A chronicle at large and meere history of the affayres of Englande and kinges of the same deduced from the Creation of the vvorlde, vnto the first habitation of thys islande: and so by contynuance vnto the first yere of the reigne of our most deere and souereigne Lady Queene Elizabeth: collected out of sundry aucthors, whose names are expressed in the next page of this leafe.

The sixt Age, and sixt part of this Chronicle.

[illustration]

The sixt Age

KInimacus the sonne of Sisillus, as some wryters haue, but more truely as sayth the olde Chronicle, the brother of La∣go, was made ruler of Briteyn, as his bro∣ther before him was, and passed his tyme without any notable actes or deedes, so that of him there is no more memorye than is of his brother. For the most of them that write the feates and deedes of the Britons, make but a short rehersall of these fiue kings, that is to say, from Riuallo to Gorbodug, saiyng that after Riuallo succeded Gurgustus, af∣ter him Lago, & after Lago, kinimacus, and after kinimacus succeded Gor∣bodug. Of these fiue kinges is made little other mention. Then it followeth in the olde Chronicle, that when Kinimacus had reigned. Liiij. yeres, he died, and was buryed at Yorke: leauing after him a sonne named Gorbodug.

[unspec 3360/603] ¶ In this tyme was that most noble Prophet Daniell, and he florished in Babilon. And in his youth by his wisedome, he deliuered Susanna from death, & he expounded the dreames of Nabuchodonosor: And finally, he was cast into a denne among hungry Lions, whereby the power of God he was preserued from harme. Afterwarde he prophecied both of the comming of Christ, and also of the Empires of Babilon, Media, Persia, Grecia, and the Romaynes.

[unspec 3383/580] ¶ The Scots as their Chronicles shew, did at this time first inhabit Scot∣land

where they liued long tyme vnder sundry Capitaines, as they call them, vntill the tyme of Fergus, sonne of Ferguard, king of Irelande, who ayded the Scottes against the Pichtes, and was the first king of Scottes, as they say.

GOrbodug succeded his father Kinimacus, in this Realme of Briteyn, [unspec 3404/559] and b•• most wryters he reigned .lxiij. yeres, and then dyed, and was buryed at London, which then was called Troinouant, and left behind him two sonnes, name Ferrex, and Porrex, but some call them Ferrens, and Porrens.

IN this tyme Barachias, called also Zorobabell, Nephew to Ioachim, [unspec 3418/545] and Iesus the high Priest, with .xlv. thousand, three hundreth, three score and ten Iewes, were deliuered free from Babilon by Cyrus, and returned into their awne land: where they repayred againe their Citie, and cast the foun∣dation of their Temple, renued their lawes and Sacrifices, albeit they were sometyme let by their borderers. 1. Esd. 4. & .vi. And in the yere of the worlde 3446. the Temple was cleane finished, and with great ioy dedicated againe vnto the Lorde, wherin they offered their Sacrifices, and celebrated theyr Phase, or feast of Passouer, in geuing of thankes to God which had turned the heart of Darius vnto them.

FErrex and Porrex his brother, [unspec 3467/496] Sonnes of Gorbodug reigned ouer this Realme of Briteyn, and continued in amitie a certain time. After which time expired, as fayth Reynulph and Gaufride. Porrex being couetous of Lordship gathered his people together vnknowne to his bro∣ther Ferrex, entending to destroy him. Whereof he being warned, for lack of space to assemble his people for sauegarde of his lyfe, fled sodainely into Gallia or France, and prayed ayde of a Duke of Gallia named by Gaufrid, Gunhardus or Swardus, the which Duke ayded him, and sent him againe into Briteyn with his host of Gallis. After whose landing, his brother Por∣rex with his Britons met him, and gaue to him Battaile, in the which bat∣taile Ferrex was slaine, with the more parte of his people. But here some Aucthours write that Porrex was slaine and Ferrex suruyued. But whe∣ther of them both was lyuing, him did the mother of the same two brethren named, Widen, setting a parte all motherly pittie, with the helpe of her wo∣men, most cruelly murdered, in the night season in his sleepe, and cut him in pieces. And thus ended the aforesayde two brethren, after they had reigned in Briteyn in warre and peace .v. yeres. And here endeth the lyne or ofspring of Brute, after the opinion of most writers, for as Gaufrid sayth, after the death of these two brethren, great discorde arose among the Britons, the which continued long among them, by meane whereof the people were sore vexed and noyed vnder .v. Kings, whose names I finde in an olde Pedegre to be Rudancus, that was King of Wales, Clotemis King of Cornewall, Pinnor king of Loegria, Staterius king of Scotlande, Yeuan king of Nor∣thumberlande. And as sayth Guydo de Columna the Britons abhorred the lynage of Gorbodug, for so much as first the one slue the other, and chiefely for the vnnatural disposition of the mother, that so cruelly slue her awne child. The English Chronicle sayth, that after the death of the two forenamed bre∣thren,

no rightfull inheritor was left on lyue, wherefore the people were brought into great discorde, insomuch that the lande was deuided into foure partes. So that in Albania was one ruler, in Loegria another, in Cambria the third, and in Cornewall the fourth. But of these foure Rulers, the Eng∣lish Chronicle alloweth Cloton Duke of Cornewall, for most rightful heyre.

¶ Reynulph of Chester sayth, that after the death of the sayde brethren, great discorde was in this lande vnder the gouernement of .v. kinges, but he neyther reherseth their names nor the times of their reignes, sauing that he sayth that the discorde continued vnto the cōming of Mulmucius Dunwallo. So that here appereth no time certaine, howe long this discorde and vari∣ance among the Britons continued, but who so lust to looke in Fabian, in a draught by him drawne, in the beginning of his Chronicle, shall there finde that it continued nere to the terme of .Lj. yeres.

[unspec 3503/406] ABout this time Esdras, by the lycence of Artaxerses came from Babilon to Ierusalem with .xvij.C.lxxv. Iewes, to repaire the lawe and Citie of God, and to teache the people: For he gathered and brought in order the bookes of the holy Scripture, before scattered and destroyed, and inuented the same Hebrew Charettes, which are vsed at this day.

[unspec 3510/453] ANd here also I finde noted by Lanquet, that at this time began the com∣putation of the .lxx. weekes of Daniell, euery weeke conteyning .vij. yere, which finisheth at the death of Tiberius, after whome Gaius caused his I∣mage to be set in the Temple, vnder the name of great Iupiter.

[unspec 3522/441] MVlmucius or Moluntius Dunwallo, the sonne of Cloten, vanqui∣shed the other Dukes or rulers, and reigned himselfe ouer Briteyn. This man ruled Nobly and builded a house in the Citie of Troyno∣uaunt now called London, which house as some suppose is now called Black∣well Hall. Also he made many good lawes, the which long after were called Mulmucius lawes. These lawes Gildas translated with great diligence out of the Britishe speche into Latyn. And long time after, Aluredus or Alured king of England turned the same out of Latyn into English, or the Saxen tongue. He also gaue priuilege to Temples, to Ploughes and Cities, and to the wayes leading to the same. Wherby as Raynulph sayth, all such malefac∣tours as fled vnto them for succour and sauegarde of themselues, might not be empeched nor molested any maner of wayes of their enimies, so that had a man done neuer so much harme (as Caxton reporteth in his story) if he might once come into the Temple, it was not lawfull for any to misintreate him, and lykewise he shoulde bee suffered therein to go safe and in peace, and afterward go into what Country he would without any harme. And if any man fortuned to set any violent hand vpon him, he then should leese his lyfe. And as some Aucthours affirme, he began the foure highe wayes of Briteyn, the which was finished and priuileged also by Belinus his sonne, as after shall be declared. The olde Chronicle testifieth that this Mulmucius, whom he nameth Molle and Caxton Douebant made the two Townes of Malmesbury and Vyes. And many other wryters affirme that after he had stablished himselfe in this land, and set his Britons in good order, he by the aduise of his Lordes ordeyned him a Crowne or Diademe of Golde, and caused himselfe to be crowned with great solempnitie after the vsaunce of the

Pagan law. And for this cause, after the opinion of some writers, he was cal∣led the first king of Briteyn. And all the other before rehersed were called Rulers, Dukes, or Gouernors. Of the same Mulmucius it is further writ∣ten by Iohn Bale Doctour and others, that he was a great fauourer and supporter of all learned men, and that by him was restored to the auncient trade and maner, the science of Chiualrie, wonderfully decayed before his tyme, and in maner cleane extinguished.

¶ Finally, when he had guided the lande well and nobly the space of .xl. yeres, he dyed, and was buried in Troynouaunt, now called London, lea∣uing after him two sonnes, the one named Belinus, the other Brennus.

BElinus and Brennus the two sonnes of Mulmucius, [unspec 3562/401] began to reigne ioyntly as kinges of Briteyn: and Belyn held Loegria or Logiers, which is that part that we now call England, Wales, and Cornewall. And Brennus had all the land beyond Number, with the which particion eche of them held himselfe well contented, and so was the Realme of Bri∣teyn peacebly gouerned betwixt them, the space of .v. yeres, as Polichro∣nica sayth, and in this meane tyme Brennus builded the Citie of Bristow. After which terme, the sayde Brennus entending to haue more lande or all, arose against his brother Belyne, and made vpon him sharpe and mortall warre. In the which warre Brennus was ouerset and compelled to flie the lande, and to sayle to Armorica, nowe named little Briteyn, but as Reynulph and Gaufride sayth, he went into Norway, and there maried the daughter of Elfunge or Elfyng which then was Duke of Norway. When this was she∣wed vnto Belyn, he considering the sodaine departing of his brother: did in all the hast first seaze Albania, and al the other land that belonged to Brenne into his awne hand, and fortified the Cities thereof and other strong places, with his awne Garisons and Souldiours. Whereof when Brenne was ad∣uertised, he in all possible hast assembled a great armie of people of the Nor∣wayes, and tooke his shipping to sayle into Briteyn. And as he was keeping his course vpon the sea, he was encountred with Guilthdacus king of Den∣marke the which had lyen in awayte for him, for loue of a Damsell that he had maried, which before tyme was promised vnto the saide Guilthdacus by the saide Elfunge her father. When these two Nauies were met, strong shot and fight was vpon both parties: but finally the Danes ouercame the Nor∣wayes, and tooke the Ship by strength, wherein the yong Damsell was, who was quickly brought vnto the Ship of Guilthdake. And so in fine Brenne with a fewe of his Shippes left, was faine to prouide for his awne safetie by flight.

¶ When Guylthdake had thus obteyned the victory, he entending to haue sayled toward Denmarke, the tempestes were so great, and wind so contra∣ry, that he was enforced to land in Northumberland, where at that tyme was Belyn making of preparation of defence against his brothers comming. But when word was brought vnto Belyn, of the landing of the king of Den∣marke with a smal company he reioyced at it, and commaunded him with his Shippes and company to be put in sure holde and keeping.

¶ It was not long after, but Brenne had newly rygged and victualled his Shippes, and hearing of the arriuall of Guilthdacus in Northumberland

with his wyfe, sent woordes of manace vnto his brother Belyne, willing him to send vnto him his wyfe, wrongfully rauished and deteyned by Guilthdacus king of Denmarke, and also to restore him to his Patrimony, or else he would shortly inuade his lande, the same for to waste, and as his enemy to destroye. The which request was of Belyne plainly and shortly denied. Wherof when Brenne had knowledge, he shortly after landed in a part of Albania, & made towarde his brother, and his brother towardes him: so that their hostes met nere vnto a Wood, named the Calatere, where betwene them was a mortall and terrible battayle, insomuch, that much people were slaine vpon both par∣ties: But in the ende the Britons wan the fielde, and chased the Norwayes vnto their Shippes. And as Gaufride sayth, the fight was so cruell & sharpe, that there were of both sydes slaine, to the number of .xl.M. men.

¶ After this discomfiture, Brenne was constreyned to flie, and with a very fewe in number, recouered the land of Gallia.

¶ Belinus hauing obteyned this great victory ouer his enemies, after thankes and oblations made vnto his Goddes, after the maner of the Pagan lawe: he then assembled his Lordes at Yorke, and there tooke their aduice what he should do with the King of Denmarke. In the which counsayle it was concluded, that the aforesayde Guilthdacus should holde and do homage to the king of Briteyn for the land of Denmarke, and yerely pay vnto him a thousand pound for a tribute: which beyng done with suretie and hostages, the sayd Guilthdacus with his woman, was set at libertie, and returned into his awne Country.

¶ Now when Belyne had by this victorie possessed the quiet state of this Realme, he confirmed the lawes made before by his father, and did ordeine that iustice was ministred throughout the lande. And where the foure wayes begon by his father were not perfighted and ended: He therfore called work∣men and set them to paue the same with stone, that they might the better bee knowen to all trauaylers.

¶ The first of these foure wayes was named Fosse, the which stretcheth out of the South, into the North, & began at that tyme at Tomesse in Corne∣wall, and passed forth by Deuonshire, Somersetshire, and so foorth by Tut∣bury vpon Cotteswolde besyde Couentry vnto Leycester, and from thence by wylde playnes toward Newarke, and endeth at the Citie of Lincolne.

¶ The seconde way was named VVatlingstreete, the which stretcheth o∣uertwhart the waies of Fosse, out of the Southeast, into the Northeast. This began at Douer, and passeth by the middle of Kent ouer Thamis beside Lon∣don, by west of Westminster, and so foorth by S. Albones, in the West syde of Dunstable, of Stratford, of Touceter, & of Wedon: by South Killingbourn, by Atherstone, and then passeth besides Bewdley ouer Seuerne vnto Gil∣bertes hill, that now is called the Wrekyn, and so foorth vnto Stratton to the middle of Wales vnto a place called Cardican at the Irish Sea.

¶ The thirde way was named Ermingstreete, the which stretcheth out of the West, Northwest, vnto the East Southeast, & beginneth at S. Dauids in west Wales, and so stretcheth foorth vnto Southampton.

¶ The fourth and last way is called Kykeneldes streete, the which stret∣cheth foorth by Worceter, by Wycombe, by Birmygham, by Lichfielde, by Darby, by Chesterfielde, by Yorke, and so foorth vnto Tynmouth, the which

were sufficiently made. And he graunted and confirmed vnto them, all such priuileges as before were granted by Dunwallo his father. The which priuileges with other lawes by him made, such as are desirous to knowe, let them reade the translation of Gildas, made of Mulmucius lawes, out of Britishe speech vnto latine, and there he shall see the whole.

¶ While Belyne was thus occupied, his brother Brenne beyng as afore∣sayd in a prouince of Gallia, taking his expulsion very grieuously, and beyng without comfort to attayne to his former dignitie, at the last resorted (being accompanied onely with .xij. persons) vnto the Duke or ruler of that Pro∣uynce or Country.

¶ For ye shall vnderstande, that in those dayes (as sayeth Eutropius and other wryters) the Gallis occupied diuers Countries. And therefore Titus Liuius wrote the histories of the Romaynes, made distinction of the Gallis, and nameth them that Brenne lead when he besieged Rome, and afterwards the Capitoll Senones Galli, of whome the Citie of Sene in Tuscayne tooke name, because (as testifieth the Author of Chronica Chronicarum, and other) it was first builded of the aforesayd Galles in the time of Brenne being there Duke and leader before the comming of Christ. CCC.lxxx. yeres. And for this cause the Senenses are of the aforesayde wryters reckened also among the Galles.

¶ Now when Brenne was commen to the Duke, whome Gaufride cal∣leth Signinus Duke of Alebrog, the which is to be vnderstande the Duke of Armorica, now called little Briteyn, as Reynulph doth plainely declare, and that he had opened vnto him all his griefe and trouble: the sayde Duke receyued him into his Courte with all curtesie and gentlenesse. And for that he was a personable & of gentle nature furnished with all that belonged to a Gentleman, he within a short time after was had in great estimatiō before a∣ny other that apperteined to his Court. By reason wherof at the last he fell in loue with his daughter, and in the ende maried her vpon condicion that if he dyed without issue Male, that he then should be ruler of that Countrie, and if it happened him to haue an heyre Male, that then yet notwithstanding, to ayde and helpe him to recouer his land lost.

¶ The which condicions well and surely vpon the Dukes partie, by the assent of the Nobles of his land were assured. And the sayde Duke within lesse then one yere following dyed. After whose death, when by a conueni∣ent tyme, it was knowne that the Duchesse his wife was not with childe, all the Lordes of the land did their homage to Brenne. To the which Lordes, the more to winne their loue, he departed much of his treasure, and shortly after with their assent gathered a great armie, and so in all haste sayled into Briteyn to make new warre vpon his brother Belyne, and after a little tyme landed there. Of whose landing when Belyne was informed, he in all haste gathered his Britons together in great number & made towarde Brennus, as to his mortall enimie. But the mother of the two brethren, named Con∣wenna, or after the English booke Conwey, considering the mortall hatred betwene her two children, of a motherly pitie went betwene her two sonnes, and vsed her selfe so wisely and discretely, that at length she agreed them. Af∣ter which agreement, both the brethren with their Lordes and friendes sped them vnto Troynouaunt, or London, and there after many things done and

ordered for the weale of the lande, they agreed to leade both their hostes into Gallia for to subdue to them the sayde Countrie. And in as goodly haste as they might prepare for the iourney, they tooke shipping and so sayled into a part of Gallia, brenning and wasting the Countrie without all pittie. And as sayth Gaufrid, they in short time subdued a great parte of Gallia, Italy, and Germany.

¶ Here Gaufrid doth vary from Eutropius, Titus Liuius, and other the writers of the Romaine Histories, for where Gaufrid sayeth that at suche time as Belyn and Brenne made warre in Italy, Gabius and Porsena were the Consules of Rome, that saiyng differeth farre from other. For as they affirme, at the time when Brenne besieged Rome, Claudius Aemilius, and Lucius Lucretius were Consules, & Furius Camill{us} was at that time Dictator of Rome, and none lyke vnto the other were Consules many yeres before nor after.

¶ But truth it is, that the sayde two brethren did many great actes in the aforenamed Countries, but not all agreeable with the saiyng of Gaufrid. For where he referreth all those deedes to both brethren, the aforenamed Titus Liuius speaketh but of Brenne, as hereafter shall appere. Now when Belyn had remained a certeyne of time with his brother Brenne in those partes, by agreement of them both, Belyn returned into Briteyn, & Brenne remayned behinde.

¶ When Belyn was returned into Briteyn, he repayred certaine olde Cities and builded vpon the Riuer of Vske a Citie, and called it Caeruske, nere vnto the Riuer of Seuerne. This Citie was after named the Citie of Legions because the Legions of the Romaines were lodged in the same Citie, and now it is called Caerleon, which in the time of king Arthur was an Vniuersitie and had in it two hundred Philosophers, as Gaufride wry∣teth, which being well learned in Astronomie and other Sciences, diligent∣ly obserued the courses of the starres, and by true and infallible reasons, shewed before what straunge and wonderfull things should that time hap∣pen vnto king Arthur.

¶ Also he builded in Troynouant an Hauen, with a gate ouer the same, in the Pynacle or top whereof was a Vessell of brasse, in the which was in∣closed the Ashes of his brent body, when he was dead. This gate was long after called Belyns or Belynus gate, and at this day it is called Belyngsgate.

¶ While Belinus was thus occupied in Briteyn, his brother Brenne de∣sirous to winne fame and honour, builded in Italy and in certeyn partes of Gallia certeyn Cities and Townes as foloweth.

• ...Pauy.
• ...Bergomum.
• ...Seua.
• ...Comum.
• ...Brixia.
• ...Verona.
• ...Vincencia.
• ...Milleyn.
• ...Tridentum.
• ...Cremona.

¶ The which Cities and Townes were builded of the Galles, or at the least were new repayred in the time that Brenne was their Duke and leader, although some writers suppose that Comum, and Cremona were builded af∣ter Brenne was dead. Reynulph sayth, that the Senons, which he meaneth by the Galles dwelling about the Citie of Sena, by the leading of Brennus ouercame the Romaines .xj. Myles from Rome, at the Riuer Albia, and

chaced them to Rome and tooke the Citie, and after layed siege to the Capi∣toll. And in a night while the warders of the Capitoll slept, the Frenchmen or Galles by a way vnder the earth came into the Capitoll and were lykely to haue wonne it. But a noble Romaine named Mallius or Manlius Tor∣quatus, awoke by the crying and noyse of a Gander or Ganders. The which Manlius resisted the Galles, for which the Romaines long time after held a feast of Ganders the first day of Iune: Howbeit, afterward, it was called Iunos Feast, because they thought that Iuno the Goddesse had by her in∣fluence geuen that grace vnto the Ganders, that they should by their noyse awake the Romaines. But yet the Galles or Frenchmen, helde the Ro∣maines so shorte, that they were compelled to giue vnto Brenne their Duke a thousande pound weight of Golde, as sayeth Titus Liuius, and he sayeth further that the Galles slue of the Senators of Rome a great many in num∣ber, whome they supposed to haue bene Goddes, because of the riche appa∣rell that they sate in. But shortly after this, the aforenamed Furius Camil∣lus, which was called againe from the Citie of Ardea, where he was out∣lawed before, and by the Commonalty of Rome in this distresse made againe Dictator, pursued Brenne and his people, and gaue to them battaile, and slue of them a great number, and wanne from them all the Golde and Ie∣wels that before time the Galles had wonne of the Romaines. The which deede was done .CCC.lxiiij. yere before the comming of Christ.

¶ Now when Brenne was this discomfited of the Romaines, he turned his people toward the Macedones or Grekes, and deuided them into two hostes, whereof he reteyned the one with him, and the other he sent into a Countrie called then Gallacia, and after Gallogrecia, and lastly Galates. Then Brenne ouercame the Macedones, with their Duke Sosteme, and after spoyled their Goddes and their Temples, and sayde in myrth, riche Goddes must geue to men some of their riches. Also he spoyled the Temple of the God Appollo Delphicus, standing in the hill of the Mount Pernasus. Wherefore as sayth Policarpus, the people of that Countrie prayed to God for helpe, and sodainely the earth began to quake, and a great parte of the hill fell vpon the host of the Galles and slue them. And after that, there fell Hailestones of such greatnesse, that it slue another part of the host, and Duke Brennus was sore wounded, whereby he fell in such dispaire, that he slue himselfe with his awne sworde.

¶ Now for as much as I haue here shewed you the ende of Brennus, I will now returne to Belinus his brother, who as before is declared, busyed himselfe in the guyding and ordering of his Realme and people of Briteyn, and in executing many notable deedes, like as he constituted and ordeyned three Archflamyns, whose Seas, were at London, Yorke, and Caerleon. And as Master Layland sayth, he buylded the Tower of London, and did many other notable things in his dayes, the which for length I ouerpasse: and finally he dyed and after the Pagan maner, was with great pompe bur∣ned and buried at Troynouant in London, when he had reigned with his brother and alone, after some writers .xxvj. yeres, leauing after him a sonne named Gurguinthus, or Gurguint Brabtruc, or after some wryters Gur∣guint Barbarouge, which is to meane Gurguint with the red beard.

[unspec 3588/375] GVrguintus the sonne of Belyne, a Prince of great wisdome and sober∣nesse and when time came succeded his father, & reigned king of Bri∣teyn .xix. yeres, who following his fathers steppes, loued both peace and iustice. This king forasmuch as the tribute that was graunted to his fa∣ther by the king of Denmarke, was nowe denyed to bee payed, assembled a great army, and prepared a great Nauy, and sayled into Denmark, and there wasted & spoyled the Country with sword and fyre, in such wise, that at length the king of Denmarke, with the assent of his Baronage, graunted to pay and continue the aforesayde Tribute of a thousande pound yerely. Howbeit Gau∣frid wryteth, that he slue the sayde King in battaile. After which victory thus had of the Danes, he with great triumph returned into Briteyn. And in kee∣ping of his course, he encountered with a nauie of .xxx. sayle besyde the Isles of Orcades full of Men and Women, of which flote, the chiefe Capiteyn was called as most writers affirme, Bartholomew, y^e which when he was brought vnto the kinges presence, shewed that he with his people were put or exiled out of Spaine, and were named Balenses, and had sayled long time vpon the Sea, to the ende to finde some Prince that would geue to them a dwelling place, and they to become his Subiectes, and to holde their lande of him, be∣seching the king to haue compassion vpon them, and to graunt to them some place to inhabite in, that they should no lenger dwell in their Shippes, consi∣dering their victuall was spent by reason of their long liyng vpon the Sea. After which request thus made by their Capitaine, the king with the aduice of his Barons, graunted to them a voyd and waste Countrie, which was and is the farthest Isle of al the Isles toward y^e west, the which, Isle as saith the English Chronicle, was then named Irelande, after the name of their Capi∣teyn called as he wryteth Irlamall. But who so will know the first cause of the naming of this Isle Ireland, let him reade the .xxxij. and .xxxiij. of the first booke of Polichronica, and there he shall finde the more certeinty of the naming thereof, with many other thinges touching the sayd Isle.

¶ Then it foloweth in the story, after Gurguintus was returned into his land of Briteyn, he established and ordeyned to be kept the lawes made by his forefathers, and exercised iustice to his Subiectes, and gouerned his lande well and nobly by the space of .xix. yeres, and then dyed, and was buryed at Caerleon, or after some wryters at Troynouaunt, leauing after him a sonne named Guyntelinus or after some, Guintellius.

[unspec 3607/356] GVintelinus, or Guintellius the sonne of Gurguintus, was made king of Briteyn, and he guyded this lande with great meekenesse and so∣bernesse. He had also a noble Wife called Marcia, who was learned in many sciences, and among other noble deedes by her done, she set foorth vnto the Britons a wholesome and notable law, which long tyme after was called Marcians lawe. This lawe, for that it was good and necessary, Aluredus which long after was king of England, trāslated out of British into the Sax∣ons speech, and then was it called euer after in the Saxons tongue, Marthe∣helag, that is to say, the lawe of Marria. To this Wooman for her wisedome, was committed all the gouernance of the land, and (as Gaufride sayth) shee reigned as Queene of Briteyn a certeyn tyme after her Husband was deade. But the yeres of her reigne are accompted with the yeres of her Husband, or

with the yeres of her Sonne Sisillus, so that the tyme of her reigne is not certeyne.

¶ In this time the said Guintelyn builded the towne of Warwike, which was about the tyme of the birth of great Alexander. But after that the Sax∣ons destroyed it. But it was reedefyed agayne by king Guyderius.

¶ Now when Guinthelinus had reigned well and worthely the space of xxvj. yeres, he dyed, and was buried at Troynouaunt, or London, leauing after him a sonne named Sisillus, or Cecilius.

CEcilius, or Sisillus, the sonne of Guinthelyn, [unspec 3640/330] reigned king ouer Bri∣teyn, but there is no notable thing written of him, but that (as the Scot∣tes write) in the first yere of his reigne, a people of Almaine called Pich∣tes, aryued here in Briteyn, and possessed those partes which we now call the Marches of both the Realmes of England and Scotland, and when he had reigned .vij. yeres he dyed, and left after him a sonne named Kimarus.

KImarus, y^e sonne of Cecilius, reigned king of Briteyn, [unspec 3640/323] but of him there is nothing written, but that he was a wilde and wanton Prince, geuen to all pleasure and pastime, & reigned but thre yeres, beyng slain of his aduersaries as he was a hunting, and left after him a sonne named Elanius.

ELanius the sonne of Kymarus, reigned king after his father, but some Authours wryte that Elanius was brother to Kymarus, and some wryte that Kymarus and Elanius was but one person, howbeit: it is most lyke they were two persons, now to be short, he reigned but two yeres, but other wryte (whom I credite) as Lanquet, that he reigned .ix. yeres, and then dyed.

MOrindus the bastard sonne of Elanius (as sayeth Gaufride) was made king of Briteyn. [unspec 3652/311] This man was gotten vpon the Concubine of Elanius, named Tanguestela, and was a man of worthy fame in deedes of Chiualrye, but he was so ouercome with wrath and cruelnesse, that commonly he was the death of any that angred him. Besides this, he was comely of personage, and liberall in rewardes, and was also of a merueilous strength, insomuch, as he had not his lyke of any man that was within the Realme, beyng of Noble birth.

¶ In his time there came a Prince into this realme out of a Country called Mauritania, the which Prince with his cruell and fierce people wasted the land of Briteyn with sworde and fire, without all pitie and mercy. Whereof when Morindus was certified, he in all haste gathered his people, and met with him in the field, and bad him battaile, and fought in such wise, that at the last he chased the Prince to the Sea againe, and tooke many of his Soul∣diers Prisoners, whome to be reuenged of the tyrannie vsed by the sayde Prince, he caused to be put to death in diuerse cruell maners, as by hangyng, heading, fleayng, brenning, and other cruell executions done in his sight.

¶ Finally (as sayth Guido de columna) and other, this Morindus on a time walking, or riding along by the Sea coast, espied a wonderful strange Mon∣ster, the which of his knighthood and courage he thought to slaye. And with

a manly force assayled the Monster, fighting with it a certeyne space: But in conclusion, he was deuoured and swalowed of the sayde Monster, after he had reigned .viij. yeres, leauing behinde him .v. sonnes, Gorbomannus, Ar∣chigallo, Elidurus, Vigenius, and Peredurus.

[unspec 3652/311] ABout this time the Scottes beginne their Chronicles at Fergus or Fer∣gucius the sonne of Ferquard king of Ireland: who (as they write) came with a great power out of Ireland to their ayde in the tyme of dissension, be∣twene them and the Pichtes, where by wisedome and prowesse he so handled the matter that he agreed those people, and obteyned such fauour, that they elected him to be their king, and he reigned among them .xxv. yeres, and fi∣nally in passing the Seas betwene Ireland & Scotland, he was drowned.

¶ But these Histories of the Scottes, as they set them foorth are full of lyes, and agree with none other Historiens, for they saye that Fergus slue Coill king of Briteyn, when there was then no such of that name, nor many yeres after, as it maye hereafter appere. But I will take the yeres of the reignes of their kings as they write them, which were from this time vnto the comming of Cesar .CC.lx. yeres, for the which cause I haue here for the better agreement of the Historie and computation of the yeres, begonne to write of them.

[unspec 3660/303] GOrbomannus the first sonne of Morindus was made king of Bri∣teyn, he was a iust and a righteous man both to his Goddes and to his people, that is to saye, he yeelded and gaue to eyther part that was theirs, he gaue to his Goddes due reuerence and sacrifice, and ministred to his people iustice and equitie. And he renewed and repayred all the olde Temples through his Realme, and builded some new, and as the English Chronicle sayth, he builded the Towne of Cambridge and Grantham. And in the time of his reigne the land was much more welthier than it was in the dayes of his predecessors. But finally to the great sorrow of all his people, he was taken with a grieuous sicknesse, and thereof dyed without issue of his body, when he had reigned after most wryters .xj. yeres.

[unspec 3671/292] ARchigallo or Artogallo, the second sonne of Morindus, and brother vn∣to Gorbomannus reigned king of Briteyn. This man folowed nothing the steppes of his brother, but gaue himselfe to all quareling and strife, and imagined causes against his nobles, to pull from them their goodes and dignities, and in their places to set vp vnnoble, and men of rude birth and maner. And so from the riche, by synister meanes he plucked their riches and goodes: by which inordinate meanes, he enriched himselfe and impoueri∣shed his subiectes. For which condicions his Lordes and subiectes murmu∣red against him, and at the last by one assent tooke him and depriued him of all honor and kingly dignitie, when he had reigned .v. yeres. And they ad∣uaunced into the kingdome his brother Elidurus.

ELidurus the third sonne of Morindus and brother to Archigallo, was by the assent of the Britons made king. This man became so mylde and gentle to the Britons, that they gaue to him a surname, and cal∣led him Elidure the meeke. And among other deedes of meekenesse, this

that foloweth is not the least to be noted. It happened him on a day to be on hunting in a Wood nere vnto Yorke called Calater, and there he founde hys elder brother Archigallo late king, wandering in the thickest of the Wood, whom louingly & charitably he in secret maner conueyed home to his mansiō house, into the Citie then named Aldud or Acliut. And (as Gaufride sayth) to the intent to bring his brother to his former dignitie, as after followeth: For when Elidurus returned home, he feyned him selfe sicke, and in all the haste sent his messengers about his realme to gather an assembly of the Barons of his land together. And when the day of assembly was come, and his Lordes according to his commaundement were present, he called them one by one, as they were of honour into his priuie Chamber, and there by his wyse and discrete wordes he gat graunt of his sayde Lords to ayde and strength him to bring his brother Archigallo to his former dignity and Regality. After which graunt by the Lordes made, he assembled a counsayle at Yorke, and there so persuaded the commons that they were content to receiue Archigallo againe to be their king. And then Elidurus when he had reigned .v. yeres, resigned to his brother the Crowne, and all his kingly honor and dignitie.

ANd about this time Ptholomeus Philadelphus, king of Egypt reigned in Alexandria. This prince aboue al other was geuen vnto study & learning. He made a Librarij in Alexandria, which hee furnished with innumerable sortes of bookes of all Sciences. Among which as chiefe was the volume of Moses law. And the king heering that the deuine lawe was in Ierusalem, he being verie desirous to haue it translated, first discharged out of bondage all the Iewes that were in his subiection, who were in number aboue one hundreth thousand persons. And then he sent Demetrius and Aristeus to Eleazar the high Priest of the Iewes with great giftes to the Temple of God, desi∣ring that the law might be sent vnto him, with learned men to translate it into Greke. And forthwith Eleazar sent .lxxij. interpret••rs, who commonly are called Septuaginta interpretes. These the king honorably receyued, & sent them to Demetrius Clerk of his Librarij in Alexandrie, who prouided a place for them, where they assembled daylie to translate the holye Scripture; and in lxxij. dayes, they finished it. Lanquet.

¶ But the Aucthor of Chronica Chronicarum sayth, that when the .lxxij. were come to the king, he caused euerie of them seuerally to be enclosed in seuerall places alone, and euerie of them by him selfe did seuerally translate the lawe, which in .lxxij. dayes they finished, and the sayde Aucthor allegeth for him Saint Augustine, that when the translations were conferred together, they differed not, neither varied in worde nor sentence, the which translation was by the Iewes offered vnto the king, and the king calling vnto him the inter∣preters, did first geue them thanks, and after lycenced them to depart to their Countrie, and gaue vnto euery of them in reward three sutes of Apparell, and two Talents of Golde, and one Cup of one Talent of Golde, and suffi∣cient furniture for all their iourney and expences.

ANd in this tyme also Ferithias, brother to Fergus, [unspec 3678/288] was chosen King of Scottes during the nonage of his brothers children who by Feriegus his Nephew, for the desire to reigne, was slaine, when he had reigned .xv. yeres, and Ferlegus for that act fled Scotland.

WHen Archigallo, was againe restored to his kingdome as aforesayde, he remembred well the euill life that before tyme he had led, and the punishment that he had suffred for the same, wherfore in the eschew∣ing of like daunger, he chaunged all his olde condicions and became a good and a righteous man, ministring to the people equitie and iustice, and bare himselfe so nobly and honorably towardes his Lordes and the rulers vnder him, that he was beloued and drad of all his subiectes, and so continued du∣ring the terme of his naturall lyfe, and finally he dyed, when he had reigned now lastly .x. yeres, and was buried at Yorke.

[unspec 3691/272] ELidurus before named, was now againe by one assent of the Britons made king: But his two yonger brethren, Vigenius and Peredurus hauing indignation at him, for that he was for his vertue and good gouernaunce so well fauoured and beloued of the Britons, conspired against him of malice, and gathering an armie of Souldiours, gaue him battayle: and in the fielde tooke him, and then sent him to the Tower of Troyno••ant, which now is called the Tower of London, and there kept him as prisoner, when he had reigned now lastly two yeres.

[unspec 3693/270] VIgenius and Peredurus the yongest sonnes of Morindus and bre∣thren of Elidurus beforesayd, reigned ioyntly as Kings of Briteyn. These brethren parted the land betwene them: So that all the lande from the water of Humber westwarde fell to Vigenius: and the other parte of the land with Albania or Scotland also, fell vnto Peredurus. But as say∣eth Guydo, Vigenius was not king, but alonely Peredurus, who as he say∣eth, kept his brother Elidurus in Prison, by his awne assent, because Elidu∣rus was not wylling to be king, as the sayde Guydo sayth. Peredurus was cruell and tyrannous to the Briteyns, and slue and intreated the Lordes in most cruell maner, so that in the ende he became so odious vnto them, that they rebelled against him and slue him. But Gaufride sayth, and it appereth to be tru, ethat Vigenius dyed when he had reigned .vij. yeres: After whose death Peredurus seazed all the land into his awne rule, and ruled it with great sobernesse, in such wise that he excelled all his other brethren, so that Elidurus was cleane forgotten of the Britons: But at the last Peridurus was visited with sicknesse, and thereof dyed, when he had reigned with his brother and alone .ix. yeres, leauing behinde him no childe.

[unspec 3693/270] MAynus yongest sonne of Fergus, after the death of his Vncle, was king of Scottes, and in his time he deuised many supersticious Ceremonies to be vsed in his Pagan law, and when he had reigned .xxix. yeres, he dyed.

[unspec 3702/261] ELidurus before named, as sone as Peredurus was dead, forasmuch as he was next heyre to the Crowne, was taken out of Prison and made the thirde tyme king of Briteyn: who as before tyme he had vsed himselfe, so he continued still in ministring to all persons, right, and iustice, all the dayes of his lyfe. And lastly, beyng of a good age, he dyed when he had now reigned .iiij. yeres, leauing after him a sonne named Gorbonianus, or Gorbomannus, and the sayd Elidurus was buried at Carlisle.

GOrbomannus, or Gorbonianus the sonne of Elidure, [unspec 3705/258] was king of Briteyn, after whome succeded Morgan, and after Morgan Eme∣rianus, brother to the sayd Morgan, the which Emerianus was de∣priued for his cruelnesse.

PEridure being king gouerned the land well and worthely, and reigned .iiij. yeres, and is buried at Pekering.

VIGEM when he had reigned .iiij. yere, dyed.

REgin put away all maner of cruelnesse, and was gracious, and full of pity among the people, and reigned two yeres.

MOrgan was a cruell king, and reigned .ix. yeres, but Lanquet sayth, he was a mercifull king and reigned .xiiij. yeres.

EMerianus, or Ennian, brother to Morgan, reigned as a Tyraunt ouer Briteyn, for the space of .vij. yeres, and then he was deposed.

IDwall, beyng king of Briteyn, was a good Man, and commendable in all his actes, he reigned .xx. yere.

RIMO A vertuous man, and he reigned .xx. yere.

GEroncyus sonne of Elidure was king and liued verteously, and had two sonnes, Cathell, and Coyll, and reigned .xx. yeres.

CATELLVS or Cathell, the sonne of Geroncius reigned .x. yeres.

COILL was brother to Cathell, and reigned .xx. yere.

PORREX the sonne of Coill reigned in Briteyn .v. yeres.

CHerimus, or Cheryn was a great Dronkarde, and he had three sonnes, Fulgenius, Eldadus, and Androgius, and he reigned but one yere.

FVLGEN sonne to Chirimus, reigned two yeres.

ELdadus sonne to Cherin, reigned one yere. And in this time, as sayth Lan∣quet, there was a Childe borne in Rome with foure feete, foure handes, foure eyes, as many eares, and hauing both natures.

ANDROGIVS reigned after Eldadus king of Briteyn one yere.

VRian the sonne of Androgius, succeded his father in the Realme of Bri∣teyn, and reigned .iij. yeres, and was a lecherous man, and gaue himselfe wholy to the filthie lustes of the flesh.

ELiud Cofin to Vrian, was made king by election of the people, and reig∣ned .v. yeres.

ELEDANCVS was son to Vrian, who liued delicately & reigned but one yere.

CLOTHEVS was king, and reigned two yere.

GVRGVNCIVS reigned .viij. yeres.

MORIAN was a Man of great beutie, he reigned two yeres.

BLEDVD, or Bladunus, reigned after Morian two yere.

CAPENVS, sonne to Morian, reigned three yeres.

OVINVS ruled Briteyn two yeres.

SILIVS, reigned in Briteyn two yere.

BLedgabredus succeded in the gouernement of this realme, and he was the most excellent man in musick that was in those daies, & he reigned .xx. yere.

ARCHIMALVS was king after his brother Bledgabred, & he reigned .ij. yere.

ELDOLVS reigned king of Briteyn .iiij. yere.

RODIAN reigned king of Briteyn two yere.

REDARGIVS reigned king of Briteyn three yere.

SAMVLIVS reigned king of Briteyn two yeres, & was a very good Man.

PENISELLVS reigned king of Briteyn two yeres.

PYrrus reigned king of Briteyn two yeres, and the heare of his heade was as bright as the shining Golde.

CAPORVS the sonne of Pyrre reigned two yeres.

DIuellus reigned ouer Briteyne .iiij. yeres, he was a verye wyse and ver∣teous Prince.

HEly the sonne of Diuellus reigned ouer Briteyn, not full one yere, and he had three sonnes, Lud, Cassibelan, and Stennius, or rather Nen∣nius, they were wise men, and valiaunt in warres. And of this man the Isle of Elye tooke (as some writers affirme) the first name: notwithstanding, Laylande supposeth it to be so called, of Eelys, which are there ingendred in great store, and therefore calleth it in latine Insula Anguillaria.

LVd the eldest sonne of Hely, was after his father King of Briteyn. This Man was honorable in all his deedes, and he builded new tem∣ples and repayred the olde. He also repayred olde Cities and townes, and specially the Citie of Troynouant, where he caused many buildings to be made, and also made about the sayde Citie a strong wall. And in the west part of the sayde wall, he erected and made a strong and fayre Gate, and com∣maunded the same to be called by his awne name Luddes gate, which at this day is called Ludgate. And for that he loued this City, he vsed much and often to lye therin, by reason wherof it was called Caerlud, or Luds towne, & after by corruption of spech, it was after called, & is so named at this day London.

¶ Bale wryteth how there fell great dissension betwene Lud and his bro∣ther

Nennius aforesayd, about the chaunging of the name of Troynouaunt into Luddes towne, or London, because it might be the occasion that the me∣morie of Troy and the worthie deedes there done, should thereby be buried in obliuion, and be forgotten.

¶ This Lud also (as sayth Gaufrid) was strong and mightie in armes in subduing his enimies. He was also bounteous and liberall and kept a great houshold, by meane wherof he obteyned the great loue and fauour of all the Britons. And when he had reigned in honour .xj. yeres, he dyed, and was buried in his gate called Ludgate, and left after him two sonnes, as Guydo sayth, the one named Androgeus, and the other Temancius, or Tenancius.

CAssibelan or as some wryte Cossiuelan, [unspec 3905/58] after the death of his brother Lud, was made king of Briteyn, for so much as the two sonnes before named, were to yong and insufficient to take in hande so great a charge. But as sayth the Flowre of Histories, this Cassibelan was not made king of Briteyn, but rather ruler or protector of the lande, for the time of the nonage of the aforesayde brethren: albeit Gaufrid sayth, that after Cassibelan was set in aucthoritie, he became so noble and liberall that his name sprang farre, and by his exercise of iustice, the Britons ought to him more fauour then to eyther of his Nephewes: Howbeit, he cherished them and brought them vp according to their birth. And when they came vnto yeres of discretion, he gaue to Androgeus, the Citie of London, with the Dukedome or Ereldome of Kent, and to Temancius the Dukedome of Cornewall.

¶ In this tyme Caius Iulius Caesar, who most commonly is called Iulius Cae∣sar, being sent by the Senate of Rome, as felow and Consull with Lucius Bu∣bulus into the countrie of Gallia, for to subdue the Galles to the Empire of Rome. The which Iulius being vpon the Sea side, as sayth Gaufrid, after he had ouercome the sayde Galles, and beholding the white Clifes or Rockes of Briteyn: enquired of the Countrie, and what people dwelled therein. And when he was sufficiently informed of all the commodities thereof, he had great will to bring the sayde Countrie vnder the obeysance of the Ro∣maynes, as other Countreyes for the most parte then were. But as Bergamo writeth, the time that Iulius made warre vpon the Galles, he knew that they receyued great ayde out of Briteyn, and therefore was he the willinger to conquer it, because they should not be any more ayded by the Britons. And so hauing diligently enquired of the state thereof, he wrote to Cassibelan, willing him as he tendered his awne safetie and the quietnesse of his realme and people, that he would become tributarie vnto the Empire of Rome, like as many other Nations were.

¶ But Cassibelan hauing great indignation to become subiect, wrote vn∣to him sharpe and short aunsweres, shewing that he and euerie noble man was bounde specially to keepe his Countrie and people from seruitude and bondage, the which to obserue he would doe his vttermost endeuour: with the which answere Iulius Caesar being nothing contented, in all haste made rea∣die his Nauie and people, and sayled towarde Briteyn. And when the Ro∣maines were come nere the land of Briteyn, and should haue landed: the Bri∣tons pight sharpe stakes and long vpon the bancks, which caused them to winne the lande with great daunger. And not long after their landing, Cassi∣belan

with a strong hoste of Britons encountered the Romaines, geuing to them a fierce battaile, in so much, that they were faine to flie to their Ships for suretie, and after with sodaine tempest his Nauie being almost destroyed, he returned againe into France there to Winter. Notwithstanding (as Gau∣frid and other sayth) after he had renewed his armie, and also rygged and en∣creased his Nauie, he came againe the second time: But as before time, so he was now againe by the Manhood of the king and of his Britons manfully and knightly withstanded and chased away, and compelled to flee with great dishonour. In the which battaile, the valiaunt courage of the hardy and noble knight Nennius brother vnto king Cassibelan is worthy of perpetuall memorie, who manfully fighting for the defence of his Countrie and the li∣bertie thereof, besides other noble deedes of armes then by him atchieued, ranne vnto Caesar and plucked his sworde out of his hande, and therewith slue Labienus Tribune or chiefe Captaine of the Romaine Nobilitie: And re∣ceyuing againe as Gaufride wryteth his deathes wound by the same Caesar, dyed thereof verie shortly after, and was buried at the Northgate of Troy∣nouaunt, and the sayde sworde put in the Coffyn with him by his commaun∣dement.

¶ Iohn Lydgate in his booke named the Serpent of Diuision wryteth that Iulius Caesar buylded in this land diuers Castelles and Cities for a perpe∣tuall memorie of his name, that is to say, a Castell not farre from Douer, the Castelles of Cauntorburie and Rochester, and the auncientst parte of the Tower of London. The Castell and Towne of Cesars Bury, which now is called Sarisburie or Salsburie: he also edefied Cesars Chester or Chi∣chester and the Castell of Excester.

¶For which victorie thus twise obteyned, Cassibelan entending to geue thanks vnto his Goddes, and to rewarde his Knights, in goodly haste cau∣sed an assembly to be made of all his Lordes and Knightes at the Citie of Caerlud, or London, where after due obseruaunces done to their Goddes, after the vse of their Pagan lawes, a great and solempne feast was holden by the king to all that would come with most liberalitie and plenty, in all that was necessarie to such a feast. And the more to encrease the kings honor, and to the comforte and delectation of his Lordes and other being there present, there was all maner kinde of games and pastimes, that at those dayes were exercised and vsed. During the tyme of which feast, two noble and yonge Knights among other hapned to assay eyther other in wrastling, wherof the one was Nephew to king Cassibelan named Hirelda, & that other was na∣med Euelinus, who was allyed vnto Androgeus, Erle or Duke of London. By meane of this wrestling, deuision, or vnsitting words fell betwene them, and after wordes ensued strokes, by meane whereof partes were taken on eyther side, which ranne together in great yre and malice, so that on eyther parte, many and diuers were hurt and wounded. Among whome Hirelda Nephew to the king was slaine, which caused great disturbance in the Court among the Lordes.

¶ Now when that knowledge of the death of Hirelda was brought vnto the King: he was therewith greatly moued, and entending due iustice to be had and ministred by the aduise of his Barons caused the aforenamed Cosyn of Androgeus, who was named Euelinus to be sommoned for to appere be∣fore

him and his Counsayle, and there to acquite him of such crime as to him should be layed, for the death of Hirelda before slaine. But Euelinus by the counsayle of Androgeus his Cosyn, withstoode that commaundement, and shortly after, the sayd Androgeus and Euelyne departed the Court, without taking leaue of the king.

¶The king disdeyning this demeanour of Androgeus, after diuers mo∣nicious to him giuen, gathered his Knightes together and made warre vpon Androgens. Wherfore, after many wayes and meanes sought, at the last he sawe that he was not of power to withstande the kinges great indignation, sent his Letters vnto Caius Iulius Caesar, then being in the Countrie of Gallia, shewing him the circumstance of the matter, and excusing himselfe of all gilt, prayed him in most humble wise, that he would shortly returne with his ar∣mie into Briteyn, and he with his whole power should be readie to ayde and helpe him against the Britons.

¶Of this message Iulius was verie glad, and in all haste made toward Bri∣teyn with a great power. To whome the winde was so fauourable, that in shorte time after this message, he drewe nere the lande: But (as Gaufrid sayth) before he would land, to auoyde all reason that might be wrought by Androgeus and the Britons against him, he receyued from him in Hostage his sonne named Scena, with .xxx. other of the most Noble of his Lordship, and that done he landed with the helpe of Androgeus. Whereof when Cas∣sibelan had warning, he forthwith made towarde the Romaines, and in a Valey nere vnto Dorobernia, now named Cauntorbury, there he founde the hoste of the sayde Iulius lodged, and with him Androgeus with all his power. After which knowledge had, they fiercely with their habiliments of warre vexed and grieued eche other, till at length both hostes met hande to hande, and fought cruelly, in such wise, that many fell to the ground and were slaine on both parties. But when the Britons (as sayth Gaufrid) had long fough∣ten and knightly defended the Romaines: Androgeus Erle of Kent, came with his people in a wing vpon them, and so sharply assayled them, that they were constreyned to forsake the fielde, and place, that they before had kept: The which flight so discomfited the other, that finally all fled and gaue place to the Romaines, who pursued and slue them without all mercie. So that Cassibelan with his Britons that were left, were faine to get them to a place of suretie, there to rest and encampe themselues that they might newly pro∣uide to withstand their enimies.

¶ But to conclude, all wryters agree, that Iulius helde the king so short, that for an vnitie and concorde, hee was faine after manye losses to geue pledges and to become tributarie to the Romaines, and to paye yerely as Gaufride sayth, in the name of a tribute, three thousande pounde in Golde. Now when Caesar had accomplished his will and pleasure, in all thing that to him was thought necessary: He with Androgeus departed the lande with a great number of Hostages and Prisoners, and so sped him towarde Rome, where soone after he was againe by the will of the most of the Senatours made Emperour. But finally, beying Emperour, he was at the last slaine in the Senate house, by the Senators with Bodkins, as Rastell sayeth. And this tribute was thus graunted, when Cassibelan had reigned as king of Briteyn full .viii. yeres and more. And by the agreement of most wryters

xlviij. yeres before the incarnation of Iesu Christ, or as some write fifty. And as Lanquet sayeth, this conquest of Briteyn made by the Romaines, was MM.CC.lv. yeres after the vniuersall flood: and M.lvij. after the arri∣uall of Brute: and .vij.C.ij. after the building of Rome, in the second yere of the .C.lxxxij. Olimpiade, and the .M.C.xvj. yere before the conquest of Eng∣lande made by Wylliam Duke of Normandy, and .M.vj.C.xvj. yeres, be∣fore this present yere of our Lorde .M.D.lxvj.

¶ Now after this conquest, Cassibelan reigned as Tributary .ix. yeres, and as sayeth Lanquet, he reigned in all, before the Tribute and after the Tribute .xix. yeres, but other write .xvj. yeres, and some other as Caxton, xvij. yeres, and then dyed, and is buried at Yorke.

[unspec 3909/54] EDeir, after the death of Ewyn, tooke vpon him the gouernance of Scot∣land, and ruled it .xxxviij. yeres. In the time of his reigne, as appereth before, Briteyn was subdued to the Romaines, and Scotland also troubled with sundry sedicions.

[unspec 3921/42] THeomancius, or rather Tenantius, the sonne of Lud, and Nephew to Cassibelan, succeded in the realme of Briteyn. This Man in the Eng∣lishe Chronicle is not named King, but his brother Androgeus. But Gaufrid sayth, that for as much as Androgeus feared the hatred of the Bri∣taynes, for his treason wrought against the king and the lande: he therefore coueted to abide with Iulius Caesar at Rome, rather then to be king ouer such as he thought would neuer loue, nor fauour him.

¶The foresayd Tenancius was a noble Warryer, and ruled this land of Briteyn with great diligence and iustice, and defended it well and knightly against all Alyens and straungers, and paide his tribute to the Romaines, which Cassibelan had graunted, and lastly dyed when he had reigned .xxiij. yeres, and was buried at London.

[unspec 3944/19] CImbelinus or Kymbelinus, the sonne of Tenancius, as sayeth Guydo, succeded next after him, who was brought vp at Rome among the Ro∣maynes, and there made Knight, and was of the Emperour Augustus Cesaer so fauoured and beloued, that he was at libertie, whether he would pay the tribute or not. Of him is little written, sauing that all wryters agree, that in the time of his reigne, our Sauioure Christ Iesus was incarnate of the blessed Virgin Marie. And when this Cimbalyn had reigned .xxxv. yeres ouer the Britons, he dyed and was buried in London, leauing after him two sonnes, named Guiderius and Aruiragus.

¶I haue before as is aboue saide declared that our Sauiour Christ was borne in this Kings tyme, which was in the .xix. yere of his reigne, and that was in the yere of the worlde after the accompt of the Bible and of the He∣brues, which accompt I folow .MMM.ix.C.lxiij.

[unspec 3946/17] EWyn, the thirde sonne of Edeir succeded hys Father in the Realme of Scotland and reigned .vij. yeres. A Prince geuen all to vice and lechery, for being not content, as they write with an hundred Concubynes, with whome he might fulfill his lust, he made a law, that it should be lawfull for his Subiects to haue as many wyues as they were hable to keepe, and that the wyues of his Commons should be common to the Nobles: and that the

Lord should haue the Maydenhead of all Virgins dwelling in his Lordship: the which lawe continued vntill the tyme of Malcolme Cammorre, & from thence, vnto this tyme, they pay to the Lord of the soyle a redemption of their Maydenhead. And when he had thus continued .vij. yeres, in exercising of his tirannie and filthy lust, he fell into the hatred of his Lordes, and was by them deposed and slaine in prison.

MEtellane, Nephew to Edeir, was chosen king of Scottes, a verteous, [unspec 3953/10] and quiet Prince, who peaceably reigned .xxxix. yere.

¶ And here I thinke meete to note to the reader, that the order that I haue kept in this my story hetherto, hath bene chiefly to expresse and set forth vnto you the pedigree and discent from Adam to Christ, in the line of the righ∣teous, wherein is to be learned that all those that heard the voyce of the Lord, and obserued his lawes, prospered and were blessed of the Lord, and brought to high honour and aduauncement: And such againe as hearkened not to the worde of the Lord, were deliuered as prayes and spoyles to their enemies. And although sometyme, I haue vpon sundrie occasions made some notes of the lyne of cursed Cain and others, yet I haue chiefly obserued the lyne of the iust, out of the which almightie GOD promised there shoulde issue of the Seede of the Woman, one that should breake the Serpentes head, which Seede was ment by our Sauiour Iesu Christ, who in this tyme was borne of the Virgin Mary. And here I will as it were drawe forwarde the lyne where I left before, at the kinges of Iuda, (in the tyme that they were made captiue to Babilon, which kinges discended out of the loynes of Dauid) and will now for the perfighting of my purpose recite the ende thereof. The last king of Iuda that I haue spoken of before, was Sedechias the sonne of Io∣sias, who was captiue in Babilon, from whom issued Ioachim, and successiue∣ly, Iechonias, Salathiell, Zorobabell, Abiud, Eliachim, Azor, Sadoch, Achun, Eliud, Eleazar, Iacob, and Ioseph, who maryed Mary the Virgine, of whom was borne our Sauiour Iesu Christ.

¶And the Virgin Mary discended also out of the Loynes of Dauid, as first Nathan, the second sonne of Dauid, begat Mathata, and he begat Men∣na, from whome successiuely came Melcha, Heliachim, Iona, Ioseph, Iuda, Symeon, Leui, Mathat, Ioram, Eliezer, Iesu, Her, Helmadam, Cosan, Ab∣di, Melchi, Neri, Salathiell, Zorobabel, Refa, Iohanna, Iuda, Ioseph, Se∣mei, Mathathias, Ioseph, Iamna, Melchi, Leui, Mathat, Ioakim, and Marie the Virgine, who was borne .xv. yeres before Christ, and maried vn∣to Ioseph. Flores historiarum. Polichronicon, and sondrie others.

And here for order and keping of a iust accompt, endeth the sixt Age of the worlde, or sixt part of my booke, and this sixt Age was from the Captiuitie of Babilon, vnto the Birth of our most blessed Redemer and Sauiour Iesu Christ, to whom be all honor, prayse, and glory, for euer and euer. Which age continued. 627. yeres.

Notes

• ••352/619
• Daniel the Prophet.
• England in habited be∣fore Scotlā•• as the Sco∣tish Cronicle doth accompt 528. yere.
• Troinouāt
• Ierusalem & the Temple againe re∣payred.
• Ferrex slaine.
• A cruell and vnnaturall murder.
• Cloto Duke of Cornewal.
• Daniell. 9.
• Blackwell Hall.
• Raynulph.
• Caxton.
• The foure high wayes.
• Mulmucius the first king of Briteyn that ware a Crowne of Golde.
• Iohn Bale.
• Brennus.
• Belyn.
• Guilthdacus king of Den∣marke.
• Guilthdake
• Guilthdake king of Den∣marke taken.
• Brennus sē∣deth defiance to his bro∣ther Belyue.
• A cruell bat∣taile betwene two brethren.
• Gwilthdake king of Den∣mark became tributary to England.
• The foure high wayes of England, paued by Belyne.
• Fosse.
• Watling∣streete.
• Erming∣streete.
• Kykeneldes stréete.
• Fraunce at y^e first was de∣uided into sū∣dry countries
• Amorice cal∣led little Briteyn.
• The true of∣fice of a natu∣rall mother.
• Belyne and Brenne were great conque∣rours.
• Caerleon.
• Belingsgat
• Reynulph
• The noyse of a Gander a∣woke Man∣lius and sa∣ued the Ca∣pitoll.
• Ganders Feast.
• A great gift not long en∣ioyed.
• Furius Ca∣milius a Dictator of Rome, wan againe from Brenne, all that euer Rome had lost.
• Brenne dis∣comfited
• Gallacia. Gallogrecia Galates.
• Brenne o∣uercame the Macedons.
• A straunge thing.
• Brenne kil∣led himselfe.
• Belyne dead.
• Danes tri∣bute.
• Spaniardes lycenced to inhabite Ire∣land.
• Iustice.
• Martians lawes.
• Pichtes.
• Morindus a cruell man.
• Cruell exe∣cutions.
• Guydo de Columna.
• Morindus was slaine & deuoured of a Monster in the Sea.
• Fergus king of Scottes drowned.
• Cambridge builded. 309. yeres before Christ.
• Gorboman∣nus dead.
• Archigallo deposed.
• 3676/••87
• Gaufrid.
• Elidurus a worthy and gētle Prince.
• Ptholome∣us Phila∣delphus.
• Demetrius Aristeus.
• The .lxxii. Interpre∣ters.
• Archigallo king of Bri∣t••yn amended his life.
• Elidurus a verteous Prince, com∣mitted 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the tower of London.
• Briteyn par∣ted betwene two brethren
• Peredurus slaine.
• Mercifull.
• Mercifull.
• Cruell.
• Mercifull.
• Mercifull.
• Mercifull.
• A dronkard
• A Monster.
• Lecherous.
• Musicke.
• Hely.
• Ludgate.
• Lud buried in Ludgate
• Flowres of Histories.
• Iulius Cae∣sar.
• Iulius Ce∣sar and his Romaines had the re∣pulse.
• Iulius Ce∣sar had a se∣cond repulse.
• Gaufrid.
• Iohn Lyd∣gate.
• A Feast made for victorie.
• Games.
• Wrestling. Hirelda. Euelinus.
• Hirelda slaine.
• Euelinus sommoned to appere for the death of Hi∣relda.
• Androgeus sent Letters to Caius Iulius Ce∣sar to pro∣uoke him to warre a∣gainst Cassi∣belan king of the Britons.
• Iulius Ce∣sar suspected Androgeus.
• A battell be∣side Cantor∣bury.
• Gaufride.
• Iulius Ce∣sars victory.
• Iulius Ce∣sar made this Realme tri∣butarie to Rome, in the 50. yere be∣fore the com∣ming of christ.
• Lanquet.
• A trayterous person is fearefull.
• He that hea∣reth the word of God, and doth it, shalbe happy in his deede.
• The ende of the lyne and issue of Iuda was Christ.