, (and which are proved by Mr. Camden to be no other than our Scilly Islands,) and from whence, as * 1.5 Strabo tells us in his Geography,

The Phoenicians first brought Tin, which thô

they vended to the Greeks, yet kept the Trade, as well as the Place, private to themselves, may be believed upon these Authorities: * 1.6 Pliny tells us, That Midocritus was the first who brought Lead from the Cassiterides.

But Monsieur Bochart there shews us, That it ought to be read Melichartus, who was the Phoenician Hercules of Sanchoniathon, and to whom the Phoen••cians attributed their first Western Discoveries.

Yet notwithstanding the Care of the Phoenicians to conceal these Islands, the Greeks did at last discover them, (thô we cannot tell the certain time when,) giving them the Name of Cassiterides, which signifies in the Greek Tongue, the same that Barat-Anac does in the Phoenician, viz. The Land or Country of Tin; which Name; thô given only to these Islands at first, was at last also communicated to the adjoyning Coun∣tries, now called Cornwal and Devonshire; from whence also the Phoe∣nicians might bring this Commodity; and so by degrees this Name came to be given to all those Islands thus lying together; since in those Times (as well as now) it is probable, there might be Mines of this Metal in Britain itself, as well as in those smaller Islands above-men∣tioned: In some of which Mr. Camden tells us, there are found Veins of this Metal even unto this Day; and there might be far greater Mines of it in former Ages, thô long since worn out.

But it is Objected, That Mr. Camden, in his Introduction to his Britannia, hath positively asserted, that Britain was not known to the Greeks, and therefore its Name could not be derived from them, or the Phoenicians: and for Proof of this, he cites a Place out of the Third Book of Polybius's History, which we shall here render into English thus.

As for Asia and Lybia, where they joyn to each other about Ethiopia, none can say positively to this Day, whether it be a Continent running to the South, or whether it be encompassed by the Sea. So likewise what lies between Ta∣nais and Narbon, stretching Northward, is unknown to us at this present, unless hereafter by diligent Enquiry we may learn some∣thing of it; they that speak or write any thing of these Matters, are to be thought to know nothing, and to lay down meer Fables.]

By which Words Polybius only means, That as it was doubtful whe∣ther the Sea encompassed the South Parts of Africa, so it was unknown whether the North Parts of Europe about Narbon were likewise so en∣compassed; whereas Mr. Camden understands the Words as if they were spoken in general, when indeed they related only to that parti∣cular Question, Whether the Northern Tracts of Europe were invi∣roned with the Sea or not, which notwithstanding the great Improve∣ment of Navigation stands unresolv'd even unto this Day. But that Polybius writ not in this sense, appears further, in that he himself de∣scribes the Fountains of Rhodanus and Ligeris, with many other Places of Gaul which lie all above Narbon. But to put this past all Dispute, in this very Third Book, he promises particularly to write of the further or Western Sea, as also of the Britanick Islands, (for so he calls them,) and of their manner of making Tin: Which Promise of his required more than a Cursory Knowledge to perform: Since he says, That the Trade into those Seas was then very great; now that he also performed this Pro∣mise, appears from * 1.7 Strabo where Polybius is cited, as comparing the Opinions of Pytheas, Dicaearchus, and Eratosthenes, concerning the Magnitude of Britain; but that these Islands were discovered by the

Greeks long before Polybius's time, appears also from Herodotus, who confesses, he does not know the Islands Cassiterides, from whence Tin, is brought; (that is, he did not know them any otherwise than by Report;) and if these smaller Islands were then discovered, can any one believe, that so great an Island as Britain, which lay so near them, could re∣main undiscovered? But I have spoke enough, if not too much, of the Etymologies of the Names of this Island; since of all that may be counted Learning, nothing is more uncertain than this, nor is it often of any great use when known.

I shall therefore now proceed to somewhat more Solid and Useful, and try if we can discover who were the first Inhabitants of this Island; but since the Scriptures, as well as Prophane Histories, are silent in this Point, it is impossible to tell the Name of the Man who brought the first Colony hither; Only thus much seems probable, That Europe was Peopled by the Posterity of Jophet, either from one Alanus, (whom Nenniu•• supposes to have been his Grandson,) or else from Gomer his Son, from whom Mr. Camden derives the Names of Cimmerii and Cimbri, whom be supposes to be one and the same Na∣tion, and by whom the ancient Galli•• was first Inhabited, and from whom he brings the present Welsh, called in their own Language Cymra, which, if true, nothing is more certain and easie to believe, than that this Island was first Inhabited (at least as to its more Southern Parts) from the Continent of Gaul, as is delivered by Bede in his first Chapter as a current Tradition in his Time; and Mr. Camden farther proves it out of Caesar's Commentaries: For thô be there tells us, that the In∣land Parts of Britain were Inhabited by those who called themselves the Natives; yet that the Maritime Parts were possessed by such, who to make War, and get Prey, had passed over from Belgium and Gaul, which were then called by the same Names as those People from whence they came. Which may be also proved from other Ar∣guments, as their Affinity in Customs, Language and Religion, with those of Gaul, as they are there described by Caesar, and also by other Roman Authors: Thô Tacitus, in his Life of Agricola, does not wholly agree with Caesar as to this Particular, for he there tells us,

That the Northern Parts of Britain seem to have been Peopled by the Ger∣mans, as the Eastern Coasts by their opposite Neighbours the Gauls, and the South Part by the Iberi or Spaniards: This he gathers from the different Complexion of the People, the Northern Britains (says he) are Fair, having large Limbs, and long yellow Hair like the Germans; but the Silures, or Southern Britains, were Swarthy, and had curled Hair like the Spaniards, whereas the Coast lying over-against Gaul agreed in Language, Customs, and in every thing else with the Gauls.

It was not from the Continent of Gaul alone, that this Island was first Inhabited, but also from Ireland, and the North Parts of Germany, or else from Scandinavia, now called Sweden; for Bede tells us in the First Chapter of his History,

That, after the Br••tains, the Picts came out of Scythia in long Ships, and landed first in the North of Ireland; but being there refused Habitation by the Scots, who then possessed that Island, they were advised to plant themselves in the North part of Britain, which they then thereupon performed; and when the Picts, wanting Wives, desired the Scots to bestow some on them, they con∣sented

to it on this condition, That when there was any dispute about the Succession to the Crown; they should rather chuse a King from the Feminine, than M••sculine Line of their former Kings, which is still ob∣serv'd (says he) among the Picts to this day.

Now that this Country, which Bede here calls Scythia, could be no o∣ther, than the more Northern Parts of Germany, or else Gothia (now called Sweden) at the farthest, seems highly probable, since the best Writers of the middle Ages do all agree, that these parts were in those times called by the general Name of S••ythia. And you may see Authorities sufficient for this, cited by Arch-Bishop Usher in the 15th Chapter of his learned work; D•• Antiquitate Britannica um Ecclesiarum, and by the reverend Dr. Stillingfleet (now Lord Bishop of Worcester) in his Origines Britannicae; who allows Hector Boethius his Conjecture not to be be improbable,* 1.8 who de∣rives them from the Agathyrsi, who came out of Sarmatia into the Cimbuca Ch••rsonesus, and from thence into Scotland.

But that the Scots came into this Island many Ages after out of Ireland is also as certain, Since Bede tells us in the same place, that in process of time Britain receiv'd a Third Nation, viz. of the Scots, besides the Britains and Picts, which Scots going out of Ireland under the conduct of one Reuda, took those Territories which they have among the Picts, either by terms or agreement with them, from which Reuda even to this day they are called Da••reudini, for Dal in their language signifies a share or portion, which Reuda in what Age he lived and brought over this Colony out of Ireland, since it hath bred a great dispute among our Modern Antiquaries, I shall not take upon me now to decide:

But that the Scots came at first from Ireland, is acknowledged by John Fordon, and John Major, their two eldest Historians extant; the latter of whom tells us,

That as yet, that is, in his time, almost half Scotland spoke the Irish Tongue, which they had brought over with them from Ireland.

To return to the matter in hand it is evident from Bede, that in his time, God was served in five several Languages in this Island, (viz) The English, the British, the Scotish, (or present Irish) the Latin (which they commonly used in Divine Service) and the Pictish; though what that Language was we cannot now tell; for the Picts being totally subdued by the Scots, and thereby incorporated into the body of that Nation, that Tongue is quite extinct; though if it had not been at least different in Dialect from that of the Britains, it seems improbable that Bede, who was so near a neighbour to them, should mention it as a distinct Tongue from all the rest. And yet notwithstanding by all the relicts we can now find of it in the Names of places in the South and West parts of Scotland, they are purely British, as Mr. Camden hath learnedly proved in his said In∣troduction, and therefore, since the name of Pict is indeed Latin, and signifies no more than painted Men, and that no Roman Author makes mention of them, before Ammianus Marcellinus, who lived about the end of the fourth Century, and is the first who calls the Inhabitants of the Nor∣thern parts of Britain by the name of Picti, distinguishing them into Di∣calidonii (perhaps, it should be Deucaldonii) and Vecturiones, which the learned Dr. Lloyd, late Lord Bishop of St. Asaph, and now of Coventry and Litchfield, in his Historical account of Church Goverment in Britain, probably enough derives from the British Deucilyddion, and C••withwrion, that is Southern Caledones, or Borderers and Northern Men. It is probable that these Picts were no other than the remainder of those

Britains, who preserved their Liberty by resisting the Roman Arms, and were at last divided from the Roman Britains, by a Wall, now called the Picts Wall, (the Vestiges of which are to be seen to this Day) drawn between the mouths of the Rivers Tine and Eske, to hinder their farther Incursions into those parts which were then under the Roman Empire.

But having said enough concerning this Island in general, together with its first Inhabitants and their Languages; It is now high time to come to our main design, the History of that part of it, called at this day England, and which was in the Romans time divided into several Provinces or Governments, as Britannia Prima, Secunda, and Maxima Caesariensis, &c. they may ••e seen in the Antient Notitia of the Roman Emp••re.

We must therefore in the first place ingenuously confess, that till the coming in of the Romans, there are no certain or Authentick Histories remaining of any transactions before that time; for Gildas, who liv'd not long after the Saxons were first call'd into Britain, freely owns, that as for the Antient monuments of his Country, (whatever they were) being either burnt by Enemies, or carried beyond Sea by his banish'd Country men, they were not then to be found, therefore I shall wholly omit that fabulous Succession of Celtick Kings, who are feigned to be derived from Samothes, one of the Sons of Japhet, whom they suppose to have planted Colonies first on the Continent of Celtica or Gaul, and next in this Island, and thence to have named it Samothea, since they never had any existence, but in the brain of Amnius de Viterbo, and by him vented in his counterfeit Berosus, which is long since exploded by all that are any thing versed in Antiquity.

But now I could heartily wish that we had any certain monuments of the History of this Kingdom, which might justly supply their room; but having no Authentick accounts left us of the British Kings, that reigned in this Island till Julius Caesar's first Expedition hither, I could willingly have excused my self from the drudgery of writing things so uncertain, nay in diverse particulars utterly false, were it not that most Authors who have already writ our History either in English or Latin, have thought those long Successions of Kings not unworthy a particular Recital, as sup∣posing it scarce possible, that a descent of above Sixty Kings together, with so many transactions attended with such particular Circumstances, as the making of War and Peace, building of Cities and enacting Laws, should be wholly Fabulous and Romantick, or that the names of so many successive Princes should never have been derived from any real Per∣sons.

For though it is true that Geoffrey of Monmouth is look'd upon as the chief (if not only) Author of the Story of Brutus and his Successours; yet it is certain that he pretends in the Proem to his History, (which he dedicated to no less a Man than Robert Earle of Gloucester, natural Son to K. Hen. the I.) that he received an antient British History from Walter, Arch-Deacon of Oxon, which (as he says) he faithfully translated out of the British Tongue into Latin, though William Neobrigensis, (who lived some time after this Geoffrey) in the very beginning of his History writes thus of him,

In thes•• our days (says he) a certain Writer is risen, who hath devised many foolish Fictions of the Britains, he is named Geoffrey: And a little after, thus, with ho•• little shame, and with what great Confidence doth he frame his Lyes!

So that you may see his History began to be cryed out against almost as soon as it was published.

And

yet for all this, it is certain, that Geoffrey was not the first Author of this Story of Brutus; for Nennius,* 1.9 who lived in the 8th Century (and is also Intituled Gildas in some Copies) in his History makes the Isle of Britain to be first inhabited by one Brito, the Son of Hisicion, the Son of Japhet, or else from one Brutus, (it seems he did not know which) whose Pede∣gree he derives from Aeneas by his Son Ascanius, and who (as he supposes) reigned in Britain in the time that Eli Judged Israel, and under whose Conduct the Britains in the third Age of the World first came into this Island; which Calculation falls out right enough with our at present received Chronology:

But as for Sigebertus Gemblacensis, a French Monk, (who lived about Twenty Years before Geoffrey) tho' in some Editions he speaks of Bru••e with his Trojans arrival in Gaul, and of his passage from thence into Britain, yet it is certain they are none of that Author's words, there being no such thing to be found in the truest Edition of his Chronicle, published by Mirraes. An. 1608. as the a∣bove cited Lord Bishop of Coventry, and Litchfield, in his learned Preface to his Historical account of Church Government in great Britain and Ireland, hath fully proved. But after him Henry Arch-Deacon of Huntington, an Author of Credit (who lived at the same time with Geoffrey) ascribes the first habitation of this Island to Brutus, the Son of Sylvius, Grandson to Aeneas: whom together with his certain Trojans he supposes to have come into Britain in the third Age of the World, as the Scots did in the fourth into Ireland, which he seems to have taken out of Nennius, or some other ancient Author: But this must still be confest, that the whole relation of the Actions of Brutus, and the Succession of all the Princes that followed him, do all depend upon the Credit of Geoffrey and the truth of his trāsaction, and so was looked upon in the Age in which he published his History: But to make this Brute to be a Trojan, and to give him a Genealogy, which is plainly contradicted by all the Roman Au∣thors, is that for which his History ought to be condemned: Yet thus much may be said in Excuse of him, and of all those Authors who have ascribed the Origine of the Britains to Brute, that they have imitated the Vanity of the ancient Greeks and Romans, who derived their Kings from some God or Heroe. And have been followed in it not only by the Britains, but the French and almost all other Nations of Europe, since they began to write Histories of their Originals.

But since it is fit that we should give you some account (though as short as possible) of this Brute and his Successors, I shall contract their History from Geoffrey of Monmouth into as narrow a Compass as I can.

Brutus, who is suppos'd to have first Peopled Britain with Inhabitants of the Trojan Race, is said to have been the Great Grandson of Aeneas, by his Son Ascanius, who killing his Father Sylvius, King of Alba, accidently with an Arrow, was forced to fly his Country, and going into Greece joyned himself with the remainder of those scattered Trojans he ••ound there, and be∣coming their Leader, made War upon Pandrasus, the King of that Country, to whom he sent this Message, viz.

That the Trojans holding it unworthy their Ancestors to serve in a Foreign Kingdom, had retreated to the Woods; choosing rather a Savage, than a slavish Life; if that dis∣pleased him, then with his leave they might depart to some other Soile.

The particulars of which being tedious and fabulous, are here needless further to be inserted. But at last that King being by them made a Prisoner, was forced to accept of terms of Peace, the Articles of

which were, That Brute should Marry Inogena the King's Daughter, and in Consideration of her Dower should have a Fleet given him, with Li∣berty to transport all such as would be willing to follow his Fortunes: The Marriage being thereupon solemnized, Brute and his Trojans with a great Fleet betook themselves to Sea, and within a short time landed on a deserted Island, where they found a ruin'd City, in which was a Temple, and an Image of Diana, that gave Oracles; whereupon Brutus consulting with his Diviner and Twelve other of the Ancients, was ad∣vised to invoke the Goddess to tell him, in what Land or Region he should find a place to settle in, and accordingly as we find it in Geoffrey of Mon∣mouth, he is said to Adress her thus,

Diva potens Nemorum, terror Sylvestribus apris, Cui licet anfractus ire per aethereos, Infernasque domos: Terrestria Jura resolve, Et dic, quas terras nos habitare velis. Dic certam sedem, quâ te veneremur in aevum, Quâ tibi Virgineis Templa dicabo Choris.

Thus excellently well translated by the Learned Mr. Milton.

Goddess of Shades, and Huntress who at will Walk'st on the rouling Sphere, and through the deep, On thy third Reign the Earth look now, and tell What Land, what Seat of rest thou bidst me seek, What certain Seat, where I may worship thee For ay, with Temples vow'd, and Virgin Quires.

Whereupon the Goddess returned this following Answer.

Brute sub Occasum solis trans Gallica regna Insula in Oecano est undique cincta Mari. Insula in Oceano est, habitata Gigantibus olim, Nunc deserta quidem, Gentibus apta tuis. Hanc pete, namque tibi sedes erit illa perennis; Haec fiet natis altera Troja tuis Hic de prole tua Reges nascentur, & illis Totius Terrae subditus Orbis erit.

Rendred thus,

Brutus, far to the West, in th' Ocean wide Beyond the Realm of Gaul, a Land there lies, Sea-Girt it lies, where Giants dwelt of old, Now void, it fits thy People, thither bend Thy Course, there shalt thou find a lasting Seat, There to thy Sons another Troy shall rise, And Kings be born of thee, whose dreaded Might Shall awe the World, and Conquer Nations bold.

But these Verses being in Latin, when there was no such Language sp••ke in the World, sufficiently betray the moderness of the invention: So that were it no more to please, then instruct, I should not have inserted them here.

And now Brute being guided, as he thought by a Divine Conduct, Sails again towards the West, and Landing in Italy meets with some other Trojans who had come thither with Antenor, many of whom he takes along with him, together with one Corinaeus their Chief. With this recruit Bru•••• puts again to Sea, and passing the Pillars of Hercules, at the mouth of Ligeris in Aquitania casts Anchor, where they were set upon by one Goffarius a Pictish King of that Country, now called Poictou, with whom having se∣veral Battles, Brute at last Conquered and Expell••d him his Kingdom, but he solliciting the other Kings of Gaul to his assistance; Brute thereup∣on finding himself too weak for so great a force, called a Council, where 'twas resolved, that since this was not the Land promised them by the Oracle, they should again put to Sea: So embarking all their Forces, after a few days Sail they arrived at Albion, and Landed at a Haven, now called Totuesse in Devonshire. The time of which enterprize is supposed to be about 1200 Years after the Flood, and about 66. Years after the Destruction of Troy; if any certain time can be assigned for so uncertain a relation.

But Bru••e having at length (through many dangers and difficulties) attained this long wish'd for Island, Lands his Trojans, and marches up into the Country to take possession of it, which he found in great part desart, or Inhabited only by some Gyants; these he quickly destroys and to his People divides the Land, which in allusion to his own Name he called Britain. On Corinaeus Cornwall, (as we now call it) was bestowed: But here I omit as a Fable, only fit to be told Children, how this Hero, though no Gyant himself, yet took up the mighty Gyant Gogmagog in his Arms, and flung him off from a Cliff into the Sea, from whence the place hath been ever since called Langoemagog, that is to say, the Gyant's Leap.

After Brute had thus conquer'd the Island, he chose a fit place to build a City, which he called Troja Nova; (for it seems he spoke Latin though it were not then used in Italy) which Cities Name was changed in time to Trinobantum, or Troynovant, after to London: This he made the Seat of his Kingdom, (Eli being then High Priest in Judea), where he en∣acted several Laws, and having reign'd here Fifteen Years, he divided his Kingdom among his Three Sons; Locrinus the Eldest had that part called Loegria now England: Camber the second possessed Cambria, now Wales. And Albanactus, Albania, now Scotland; but he some time after being in∣vaded by one Humber King of the Huns, was slain in Fight, and his Peo∣ple driven back into Loegria, whereupon King Locrinus and his Brother Camber march'd against this Humber, who fighting with them, and being overcome, and drown'd in a River, left his Name to it. I designedly omit the long story of the Lady Estrildis, whom Locrinus then taking Pri∣soner he fell in Love with, and privately enjoy'd, and would have Mar∣ried, had it not been for fear of Corinaeus, whose Daughter Gwendolin, he had already betroathed; but no sooner was Corinaeus dead, but he owned Estrildis for his Queen, which so incensed Gwendolin, that although Lo∣crinus was strengthened by the addition of Cambria upon the Death of his Bro••her; yet she goes into Cornwall, and by powerful sollicitations in the

behalf of her self and her young Son Madan, the Cornish are brought to assist her: With these Forces, she marched against Locrinus, and in a pitch'd Battle nigh the River Stour he was overcome, and Slain, in the 20th Year of his Reign, upon this (just as she would have it) the King∣dom fell to her Son

Madan, the Son of Locrinus by Gwendolin, although a Child, yet suc∣ceeded his Father, but under the Regency of the Queen his Mother, who out of Revenge, drown'd Estrildis and her Daughter Sabra in a River, which from her was called Sabrina, in English Severne; Gwendolin, her Son coming to full Age, resigned her Power, and retired into Cornwall, after she had Govern'd Fifteen Years: But Madan having had the fame of Ruling well for the space of Forty Years in all, left behind him two Sons, Mempritius and Manlius; Mempritius the Eldest Son of Madan is sup∣posed to have ruled over the whole Island, but Manlius his Younger Bro∣ther rebelling against him, he desired a treaty with him, who giving his Brother a meeting, he treacherously murdered him, and now having put an end to that trouble, giving himself up to Luxury and Cruelty, and at last to unnatural Lust, hunting in a Forrest was devoured by Wolves; to whom succeeded Ebrank his Son, who was a Man of mighty Strength and Stature; h•• first after Brutus wasted G••ul, and returning rich and prospe∣rous, built Caerbranc, now York, and in Albania, the Town of Mount Agned, now Edinburgh. He is said to have had Twenty Wives, and by them Twenty Sons and Thirty Daughters, which (as our Author relates) were sent un∣der the Conduct of their Brother to Sylvius Alba then King of Italy to be provided with Husbands, because he had heard that the Sabines would not give their Daughters in Marriage to the Latins, which is so very ri∣diculous that it needs no Confutation. This Prince dying, after he had reign'd about Forty Years, left the Kingdom to Brute, Sir-named Green∣shield from the colour of his Target; he revenged those Indignities, which had been put upon his Father by Brunchild, Prince of Hannonia or Hainault Conquering him near the banks of the Scaldis, i. e. the Scheld, but the mo∣dern names of Hainault, and Brunchild sufficiently betray the Novelty of this Fable: He hath the Character of an Excellent Prince, Just, Mer∣ciful, and a most exact observer of his Word; and reigned Twelve Years, to whom succeeded

Leil his Son, who built the City of Carlisle, (in the Days of Solomon,) after called by the Romans Lugubalia, and did also repair Caerleon, now called Chester; he was a good Prince till the latter end of his days, when falling into several Vices, he occasioned great dissentions in the Kingdom, which did not end with his life, but after he had reigned Twenty five Years, left the Kingdom to

Rudhudibras or Hudibras, who compos'd the disturbances begun in his Fathers days, and, studying nothing more than to strengthen and adorn his Kingdom, built several Cities, as Caerkin now Canterbury; likewise Caer Guent, now Winchester; as also Mount Paladur, after Septonia or Shafts∣bury, and having reigned Twenty nine Years, was succeeded by,

Bladud his Son, who is said to have been skill'd in Magick, and there∣by to have found out those Medicinal Waters, now called the Bath, where he also built a City, called Caer Baden; he is said to be a Man of a good Invention, and having made himself Wings to flye, fell down from the Temple of Apollo in Trinovant, and broke his Neck, having governed Britain Twenty Years. To him succeeded

Leir his Son who built Caer Leir, now called Leicester: He had only Three Daughters, Gonnilla, R••gana, and Cordiella his darling; but in his old Age, being jealous of their Affections, he called them before him, and demanded, that they would give him some assurance of their Love; the two Eldest called Heaven and Earth to witness, that they loved him Ten thousand times dearer than their own Souls, and that they were not able to Express their infinite kindness for him; and at last concluded their flatteries with horrid Oaths and asseverations of their Sincerity; but Cordiella, the Youngest, though having before her Eyes the present re∣ward of an easie flattery, yet could not be moved from giving him this downright honest Answer: Father (saith she) my Love toward you, is as my Duty bids, What should a Father seek? What can a Child pro∣mise more? They who pretend beyond this flatter: This short Answer not at all satisfied the old suspicious King; for he shewed his resentments by his neglect of her, and the suddain advancement of her Sisters, Marrying Regana to the Duke of Cornwall, and Gonarilla to the Duke of Albania; reserving no portion at all for Cordiella, but it so happen'd, that Aganippus a Prince of Gaul (however he came by this Greek Name) hear∣ing of her Vertue and Beauty desired her in Marriage, to whom she was welcome without any other Dower, but her own Vertues. King Leir having thus disposed of his two Eldest Daughters, and dividing half his Kingdom between them, they within some time by their subtile practices work him out of all; so that he was forced to sojourn with his Daughters by turns, who being set on by their Husbands, put so many affronts and Indignities upon him (needless here to be recited) that in the end he was constrained to leave the Realm, and take refuge with Cordiella. This re∣jected Daughter received him with all the Duty and Affection imaginable; and then appeared the difference between the down-right Love of some Children to their Parents, and the over talkative obsequiousness of others, while the hopes of a large Inheritance obliges their Tongues to Express more Duty than ever they mean to perform; but what was more signi∣ficant than Words, she assisted her Father with powerful aids, and in Person went to revenge his wrongs: So that bringing a great Army in∣to Britain, she destroyed his Enemies, and restored him to his Crown, which he held but for the space of Two Years, whose Reign in all is computed to be about Forty Years, and then dying left the Throne to

Cordilla, who Governed the Kingdom for Five Years; but in the mean time her Husband Aganippus dying; Morgan and Cunedage her Ne∣phews, by her Sisters Gonorilla and Regana, disdaining to be under the Government of a Woman, rebelled against her; and so prevailed, that they took her Prisoner; but she being a Woman of a high Spirit slew her self, rather than to live under their Tyranny.

Whereupon Cunedage and Morgan possessing the whole Government, divided the Island between them; to Morgan fell Albania, to Cunedage all the Land on this side Humber; Morgan not being content with his Por∣tion Invaded his Brother, but being driven by him into Wales, and there Slain, gave the Name of Glan-Morgan to that Country: Cunedage now Ruling alone built many Temples to his Gods, and dying, was buried at Trinovant; after he had Ruled Thirty three Years, to whom suc∣ceeded

Rivallo the Son of Cunedage; in his time it rain'd Blood for Three Days together, from whose Putrefaction, Noisom and Venemous Flies were bred; which in Swarms infested the whole Land, and brought great Contagion both upon Men and Beasts. He, after he had Ruled Forty six Years, was succeeded by

Gurgust his Son, of whom nothing is recorded worth mentioning; he is said to have Reign'd Thirty seven Years: Nor is there more left of Jago his Nephew,

Nor yet of Sillius, or Sicillius, thô how related to the former is not said: But to him, after Forty nine Years Reign, succeeded

K••nemare, said to be Brother of Jago, of whom there is nothing Re∣corded, but that he was Buried at York: To whom succeeded

Gor••odug, the Son of Kinemare, he is noted for Tyranny: But dying, he left behind him two Sons

Ferrex, and Porrex, who Reigning joyntly at first, did within a few Years begin to contend, who should have the whole Kingdom; in which Contention, after a great Battle Fought between them, Ferrex was Slain, whose Death affected his Mother with so great a Grief, that transported by Revenge, she by the help of her Maidens, Slew her other Son Porrex whilst he was a Sleep; an unheard of Example, and too strange to be true.

After his Death, the Blood Royal of Brute being extinguished by his Death, there happned cruel Wars, so that the Kingdom was rent into five parts; one Pinnor made himself King of Loegria or England: Stator seized Albania; Rudock Cambria, and Cloten Cornwall: But as to the fifth division, the Story is silent; this Pentarchie is supposed to have lasted a∣bove Fifty Years, the Kingdom in the mean time being miserably har∣rassed by Civil Wars, until

Dunwallo Molmutius, Son of Cloten King of Cornwall, excelling in Valour and Comliness of Person, by subduing the other four Princes, reduced the whole Island again into a Monarchy, and is said to be the First in Britain that wore a Crown of Gold; and therefore by some reputed the first King: But what he got by Force he managed with great Prudence and Moderation; Enacting several excellent Laws, which Geoffrey says were translated into Latin by Gildas; and in Saxon afterwards by King Alfred. But since no such work of his is any where extant, I shall not give them so much Credit as to recite them; though Mr. Selden hath not thought them unworthy of a place in his learned Treatise; called, Janus, Anglorum. But this King, after he had governed Forty Years, died, and was buried at T••inovant, to whom succeeded his two Sons

Belinus and Brennus, who after some Controversies, divided the King∣dom between them, Brennus being to have all that lay North of Humber, and B••linus the rest; but the Younger being not long so contented, did upon new designs Sail into Norway, and enter into a League with Elsing King of that Country, and Married his Daughter, which Belinus hearing of, did in his absence dispossess him of his Kingdom; Brennus with a Fleet of Norwegians makes toward Britain, but is encounter'd by Guithlac, a Danish King, who laying claim to his Bride pursued him at Sea, and being there vanquish'd in a Fight, was forced to get away with a few Ships; but Brennus nevertheless recollecting his shattered Navy, landed in Albania, and gave Battle to his Brother, who totally routed him and forced him to fly into Gaul, with no more than one single Vessel.

But Belinus being now rid of his Brother, turns his Thoughts to Arts of Peace, and amongst other things they reckon his making the Four great Ways or Streets, which are still to be seen, to run cross the King∣dom, which they will have him, and not the Romans, to have first laid.

Brennus in the mean while having been kindly received by Seguinus King of Armorica, now Britagn in France, and having Married his Daugh∣ter, was by him assisted with a powerful Army to regain his Kingdom, and Landing in Britain, was now ready to give Battel to his Brother; when their Mother Conwenna mediated between them, and so perswaded them, that embracing each other they were perfectly reconciled; so that going to Trinovant, they resolved to turn their united Forces on Foreign Parts, and then Sailing into Gaul, the Author tells us, that un∣der these two, not only all that Country, but also Italy, was Conquered, as you may find in the Roman Authors. If those were Britains and not Gauls which took Rome, which is not worth our while to Dispute: Some say, that Belinus went not into Gaul with his Brother, or if he did that he soon returned. After which he made it his Business to adorn his Kingdom, Building some Cities, of which Caer-Uske, now Caer-Leon upon Uske was one; and he also adorn'd Trinovant with a Gate called to this Day Belin's Gate, having a Tower on the Top of it; at the Foot of which he made a Harbour for Ships: He is also said to be the first Founder of the Tower of London. After he had Reigned Twenty-six Years died, and his Body being burnt on a Funeral Pile, his Ashes were put in a golden Urn, and placed on the Top of the Tower that he himself had Built.

Gurguint, Sirnamed Brabtruc; his Son, succeeded him, in whose Reign the Danes refused the Payment of the Tribute, which had bin imposed by Belinus, when their King Guithlac, being driven by force of Weather upon the Coast of Northumberland, was made a Prisoner, nor could be set free, without an Engagement to pay Tribute for himself and Successors, which being now denied, Gurguint now Sailed into Denmark, and by force of Arms obliged the Danes to renew their Treaty, and received Homage of their King and Chief Nobility, and then Embarqued again for Britain: In his return he met with a Fleet of Thirty Sail about the Isle of Orkeney, these he encountred, and having taken their Captain Bartholain, he de∣manded of him what he was, and the Reason of his coming into those Parts; Bartholain answered, that he and his Followers were named Ba∣lences, being banished from Spain (their Country) with their Wives and Children, and thereupon had put to Sea to seek out new Habitations, whereupon it is said this King assigned them Ireland, being a Place not then Peopled. This King is supposed to have Built Caer-Werith or Lancaster, Caer-Peris or Portchester in Hampshire, and Caer-Gaurvie now Warwick, where he was buried, after he had Reigned Nineteen Years; to whom succeeded

Guintelin his Son, he was a Prince Learned, Prudent, and of singular Justice and Moderation; he is said to have had a Wife of as great Ver∣tue, named Martia, to whom Geoffrey falsly Attributes the making of the Laws called Merceuenlage, which was indeed so called not from her, but but from the Mercians, by whose Kings they were first enacted. This King is also said to have Reigned Twenty-six Years, and was succeed∣ed by

Sicilius the II. his Son, being about Seven Years of Age, but under the Government of his Mother Martia, he is supposed to have Reign'd Fifteen Years, Seven under the Tuition of his Mother, and Eight after his full Age; and having given all the Signs of a hopeful Prince, he was suddenly snatched away by Death, and then the Crown fell to

Kimarus the Son of Sicilius; but he being of a wild and ungovernable Temper, and wholly given up to all manner of Exorbitances, was killed in the Woods, in pursuit after his Game, some say by an Ambush, o∣thers by wild Beasts: He Reigned but three Years, then

Elanius, or Danius his Brother succeeded. This King was not Infe∣rior to his Predecessor in Wickedness of Life, insomuch, that some make them the same Person, so exactly did these two Princes correspond in their Vices. He held the Scepter about Ten Years; the succeeded his Son

Morvidus, or Morindus (by a Concubine) a Man of great strength and Comeliness; as to the Qualities of his Mind, he was Liberal, but withal exceeding Passionate: In his Days the Moriani, or rather Morini, a People of Gaul, Landing in Northumberland with Fire and Sword wasted that Country, which Morindus hearing of, with all Expedition gathered his Forces, and with long and wearifom Marches made up to them, and in one Ba••tel utterly defeated them, and then put all the Prisoners to Death with exquisite Torments; but not long after hearing of an hide∣ous Monster, which, coming out of the Irish Sea, seized and devoured many that lived near the Shore. The King beholding the lamentable Destruction of his Subjects, fought the Monster himself: the Contest held for a while doubtful, but at last the Monster prevailed and devoured the King. This is said to have happened in the Ninth Year of his Reign, to whom succeeded

Gorbonian his eldest Son, a religious Prince, which he evidenced to the World by repairing decay'd Temples, and erecting new ones in several Places in his Dominions: He is said to have built Grantham in Lincoln∣shire, and some say Cambridge, antiently called Caer-Grant and Grant Chester. He Reigned Ten Years, and was succeeded by his Brother

Archigallo, the Second Son of Morindus; he endeavoured to depress the Nobility, by depriving them of all Power and Command, and pre∣ferring Mean and unworthy Men, and by taking away Men's Estates to enrich his own Treasure; all which Oppressions the Nobility of the Kingdom not being any longer to bear, they rose up in Arms, and de∣posing him, placed

Elidure his Brother in the Throne; he was called by his Subjects Eli∣dure the Pious; for as he went on Hunting one Day in the Wood Calater, in the midst of the Forest he met with his Brother Archigallo, and being struck with Pity of his Misfortunes, he secretly conveyed him Home to his own House at the City of Alchluid, where feigning himself sick, he assembled all the Nobles of his Realm, and there partly by Perswasions, partly by Commands, he engaged them again to receive his Brother Ar∣chigallo for their Sovereign; and afterwards calling a general Assembly of his People at York, he there publickly resigned his Crown, and ta∣king it off his own Head, placed it on his Brother's, after he had Reign∣ed Three Years.

Archigallo being thus Restored, by his wise and sober Deportment re∣gained the Affections of his People; for he discarded his former Favou∣rites,

and adhered to the prudent Advice of his Nobility, and Reigning to the general Liking of his Subjects for the space of Ten Years, died and was buried at Caer-brank, or York.

Elidure, after the Death of his Brother, became once more King of Britain, and so with much Honour and Reputation received the second time the Crown, but was soon deposed by the Ambition of his Brethren, Vigenius and Peridurus, after One Year's Government; when being seiz∣ed by them, and his Person confined to the Tower of London, they di∣vided the Kingdom between them; Peridurus took Albania, and Vigenius all the Country on this side Humber for his share.

Vigenius dying after he had Reigned Seven Years, the whole King∣dom devolved to Peridurus who managed it with great Moderation and Justice, and having governed Nine Years died, then Elidure again re∣sumed the Crown, being delivered out of Prison by his Subjects, and after he had Reigned Four Years to the general Satisfaction of all Men, then dying, was succeeded by his Nephew or Grandson, the Son of Gor∣bonian, who is called

Regin by Mat of Westminster, though not named particularly by Geoffrey: He was a worthy Prince, and Reigned with the general Approbation of all his People, to whom succeeded

Morgan, or Margan, the Son of Ar••igallo, he Reigned Fourteen Years in Tranquillity: After him

Ennian, or Emerian, another Son of Archigallo's was advanced to the Throne, who, quite different from his Brother, govern'd Tyrannically, and was in the Sixth Year of his Reign Depos'd, and then succeeded

Ydwallo the Son of Vigenius, who warned by the Misfortune of his Pre∣decessor avoided Tyranny; after whom Reigned

Rinco the Son of Peridurus, an heroic Prince and a great Warriour. Then next follows, in Geoffrey of Monmouth, a long descent of Kings, who either did nothing, or had no Body to Record it; these make up Seventeen Kings in all, viz. Gerantius the Son of Elidurus, to whom succeeded Ca∣tellus his Son, then Coillus, and after him Porrex the Second; then Cherin, or Cherim; then succeeded Fulgentius the Eldest Son of Cherin; next him Androgeus the Third Son of Cherim enjoyed the Crown; then after him

Urianus the Son of Androgeus began to Reign, who giving himself up to all Riot and Intemperance, soon died; and to him succeeded

Eliod; then Elidavius, then Cledanus, or Cletanus, called also by others Detonus; but here arises so great a Difference amongst the Writers of this long Bed-Roll of British Kings, that there is nothing of Certainty con∣cerning their very Names, much less of their Actions, for their Names are variously recited by Geoffrey, and those Authors that lived after him, and pretend to correct or enlarge him; but you must take them as we find them. Then succeeded

Gurgurntius; then Merianus, and after him Bledunus; then Capenus; next to him Sisilius the Third; then Blegabred, who is said to have been ex∣cellently well Skill'd in Vocal as well as Instrumental Musick; he Reigned Ten Years: After him succeeded

Arthimallo his Brother; and after him Eld••l: Then follow Nine Kings more, without any thing Recorded of them, but their bare Names, viz.

Rodianus or Redian, then Redarchius or Redargius, then Samuil, then Pe∣nisill, then Carpoir or Corporius, and after him Geidu••llus or Dinellus the Son of Carpoir, a Prince Modest and Prudent in all his Actions, who left

his Son Heli his Successor, who Reign'd Forty Years, and was succeed∣ed by

Lud his Eldest Son, who is reported to have been a Vertuous Princ••, making divers excellent Laws, and Correcting many Abuses in the Go∣vernment; he Adorn'd the City of London with new Walls and Towers, and therein built a Gate, which is still called after his Name, Lud-Gate; and is said to have built himself a Palace not far from it: And, after he had Reigned Eleven Years, died, leaving behind him two Sons, Anaro∣geus and Theomantius, under the Tuition of his Brother

Cassibelan, whose Bounty and Worthy demeanour so wrought upon the People, that he easily got the Kingdom transferr'd upon himself; yet nevertheless shewing some Favour to his Nephews, he conferred freely upon Androgeus London with Kent, and upon Theomantius Cornwall; re∣serving to himself a Superiority over them both, till the Romans for a while eclipsed his Power.

I shall not here trouble my self to set down, much less to confute the Errors that may be found in the Chronology of these Kings Reigns, since Geoffrey of Monmouth, from whom they are taken, hath bin so cau∣tious, as not to give us any account in what Year of the World they Reign'd; sometimes telling us (tho' with no certainty at all) the Names of the Judges and Kings of Israel, whom he makes Contemporary with them. But as for his last Nine and Twenty Kings from Elidure to Lud, he has given us nothing but their bare Names, without so much as setting down how many Years they reign'd, as if he himself, or those Authors he had Translated had bin ashamed, or weary of their own tedious Stories, and so would make it as short as they could.

But as for Mat. of Westminster, Ponticus Virunnius, Polydore Virgil, and one Richard White, (who calls himself Basinstoke) I do not think it worth while to put down their pretended Corrections, Emendations, and Ad∣ditions of Geoffrey's History, since, if he had no Authority to invent, I am sure they can less pretend to Correct his Inventions, or alter his Course of Succession of the British Kings, as Polydore has done, under pretence of making them more suitable to his own Accounts of time: But White has exceeded all others in this, making bold with Geoffrey, not on••y altering the Names of his Kings and their Course of Succession in many Places, but also referring them in particular to the Years of the World, in which he supposes them to have Reigned, adding also the Years of their Reigns where-ever he thought Geoffrey to be deficient, but without vouchsafing to give us the Names of any Authors from whence he took them: So that since we have indeed no better Authorities than Geoffrey himself, I shall not go about to Confute the Faults that might be found in the Chronology which Mr. White has given us of these Kings Reigns; though it were no hard Matter to shew diverse Absurdities in it. But this much is evident from the disagreement of these Authors, about the Names of their Kings and the Years of their Reigns, that they had nothing but their own Fancies to rely upon, for what they wrote; whence proceeds so great a Confusion in this part of their British History, that no Body can certainly conclude any thing from hence, unless that they were all mistaken: Nor is it only the uncertainty of Kings Names and Successions that we here find fault with, but the great Improbability (I might say Impossibility) of divers Matters of Fact related by Geoffrey of Monmouth, in this History of the British Kings: As for Instance, that of

King Ebrane's sending his Thirty Daughters to find Husbands in Italy; which Story plainly took its rise from the Sabines denying their Daugh∣ters to those People, which Romulus many Years after got together. Not to mention the Story of Morindus's being devoured by a Sea-Mon∣ster, whereas neither our Seas nor Rivers do now (or ever did) afford any such noxious Creatures; divers other more improbable Relations (because I would not tire the Reader with such Fooleries) I have here omitted. Besides all which, the very Names of many of these Kings, such as Jaco, (which is the same with James in English) Molmutius, Mo∣rindus, as also Archigallo, Gorbonian, Ennianus, Geruntius, Fulgentius, An∣drogeus, Archimalus, Rodianus, sufficiently betray some a Phoenician, some a Grecian, and some a Roman Original, and could never be derived from the British O••iginals.

Lastly, There is great difference between this part of the British Hi∣story (especially from Elidure to Lud) and all other Histories; for whereas these commonly are barren of particular Transactions in their beginning, and afterwards enlarge themselves still more and more the further they proceed. This History is quite contrary, and the farther we go, the more confused we find the Succession of their Kings, and the less there is Recorded of their Actions; for from Elidure to Lud there are Nine and Twenty Kings, of whom nothing almost is Recorded but their bare Names; and which is also very remarkable, from this Elidure, Geoffrey makes no mention of the Years of their Reigns. What we find of this kind hath been added by those that writ long after him, who have done it very preposterously, allowing not above Ten Years one with another to Thirty Kings, which are supposed to have Reign'd in about Two Hundred Years; so that if there were any Truth in this Hi∣story, it seems more rational to believe these Kings not to have succeeded each other, but many of them to have bin Contemporary Rulers of par∣ticular Provinces of this Island.

I shall therefore conclude this Part of the History with Mr. Milton's Words concerning these Kings.

Thus far have we gone relying up∣on the Credit of Geoffrey of Monmouth and his Assertors, though, for the Reasons above-mentioned, I have not thought it beside my Purpose to relate what I have found, whereto I neither oblige the Belief of other Persons, nor shall over-hastily subscribe my own.

Yet granting these things not to have been true, but invented by the Author above-mentioned; yet since even Romances, as well as true Histories, may furnish us with Observations sufficient to Instruct us, not only in the Humours and Passions of Mankind, but also in the Causes as well as Effects of human Actions: And since Am∣bition, Lust, and the Desire of Revenge are commonly in their turns the Motives that incite Princes as well as private Men to Transgress the Laws of Reason; let us look back and survey some of the most remarkable Actions of those Princes, whose History we have here cited.

From those frequent Divisions we here read to have been made of the Kingdom between several Brothers, we may learn, that the Britains had no Notion of any Right in the Eldest Brother to Command over all the Rest, no not after they became Christians; the Welch Princes still dividing their Territories among all their Sons alike, though we may see the Inconvenience of this Course, by their making War upon each

other about their particular Shares: Whence we may conclude, that Sovereignty ought to be left undivided, and the more Shares there are in it, the more Causes there are of Civil Wars and Divisions; nor have any prov'd more fatal than those among Brothers, of which we have sufficient Examples, not only in this, but other Histories.

From so many Kings being depos'd for their Tyranny, we may ob∣serve, that the ancient Britains, though under a Monarchy, yet did not think themselves oblig'd to suffer their Kings, by becoming Tyrants, to make their People Slaves; but knew how to cast off that Yoke when it grew insupportable.

Lastly, from Cassibelan's being made a King by the People, for his Va∣lour and Worth, it plainly appears, that if the Kingdom were then He∣reditary; yet the Estates did then reserve a Power to themselves, during the Minority of the Right Heir, to place in the Throne that Prince of the Blood-Royal, who was like to prove most able to defend them either against Foreign or Domestick Enemies; as this Prince in the War with Caesar evidenced to the World. I have made bold to add these few political Observations, that the Reader as well as my self may pro∣fit somewhat by Reading a History otherwise so dry and uninstructive.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Introduct. to Britan.
• * 1.2

  Lib. III. c. 2.
• * 1.3

  Lib. II. c. 16.
• * 1.4

  Lib. I. c. 39.
• * 1.5

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 II. c. 2.
• * 1.6

  Lib. VII c. 36.
• * 1.7

  Lib. II.
• * 1.8

  Cap. 5.
• * 1.9

  Cap. 2.3, 4.