Philadelphus, or a defence of Brutes, and the Brutans history Written by R. H.

Their vice or impru∣dence is in

Credulitie: Constantine the second fauoured a Pict so much, that he might haue accesse to him at all times, euen into his bed chamber, though hee had been the greatest enemy that the Picts had in Brutanie manie yeares: this Pict knewe it too well, and wayted his time: and at last tooke him alone, and slew him in his bed chamber. Straungers cannot be true friendes, if they and we haue at any time been at ods. Thy desire to pleasure vs with their seruice, to serue vs such a turne, as the Fox doth the simple Kid or Lambe. Vortiger entertained Hengist the second time for this daughters sake, that is one foe for ano∣ther foes sake: he neuer imagined, that Hengist was his foe, though Vortimer his son had chafed him, and

chased him out of the land: he met him on Salsbury plaine, to intreate of peace that should be betweene them, & came peaceably with his men, as the agree∣ment was, without weapons, but presuming chil∣dishly, that all was well, when nothing could possi∣bly be safe in any reason: hee searched not Hengistes company, to see if they carried any weapons vnder their long gowns, and by this babish credulitie spoi∣led himselfe of his libertie, and 460. noblemen Bru∣tans of their liues.

When Aurely lay sick in his bed, his friends that wer about him, being as sick in their wits as he was in his body, suffered a Saxon to be hys Phisition, & to minister vnto him, till he poisoned him. If the Bru∣tans knew not, that he was a Saxon, they were vn∣reasonable to take they knew not whō, if they knew him, and yet trusted in his helpe, they were senselesse and vtterly out of their wits. Cadwallin ioyned in friendship with Penda a Saxon, but afterward hee neuer thriued in any wars which hee tooke in hand as he did aforetime: hee that could not see, that the Saxon would onely vndermine him, was vnwise: he that would trust him at all, was not wise, seeing he might liue well inough without his help.

Dissimulation: Vortiger Duke of Cornewall proui∣ded king Constance the Sheep a gard of 100 Wolues or Picts, and then vsed all means to please them with words and gifts: when he had made them dronken, hee complained to them of his pouertie euen with teares: anon they deuised such an helpe for him as they could, he so pierced their headlesse heartes, and heartlesse heades, that assoone as he was gone from

them in sorrow, they followed him with the head of Constance: he lamented for ioy of his death, and lesse he might be suspected of the fact, hee caused the 100. Picts to be executed after the law, and of all men was most against them, yet so, that some men perceiued his shites. He that hath any lawfull title in any pos∣session is wisest, if he seeke it lawfully, or els, he may be put iustly from his owne. The Duke of Cornwall had more right to the Crown then the Dukes sonne of little Brutanie, but was it not extreame folly to cha∣lenge it in so villanous a maner? and was not Con∣stance a most improuident creature, to be garded with them which scarsely regarded him so much as a countriman doth his beast? Surely God was an∣gry with Brutans, when hee suffered their Rulers to liue so rudely without the Rule of wisedome. O yee Heauens blesse ye our Nobles, and al other Regents on the earth, or els they will be without Regiment in their liues and end basely with vile death. Con∣stance had been fit to be a poore mans Sowe in a sty, which is content with any vsage, so the trough be ful and the bones at rest: lay a logge into a cloyster, and it will come out all worme eaten, and fit onely to be burnt.