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

THEIR ARTES AND ACTES are in their Vertues and Vices.

Their ver∣tue or pru∣dence is in

Discipline: When Constantine the second saw, that his eldest sonne Constancy was slow of wit, and giuen to be solitary, he made him a moonke in the Abbey of Saint Swithune in Caerguent, and committed his o∣ther two sonnes to Guetheline Archbishop of Caerlud to be taught. If children be set into that way which they haue most minde vnto, they will prooue best in that way. A yoong Prince cannot bee brought vp better vnder any, then vnder a reuerend & Princely

churchman, seeing they are both pastors of the peo∣ple, and bishops of men.

Prouidence: the two sonnes of Constantine being vn∣able to get the Crowne by might of arms, and fear∣ing, that treason should be wrought against them as it was against their eldest brother, looked to the safe∣tie of their liues, and fled into little Brutanie. If we cannot do that is right and due, the best way is to saue the principall that is most worth. It is no shame to flie, when resisting is wilful death. Bruciuall saued 50. moonks of Bangor by flying from Ethelfride duke of Northumbeland, when 1200. had been slaine by him. The Bishops of Caerlud and Caerbranke in Ca∣rencies time fled to Rome for feare of the cruel Sax∣ons, and dealt so wisely with Pope Gregory, that they were saued from bloudy handes.

Doctrine: Aurely desiring to teach the Brutans, to be∣ware of outlandish friendship, which had in his days so intrapped and infected them, caused Merlin by his Art Soueraigne, to fetch the great stones out of Ireland, which are now vpon Salsbury plain, and set them neere the place where Hengist and the Sax∣ons against their Oath did murder hundreds of the best Brutans with kniues secretly prouided for the pur∣pose, and tooke Vortiger their king prisoner, and ran∣somed him at their pleasure, That when they should see those stones or heare of them, they might remem∣ber the stony heartes of outlandish friendes, the hy∣pocrisie of Saxons, the vntrueth of strangers, and either appoint them true ouerseers, or els away with them out of the Land.

Gouernement: Vter after hys brother Aurelius death

ruled the Realme so orderly and circumspectly, both in respect of trecherous flatteries, and trusty friend∣ship, and all matters both common and extraordina∣rie, that he was surnamed Pendragon, A Prince as mightie and subtle among men, as the Dragon is a∣mong the beastes of the field. A good name is a trea∣sure, but why do men commend a man, which ought to be the phrase onely of dispraise? Hee that can shut his handes from straungers, as Vter did, shall pre∣uent many woes. Arthur disposed all things in or∣der, sailed into Gallia, left his nephew Mordred for king, and wrought great myracles abroad. It had been more wisedome, to haue wrought them at home, if they were good, to do his owne people good: or if they were deceites, to haue practised them priui∣ly, that his name might not be blotted and dimini∣shed.

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.

Their ver∣tue of for∣titude is in

Magnificence and Magnanimitie: When Vortimer saw that he must die, hee called his souldiers before hym, and gaue all that he had among them, and exhorted them, euer to hold their owne against the Saxons, and all forraine enemies. A true heart is vertuous to the last gaspe. Ambrius built the Abbey of Ams∣bruy, Arthur built the castle of Windsor, and founded

the order of knightes of the round table: Artgall the first Eare of Warwicke, one of Arthurs knights chose a Beare for his beast, because Arth in that language signified a Beare, in remembrance of his name a∣mong all his posteritie. Quicheline gaue seuen myles compasse of land to Berine Bishop of Winchester, to build his See there, and Kenwalke his sonne finished it. Saint Osuald gaue his daughter Elfleda xii. Lord∣ships, to build xii. Monasteries with them, vi. in Bernicia, and vi. in Deyra. When Cadwallader had conquered the Saxons in Kent, and in the Ile of Might, hee gaue the fourth part of the Ile, that is, 300. households to Wilfride in honour of religion and of his owne name.

Victories: Edolf Earle of Chester seeing how Hen∣gist slew the Brutans with secret kniues, got him to a hedge, and defended himselfe with a stake, and slew of the Saxons 70. men and escaped.

Vortimer the sonne of Vortiger hated the Saxons more then hys father loued them: hee pursued them and gaue them battell at the riuer of Darwent, and ouerthrew them, at Epyford he ouercame them, hee chased them by the sea side into the Ile of Might, he vanquished them at Cole More, he turmoyled them in Norfolk, in Essex, in Kent, he put them out of their possessions, he droue them to the Ile of Tenet, there he besieged them by water and by land, and neuer left them till they fled out of the land. Aurely with the aid of the king of little Brutany tooke Caerbranke from Octa and tooke him prisoner: he sought with Hengist at Crekinford, and slewe 4000. souldiers and 4. Dukes of the Saxons: he droue them out of Lo∣cry

euery where, except Kent: hee quitted himselfe from Ella and Porth, two mightie Saxons. Vter in the time of his brothers sicknesse put to flight Pascenty the sonne of Vortiger with his army of Germans, and afterward slew him, and Guillioman the Irish Prince at S. Dauids in Cambry, and Cossa and Octa the Sax∣ons. Arthur fought 12. battels with the Saxons, and euery time ouerthrew them: he made them pay him tribute: when hee was in Gallia, and heard of Mordreds treason, he returned and fought with him at Sandwich and ouercame him, and againe hee o∣uerthrew him at Winchester, and at Bathe he slew him. Constantine the third vanquished the two sons of Mordred and put them to flight when they rose a∣gainst him and chalenged the Crowne by theyr fa∣thers title. Vortipory the son of Conan discomfited the Saxons in many battels and got the vpper hand of them alwaies. Malgo subdued the Saxons in all his wars, he conquered Ireland, Scotland, Iseland, Norway, Denmarke, the Orcades, and possessed them. Arthur slew in one day an hundred and fortie Saxons with his owne hand. Cadwallader slew Lo∣thary Prince of Kent, and Athelwald king of Southsex, and possessed those landes. Cadwallin droue the Sax∣ons all along to Middlesex and made Penda pay him tribute. Now armies stay in Saxony, and paper∣men flye from those coastes: these do more harme in many places then those old armies did: these will be sauced as they were, and hunted out of the land by order of discipline: none so busie as they, and yet none more slight then they: there is an Arthur in paper∣worke against their inuasions, which may in all

right and equitie giue them twelue disgraces at the least, and perhaps twelue times twelue: let the triall proue all, or let that labour be lost, if they can recouer there 12 losses of this newe Arthur.

Their vice or extreme fortitude is in

Ambition: Vortiger tooke Constance out of a Mona∣sterie to be king, that he might do what he list in the kingdome vnder such an innocent and milksop, and make his simplicitie a meanes for himselfe to get the Crowne, as it proued afterward. Mordred Arthurs kinsman being appointed Vicegerent in his royalty, gaue great giftes and castels more then his owne to Cerdrick a Saxon, and agreed with him to be crow∣ned at Winchester with his goodwill, so that himself might be crowned at Caerlud by his liking. The two sonnes of Mordred the vsurper rebelled against Con∣stantine the third for the kingdome and lost it. No right or trueth can stay an aspyring humour.

Pusillanimitie: Arthur gaue two Shyres to Cer∣drick Duke of the Westsaxons, to the end hee might be quiet: those two shyres could do Brutans more good then Arthurs peregrination: an enemie must not giue or take any thing, but winne all by might or sleight. When Cadwallader had raigned 12. yeares, hee for∣sooke all his princely attyre, and went to Roome, and led a monasticall life euer after: he preferd rest before riches, the hood aboue the Crowne.

Rage or crueltie: The Pictes to please their captaine Vortiger slew Constance their king, and presented hys head to Vortiger, imagining they had done the best act that coulde be, to redresse his poore estate, wher∣of he had complained to them. Renowne the daugh∣ter

of Hengist, the concubine of Vortiger, seeing what Vortimer had done in spight of the Saxons her coun∣treymen and friends, how he had taken away their possessions, howe he reedified Churches which they destroyed, howe hee was like to destroy them all, if he liued a while, sought out witches and magicians, to charme or charactize him to death by some prac∣tise, but when they could not worke vpon him, she in∣sinuated her selfe to one of his neerest men, and so corrupted his minde and sense with wordes & gifts, that he consented to poyson his Lord, and so hee did. Conan loued quarrellours aboue other men, he made away his owne vncle that should haue bin king, and slew his two sonnes. Ethelfride Duke of Northum∣berland massacred 1200. moonks of Bangor in a beastly immanitie, to please Ethelbert king of Kent, which had offered praiers to God against him. Caren∣cie was so giuen to ciuill warres, that he loued them aboue all other acts, wherby he fell into such hatred, that hee was not able to stand against the Saxons. Out of all question, it is extreame madnesse, to admit any strangers into our countrey, that are eyther more militar or more politick then the commonaltie, vnlesse it be for a time, and then away with them, or they be kept in their boundes with certaine compa∣nie, and neither see nor heare more then belongeth to strangers: what shuld strangers but be vsed strange∣ly? they pretend pouertie, but they intend to weaken our land: they flie for religion, but they foster here∣sies: draffe is their errand, but drinke they would: either they are diuels in their owne likenesse: or else they are Angels with the entrals of Diuels: foolish

pitty destroyeth the Cittie: prouide for the weakest, the strongest can saue it selfe: the malignant hand will spoyle the impotent people, when it cannot spill the bloud of Nobles: but if Hares wurry Hounds, and Harts be wounded of Ferrets, then is the world turnd vpside downe, the Hunters are vile keepers, and the keepers are vilest men: Let Brutans be fedde and taught as is meete for them, and let my life go, if they make not their ennemies round about them like Hares and Ferrets, which euer auoyd the pre∣sence of men.

Their ver∣tue or tem¦perance is in

Life and maners: the Clergy in the time of Cadwallin behaued themselues so soberly and fatherly in all points, that they were honoured of most men, inso∣much, that as they went too and fro in the streetes and other places, the people would kneele downe to them, and aske them their blessing, and gaue them whatsoeuer they demanded.

Wordes: Berine Bishop of Dorchester conuerted Kingelist the king of the Westsaxons, and christened him, which he could neuer haue done without most temperate and well seasoned speech: by the like mo∣deration Pauline conuerted Edwine king of Northum∣berland to the christian faith. Melite Bishop of Caer∣lud conuerted Sebert king of Essex to Christian religi∣on. The Clergy of Kent delt so with their king Er∣combert, that he puld downe the Temples of his false Gods, and kept the Lent fast, and became a Chri∣stian. When the Brutan Bishops saw, that Austin took vpon him as their soueraigne, they would not resist him presently, but stayd a while, to see his life and be∣hauiour,

and then to vse them therafter, either frend∣ly or aduersly.

Liberalitie: When Ethelfride had put away his wife being great with childe, Cadwan receiued her into his Court, and kept her honourably till shee was deliue∣red, and so long after as shee would. Osuald Duke of Bernicia liked so wel of Cedda Bishop of Winchester, that hee gaue him land to build and Abbey thereon. The more is giuen for the promotion of Gods Ma∣iesty, the more he giueth to our benefite.

Their vice or intem∣perance is in

Loue: When Ronowen had saluted Vortiger with a golden cup of wine, and desired him to drinke of it, he beheld her bewtie, and was presently so inamored of her, that he could not be quiet, till he had put away his owne wife, by whom he had three sons and mar∣ried her, and for her sake loued Saxons more then Brutans: he lay with his owne daughter to haue issue of her, but in vaine. Vter fell in loue with Igerne the wife of Gorleis Duke of Cornewall, and slewe him at his castell Tintagel, and tooke her to wife. Malgo fel into the sinne of Sodom, and lost all that he had gotten aforetime: let not sense rule reason.

Liberalitie: Vortiger entertained Hengist, and Hor∣sus with their three ships, he gaue them y^e hire of soul∣diers, he bestowed the Ile of Tenet vpon them: hee graunted Hengist so much ground as hee could com∣passe with a buls hide: he took away the Earldom of Kent from Garangon, and gaue it him.

Anger: Constantine the third siue one of Mordreds sonnes for rebelling against him euen in the Minster of Winchester: the other for the same cause in the

temple at Caerlud. Dionote Abbot of Bangor would not yeeld to Austin, because he was of another Pro∣uince, neither would he preach to the Saxons, be∣cause they spoyled the land, do Ethelbert king of Kent what he could vnto him.

The ver∣tue or iu∣stice is in

Rewarding: Constantine the second receiued the crowne and rule of Brutanie by a couenant that hee made with the Brutans, when he deliuered them from the tyranny of the Picts. When Aurely remembred, how fast the Brutans resorted vnto him, and Vter at their landing at Totnes, and how truely they serued him in his warres, did them one good turne for ano∣ther, and repaired their temples and houses, which the Saxons destroyed, and restored their religion to them againe.

Deuiding: In the time of Carency it was determi∣ned at Worcester by a Councell of the chiefest men, That the goodes of the Church should be bestowed on the Bishops, their Clergy, the Churches the poore people, and then Gregory the great, appointed the two Archbishops of Brutany at Caerbrank, and Caerkent. The Archbishop of S. Dauids had vnder thim these 7. Bishops. Hereford, Cardiff, Landaff, Bangor, S. Asaph, Worcester, Morgan.

Punishing: The Pictes to reuenge the death of the 100. Picts that garded Constance, made war agaynst Vortiger: the friends of Constance deuised to ouerthrow him for the death of their Prince: thus he was tossed vp and downe the land, that hee could not be safe. The Brutans seeing Vortigers extreame affection to∣ward the Saxons, deposed him: when hee was ta∣ken

prisoner by Hengist, they forsooke him: Aurely and Vter burnt him to ashes in his Castle. The Bishops refused Austin by the aduise of an old Anchorite, who iudged him no man of God which vsed his brethren like his seruants. Cadwan slew Edwine and Osricke and Eufricke Saxon kinges for the bloud of the Brutans which they had poured out like water on euery side of the Realme.

Burials: Vortimer was buried solemnly at Caerlud. Aurely & Vter were buried at Stoneheng in Sals∣bury plaine. Arthur was buried in the valley of Gla∣scenbury. Constantine the third at Stoneheng. Vorti∣pory, Vortiger, Malgo, and Carency were not orderly bu∣ried for their vile liues. Cadwan died in war, and was buried accordingly. Constance deserued his faire bu∣riall.

Their vice or iniu∣stice is in

Couetousnesse: Vortiger forgetting his loyaltie to his Prince abused him intollerably, and got him by his own consent the strongest Castels, and best trea∣sure that he had: he euer defended the 100. Pictes what naughtinesse soeuer they committed in the Court.

Vnthankfulnesse: the Brutans being desired by Vorti∣mer on his death bed, to bury his body at the hauen where the Saxons vsed to land, in a sepulchre of brasse spire like, to put them in feare with the remem∣brance of him and his acts, eyther neglected his will or forgat it. O vniust men that take such a farewell of their friends. Vter died by force of poyson at Veru∣lam in Hertfordshire neere S. Albons. Constantine and Constance, the father and his sonne were not buried after the maner of Princes.

I haue not that peculiar regard of places nowe, which I had before, partly by reason of forenamed cau∣ses, and partly in that they are sufficiently set foorth in these morall tables. I desire heerein and euer a quiet iudgement, and then I doubt not of any censurer, but he will speake fairely. Yet I must leaue euery man to himselfe, to doe as he is caused in his deliberatiue and considerate insight. If I omit some histories of Sax∣ons, I do but my duetie: what haue I to do with them, vnlesse it were to make them tributary to Brutans? o∣therwise, let their owne men commend them if they wil, I owe them no seruice by writing or speaking. Yet I haue named some of the Saxons, though I doe it more for their sakes with whome they dwelt, then for any merite of their owne. Let them lye in dead forget∣fulnesse like stones, that haue desired, or doe desire the trouble of Brutanie: let their names be cleane put out, and not come among the righteous. When men play the parts of beasts, let them go among the numbers of cattell in Zoography and keepe their fit place. An ape must not come among Churchmen, Serpentes must not dwell in chambers of Counsell, make bates are not in case to cōuerse in the dwellings of peaceable Lords, who can abide, to haue a deformed mocker with hys distorted mouthes, a venimous hisser with his noysom breath, a rayling stage player with his trifling actions for his companion? Arise ye sonnes of Ebranke, and yee kinsmen of true auncient Brutans, and make those stone∣hearted creatures know, that they are made to be your seruants and drudges: let not any double forked toong perswade you, that Brutanie is vnder any part of the earth.