The Arrivall of Brute in Albion.

Brute having now past the pikes of many hazardous passages and exanclated dangers, arrives at last at the long hop'd for Haven of his fore-promised happinesse: the first thing he did, was to progresse the whole Iland to view and consider the comodiousnesse thereof which he found [Page 9] no way to frustrate his hopes and longing expectation, he finds it fertile and well stored with Woods, garnished with pleasant and enamel'd Meadows, and embroidered with many goodly Rivers and purling Brooks and Rivulets (replenished with abundance of Fish) like so many veins and arteries running through the whole body of the Iland; these things could not but please, but yet they are not solely to be enjoyed without some danger; for as the Trojans passe from place to place to view the scituation and opportune places to inhabit, they are oft encountered with grisly creatures exceeding humane proportion, who give them but rude and savage welcome; and these were they whom the Goddesse meant, when she said, habitata Gygantibus olim; amongst these prodigious Caitiffs one exceeded all the rest in bulk and robustiousnesse, who was called Gogmagog, with whom Corineus Nephew to Brute wrestled; who although he had a rib broken by this Monster, yet so foiled him that he cast him down from the Cliffs; for which cause the place afterwards was called, The Fall of Gogmagog, (I have heard some say that in Glamorganshire there is a place which the Inhabitants in their own Mother tongue, call Cwymp y Cawr, which is as much as to say, The Gyants fall or overthrow,) but that Name being changed, it was afterwards called, The Fall of Dover. For this most valiant Act and speciall good Services Brute gave and allotted unto Corineus, the Province or Country now called Cornwall.

Brute having destroyed that race of Gyants formerly mentioned, after a perfect discovery of the whole Island, passing by the River of Thames for his Recreation, and finding a place in all respects fit to build a City to make the Capital and prime habitation of his new atchieved Kingdome; set Workmen, of all Arts and Callings to accomplish and finish this his Design; which being brought to perfection, to renew like a Phenix out of Ashes Old Troy, he caused it to be called Troynovant (i.) new Troy which name continued till K. Lud enjoyed the Scepter and rule in Great Brittaine, upon that time (saith my Author) of M. lxviii.Fabian, fol. 10. who then caused it to be called Luds Town, and now London.

This now Glorious City, (Rome it self was not built in one day) and formerly as glori­ous a stile, being called Augusta, for we read in divers Grave and Learned Authors, that St. Augulus was Bishop of Augusta, viz. London, in England, as both Catholicks and Protestants expound it, and among them one in a Sermon before K. James, saith, Your City hath been anciently stiled Augusta: for we read both in the ancient Roman Martyrologe, St. Bede, Ʋsu­ardus, Ado Vandalbertus, Petrus de Natalibus and others that this Augulus was Bishop of Au­gusta in Brittannia, Augusta or London in Brittanny and was a Martyr; Augusta in Brittannia natalis beati Auguli Episcopi qui aetatis cursum per Martyrium explens aeterna proemia suscipere meruit: Baronius saith, he cannot tell when he suffered, Quo tempore passius sit hactenus mihi obscurum. But if we compare the name of London at that time it was called Augusta with o­ther circumstances, and with the Catalogue of the Bishops of London after the time of K. Lucius, we shall very probably find that this our worthy Saint Bishop of London is to be reckoned one of the first Bishops that were consecrated in this Kingdom, and long before our common Conversion in the dayes of K. Lucius, and so consequently of St. Peter, or his Disciple St. Ari­stobulus, no other then being here with eminent Authority to consecrate him Bishop and settle him Bishop of Augusta: London or first, this City was not called Augusta in the Reign of K. Lucius when this Nation was generally converted, but onely Londinum, London; nor never since that time or by any before but by the Romans at their first setling here in the time of Claudius; and that the general opinion was that London was called Augusta Dio. And Xiphe­linus writ, That Legio Augustalis non nata hibernabat in superiore Britannia, The Roman Legion so termed wintered in the upper Brittany near London as is thought; it was long before Dio­clesian's time when it was thus called, in the dayes of Cæsar Augustus or soon after,

A late French Author of this our Brittain in his History, seemeth to say or think, that Caer­legeon was in the time of Julius Agricola and by him named Augusta, which if it were so, it only varyeth the particular place of his Martyrdome (viz. St. Augulus) nothing detracting from him or the glory of this Nation, and that this Saint was Bishop of Augusta, (i.) London, and not Augusta Caerlegion, this reason may conclude, for that Tremonius and St. Dubritius be the first that be named Bishops of Augusta Caerlegion. Certainly Mr. Cambden observeth very well, That London was called Augusta, quia ea dignitate floruit Londinum, ut Augusta dici cae­perit and many forraign Cities very famous were called Augusta in that Respect: as Augusta Taurinorum; Aug. Trieastinorum; Aug. Veromanduor m; Aug. Valeria; Aug. Emerita; Aug. Bracchara; Aug. Acilia; Aug. Tiberii; Aug. Vindeliciorum; Aug. Cæsarea; Aug. Ve­storum; Aug. Trevirorum.

Now as concerning Bishops, not onely Augusta London, St. Anacletus, (it being ordered by the Church to constitute Primates where Pagans had their Arch-flamens,) but also other places ordered by his Tome or the Catalogues of St. Peter, St. Clement, Caerlegion. & ex Anacleto hujus in­sulae divisionem Canterbury, London, Caerlegeon, York and Alba in Scotland (by some taken to be the now St. Andrews) urbs legionum, (observe in the Latin Caerlegion (i.) urbs Legionum put in the first place) Cantuaria, Londonia, Eboraca and Alba, unde Albania Provincia, were designed Sees of such Primates, as Giraldus Cam. Sir John Price, Matthew Parker. 1 Arch. B. Pro. do testifie.

Thus much concerning this famous and renowned City of London not without cause called Augusta. Brute having finished this structure and given name to it to perpetuate the [Page 10] memory of that City of which the Poet saith, Nunc seges est ubi Troja fuit, gave also a name to the whole Iland, calling it Britania, à Bruto; so did Romulus by Rome, Alexander by Alexan­dria, and Cæsar by Casarea; and so divers other great and eminent Commanders and Po­tentates, named both whole Kingdoms, Ilands and great Cities after their own names, that in them their Memories might live for ever. Brute having accomplished the thred of life allot­ted by the fatal Sisters, and having left Rules for his Britons to live in civil Amity and or­derly Government; after a prosperous Reigne, and happy in a hopeful posterity, he bethinks himself of setling his Estate whereby to avoid all Contention and Discord betwixt his Sons, which were three, Locrine, Camber and Albanact, betwixt these three he divides his new ac­quired Kingdom; to the eldest he gives Troynovant, with all the Countries adjacent which are now called England, containing East, West and South; but (as his Father had called the whole Iland Britannia and his Subjects Britannos or Britones,) so Locrinus after his name called his Share Loegria, and at this very day the Welsh call England Lloegre; to his second Son Camber, he bequeathed that part which after the Saxons call Wales, which Nomen-clation it yet keeps; and Camber imitating his Father and Brother, named his Moiety from Camber Cambria: This partition or Cambers portion was formerly divided from that of Loegria by the River Severne in the East, and on the North side by the River Dee, and on the South by the River Vaga now called the River Wye at the Castle of Stringlinge, Fabian, fol. 11. (a name which I find not elsewhere) or rather Chepstow Castle, but of this place what Mr. Cambden speaks, take these his own words,Chepstow in Monmouthshire. Hinc fluctuoso volumine descendit in Austrum Vaga in quo Copiosa est Salmonum piscatura à Septembri ad Aprilem, (and by the way give me leave to tell you that when Sal­mons grow out of kind or season in Wye, in the River Ʋsk which runneth through Caerlegion but ten Miles distant in the same County, Salmons come in season, so that in the County of Monmouth all the whole year Salmons are fit to be presented to an Emperors Table,) and if a Wye Salmon chance to come into Ʋsk or e contra, the Fishermen are so skilfull as to tell you this is an Ʋsk Salmon, this of Wye) limes hodie inter Glocestrenses & Monumethenses, olim inter Anglos & Wallos juxta illud Nichami versiculam. ‘Inde Vagos Vaga Cambrenses, hinc respicit Anglos.’ Qui cum jam ad ostium ferè devenerit Chepstow præterfluit (id est) si e Saxonico interpreteris, Forum (viz.) Negationis locus, Brittannis Castle-went, (and is this day called Cass. Gwent) Op­pidum hoc est celebre, clivo a flumine surgenti Impositum, manibus circumvallatur magno cam­bitu quæ agros & hortos in se includunt, Castrum habet ad occiduum latus, flumini impeudens (in which Castle there is a stately Fabrick called Longius or Longinus Tower, supposed to be built by that Centurion who was present at the death of our most sacred and blessed Saviour, and out of this opinion it is hard to beat many of the Natives; but who so pleaseth to read Surius, xv. Martii, shall find, That Longinus the Centurion, one of the Jews who thirsted after his blood, (who most willingly shed it for the Redemption of Mankind,) signis & prodigiis, discussis tene­bris, veritatis splendorem, Christi ipsius gratia quem in Crucem sustulerat videre meruit; and dete­sting the impiety of the Jewes freely manifested the most glorious Resurrection of our Lord Jesus; this his so confident and publick affirming of the truth, for Crucis ei custodia ut Centu­rioni mandata; postquam autem vivificum Christi Corpus sepulturae mandatum fuit eadem sacro­sancti corporis custodia Longino commissa fuit; caused the Jews to procure from Cæsar a Sen­tence of death against him: Longinus flies from Hierusalem (leaving all his military Prefer­ments,) with some religious and devout Christians, he betakes himself into Capadocia, where he converted many by his instruction and exemplar Life and Vertues, to the faith, knowledge and adoration of the true Messias, Jesus Christ; In Capadocia he is aprehended and there ob­tains the glorious Crown of Martyrdome, his Head as a great Trophee is sent unto Pilate, who to ingratiate himself and please the perfidious and stony-hearted Jews, caused the holy relique to be placed before one of the Gates of that once holy City Hierusalem, so that Longinus could not be the Founder or Erecter of that Edifice before spoken of. But to follow Mr. Cambden a little further concerning Chepstow, he continueth his Discourse, saying; Et e rigione stetit Pri­oratus cujus parte meliore demolita, quod reliquum est, in Ecclesiam parochialem convertitur, Pons vero quo Vaga jungitur, sublicius est & admodum excelsus, quia accedente aestu in magnam altitu­dinem fli vius exsurgit: hujus Domini fuerunt e Clarensium familia nobiles, a proximo castro Strigul quod incoluerunt Striguliae & Pembrochiae comites dicti, quorum ultimus Richardus vir infra­cto animo, & projectissimis brachiis StrongBow cognominatus quod arcu intentissimo uteretur & nihil levi brachio ageret, &c. This place after by a Daughter and Heir came to the Bigots, and now the Earls of Worcester (or at least before the late Wars) enjoyed both Town and Castle, the eldest Son of that Family being stiled Lord Herbert of Chepstow.

To Albanact the third Son of Brutus was given the third part of great Britain, now called Scotland, which as it is now is called the second Kingdom of Great Britain, and the North part of this Iland hath on the East the German Ocean, on the North the Orkneys and Deucalidon Sea, the West affronted by Ireland, on the South it hath the River Tweed, the Cheviot Hills and the adjacent Tract, reaching to the Sulway Sands whereby it is separated from England.

This Kingdome is spacious and from the South borders spreadeth it self wide into the East and West, till again it contracts it self narrower into the Northern Promontories, furnished with all things befitting a famous Kingdom, both for Air, Soil, Rivers, Wood, Mountains, Fish, [Page 11] Fowl, Cattle and Corn, so plenteous that it supplieth these with other Countries in their want; Their Nobility and Gentry are very studious of learning and all civil knowledge, for which end they not only frequent the three Universities of their own Kingdom (St. Andrews, Glasco, and Edenborough, the Nurseries of their Muses, but also much addict themselves to travel into Forraign Countries, especially France; whose King hath a Guard of Scots, the double Treshure florie in the Arms of the Kingdome, makes manifest the French Interest in former time in that Nation. If it is desired to know more of Scotland, read their own Authors; it is enough for me to say that Albanack from his own name called it Albania. This Country is divided from Loegria or England, as saith Venreable Bede, by two arms of the Sea, but they meet not: The East arm of which beginneth about two Miles from the Minster of Eburcuring in the West side of Penulton, The West arm had some time a strong City named Alclino, which in the Brittish Tongue was called Clincston and stood upon the River Clint.

Thus Brute having divided Britain into three Parts, after he had ruled twenty two or four years after most Concordance of Writers, he died and was interred in Troynovant commonly called London or Luds Town.

Locrinus second King of Brittain.

LOcrinus the first and eldest Son of the late deceased Brutus, takes possession of his Kingdom of Loegria, now England, in the year from the Creation of the World, four thousand fourscore and seven. This Kingdome as it was the largest, so was it the most beautifull, rich and commodious, both in respect of Navigable Rivers, Ports and Havens; as also fruitfulness of the Soils, and abundance of stately Woods and Groves, and according to the relation and assertion of Policronica and Guido de Collumna, it stretched forth and extended it self as far as to the River Humber, as now it is called, (a name when Locrinus entered into Soveraignty unknown.)

Locrinus thus invested in his Principality, (as much as could be in a Land not formerly, or at least by savage People or Gyants inhabited) made ready to his hand; His Brother with such Regiments as were allotted to him to Colonize and people his Part, being retired into his own Quarters or Patrimony, whilst by his own Industry and Advice of such as he made use of in a matter of so great importance, was endeavouring to frame a modell how to Go­vern and Uphold this his new Plantation, an unexpected Enemy appears; Humber with a Navy arrives, and having with him a sufficient Army of war-like Huns, sets upon Albanact, whose thoughts were more busied how to settle his People and frame his Commonwealth, then to oppose an Enemy; distressed Albanact is put to his shifts, whilst the Scythian King, for so most ancient Writers onely call him, takes occasion by the Foretop, and making use of his opportunity fiercely assaults the Albanian Prince, and with bloody slaughter, and the death of Albanact, makes way for himself and Followers to intrude into his Possessions, who as yet had scarce time to call them his own.

Fame whose vigilant eyes never sleep, with an exasperating Trumpet quickly blowes this unfortunate Newes into the Eares of Locrinus; he to revenge the Dishonour done and the Death of his Brother, and also to enjoy that which now by right was fallen unto him; but above all to remove so dangerous and powerful a Neighbour, or rather Enemy, summons all his Nobles, and gathers together all the force he possibly could make; and with a mind full of Revenge, Resolution, and Courage Advanceth, and with speedy Marches setteth forwards to Fight the Scythian before he take to Deep root in Albania. Camber is not slow to second this action as a thing which he conceives deeply to concern himself; and therefore unites his Forces with his Brothers that thereby the Victory may be more certaine, and the losse lesse considerable. Desire quickens actions, and resolute souls seem rather to flye then walk; The Armies meet, the Brittains inflamed with revenge for the Death of Albanact, who was their fellow Souldier and Traveller, Son of their Deceased King, brother to the present, breath nothing but Death and Confusion. The Scythian with like Valour and Courage, thinks no danger too great to make good by the sword what he already purchast and gotten by the same. Terrible is the conflict on both sides, but fortune after long debate, with victory Crowns the Brittaines, the Scythians are put to Flight, and flying are so hotly pursued, that many are drowned and the King himself, (and as the Poet saith of Icarus, Icarus Icarias, nomine fecit aquas) put to such a straite that he was Drowned in that Famous River which from his name hath ever since been called Humber, of which Mr. Cambden saith, Est certe totius Britanniae aestuarium amplissi­mum & piscosissimum the largest and most full of Fish throughout Britannie. Ex aestuantis oce­ani accessibus adauctum, & iisdem retro remeantibus, suas illiusque aquas vehementissime vasto cum murmure non sine magno navigantium periculo agit; unde Nichanus.

And another Poet much to the same purpose saith,

Mr. Cambden in his Britannia setteth down these two Distichons, but speaks not a word of the cause, or the battel; and the reason is easie to be imagined, for should he expresse the death of Albanack and the just revenge of Locrine and Camber in behalf of their brother, he must needs grant Brute to be Progenitor of the Britains, and consequently of the Welsh, a Na­tion which are very little beholding unto him.

Locrinus is now a Conqueror, no fear of further supplies to affront him, the day is absolutely his own; but unfortunate Prince, what a proud Foe clad in steel and with a courage equalizing that of Mars could not effect, is done by an Amorous Glance of a Female Creature; Estrild Humbers Daughter casts forth such piercing darts from her Charming Eyes, that maugre both steel and coat of Male, Locrine is wounded to the Heart; he sighs, complains, beggs com­passion from her who is his Captive; and in conclusion becoms her slave, she his Mistress, in these bewitching Fetters he reposeth his happiness, her enriching Arms he deemes the Trophees of his Victories; but fond-man Gwendolena thy abused Lady disgests not a Corrival, shee will make thee know quidfoemina possit irata; she complains to her Father, he acquaints his deerest Friends, and all enter into an Association to be revenged; Locrinus awakes out of his effe­minate dalliances, Armes himself to oppose the storme at hand and beat back the threatned danger; but too late, his Enemies are too powerful, the abused Gwendolena too well befriended, and leaves justice not to be controuled; and thus Locrinus a Conqueror after he Reigned by account of most Authors Twenty Years, through his intemperate lust and wanton affecti­on, was deprived at one time both of Life and Kingdom, leaving his body to be interred in Treynovant.

Gwendolena Queen Regent of Brittain.

LOcrinus for his unjust and unlawful Love being thus justly punished, the States and Coun­sellors of the Kingdom elect and chuse Gwendolena the abused and injured Queen during the Nonage and Minority of her Son, to fit at the Helm and manage the Affairs of the King­dome; this Lady was daughter to Corinaeus, who joyned his navy and came along with Brute, and he who Encountered with Gogwagog on the Hills by Dover as some write, others say neer Plimmouth in Devon-shire, which place this day is called the HAW, a hill betwixt the Town and the Sea, on whose brow is a spacious and pleasant down, yeilding a delightful prospect, in which is a Sea mark called the Compasse to direct and guide Navigators passing that way, of this conflict betwixt Corineus and Gogmagog. Thus writeth a certain Poet,

Gwendolena to the eternal memory and glory of her Name and Sex governed this Iland for the space of Fourteen years, and then her Son coming to maturity and fit age to undertake so great a burden, with the general applause and acclamations of all, resigned her Trust and Authority to Madan.

Madan Son to Locrine and Gwendolena Succeeds in the KINGDOME.

MAdan Son to Locrine and Gwendolena and Grandchild to Brute, being now past his mi­nority, his Mother joyfully resignes her Regency, and is with generall applause and acclamations seated in his Throne and with all solemnity acknowledged King, about the year from the worlds Creation, 4122. Authors write very sparingly of the Acts of this King; only all agree that during the time of his Reign which continued for the space of Forty years (a time too long for any Tyrant) he ruled insolently with Oppression and Tyranny; Vindex no­centes sequitur a tergo Deus; for being at his sports of Hunting, he was slain and torn to pieces by Wolves and other savage Beasts, leaving two Sons, Mempricius and Manlius.

Jac bus Gor­donus Scotus Fol 9.This King being Grandchild to Brute the Trojan, I think it not amiss to give my Reader some satisfaction concerning Old Troy; Si 300 annis stetit Regnum Trojanum, caepisse oportet ante 4 annos in Dardano 1. Rege 2520. sed Dardani regnum rectius sub finem Ducatus Moysis & ab hoc anno 2524. exortum putatur; Nam a Dardano ad Ilii excidium sunt anni 296. Conti­git igitur Ilii casus anno nostro 2820. sic enim peritiores numerant hos reges. Dardanus regnavit annis 65. Erichtanus 46. Tros 40. Ilus 49. Laomedon 44. Priamus 52. Ex quibus colliguntur anni illi 296. hunc Regum Catologum ad suas neomenias reducit Scaliger. lib. 2. Can. sub finem & nostris annis probe consentit.

As for the Destruction of Troy, what Homer the Greek, and Virgil the Prince of Latine Poets have written, I pass by, as being Poetical fictions, each striving to advance the glory of his own Nation; But Gordon in the same Folio, tells us, Circæ hæc tempora, præsertini sub Ducatu Judicis Aod, ponitur Tros Dardaniae Rex tertius, quem sequuti sunt alii, Hic Tros (à quo Trojani) belium intulit Tantalo regi Phrygiæ ob raptum Ganymedem; and for this, Gor­don cites Eusebius 99. cap. 8. and so proceeds, Juxta regum Catologum anno 2524. notatum sequitur hunc annum 5. quo regnavit Tros, quod recte consentet tum cum Ilii excidio, tum cum chronologia inter hunc Troem & Tantalum; ac deni (que) cum anno quo Pelopidae Mycenis soli reg­naverunt, pulsis Heraclidis: à Trois autem morte us (que) ad Atreum Tantali ex Penelope nepotem vix sunt anni 71. juxta regum annos notatos; Dardania quidem anno Orbis 2524. & Mycaena­rum 99. c. 8. Consurgunt quo (que) anni tantum 20. ab obitu Trois us (que) ad mortem Acrisii, cæsi à Perseo nepote quando cæpit Mycenarum regnum: nec ab his alienus est Tatianus qui Pelopei è Phrygia exitum refert ad Acrisii tempora.

MEMPRICIƲS.

MEmpricius the Eldest Son of Madan, his Father being dead, by right of Inheritance was Crowned with the Royal Diadem of Brittaine about the Year of the worlds Creation 4142. but long he enjoyed not his Soveraignty without Troubles and Opposition; for Man­lius his younger brother, a man of an Ambitious spirit, Haughty and aspiring to Royal dignity, would not content himself with any Titles of Honour under the degree of a King; and there­fore to bring this his Designe to his wisht for Period, he resolves either to subdue or to expell his brother: and to this purpose he insinuates himself into the bosomes of the Nobles, casts As­persions upon his brother, Detracts and Malignes all his Actions; and so farre prevailes, that Rebellion is rais'd, and an unnatural Warre taken in hand, which was eagerly prosecuted on each part, and continued a long time; at length both Nobles and Commons finding Bellum minime bellum, and perceiving these intestine broyles, to wast their Country and threaten an utter Ruine, incline to peace; no fitter way can be thought upon then an attonement and re­conciliation between the brothers; and therefore a day of meeting is appointed, and great hopes conceived of a final peace and Concord; but Mempricius having now got his brother under the fair pretence of becoming friends into his power, to avoid all Jealousies and Fears of future deceit and Treachery, becomes a Traytor himselfe, and by Treason caused his own brother to be slain, making that saying of the Poet good, Rara est concordia fratrunt. This perfidious and tragical scene performed, Mempricius, (his brother Manlius being taken away) enjoyes as he conceives a happy peace; this peace makes him forgetful both of his person and Honour, and now fearing nothing he contemns even the Deity, and precipitates not only himself but his subjects also into Sloth, Idlenesse, and Treachery; and when the Gate is set open, and free scope given to sin, though nemo repente fit pessimus, yet those who forsake Grace and Abandon themselves over to unlawful lusts and pleasures, fall from one sin to another till they arrive at last at the very Jawes of Hell: so fares it with Mempricius, his Wife or Wives give him not content, the fairest and choicest beauties must be his Concubines, and these as many as his own wandering fancy shall think fit, in these horrid sins he wallowes with all sen­suality. I know some of Epicurus his Scholars or rather Atheists will excuse Mempricius for this his Platonick as it is now commonly stiled, love, and tell you that whatsoever is natural is no sin, and out of this deduce a most damnable consequence or conclusion, which chast ears abhor to hear: but this natural act as it is called, [...]fied not Mempricius, he falls to that which is most unnatural, the sin of Sodomy, with wild and brutish Creatures, and by this means becomes hateful both to God and Man, but not without just punishment from Heaven: for intending to disport hemself in hunting becomes a prey to wild beasts, and by them is torn to pieces, after he had enjoyed the Kingdome twenty years, leaving to succeed him in his Throne, a son by his lawful wife called Ebrank. Mempricius his Reign is observed by those who write of him to have been Tyrannical. Plutarch though a Panim saith,De sera numi­nis vindicta. that God doth serve himself of wicked Tyrants as of Hangmen to execute his justice upon others, no lesse or more wicked then they; and that as poysons are sometimes medicinable, and necessary to purge sad humors and cure diseases; even so Tyrants are necessary to purge the sins and cure [Page 14] the vices of wicked Subjects, To which end (saith he) Phalaris the Tyrant was ordained by Almighty God to govern the Agrigentins, and Marius the Romans. As for the brutish sin of Mempricius, holy Gildas brings it in, as one amongst the rest, for which God so severely puni­shed the Britains; De excidio Britanniae. and touching briefly the lives of some of the Kings and Princes that were in his time, as of Constantius, Aurelius, Conanus, Vortiporius, Cuneglasus and Maglocus, taxing them with Tyranny, perjury, sacrilegious murders and parricides, committed even before the holy Altars, &c. yea, and two of them of Sodomy; for which and other general corruptions and wickedness Gildas threatneth or rather prophesyeth the utter ruine and destruction which was to follow; which also Geffrey of Monmouth acknowledgeth saying, that King Cadwallader the last of the Race of the Britains used these words as he fled by the Sea into France with the reliques of the Brittish Nation, Vae nobis peccatoribus ob immania scaelera nostra, &c. And truly so great is the sin of Lust, especially in Kings and great Dukes and other Commanders in the sight of God (how little soever in these our sinful times we make of it) that whole Kingdomes for it have been destroyed. The Kingdom of Spain when it had flourished as well in Reli­gion as Power from the time of King Richard (the first Catholick King thereof) for the space of 120 years, the wicked King Vitiza being a man given over to all lust and carnality infected and corrupted all Spain, not onely with the bad example of his one dissolute life (having ma­ny Wives at once besides Concubines) but also with abominable lawes whereby he gave leave to all sorts of men to have as many Wives and Concubines as they listed; yea and forced Priests and such as lived Chast to Marry, by which means all Spain became within a while to be no better then a common stew or brodel: and although Almighty God according to his accustomed manner expected their conversion and amendment all the time of his Reign, and layed only the penalty thereof upon him, whom he deprived both of his Crown and of his Eye-sight by the means of Roderick who succeeded him in the Kingdome; yet when the said Roderick followed his steeps as well in his vicious life as in the maintenance of his abominable Laws; it pleased God of his justice to permit him to give the occasion both of his own ruine as also of the overthrow of all Spain by the sin of the flesh wherewith the whole Kingdome was, as it were, overflowed.

For as whereas King Roderick had sent a Kinsman of his own called Count Julian Ambassa­dor into Africk, and in the mean time Ravished his Daughter, or (as some write) his Wife; the Count understanding it at his return, was so incensed therewith against the King, that for revenge thereof he practised with the Moores to bring them into Spain, who with his assistance Conquered it so speedily, and with such destruction of the people, that the punishment of God was most evident therein: for having first overthrown King Roderick (whose body could never after the battel be found) they subdued almost all Spain in Eight months or in Fourteen as some say, and slew 700000. of all sorts of people, besides great numbers of Captives which they sent prisoners into Barbary: and from that time forwards they remained in the possession of that Kingdome or in some great part thereof for the space of 700 years.

This example of the Conquest and subversion of Spain for the sins of the flesh, was so famous and so much observed by Godly and Wise men, at the same time when it hapned that St. Boni­facius a Countryman of ours and Bishop of Mentz in Cermany, who lived in the same age and converted the Saxons and Frisons from Paganisme to the Christian Faith, proposed it to one called Etholbud King of the Mercians to withdraw him from his dissolute life, and tells him that in old Saxony where there was no Christianity, there if either Maid or Wife did commit Adultery or Fornication, she was first strangled and after burnt: and he that corrupted her, Hanged over her, or else she was stripped naked to the middle and whipped by chast Matrons from Town to Town, and prickt with sharp Knives till shee dyed therewith.

EBRANCK.

EBranck, after the unfortunate death of his Father, by the general consent and Approba­tion of both Nobles and Commons, is invested in the Regal Dignity Anno mundi Creati­onis, Policronica Gaufride and others. 4182. Authors affirm, that he had a thing, in those times not unusual, one and twenty wives; by whom he was enriched with a plentifull and numerous off-spring, to wit, twenty Sons, and thirty daughters, whereof the most fair and beautifull was named Guales, or Gua­lea; these daughters (intending to uphold the Trojan blood) he sent to Alba Silvius, the e­leventh King of Italy, or seventh of the Latines, there to be espoused unto Trojans: This E­branck, was a comely man, Majestical, and well proportioned; of incomparable valour, and as desirous of Martial Attempts, as his Progenitor Brutus; and therefore providing all War­like Engines and Furniture correspondent to his designs, he attempts to invade France, which is testified by Jacobus Bergomas in the sixth of his Chronicles, and Jacobus Lessabeus in the de­scription of Henalt affirmeth the same, and that he was driven back by Brunchildis Lord of Henalt, with some loss of his men: Yet Fabian affirmeth this Voyage to have been prosperous and successfull; insomuch that what by his own fancies, judgement and policie, being assist­ed by the Trojan-Latines, or Latine-Trojans, where he had espoused his daughter, he over­ran and conquered a great part of Germany. Some Authors ascribe this Conquest and good fortune to Assaracus the second Son of Ebranck, with the rest of the younger brothers, and [Page 15] esteem it no great service or enterprise of moment; for that Europe was then scarce peopled and Colonized, unless towards the Sea Coasts, as Dalmatia, Italy, and the coasts of France: of these Brethren, had Germany the name, à Germanis fratribus, who subdued it.

Ebrank thus fortunate either in his own undertakings, or in these of his children, having setled his affairs to his hearts desire, begins to take into consideration, the beautifying and strengthning Britannia; and as Brutus about an hundred and fourty years (if he built it in the second year of his Reign) before to his eternal glory had built Troynovant, Ebranck, with no less ambition to continue and perpetuate his name and memory, layeth the foundation of a glorious City, calling it, being fully finished, after his own nomenclation Caer Ebrank, which now we call York.

A late learned Author saith, it is a common received opinion among our Antiquaries,Mr. Brough. fol. 280. 2. that Ebrancus son to Mempricius, a hundred years after the building of London (or thereabouts) builded the City of York, calling it then Kair Baruch, as both Brittains and Saxons ancient and modern agree; where as Harding and Stow, with others, affirm he seated an Arch-Flamen.

In the twentieth year of his Reign (saith Mr. Stow) he built Kaer Ebrank by the Saxons cal­led Evorwick, now corruptly York, wherein he builded a Temple to Diana, and set there an Arch-Flamen, and was there buried, when he had reigned sixty years. Thus ancient these our Historians make Arch-Flamens in Brittain, as I have related their very words; not that I think the name and word Arch-Flamen, but only their Office and Calling among the Gentiles to have been so ancient, as the time assigned to our Brutus, but of younger continu­ance and age by divers hundreds of years; the word Flamen, not known till the time of Nu­ma Pompilius, and taken from a kind of Attire worn upon their heads upon Festival days, yet the Office of Flamen and Arch-Flamen, Pontifex and Summus Pontifex was always the same among the Pagans.

And this is so evident a Truth in Histories, that the Bishop himself, which before with one only opposed against Arch-flamens, freely confesseth that at this time Arch-flamens, Bishops, were placed in these three Cities in Brittain, and in them only,Mr. Broughton, fol. 281. 3. 2. Age. Godwin. Cat. of Bish. in Lond. Edit. Anno 1615. where so many (saith my Au­thor) have testified, and shall testifie hereafter further, these Arch-flamens were resident. Thus he writeth. At what time Christian Religion was first publickly received in this Island, there were established in the same 28. Sees, or Cathedral Churches (which were the Seats of Arch-fla­mens and Flamens, as shall be shewed hereafter with their names) whereof three were Arch­bishopricks, York whose Province was Scotland, and the North of England, &c. Another Author saith, Eboracensi vero (scilicet Archiepiscopo) tota terra Northumbrina ab arcui Humbri fluminis cum tota Albania: To him of York all Northumberland from Humber, with all Albania (i. e.) Scotland, which is confirmed by these words, Eboracensi Deira & Albania, under York, Deira and Albania.

Giraldus Cambrensis according to the Tome or Book of St. Anacletus, M. B. fol. 167. which divided this I­sland into five Provinces, relateth, as divers modern and others in this manner;Giral. Com. l. de sedis Mene vensis digni­tate. Matthew Parker, lib. Antiq. Brit. p. 24. T. Pris. defen. Histo. Brit. p. 73. 74. To. Leland Indice Brit. aut. v. Brit. Beat. Renanus &c. ibidem. as he saith he found it then both in Papal and Imperial Acts and Constitutions, Juxta Provinciarum nu­merum quas tempore gentilitatis habuerit Insula, quinque Metropoles Juxta Tomum enim Ana­cleti Episcopi Romani, sicut in Pontificalibus Romanorum gestis, & Imperialibus continetur di­rectum Galliarum Episcopis; juxta statum Gentilium ante Christi adventum Britannia habuit pro­vincias numero quinque Britanniam primam, Britanniam secundam, Flaviam, Maximiam, Va­lentiam. Prima dicta est occidentalis Pars Insulae, Britannia secunda Cantia, Tertia Flavia, quæ & Mercia; Quarta Maximia id est Eboraca. Quinta valentîa scilicet Albania quæ nunc abusive Scotia dicitur. According to the number of Provinces, which it had in the time of the Pagans, the Island of Britany hath five Metropolitan Cities; for according to the Tome of Anacletus Bi­shop of Rome, as it is contained in the Decrees of the Popes of Rome, and Emperors, directed to the Bishops of France, according to the State of the Gentiles, before the coming of Christ, Brittain had five Provinces, Brittain the first, Brittain the second, Flavia, Maximia, Valentia; the first was the West part of the Island, the second Kent, the third Flavia, called also Mercia, the fourth Maximia, that is to say York; the fifth Valentia; Albania, now corruptly, called Scotland: The Metropolitan City of the first Brittain was Caerlegeon: The Metropolitan of [Page 16] the second Dorobernia, now Canterbury: In the third London; in the fourth York; and in the fifth, Alba taken to be the City now named St. Andrews. Thus far Giraldus of St. Anacletus Tome, extant in his time, as he hath witnessed:

Caerlegion the first Metropo­lis, of the five in this Isle. York is now esteemed the second City of England by some (though others think Norwich, and not a few Bristoll) both for fame and greatness; a pleasant large and stately place, well fortified and beautifully adorned, as well with private as publick Edifices, and rich and po­pulous withall; seated on the river Ouse, which cutteth it as it were in twain, both parts be­ing joyned together with a fair stone bridge, consisting of high and mighty arches. A City of great fame in the Roman times, and of as eminent reputation in all ages since, and in the several turns and changes which have befallen this Kingdom under the Saxons, Danes, and Normans hath still preserved its ancient Custom; adorned it was with an Archiepiscopal See in the time of the Brittains, nor stooped it lower when the Saxons received the Faith: Ri­chard the second laying to it a little Territory on the west side thereof, made it a County of it self, in which the Archbishops of York did enjoy the rights of Palatines: and for a further lustre to it, Hen. 8. appointed there a Councel for the Government of the Northern parts, consisting of a Lord President, certain Councellors, a Secretary, and other Officers: And yet in none of these hath York been more fortunate, then that it hath adorned so many Princes of the Imperial Line of Germany, and blood Royal of England.

The Line of YORK.

With the Title and Honour, Stile, and attribute of Otho of Bavaria, Earl of York. Gules two Lions Passant Gardant, Or.

• Edmund of Langley, fifth Son to King Edward 3. Earl of Camb. and D. of York.
• Edw. Plantagenet Son of Edmund of Langley, Earl of Rutland, and D. of York.
• Richard Plantagenet, Nephew of Edmund of Langley, by his Son Richard, Earl of Cam­bridge, D. of York.
• Richard of Shrewsbury second Son to King Edw. 4. D. of York.
• Henry 2. Son to King Hen. 7. D. of York.
• Charles 2. Son to King James D. of York.
• James 2. Son of King Charles, D. of York.

Let us return again to our valiant and fortunate King Ebranck, who having happily and with great Successe finished his Forrain Wars, and living in peace, the mother of plenty, at home, lends all his cares and endeavours, both to beautifie and strengthen Brittania, as we may partly see in what is already declared of York: which work finished, he proceeded to a second Erection; and laid the foundation of Alcuid or Alcluid in Albania, now Scotland, which Hector Boetius, M. B. f. 336. 6. the Scotch Historian, in honour of his Country, imagines to be Dunbrit­ta n: but another Author, to whom I give more credit, saith: And the old Flamens City Alcluid or Alclucht, was also founded by the same King (viz. Ebranck) of Brittain. There is a question where this City for certain was, but all agree, near the wall of division, and so the priviledges and power thereof must probably extend on both sides of that division. The City Caerlile or Lugugablia, was a place of this prerogative, builded by Leil, the seventh in number of the Brittish Kings; and out of doubt had power and prerogative in both sides of the wall, both in Leogria and Albania, having as our Antiquaries say, and experience yet proveth, in it, part of that famous Wall of Separation, habet hæc urbs aliquam partem illius muri famosi qui transcindit Northumbriam, Ranulphus Higedon, and others, placeth an old [Page 17] City Ʋrbs Beble, Ʋrbs Regia, a Regal City upon the River of Twyde, super ripam Twydi, which divideth England and Scotland; and if it was a Flamen or Bishops See, as the ancient glory of it perswadeth to think, the jurisdiction of it must needs extend into Albania.

The third notable place which this Ebranck founded was the Castle of Maidens, which stand­eth at the one end of the City of Edenbrough, a Castle by the Scots thought so impregnable that the grand Seignior himself with all his numerous Armies could not be able to surprize it, but the valour and courage of the English in these late wars maugre all their Scotch juglings, and sanctity, made them know the contrary, who now have it in their possession as a curb to check that—Nation. This Castle of Maidens or rather Edenborough it self was also an ancient Flamins City and Residence, and after Converted into an Episcopall See.

Ebrancus not yet content with such Edifices as he had already erected layeth a fourth Foun­dation, and called it Bamburgh, but whether this was the place which we now call Bambury, Burgh, and Bury in their several Languages signifying the same thing I will not decide: if it were, Mr. Cambden saith, Hic Banburie quondam Bananbyniz primum perfundit ad quod Kinricus visisaxo Britannos pro aris & focis fortiter Dimicantes memorabili prælio olim fudit; & superiori saeculo Ricardus Nevill comes Warwicensis dum à Lancastrensibus partibus staret Ebo­racenses profligavit, ut statim etiam ipsum Edwardum 4. consilii innopem caeperit & abduxerit: Nunc autem conficiendo Caseum notissimum. Here Kinricus the Visisaxon in a most memorable battle overthrew the Brittains most valiantly fighting for their lives, liberties and Religion; and in later times, Richard Nevill Earl of Warwick being for the Lancastrian party, so vanquished King Edward the Fourth that ignorant which way to turn himself, he took him and carried him away; the place is now famous for excellent Cheese, &c.

To end his dayes with famous glory, this heroick King laid the Foundation of that long conti­nued and learned University now called Oxford, which was first known by the name of Caer Mennix, and after Bellesitum a name most fit for so pleasant a place, and after Caer Bossa Rhy­dohen, in conclusion Oxenford of a certain. Ford called Isis, in English Ouse, Howes fol. 9. and so instead of Ouseford, Oxenford or Oxford, upon which word a Student there, to prefer his own Univer­sity before Cambridge for Antiquity, Quibles thus; the Ox went over the Ford and then Camebridge: Others call it Caer Mennip. Galfridus calls it Caer pen huelgoit, Leland from the Anti­quities of Dover, writeth that it was a City before the time of K. Arviragus that builded the Castle adjoyning, and nameth it a most renowned city, and that King Lucius builded a Church in the said Castle, Referunt & idem Annales Lucium regem Britannorum, &c. Whosoever desireth a further and more large satisfaction concerning the erecting of the several Colledges Churches. Monasteries, Halls and Schools, let him peruse Mr. Cambden in Oxfordshire.

Ebranck after he had reigned Forty years and builded so many goodly Cities, departed out of this life, whose Corps were buried or burned, at York his Obsequies being celebrated with great solemnity, and left to succeed him in his Kingdome his Son Brutus the second sirna­med. Green shileld.

BRƲTE GREEN-SHIELD.

BRute the Second, eldest Son of Evranck, succeeded in the Kingdome, and for that his Father had received a repulse as some write at the hand of Brunchildis Lord of Henalt, Ha­nolt or Hannonia which lyeth on the East of Flanders, 60 miles long and 48 broad, containing 950 Villages and 24 Towns besides Castles. The chief are Banais supposed to stand in the same place where the ancient Belgium was built, Mons, Condè Valencennes, &c. he in revenge thereof Invaded Henalt with a great Army in the Fens and Marsh land at the mouth of the River Scaldis (in old time called Stadus) and encamped himself upon the River Hania where between Brutus and Brunchildis was fought a fierce and bloody battel in that place, which to this day is called Estambruges of the station and Camp of Brutus, as Jacobus Lessabeus writeth in his description of Henalt, This Brute of his lusty courage, was sirnamed Greenshield he reign'd twelve years and was buried at Caer Ebranck or York.

LEIL.

LEillus, or Leill Son of Brute the second commonly called Green-shield, began his Reign over the Kingdome of Great Brittaine in the year of the worlds Creation Four thousand two Hundred fifty four, he was a just man and one who highly esteemed Justice and Dignity, and imitating the worthiest of his Predecessors in erecting ornaments for his Kingdome; he laid the foundation and in time fully built the City of Carliele. The Romans and Brittains had several appellations for this place, sometimes calling it Lugu-vallum, and Lugu-ballium, and some­times Lugu-baliam, and Caerliel. The Saxons after they had possest themselves of this Island called it Luell as St. Bede affirmeth, Ptolomeus as some seem to affirm called it Leucopibiam and Nennius caer Lualid; the old Prophesies of the Brittains, which Mr. Cambden calls ridicula [Page 18] Britannorum vaticinia, indeed he never was Friend to the Brittains and Welsh.) Ʋrbem Duballi at this day well known it is by the name of Caerlile, and by the Latines, Caeliolum, Lugum or Lucum, priscis Celtis, who spake the same language with the Brittains, as Mr. Cambden imagineth and but imagineth; Pomponius Mela tells us it signified a Tower or Fortification, and Caerlile or Lugu vallum is as much as to say Turris or munimentum ad vallum; certain it is that this City flourished and was in high esteem with the Romans as may appear by several Monuments of great Antiquity which have been digged up and found there, and although it suffered great detriment and ruine by the irruptions and inroades of the barbarous Picts and Scots, yet it ever retained the stile and dignity of a City. In processe of time, to wit, in the 619 year of the Incarnation of our Lord and Saviour Christ Jesus, Egfridus King of the Northumbers gave it to St. Cuthbert, these are the words of the Donation, Donavi etiam civitatem quæ vocatur Caerlile Luguballia & in circuitu ejus xv.Mr. Camb. in Cumberland. milliaria, at which time the walls were firme and whole: venerable Bede affirmeth, Cuthbertum duxerunt cives ut maenia videret fontem (que) in ea quendam Romanorum opere extructum, The Citizens led Cuthbert to behold the walls and view a Fountaine which the Romans formerly had made; who as saith the Register or book of Durham, congregationem sanctimonielium & Abbatissam ordinavit scholas (que) ibi constituit, who in­stituted there a Cloyster of Religious Virgins or Nuns, and also Schooles; but the fury of the Danes afterwards so demolished and destroyed this City that for the space of near upon two hundred years it lay buried in its own ashes. William of Malmesbury saith, That in this City Visum erat triclinium Romanum ex lapidibus fornacibus concameratum quod nulla unquam tem­pestatum injuria aut ignium flamma labefactare potuit, in cujus fronte scriptum erat Marii VICTORIA, some suppose this Marius was that gallant Arviragus the Brittain, of whom we shall have occasion to speak much hereafter. William commonly called Rufus reedified this so long buried Caerlile, and furnished it with stately Buildings, strengthing it with a Princely Castle, though some think that Richard 3. by reason of his Arms found there in the building, erected it. These are Mr. Cambden's words, Ad occidentem est castrum satis magno ambitu quod Regem, Ric. 3. ex insignibus vendicat: The same Author further saith, that Caerlile est Ʋrbs vetustissima à Septentrione Itunae, (i.) Eden, alveo, ab Ortu Peterillo (i.) Peterell, ab occasu Cauda (i.) Cauda & præter hæc defendentis naturae munimentis firmis maenibus è saxo, Castello, & Cita­della quam vocant armata: And a little after, Ad ortum vero Citadella quam propugnaculis variis firmo opere posuit Hen. 8. defenditur. Thus much for the honour of our Brittish King Leill the Founder of this ancient and strong City, a Bulwark against the Scots, of which I could say more, but it may be it would be out of season; and therefore I will onely tell you that Caerlile hath given the honour of Earl onely to two Families.

• 1. To Andrew de Harcla, who did bear for his Arms, argent a cross gules, upon the canton point a Mertlet sable; but for proving a Traytor, his Armes reversed, his Spurs hackt from his heels, and all his Honours being taken from him, he was Drawn, Hanged, and, Quartered.
• The second, James Hay Viscount Doncaster, Created E. of Caerlile, 18 Jac. Sept. 17. James Hay, &c. Argent 3 escoucheons Gules.

King Leill also repaired Chester, which Ptolomy calls DEVNANA, Antoninus, DENAM from the River Dena or Dina. The first Inhabitants of this Isle, the ancient Brittains, called it Caerlegion, Caerleon Vaur, Caerleon or Dufyr Dwy; and Caer as who would say the City, or the only City in way of eminency and superiority. The Saxons called it Leze acentep, names which without all doubt were taken from the Legion which was called Victrix, sent into these remote parts, the Pretorian and Consular Legats standing in fear of it: Some, as Mr. Hen. Bradshaw for one, will bring and deduce the Name from a terrible Gyant long before Brute, and to make their invention good, they call this Gyant Leon Vaur; but being before Brute how he came by this Brittish name, my brains cannot find, and therefore as a fictitious ima­gination and mere Chymera I leave it: but that the xx. Legion called Victrex resided in this City, it is most apparent by the Coyns oft found there: the one side having this Inscription, Col. DINANA LEG. XX. Victrix: but now there remains very few Marks and Signes of the Roman magnificence and state, unlesse some small parcels of checker or Mosaick, work, which are usually found where the Romans formerly inhabited. Hear what Ranulphus once a Monk of this City saith concerning these Antiquities, these are his words, Viae sunt hic subter­raneae lapideo opere mirabiliter testudineatae, triclinia concamerata, Insculpti lapides prægrandes antiquorum nomina præferentes; hic & numismata Julii Cæsaris aliorum (que) illustrium inscriptione insiguita quando (que) sunt effossa; Here are passages under ground with stone-work most wonde­rously vaulted over, banquetting rooms with arched roofs; vast stones inscribed with the names of ancient Romans; Coyns stamped with the Inscription of Julius Cæsar and other fa­mous Commanders. Rogerus Cestrensis in Policratico saith, Intuenti fundamenta lapidum in viis, ingenio videtur potius Romano sive Gyganteo labore quam Britannico sudore sundata, Whosoever shall view the foundations and consider the vast proportion and huge bulk of the stones, shall judge the work rather finished by the toyl and labour of Gyants or the ingenious Roman industry, then by the sweat of any Brittish brow: the City is quadrate, the Walls containing four Miles in compasse; the building beautiful and neat, the prime Streets so deckt [Page 19] with Galleries, that in rainy dayes passengers walk dry; the Castle is of late erection: this City hath been defaced several times, once by Egfride King of the Northumbers, after by the Danes; often repaired by Adelfleda Lady and Queen of the Mercians. Over the River Dena or Dee a fair stone-bridge leadeth, built upon eight Arches, at either end whereof is a Gate from whence in a long quadran-wise the Walls do encompasse the City, high and strong built, with four fair Gates opening unto the four winds, besides, three Posterns with four Watch-towers, extending in compasse 1940 paces.

On the South side is mounted a strong and stately Castle, on the North side is the Minster first built by Earl Lerfrick to the honour of St. Werburga the Virgin, and after most sumptu­ously repaired by Hugh the first Earl of Chester of the Normans; Now the Cathedral of the Bishops See. Herein lyeth interred (as report doth relate) the body of Henry the 4. Emperor of Almain, who leaving his Imperial estate, led lastly an Hermits life.

Who built this stately and ancient City appeareth not, but in that it was repaired by the Brittish Leill, to him the glory must needs belong; to the Romans thanks belong for its first name, or at least to the twentieth Legion called Victrix; a Legion of the Romans (as Vige­tius reporteth) contained 6000 Souldiers or more, and was divided into ten bands, the first exceeding all the rest both in number and estimation; For this band bare the Eagle which was the chief Standard of all the Romans; it contained 1105 Foot men, heavy armed; Horsemen 132. and was named Cohors Miliaria, that is to say, a company of One thousand and more souldiers. This Band hath the preheminence above all the Legions when they go to Fight; for they are placed in the Forefront and begin the battel. The second Band contai­neth 555 Footmen and 66 Horsemen of heavy Armour, and is called Cohors Quinquegintaria. The third band hath also 555 Footmen and 66 Horsemen. The Fifth had as many. These Five bands are set in array in the first battel; The other Five bands have equally each band the like number; so that these ten bands make a compleat Legion, containing 6100 Footmen and 726. Horsemen. King Leill in the end of his Reign fell to sloth and lust, whereby civil dissentions arose, which ended not in his life. He reigned 25 years, and was buried at Caleile alias Chester, which hath given the honour of Earle to these honourable Families.

• 1. Hugh sirnamed Lupus, Azure, a Wolfs head erased Argent.
• 2. Richard Son of Hugh, Gules crutely Or, a Wolfs head erased Arg.
• 3. Randolph de Meschines, Or, a Lyon rampant with his tail erected Gules.
• 4. Randolph de Gernoniis, Gules a Lyon rampant with his tail erected Arg.
• 5. Hugh Kivilioc son of Randolph, Azure 6 garbs 3. 2. 1.
• 6. Randolph Blondevil Son of Hugh, Azure 3 garbs, Or.
• 7. John le Scot Son to the Lady Maud, eldest sister of Randolph, Or, 3 piles Gules.
• Edward eldest Son to K. Ed. 3. England, a label of 3 points.
• Symon de Montfort E. of Leicester, after whose death Chester was laid unto the Crown, and hath been since united to the Principality of Wales.

Lud or Lud Hurdribras alias Cicuber.

KIng Lud, his Father being Dead, with general applause and consent ascends the Royall Throne of great Brittaine, in the Year of the Worlds Creation, 4279. as Mr. Fabian ac­counteth; the First businesse which he took in hand was to settle his Kingdom, for his Father towards the latter end of his Age addicting himself to sloath, and giving way to the youthful sin of lust, a vice most hateful in an old Man, gave occasion to his Subjects who lived in Ease, Wealth and Delights to stir up commotions and dissentions, these, broyls, Lud though young yet wisely endeavours by all means and diligence to suppresse, knowing that peace and quiet is the Object and chief effect which all distempers and Wars how just soever aim'd at; by his studious endeavours and assistance of faithful Friends and careful Councellours, he obtains his desire; and having settled all distempers and reduced them to their due order and mo­tion he set his mind wholly upon the beautifying of Britanny, and therefore in imitation of his Royal Progenitors, he begins a City which he calls Caer gant or Kaer kin, which after­wards the Saxons call Canterbury, which is to say, the Court of Kentishmen.

True it is that Canterbury is now a Metropolitan Church and Archbishops See, but it never had an Archflamen. St. Augustine out of an affection of his own (though some Authors affirm London according to the general rule of placing Archbishops where Archflamens were, and bi­shops where Flamens was appointed by Pope Gregory) to be the place, there settled his Ar­chiepiscopal chair.

For Canterbury, it was first a Flamens Seat, And the old Manuscript History called Abbre­viatios Chronicorum saith in this time, and setling of Bishops in King Lucius his Reign, That the old Church of St. Martins was builded, tunc constructa est extra Cantuariam Ecclesia sancti Mar­tini, and to notifie that he meant thereby a Cathedral and Episcopal Church, he addeth this when he speaketh of changing Flamens into Bishops; and all Histories testifie, that the holy Bishop Lethardus which came hither with Queen Bertha before St. Augustin's time, used it as his Episcopal See; And Canterbury besides the Arch-bishop had another Bishop in that [Page 20] Church of Saint Martin divers hundreds of years, and Mr. Lambert the Antiquary of Kent saith from Antiquities, St. Martins Church built by the Romans in Canterbury was a bishops See untill the Normans came in, and so two in one City thus substitute to the Arch­bishop.

Gi [...]us.And that Canterbury was a Primates See, Mr. Broughton, fol. 178. out of other Authors, Ex Anacleto hujus Insulae divisionem, Canterburie, London, Caerlegion, York, and Alba in Scotland, by some taken to be St. Andrews, Ʋrbs Legionum Cantuaria, Londonia, Eboraca & Alba, unde Albania Provincia were designed Primate Sees, for such, as Giraldus Cambren­sis in his second book to Innocentius the 3. Sir John Price, Matthew Parker the first Arch-bishop of Canterbury with others testifie.

Mr. Cambden calls this City Dorovernum, saying, that the River Stoure runs most swiftly by it, which seems partly to give name unto it, for that Durwherne signifies in the Brittish tongue a swift or fierce running river; he saith it is, Ʋrbs pervetusta Romanoque seculo proculdubio il­lustris: And Malmesbury tels us, Nec adeo magna, nec euiliter parva, quæ & terrae positione so­li assinis maxima ubertate, & integro murorum ambitu, fluviis irriguae, nemorum opportunitate inclyta, præterea maris vicinitate piscium faecunda: if any desire to satisfie himself further con­cerning this famous and glorious Brittish City, let him read Mr. Cambden in his description of Kent.

The next City which King Lud founded was Caerguent; Ptolomeus and Antoninus call this City Venta Belgarum, the Saxons þinvancesvor, the Latines Vintonia, at this day Win­chester: some seem to derive the Etymologie from Vento, others from Vine, and not a few from Wina the Bishop. But Lelands conjecture pleaseth better, who from the Brittish word Guin or Guen i. e. white, doth derive it, and so maketh Caer Guin, the White City; so ab albedine prisci latini Albam Longam, & Albam Regiam nominarunt; for this venta, as the other two Venta Icenorum, and Venta silurum, in the midst between Chepstow and Caerleon in Monmouth­shire, in times past a Flamens Seat, a City, and an University or School of Philosophers, Nunc seges est ubi venta fuit, the high way [...]or road is through the midst of it: This City was remarkable in the Romans days, In qua textrina sua sacra Imperatores Romani habuisse vide­rentur, their weaving houses; for according to Guidus Pancirolus, illa Gynecia constituta sunt texendis principis ut militum vestibus, navium velis, stragulis, aliis, & ad Instruendas mansiones necessariis, to weave vestures and garments for Princes and Souldiers, sails for ships, linnen coverings or coverlids, and other necessaries to furnish habitations; the Cathedral Church of Winchester (saith Godwin) according to a respect that I finde in an old Manuscript, was first built and erected by King Lucius, and to speak further in his words; This Church was hal­lowed and dedicated October the 29. 189. by Faganus and Damianus Bishops; and he proveth from the same Antiquity, that in the year 309. one Constance was Bishop there; and in Saint Dubritius time,Godwin. Catal. Epist. by the Brittish History, Dinuanius was also bishop there, Episcopatus Guintonia Dinvanio decernitur; the same author produceth an old Manuscript, which testifieth another (Monasterie) founded at Winchester; only his error is (which the Antiquity doth not say, that it was the Cathedral Church, confounding them as one, whereas both the Brittish History and Matthew of Westminster, make them two several Churches; otherwise he thus truly writeth, a Church in Winchester, according to a report that I find in an old Manuscript, was first built and erected by King Lucius, who abolishing Paganisme, embraced Christ about the year of our Lord 180. and placing Monks in the same, allotted for their maintenance large Reve­nues, which heretofore had belonged for the most part unto the Flamens, and other Heathenish Priests; and this Monasterie so continued untill the persecution of Dioclesian, when it was destroyed and the Monks martyred or dispersed; yet upon the ceasing of the persecution, it was presently within one year and thirty days new builded, and the Church hallowed and dedicated unto the honour and memory of Amphibalus (who was a noble Brittain) that had suffered death for Christ in the late persecution, by Constans bishop of Winchester, in the year 309. the 15. day of March, at the request of Deodatus the Abbot: The first Dedication of that Church in King Lucius time, [...] B [...]ough. [...]l. [...]09. by the two Legats Faganus and Damianus bishops was by that old Antiquity, October the 29. 189. The Antiquities of Winchester make it more ancient: and it thus continued a famous Monasterie until the year 519. at which time Cerdick the first King of the West Saxons, converted the Church into a Temple of Dagon, and either slew or chased away all the Monks. This was that holy Sanctuary, whither to the Altar of this Church one of the Sons of Mordred did flie for succour against Constantine the younger, who there cruelly slew him before the Altar, Constantinus filios Mor [...]redi caepit & alterum juvenem Win­toniae in Ecclesiam Sancti Amphibali fugientem aute altare trucida [...]it, in the year 543. others say that it continued within 17 years of St. Augustin's coming hither, others continue Christi­ans there for longer time.

Winchester hath honoured both Earls and Marquesses with their Titles; As first:

• 1. Saer de Quincy, E. a Fess. and labell of xi. points.
• 2. Robert de Quincy, Gules 7. Mascles, Or 33. 1.
• 3. Hugh de Spencer, Quarterly the first and 4. arg. the 2. and 3. each charged with a fret, Or, a bond sable.
• [Page 21]4. Lewes de Bruges, Azure, 10 Mascles, 4. 3. 2 and 1. Or on a Canton Gules a Lyon passant gardant, of the second.
• 5. William Pawlett E. of Wiltshire and Marquesse of Winchester.
• 6. John Pawlett.
• 7. William Pawlett.
• 8. William Pawlett.
• 9. John Pawlet Marquesse of Winchester, 1657. Sable, 3 swords in pile, Argent hilts and pomels, Or, a mullet for difference.

The Third City which this King built was Caer Septon now called Shaftsbury, and Caer Paladur ut falso vulgus putabat, saith Mr Cambden; for he takes and draws what he can from Brittish glory: it seems the Welshmen gave him no liberal hospitality in his travels; for he is no friend of theirs, he will by all means ascribe the building of this place to King Alfred producing this Monument and Malmsburiensis for his Author.

The Saxons called this place Scheafverbyryg it may be from the broach or spice, which in their language they call Scheaf, in this place one Aquila, whether Man or Eagle is in­certain, by the report of Historians is said to have prophesied the future times of this Empire, and that after the Reigns of the Saxons and Normans it should again return unto the Govern­ment of the Brittish Kings. In this City was St. Edward the Martyr Son of Edgar, and one and thirtieth Monarch of the English Nation interred, 972. being murdered at Corf Castle by his Stepmother Aelfrith to make way for her own Son to the Crown. But as concerning Mr. Cambden, who would gladly take away the glory of building this place from the Brittons the Predecessors and Forefathers of the Welshmen, so abusively called by their Enemies, and confer it upon the Saxons; Hear what a learned Writer saith, and a deep Searcher into An­tiquities, having demonstrated where the Primates and Metropolitans of this Ile have their Sees (which I will shew you as occasion requires) after tells you where the Suffragans or ordi­nary bishops had theirs; taking two Rules for his direction, From Antiquity the one, that they were placed as the custom was in our Brittish Cities; the other, that they were ordained where the Pagan Flamens were before. Gildas writeth that Brittain had 28 Cities besides strong Castles, bis denis bis (que) quaternis civitatibus instructa, but he names them not; but Ranulphus Higeden the Monk of Chester citing Alfridus, tells us thus, Regio Britanniae erat quondam civitatibus nobi­lissimis 28 Insignita; The Country of Britain was in old times adorned with 28 Cities, beside innumerable number of Castles defensed with strong Walls, Towers, Gates and Locks. The Names of the Cities were these, Caer Lud, (i.e.) London. Caer Ebrane, (i.e.) York. Caer Kent, Canterbury. Caergorongon, Worcester. Caerlyrion, Leicester. Caer Glau, Glocester. Caer Golden, Colchester. Caerrei, Chichester, which the Saxons anciently called Cissancester. Caer Ceri, Cirencester. Caer went, Winchester. Caergrant, Cambridge. Caerlile Luguba­lia, Caerlile. Caerperis, Porchester. Caer drom, Dorchester. Caerludcoit, Lincoln. Caer Merthin, (i. e.) the City of Merlin, Caersegen, Silcester was, is seated upon Thames not far from Reading. Caerthleon or Caerlegion, (i. e.) the City of Legions, which first was called Lenscester, but now Chester. Caer Badon, Bath, which sometime was called the City of Acha­mannus. Caer Paladur, (now ut falso credebat vulgus, good Mr. Cambden here are Authors above vulgar people) Septona now called Shaftsbury; there are also other names of Cities sound in Chronicles. This King reigned 29 years, or as Fabian saith 39. who calls Septon or Shaftsbury Mount Paladur, by reason that it is seated upon a Hill.

BLADƲD the Son of Lud Hardibras

BLadud the Son of Hardibras, took upon him the Crown of this Iland in the year of the Worlds creation, 4318. This King was much addicted to Learning, insomuch that he undertook a Journey to Athens, the most famous City in the World, for the knowledge of Philosophy, Astrology, and all other Sciences whatsoever, there fully to be instructed by the grave Philosophers of that place; neither was he content to become learned himself, learning indeed being the greatest ornament a Prince can have, but he endeavoured likewise to confer so great a Treasure upon the Nobles of his Court and Subjects of his Realm, and to that end he brought from Athens with him into our Brittain, four learned Philosophers to lay a plat­form, and found an habitation for the Muses and Nursery for Learning making choice of Stam­ford [Page 22] in Lincolnshire for his design and purpose. Mr. Cambden according to his wonted cu­stome not willing to write any thing which may advance the glory of the Welsh or Brittish Nation, giveth a slender account of this place, saying that the Saxons called it Sveanford ex Saxo structili; and that Edward the Elder, built them a Castle against the Danes, which at this day is quite demolished; and that Henry the Second, gave totam Villatam de Stanford quæ erat in Dominio suo exceptis feodis Baronum & Militum ejusdem Villae Richardo de Humetz sive Humete, &c. and that afterwards Gulielmus comes Warrenae eandem tenuit per voluntatem Regis Joannis; that in the time of Edward the 3. by reason of a division and falling out a­mongst the Scholars of Oxford, the one Part came hither and here opened Schools and began a third University, of which as yet the Citizens boast: but the intestine broiles between the Yorkists and Lancastrians so defaced this famous place, that as yet it hath scarce recovered its pristine glory; yet it so flourisheth at this day, that it hath an Alderman and twenty four Brethren, seven parish Churches, two Hospitals, the one very fair and ancient, built by a Citizen of that place, called William Brown; the other of late Erection, founded by William Cecill Baron of Burleigh, the Nestor of his times.

But let us look a little beyond the Saxons by Mr. Cambden's leave; the Author cited in the Margent writing of K. Bladud saith,Richardus Vitus l. 2. Hunc principem diustuduisse Athenis, inde (que) secum abdux­isse quatuor Philosophos qui Scholas aperirent in Britannia eo loco quo post Ʋrbs dicta Stanfordia structa fuit, & quo universi litterarum artium (que) studiosi magno numero undicun (que) convenerunt adeo ut Juvenalis Saty. 15. dixerit.

This Prince studied long at Athens, and from thence brought with him four Philosophers who taught School at Stanford, whither such as desired Literature and the knowledge of Arts flocked from all places; nay, he further bringeth in Caius Plinius, lib. 3. c. 1. to tell you that propter illicitas artes Magicas usitatas in Britannia, scripserit Magiam esse transgressam quoque Oceanum, & ad inane naturae provectam, honorari quidem tantis ceremoniis in Brittannia, ut ipsa illam Persis dedisse, atque in ea re toti mundo quanquam ignoto sibi longe (que) distanti consentire videatur.

M. B. fol 206. 8.And again another Author, having spoken of Cambridge, proceedeth and saith; so may we more then probably hold of our other Schools and Universities in this our Brittain then, namely Stanford founded by King Bladud and furnished with Philosophers of Athens by him, and so continued a place of Learning untill the coming of St. Augustine hither, when it was by the Pope interdicted for Heresies.

This King not only founded Stanford and furnished it with Philosophers to instruct Youth in learning and other qualities to inform and beautifie the intellectual part, but built the famous City now called Bath, and so provided Waters and hot Springs that his Subjects might not alone take pleasure and delight in those warm and pleasing Baths, but even by their occult Vertue find ease and relief for their infected and diseased limbs and members. Wil­liam of Malmesbury will have Julius Cæsar the Author of these Baths: But Richardus Vitus tells the old Monk, Id opus falso à quibusdam Julio Cæsari assignari cum ille ad illum locum nunquam pervenisset; That work is falsly attributed to Julius Cæsar who never came so far as that place: Another Monk will have St. David to have been Causer of the hot baths saying, At the place now called Glastenburie,Father Hierom F [...]ter in his Saints Lives, printed at D [...]ray, 1632. in the life of S. David, 1. Ma [...]t / He (viz. St. David) built a Church new from the ground; and coming thence to Bath, he cured the Infection of the Waters thereabouts, and with his holy prayers and benedictions, gave them a perpetual heat, and made them very healthfull and sove­raign for many diseases ever after, as to this day is experienced, to the wonderfull comfort and commodity of all England. But this Relation is as true, as is that other of his, where out of ig­norance, he placeth the Metropolitan See of Wales at West-chester; and that's as true as that the Sea burns; for I will make it appear in the sequel of this Book, that Caer leon upon Ʋsk, and not Caer leon gaur, was the Arch-bishops See. Ptolomeus calls this Caer Badon, Aquas folis & Thermas, and aquæ calidae; some called it Akmanchester (i. e.) the City of such as are sick or troubled with aches. Stephanus calls this city Badiza, the Latines Bathonia, the English Bath. Cambden will have this city to be Caer Paladur, that is the city of warm or hot-wa­ter, but will not admit Bleyden cloyth (i. e.) Bleyden, the Magician to be the builder; and therefore rather then allow the Foundation thereof to a Brittain; he produceth no Founder at all. Solinus, cap. 24. saith, In Brittannia sunt fontes calidi opiparo apparatu exculti ad usus mortalium quibus fontibus præsul est Minervae numen, in cujus aede ignes perpetui, &c. In Brit­tannie there are hot baths adorned with exquisite buildings for mortals use and convenience, dedicated to Minerva, in whose sacred Temple is kept perpetual fire which is never permitted to go out. Athenaeus scribit Herculi balnea consecrata esse quæ sua natura scatent è visceribus terrae, sane quidem Graeci Palladem Herculi post labores exantlatos lavacra primum administrasse den onstrant.

These two Acts of this learned King, had he proceeded no farther, had left his Name famous to all Posterity; as likewise his building a Temple to Apollo and placing therein a [...]amen, which after in King Lucius his time became the See of a Christian bishop; but pride and vain-glory made him become ridiculous, (as indeed these two Vices have the power to make all [Page 23] men who follow them;) his vain thoughts being composed more of Air then any other Ele­ment, tickle him with ambition to leave the Earth and live in the Air, he beats his brains how to bring this his new conceived invention to a timely birth, he provides feathers, wax, glew, and all such Utensils as his abused brains apprehended necessary to quillifie him into the nature of a fowl or rather a fool: and thus like Esops crow deckt with feathers not his own, he appears more formidable and monstrous then the Griffons in the Mountains of Armenia.

And so destitute of help he falls headlong, a just reward of his temerity, and breaks his neck upon the Temple of Troynovant, as some affirm, having Reigned 20 years.

The Greeks and Latines gave Names to this place according to the nature and condition of the Waters or Baths, there being [...] hot waters, Aquæ solis waters of the Sun. Bath is the chief City in Somersetshire, seated in a very low plain, and round about environed with Hills very high and steep; From whence come many Rivulets and fresh water-springs to the great commodity of the people; but that which brings most wealth unto the place, are not the Waters from without but those within, sending up from them much thin vapours and a strong scent withall, which springs are very medicinable for many diseases. Three of those Springs there are in all, the waters of which being received in large and fitting receptacles for the publick use, they call the Kings Bath, the Cross Bath, and the hot Bath: the Cathe­dral a fair Church, but belonging to Moncks, found the heavy hand of K. H. 8. but it is now in indifferent repair. Earl it had none till the time of Hen. 7. since it hath had divers.

Earls of BATH.

• 1. Philbert de Chandew of little Brittain.
• 2. John Bourchier Lord Fitzwarren Created E. of Bath. Hen. 8. July 10.
• 3. John Bourchier.
• 4. William Bourchier.
• 5. Edward Bourchier.
• 6. Henry Bourchier.

Argent a Cross engrailed Gules inter 4 water bougets sable, a label of 3 points Azure charged with 9 flower de luces, Or.

LEIR the Son of BLADUD.

LEIR the Son of Bladud, (his Father through his own Arrogancy, Ambition and Vanity, or rather Foolery, saepe feruntur in altum ut lapsu graviore ruant; having soared to too high a place, and so in a hasty stooping broke his neck) began his Reign in the year from the Worlds creation, iiii M. CCC. XXXiii. This King was of a most Noble and Heroick mind, as being questionlesse bred under the Discipline of those Philosophers which his Father had brought from Athens, besides a natural Propension of his own to moral Vertue; insomuch that his Kingdom flourished in great Peace and abundance of Wealth.

This King to imitate his worthy Predecessors, laid the Foundation of a Famous city, calling it after his own Name Caerlirion, and after Leircester: this is one of those 28 cities where Flamens were. Mr. Cambden tells us that it was called Ligecestria, Leogora, Legeocester and Leicester, saying it rather savoured of Antiquity then handsomenesse; yet acknowledeth that it was formerly a bishoprick, but that the See being removed, it much decayed in renown, till at last Edelfleda optima Foemina the best of Women or a very good woman in the year 913. did repair it, and inclose it with new Walls; insomuch that Matthew of Paris in his lesser History saith, Legecestria Ʋrbs pulentissima & munitissim a muro indissolubili, qui si Funda­mento roboraretur nulli Ʋrbium secunda fuisset; Leicester a most rich city with a wall unbreak­able, had it had a sufficient Foundation, second to no city whatsoever. In the time of King Henry the 2. this Town was in great distresse and much affliction, by reason that Robert Bossu (i. e.) bunch-backt, Earl of Leicester attempting innovations and conspiracies against his Prince and Soveraign, forced, Henry; Propter contumaciam comitis Roberti contra Regem recalcibran­tit obsessa est & per Regem Hen. subversa Nobilis civitas Leicestria & murus qui videbatur in­dissolubilis funditus in circuitu dirutus, Ʋrbs enim muris Fundamento carentibus, sub fossis, & fulciminibus tandem combustis maenium fragmenta, ceciderunt quæ us (que) in hodiernum diem propter caementi indissolubilis tenacitatem scopulorum retinent cum integritate magnitudinem.

King Leir beginning now to be aged and full of years, having no Heir-male, he called unto him his three Daughters, Gonorilla, Ragan and Cordeilla, intending out of the discovery of their love and filial affection and duty towards Him to settle his Kingdome upon them: to the Eldest he said, Daughter, I shall desire you to expresse unto me, how well and dearly you love and esteem me your aged Father; the young Lady hearing a question of so high a nature and so much concerning proposed unto Her, First that her answer may not seem forged or to have any smack or rellish of dissimulation, calls the immortal Gods (being then the custome amongst Pagans) and all the celestial Powers to witnesse her Assertion, and then replies; My Princely Lord and Father, I love you more then my own soul: the feeble old man was much taken with this Answer, resting satisfied, that his Daughter did cordially and entirely love him: He calls for the second, propounds the same question; she thinking to out-vie her El­dest sister, and thereby to endear and engratiate her self into the old Mans favour, spares no oaths or invocations and imprecations, assuring him that her Tongue was too slender a Messen­ger to deliver the depth of her affection and duty, and that she loved him far beyond all creatures; Leir is tickled and exceedingly solaced with these two Answers and thinks no mortal Man more happy in his children then himself. Cordeilla is called for, the same interroga­tory used; she wittily perceiving the deep dissimulation and fawning of her Sisters, replies; My dearest Father, I am much joyed to see you so well pleased with the expressive Answers of my two sisters; for my own part as a Father I have ever honoured, obeyed and loved you, and for ever shall and if you desire further expression from me, Know honoured Sir, That as much as you deserve to be beloved so much I love you and no more.

King LEIR being nothing pleased with the integrity of his third Daughters answer, Obsequium amicos veritas Odium parit; bethinks himself how he may best dispose and bestow his two eldest Daughters to their most content, honour and advancement, the Eldest therefore he espouseth to the Duke of Cornwall, the second to the Duke of Albania, which is now called Scotland, dividing his Kingdom betwixt them in Reversion, and a Moiety for their present maintenance and livelyhood, nothing being left for the poor Lady Cordeilla, whose tongue was the true Embassador of her heart, and whose heart hated all dissimulation and hypocrisie.

Fame who is never slow in reporting the transactions of eminent persons especially Kings, sounds this passage of King Leir in France, and with a shrill Note ecchoes forth, the beauty, modesty, vertue, and all the adorning graces which wait upon Cordeilla. Aganippus (an eminent personage and by some stiled King of France, through a great mistake; for as Policro­nicon, Petrus Pictaniensis, Robert Gagwine, Antonius Episcopus, and divers others affirm the name of France was not then known, neither were there any Kings, the inhabitants being called Galli and Tributaries to the Romans, and so continued till the time of Valentinianus the Emperor,) hearing Cordeilla's beauty so highly extolled, her vertue so superlatively com­mended, deems her a fit companion for his Princely bed and fortunes, if so rare a Jewel may be purchased: Upon a mature resolution he sends his Agents to the court of King Leir with [Page 25] full instructions to demand Cordeilla in Marriage: The offerd Fortune pleaseth the King, yet he fears the success; by reason of his own folly which had given all to the two sisters, and left nothing for the third: Leir returns thanks to Aganippus by his Embassadors, shews a willing­ness to comply with their Masters request; and withall lays open his unsufficiency to bestow any Dowry upon her; Aganippus enformed by Letters of these passages, is glad his suit and mo­tion finds friendly acceptance, and far valuing the rich endowments of his so much affected Cordeilla before all terrene riches so he enjoy the beloved treasure of his heart, desires no more: the espousals are with all solemnity celebrated, and Cordeilla answerable to the greatness of her birth and quality, conveyed to Aganippus, who (by the opinion of those who write that France was then governed by twelve Kings) was one, and so Cordeilla a Queen.

Leir having thus happily as might be thought, disposed of his three daughters; being aged, betakes himself to ease and quietness, and so intends to spin out the remnant of his time, but his Sons in Law Monaghlanus and Henninus the Dukes of Cornwall and Albania, envy the happy tranquility of the feeble old King; and each daughter, for all their deep and large ex­pressions of filial love and duty, Patris inquirit in annos: Leir lives too long, too much at ease, his bones would better become a Sepulchre, then a Throne; and since the fatal Sisters will not of their own accord cut off his thred of life, his daughters by the hands of their ambiti­ous and covetous husbands will undertake that task: nothing is now heard in Brittaine but the clashing of arms, neighing of horses, thundering of Trumpets, and warlike Musick. The impotent King is begirt on all sides with Martial Troops, and not able to resist two such powerfull enemies, to preserve that small span of life, is forced to flie for succour, being quite forlorn, to his daughter Cordeilla, whom formerly he had so much slighted; The arrival of the Father is not long unknown to the daughter, who acquaints her husband with so sad an accident; Aganippus out of an heroick spirit, compassionating the calamity of a distressed Prince, especially his wives Father, puts on a resolution to chastise and revenge so gross an in­jury, and to reinvest him in his throne again. Cordeilla is not idle in the mean time, but with all obsequious behaviour like a dutifull childe cherisheth her drooping Father, accomodates him with all Princely provision, with pleasant speeches drives away his melancholy thoughts, and leaves nothing undone or said, which may add vigour and alacrity to his pierced heart: Aganippus arrives in Brittain with his Father in Law, gives battel to the disobedient Rebels, gives them the overthrow, and again establisheth Leir in his Regal dignity; but the Author of so great happiness lived not long after, leaving Cordeilla a sad and disconsolate widow.

King Leir once more holding and guiding the stern of the Brittish Monarchy, passed his time with perfect quietness, the space of three years; after which time he left this transitory world, leaving his daughter Cordeilla, as well she deserved, to succeed him in his Kingdom; his body was buried at Leicester in a Vault under the River side,John Rous a­pud Hows in Stow. which he himself had built and consecrated to Janus Bifrons, where the workmen of the Town, when the solemnity of the day came, began all things which they had to do the year following.

Those who undervalue the Brittains call this History in question; yet divers Authors relate it, out of which I will produce one in the same Language, in which he writ, Cum in Senectutem vergere Leir coepisset, Vitus ex Gau­frid. fol. 173. Regnum dividere filiasque tres suas idoneis Maritis in manus cum parte regni bene gubernanda tradere cogitavit; Prius tamen ex amore singularum tentare voluit quæ­nam illarum potiore regni parte censeretur digna. Itaque Gonorilla interrogata respondit, Pa­trem sibi chariorem esse corde atque anima suæ propria qua viveret; Ragana dixit ipsum super omnes creaturas se diligere. Cordeilla videns his adulationibus acquiescere senem, vicissim tentan­do quæsivit An usquam filia sit quæ patrem plus quam patrem amare presumat. Ego te semper ut patrem dilexi & diligo, siquid amplius requiris audi signum amoris in te mei: Quantum enim habes & quantum vales tantum te diligo. Pater Iratus eam cum stomacho sic loqui putabat quasi suam senectutem sprevisset: proinde dixit illam cum sororibus nullam in suo regno partem habi­turam, & consilio procerum regni duas primas nuptui dat, Cornvalliae & Albaniae ducibus, una cum parte media Insulae donec ipse viveret & alteram dimidiam post obitum ejus accipere jube­bat. Quo tempore Francorum Rex Aganippus fama motus pulchritudinis Cordeillae nunciis missis eam petit in matrimonium sibi dari: Quibus humaniter acceptis pater ait, se daturuni, sed sine terra vel pecunia: Aganippus qui tertiam Galliae (ut Zerixaeus ait) Belgicae partem possi­debat; virgine tam nobile sola contentus erat. Polidorus, Vir­gillius. Quam Polidorus Virgilius naturâ præcocis ingenii fuissi dicit, sed interogatam de amore in patrem respondisse; se quidem i lum oculis ferre sem­perque laturam licet deinde contingeret (de Marito intelligens) amaret ardentius; Quo responso tam etsi pleno sapientiae Leir indignatus indotatam nuptui collocat Regulo Gallo (inquit Polido­rus) puellae forma capto. Sed haud multo poste à generis ejus mortem expectare censentibus esse nimis longum, spoliatus regno ad Cordeillam fugere coactus est, a qua restituitur in Regnum & ge­neris interfectis triennium regnat. Hanc inter novem Bellicosas hujus insulae foeminas numerat Ge­rardus Leighus: Thus much I have added, to confirm the History of our Brittish Leir, and his daughters; I forbear to translate it, having already out of other Authors related the same in effect.

Robert Bossu having put his Soveraign King Hen. 2. to much trouble in repentance of these mischiefs, built the Monastery of St. Marie de Pratis, wherein he became a Canon Regular; and for fifteen years continuance, in sad lamentation, served God in continual prayers: with the like devotion Henry the first, Duke of Lancaster, built an Hospital for an hundred and [Page 26] ten poor people, with a Collegiat Church, a Dean, twelve Canons Prebendaries, as many Vicars, sufficiently provided for with Revenues, wherein himself lyeth buried; and it was the greatest ornament of that City, untill the hand of King Henry the eight lay over heavy upon all the like foundations, and laid their lofty tops at his own feet: In this City also was buried another Crouch-back, viz. Richard the third, in the Church of the Gray-Friers; but now nothing remains of his Monument, but only the stone chest, wherein he was laid, a drink­ing Trough now for horses in a common Inne.

• year 1057 1057. 1. Algar the Saxon.
• year 1103 1103. 2. Edwin died 1071.
• 3. Robert de Bellamonte, Gules a cinquefoyle Ermine.
• 4. Robert de Bellamont.
• 5. Robert de Bellamont L. Steward.
• 6. Robert de Bellamont, L. high Steward.
• 7. Simon de Montfort married Amicia sister and coheir to the last Earl Robert, L. high Steward.
• 8. Simon de Montfort, L. high Steward, Gules a Lion rampant, his tail double forked salteir wise Argent.
• 9. Edmond Earl of Lancaster, L. high Steward.
• 10. Tho. Earl of Lancaster L. high Steward.
• 11. Hen. D. of Lancaster, L. high Steward.
• 12. Henry D. of Lancaster, L. high Steward. England a Label of 5. points Ermine.
• 13. William of Bavaria, Earl of Heinalt, married the Lady Maud of Lancaster, Bendis losengè, Argent and Azure.
• 14. John of Gaunt, D. of Lancaster, L. high steward. Henry D. of Lancaster, Lord high steward. Quarterly France and England, a Label of 3. points Ermine.
• Robert Dudleigh, Lord Denbigh, &c. Or, a Lyon rampant, his tail double forked, Vert.
• Robert Sidney, Viscount Lisle descended, of a sister of the said Robert.
• Robert Sidney, Earl of Leicester. Or, a Phaon Azure.

CORDEILLA.

THis Heroine Lady, after just revenge taken upon her two sisters husbands, and her fathers and husbands death, by the consent of most Writers, by the joynt suffrages and votes of the Brittains, was admitted to the Royal Scepter, in the year from the worlds creation, four thousand, three hundred, and ninety eight years; she governed her people and subjects, for the space of five years, with great applause, and general liking; but the two sons of her sisters, Morgan of Albania, and Cunedagius of Cambria and Cornwal, envying her prosperity, and thinking themselves injured in their birth-right; their grandfather Leir having divided the kingdom equally betwixt their Mothers upon their Marriages, conspire together, and mu­stering their forces, invade Cordeilla, and reduce her to that necessity, that she is taken pri­soner, and by her merciless Nephews cast into Gaol, which she patiently a while endured, but perceiving no hopes to regain her freedom, or repossess her kingdom; scorning to be any longer a slave to her insulting enemies; seeing she could not free her body from bondage; with true Trojan and masculine Heroick Spirit, she makes a divorce between her purer soul and encaged carcass, giving it free power to pass into another world, leaving those parts which participated of drossie mold, to be interred again in the earth, from whence at first it came, at Leicester in the Temple of Janus by the Sepulchre of her father.

Cunedagius and Morgan.

THe obstacle which hindered the designs of these two aspiring Princes (Cordeilla the gal­lant Brittish Amazon and Virago, being by violent death perpetrated by her own hand, taken out of the way) divide the kingdom betwixt them; and became both kings, in the year of the world, four thousand four hundred and three; but this gallantry lasted not long; for the Court-Gnats, whose life is a perpetual buzzing of news and flatteries, fall upon the ear of Morgan, and so fill his head with projects, that he highly conceives he is injured by the equal dividing of the kingdom, and thus discourses with himself, And am not I the son of Gonorilla, and she the eldest daughter of my Grand-father; to me then as lawfull Heir, Brittains Crown belongs? Why then do I admit a corrival, competitor, and co-equal; one firmament ad­mits not two Suns, nor one kingdom two kings; no reason I should lose my birth-right, no I am resolved, I will not: Cunedagius shall know that Morgan can rule the Brittains without his help: this fire once kindled, his flattering parasites bring fewel enough to augment it: Cune­dagius must bear rule no longer, a private life or none at all, must content him; it is no small policy for Princes to have Spies in neighbouring Courts: Cunedagius is quickly enformed of all the passages of his Cozen Morgan, and thinks there is no security in delays; and therefore puts himself into a posture as well to offend as defend; yet to make his case the better, and to ingratiate himself with the subjects, he sends Messengers to Morgan (who is already firing and destroying his Territories) to Treat of a reconciliation and atonement; but Morgan puft up with his imagined good success, and thinking the offer of his kinsman to proceed either from fear or want of ability to resist him, lends a deaf ear to the Treaty of peace, and will have no other Arbitrator but the sword; Cunedagius now resolved, comes into the field and offers battell to his enemy, his cause being just, the Celestial powers seem to second his attempts, and he who would have all or nothing is put to flight; where the Conqueror makes use of his advantage, and taking occasion by the foretop, to prevent all hopes of recruiting, and rallying again, so hotly pursues his victory, that Morgan is chased from place to place, from Province to Province, till being beaten into Cambria, now Wales, a Territory belonging to his Mortal Foe, and there being most sharply put to it, lost his life; yet with this honour, that that Country ever since from him hath had the appellation of Glanmorgan, which is as much as to say, in the vulgar tongue, Morgans Land; and thus after two years joyntlie reigning with his kinsman, Morgan departed this life, leaving Cunedagius to rule alone.

Cunedagius to shew an humble thankfulness to his Gods for so great a Victory, having fully setled his Kingdom, erects a stately Temple to Mars at Perth (which is now St. Johns town) in Albania, now abusively called Scotland, then a part of Brittannia, and inhabited by the Brittish Nation.

We finde, saith my Author, in several Authors and Antiquaries, to speak in their words, that 800. years before the coming of Christ, Cunedagius, King of all Brittain,Mr. Broughton, fol. 336. 6. builded a Temple of Mars at Perth, that is now St. Johns town in Scotland, and placed there a Flamen: Therefore we may not singularly deny unto this old city a Flamens Seat, which Antiquaries generally grant unto all such in this time, to have been changed into a Bishops See. If any one ask what I have to do with Scotland, my Scene being only the Brittish History? I answer, that to the great glory of the Brittains, that which is now called Scotland, was formerly Al­bania, and was a part of Brittany; for in the conversion of the Scots, which hapned in the time of Pope Victor; for Sacerdotibus præceptoribus quos victor pontifex maximus ad Christi dogma propalandum in extremam miserat Albionem: which farthest part of Albion is 300. miles distant from that part of Albania which joyned with Loegria, England; Therefore we see clearly that the Scots only, then lived in the furthest and most remote parts of Albion, or some Ilands thereof, and possessed not our great Albania, the Brittains Country and possession; and in such sense they may call their small places of abode Scotia or Scotland, yet could it be very small when Josephus in the Age before had testified that it had no Land at all,J [...]seph. orat. ad Judaeos apud Egisip. lib. 3 cap. 13. Scotia ter­ris nil debet; of which and there place of habitation, hear what Mr. Cambden saith, That nei­ther Cæsar nor Volanus penetrated so far (into Brittain) as the Caledonians; for as Plinie doth testifie in his time, three years after Claudius, the Roman Arms knew no further of Brittany then to the Caledonian Woods; for Julius Agricola under Domitian, Mr. Cambden in Scotland. Galgacus a stout Brittain. was the first who entred Caledonia, where Galgacus commanded (Galanc ap Liennanc) who is reckoned one of the three Heroes of Brittany, a man of strong courage, and valiant spirit, who so stoutly defen­ded his Country (the 11. Legion of the Romans being put to the worst) that he never gave over, till Fortune rather seemed to forsake him then his own valour or courage. These Nor­thern Brittains were the last, who enjoyed the Liberty, and also the furthest part of the Iland according to Catullus.

In the time of the Emperour Severus (as Xiphilinus reporteth) Argeticoxus a petty King reigned in those Northern parts now called Scotland, but then Albania, or Caledonia, whose Lady be­ing upbraided and taunted by Julia Augusta, answered, We Brittish Ladies, if we transgresse it is with Noble men both of valour, worth and quality; whereas you Roman in hugger-mugger prostitute your selves to every base varlet and inferiour groom. Not far from the River Taw stands Perch, in Latine St. Joannis Fanum, vulgarly St. Johns Johns, a place of late erection; the ancient Town of the same name long since being swallowed up by the waters, of which Nichanus,

Rous, Homes and Stow.But of Cunedagius the builder, because a Brittain, not a word from Mr. Cambden.

Cunedagius having founded Perch in Albania, casts his eye upon Cambra, and there in the remotest part begins a new Erection at Bangor; which Mr. Cambden also calls Banchor a choro pulchro, from the fair Quire, or as other derive it Locus chori, the place of the Quire, Owen Glendoverduy the most wicked and arch Rebel, amongst many other Towns and Cities of Wales set this also on fire and consumed it,Bangor built by Cunedagius the Brittish King. which was again in the time of Henry the 7. reedi­fied by bishop Henry Den [...] or Denaeus, but not to the pristine glory; for formerly it was so large and ample that for the greatnesse thereof, it was called Banchor vaur, and fortified with a Castle whose very Ruines are not now apparent.

M. B. fol. 602. Age 4. Ca. 28.We may have some apprehension of the great Devotion of our Brittains both men and women in this age (viz. 4. Age) to chast and monastical life, by the Example of St. Ʋrsula, and so many thousands of holy Virgins with her devoted to that Profession, which we may further confirm unto us by the Examples of the Brittains,Jo. Bal. cent. 1. in Pela. Calph. Agric. & Con­gello. Bed. hist. Eccles. l. 2. c. 2. Galf. Mon. Hist. Britt. l. 2. cap. 12. Mat. West super Galf. Mon. Hist. Brit. l. 9. c. 12. & l. 11. c. 1. Matth. West an. 541. Galf. Mon. Hist. Brit. l. 11. c. 3. Manusc. antiq. & cap. in vita St. David Me­ne. & Pits ae­tat. 6. in ead. which were then in that part of Brittany now called Wales more free from the Saxons persecution, whose Antiquities, although not well preserved, not naming many Archbishops of Caer legion, and very few bishops in that Province, having many from the first receiving of their faith; yet they do propose and re­cord unto us many Monasteries, and of great name and honour, as that of Bangor, stiling it Fumatum Collegium, where Pelagius before his Heresies lived, and by some was Abbot Præ­positus there, having 2100 Monks in it, and divided as it were into seven Monasteries, every one of them having 300 Monks; which Monastery, as St. Bernard, our late Authors and o­thers write, was the head or chief of principal Monasteries and brought forth many thousands of Monks. In vita Malachiæ Hibernensis Episcopi Bernardus Clarovallensis hunc locum tradit primorum extitisse Monasteriorum Caput & multa generavisse Monachorum mille. This was the most noble Monastery of this Country, nobilissimum Monasterium, as St. Bede and others term it, and so justly did, having so many Monks, that being divided into 7 Companies under 7 Pryors, under their chief Abbot, every one had 300. or more Monks, and amongst them most Learned men; Viri doctissimi plures de Nobilissimo Monasterio Bancornabury lingua Anglorum, Inter cæteras erat in civitate Bangor quædam Nobilissima Ecclesia in qua tantus fertur fuisse nu­merus Monachorum, ut cum in 7 portiones esset cum præpositis sibi Prioribus Monasterium divisum, nulla harum portio minus quam trecentos Monachos haberet.

Cunedagius builded a third place in Cornwall where he was born, but yet I cannot come to a certain knowledge of the place, where he erected a Temple and a Flamen to Mercury. He Reigned thirty three years and was buried at Troynovant or new Troy now London.

An Author calleth Perth before spoken of Berth, and saith, no lesse strange, but more lamen­table is the remembrance of the great innundation, hapning by the sudden rising of Tai, which bare away the Walls and Town of Berth or Perth, and with it the Cradle and young Son of King William into the Sea, wherein the Royal Infant with many others perished, the King and his Courtiers scarcely escaping the Danger: The ruine of this Town raised another called St. John's Town.

RIƲALLƲS.

RIvallus the Son of Cunedagius, took upon him the Government of this Kingdome in the year of the Worlds creation, four thousand four hundred and thirty eight; this King was stiled the Fortunate and Peacefull: for that during the time of his Reign he governed his Sub­jects with all lenity, meeknesse and prosperity; yet Authors leave little recorded of this Prince; for indeed Tragical Acts and Warlike Scenes better please most Writers in smooth and calm times: yet it is noted that whilst Rivallus governed Brittanny for the space of three dayes it continually rained Blood, out of the corruption whereof were ingendred a multitude of those which we call animalia insecta, which are Vermine, divided as it were between the head and belly, having no flesh, blood or sinews, as flies, gnats, pismires, caterpillars, and such like, which [...]id so swarm and grew infectious, that by the contagion many people died; and that again, caused a great and strange mortality, insomuch that the Island seemed in a manner un­peopled. Thus after Rivallus had Reigned 46 years he departed this life, and was buried at York.

In the Reign of this King, Rome was builded by the two brothers Romulus and Remus 356 years after Brute came into England, Et ejus (speaking of this King, saith Vitus) Tempore Ro­mam in Italia per Remum & Romulum fratres esse conditam post adventum Bruti Prisci ad Bri­tanniam anno plus trecentis quinquagesimo sexto: Sane quidem Alexander ab Alexandris l. 2. c. 22. In Palilibus sacris inquit hoc custoditur ne qua mactetur hostia, quia eum diem qui patriæ natalis est, à caede & sanguine deceret esse parum, fuit enim is dies 12. Calendas Maii quo fausto & fae­lici omine jacta sunt primum fundamenta urbis Romae, quo die mos erat ovilia purgare, flammas transilire, sapa & milio sacrum facere, geniales Dies agere, caenas apparare, à litibus abstinere, quæ singula prosperos rerum successus decernebant: Sed quia Gaufridus per consequentiam literarum scribit undecimo Calendas Maii qui est 21. Aprilis conditam esse Romam, fortasse mendosus est Codex Alexandri, per literas numerales Scriptas ad 12. Calendas qui esset Dies 20. Aprilis. Nam Plutarchus in vita Romuli scribit Romam fuisse conditam 21. die Aprilis & Palilia esse celebrata prius quam urbs Roma conderetur, circiter annum tertium Olympladis 6. est autem Olympias spatium 4. Annorum sic appellatum quod inter duos ludos Olympiacos haberetur, eorum fiebat initium, ut in Theatro suo Lycosthenes scribit, anno 19. Amulii Silvii Regis Latinorum, qui erat ab orbe condito super ter mille ac contum annus [...]8. cui si addantur Olympiades quin (que) cum an­nis tribus Olympiadis 6. atque sic 23. anni, videbitur Roma condita fuisse anno undecimo supra ter mille ducentos, at (que) sic 26. Rivallonis.

In his time (viz. Rivallus) Rome in Italy was built by Remus and Romulus after the coming of old Brute into Britany 356. Alexander ab Alexandris, lib. 2. c. 22. saith that in the Pali­libus (or Festival days of the Shepherds in honor of Pales their Goddess) order is taken that no Hostia (or Sacrifice where in blood was shed) should be offered, because being the Birth day of the Country, as it were, it ought to be pure and clean, and not polluted with any slaughter or bloodshed; this day hapned on the 12. of the Kalends of May, in which with happy and auspicious Omens the foundation of Rome was laid, in which day the Custom was to purifie and purge their Flocks, skip over fires, to Sacrifice in boyld or burnt wine, millets or hyrse; to keep Wakes or Gaudy days, and to make bunquetting and delicious Suppers; and to abstain from all debates; all which they imagined betokened prosperous success in the succeeding affairs: but because Gaufridus writes Rome to have been built, it may be the book of Alexander may be faulty, or mistaken in the numeral Letters, concerning the xii. of the Calends, which is the 20. day of April; for Plutarch in the life of Romulus saith, that Rome was built the 21. day of April, and that the Palilia, or Shepherds Festivals, was celebrated be­fore the building of Rome, about the 3. year of the 6. Olympiade, containeth 4. years, which was the space between two Olympick Games, which Games as Lycosthenes in his Theater writes, had their beginning in the 19. year of Amulius Sylvius, King of the Latines, which was in the three thousand one hundred and 88. year since the worlds Creation, to which if you add five Olympiads, and three years of the 6. and so 23. years, it will appear that Rome was built the 26. of Rivallus: others as Fabian, say that Rome was built 470. years after London, and in the 32. year of Rivallus.

GƲRGƲSTIƲS.

GƲrgustius the son of Rivallus, whom some call Gorbodian, and his father Reignald began his Reign over the Kingdom of Great Brittain 4483. the flower of Histories saith, that he reigned thirty and eight years, otherwise little mention is made of him in History, onely Mr. Howes in his continuation of Stow saith, that he was a common drunkard, whereof fol­lowed all other vices; he died after a Reign of 38. years, and was buried at York, leaving no issue behinde him to succeed.

SISILLIƲS.

SIsillius, or according to Sylvius, the brother of Gurgustius, as affirmeth the old Author, saith Fabian, was elected King of Brittain, in the year of the worlds Creation, 4521. he is called by the English Chronicle Seizil; little is recorded of this King, only some Authors say, that he reigned only two years; but the most common opinion is, that he was King 49. years, and after died and was buried at Caer Badon or Bath, leaving no issue of his own body.

JAGO or LAGO.

JAgo or Lago the cozen of Gurgustius, and his next heir took upon him the Government of this Iland, in the year of the worlds Creation, 4540. whether this Kings life, as the two pre­cedent, was so foul, that Learned and modest Writers were ashamed to let them come to light, [Page 30] or that they lived in such sloth and ease, that nothing was done worth recounting, I cannot affirm; all that is recorded of him is, that he ruled 25. years, and through ill and disordi­nate living, he fell into a Lethargy, whereof he died, and was buried at York without issue.

Kymmacus or Kynimacus.

KYmmacus or Kynimacus, the Son of Silvius, or more likely, as saith the old Chronicle, the brother of Jago, was invested in the royal dignity of this Island, in the year of the worlds Creation, 4595. as little is said of this King, as of his three immediate predecessors, only that he ruled 54. years, and was buried at York, leaving after him a son, who as testi­fieth Flos Historiarum, was called Gorbodug.

GORBODƲG.

GOrbodug the Son of Kynimacus was made King of great Brittain, in the year of the worlds Creation 4650. this King crod in the footsteps of those whom he followed, leaving no­thing to be recorded, only that he ruled to compleat the account of Histories 63. years; so that these five last Kings, Rivallus, Gurgustius, Jago, Kynimacus and Gordobug died ingloriously leaving nothing to perpetuate their memory, saving that they were Kings, the last whereof was buried at Troynovant, and left two sons to succeed Ferrex and Porrex.

FERREX and PORREX.

FErrex and Porrex the Sons of Gorbodug were joyntly made Rulers of Great Brittain, four thousand, seven hundred and eleven, or as some say, thirteen; this amity continued for a while betwixt the brothers; but ambition of sole command, and a Spirit not brooking a Col­legue, so inflamed Porrex the younger, that he intends to lay violent hands upon his elder brother; these tidings are brought to Ferrex; but the warning comes not so speedily, but that the danger is at the heels of it; and the elder brother, to avoid the snares laid for him, hath no other way but to flie into Gallia, and there as an humble suppliant to crave aid and succour of a Duke whom Gaufride calls Gunhardus or Suardus; who most willingly accords to his desire, and furnishing a Navy well provided with Munition, as well men as weapons, and the very nerves of war, sends him back into Brittain: Porrex who lets no occasions slip which may advantage his design, attends his landing, and at his very arrival, scarce afford­ing him leisure to order and marshal his forces gives him battel; wherein Bellona was so pro­pitious unto him that victory crowned his Souldiers, although with the death of his brother, and loss, or at least discomfiture of all his Army. Porrex (though some mistake, who make Fer­rex the surviver) being now an absolute King without a Competitor, makes himself sure of all the kingdom, but long he enjoyed not his unnatural Conquest. For the more unnatural mother, Idone, Widen, or Idone, whose affection more enclined to her elder Son, vows revenge, and arming her self with cruelty, cruelty indeed before not heard of, and taking her Maids to assist her in the night, enters Porrex Pavilion, where finding him profoundly sleeping, these she devils became his Hellish Executioners, and after inhumanely tear him to pieces; after this most horrid murther followed a Race of people wholly addicted to war and bloodshed, daily inventing and contriving broyls and seditions, and even in the quietest times of peace blood thirsting, insomuch that the weakest went to the wall; and he who imagined he had strength enough, presumed he had right enough to the Kingdom; thus had the Brittains dai­ly domestick Wars, till at the length the whole power came into the hands of five Tyrants, or petty Lords and Governours, who Ruled questionless with Arbitrary power, with a sic volo sic jubco; but deserve not to be named as Kings of this Island.

Gaufride affirmeth, that after the death of Ferrex and Porrex, great discord and civil dis­sension arose amongst the Brittains, which continued long; insomuch that five Kings were erected, which was a great plague and oppression to the Country: Guido de Columna relateth, that the Brittains so abhorred the linage and off-spring of Gorbodug, partly for the unnatural quarrels and hatred betwixt the two brothers; but above all, for the horrid, inhumane and barbarous cruelty of the mother, that had there been any Lawfull Heir to succeed, they re­solved none of that issue should enjoy the Government: this caused a mighty distraction in the Commonwealth; insomuch that one took upon him the guiding of Albania, or Caledonia now Scotland: another seized upon Loegria, or England: a third took Cambria, or Wales: and the fourth usurped Cornwall for his share: a fifth there was, but by many Authors not distinctly specified. This difference continued till Mulmutius, which Fabian saith, was 51. years: and to give some light what the names of those five Kings should be, he brings,

An Addition of Robert Record thus.

The five Kings that be omitted here, are found in certain old Pedegrees; and although their names be much corrupted in divers Copies, yet these are the most agreeable.

• Rudaucus King of Wales.
• Lotenus King of Cornwall.
• Pinnor King of Loegria.
• Statorius King of Scotland.
• Yevan King of Northumberland.

Quocirca Piremen Loegriæ Regem aggreditur & prælio interfecit; Vitus fol 181. lib. 2. notius ad Mulmut. inde factus victor arma tendit in Rudacum Cambriæ Regem, qui fædere inito cum Albania Rege Staterio conabatur junctis viribus exercitum movere in provincias Mulmutii, quibus ille obviam & comitatus triginta millibus fortissimorum virorum, comissoque diu prælio, cum videret differri victoriam, usus est fraude similitudinis armorum quibus induti erant hostes ejus, atque sic pessundatis regibus ipsis cæteros pa­lantes fugavit ad urbes & oppida, quibus incensis agrisque devastatis totam omnino insulam suæ potestati suæque Jurisdictioni subjecit, ac primus ex auro factum Diadema capite gestavit. Quis erat rex quintus Cantii nescitur ex historia Brittanica, quæ numerat reges quinque, nec alios quam cos qui bella gesserunt commemorat tres, fortasse quod illi reliqui in societatem venerint, aut sponte se subjecerint.

Where Mulmutius sets upon Piremen (or Pinmor as the other Author calls him) and kills him in the field; and being now victorious, and a Conqueror in his first attempt, full of courage and boldness, he bends all his power and forces against Rudacus King of Wales, who having made an offensive and defensive League with Statorius King of Albania, with joyned forces, and banner displayed, had invaded his Territories; Mulmutius delays no time, but being in the head of a gallant Army; consisting of thirty thousand experienced Souldiers, gives them the meeting, and joyns Battell; but thinking victory to hover too long before she enclined to his pa [...]t, he makes use of a stratagem, and counterfeiting the Arms, Weapons, and habits of his enemies, in a friendly appearance gives them a most discourteous and unfriendly over­throw, insomuch that the two Kings being quite overthrown, he pursues the stragling Soul­diers, who flie to Towns and fortified places, which he presently sets on fire, and destroying all round about, brings the whole Kingdom under his own power and subjection; and being an absolute Monarch, he encircles his conquering Temples with a Diadem of purest Gold, being the first of the Brittish Kings that ever did the like.

Who was the fifth King either in Kent (or as others say) in Northumberland, the Brittish Histories do not fully declare, only the three who waged war against Mulmutius, are expresly treated of, the other, either for that they combined or submitted, are silently passed over.

After the death and murder of Ferrex and Porrex, ended the lineal descent of old Brute; but here a curious diver into Antiquities may object, How then was the promise in the Pro­phecy by the Oracle made good, that to the Kings of his seed,

If after the space of 600 and some few years his Race should be extinct; this objection is nothing to the Oracle; for it was not specified, whether it should be fulfilled in the direct or collateral Line: so that if any of a Brittish off-spring should obtain the Dominion over the whole world, that is, so far as ever any Emperour had command, the prophesie is fulfilled: which was made good in Constantine the Great, who as both King of Great Brittain, and son of Hellen, the daughter of Coillus, a Brittish King, born in this Isle, and Emperour of Rome, which is as much as to say, of the whole world; Rome being stiled, Totius terrarum orbis Re­gina or Domina, Lady and Queen of the whole world.

Vitus sets down the order and succession of the Kings of Brutus his Lineage, with the terms and continuance of their Reigns, but differs much from the account of Fabian, and other Writers; for he saith.

• 1. Rex Brutus Priscus, began in the year from the worlds Creation, 2855. and Reigned four and twenty years.
• 2. Locrinus 2879. and reigned 10.
• 3. Madanus 2889. and reigned 40.
• 4. Membritius 2929. and reigned 20.
• 5. Ebrancus 2949. and reigned 40.
• 6 Brutus Junior, 2980. and reigned 12.
• [Page 32]7. Leilus 3001. and reigned 25.
• 8. Rudibras 3026. and reigned 39.
• 9. Fladus 3065. and reigned 20.
• 10. Leir 3085. and reigned 60.
• 11. Cordeilla 3145. and reigned 5.
• 12. Morganus & Cunedagius began to reign 3150.
• 13. Rivallo 3185. and reigned 46.
• 14. Gurgustius 3231. and reigned 38.
• 15. Sisillius 3269. and reigned 49.
• 16. Jago 3318. and reigned 25.
• 17. Chynemarces 3343. and reigned 54:
• 18. Gorbodio 3397. and reigned 63.
• 19. Ferrex & Porrex 3460. and reigned 5.

Which computation, as he tells us, compleats six hundred and ten years; during all which time the Progeny of Brute held the Scepter of Brittany, and then followed the Pen­tarchy.

Epilogus Libri Primi.

BY reason that divers and various are the opinions of Authors and Antiquaries, concerning the computation of years since the Creation of the world, and framing of the first Adam, the overthrower of mankinde and his whole posterity, unto the birth of the second Adam, that sacred Messias, that long lookt for Emanuel, and most blessed Jesus, who repaired that loss by his Incarnation, death and passion, opening to the sons of Eve, the gates of the Celestial Paradice, which untill his glorious Ascension were close lockt up against all mankinde; It will not be amiss to give a brief Compendium and abridgement of the variety of opinions: The Hebrews account from the said Term three thousand, nine hundred and fourty three. The seventy Interpreters, assign five thousand, one hundred, ninety and nine: others there are, who number five thousand, two hundred and twenty eight. In the third or fourth Book of Policronicon, there are other conceits and judgements shewed concerning calculation of these years; whereof (saith Fabian) the most certain is five thousand, and two hundred years; there are not wanting others, whereof some reckon some more, some less: some account from the first building and structure of Rome; some from the overthrow and subversion of the most famous City of Troy, others from the founding of Troynovant or London; and not a few from divers Edifices and Foundations. But since that the account of the Septuagint, or seventy In­terpreters both by venerable Bede, and other Learned Writers is esteemed as most authentick; I will follow their judgement; and accordingly give you to understand, in what year of the world Brute first entred this Isle then called Albion now England.

First, therefore from Adam to Noe, was two and twenty hundred and fourty two years.

From Noe to Abraham, was nine hundred and fourty two years.

From David to the captivity of the Jews, three hundred and five years.

And from the Captivity to the Incarnation of our blessed Saviour Jesus Christ, five hundred fourscore and ten.

The which in all make 5199 years.

After which accompt (although divers Authors have their several Computations) the an­cient, and glorious City of Troy was subverted and felt its dismal Catastrophe by the hands of the Conquering Grecians, as Learned Eusebius, and others testifie in the year of the worlds Creation, four thousand and twenty three.

It was the first year of Achas, and before Hezekias xvi. years, after Eusebius, iiii. M cccc xliii.And according to the same Eusebius, the foundations of Rome were laid in the eleventh year of Hezekiah then King of Judah; the which year maketh after the computation of the said Authors, 4470. who also affirm that the said City was edified, after the destruction of Troy, four hundred and fourty seven years, so that it must by consequence follow, that it was built Anno mundi, as before.

Peter Pictaniensis, and others, testifie, that Brute entred first this [...]sle of Albion, called now England in the eighteenth year of the Priest and Judge of Israel, named Hely; and Hely, as divers Writers avouch, began to rule the Israelites, the year of the third Age, that is, from Abraham to David, eight hundred and fourty one years, which maketh the years of the world four thousand and five.

Whereunto if there be joyned the abovesaid eighteen years, then must it follow that Brute entred this Land, Anno mundi four thousand sixty three; to this agreeth the Author of Poli­cronicon, who saith that Brute entred Albion fourty years after the subversion of Troy, which forty years joyned to the former saying of Eusebius, iiii. M. lxii. xlii. compleat the number of four thousand and fourty three years.

Another Historian called Jacobus Philippus saith, that Troy was taken by the Grecians in the third year that Abdon or Labdon judged the Israelites, who began his Rule over the said Isra­elites,iiii. M. xviii. after the accord of most Writers Anno mundi, four thousand and twenty, whereunto if [Page 33] there he added three years for the third year of his rule, in which year, as before is declared,iiii. M. xviii. Troy was sacked and destroyed; and forty years which passed before Brute entered Albion: It must follow, that Brute came into this Island in the year of the worlds Creation,xlii. four thou­sand threescore and three.

MƲLMƲTIƲS DƲNWALLO.

MƲlmutius Dunwallo, or as others please Dunwallo Mulmutius the Son of Glotene Duke or King of Cornwall, as the English book and also Gaufride affirm after he had fully subdu­ed and conquered the five petty Kings or Princes before mentioned, and had brought the Iland into a Pentarchy took upon him the Government of Brittany in the year of the worlds creation 1748. This Prince in some Histories is called Donebant, iiii. M. vii. C. lxix. and was of a Noble and He­roick Spirit; but much (after he came to be fully setled in his Government) inclined to peace, insomuch that in the City of Troynovant, in a place, which now as some are of opinion is called Blackwell-Hall, he builded a Temple, calling it the Temple of Peace or Concord: The Laws which he made and established, were of such Authority and esteem, that holy Gildas translated them out of the Brittish Language into Latine, and Aluredus King of England out of Latine into English; Vitus tells us, that these Laws, or at least the heads of them were, Ʋt deorum templa tantam dignitatem consequantur, nequis illo confugiens extrabi possit prius quam ab eo quem laeserat veniam impetraverit: That the Temples of the Gods should enjoy such immu­nities and priviledges, that no malefactor flying unto them for succour should be drawn from thence, untill he should obtain pardon from him, whom he had offended. Ʋt hujusmodi privi­legium immunitatis habeant etiam ipsæ viae quæ ducunt ad templa & urbes: that the high ways, leading to the Temples and Cities should enjoy the like immunities and priviledges, Immo & jumenta quoque illa quæ rei rusticæ subserviunt, denique Colonorum aratra ipsa tali prerogativa libertatis perfruantur; nay even the Cattle which were imployed in husbandry should have like priviledges; Ne qua terra vacaret cultura, neve populus inopia rei frumentariæ premeretur, aut ea minueretur si pecora sola occuparent agros qui ab hominibus coli deberent, constituit quot aratra quælibet Diaecesis haberet, ac pænas statuit per quas ille numerus aratrorum minuere­tur: Least any Land should lie until'd, or the people be famisht for want of bread-Corn; or Grain be diminished, by feeding Herds and Flocks, where Tillage ought to be; to which end he appointed how many Ploughs should be in every Diocess or Shire, inflicting a punishment upon whomsoever should diminish the number of them: Item vetuit bovem aratorem pro de­bito pecuniæ assignari creditoribus si alia bona creditoris essent; He also prohibited the working Oxen, or Plough-bullock, to be distrained upon for any debt, if any other Chattels or per­sonal estate be to be found: Ita fore ne compendii causa homines pecuarii agros incultos redde­rent, sic enim fore nequid earum rerum quas natura præbet hominibus usquam deesse posset, that by that means Grasiers and Drovers for their own private interest should not deprive their fel­low Subjects of natures benefits, and liberal gifts; Optimus iste Rex viros incumbentes ad bonas artes & opibus & favore juvit adeo ut exemplo suo principes regni ad faciendum idem & juven­tatem totam ad virtutes capessendas excitaverit. This good King was such a patron to those who endeavoured to learn Arts and Sciences, that he not only graced them with his counte­nance; but also assisted them with competent subsistance; by which his example he invited other Nobles of his Realm to do the like; a great encouragement to youth to endeavour to train themselves up in vertuous education: Item pondera & mensuras rebus emendis venden­disque posuit, fures & omne noxium genus hominum severissime punivit. Ita (que) sub hoc principe latrocinia, rapinae saevitia generis omnis aberat à populo, nec audebat quisquam vim alteri in­ferre vel injuriam propter exquisitam legis observationem; He caused weights and measures to be made for buyers and sellers: Thieves and all loytering idle vagabonds he severely bani­shed; so that none was found who durst to offer either force or violence to any man, being ter­rified with the severity of the Laws.

Having now regulated all things for the due and requisite Governing of the Commonwealth, by the general request and advice of his Nobles and Council, he caused a Diadem of Gold to be made, with which according to the Rights and Ceremonies of those times he was so­lemnly Crowned, in so much that properly speaking we may call him the first King or rather Monarch of Great Brittaine.

He caused several Cities and Towns to be made, amongst which Malmesbury seems to have been the chief, a verity which Mr. Cambden seems not much to deny: Dum exilis est Malmesbu­rie collem sibi imminentem substringit recepto (que) profluente fere incingit. Oppidum sane elegans & pannis laneis sane celebre, quod ut in Historiarum Eulogio le itur, Dunwallo Mulmutius Brittan­norum Rex una cum Lacok, & Tetbury castris adjacentibus construxit & Caer Bladon nomina­vit, Malmesbury a polite and neat Town, and famous for Wollen Cloaths, which as it is written in the Eulogy of Histories was founded by Dunwallo Mulmutius as also the Neighbouring Ca­stles Lacock and Tetbury, which Town he called Caer Bladon. The Saxons called this Town in their tongue Ingelborn which appellation continued a long time till Maildulphus a Scot, a man of singular learning and piety being much taken with the shades and solitarinesse of the [Page 34] Woods and Groves, he resolved there to live an Heremetical life; and there setting up a schoole, he himself together with his Scholars and Auditors addicted himself to a monastical rule of living, so that from this Maildulphus, the old appellations both Caer Bladon the Brittish and Ingleborn the Saxon, being by little and little worn out, the Town got a new name and was called Maildulfesburge, Bede calls it Maildulphi Ʋrbs, others Meldunum, corruptly Malmes­bury. Amongst the Disciples of this Maildulph the chiefest and most remarkable was Adelmus his appointed Successour: who by the help of Adelmus a West Saxon Bishop, to whom the ju­risdiction of that place belonged, built there a most famous Monastery, and was therein the first Prior or Abbot, insomuch that in an ancient manuscript this Town is called Adelmesberg: but this new nomenclation quickly vanished, though the memory of Adelmus continued in esteem, he being canonized and registred amongst the happy number of the Saints; (after his death, not as the Saints in these our times who are Saints while they live, and I know not what after death) upon the feast day of this St. the Fair is kept, where souldiers were appointed to guard and watch, least jangling and discord should arise amongst so great concourse of peo­ple; Truly (saith Mr. Cambden) he deserved that his name should everlastingly flourish, being the first who writ in Latin, and taught the English Art of Poetry and versifying as he himselfe witnesseth.

Athelstane the great who had made choice of this Saint for his patron, for his sake honoured this Town with many priviledges, and enriched the Monastery with many princely gifts, making choice of it for the place of his Sepulchre, as the Inhabitants will inform you to this day, shewing his Monument. From Athelstanes time this Monastery flourished in abundance of wealth, and was the prop and upholder of the Town, when by the love and expenses of Robert Bishop of Salisbury, it was fortifyed with a Castle and inclosed with Walls in the time of the Wars, betwixt Henry the Son of Matilda, and King Stephen: in which season it indured a siege by Hen. 2d. but shortly by the permission of K. John in favour of the Monks it was de­molished, thereby to inlarge the precincts of their Monastery, and so continued till the fatal hand of Henry the 8. laid it level with the ground; yet a wealthy and rich Clothier whom Mr. Cambden colls Stumpuis, partly by petitioning and supplications; but without doubt not with­out emptying his bags; obtained that the Church might stand which is now the Parish-Church.

This Town saith a new Author Anonymus, was by Antoninus in his Itinerarium called Cunetio from the River Kennet, and Marleburgh as being seated in a Chalkie soyle, which in some pla­ces still well called by the name of Marle. Here Hen. 3. held a Parliament in which were many statutes; and as the preamble saith, right necessary for the peace and tranquility of the people; now a title of honour and hath given stile of,

• 1. James L. Ley L. Tr. Created Earle of Marlborough 1. Car. Feb. 7.
• 2. Henry Ley.
• 3. James Ley, E. of Mal. Argent a cheveron between 3 Bears Heads Couped Sable.

The next place which Mulmutius Dunwallo built was The-Vies, which Florentius Wigornien­sis calls Divisio, another De vies, and Nubrigensis, Divisae: Here was a Castle built by Roger the rich Bishop of Salisbury, for scituation and workmanship giving place to none: but For­tune is a Goddesse both blind and fickle; for he who even now was the second Head in the Kingdom, by the frowns, or rather avarice of K. Stephen, is not only plunder'd of his vast and almost inexhaustible Treasure, but also cast into a loathsome Gaol, where the poor old Man with Hunger, and what with Afflictions and Miseries, betwixt the fear of death and tor­ments of his life, would feign have died yet knew not how to die.

Mulmutius Dunwallo having with great honour rul'd the Brittains by the space of forty years, yielded to death what was mortal, and was buried in the Temple of Troynovant, which he had built, leaving his two Sons Bellinus and Brennus, joyntly to succeed in the Kingdome.

BELLINƲS and BRENNƲS.

BEllinus and Brennus the two Sons of Mulmutius, began to Reign joyntly as Kings of great Brittain, in the year of the World, four thousand eight hundred and eight. To Bellinus, according to the agreement of Partition, fell Loegria, Cambria and Cornwall; that is to say, England, Wales and Cornwall; and to Brennus, by the same accord, all the Land beyond the River of Humber. This Partition, according to Policron and others, pleased and gave full content to both the Brothers for the space of five years. The reason why Bellinus had the bigger and better share, was, Quia erat primogenitus, Vitus fol. 209. & Trojana consuetudo requirebat ut dig­nitas Hæreditatis perveniret ad eum. Hanc vero fuisse consuetudinem Trojanorum scribens Herodotus; ad Alexandrum, ait, non erat perventurum Regnum, cum Hector & major natu, Herodotus. & virtute præstantior quam ille, Regnum defuncto Priamo suscepturus esset. Idem scribit Messala Corvinus, in libello de Augusti Progenie, Troem, à quo dicta Troja est, Regem Trojanorum habuisse duos filios Ilum & Assaracum, at (que) Ilum defuncto patre quod ipse major natu esset obti­nuisse Regnum; Messala Cor­vinus. Deni (que) is qui dicitur Dares Phrygius in libro de excidio Trojæ narrat Priamum commone fecisse filios quos habebat multos, ut majores natu minoribus Imperarent, ex quo sequitur, ut minores majoribus subderentur. Adeo (que) Legem hanc latam in Anglia esse propter ius istud Trojanæ consuetudinis, at (que) servatam esse scribit Andreas Taraquellus in præsatione primogenitorum: Andreas Tara­quellus. Bartolus. & Bartolus ad l. 1. Codicis de summa Trinitate; Consuetudinis est in Anglia inquit ut primogeni­tus succedat in omnibus bonis; Because he was eldest, and the Trojan custome was, that the In­heritance should fall to the Eldest; and this to have been the Trojan custome, sheweth Hero­dotus, saying, that the Kingdom of Troy after the death of Priamus was not to fall to Alexan­der but to Hector, who was both the more Valiant and also the Eldest by birth; and Messala Corvinus, in his Book of the Progeny of Augustus, confirms as much, saying, that King Tros from whom Troy took its Name, had two Sons, Ilus and Assaracus, and that Ilus, his Father being dead, for that he was the Eldest enjoyed the Kingdom; and he also (who is called Da­res Phrygius) in his Book of the Destruction of Troy, tells us, That Priamus, who had many Sons, admonished them, that the Elder should have Power over the Younger, &c. and this Law to have taken root in England, as being derived from the old Trojan Custome, affirmeth Andreas Tarquellus. After five years thus in brotherly love and amity expired, Brennus suppo­sing himself injured and intending to enlarge his Territories, raised Forces, and in hostile manner sets upon his brother Bellinus: but as his quarrel was unjust, so the sequel proved Fa­tal; for he was totally Routed, and to save his life, compelled to fly into Armorica, now cal­led Little Brittain, or as Gaufride will have it, into the Country of the Allobroges; others affirm, that without the knowledge or consent of his Brother, he sailed into Norway, and there mar­ried the Daughter of Elfunge or Elfinge, Duke of that place; which tydings when they were brought to Bellinus, he seized into his hands all the Lands of Brennus and fortified his Cities, Castles, and other strong Holds with his own Garrisons. Fame quickly brought these Ru­mours to Brennus, who neglected no time, but gathering a strong Army of Norwegians, ships himself for his own Principality, where by the way he was met by Guilthdacus or Guiclidacus, King of Denmark, who being inflamed with the Love of the Lady, whom Brennus had espoused, awaited his coming; and being now met, the two Fleets strongly encounter each other, and in short time come to grappling, a most bitter and bloudy Conflict ensueth: But the Danish King, having surprized the Vessel, in which the Object both of his love and anger was imbarked, though he had totally dispersed his Enemies Navy, pursued no further, thinking himself highly rewarded with the beautiful prize which he had already taken, and there withal resolves as a most victorious Conqueror to return to Denmark; yet whether Fortune to shew her accustomed fickleness and cross the Designs of such as think themselves most fortunate and her darlings, or rather Neptune incensed to see so violent a Rape committed within his watery Kingdom, with his revenging trident turned up and undermined the calm waves and ploughed them into hideous ridges; such a tempest arose, that the Heavens were darkned, the winds blustered, the billows roared and made such a hideous noise, that Guilthdacus each minute ex­pected to be swallowed up in the mercilesse surges of the angry Ocean; this death-threatning storm continued for the space of five dayes; at the end whereof, the skies began to clear, the winds and waves to leave their Violence, and the Danish King to understand he was driven upon the coasts of his Enemies Country, for his tattered Fleet so much as was left of it was now arrived in Northumberland.

Bel [...]inus to make good that he had already begun, and to prevent all opportunities which might help and further his Brother at his landing, was now in Northumberland; and having in­telligence of the Danish Kings Arrival, with so small a Company, he commanded his person with the rest of his Followers to be secured and committed to safe Custody; upon which discovery Brennus sends peremptorily to his brother, not only to surrender his territories injuriously (as is complained) taken from him, but also his then (in his possession) a prisoner, violently ravisht from him by Guilthdacus the King of Denmark: These Proposals or rather Demands, Bellinus absolutely denies; insomuch that Brennus having gathered together his scattered and dispersed [Page 36] Navy, new rigs his Fleet, reinforceth his Army, and with fresh Supplies and strong Recruits, once more puts forth to Sea, and with more prosperous gales and auspicious fortune, arrived in Albania; and having given a short refreshing to his Souldiers, marcheth towards his Brother (already resolved to give him a hot Entertainment) near Calaterium, a well known and famous Wood; there these two incensed Brothers meet, the Officers and ordinary Souldiers equally bent to live and die in their Commanders quarrel; The signal is given to battel, and a strange confused noyse from both the Camps pierceth even the skies; terrible was the Encounter, and with Martial and Heroick mettle and courage maintained on both sides; the groans of dying men, whose souls (as the phrase now goes) left their bodies in the beds of Honour, were hide­ous, and so great a destruction and havock was made that day, that forty thousand bodies wanted Forms to give them being. Victory at length decided the businesse and crowned Bellinus with a trimphant Laurel; compelling Brennus with his forreign Adherents and Assi­stants to fly from his native Soil.

Bellinus now thinking himself to have run through all his Disasters, applies his mind to re­ctifie things and settle his people: and in the first place casting his eye upon the Danish King and his beloved Lady (as then his Captives) he released Guilthdacus upon Articles of Agree­ment and Composition, That he should hold and do Homage for the Kingdome of Denmark unto the King of Brittany, and pay a yearly Tribute of one thousand pounds: Upon this accord Hostages being given, the captive King had free liberty to depart for his own Coun­try; and Bellinus prosecutes and makes good that which his deceased Father had designed and begun, (to wit,) the finishing of the four High-Wayes; the first of which was named Foss, stretched out of the South into the North, and began at the Corner of Totness in Cornwall and passed forth by Devonshire, Somersetshire, and so by Tutbury upon Cotteswold, beside Co­ventry and Leicester, and from thence to Newark, and endeth at the City of Lincoln.

The second Way was named VVatling-street, the which stretcheth overthwart the way of Fosse over the South East into the Northast, this began at Dover and passeth by the middle of Kent, over Thames, besides London, by West of VVestminster, and so forth by St. Albans, in the West side of Dunstable, of Stratford, of Touceter and of VVedon, and by South Killingborne or Killebourne, by Athriston unto Gilberts Hill, that now is named VVrekin, and so forth by Seuarum, passing by VVorcester, and thence to Stratton and so to the middle of VVales unto a place called Cardigan.

The third Way was named Erming-street, the which stretcheth out of the West, North-west unto the East, South-East and beginneth at Menevia at St. Davids in VVales, and so stretcheth forth unto Southhampton.

The fourth and last Way was called Kikeneldis-street the which stretcheth forth by Worcester, by VVickham, by Bermingham, by Lichfield, by Derby, by Chesterfield, by York and so forth unto Tinemouth, the which was sufficiently made. Belinus granted or confirmed unto these pla­ces all such priviledges as formerly Mulmutius had done; which together with other Lawes made by the King, are translated out of the Brittish tongue by Gildas, but are here for brevity sake omitted.

Whilst Belinus thus imployed his time in providing for his Countrey and Subjects necessa­ry conveniences, Brennus after his late and almost irrecoverable overthrow, like a forlorne Pilgrime spends his time in Gallia, and there summons all his wits to Counsel how he may in some sort recover his Countrey and former Glory and Renown; and as great spirits will leave nothing unattempted to bring their designes to the wished period; so he resolves being accompanied only by twelve Cavaliers to addresse himself unto a Duke who had great power and command in those parts: where it is to be observed by the way that (as Ʋtropius and other writers affirm) the Galli at that time possessed divers Counries; upon which ground Ti­tus Lavius who writ the Acts of the Romans, tells us that those Souldiers who followed Brennus when he sacked Rome were Galli Senonenses, to wit, those who inhabited the Countrey where the City Sena stood and yet doth, (as testifyeth the Author of Cronica Cronicorum and others) in a part of Italie, in succeeding ages known by the name Etruria; which Sena, as divers affirm was built by Brennus when he there inhabited, before the Incarnation of our Saviour Jesus Christ, iii. C. lxxx. and vi. years.

Brennus finding favourable admittance into the Court of Duke of Seginus of Allobroge (for so Gaufride calls him) which after was called Armorica, and now little Brittaine according to Policronicon and the English Chronicle; the Duke beholding the comely person, manly proportion, and princely carriage and behaviour of Brennus, and much condoling and com­passionating the calamity of his Fortunes, which he with a singular grace had declared, (set out in the most lively colours and flowers of Eloquence,) entertained him in a most friendly manner, and observing that he delighted and was most expert in hunting and hawking, and was fully accomplisht with all the parts belonging to a Gentleman, cast such favours upon him, that in short time he became the most eminent man in the Court, and the only favorite of the Duke; insomuch that Seginus being in admiration of his endowments, and gallant behaviour, resolves to make him his Son in law; with this promise also, that if the Gods shall call for him hence without other Heir, that then the issue of Brennus should succeed in the Duke­dome; or at least, in case the Duke should be made happy by the birth of a Son, that then he would use all possible endeavours to reestablish Brennus in his own Possessions, and upon [Page 37] these Conditions and Articles the Duke espouseth his only Daughter and Heir to this Heroick Brittish Prince: these Nuptials are no wayes displeasing to the Nobles of Allobroge, they all jointly giving their approbation and full consent. Not long after, death summons Seginus to appear before a greater Tribunal then his own, and a convenient space being allowed to the Dutchesse Dowager, the term whereof expired, she was found not to have conceived nor to be with child; all sorts did Homage to Brennus as their lawful Leige and Supreme. Brennus being not only a titular Prince, but possessed of large Territories; and finding great plenty of Treasure congested by his wary and careful Predecessours, was not close-fisted, but with a liberal hand imparts a large Proportion to men of Action and gallant Resolution, and de­termines once more to hazard both life and fortunes with his Brother, rather then lose Alba­nia. The sons of Mars and fierce youthful spirits, applaud their Princes gallant Resolution, and each equipps himself to the rank of his birth and height of his desire. Bellinus hearing of these great and warlike Preparations like a prudent Prince, perceives this threatning cloud to bend its course towards Brittany; and therefore seeing he cannot prevent the coming thereof, makes such provision that wheresoever it shall disgorge it self, it may do as slender hurt as may be; thus he stands in a readinesse with Weapons to receive this menacing storm with the point of his Sword. Brennus maugre all oppositions arrives with his Navy: These heavy tidings pierce the very soul of Connuvenna or Conwenna the poor afflicted Mother, whose affectionate love was equally divided betwixt her dearest children; and having long time been deprived of the tender imbracements of her younger Son, carried with the most Noble passion of love, she casts her self betwixt the Brothers, and with most bitter sighes and floods of tears shews those brests which once they both had suckt; she pleads, commands, intreats, nay begs to make them friends. An ancient Poet in few Verses makes Conwenna to speak thus:

The brothers with this unlookt for spectacle stand gazing each at other, which Convenna wisely perceiving, takes time fast by the fore-top and prosecutes her complaints with the very depth of sorrow, and rising up with a discreet motherly compassion, now embraceth the one, now the other, and never leaves till she locks them close in the Armes of a most firm and bro­therly reconciliation, and so as it were hand in hand to the amazement of both Armies, but unspeakable joy of the overjoy'd Convenna they came to Troynovant; where after a due set­ling of the affairs of Brittaine, those forces who not long before were mortal Foes are now be­come confederates and fellow souldiers, and uniting strength to strength, a new employ­ment is set on foot; Gallia is the mark aim'd at, at which they level so directly, that as Gau­fride, they sayled into a part of Gallia burning and wasting the Country without regard or pitty, and in short time subdued a large proportion not only of Gallia, but also Italy and Ger­many. As yet Belmus and Brennus according to Gaufride were together and performed many worthy deeds and feats in Armes; but because Livius makes only mention of Brennus in the Roman Histories, I suppose Belinus was again returned for Brittany, his own Kingdome, leaving the managing of what followed to his brother. What hereafter I shall speak of Brennus I have collected out of Plutark, in the life of Camillus, whose words translated by Sir Thomas North Kt. are these. Now as touching the Gaules they came of (as they say) the CELTAE, whose country, being not able to maintaine the multitudes of them, they were driven to go seek after other countries to inhabit in, and there were amongst them many thousands of young men of service and good souldiers, but yet more women and little children by a great number; of those people some of them went towards the North Sea passing the Mountaines Riphei and did dwell in the extreme parts of Europe, others of them remained between the Mountaines Pirenei and the Mountaines of the Alpes near unto the Senones and the Celtorii; there they continued a long time untill they fortuned in the end to tast of the wine, which was first brought out of Italy to them; which drink they found so good, and were so delighted in it, that suddenly they Armed themselves, and taking their Wives and Children with them they went directly towards the Alpes to go seek out the Countrey that brought forth such fruit, judging all other Coun­tries in respect of that to be but wild and barren. It is said that the first man that did bring wine to them, and did procure them to passe into Italy was a Noble man of Thuscany called Ar­ron, and otherwise of no ill disposed Nature; how be it he was subject to this misfortune fol­lowing. [Page 38] He was Tutor to an Orphan Child, the richest that was in that time in all the Coun­trey of Tuscany, and of complexion wondrous fair, he was called Lucumo. This Orphan was brought up in Arrons house of a Child, and though he was grown to state, yet he would not depart from him feigning he was well and to his liking: but indeed the cause was that he loved his Mistress, (Arrons wife whom secretly he had enjoyed a long time, and she him) that made him like his continuance there. Howbeit in the end love having so possessed them both, that neither party could withdraw from other much lesse conceale it, The young man stole her away by force from him, and so kept her; Arron put the matter in suite but he prevailed not, for Lucumo over-weighed him with Friends, Money, Gifts and Charges: which he took so grievously that he left his Countrey and having heard talk of the Gauls he went unto them and was their guide to bring them unto Italy. So they conquered at their first coming all that Countrey which the Tuscans held in old time, beginning at the foot of the mountains, and stretched out in length from one Sea to the other, which invironeth Italy as the names themselves do witness: for they call yet that Sea which looketh unto the North the Adriatick Sea, by reason of a City built some time by the Tuscans, which was called Adria: The other which lieth directly over against the South is called the Tuscane Sea; all that Country is well planted with trees, and hath goodly pleasant pastures for beasts, and cattel to feed in, and is notably watered with goodly running Rivers. There was also at that time, eighteen fair great Cities, all of them very strong and well seated, as well to inrich the Inhabitants by Traffick, as to make them live delicately for pleasure: All these Cities the Gauls had won, and had expulsed the Tuscans; but this was done long before time. Now the Gauls being entred further into Tuscany, did besiege the City of Clusium, thereupon the Clusians seeking ayd of the Romans, besought them they would send Letters and Ambassadors unto those barbarous people in their behalf. They sent unto them three of the best and most honourable persons of the City, all three of the house of the Fa­bians. The Gauls received them very courteously because of the name of Rome, and leaving to assault the City,Brennus a Brittain King of the Gauls. they gave them audience. The Roman Ambassadors did ask them what injury the Clusians had done unto them, that they came to make Wars with them; Brennus King of the Gauls hearing this question, smiled, and answered them thus, The Clusians do us wrong in this; they being but few people together, and not able to occupy much Land, do not­withstanding possess much, and will let us have no part with them that are strangers, and out of our Country, and stand in need of seat and habitation; the like wrong was offered unto you Romans in old time by those of Alba, by the Fidenates and Ardeates, and the Volsci, against whom ye have taken, and do take Arms at all times, and as oft as they will let you have no part of their goods, ye imprison their persons, rob, and spoil their goods, and de­stroy their Cities; and in doing this you do them no wrong at all, but follow the oldest Law that is in the world, which ever leaveth unto the stronger, that which the weaker cannot keep nor enjoy, beginning with the gods, and ending with beasts; the which have this property in nature, that the bigger and stronger have ever the advantage of the weaker and lesser; therefore leave your pitty to see these Clusians besieged, lest you teach us Gauls to take compas­sion also of those you have oppressed.

By this answer the Romans knew very well there was no way to make peace with King Bren­nus; wherefore they entered into the City of Clusium, and incouraged the Inhabitants to sally out with them upon these barbarous people, either because they had a desire to prove the valiantness of the Gauls, or else to shew their own manhood and valour: so the Citizens went out and skirmished with them, hard by the wals, in which one of the Fabians, called Quintus Fabius Ambustus, being excellently well horsed, and putting spurs to him, did set up­on a goodly big personage of the Gauls, that had advanced himself far before all the Troop of his Companions; he was not known at the first encounter, as well for the sudden meet­ing and skirmishing together; as for that his glistering armour dimmed the eyes of the enemies. But after he had slain the Gaul, and came to strip him. Brennus then knew him, and protested against him,Brennus re­proacheth Fa­bius for break­ing the Law of Armes. calling the Gods to witness how he had broken the Law of Arms, that coming as an Ambassador he had taken upon him the form of an Enemy. Hereupon Brennus forthwith left skirmishing, and raising the Siege from Clusium, marched with his Army to Rome gates. And to the end that the Romans might know that the Gauls were not well pleased for the in­jury they had received; to have an honest colour to begin war with the Romans, he sent an Herald before to Rome, to demand livery of the man that had offended him, that he might punish him accordingly. In the mean while he himself came marching after, by small journeys, to receive their answer. The Senate hereupon assembled, and many of the Senators blamed the rashness of the Fabians, but most of all the Priests, called theHeralds very ancient. Faeciales; for they followed it very closely, as a matter that concerned Religion, and the honour of the Gods, declaring, how the Senate in discharge of all the residue of the City for the offence committed, should lay the whole weight and burden of it upon him alone, that only had done the Fact. (Numa Pompilius, the wisest and most peaceable of all the Kings of Rome that had been, was he that erected the Colledge of thoseHeralds. Faeciales, and did ordain that they should be Keepers of Peace, and Judges to hear and allow all the causes for the which they should justly begin any War) Nevertheless the Senate in the end turned over the ordering of the whole matter to the Will and Judgement of the people, before whom also the Faeciales, or Heralds did accuse Fabius [Page 39] Ambustus: The people made so little account of their propounded Religion, and honour of the Gods in that case, that instead of delivering this Fabius to the enemy, they did choose him for one of the Tribunes of the Souldiers with his brothers. The Gauls understanding this, were so furious and angry thereat, that they would no longer linger their journeys, but mar­ched with all speed to Rome. The people that dwelt by the High-wayes where they should passe by, were marvellously afraid to see the multitude of them and their brave and gallant Furni­ture, & beginning to doubt the fury of their rage, they imagined that first of all they would de­stroy the Champion Countrey before them, and afterwards would take the strong Cities. They contrariwise did take nothing at all out of the Fields, neither did any hurt or displeasure unto any body; but passing by their Cities, cryed out, They went to Rome, and would have no Wars but with the Romans, and how otherwise they desired to be friends with all the world. These barbarous people march on in this wise towards Rome, the Tribunes of the Souldiers brought their Army to the Field to encounter them: they were no lesse in number then the Gauls; for they were 40000 Foot men; howbeit most part of them were raw souldiers that had never served in the Wars before. They were very carelesse of their Gods, and dissolute in matters of Religion; for they passed neither for good signes in their Sacrifices, neither to ask councel of their Soothsayers, which the Romans were religiously wont to doe before they gave any battel. To make the matter worse; the number of the Captains, having Power and Authority alike, did as much (or more then the rest) disorder and confound their doings; for oft-times before, in far lesse Matters and Dangers then these,One Supreme better then Many. they did use to choose spe­cial Officers that had sole and soveraign Authority, which they called Dictators; knowing very well of how great importance it is in dangerous times to have but one Head and General to command all, to have supreme Authority of justice in his hands,Monarchy. and not to be bound to deliver account of his doings to any. The injury also which they had too ungratefully done to Camillus, brought great mischief then and inconvenience upon them; for the Captains after him durst no more command the people roughly, but ever after did flatter them much. When their Armies were now brought into the Field, they Encamped themselves by a little River called Allia, about the eleventh stone from Rome, and not far from the place where the same River falleth into Tiber; thither came Brennus with his Army to them, who overthrew them in battel by their disorder and lack of Government: For the left point or wing of their battel was broken off at the first by the Gauls, who charged them so furiously that they drave them headlong into the River. The right wing then retiring out of the plain before they had any Charge given, and having gotten certain Hills hard by them, they had little hurt, and most of them did recover Rome again; the rest that escaped after the Enemies were weary of killing, fled by night unto the City of Veies, thinking Rome had been lost, and all the City put to the Sword: this overthrow was on the longest day in Summer, the Moon being at the Full. The Romans were very superstitious in dayes Fortunate and Unfortunate, which I here passe over as not material to our businesse in hand.

The day of this overthrow is one of those which the Romans take for one of the unfortu­natest dayes that ever came unto them. Now after the battel lost, if the Gauls had hotly pur­sued the chase of their flying enemies, nothing could have saved Rome from being Taken, and the Inhabitants thereof from being put unto the Sword; for the Romans that fled from the battel brought such a fear upon those that received them, and filled the whole City of Rome with such grief and trembling that they wist not what to doe. The Gauls again believing lit­tle their Victory was so great as it was, fell to make good cheer for so great a joy received, and divided among them the spoil of their Enemies goods they found in the Camp. So gave they time and leisure by this means to the multitude of people that fled out of Rome to seek them some place of safety, and to such as remain still they left good hope to save themselves and to make some provision for defence.

Thereupon they all fortified themselves within Mont Capitol, and storing it with all kind of Victuals, Armour, and Ammunition they wholy did forsake the rest of the City; but the first work they took in hand was this, they did bring into their said Fort, part of their sacred re­liques, and the professed Vestals brought thither all their holy Fire, and all their holy Monu­ments, &c. Furthermore the Priests of other Gods, and the most honourable old men of the City of Rome (that had been Consulls aforetime or had past the honor of triumph) had not the heart to forsake Rome; but putting on all their costly Robes and Vestments did vow and most willingly sacrifice themselves unto the fortune that should befall them for the safety of their Countrey. And using certain words and prayers which their high Bishop Fabius had taught them, they went even thus apparelled unto the great market place, and did sit them down there in Chaires of Ivory, expecting the good will and pleasure of the Gods what should become of them. Within three dayes after Brennus came to Rome with his Army, who finding the Gates of the City all open, and the Walls without watch, he doubted some devise in it, and feared some privy ambush had been layed, as one hardly, believing to have found the Romans of so base a mind as to forsake their City. After being informed of the truth, he entred into Rome by the gate Collina, and took the same: little more then 360 years after it was first builded, if it be true at the least that there remained any certaine Chronicles of those times unto this present day; considering the trouble and confusion of that time hath made many things more certaine then that, doubtful unto us; but so it was that the rumor ran to [Page 40] Greece incontinently how Rome was taken, but yet withal somewhat doubtfully and uncertain; but Brennus having now entred Rome did appoint part of his souldiers to besiege those that were gotten in Mont Capitol, and he with the residue of his Army marched on towards the market-place, where when he saw the ancient Senators sit gravely on their Chaires and speak never a word, nor offered once to rise, though they saw their enemies come Armed against them, neither changed countenance nor colour at all, but leaned softly upon their staves which they had in their hands seeming to be nothing affraid nor abashed, but looked one upon another; he wondered marvailously at it; this their so strange manner at the first did so dump the Gauls that for a space they stood still, and were in doubt to come near to touch them, fearing least they had been some Gods; until such time as one of them went boldly to Marcus Papirius and laid his hand fair and softly upon his long Beard,The Majesty of the old Sena­try set in the Market place of Rome. but Papirius gave him such a wrap upon his Pate with his staffe, that he made blood run about his Ears. The Gaule was in such rage with the blow, that he drew out his sword and slew him, the other souldiers also kil­led the rest afterwards, and so they continued many dayes afterwards spoyling and plundering all things they found in the houses; and in the end did set all on fire and destroyed them every one,Rome rased by B [...]ennus the Brittish Prince for despite of those that kept the Capitol, and would not yield upon their Summons, but valiantly repulsed them when they scaled the Walls. For this cause they rased the whole City and put all to the Sword that came into their hands, young and old, man, woman and child. Now this Siege continuing long and the Romans holding them out very stoutly, victuals be­gan to grow very scant in the Camp of the Gauls, insomuch as they were driven on force to seek it abroad without the City; Hereupon they divided themselves, whereof some remained still with them at the Siege of the Capitol and the rest went a foraging and spoiling all the Champion Country and Villages there abouts, scattered as it were by Bands and Companies, some here, some there, fearing nothing, nor passing upon watch or ward, they lived in such se­curity of their Victory. Howbeit the greatest Company amongst them, went by fortune to­wards the City of Ardea where Camillus dwelt living like a private man medling with no matters of State from the time of his Exile, until that present: But then he began not to be­think himself as a man that was in safety and might have escaped the hands of his enemies, but rather sought how to devise and find all the means he could to subdue them if occasion were so offered: whereupon considering that the Citizens of Ardea were enough in number to set upon them, though faint-hearted and cowardly by reason of the sloth and negligence of the Governours and Captains who had no manner of experience in wars, he be­gan to cast out these words among the young men. That they should not think the Romans misfortune fell upon them through the Valour of the Gauls, nor that their Calamity (who had refused good Councel) had hapned unto them by any work or act of the Gauls having done nothing for their part to make them carry away the Victory, but that they should think it was no other thing but fortune alone, who would needs shew her power. Therefore it were now a notable and honourable Enterprize (although somewhat dangerous) to drive those strangers out of their Country, considering that the onely end of their Victory was but to de­stroy and consume as fire all that fell into their hands; wherefore if they would but onely take a good lusty heart and courage, he would with opportunity and place assure them the Victory without danger. The young men were pleased with these words of life and comfort; whereupon Camillus went to break the matter also unto the Magistrates and Counsellours, and having drawn them by perswasions unto this Enterprize,Camillus per­swades the Ardeans to take Arms a­gainst the Gauls. he armed all that were of age to carry Ar­mour, and would not suffer a man to go out of the City for fear lest the Enemies (which were not far off) should have intelligence of the same.

Now after the Gauls had run over the Champian Country, and were loaden with all sorts of spoils, they did encamp themselves negligently in open fields, and never charged Watch nor Ward; but having their full Carriage of Wine, laid them down to sleep, and made no noise at all in their Camp.Camill. Camillus being advertized thereof by his several Scouts, caused the Ardeans, with as little noise, as might be, forthwith to go out into the fields, and having mar­ched somewhat roundly the distance between the City and the Camp of the Gauls, they came thither much about midnight: Then he made his Souldiers make great shouts and cries, and the Trumpets to be sounded on every side to put a fear in their enemies, who yet with all the loud noise they made, could hardly be made to wake, they were so deadly drunk; yet there were some notwithstanding, that for fear to be taken tardy, did bustle up at this sudden noise, and coming to themselves fell to their weapons to resist Camillus, which were slain by and by: the rest, and the greatest number of them, lay here and there scattered in the middle of the field, without any weapon, dead asleep, stark drunk with wine, and were put to the sword, and never struck stroke; those that fled out of the Camp that night (which were but few in numher) were overthrown also next day by the horsemen, which followed, and killed them as they took them straggling here and there in the Field. The bruit of this victory was blown abroad incontinently through all the Towns and Villages thereabouts, which cau­sed many young men to come, and joyn themselves to Camillus; but especially the Romans desired the same, who had saved themselves in the City Veies, after the battel lost at Allia, who made their moans among themselves, saying, O Gods, what a Captain hath Fortune taken from the City of Rome? What honour hath the City of Ardea by the valiantness and worthy deeds of Camillus? and in the mean season, his natural City that brought him forth, is now [Page 41] lost and utterly destroyed; we for lack of a Captain to lead us are shut up here, within others walls, and do nothing but suffer Italy in the mean space to go to ruine and utter de­struction before our eyes; why then do we not send to the Ardeans for our Captain? or why dowe not arm our selves and go to him? for he is now no more a banished man; nor we poor Citizens, since our City is possessed with a Forreign power of our hatefull enemies; so they all agreed to this counsel, and sent to Camillus, to beseech him to be their Captain, and lead them. But he made answer, he would in no case consent unto it, unless they that were be­sieged in the Capitol had lawfully first confirmed it by their voices; for those, said he, as long as they do remain within the City, represent the State and body thereof; therefore if they commanded him to take this charge upon him, he would most willingly obey them; if other­wise they misliked of it, that then he would not meddle against their good wills and command­ment. They having received this answer, there was not a Roman amongst them, but greatly honoured and extolled the wisdom and justice of Camillus. But now they knew not how to make them privy to it, that were besieged in the Capitol; for they saw no possibility to convey a Messenger unto them, considering the enemies were Lords of the City, and laid siege unto it. Howbeit there was one Pontius Cominius, among the young men (a man of a mean house, but yet desirous of honour and glory) that offered himself very willingly to venter to get in, if he could, so he took no Letters to convey with him to them that were besieged; for fear lest they might be intercepted, and so they should discover Camillus intention, but putting on an ill favoured gown upon him, he conveyed certain pieces of Cork under it, and travelling at noon days, kept on his way without fear, untill he came to Rome, bringing dark night with him; and because he could not pass by the bridge, for that the Gauls kept watch upon it, he wrapped such cloaths, as he had, about his neck (which were not many nor heavy) and took the River, and swimming with these Corks which he had brought, at length he got over to the other side, where the City stood; then taking up those lanes where he thought the enemies were not, seeing fire, and hearing noise in other places, he went to the gate Carmentall, where he found more silence then in other places, on the which side also the hill of the Capitol was more steep and upright, by reason of the great rocks that were hard to clime up upon: But he digged and crept up so long amongst them that he got up with great pain unto the wall of the Fortress, on the which side also the enemy kept no watch; and saluting the watch of the Capitol, he told them what he was, so they plucked him up to them, and brought him to the Magistrates that ruled them, who caused the Senate to assemble presently, to whom he told the news of Camillus Victory, which they had not heard of before; and therewith also he did declare unto them, the determination of the Roman Souldiers that were abroad, which was to make Camillus their Captain and General, and did perswade them also to grant him the Charge, for that he was the only man abroad, whom the Citizens gave consent to obey; when they heard this, all that were within the Capitol consulted thereupon among themselves, and so did choose Camillus Dictator, and returned the Messenger, Pontius Cominius back again, the self same way he came unto them; this fortune in returning back was like unto his co­ming thither, for the enemies never saw him: And so he brought report to them that were a­broad of the Senates decree and consent, whereof they were all marvellous glad. Thus came Camillus to take this Charge of General upon him, and found there were twenty thousand good fighting men abroad and well Armed. Then got he further ayd also of their Allies, and Confederates, and prepared daily to go and set upon the enemies. So was Camillus chosen now Dictator the second time, and went into the City of Veies, where he spoke with the Ro­mane Souldiers that were there, and leavied a great number of Allies besides to go fight with the enemies as soon as he could. But whilst Camillus was thus preparing, certain of the Gauls in Rome walking out by chance on that side of the Capitol where Pontius Cominius had gotten up the night before, spied in divers places the prints of his feet and hands, as he had griped and gotten hold, sti [...]l digging to get hold, and saw the weeds also, and herbs growing upon the Rocks, and the earth also in the like manner flat trodden down; whereupon they went pre­sently unto the King, to let him understand the same, who forthwith came to view the place, and having considered it well, did nothing at that time; but when dark night was come, he called a company of the lightest Gauls together, and that used most to dig in Mountains, and said unto them, our enemies themselves do shew us the way how to take them, which we could not have found out but by themselves; for they having gone up before us, do give us easily to understand that it is no impossible thing for us to clime up also, wherefore we were utterly shamed, having already began well, if we should fail also to end well, and to leave this place as invincible; for if it were easie for one man alone, by digging, to clime up to the top there­of, much less is it hard for many to get up one after another, so that one do help the other. Therefore Sirs, I do assure you, those that do take the pains to get up, shall be honourably re­warded according to their just desert; when the King had spoken these words unto the Gauls, they fell to it lustily, every man to get up, and about midnight, they began many of them to dig and make steps up to the Rock one after another, as softly as could possibly, with catch­ing hold the best they could by the hanging of the Rock, which they found very steep, but nevertheless, easier to clime then they took it at the beginning, so that the foremost of them being up to the top, were now ready to take the wall, and to set upon the Watch, that slept; for there was neither man nor dog that heard them. It chanced then there were holy Geese [Page 42] kept in the Temple of Juno, which at other times were wont to be fed till their crops were full: But victuals being very strait and scant at that time, even to finde the men, the poor Geese were so hardly handled, and so little regarded that they were in a manner starved for lack of meat: This Fowl indeed naturally is very quick of hearing, and so also very fear­full by nature, and being in a manner almost famished with their hard allowance, they were so much the more wakefull and easier to be afraid: upon this occasion therefore, they heard the coming of the Gauls, and also began to run up and down and cry for fear, with which noise they did wake those that were within the Castle. The Gauls being bewrayed by these foolish Geese, left their stealing upon them, and came in with all open noise and terrour they could. The Romans hearing this Alarm every man took such weapon as came first to hand, and they run suddenly to rescue that place, from whence they understood the noyse; amongst those the foremost man of all was Marcus Manlius, a man that had been Consull, who had a lusty body, and as stout a heart. His hap being to meet with two of the Gauls together, as one of them was lifting up his Ax to knock him on the head, he prevented him and struck off his hand with his sword, and clapt his Target on the others face so fiercely, that he threw him backward down the Rock, and coming afterwards unto the Wall with others that ran thither with him, he repulsed the rest of the Gauls that were gotten up, who were not many in num­ber: Thus the Romans having escaped this danger, the next morning they threw the Captain down the Rocks from the Castle, who had charge of the Watch the night before; and gave Manlius in recompence of the good service he had done, a more honourable then profitable reward, which was this, every man of them gave him half a pound of the Country Wheat which they call Far: and the fourth part of the measure of wine, which the Grecians call Cotile, and this might be about a Quart, being the ordinarie allowance of every man, by the day.

After this Repulse the Gauls began to be discouraged, partly for that their victuals failed them, and durst no more forrage abroad in the fields for fear of Camillus; and partly also for that the Plague came amongst them, being lodged amongst heaps of dead bodies, lying in every place above ground without burial, and amongst burnt houses destroyed, where the ashes being blown very high by the wind, and vehemency of heat, did give a dry piercing ayr, that did marvellously poyson their bodies, when they came to draw in the breath of it. But the greatest cause of all their mischief, was the change of their wonted Diet, who coming out of a fresh Country, where there were excellent pleasant places to retire unto to avoid the discomodity of the parching heat of the Summer, were now in a naughty plain Country for them to remain in, in the later season of the year. All these things together, did heap diseases upon them, besides the long continuance of the siege about the Capitol (for it was then about the 7. moneth) by reason whereof there grew a marvellous death in their Camp, through the great numbers of them that died daily and lay unburied.

But notwithstanding all the death and trouble of the Gauls, the poor besieged Romans were nothing holpen, and the Famine still did grow upon them: And because they could hear no­thing of Camillus, they were almost grown into despair; and send unto him they could not, the Gauls kept so strait a watch, upon them in the City; whereupon both parties finding them­selves in hard estate; first, the Watch on each side began to cast out words of peace amongst themselves; and afterwards by consent of the heads, Sulpitius Tribune of the Souldiers came to parley with Brennus. In which parley it was articuled, that the Romans should pay a thou­sand pound weight of gold; and that the Gauls should incontinently, after the Receit of the same depart out of their City, and all their Territories; this decree being passed by oath from both, the gold was brought: And when it came to be weighed, the Gauls at the first, pri­vily began to deal falsely with them; but afterwards they openly stayed the balance, and would let them weigh no more, whereat the Romans began to be angry with them; then Bren­nus in scorn and mockery, to despite them the more, pluckt off his sword belt and all, and put it into the balance where the Gold was weighed. Sulpitius, seeing that, askt him, what he meant by it? Brennus answered him, What can it signifie else, but sorrow to the vanquished? This word ever after ran as a common Proverb in the Peoples mouths. Some of the Romans took this vile part of theirs in such scorn, that they would needs take the Gold from them again by force, and so return unto their Hold to abide the Siege still, as they had done before; others were of opinion to the contrary; and thought it best with patience, to put up this scorn of theirs, and not to think it was shame to pay more then they had promised; but only to pay it by compulsion as they did by misfortune of time, was rather to think necessa­ry then honourable.

And as they were debating the matter thus, as well amongst themselves as the Gauls, Ca­millus came to Rome gates with his Army, and understanding all that had passed between them, he comands the rest of the Army to march fair and softly after him in good order; and he himself in the mean season, with the best choice men he had, went before with all speed. As soon as the other Romans within the City had spied him, they shouted for joy, and every one with great reverence received him, without any more words, as their Soveraign Prince and Captain, who had power over them all: And Camillus taking the gold out of the scales, gave it unto his men, and commanded the Gauls presently to take up the scales, and to get them going; for said he, it is not the Romans manner to keep their Country with gold, but with [Page 43] the sword: then Brennus began to be hot, and told him it was not honourably done of him to break the accord that had passed between them before by oath, whereunto Camillus stoutly answered him again, that accord was of no validity; for he being Dictator was before all other Officers and Magistrates whatsoever; and their acts by his election were made of no authority: And seeing therefore that they had dealt with men that had no power of them­selves to accord to any matter, they were to speak to him, if they required ought; for he alone had also late power to pardon them if they repented, and would ask it; or else to pu­nish them, and make their bodies answer the damage and loss his Country had sustained by them: These words made Brennus as mad as a March Hare, that out went his blade; then they drew their swords on all sides, and laid lustily one at another, as they could within the houses, and in open streets, where they could set no Battel in order; but Brennus suddenly remembring himself, that it was no even match for him, retired with his men about him into his Camp before he had lost many of his people. The next night following he departed out of Rome with all his Army, and went to encamp himself about threescore Furlongs; from thence in the high way that goeth towards the City of the Gabians, Camillus with his whole Army, well appointed, went after him immediately, and shewed himself at his Camp by break of day. The Romans having taken heart again unto them, did lustily give them Bat­tel, the same continued very long cruel and doubtfull, till at length the Gauls were overcome, and their Camp taken with great slaughter: As for those that did escape the fury of the Bat­tel, they were killed some by the Romans themselves, who hotly followed the chase after the Battel broken; and the residue of them, and the greatest part were slain by those of the Ci­ties and Villages near abouts, that did set upon them as they fled here and there scattering in the field: Hitherto Plutarch; and most likely it is, that the Heroick Brittain, the most cou­ragious Brennus, here also perished; and therefore we will return to his brother.

Belinus, now absolute Monarch of Brittain, after he had lest his Brother in Forreign Coun­tries, and returned into his own Kingdom, built the famous City of Caerleon upon Vsk, for confirmation of which verity there are many witnesses, as the Brittish History, Galfridus, Vi­cunnius, Matthew of Westminster, Ranulph, Hegen, Caxton, Harding, Stow, Hollinshead; and to write in his words, Most part of all our Writers. Galfridus calls this City Kaerose: Vicun­nius nameth it Kaer Vsk, Matth. West. Kaer Vsk, Higeden Caer Huth; and it was one of the three Arch flamens Seats of Brittany. The Priests amongst the old Romans, were called Fla­mins, by reason of certain little narrow hats which they did wear upon their heads, as if they had called them Pilamines; for Pilos in Greek signifieth a Hat: Numa Pampilius, is said to have been the first Founder of the Flamens, by reason that he added to the Priests of Jupiter and Mars a third, who was called Flamen Quirinalis.

This City, in succeeding times, was called Caerlegion, that is to say, the City of Legions, and was the See of an Archbishop; to which was subject all Cambria or Wales, then adorned with seven Bishops, now with four Suffragans, Sedes Archiepiscoporum in Brittannia tres fue­runt tempore Lucii regis, Brittannorum primi Christiani, videlicet apud London, apud Ebora­cum, apud Caer-hursc, urbem Legionum in Glamorgancia, quibus tunc subjecti fuerunt 28. E­piscopi Flamines tunc vocati, &c. Vrbi Legionum subjacuit tota Cambria 7 tunc Episcopis nunc vero quatuor suffraganeis insignita, quam flumen Sabrina tunc Secernebat à Loegria, Mr. Brough. fol. 282. which Severn then separated from England: and in this City, faith a French Author was King Lucius born. The same Author speaking further; the Sees of these three Arch-flamens,Fol. 283.4. The praise of Caerleon. being the three most noble Cities of Brittain, which were London, Everwicks, and the City of Legions upon the River Vsks in the County of Glamorgan in Wales, not far from Severn, which is a place delicious, and passing in Riches all other Cities.

As concerning the Arch-bishops of Caerleon, they have been many, and of great note,Godwin in his Catalogue of Bish. Landaf. & St. Davids. Fol. 319. Learning, and Sanctity; We must account (saith Godwin) St. Dubritius the first Bishop, Not that I deny any other to have sate there before him; but because be is the first whose name is re­membred: And it is probable he had no Predecessors, because the memory of his Successors is so carefully preserved: But as this mans Authority is so weak to be rested upon (saith Mr. Brough­ton) that it hath often before deceived them who builded upon it; so his reason here alledged is of as feeble strength; for the memory of the Successors hath been so carelesly preserved by his own confession after, that he having cited two different Catalogues of their names, only above twenty in number, concludeth in these terms against himself before; Of these fore­named Bishops, until Sampson, there remaineth little or no memorial, but their names only. And in the names themselves, there is difference in the memorials of them.Harpfield Hist. in five 7. seculi. John Bal. l. de Scrip. Brit. Gent. 1. in Sa­muele Beulano. John Leland apud Pits. li. de viribus illa. in Elbode. Harris Hist. Ecclc. Manu. li. 2. c. 20. And both of them omit their most renowned Archbishop Elbodus, who joyned with St. Augustine and his com­pany, and wrote against his own Brittains and Scots for their untrue observation of Easter. Some think he was created Archbishop by St. Augustine. Mr. Harris seemeth to be of opi­nion, that St. Fugatianus, one of Pope Elutherius Legates was first Archbishop of Caerleon, and St. Damiunus the other Legat Archbishop of London, yet with the common opinion he had pla­ced St. Thean there before, both which may stand with truth in due construction if St. Damia­nus resigned it to St. Thean, who, as he saith, was Archbishop there eighteen years; and see­ing we find no final departure of these two holy Legats from hence, but rather a continual a­bode here, after their return from Rome, as though they were wholly designed for the spiritual good of this Kingdom, if we joyn here with what eminent men and Bishops they were, we [Page 44] may not deny them any chief place of honour, according to their worth and deservings here.

The old Writer of St. Gudwalus Life, Surius Haraeus, and others say, he was Archiepiscopus Britannus, an Archbishop of Brittany, and by his life and aboad of no other place, but our old Caerlegion; And if we should follow their opinions, which hold, that Caerlegion was Au­gusta, where our renowned Archbishop Augulus was martyred, we must also make him Arch­bishop there; and the old Brittish History with divers other, testifieth, that Tremonus was Arch­bishop here,Mr. Brough. fol. 320. age 2. 5. Tremonus urbis Legionum Archiepiscopus, long before St. Dubritius. And it was foretold long before, probably, St. Dubritius was born, or Tremonus was Archbishop of Caer­legion, that this Archbishops See should be translated from thence to St. Davids, and there the Archbishops Pall of Caerlegion should be worn, Menevia Pallio urbis Legionum induetur, which was after verified in the time of St. David; as also the prophecie of the translation of London to Canterburie by St. Augustine: and the seventh Archbishop of York going into Ar­morica, performed by St. Sampson, all foretold at one time altogether long before: There­fore as in London and York there were Archbishops, so in this City also of Caerlegion there were such wearing the Pall, justifying the undeniable change and performance of that Predi­ction.Ibid. After this time all Histories agree of St. Dubritius, St. David, Eliud, Theelianus, Ki­nocus immediatly succeeding one another, and Elbodus in St. Aug. time. And a late Writer saith further: In which three Cities of London, York, and Caerlegion upon Usk, there had been before time three Arch-flamens erected unto Apollo, Mars and Minerva, but now rased to the ground, and three other Churches builded in their steads by Lucius, to the intent that the Countreys round about, might have indifferent access unto those places, and therewithall under­stand for certain whether to resort for resolution.

The Persecution under the Roman Emperors being generall to all Churches and places, even in the beginning thereof came to the City of Caerlegion, where the Church being destroyed, and the School founded by King Lucius overthrown, the holy Priests and other Christians there, had their part therein. Amongst others St. Julius and St. Aron were then cruelly mar­tyred in that City, being by consent of all, Citizens and Inhabitants, there: Aron & Julius Legionum urbis cives, most cruelly torn in pieces, by torments never heard of before, passi sunt inaudita membrorum discerptione in testimonium Dei excelsi. Others say, it is evident in Histories they were learned men, brought up in the Colledge or School, there founded by King Lu­cius; The old School of Caerlegion brought forth many noble Martyrs. thus write two late authors, Ex Sanctorum Historiis constat Amphibalum Aaronem & Ju­lium Sanctissimos Dei Martyres cœlestem Christi Doctrinam, apud urbem Legionum inter literas tradidisse. Ex nobili Gymnasio urbi Legionum viri multi summa pietatis & doctrinae laude con­spicui prodierunt, ut Amphibalus Julius & Aron. By which Authorities, and Testimonies joyning these holy Martyrs for Education, School, Learning, Preaching and professing Christ with that most renowned Priest and Bishop St. Amphibalus they incline to hold and teach that they also were Clergy men. This persecution at Caerlegion when these holy Martyrs were put to death, was at the destruction of the Cathedral Church there, being at the same time when the like desolation was at Winchester long before St. Albans Martyrdom, I must needs say the same of these Saints, as the Annales of Winchester do of their Martyrs. And this the rather, because our Antiquaries have told us, that S. Amphibalus who converted S. Alban, was born, bred, instructed in learning, and remained at Caerlegion, and being there in all probable Judge­ment, when these troubles began there, was as our Brittish History witnesseth, pursued, and in present danger to be apprehended by the Persecutors, when St. Alban gave him entertainment and succour; and addeth plainly, that when St. Amphibalus thus fled from Caerlegion, St. Ju­lius, and St. Aron were, Absque cunctamine, presently Martyred there, having their members so torn in pieces, as the like had not been heard of before. Inter cæteros utriusque sexus summae magnanimitate in acie Christi præstantes, passus est Albanus, Julius quoque & Aron urbis Legi­onum cives; Julius and Aaron marty­red before St. Alban. quorum Albanus charitatis gratia fervens, confessorem suum Amphibalum à per­sequitoribus insectatum, & jam jam comprehendendum, in domo sua occuluit; cæteri veri Duo inau­dita membrorum discerptione lacerati ad egregias portas Hierusalem absque cunctamine cum Mar­tyrii trophæo convolaverunt. The very same testimony hereof is given by St. Gildas, both for St. Amphibalus then flying the persecution, and the martyrdom of these saints at that time. St. Bede also is witness that St. Alban entertained St. Amphibalus flying the persecutors, Cleri­cum quendam persecutores fugientem hospitio recepit. And that St. Aron and St. Julius were martyred at that time, Passi sunt ea tempestate Aron & Julius urbis legionum cives: The like have others; therefore Giraldus Cambrensis doth worthily call them our two Protomartyrs in this time, only in dignity, second and next to St. Alban and St. Amphibalus, but in time first and before them, Duo nobiles & post Albanum & Amphibalum præcipui Brittanniae Majoris Protomartyres. Gild. excid. Brit. c. 8. These our two Protomartyrs are wonderfully commended in our Histories: St. Gildas saith of them, that they stood out in the Army of Christ, with greatest magnanimi­ty,Giral. sup. Itin. com. l. 1. c. 5. Summa magnanimitate in acie Christi præstantes dico. Giraldus Cambrensis is witness that amongst the Martyrs of that time, they were the chiefest next to St. Alban, and St. Amphiba­lus, Post Albanum & Amphibalum præcipui martyrio coronati, Julius & Aron: How they were honoured of the holy Catholick Christians of that time, with Churches dedicated to them, Pilgrimages to the places of their Martyrdom, and they both there, and in other places ho­noured, invocated and prayed unto, presently upon the ceasing of the Persecution.

Now it will suffice to conclude with that their title of glory and renown, which the anci­ent and learned Bishop of their Nation before hath given them, and the due and honour to the place of their triumphant death, Jacent hic duo nobilis Brittanniæ Majoris Protomartyres & ibidem Martyrio coronati Julius & Aron. Here lie (at Caerlegion) the two Noble Proto­martyrs of great Brittain, Julius and Aron, and there crowned with Martyrdom. This title to be the first Martyrs of Brittain in the most terrible persecution, and with such exceeding magnanimity, and Christian constancy, as hath been related, in induring torments till then never heard of, without any example going before them, but giving themselves the first ex­ample hereof, so wonderfull patience, love of Christ, and Heroical true fortitude to so many thousands, which by their singular example, with invincible courage imitated them therein, is the greatest honour we can yeild to such blessed Saints on earth; their Festivity is celebra­ted by the old Roman Martyrologie upon the first day of July. Baronius in Indice non Sanct. in Julie & Arone. On which day as Baronius plainly writeth, many others suffered Martyrdom with them, Julius & Aron Martyres cum aliis plurimis in Brittania sub Dioclesiano primo die Julii. So likewise affirmeth the English Writer, and the Roman Martyrologe which Baronius glosseth upon, may very well carry that construction, for setting down for a certain truth, that these two holy Martyrs were put to death in Brittany upon the first day of July, Primo die Julii in Brittannia Sanctorum Marty­rum Julii & Aron, qui in persecutione Dioclesiani passi sunt; it presently addeth, quo tempore ibidem quam plurimi diversis cruciatibus torti & saevissime lacerati ad supernæ civitatis gaudia consummato agone pervenerunt: At the same time, in the same place very many tortured with divers torments, and most cruelly torn, having ended their combats, came to the joys of heaven.

And St. Bede saith, that ea tempestate, at that time when St. Julius and St. Aron were mar­tyred, divers others, both men and women were put to death, Alii utrius (que) sexus passi sunt ea tempestate. So hath Henry of Huntington, Passi sunt eo tempore Julius & Aron alii quo­que plures utriusque sexus: And we cannot probably think that these raging Persecutors, who in places where there were not in any degree so many Christians, as in this renowned City an Archiepiscopal See, and Christian University put them to death by thousands, sent these here by cruel Martyrdom to heaven alone; These holy Martyrs by all Antiquities suffered Martyrdom at Caerlegion, and both Giraldus Cambrensis and Ranulphus, Higeden writing at Winchester: As also our late Antiquaries of the same Country, plainly say it was at Caerle­gion in Monmouthshire, which was the Archiepiscopal City and School, distinguishing it from Winchester, by some called Caerlegion; also I will only cite one Englished to my hand by a Modern; In this Region Monmouthshire is seated, the most ancient and most noble City of Le­gions, which our Countrymen call Caerleon on Usk, that is to say, the City of Legions upon Usk for difference sake, between it and the other which is built in Northwales, upon the River Dee; of which Giraldus writeth thus. The same was a Noble and ancient Town, the tokens where­of remain as yet, an huge Palace, a Giant like Tower, goodly Baths and Hot-houses, Re­liques of Churches and places like Theaters, compassed with beautifull walls, partly yet standing; also buildings under the ground, Conducts, secret passages and Vaults under the Earth, framed with wonde [...]full Workmanship. There lyeth Julius and Aron, which had Churches dedicated unto them, Ʋna Julii Martyris altera Araonis. In the Church of St. Ju­lius which is now called St. Julians, and is distant from the now Caerleon a mile, seated fast by the River of Ʋsk, which runneth through the Town, belonging to the Right Honourable Edward Lord Herbert of Cherbury and Castle Issand, a most stately house in this Church, for­merly Virgineo choro de corata, was a Nunnery: for in this Town were two famous Monaste­ries one of Monks, or Canon Regulars, the other of Nuns,M. Broug. fol. 603. 9. Matth. Westm. an. 541. dedicated to St. Julius in which Queen Guenhumara wife to King Arthur did after receive the habit of Religion Guenhumara Regina in Monasterio Julii Martyris inter Moniales habitum Religionis suscepit.

Not far from Caerlegion, is a place called St. Albans, standing on the ascent of a hill, at the bottom whereof runneth the River of Vsk, where by an old Tradition, the Inhabitants believe St. Alban was put to death, and will not be perswaded out of their errour by any reason; wherefore to convince that mistake,Mr. Br. 443▪ though the circumstances of the place be some­thing alike, where St. Alban was put to death; for St. Bede writeth, that the people who came to behold his Martyrdom were so many, that being to passe over the River by a Bridge, if St. Alban had not so miraculously dryed up the River, they could hardly have gone over by the Bridge before night, Ita fluminis occupabat pontem ut intra vesperam transire vix posset: There was scarcely any left in the City, Cunctis pene egressis, a great multitude of both Sexes, divers Estates and Ages came thither by instinct, Vtriusque sexus conditionis diversae & aetatis quæ sine dubio divinitatis instinctu ad obsequium beatissimi confessoris ac Martyris vocabantur. There­fore so many of divers conditions, being thus called by the inspiration of God to such an ho­ly purpose, we cannot but think many of them were there converted at that time. St. Bede setetth this to be done at St. Albans death before the great miracle of Angels, appearing and praising of God, and honouring St. Alban, the night following at his place of burial: and so soon as this miracle appeared, the Pagans presently came thither in great numbers to hear and see it publikely, professing that those Miracles were wrought by the power of Christ the Sonne of GOD, and so being converted unto him, a thousand of them at one time took their Journey to seek Saint Amphibalus in those parts, which we [Page 46] now call Wales so far distant from Verulamium (now St. Albans in England) where by the help of divers Christians in their company among other others, him that took up St. Albans Crosse which he held in his hands at his Martyrdom, which all to be spotted with his blood, they presented to St. Amphibalus whom they found preaching to the people of that Country,Math. West. Anno 303. ma­nuscript. Antiq. in vita St. Am­phibali. Cap [...]r. in eadem & alii. and they were Instructed, Catechized, and Baptized by him in Christian Religion. Cum ad hoc spectaculum subito fieret concursus Paganorum, unus ex omnibus in hanc vocem prorupit. Hæc miranda quæ vidimus Christum Dei Filium liquidò operari constat, eamus & inquiramus virum Dei, quia sicut nostis Albanum prædicando convertit ad Christum: Cum (que) omnibus ista sententia placuisset, ad mille hominum versus Walliam iter arripiunt & virum Dei Amphibalum ibi inve­nerunt regionis illius hominibus Verbum Dei prœdicantem; Jocob. Gen. in vita S. Alba. & S. Amphi. cui adventus sui causam exponentes, Crucem quam suo quondam Albano commendaverat cruore respersam obtulerunt; at ille gratias Deo agens, novis auditoribus fecit de Religione Sermonem, cui mox illi consentientes signaculum qùod in Christo est ab ejus sacris manibus alacriter susceperunt.

Some Authors will have these thousand Martyrs to have suffered at Lichfield, because there were so many in that persecution Martyred there; and the very name Lichfield signifieth a Field of Blood, and the bearing the Arms accordingly belonging thereto: but this Contro­versie is decided before, when our Antiquaries assure us, that it was in the County now cal­led Wales, in which Lichfield never was nor can be accounted, neither was it the way of these persecutors thither, from Verulamium; nor so long and tedious a journey; Iter tam laboriosum as they went Dictum est quod omnes pro quibus tam laboriosum iter susceperant in extremis finibus perierunt; Certainly great and cruel was the Massacre; for these cruel Pagans Diabolica in­vecti furia slew all they met; the Son not sparing his Father nor the Brother his Brother, no Man his Neighbour;Jacob Genven. Mat. West. 33.. cap. in S. Amp. but sine respectu sanguinis, ætatis, aut reverentiae, vicini vicinos, & amicos amici neci tradunt, & atrociter in ore gladii mille viros pro Christo occidunt, ex hoc sacro Colle­gio unus omnino superfuit qui in via corporis infirmitate detentus adesse non potuit. Thus much concerning Caerleon in this place.

Bellinus having built Caerleon upon Ʋsk, built also a Gate in London, to this hour called Bellinus Gate,Historiarum, lib. 3. nota 12. In cujus summa (saith Ri. Vitus) Turrim aedificat & in imo portum appellentibus per Tamesim navibus idoneum; item aliam Turrim in colle Londini, Quam hodie (secundum Jo­annem Lelandum) Turrim Londinensem vocamus quod non est improbabile, nam Peredurus Rex postea captus in ea custoditus; Hanc igitur arcem Londinensem, inquit Polidorus Virgi­lius satis munitam & multis Turribus (unde nomen habet) exstructam, falso vulgus Anglorum præ­dicat à Julio Cæsare conditam esse, qui de Londino non meminit quippe quod eo non pervenerit. In whose top or highest place he caused a Tower to be made, and at the Fort or Basis a Har­bour and safe landing place for ships sayling up the Thames; He also built an other Tower on the hill of the mount of London, as affirmeth John Leland, which at this day we call the Tower of London, nor much unprobable for that Peredurus, King of this Island, being surpri­zed,In his Notes upon his 3. Book. Figure 13. was there kept prisoner; Polidorus Virgilius is of opinion (as Vitus tells us) that this Tower being strongly built and garnished with many smaller Towers, from whence it takes its name, was not built by Julius Cæsar, as the vulgar opinion is, for that he maketh no men­tion of London nor ever came so far.

Bellinus autem cum regnasset annos viginti & unum solus, diem obiit nobili (que) ceremonia in ig­nem conjectus uritur primus quidem omnium Brittannorum Regum qui crematus est, & cineres in urnam auream conditi ponuntur, super fastigio portae Bellinæ; Bellinus after he had reigned alone the space of one and twenty years, finished the course of his natural life, whose body with noble but unusual ceremony was cast into a fire, being the first of all the Brittish Kings, whose body was consumed with Funeral flames; his ashes being gathered together, were put into a golden Vessell or Urne, and placed in the highest part of his late built Arch or Gate.

You have already heard how Brennus the heroick Brittish Prince sackt Rome, besieged the Capitol, compelled the Senators to compound with him for a thousand pound weight of Gold, and how lastly he was pursued by Camillus the Dictator, and how he was vanquished and his whole Army routed and put to the Sword, partly by the country Peasants and neighbouring Towns and Villages, in which sad condition Plutark leaves: but he was a Roman Writer and may speak partially in the behalf of his own Country. Let us hear therefore what Count Pa­latine thinks of the matter; he was born in this Island and will speak as much for Brennus as did Plutark for Camillus; Ri. Vitus Ba­sing Stochius. and therefore tells you, Brennus autem domitis Pannoniis & audita Victoria suorum qui Belgio Duce Macedones vicerant preda (que) relicta discesserant, adunatis cen­tum quinquaginta millibus equitum erumpit in Macedoniam; sed pauci à pluribus, trepidi à va­lentibus facile vincuntur. Ita (que) cum victi Macedones se condidissent intra muros Ʋrbium, Victor Brennus nemine impediente totius Macedoniæ agros deprædatur, inde quasi spolia sorderent, con­vertit animum ad Deorum immortalium Templa, joco dicens oportere Deos locupletes hominibus dona largiri: statim igitur Delphos iter vertit, Religionis aurum pro præda Deorum offensae præ­fert, eos ait nullis opibus indigere; ita (que) cum in conspectu Templum Apollinis haberet, diu deli­beravit an confestim rem aggrederetur, an vero fessis via militibus daret spacium noctis ad resu­mendas vires. Emidanus & Thessalonus duces qui se junxerant ad prædaesocietatem jubent moras amputari dum hostes forent imparati & sui adventus eis esset terrori; sed Galli ex inopia longa cum invenirent rura referta vino, cæteris (que) commeatibus, se per agros sparserant desertis (que) signis [Page 47] ad occupanda omnia pro victoribus vagabantur. Prius ergo Delphi viribus sociorum aucti præ­munierunt Ʋrbem suam, quam Galli vino veluti prædæ incubantes ad signa evocantur. Brennus habebat ex omni exercitu lecta Sexaginta quin (que) Millia peditum. Delphorum sociorum (que) non e­rant nisi militum instructorum quatuordecim Millia, quorum contemptu Brennus præ numero suorum de victoria non dubitat; sed ad acuendos animos militibus ostendit ubertatem prædæ statuas (que) cum quadrigis fusas auro solido: quarum rerum animadversione Galli magis incitati ac pridie vino pleni, ruunt in bellum sine ulla cogitatione periculorum. Delphi contra plus in Deo quam in viribus suis subsidii ponunt, Gallos (que) scandentes de summo vertice montis Parnassi quo templum Apollinis est, partim Saxis partim Armis obruunt, maximo (que) terræ motu parte montis ejusdem erupta, Gal­lorum Exercitum prostravit, confertissimi (que) cunei vulneribus dissipati cadebant; Dux ipse Bren­nus cum non poterat amplius ferre dolorem vulnerum suorum vitam pugione finivit. Brennus having vanquished the Inhabitants of Pannonia, and hearing of the Victory which his Soul­diers had obtained under the Command of Belgius their Commander against the Macedoni­ans, who fled away leaving the booty and spoils behind them, rallying up fifty thousand foot, and fifteen thousand horse, he suddenly and with great violence enters Macedonia; where whilst he plundered, ransackt, and destroyed both Fields and Villages, Sosthenes with an Army well appointed made Head and Resistance against him: but being far fewer in number, and overwhelmed with multitudes of his Enemies, he was forced to Retreat and give way to his present Fortune: the Macedonians being thus put to the worst, by necessity are compelled to hide and secure themselves under the protection of their walled and fortified Townes and Castles; mean time Brennus having none to oppose him, fleeceth and wasteth the Countries round about; and seeing these spoils too slender for his avaricious and aspiring mind, he de­vours and swallows up in his all-devouring thoughts the opulency of the Gods; deridingly, and as he thinks wittily though profanely, saying, The wealth-abounding Gods must supply the indigent wants of poor distressed mortals; and therefore bends all his power for Delphos, preferring their rich and massie oblations, and consecrate golden offerings before the just and most deserved anger of the Gods, saying, The Gods could never want; busying himselfe with these imaginations, he comes within the sight and view of great Apollos Temple, where he pauseth, considering with himself, whether it were better suddenly to assault, or rather give that nights rest unto his wearied Souldiers to refresh their tired bodies: Euridanus and Thessalonus Captains of great skill and experience, who had associated themselves meerly for lucre and spoil, advise him by all means to cut off delays as dangerous, and suddenly to set upon the attempt; the Enemy as yet being altogether unprovided, in regard whereof a sud­den motion would strike them into a terrible fear. But the Gauls having suffered hunger and hard marches, finding the Country well furished with Wines and other welcome Provisions, leaving their Colours, disperse themselves every one according to his own pleasure and liking, and as if already all were their own, like Conquerors they strut it up and down. This re­misnesse gives opportunity to the Delphians by the Auxiliary Forces of their Friends and Neighbours to fortifie their Town and reinforce their Garrison; which Brennus perceiving, sends out Command for every man speedily to repair to his Colours, whose minds were set upon nothing but looking to their bellies and quaffing lusty bowls. The Army of the Gauls consisted of sixty thousand Foot; the Citizens of Delphos had only fourteen thousand fighting Men, Brennus undervaluing this slender handfull of Men in respect of the numerous Troops of his Souldiers, made himself cock-sure of the Victory; and therefore to encourage his Men the more, he wish'd them to behold and consider, the richness of the Treasure, and greatness of the Spoil which was like to fall unto their share, the Statues and Images together with their Chariots if not made, at least covered over with pure and solid Gold. The greedy Souldier easily swallowed up his golden Bait, and elevated, and inebriated with the blood of the lusty grape, without either Order or command (being sufficiently armed with Bachus to set all danger at defiance) runs headlong into Battel; on the contrary, the wary Delphians, confi­ding more in the protection of their God than strength of their humane Forces, from the high and towring Top of the cloud, kissing Parnassus, (where stood Apollos stately Temple) with stones and other such Materials, besides the help of their Weapons, beat down, and headlong precipitated the aspiring Gauls: this their endeavour was seconded by a sudden and hideous Earthquake, which so broke the Ranks of the amazed yet furious Assailants, and so disordered their best ordered Squadrons, that what with a sudden fear & what with those unwonted kinds of wounds, they were totally disperst and overthrown. Brennus whose haughty spirit not long before was puft up with presumption of winning golden Mountains, is now no longer able to endure his late received wounds; and therefore with one stroke to put a period to all his mi­series, he sheatheth his fatal Dagger with a more then manlike thrust in the most remote angle of his own entrails.

Bellinus together with his brother began their Reign anno Mundi according to Fabian, four thousand eight hundred and eight; according to which Author jointly and alone: elli­nus reigned twenty six years, leaving a Son after him called Gurguintus, Gurguint, Brabituc or after some Writers, Gurguint Barberous, that is to say, Gurguint with a red Beard.

GƲRGƲINTƲS.

G ƲRGƲINTƲS or Gurguint Brabtruc, or according to others, Barbarous, which is as much as to say, with the red Beard or red-bearded, the Son and Successor of the Renowned Bellinus, began to sway the Scepter of Great Brit­tain, in the year of the worlds Creation, 4834. This King in the English Chronicle you shall find named often Corinbratus or Corinbatus; Vitus Comel. Palatinus calls him Gurguntius Ahenobarbus, and saith,Lib. 3. fol. 198. He was Vir admo­modum prudens, qui gesta patris imitanda sibi proposuit, maximus amator pacis & aequitatis; A most prudent man, and one who set before his eyes the glorious Acts of his Father as a pa­tern for himself to follow and imitate, a great lover of equity, peace and justice.

Being now fully setled in his Regal Throne, and having purchased the Loyal affection of his Nobles and Commons, he begins to cast his eye upon Denmark (which as you have heard before, by the taking of Guilthdacus the Prince thereof, was made Tributary unto the Brittain by imposing a yearly Tribute of one thousand pounds to the Successive Kings of this Isle) which by what reason induced, or upon what hopes encouraged, utterly refused to be any lon­ger subject to a Forreign Power; Gurguint not willing to be baffled by those whom his Father had subdued, nor desirous to pocket up the losse of a thousand pounds per annum, musters up his Forces, and in short time appears in the head of a gallant Army; which being in all points equipide, he ships his men in a Navy furnish'd, and with prosperous successe, in short time arrives in Denmark; where not delaying any opportunity, he falls to destroy, waste and ran­sack the Country, supposing that to be the speediest and most ready way to bring his businesse to a wish'd Catastrophe. The Danes startle at the sudden and unexpected approach of so dan­gerous and unlook'd for a Guest; the Danish King at his wits end, not knowing which way to turn himself, seeing all things go to rack, and no way to give redresse or remedy, thinks it bet­ter to enjoy his Kingdome, paying a small Tribute, rather then to be unking'd and thrust out of all, and compell'd to beg Assistance from neighbouring Princes be reinvested: Upon these cogitations, he consults with his Nobles and Barrons, who all accord to avoid the extre­mity of peril, to pay the Tribute, and to give what security the conquering Enemy shall think fit. Gurguintus is not mispleased with their submission, but after so victorious an enterprize, with great glory and triumph, endeavoureth a speedy return into his own Kingdome; but [Page 58] being now with his whole Fleet on the main Ocean, a Navy of about thirty sayl is discovered upon the Coast of the Isle of Orcades, which seemeth to make towards them; yet upon a nea­rer approach they appear to be Men, Women and Children, who being expulsed from their native soyl. wander up and down to seek some place of rest and habitation. Gurguint com­mands the Commander in Chief, whom our Histories call Bartholomew, to be brought aboard his ship; who after some few interrogatories, in a lamentable Oration setting forth both his own and his Companions disasterous calamities, he gave the King to understand that they were of Spain, and of that Province whose Inhabitants were called Balenses, and that they had long travelled and wandered up and down to find some propitious Prince who would com­passionate their most sad and lamentable condition, and grant them some small Angle or Can­ton to settle themselves and Posterity; for the obtaining of which laudable favour, they would become his most faithful Liege-people and Subjects; otherwise, their Victuals and Pro­vision being now almost quite spent, they were in all probability like to starve and be utterly ruined. These sad accidents were spoken with such a doleful Expression by Bartholomew that Gurguint being a King endued with the vertues of Justice and Mercy, gave compassion free accesse into his bosome, and consulting with his Councel, it was generally decreed that they should have allotted unto them the then void and wast Country, which was and is the furthest of all the Isles towards the West, called Ireland, which was in the time of Aristotle or the an­cient Author of the Book [...], of the world called Ierna; so doth Theodoret name it: Claudius Ptolomaeus calls it Ivernia or Hibernia, and Claudianus Hyberne: ‘Scotorum Tumulos flevit glacialis Hyberne.’ And if Ireland hath been at any time named Scotia or Scotland, Mr. Br. f. 28. it was only among the Scottish and Irish Writers, and such as followed them therein, these Irish Historians willing to give that denomination unto it, because many of the Scots with other people dwelt there, when the true name and among strangers was not so, but as I have declared before from ancient Histo­ries,Author of the Book of E­states in Ire­land, the state of the Q. of Great Brittain. p. 22. and to speak out of a late Writers mouth, whose words are these; Ireland, which some of the Ancients called Hibernia, others Ivernia, Innernia, and Irene and Ogygia, and by the Irish themselves Erim, called by Ptolomy little Brittaine, lies between Brittaine and Spain; where we see the Name of Scotland is never attributed simply unto it by these Authors judge­ments, either by the Irish themselves or other Writers Late or Ancient.

Concerning the Nomenclation Ogygia, the Count Palatine citing Cambden, tells us, Si sit verum quod Hiberni Historici narrant, eorum insula merito dicta fuit Ogygia, id est per­antiqua; Cesaram enim ante Diluvium incoluisse scribunt; post secula plurima Hiberum & Her­mionem, Hispanos Gurguntis Regis Brittannorum permissu Colonias deduxisse in hane Re­gionem pestilentia exhaustam Historia Brittanica demonstrat. Hæc ne (que) affirmare ne (que) denegare mihi in animo est, inquit Cambdemus; certe ut Hiberniam antiquitus habitatam crediderim, cum genus humanum seminaretur per universam terrarum orbem; ita perspicuum est ex Brittania primos Incolas illic migrasse; nam in Hibernico Sermone vis infinita est Brittanicarum aictionum; at (que) vetus cultus Hibernorum, ut ait Cornelius Tacitus, non multum differt à Brit­tanico. Deni (que) à Scriptoribus antiquis omnibus Insula ea Brittanica nominatur, præfertius cum Romani suum imperium undi (que) propagassent, multi proculdubio ex Hispanis, Gallia & Brittannia se receperunt in Hiberniam, ne potentiæ Romanæ subjicerentur, quæ res fecit Juli­um Agricolam persuadere Romanis capere Hiberniam, si Britannos in officio continere vellent. Attamen Hibernia licet ipso situ fuerit Imperio Romano summè necessaria, ejus (que) aditus & Portus per commercia cognita Romanis, & Julius Agricola quendam Hibernum Regulum seditionis expulsum retinuerit ad occasionem capiendae Insulæ, nunquam tamen à Romanis in ditionem accepta fuit.

If it be true which the Irish Writers affirm, their Island may justly be called Ogygia (that is, very ancient;) for they aver Cesara to have there inhabited before the Deluge; and the History of Brittany avoucheth, that Hiberus and Hermio, two Spaniards many ages after, by the appointment of Gurguint King of Great Brittaine, inhabited it with their Colonies and Planters; I will neither say it nor gain-say it, quoth Cambden, but certainly it is very proba­ble that Ireland was very anciently Inhabited when mankind was dispersed and spread abroad over the face of the whole earth; and manifest it is, the first Inhabitants to have come thither out of Brittannia; for in the Irish Speech there are a multitude of Brittish words and accents; and as Cornelius Tacitus tells us, the mode of the Irish differs not much from the Brittains. And for a Conclusion of this Discourse, by the most ancient Writers, that Island is called Brittanica or Brittish; and evident it is, that when the Roman valour and glory had con­quered and spread it self almost throughout the whole known world, divers as well out of Spain as France and Britttain fled thither for shelter, not willing to submit their necks and shoulders under the Roman yoke, which was indeed the very cause that moved Julius Agicola to perswade the Romans to get Possession of Ireland if they ever meant to keep the Brittains in s bjection. And although that Iland was of great consequence and necessary to the Romans, neither were their Ports and Haven by reason of the constant and dayly Commerce and Tra­fick to them unknown; And Julius Agricola having got a certain Irish petty King into his clutches, driven by sedition from his native soyl, intended to make him his decoy to seize [Page 59] and fasten upon the Irish jurisdictions; yet for all these stratagems Ireland never came un­der the Roman slavery or obedience.

Gurguint being hitherto victorious and fortunate, returns home, having his head enriched with Laurels of choicest honour and renown, being a Prince of singular prudence and ju­stice, and having laid the Sword aside, he applies himself to build Cities and Towns for the great beauty of his Kingdome; The first place which he erected, was (as saith Howes citing J. Rouse) Caierwerith, that is, Lancaster; of which place the Learned Cambden speaking,Lancaster built by Gurguim. hath these words; 'Ʋbi sub Britanniarum duce ut est in Notitia Provinciarum, numerus Longovi­cariorum, qui è loco suum nomen sunt mutuati, stationem habuit; Whereas we find in the notice of Provinces, a company of the Longovicarians under the Lieutenant General of Brittain lay, which took their name from the place, that is, from the River Lon, which gave name also to Loncaster, and Longovicum; this is onely a Market town at this day; the ancient Town stood where after was a Cloyster; at the foot of the hill are fragments of old walls, and oft-times Roman Coyns are found; but above all, there are the ruins of a very antique structure, which is called Werywall: Recentiori ut videtur hujus oppidi nomine: Hoc enim oppidum, saith Mr. Cambden, ilii Caerwerid (i. e.) Ʋrbem viridem dixerunt à viridanti forsitan illo colle; This Town the Brittains called Caerwerid, that is to say the Green town, perchance taking its Name from the Green hill which is there.

The first time this place became an Earldome was when K. Hen. 3. conferred that Title on his second Son Edm. and it was destinate to greatnesse in the first Foundation, there being laid unto it at the very first, besides this County, the whole confiscated Estates of the Earls of Lei­cester and Derby, and the Barony of Monmouth. And into this by Marriages accrued in time the great Estates of William de Fortibus, Earl of Aumerl and Lord of Holderness, Beauford and other goodly Lands in France, the Earldom of Lincoln and good part of that of Salisbury, the Lordships of Ogncare and Kidwelly in Wales which were once the Chaworths; John of Gaunt added thereunto the Castles and Honors of Hertford and Tickhill, and his Son Bullingbroke a moiety of the Lands of Bohun, being Earl of Hertford, Essex and Northampton, so that it was the greatest Patrimony (as I verily think) of any Subject Prince in Christendome. Lan­caster finally was made a County Palatine by King Ed. the 3. and hath been honoured with these

• Edmund Plantagenet 2. Son to K. Hen. 3. E. of Lan.
• Thomas Plantagenet.
• Henry Plantagenet.
• Henry Plantagenet first D. of Lan.
• John of Gaunt Son to K. Ed. 3. married the Lady Blanch Daughter of Henry D. of Lan.
• Henry of Bullinbroke, Son of John of Gaunt, after King of England, by whom this County Palatine and all the Lands and Honors belonging and incorporate into the Dutchy of Lancaster, were brought unto the Crown of England, though governed as an Estate apart then by its proper Officers, as it continued till the time of K. Ed. 4. who did appropriate it to the Crown, and dissolved the for­mer Government thereof; to which it was restored again by K. Hen. 7. and so still remaineth under the guidance of Chancellor and other Officers of the same.

The next Town which Gurgunstus (as Howes calls him) built, was Porchester in Hampshire, of which place Cambden speaking of those parts, saith; In cujus interiori recessu olim floruit Port Peris ad quem Vespasianum appulisse nostri produnt. Saxones novo Nomine Portchester dix­erunt, non à Porta Saxone sed à portu; Ptolomæo enim [...] (i. e.) portus magnus vo­catur; castrum (que) sanc amplum superest quod in subjectum portum longe late (que) prospectat; where in times past Port Peris flourished, where in succeeding Ages our Writers affirm,Porchester built by Gar­guint. Vespasian when he came into Brittain first landed, the Saxons changed the Name into Portchester, but not deriving it from Porta the Saxon Chieftain, but from Port (i. e.) Haven or Harbour, in which sense Ptolomy useth [...], the great Harbour or Port; this by the ancient Brit­tains was called Caer Peris, and was one of the eight and twenty Sees where the Flamens were seated; in our times it is a Garrison, where in King James his time Sir Cornewallis was Captain.

The third and last place which this Fortunate Prince built was Warwick; Cambden saith,Warwick built by Gurgaint. That the Saxons called this place Warryng-wyc. Mennius and the Brittains Cair Guarvie and Caer leon, all which Names seem to take their derivation from the Brittish word Guarth, which signifieth a Garrison, Sconce or place of Defence; Hoc illud oppidum est quod præsi­dium Romanis in Brittannia dicebatur, ubi ut est in provinciarum Notitia præfectus equitum Dalmatarum sub dispositione Ducis Brittanniorum egit; The situation of this place is most [Page 60] pleasant upon a Hill rising from the River, over which is a strong and fair stone Bridge, and her sharp stream upon the Town side checked with a most fair and sumptuous Castle: It seemeth this Town hath been walled about, as appeareth by the Trench in some places seen, and two very fair Gates, whose passages are hewed out of the Rock, as all other into the Town are; over which two beautiful Chappels are built; that towards the East, called St. Peters, and on the South-west St. James; two fair Churches are therein seated, called St. Maries and St. Nicholas; beside these in and about the Town suppressed, St. Laurence, St. Michaels, St. John Baptist and St. John of Jerusalem, and the Nunnery in the North of the Town; the Castle which we named, was ruinous, but was of late Repaired at the great cost and charges of Sir Fulk Grenil, the late Lord Brook, who therein dwelt; so was it anciently the Seat and abiding Place of the

• 1 Henry de Newburgh, E.
• 2 Roger de Newburgh.
• 3 William de Newburgh.
• 4 Walleran de Newburgh.
• 5 Henry de Newburgh, L [...]sengè, Or, and Azure on a border Gules 8 plates.
• 6 Thomas de Newburgh, Chechy Or, Azure and a Cheveron ermin.
• 7 John Marshall first Husband of Margery, Sister and Heir of Thomas de Newburgh. Gules a bend fusile, Or.
• 8 John de Placetis, second Husband of the said Margery. Ar, 6 annulets, Gules 321.
• 9 Walleran de Newburgh, Uncle and Heir of Thomas de Newb. Losengè, Or and Azure on a border gules 8 plates.
• 10 William Manduit Son of Alice, Sister and Heir of Walleran. Ar, 2 bars, Gules.
• 11 William Beauchamp Son of the Lady Isabella, Sister and Heir of William Manduit.
• 12 Guido Beauchamp.
• 13 Thomas [...]eauchamp, E. Marst.
• 14 Thomas Beauchamp.
• 15 Rich Beauchamp, Reg. of France.
• 16 Henry Beauchamp, D. of Warwick. Gules, a fess between 6 cross croslets, Or.
• 17 Richard Nevill who married Anne, sister of Henry Beuchamp, D. of Warwick, Gules, a saltoir arg. a label of three gob. A & B.
• 18 George D. of Clarence, who married Anne D. of Ri. Nevill, England and France, quartered on a label of 3 points, arg. as many cantons G.
• 19 Edw. Plant. Son of George, arma paterna.
• 20 John Dudley descended from the Lady Margaret, Daughter of Rich. Beauchamp, E. of War.
• 21 Ambrose Dudley. Or a Lyon rampant, his tail double-sorked, veet.
• 22 Robert Lord Rich, created E. of VVarwick, 16 Jac. Aug. 2.
• 23 Robert Rich. Gules, a cheveron between 3 cross croslets Or.

Gurguntius buried at Caerleon.After Gurguint had ruled this Kingdom by the space of twenty nine years in great peace and tranquillity, he departed out of this transitory life, and was buried at Caerleon, leaving to succeed him his Son Guinthelinus or Guintellius.

GƲINTHELINƲS.

GƲINTHELINƲS or Guintellius the Son of Gurguint, his Father being dead, took upon him the Government of this Island, and was crowned King of Great Brittain, in the year of the World, four thousand eight hundred fifty and three. The English Chronicle cal­leth this Prince Gwentoline, a man of singular Parts and Education, understanding exactly both the Greek and Latine Language; he governed his Subjects with such moderation and judgement, that his Memory deserveth to live for ever; and to make him the more glorious, the heavenly Providence bestowed upon him a Lady for his wife, who equalized him in all the Excellencies that can be exprest in her Sex; she was so transcendent being but a woman, that she had beautified her intellectual parts with the knowledge and perfection of many Sci­ences, insomuch that she might justly be stiled learned; but above all, these rich Treasures of her mind she imployed not to ostentation or vain-glory that thereby she might be praised, but made use of them for the common good and utility of the Kingdome. Martiae who was the Paragon of her time and nature also, she composed a Law so conducing to the good of all, that in memory of her, it was called the Martian Law, and continued in full force and power many years, and so well approved of by Aluredus the Saxon Prince, that he thought it an honour to him to translate it himself out of the Brittish Language for the good of his Subjects into the Saxon Tongue, and called it Mathehelage, that is, the Law of Martia; great was her assistance to her Kingly Consort in the Administration of the Republick, inso­much that after his decease, their Son being in his minority and very young, all Orders of the Kingdome, as well Nobles as Commons, for her great Wisdom and Discretion made choice of her to be Queen Regent, till her Son came to full Age, and in this condition she ruled for the space of some years; though they be not numbred, by reason that her Son had the Title of King, yet the Count Palatine tells us, That Deinceps Martia uxor ejus,Vitus. à qua conditæ sunt Martiæ Leges, regnat annis septem cum Filio suo; and then (viz. after the death of her Hus­band) Martia his wife who made the Martian Law, reigned jointly with her Son seven years. De quo Polidorus, Polidorus. Nutu Dei factum (inquit) est ut Guintolinus ad Regnum civilibus dissensionibus quassatum perveniret, quod reduceret illud in pristinum statum, id quod graviter fecit; Eo enim potitus, Rempublicam Brittanicam ejus Legibus ac moribus velut de integro condere ac ornare maxime studuit; sed ante omnia civiles discordias quæ adhuc tanquam reliquiæ factionum dura­bant, penitus sedavit. Huic uxor erat nomine Martia mulier præter cæteras pulchra & sapiens, quæ peperit unicum filium Sicilium; iste mortuo patre cum nondum esset maturus imperio, Martia multarum rerum perita Regni curam interim suscepit, quod Reipublicæ erat id imprimis sibi fa­ciendum rata, leges tulit quas posteri Martianas appellarunt.

This King was called by some Guttelinus, and by others, after the Roman Dialect, Guinte­linus; who after he had ruled six and twenty year left this world, and was buried at Troyno­vant or London, leaving his onely Son Sisillius to succeed him in his Kingdome.

SISILLIƲS.

SISILLIƲS or Cecilius Son to Guinthelinus, began his Reign over the Brittains, in the year of the World, four thousand eight hundred seventy and nine. The English Chronicle calls this King Seizill; either he lived in great peace and tranquil [...]ity, as well he might, his most worthy Parents both the heroick Prince his Father and beautiful and prudent Queen his Mother, having quite extinguisht all, even the least sparks of Sedition and Rebellion, and left the Realm in perfect quietnesse, or else the Records of his life perished; for Writers relate very little of him; only Mr. Howes tells us (as the Scotch Writers say) that he Reigned seven years, and that in the very first year after his coming to the Crown,Picts arrive in Brittain. the Picts arrived in Brittain and possessed those parts, which now be the Marches of both Kingdomes betwixt England and Scotland, and confusedly makes no distinction betwixt Scots and Picts; whereas Authors affirm that the Highland-men, the natural Scots indeed, are supposed to descend from the Scythians, who with the Getes infesting Ireland, The Author of a Book of Maps, printed 1646. printed for Wil. Humble Anonymus. left both their Issue there and their manners, apparent in the wild Irish and Highlanders even to this day. And from Scythia as is thought the name of Scots grew; for so the Netherlands by Scutten expresse indifferently the Scythian and Scot: so Gildas calleth the Irish Brittains, Scythians; so King Elfred in translating the History of Orosius turneth Scots in Scyttan; and so saith Walsingbam from one and the same Original, Scythe Scytici, Scotae Scotini take their names, as from Getae Getici, Goti Gotici have done.

As for the Picts (saith the same Author) anciently inhabiting part of that Kingdome, they were Inborn Brittains, and such as thither fled to avoid the Romans servitude; whose Names began first to be distinguished under Dioclesian the Emperour, when they were termed Picts from painting their bodies like the Brittains, as saith Flavius Vigetius, which is more [Page 62] strengthned, for that the Northern Brittains converted by St. Columb, are called Brittan Picts; but the Conversion of that Nation may more properly be attributed to Saint Ninian; Ninianus Bernicius ex Regio Brittannorum sanguine procreatus, Italiam adhuc adolescens lite­rarum studio petit; Romae apud divini Verbi ministros mysteria Veritatis edoctus ad plenum, celer in-patriam remigrabat; ubi Magister & Paedonomus non vulgaris concreditum à Deo Ta­lentum per Brittannorum, Scotorum, Australium (que) Pictorum, terras latissime profudit. Hujus pia industria Picti primum relicto Idololatriæ cultu,St. Ninian a Brittain. veram Christi fidem percepere; Ninian born of the Royal Brittish Bloud, being yet a youth, went into Italy to follow his Studies, and at Rome was fully taught the Mysteries of Truth by the Teachers of the divine Word, and then returned into his own Country; where becoming a Master and Instructor above the ordinary pitch of men, he distributed the Talent bestowed upon him by Almighty God amongst the Brittains, Jo. Bal. li. de Ser. Brit. cen. 1. iu Niniano Bernicio. Hector Boetius Scot. Hist. li. 7. Fol. 119. Scots, and Southern Picts, cast off the bondage of Idolatry, and embraced the sweet yoak of Christianity. And for those holy labours was in former times, as our Histories testifie by all, throughout all Brittanny called by the title of Doctor and Inctructor of the Scots, Picts and Brittains; Scotorum, Pictorum, Britonum (que) Doctor & Pædonomus non vulgaris; & eo nomine omnibus qui Albionem incolunt vel hac nostra ætate in multa veneratione habitus; and in that respect was had in great veneration by all the Inhabitants of the Kingdome of Albion. The first King I read of, of that Nation that was Christian, was Hiergustus, King of the Picts, who with his Pictish people and subjects were Christians,Mr. Br. fo. 582. and publickly professed that Reli­gion: but in the time of Maximus all the Scots were banished out of this Land, which was in the year of Christ,Hec. Boe. l. 6. Histo. Buchan. Rer. Sco. l. 4. in Rege 39. 379. 'Annus à Christi adventu in carnem, tricentesimus septuagesimus nonus; the Picts were generally and publickly instructed and professed Christians. And also in the days of King Fincomark of Scotland, who reigned 47 years, and died multis virtutibus nobilis; and in the year of Christ, 358. 'Salutis humanæ anno trecentesimo quinquagesimo octavo, the Picts had received the Faith of Christ, and before that time; For whilst King Fincomark reig­ned,Annal. Scot. Hec. Boe. sup. l. 6. fol. 104. Hollish. Hist. of Ireland. Fincomarko Rege Scotis adhuc imperante, By divers Writers many of the Irish people received the law of Christ, by means of a worthy Christian woman of the Picts, as the Scottsh and other Histories testifie. Per id tempus mulier Christianae pietatis cultrix, Pictici eam fuisse sanguinis, Scotici asserunt Annales, Regina insinuata Christi nomen illi mirifice prædicavit re­verendum (que) effecit.

This our Brittish St. Ninian deserveth eternal memory for converting the Picts. Interea Sanctus Ninianus Australes Pictos quibus adhuc error gentilis inhærens Idola venerari ac colere compellebat, aggrediens Evangelii veritatem sequentibus signis prædicabat; caeci vident, claudi ambulant, leprosi mundantur, surdi audiunt, mortui resurgunt, oppressi à daemonibus liberantur; sic (que) fides suscipitur, error abdicatur, destructis Templis Ecclesiae eriguntur, currunt ad salutis lavacrum divites, pauperes gratias Deo agunt in insulis quæ procul sunt habitantes. Ordinavit Presbyteros, Episcopos consecravit, & totam terram per certas parochias divisit. In the mean time St. Ninian going to the Picts, which yet were Pagans and worshipped Idols, preached the Truth of the Gospell unto them, with these signes following; The b lind see, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the dead are raised, and they which were oppressed with Divels are delivered. And so the Faith is received, Error abandoned, Pagan Temples are destroyed, Christian Churches erected, Rich and poor are baptized, those that inhabit in the Isles a far off, give thanks to God. He ordained Priests, consecrated Bishops, and divided the whole Land by certain Parishes.

Bede. Hist. lib. 3. cap. 4. Capgr. in St. Ninio Guli. Malm. l. 4. de gest. Pont Angl. The first Stone building in Britt.And having thus converted and confirmed the people unto and in the Faith of Christ, being the chiefest end of his Mission and coming hither, he returned to his Church, Confirmatis in fide omnibus ad Ecclesiam suam est regressus; This House and Episcopal Church which he now returned unto, was the same which he had built before of stone, called, for the rarenesse of such building in Brittain, that being the first, as our History saith, and thereby named Candida Casa, the white House or Church, at a place called Witerne, between Scotland and England, as they are now termed, upon the Sea coast quite environed with the Sea, excepting the pas­sage on the North side thereof. Candida Casa vocatur locus in extremis Angliæ juxta Sco­tiam finibus ubi beatus Confessor Niva requiescit, Natione Brito, qui primus ibidem Christi prædi­cationem Evangelizavit. Nomen loco ex opere inditum quod Ecclesiam ibi ex lapide polito Brito­nibus miraculum fecerit.

The Count Palatine will have this King to have reigned fifteen years alone, and speaks some thing favourably in his behalf; Regina Martia (saith he) gubernaculum 7 annorum accepit cum filio unico adhuc puero, qui Sisillius eo nomine secundus appellatur, & feliciter insequutus vestigia patris, administrat quindecim annos postea solus, & mortuus Caerleili sepelitur. To this account of fifteen years agreeth the English History, saith Fabian; but the Flower of Histories alloweth unto his Reign onely seven years: howsoever Death demanded his due, and summoned this King into another world;Sisillius burled at Caerleon. whose Body, as Mr. Howes saith, was buried at Caerleon, and not at Caerlile; but the nearnesse of the Names questionlesse breeds the mistake. He left behind him his Son Kimarus to succeed him.

KIMARƲS.

KIMARƲS Son of Sisilius, after the death of his Father, was with all solemnity ad­vanced to the Throne and Crown of Brittain, in the year of the worlds Creation, four thousand eight hundred fourscore and six. The English Chronicle calleth him Kymor. Fabian saith, that there is no mention made of this King either concerning his deeds and course of life, or concerning the length of his Reign; yet he alledgeth an old Chronicle to aver, that he was a wild young man, and lived after his pleasure; wherefore as he was at his disport of Hunting, he was by his Ill-willers slain when he had ruled scarcely three years: but the Count Palatine saith, he was killed by wild Beasts;, Illius filius (saith he, speaking of Sisilius) Chimarus in imperando successit, moribus adolescens improbus, sui (que) in rebus omnibus agendis arbitrii ac voluntatis, adeo ut post tres annos quibus rexit à feris bestiis dum venabatur occisus est. Kimarus succeeded, a young man of most dissolute life and behaviour, who swayed all things according to the humour of his own vain and fantastick imagination, and not according to the rule of reason and judgement; insomuch that after the three years of his Reign he was devou­red of wild Beasts. It behoves Princes as well as others to have a care how they live: For the holy Writ tells us, Fire, hail, famine and death, Eccles. c. 39. all these things are created for mans punishment, the Teeth of Beasts for the utter extermination of the wicked.

It is great reason that Princes should regulate their lives after the true square of vertue; for a Prince cannot with reason expect that the severity of Laws, or other Politick means shall re­presse in his Commonwealth, any Vice which shall be Authorised by the Example of his own Practice. For as the Poet saith,

That is to say, all the World is framed after the modell of the King; and no Laws or Edicts can so move the mind of men as doth the life of the Governour; which Plutarch confirmeth notably, saying, That even as a Square or Rule must be streight in it self before it can make other things streight; so the Prince who is, as it were, the Rule of his Subjects, ought first to rectifie him­self before he go about by Laws or other means to rectifie his Commonwealth; for he that is falling, saith Plutarch, is not fit to uphold others, nor he that is ignorant to teach, nor he that is incor­rigible to correct, nor he that is himself disordered to put others in order.

ELIANƲS.

ELIANƲS the Son of Kimarus, whom some also call Danius, as the Flower of Histories affirmeth, but Gaufride saith, he was Kimarus Brother, was Crowned King of Brittain, in the year of the worlds Creation, four thousand eight hundred fourscore and nine. This Prince by the English Book is called Howan: one Chronicle will have Kimarus and Elianus to be one and the same person, though others think otherwise, and that he reigned two years; little or nothing being left to posterity of any memorable Acts of his, either good or bad: only the Count Palatine tells us, Frater eum sequitur Elianus, natura stupidior, & legum spretor, quocirca rem administrabat imprudenter, bellis & seditionibus undecun (que) vexatus, ne (que) pacem habere potuit vel publice vel privatim, illis decem annis quibus imperabat; Elianus his Brother succeeded him, of a most stupid nature, and a contemner of all Laws, which was the cause that he governed with great indiscretion his Kingdome and Commonwealth, being continually vexed and troubled with insurrections and seditions, insomuch that during the ten years of his Reign he could never enjoy either privately or otherwise one hour of peace; this was one amongst the Brittish Princes, for whose sake, as Gildas the wise writeth, the whole Nation suffered.

MORINDƲS.

MORINDƲS the Bastard-son of Elianus, as Gaufride affirmeth with others, took upon him the Crown and Government of this Island of Great Brittain, in the year of the worlds Creation, four thousand eight hundred and ninety. Elianus begat this Prince upon Tanguestula his Concubine, who proved as Bastards commonly doe, being gotten in the heat of Courage, a most resolute and couragious Chieftain, but so over-swayed by his own passions, especially that of anger, that in his fury no mans life was secure. To the matchlesse [Page 64] strength of his body, Nature added all those features which might make him the most hand­some and accomplisht Gentleman in all his Kingdome; these his admirable endowments he beautified with a most Princely liberality, being very open-handed when the least merit re­quired. During the Reign of Morindus, there arrived out of Mauritania (which Country according to Strabo is seated between Hungaria and Fohemia,) a war-like and most cruel people, which with Fire and Sword consumed all before them. Morindus having tidings brought to him of those insolences and misdemeanours, with all speed Levied an Army, and with speedy Marches encounters his Enemy, and after a most bloody Conflict, compels the greatest part of the unwelcome Intruders back to their Ships; the rest he sacrificeth to his own anger, causing some to be dismembred, others cast into the fire, some chopt in pieces, not a few strangled; death acted several parts in this most horrid execution; no manner of torment imaginable to Morindus was left uninflicted, so great was the tyranny of his blood-thirsting revenge. After this great overthrow and most cruel Massacre, this Brittish King progressing a long the Sea coasts for his Recreation, chanced to discry a most hideous Monster coming out of the Irish Ocean. Morindus is overjoyed at this presented occasion to try the edge of his matchlesse Valour; and therefore putting spurs to his Horse, stays not but pre­vents the coming of this hellish Fury, and with most Knightly Courage and Gallantry (as Guido de Columna and others aver,) gives a most fierce Encounter to the Fiend; but after a long and cruel Conflict, having quite spent his spirits, he is swallowed up and devoured by that Fish, Fiend or Monster, after he had Reigned, according to most Writers, eight years, leaving after him, five Sons, Gorbomannus or Gorbonian, Archigallus, Elidurus, Vigenius or Nigenius, and Peredurus; Morindus (saith the Count Palatine) quem Elianus ex Tangustula Concubina suscepit, Rex creatur. Is magnà quidem probitate morum futurus erat vir clarus ad omnem temporum aeternitatem, nisi nimium indulsisset asperitati, crudelitatique, & incitatus ad iram se tam insolenter & superbè cum hominibus gessisset, ut omnino parceret nemini, furore (que) percitus nec etiam amicos suos vellet ab hostibus internoscere; nam quod ad cætera pertinet, homo fuit aspectu pulcher, muneribus (que) dandis largiter assuefactus; tantæ vero fortitudinis, ut cum eo luctari vel armis congredi nemo auderet. Maurorum rex quidem ingressus, magna vi militum di­cebatur Northumbriam divastare, cui Morindus, collecta manu juventutis, fit obvius, ac præ'ium instituens fertur plus efficisse solus, quam reliqua pars totius exercitus; nam ubi Victor evasit, ne quidem unum ex hostibus reliquit superstitem; jubebat homo immanis ordine singulos captivos ad se produci, ut quemlibet ita seorsim perimendo suam feritatem exsatiaret; cum (que) fatigatus quodam­modo nec dum cessaret ardor ille sanguinis humani profundendi, hoc amplius jubebat eos qui adhuc superessent pelle detracta de toto corpore protenus comburi, qua ex re famam & gloriam consequi sperabat; ideo cum ex Hibernico mari bellua quædam inauditae feritatis & magnitudinis quasi monstrum naturæ aliquod certum emersisset, appulisset (que) in Brittaniam, & Maritimos populos vehementer divexasset, ipsemet Rex clam suis satellitibus ad littora pergit, & solus cum immani bellua marina congreditur; eam (que) sicut ipse interemit, sic ab ea vicissim interfectus est postquam novem imperasset.

GORBOMANNƲS.

GORBOMANNƲS, or as the English Book calls him, Granbodian, his Father being dead, is Crowned King of Great Brittain, in the year of the worlds Creation, four thou­sand eight hundred ninety eight: A Prince, as saith Gaufride, just in all his actions, insomuch that we may call him our Brittish Numa; for his first care was the honour of his Gods, unto whom he erected Temples for divine Honour, add repaired such as were ruinous and decayed; to his Subjects he did Justice, and to all men Right, exactly observing that excellent rule of morality, Quod tibi fieri non vis, alteri ne feceris; in his time Brittaine flourished in abun­dance of Wealth and Riches; for Peace begot Plenty, and that plenty caused the Subjects to Honour their Prince as the very Author thereof.R. Vitus. f. 200. Gorbomannus primo natus ascendit regni soli­um, quo viro justior vel amantior æqui nemo repertus est, aut qui majore cum cura populum guber­naret. Assiduus illi mos erat, primum. Deis debitum honorem impendere, populis deinde jus reddere; in ferè omnibus civitatibus Deorum Templa collapsa instaurat, & ex integro nova condit. Arte tanta divitiarum honeste parandarum utebatur, quanta nullus in insula princeps unquam; quippe colonos ad agriculturam excitabat, eos ab injuria virorum potentium defendebat, ado­lescentes potissimum idoneos ad bellum gerendum benigne accepit, eos (que) crebris pecuniarum lar­gitionibus à rapinis faciendis. abstinebat: deni (que) talem inter cives operam suaviter & amice vivendo præstabat, ut eo regnante, damnum dare aut vim inferre nemo auderet, ne quidem ille qui cæterorum pessimus vulgo existimaretur; cum hac innata sibi bonitate morum postquam Brit­tanos opibus affluentes rexisset undecim annos, vita functus est, Ʋrbe Trinovanta sepelitur: Gorbomannus the eldest Son is inaugurated King, surpassing all in his time for justice, mercy and careful governing of his Subjects; His first thoughts called upon him to offer up unto the Gods all due reverence and honour, and after that to doe right unto every man; in each place he repaired the ruinous and decayed Temples, and in many Towns founded new; He exceeded all the Princes his Predecessors in gathering Riches, and that in so upright a way, [Page 65] that he was rather highly to be extolled then any way to be grudged at; for he animated the harmlesse Husband to agriculture and closely to follow his Plough, keeping them under his protection, and defending them from the oppression of griping Land-lords, and over-top­ping great-ones: Youth which he esteemed fit to be trained up for Martial Discipline, he fur­nished with large Donatives, Salaries and advance-Monies, whereby to keep them from plun­dering and such peccadillio's as are incident to men of that profession. To conclude, he gave such Example by his temperate and just living to his Subjects, that even he who was branded with the infamy of the basest Varlet, durst not presume to offer an injury or out-rage unto his Neighbour. This good King after he had Ruled Brittain in the height of wealth and prospe­rity, gave way to Fate, and was buried at London.

This King in his devotion towards his false gods, having repaired and new built so many Temples, questionlesse allotted Flamens or Druids to offer the wonted sacrifices; the Druids were of high esteem amongst the Brittains, and of large Antiquitie; for Pontalion saith, their beginning was in the year of the worlds Creation, 2900. But the profession of the Druids, which the Brittains, the Inhabitants of Gallia, and a great part of Germany, had many hundreds of years followed and practised, was impious, false and idolatrous, damnable and diabolical. They worshipped for gods, Jupiter, Apollo, Mars, Mercury, Audate, Berecynthia, and some o­thers.Mr. Br. f. 241. Hen. Pan. l. de vir. illust. Ger. part. 1. p. 40. 41. Selden, Anal. Alab. l. 1. c. 1. c. 4 Berosus Nichol. Vignier. Biblio. Hist. an. Mundi 2200. Hist. Aggregat. de Annal. f. 3. Bernar. Giunti Chro. in Dryus. Joan. Frisius, Bibliot. Philos. an. Mund. 2070 ante Christum 1892. Jo. Bal. lib. de Scrip. Cent. 1. in Semothe. Cambd. Britt. p. 11. Pliny. l. 12. c. 1. Lud. Caelius. li. 7. c. 1. Tac. l. de morib. & pop. Germa. Andu. Altham, in Schol. n. Cor. Tacit. Jul. Cæsar. l. 6. bel. Gall. Hector Boetius. Scot. Hist. li. 2. f. 22. 23. Their religion and themselves had continued by that Name and flourished in the world from the time of Druius the great King and high Priest; Druius Germanorum Pontifex, who reduced the Gentils Religion into this Order, Founded them a Colledge, and gave them their denomination about the year of the worlds Creation, 2900. Druius ille apud Germanorum Celtas, vir magnae authoritatis Gentilitiam religionem in ordinem redegit, at (que) Druidorum Col­legium religionis ergo constituit, à quo etiam Druides apud Gallos & Germanos dicti. And the Town in Normandy Dreux also was named from him, as their Histories say, and the River Druentia running thereby; what was the exact time of their beginning is not certain: Pan­talion saith it was in the year of the world, 2900. Joannes Frisius saith in the year thereof 2070, and 1892 before Christ. Bernard Giunti will have it in the 420 year after the Flood of Noe. Nicholas Vignier ascribeth the Reign of King Dryus or Cruius unto the year of the World 2200. Therefore I cannot be of the mind of those late Writers, which say, they were called Druides of [...] an Oak in Greek, because they used to be sometimes under Oaks in woods, for so we might call all old Idolators Druids; for the Scriptures witnesse, they sacri­ficed in woods and groves; so doth Pliny, Lud. Caelius and others, Lucos & memora consecrant. And the Greek Writers as Eutropius, Herodian, Dio, Zosimus and the rest, are silent of this sect, as the Latines also, but when they speak of Brittain, France and Germany, where onely and no where else this Religion remained: And Julius Casar is plain, there were no Druids in Ger­many, but they differed much from the Gauls in Religion; Germani multum à Gallorum con­suetudine differunt; Nam ne (que) Druides habent qui rebus divinis præsunt. And the Scottish Hi­storians say, the ancient Name of those men in the Language here was Durcergliis, and they were Romans who spake not Greek, who gave them the first Name Druides à Druius, to make the strange Name to take Latine Declension, Hos Romani scriptores Druides, ut peregrinum vocabulum inflectionem caperet Latinam, appellant. And here were no Greeks in these parts to give them a Greek Name, neither did their Sect come nere any part of Greece at any time, or howsoever we will pronounce the Greek word [...] an Oak, Drys or Drus, we should by the deriving them from thence, call them Dryssets or Drussets as of Chus and Huss we call Cussits and Hussits, and not Druides or Druids. But for their Antiquity truly they might make it of so great continuance.

Neither was their honour and glory in Brittain or where else they lived of a low degree; Vestitus eorum valde preciosus at (que) ornatus insignis; nam collo torques, manibus annuli, lacertis armillae addebantur; vestes erant tinctae & auro pictæ: Their apparrell was very precious, and attire singular; for they wore Chains of gold about their necks, Rings on their hands, and Bracelets on their arms; their Garments were dyed and embroidered with Gold. And their Habitations and Dwellings were no lesse stately, the chiefest of them seated in the best Cities of Brittain, and their Mansions converted after to be Archbishops and Bishops Pallaces; sometimes they resorted to woods, as all ancient Witches, Magicians and Idolaters did, to ex­ercise their Sorceries, and offer their Sacrifices, especially to such Oaks as bore Misseltoe, na­turally medicinable for divers infirmities, and therefore to the rude people they ascribe a certain Divinity to such Trees:Mr. Br. f. 242. Their Houses as themselves also had exemptions from all Services, Exactions and Troubles; They were chief Judges in all matters both Temporal and Spiritual, having all men obedient to their Order, Sentence and Determination, under the greatest penalty of abandoning and exilement from the society of Men, and such like, and death it self at their pleasures, designing whom they listed to be cruelly sacrificed to their Divels and Idols, whom they termed Gods: the chiefest of them had for a singular sign of ho­nour, Fire born before him; 'Ante quem ignis dignitatis honoris (que); insigne deferretur. Ammi­anus Marcellinus speaking of these men giveth this praise unto them, That they were of great Wits, and lived in Companies or Colledges, according as Pythagoras ordained; they were lifted up with questions of hidden and high things, and despising humane matters, pronoun­ced that mens souls were immortal; Druidæ ingeniis celsiores, ut Autoritas Pythagorae de­crevit, sodalitiis astricti consortiis, questionibus occultarum rerum altarum (que) erecti sunt, & [Page 66] despectantes humana, pronunciarunt animas immortales. Which opinion of theirs of the souls immortality Julius Cæsar with divers others also confirmeth, but in a leud sense of Transmi­g [...]ation or going from one body to another; Hic volunt persuadere non interire animas sed ab aliis post mortem transire ad alios. And if any man was dangerously sick, in war or peril, and would offer sacrifice or vow, they used the Druids as Ministers to offer it; Qui sunt afflicti gravioribus morbis, qui (que) in præliis periculis (que) versantur, aut pro victimus homines immolant, aut se immolaturos vovent, administris (que) ad ea sacrificia Druidibus utuntur. Diodorus Siculus who lived in the same time with Julius Cesar, giveth this reason, that the Druids were thus used for Priests in all sacrifices of the Brittains and Gauls, much to their honour in their opinion, who were ruled by the Druids, because they hold that sacrifices should be offered by them, which be acquainted with the divine nature, and are skilful of the language of the gods; and they think that by these mens intercession good things should be asked of the gods, by whose Counsel they enjoy peace and war; Est apud eos moris, nullum abs (que) Philosopho sacrificium facere; existimant enim per divinae naturæ conscios sacra fieri oportere, tanquam linguæ deorum peritos, at (que) horum intercessione bona à deis censent petenda, quorum consilio & pace & bello fruuntur. The Authors of the Theatre of Great Brittain make Cesar and ancient Writers to speak in this manner; The Druids Office was imployed about holy things; for they had the managing of publick and private sacrifices, and to interpret and discuss matters of Religion unto them, do resort great numbers of young men to learn at their hands, and they be had in great reverence; for they determine almost all Controversies and matters in variance as well pub­lick as private: and if there happen any thing to be done amiss, or if there be any murther com­mitted, if there arise any controversie concerning inheritance or bounds of Lands, they take the matter into their power and award either recompence or penalties in the Case; and if there be any (be it private person or be it Corporation, Theat. of Great Britt. lib. 6.) that will not stand to their judgement, they inter­dict him with punishment; among them it is held most grievous: They that are so excommunicated, are accounted in the number of the wicked and ungracious; All men shun them, all men fly their company and communication. This is one of the chiefest things that they labour most to beat into mens minds, that their Souls die not, but do after death, pass from one to ano­ther, and hereby they think men should be most stirred unto vertue, when fear of death is nothing re­garded. Also they dispute many other things, as of the stars, of their movings, of the bignesse of the world and the earth, of the nature of things, of the strength and power of the immortal Gods, and do therein instruct their youth. Thus we have heard what those Druids and their Follow­ers were.

Now let us a little examine their cause by their own Writers and their own proceedings; for to write at large of their most grosse and inhumane absurdities, would require a Volume from me, as the like had done of other Writers against such Pagan Gentils their superstitions, whereas all Creatures cry out unto us, especially the more noble as the Celestial bodies (in searching whose natures and effects these men were most conversant) that there is an eternal and omnipotent Maker and Causer which created all things, who being without beginning or ending, was made or caused by no other; Coeli enarrant gloriam Dei, & opera manuum ejus anunciat firmamentum. Mr. Br. f. 244. And divine worship is onely due unto him, for his Almighty Excel­lency, and the benefit which man a reasonable Creature received and further expecteth and needeth to receive from him, which we commonly call Religion, a Releiging, Religation, or dutiful binding of man informed with a reasonable intellectual and immortal Soul, ordained as it were the Lieutenant and Viceroy of God to govern this inferior world, and by his bet­ter eternal part assured that better and eternal things are ordained for him, if he doth not deprive himself of them, but find out and perform the Will and Commandment of so infinite good and bountiful a Creator, Preserver and Maintainer of all things, especially for the use and end of Man, so dignified and exalted among his Creatures, which these Druids and their Disciples were so far from effecting, that they gave him no honour at all, never remembring him among those that they worshipped, but doing the greatest dishonour they could unto him, in giving that glory and majesty which is only proper and due to him, to his rebellious Creatures and professed Enemies, damned and infernal souls, hundreds of thousands before them, and divers of these by probable Historical accounts of later Time and Creation then the Author of their own Sect, Druius was. And if we will follow Julius Cesar, who of all writeth most of their pretended Religion living in the time of their chiefest Sway, and best knew what they professed; he writeth of the Germans that they differed much from the French and their Druids in their Religion, having no sacrifices, and only accounting for their gods whom they see, and by whom they are manifestly helped, as the Sun, the Moon, and such visible things, and heard not of any God; Germani multum à Gallorum consuetudine differunt; Ne (que) sacrificiis student; deorum numero eos solos ducunt quos ceruunt, & quorum aperte opibus juvantur, Solem Vulcanum & Lunam; yet the German Writers are so confident that the Druids ruled there in Religion, that they shew unto this day in Germany, as far as Bavaria, two especiall places where they were wont to assemble under great Oaks to exercise their su­perstitions; and in detestation thereof, two Monasteries called Oberaltaich and Nederaltaich were founded to blot out their Memory.Pont. de viris Illust. Ger. part. 1. p. 40, 41. In Bavaria quoque inferiore sub quercu magna su­periore & inferiore suam superstitionem exercebant, quæ loca postea in Monasteria conversa etiam­num Oberaltaich & Neberaltaich appellantur. Therefore these could not be Professors [Page 67] and Teachers of the true God, his Worship and Religion, which for divers People and Countries, and for themselves also had such variety and change of gods and Religion in divers times and places; and yet all of them professing most grosse and stupid ignorance or woeful Idolatry, the greatest irreligion that can be.

And as they thus proved themselves to be Atheists, leaving no possible true God to be worshipped; so by their error of transmigration of souls from one body to another, they fell into one of these absurdities, that one soul should in the end inform many, even hundreds of bodies; or else cease at the last to inform, cease to be, and made mortal. And as Chimeri­cal a fiction it was of them, to say (as Lucan expoundeth them) that when a soul left a body in this world, it went into another world, and there informed another body.

For so they must needs make more worlds where generation and corruption is, besides this terrestrial and sublunary, where we inhabit; and therefore justly doth the same Author call their profession barbarous Rites, a false manner of worship, and singular against all the world besides,

St. Gildas tells us, that the monstrous Idols in Brittain were not inferior in number to those of Egypt, commonly esteemed the most idolatrous Nation of the world, and some of them with deformed lineaments remained to be seen in his time; and the people of Brittain gave divine honour even to Mountains, Hills and Rivers. And yet besides these had Errors and I­dolatries common with other Nations. Non omittentes priscos communes (que) cum omnibus gentibus errores, quibus ante adventum Christi in carne omne genus humanum obligabatur obstrictum, nec enumerans patria portenta, ipsa Diabolica pene numero Egyptiaca vincentia,Gildas li. de Exid. Britt. quorum nonnulla li­neamentis adhuc deformibus intra vel extra deserta maenia solito more rigantia torvis vulti­bus intuemur; ne (que) nominatim inclamitant montes ipsos aut colles aut fluvios olim exitiales, nunc vero humanis usibus utiles, quibus divinus honor à cœco tunc populo cumulabatur. The same have other later Writers, and the sacrifices which they offered to those abominable idols, were the most detestable, and for such not unworthily ranked by the Pagan and Christian Wri­ters amongst the most cruel and barbarous savages of the world. Pro victimis homines immo­lant, administris (que) ad ea sacrificia Druidibus utuntur; Publicé (que) ejusdem generis habent insti­tuta sacrificia. They offer men for Sacrifices,Cæsar lib. 6. belli Gallic. and the Druids be the Ministers of such sacri­fices, and such sacrifices be instituted by publick Authority among them; thus hath Cæsar and others. Cicero speaking of these Druids, saith, His quicquam Sanctum ac Religiosum videri potest, qui etiamsi quando aliquo metu adducti Deos placandos esse arbitr [...]tur, humanis hostiis eorum aras ac Templa funestant, ut ne Religionem quidem colere possint, nisi eam ipsam scelere violarint: Quis enim ignorat eos usq ad hunc diem retinere illam immanem & barbaram consuetudinem hominum immolandorum? Quamobrem quali fide,Cicero in Orai pro Marc. Fon­teio. quali pietate existimatis eos esse qui etiam Deos immortales arbitrentur hominum scelere & sanguine facilè posse placari? Can any thing be accounted holy and religious with those men, who when they are afraid of any thing and would have their Gods pacified, do prophane their Altars and Temples with sacrificed men, so that they cannot exercise their Religion, except they first violate it with wickednesse? For who is ignorant that even to this day they retain that savage and barbarous custome of sacrificing Men? Therefore can you think those men to have any Reli­gion or Piety who think the immortal Gods may be easily appeased with the wickedness and blood of Men? The like hath Dio, Cassius, Amianus, Marcellinus, and others among the Gen­tils, all crying out against those most barbarous proceedings, and yet termed with them Re­ligion; and to fill up the measure of this their most inhumane irreligion, as Julius Cæsar with others testifieth, These men had Idols of huge greatnesse, whose members being made of wands, they filled full of men alive, and so setting them on fire, burned them; Immani mag­nitudine simulachra habent, quorum contexta viminibus membra vivis hominibus complent, quibus succensis circumventi flamma exanimantur homines. And Pliny with others is witnesse, that they were so far from doing any homage or duty unto God, that they bestowed all such upon the Divels, his enemies, and were so far and so long time in his dayes practised in Magick and Invocation, and worshipping Divels, that he supposeth the Persians so far distant and given o­ver then to that most horrible dishonouring of God, had learned it and received it from hence, where the chief Masters and Practisers thereof remained.

These Druids permitted many wives to one man; for Cæsar saith,Cæsar bell. Gall. li. 6. Ʋxores habent deni & duodeni inter se communes, & maxime fratres cum fratribus & parentes cum liberis; the like [Page 68] hath Zonoras, and in this Country the people went naked; nudi degunt, mulieribus promiscuè utuntur; and this was accounted a vertue and an honour amongst them, as Queen Bunduice did publickty professe in her prayer to her Goddesse Audraste or Audaste; qui cum caeter ae omnia, tum liberes & uxores communes inter se putant; they think wives, and children and all things Common. Thus much of the Druids, their Antiquity and Institution with their abo­minable sacrifices and superstitions, of whom as occasion shall serve we shall speak more here­after.

Grantham built by Gor­bomannus. Gorbomanuus is reported to have Founded Grantham in Lincolnshire, of which place Mr. Cambden maketh onely this mention; post Paunton visitur Grantham, oppidum non infre­quens, Schola à Richardo Foxo Wintoniensi Episcopo, & Templo specioso exornatum, cujus sacrae Pyramis admirandam in altitudinem surgit, & fabulis est famigerata; Grantham a Town well peopled, and adorned with a free School built by Bishop Fox, and a very fair Church, whose Broach or Steeple is of such height, that it is spoken of far and near.

The same Gorbomannus builded (as the English Chronicle seems to affirm) Cambridge, anciently called Granta, Cambridge supposed by some to have been built by Gorbomannus. Caer Grant and Grantchester; yet Mr. Broughton out of other Au­thors saith, that Cambridge was Founded by Cantaber a Spaniard many hundred years be­fore Christ and walled about by Grantinus, Sint (que) Doctores & Scholares illius celeberrimae ma­tris Philosophiæ civitatis Cantabrigiæ â Cantabro aedificatae, nec non à Grantino Comite hono­rabiliter muratae, ab omni calumnia, inquietatione & scandalo liberi; Let the Masters and Scho­lars of that famous Mother of Philosophy, the City of Cambridge, built by Cantaber, and walled about by Count Grantinus, be free from all Calumny, molestation and disturbance whatsoever; which divers Oxford Men and Antiquaries (though no Friends to the glory of Cambridge) yield unto. But of this place more hereafter in the Lives of Lucius, Morpen-dragon, Arthur and Cadwalader.

ARCHIGALLO.

ARCHIGALLO the Son of Morindus, after his Brother had Reigned by consent of most Writers, the space of eleven years, ascended the Throne of Brittain in the year of the worlds Creation, four thousand nine hundred and ten. This Prince in the English Chronicle is called Artogail, who utterly forsaking the model of exact Government which his Brother had left behind him for him to follow, he lent too facile an ear to flatterers and sycophants; and where no just cause could be found, faults were contrived and invented whereby to entrap the Nobles, and new Plots discovered which never were thought upon but by the Contrivers, whose Machiavillian brains hatch'd them for the destruction of the valiant and wealthy, were they never so innocent: a point of policy so palpably manifest in these latter dayes, that the weakest judgement may see it, but the greatest dare not gain-say it. These state tricks pleased Archigallo; the ancient Nobility are thrust out of all command and power in the Commonwealth, Delinquency laid to their charge, or at least a disaffection to the present Government; and upon these pretences, many are secured, and more utterly ruined, either being put to such an intolerable Composition for their Estates, that they ne­ver after rec [...]er the losse, or else are utterly thrust out of them, and new Upstarts put in, whose Predecessor never knew how to write himself Gentleman, nor ever bore Coat unlesse a thred-bare one, in which peradventure he held an other mans Plough, or used some poor and sordid mechanick Trade; but by these sinister means Archigallo cram'd his Coffers, and raised to dignities such as best suted with his disposition; so that Beggars ride on horse back, and Nobles go on foot; And set a Beggar on horse-back and ride to the divel; but too much of one thing is good for nothing, and the poorest Worm trod upon will turn again. The Nobles and Commons begin to grow sensible of their just sad Condition and heavy Taxes and Impo­sitions; after which followeth a general grudging and murmuring, when presently dispair sends fury amongst them, and furor arma ministrat; the intolerable yoak will be no longer endured; all joyn in an association to take revenge upon the common Enemy Archigallo, whom they suddenly set upon; and before he could provide means to defend himself, he is unking'd, and quite difrobed of all princely Command, after he had worn the purple (by con­sent of most Writers) five years.

It concerns Princes and great Commanders to make choice of Counsellors who not only have the reputation of vertue and Religion, but also that be indeed truly vertuous & religious; For two Causes; The first thereby to obtain the assistance of God's grace, which how necessary it is for the illumination of mans understanding in all matters of Counsel, is most evident to all good Men. The second Cause why it behoveth a Counsellor to be truly religious and vertuous, is, for that such is the force of vertue that it giveth credit to the Possessors thereof, and maketh them the more easily believed, and their Counsel better accepted; And therefore we see that all men of discretion and judgement do demand Counsel rather of those who are reputed wise and vertuous, then of wicked men who have onely the reputation of wisdom; For as St. Ambrose saith,Amb. li. de offi. 2. c. 10. Where wisdom and vertue are conjoyned, Magna erit Consiliorum salu­britas, there is all good and wholsome counsel to be had, and all men are willing to hear the wise [Page 69] and vertuous man, as well for the admiration of his wisdome as for the love of his vertue. In which respect he also saith, that men addresse themselves commonly for Counsel to those who are more vertuous then themselves; for no man hath reason to think him who is inferior to him­self in manners, to be his superior in Wisdom and Counsel. Furthermore, such is the dignity and authority of vertue, that evil men bear a reverend respect thereto, and stand as it were in awe of good men, whereof we have an Example in Herod, who although he held St. John Baptist in prison, and would not follow his counsel in the matter of his divorce, yet for the reverence he bore to his vertue, he consulted many other things with him, and followed his advice therein; and as the Scripture also saith, metuebat eum, be feared him: and no doubt but wise and vertuous Princes much more esteem and respect the Counsel of wise men that are vertuous, then of others of equal wit and judgement that are vicious and wicked, knowing that as Solomon saith, Consilia impiorum fraudulenta, the counsels of wicked men are fraudulent; Pro. c. 12. and that he who hath no care of his Conscience, will have no care of his Duty towards Men. Basilius the Emperor advised his Son to choose those for his Counsellors who had given Proof and Experience of their Wisdome in the good Conduct and Direction of their own private Affairs; and it is very necessary that Counsellors in Conference with their Prince use all sincerity, truth and plainnesse, without flattery; for although the common Proverb say, Ob­sequium amicos, Veritas odium parit; Flattery gaineth Friends, and Truth hatred; Yet as there is nothing more pernicious to Princes then flattery, so by consequence, there is nothing more unfit to be used of Counsellors whose Office is and special care should be to undeceive their Prince in all things wherein they are any way deceived, and to labour therein so much the more, by how much less other men do it, seeing one of the greatest infelicities of Princes is, that all or most men flatter and sooth them in all things; in which respect Seneca saith, Quid omnia possidentibus deest? ille qui verum dicat: What wants he who hath all? marry one to tell the truth. And Quintus Curtius saith, Regum opes, The States of Princes are oftener overthrown by Flattery then by Force.

But this must be done with great moderation and discretion; for commonly those do offend in this kind (I mean of being forward and rigorous in admonishing) who presume over much either of their own wits and power, or of their Princes weaknesse, or of his over great favour and familiarity, or of the need he hath of them, or else perhaps are of nature severe, insolent or passionate; for such sometimes do forget themselves, yea and take a pride in contradicting or admonishing their Princes with less duty & respect then were convenient; and such an one was Callisthenes of whom Arrianus writeth, that he made himself odious to Alexander the Great, Tum ob intempestivam libertatem, tum ob superbam stultitiam, both for his unseasonable liberty of speech, and also for his proud folly. But Hæphestion Counsellor to the same A­lexander, avoided that error; for he alwayes admonished him discreetly and freely as occa­sion served, yet he ever did it in such sort that it seemed rather to be Alexander's Will and Pleasure that he should so doe, then that he challenged any right to himself; yea, a Coun­cellor though he should fear to incur displeasure for his plainness,Plutarch in Themist. yet he ought to discharge his Conscience, and to say as Themistocles said to Euribiades (who took up a staffe to strike him for his free speech) strike me, so you hear me after: Seneca most excellently saith, Sunt duo contraria Consilio, festinatio & ira; Two things are contrary to Counsell, haste and anger. And again, saith he, Deliberandum est diu quod statuendum est femel; The thing that is once to be determined is to be deliberated by leisure. And Aristotle tells us, That a wise Man ought to counsel slowily, and execute speedily. Had Archigallo followed with his Councellors these Rules and Principles, he had not been thrust out of his Throne.

ELIDƲRƲS.

ELIDƲRƲS third Son to Morindus and Brother to Archigallo, was by common con­sent and applause of all the States of the Brittains, chosen and crowned King, in the year of the World four thousand nine hundred and fifteen. This Prince in the English Chro­nicle is called Hesider or Esodir; he was of such a temperate and mild disposition, that his Sub­jects called him Elidure the Meek; but I suppose this Appellation of Meek, in Latine Pius, came upon another occasion; for the Count Palatine thus delivers unto us the Kings life; Elidurum tertio natum Morindi statuunt Regem, qui totidem annos Rempublicam, sed diversa ratione humanitatis & benevolentiæ fratri sc. per omnia dissimilem tenebat. Archigallo jam privatus imperio à provincialibus Regnis ad quæ proficiscitur, auxiliares copias petit. Nusquam auditus pro animi disiderio redit donium, militibus (que) decem tantum modo comitatus visit eos quos nuper habebat amicos; transit nemus Calaterium, in quo Rex venebatur, qui forte temerè casit Fratrem non speratum intuens, pietate motus, amplectitur eum, & secum ad Arcluidam perducit. Ibi concilium cum proceribus capit de fratre restituendo in Regnum, quam ejus co­gitationem graviter & iniquo animo omnes tulerunt, quod nihil pro sano ab Archigallione spe­rarent; usus igitur arte quad am fingendi morbum, vocat ad se singulos, & secreto ingredienti­bus persuadet ac minatur etiam, nisi Archigallioni ut & tanquam Regi suo fidem spondeant; deinde per alia Cubicula educi & singillatim custodiri, quibus ita concitatis fratri per terrorem, [Page 70] sua (que) oratione confirmatis de morum ejus commutatione, ducit Elidrus Archigallonem Ebora­cum, de (que) suo Capite demptum Diadema imponit Fratri; A quo raræ pietatis erga Fratrem exemplo cognomentum adeptus est, ut apud omnes homines Elidurus merito Pius cognominatus est. Elidurus the third Son of Morindus, was chosen King of Brittain, who ruled as many years as his Brother had done before him, but of a far more excellent temper and behaviour, nothing in condition like him. Archigallo being now expell'd his Kingdome, flies to the Pro­vincial and Neighbouring Princes, and there craves Aid and auxiliary Forces to reestablish him in his Throne; but finding each ear close shut and deaf to his demands and desires, is constrained to return into his native Country, being attended or accompanied by only ten Persons; there he visits those whom he supposeth to be his Friends, casually travelling through the great Wood Calaterium, where it fortuned that his Brother was taking his pleasure in Hunting; who suddenly, and beyond his expectation beholding Archigallo, struck with a brotherly love and affection, he with tender embraces expresseth how welcome is his Com­pany, taking him along with him in his Presence to the City Alcluid. Here Elidurus falls into most serious consultations with his Nobles for the Restitution of his Brother to his Regal dignity; but they all give the Italian shrug, and shake their Heads, having no conceit or o­pinion that ever any good can be hoped or expected from Archigallo. The King in esse Sum­mons all his Wits together to bring his designed purpose to perfection, and counterfeiting a sudden and dangerous sicknesse, he sends for his Nobles one by one, and as they come, he useth all possible perswasion, and fearing not to prevail, he addeth Threats and Comminati­ons, whereby to induce them to reenstall his Brother, and causing them to be secured and closely kept severally in several places, he perswades them through fear to him who formerly had been their King; and by a perswasive Speech and Oration in the behalf of his Brothers reforming all former Errours, and a future happy Government, prevails so far with them, as to promise faithful Allegiance and Subjection: and having obtained what he so cordially desired, coming to York, takes the Diadem from his own Head and setts it upon his Bro­thers; By which heroick Act, he purchast to himself eternal fame, with the Title of Elidurus Pius, Elidure the Pious.

ARCHIGALLO.

ARCHIGALLO being thus by the unparallel'd affection of his Brother Elidure the Pious re-enthron'd, made good what was promised on his behalf; he suffered not his whispering Parasites to abuse his Ear, but with singular care employed all his endeavours to the right administration of his Affairs and the good of his Kingdome; and in short time by doing justice and right to all, became so beloved amongst the Brittains as if he never had been the man that had wronged them. Afflictions oft bring Mortals to the true knowledge of themselves; for it tempereth and setleth the exorbitant humours of men, who so abound commonly in continual prosperity, that their judgements are greatly blinded and hindered thereby; in which respect the famous Lady Queen Katharine of England, and Daughter to Fardinand King of Spain, was wont wisely to say, that if she must needs make choice either of continual prosperity or continual adversity, she would choose the latter; For in affliction, said she, n [...] good man can want consolation, whereas in prosperity most men want wit. Iterum regnat Archigallo decem annos (tells us Comes Palatinus) quibus assumit viros genere, virtute (que) claros, ad Reipublicæ munia capessenda; obscuro loco natos qui minus idonei sunt ad res gerendas, re­pellit; quod (que) est suum cujus (que) id unicui (que) liberum esse permittit; in omnes deni (que) homines ju­stitiæ officium & æquitatis exercet; tandem languore quodam extinctus Leircestriæ sepelitur. Archigallo admitted again, reigneth ten years, making choice of Gentlemen sprung from ancient families, and eminent for their education and virtues, to supply the places of Go­vernment in the Kingdome, utterly excluding base-born brats from intermedling in matters of honour and consequence, as altogether unworthy of such preheminence; and being fur­nisht with such worthy Assistants,Archigallo bu­ried at Leice­cester, or ra­ther York. he gives to every one what belongs unto him, makes justice flourish, and every man enjoy what is his own, and in this glory he finished his dayes, being seized upon by a disease which stop't his vital spirits. His body was buried at Leircester, or as the English Chronicle saith, at Caer Ebrank or York, and so also saith Howes.

ELIDƲRƲS.

ELIDƲRƲS once more for his admirable and singular virtue which he shewed in his first Government, is now the second time, though as Fabian saith, much against his will, (for well he knew Regnum to be but dulce venenum, a sweet and gilded poison) by the general Votes and Suffrages advanced, or rather thrust into the Throne of this Land: But

The two younger Brothers intoxicated with ambition and desire of Princely Rule (not like Elidurus, who freely surrendered the Scepter to his displaced Brother;) Vigenius and Pere­durus, sollicit, tell their Friends, and what with present Advance-mony, and what with fair Promises, raise an Army; and in a most mutinous and rebellious way, lay violent hands upon their Brother, and cast him Prisoner into the Tower of London: after which unworthy Act they divide Brittany betwixt them. Vigenius is to enjoy all from Humber that famous River, to the remotest angle Westward; and Peredurus Albania. And thus for seven years space they Reign in amity, peace and mutual League and concord. After which time, Pere­durus (Vigenius being dead) becomes Lord and Master of all, and so continues his Reign two years longer; and with so great applause of all sorts, by reason of his equity and indulgence towards his Subjects, that he is extolled above all the rest of his Brethren, whose praise is in every mans mouth; nothing to be heard but his Panegyricks; insomuch that even the Name of Elidurus the godly, or Elidurus Pius, is lockt up in the greatest darknesse and obscurity of Oblivion. Such is the vanity and inconstancy of the Vulgar, varium semper & mutabilo vulgus; the best Princes are soonest forgot, and no longer thought upon then their present Fortunes cause them to be present and remembred. This Peredurus builded the Town of Pickering in Yorkshire. Cambden speaking of this place, saith, Memorandum nihil occurrit, nisi Pickering Lancastrensis patrimonii oppidum non parvum, colli affixum, & veteri Castello munitum ad quod plurimi circumsiti viculi spectant, unde vulgi Pickering-Leith, libertas de Pic­kering, Forresta de Pickering, quam Edmundo filio suo minori Lancastriæ comiti Rex Hen. 3. elar­gitus est, regio adjacens nominatur. Nothing occurs here worth memory, except Pickering belonging to the Lancastrian Family, placed upon a Hill, and fortified with an ancient Ca­stle, unto which many neighbouring and adjacent Villages belong, being called the Leith, Liberty and Forrest of Pickering, which Hen. the Third gave unto his Son Edmund Earl of Lancaster. Guido contrary to all other Writers, saith, that Peredurus was cruel and tyrannous to the Brittains, and slew and murthered many of the Lords; he caused him to become so odious, that they rebelled and slew him.

ELIDƲRƲS.

ELIDƲRƲS now the third time is made King, 4941, and ruled four years in the same equity and Princely demeanor as formerly, and then died, and was buried at Caerleil or Karlile. The Count Palatine gives this Character of him, Vir omni genere virtutum præ­stantissimus, animi magnitudine superans ipsam fortunam, adeo ne (que) prosperis rebus elatus, ne (que) adversis dejectus esse voluit; diceres fortunam cum eo certasse ut Rex esset, ne (que) tamen animum ejus infractum constantem (que) vincere potuisse; quo magis abnuebat, eo frequentius ad regendum vo­cabatur; sic honor & gloria persequentes fugit, & fugientes persequitur, ut umbræ Corpus; after his death he left a son named Gorgonianus or Gorbomannus to succeed him.

Fabian in the beginning of his Chronicle hath a Caveat for the Computation of years from Elidure to Lud, which I thought convenient here to insert. To make Histories agree and to keep the order of years begun, we must observe as Ranulph of Chester tells us, with divers o­thers, that Julius Cæsar made Brittain Tributary to Rome, anno 48 ante Christum natum, or in the year of the World, 4150. which was in the ninth year of Cassabilane.

From whence taking from the time of Cassabilane before the Tribute paid nine years, and for the time of the Reign of Lud, eleven years, it followed evidently that King Lud did begin his Reign in the year of the World, 5131. and so from the last year of Elidure unto the be­ginning of the Reign of Lud or in the time of the 33 Kings there passed 186 years.

GORBOMANNƲS.

GORBONIANUS or Gorbomannus, the Son of Regni and Grandchild to Elidure, was Crowned King of Brittain, in the year of the World, 4945. The Count Palatine speak­ing of Elidurus saith, Ei Gorbonias filius Gorboniani succedit, Patri similis in rebus pru­denter agendis; mira fuit in omnes benevolentia ejus, at (que) modus ipse quo in administratione re­rum utebatur, fecit illum universis esse gratissimum: Ita (que) cum post annos decom quibus optime regit, moreretur, publico luctu plangebatur, honoré (que) funeris publico majore quam cæteri Sepulchro condebatur. Gorbonias the Son of Gorbonian succeeded his Uncle in the Kingdome, treading in the same paths of good Government; his Benevolence was admirable, and his Decorum [Page 72] in managing his Affairs so plausible, that he was generally beloved of all men: Thus when he had ruled with universal good liking of every one, he departed this life; whose death was lamented with a general and most doleful mourning, and his Funerals celebrated with grea­ter pomp and solemnity then any of his Predecessors.

MARGAN.

R. Vitus. f. 204. MORGAN or Margan succeeded in the Kingdome; he was a younger Son of Archi­gallo, and governed this Land for the space of fourteen years in great Peace and Tran­quillity, following the Example of his Forefathers.

EMERIANƲS.

EMERIANƲS Brother to Margan succeeded, sed longe diversis moribus, but of quite an other temper and disposition; for he swayed all things after his own Will and Pleasure, and not according to Reasons law and dictamen, practising Tyranny towards both No­bles and Commons, which rendered him so odious unto all, that after the space of seven years, he was deposed and quite thrust out of all Government and Princely Authority.

YDWALLO.

YDWALLO or Ivall the Son of Vigenius, was promoted unto the Regal Throne who being admonished by the evil Example of Emerianus, had learn'd a better Lesson; he was very indulgent to his Subjects, avoiding Tyranny as the very bain of Princes, and ad­ministred justice and equity to all men; bonos in officio continebat, upholding honest men in their places, & malos qua debuit indignatione persequebatur, correcting the wicked with con­digne punishment; and like a good Steward relieved as well the one as the other, in their wants and necessities. After thus he had Reigned twenty years, he forsook this World, and left to succeed him.

RIMO.

RIMO the Son of Peredurus, a Prince adorned with true and perfect Nobility, and ambitious of Honour; who after he had most happily Reigned sixteen years, highly re­nowned for his heroick Spirit, and activity and glory in martial Affairs, he gave way to Ge­runtius to ascend the Regal Throne.

GERƲNTIƲS.

GERƲNTIƲS the Son of Elidure, with the general good liking of all, is Crow­ned King of Great Brittain; a great lover of goodnesse, Peace and justice; he com­manded a strict observation of the Laws, by which means he preserved Unity and Concord among his people, and became highly honoured of them; yet for all this, after he had reig­ned twenty years, death seized upon him, to the great grief and sorrow of all the Kingdome, leaving to succeed him his Son

CATELL or CATELLƲS.

CATELL or Catellus the Son of Geruntius, is solemnly invested with the Royal Ensigns of the Brittish Monarchy, a great Benefactor to the poor and distressed; insomuch that he caused all Oppressors to be taken and hanged: Were such justice put in Execution in these our dayes, such heavy Oppressions would not break the hearts of honest-meaning men. This King Reigned in great peace ten years, and then died.

COILƲS.

COILƲS Reigned ten years in great peace and quiet.

PORREX.

PORREX the second a vertuous and gentle Prince, Reigned five years.

CHIRIMƲS.

CHIRIMƲS or Chirinus, through his drunkennesse Reigned but one year; drunk­ennesse is a vice so far unbeseeming a Prince, that we commonly say As drunken as beg­gers; yet in our potting times it is now come to that passe, that we say as drunk as a Lord; drunkennesse hath been the overthrow of Chieftaines, Armies and Kingdomes, as we may read in sacred writ of Holofernes that great General; Borro Holofernes jacebat in lecto nimiae ebrietate sopitus, when Judith percussit bis in cervicem ejus, & abscidit caput ejus; and the Army of the Gaules under the command of Breunus was full of wine when Camillus totally routed it; neither had our Brittains so foolishly been Massacred and lost their Kingdome to the Saxons, had they not been drunken at the entrapping banquet on Salisbury Downes or Plaines; for as there are three things which do maintain and uphold a Common-wealth, and for the which God doth blesse and prosper it; the first Religion and Piety towards God, the second Justice and Equity amongst men, the third good Discipline in Life and Manners: so there are three other things contrary to those, which do subvert Common-wealths and provoke the wrath of God against them.

The first is all sorts of false Religion, Superstition, Idolatry, Heresy, and Schisme, and such sins as do belong thereto. The second is all sort of Injustice, as Rapine, Immoderate exactions, Oppression of the poor, effusion of innocent blood, and calumniation or slander and such like, for the which God punisheth Kingdoms and States, at the Holy Ghost signifyeth in Ecclesiasticus, saying, Regnum de gente in gentem transferetur, &c. A kingdome is transferred from Nation to Nation for injustice, injuries, calumniations or slanders and divers deceits. The third kind consisteth of Licentiousness, Drunkenness, and dissolutness of life and man­ners. This Drunken King left after him three Sons, Fulgenius, Eldad, and Androgeos, who successively Reigned in this Kingdome.

FƲLGENIƲS.

FƲLGENIƲS the Eldest Son of Chirimus, was Crowned King of Great Brittain, but enjoyed his Kingdome only two years.

ELDRED or ELDREDƲS.

ELDRED the second Son of Chirimus, and brother to Fulgenius, was Crowned King, but enjoyed that honour but one year.

ANDROGEOS.

ANDROGEOS the third Son of Chirimus, and brother to the two precedent Kings, was Crowned, but lived only one year after.

ƲRIANƲS.

URIANƲS the Son of Androgeos, wholly gave himself to lust and the sin of the flesh; homo (saith Comes P.) voluptati deditus more pecudum, he was King only three years; lust hath been the overthrow of many Countries, and cause of much blood shed: had not [Page 74] Paris seen Helena in the Isle of Cythera, in the Temple of Venus, whether this Lady out of cu­riosity to behold the Trojans under pretence of performing some vowes was come; and Paris hearing of her presence and beauty, entered into the Temple in all Princely bravery; as they mutually beheld each other, they became so enamoured with the scorching flames of unlaw­ful love, or rather lust, that presently being now linked together in equal desires, and haud caret effectu quod voluere duo, they embark together, which lustful act caused not onely a ten years siege but also the utter destruction and subvesion of Troy.

Hereunto I may add another notable example of the overthrow of the Lacedemonians, and the losse of the Empire of Greece by the just judgement of God, as both Diodorus Siculus and others affirm; the story is this.

Two Lacedemonians passing over the plain of Leuctra, were lodged and courteously enter­tained in the house of one Scadasus, who had two handsome Women to his daughters, and re­turning that way shortly after, and finding the two young Women at home and their Father absent, first ravisht one, after kill'd them both; their father at his return finding his daughters slain, and understanding who had been the doers of it, went to Lacedemon to crave justice against the Malefactors; but so potent were they and their friends there, that he could by no means obtain it: whereupon after infinite maledictions poured forth in the sorrow of his heart against them and their state, he went home and desperately kil'd himself upon the grave of his Daughters. Not long after Wars growing between the Thebans and the Lacede­monians, the soul of Scadasus appeared to Pelopidas (one of the chief Captaines of the The­bans) and encouraged him to give battel to the Lacedemonians in the plain of Leuctra, where he and his daughters were buried: telling him that their death should be there revenged, and so afterwards it fell out; for the Lacedemonians lost not only the battel, but also the Empire of Greece: we will omit the burning of Sodome and Gomorah for the sin of lust, and also the rape which those of the town of Gabaa committed upon the wife of a Levit, for which percussit eos Dominus in conspectu filiorum Israel, who killed of them 25100 men that bore Armes.

But come a little nearer to our times; concerning the punishment of the sins of the flesh, we have a notable and fearful example thereof in the Kingdom of Spain, conquered by the Moors, and possessed by them 700 years for that offence. For when the Kingdome had flourished as well in religion as power, from the time of K. Recared (the first Catholick King thereof, the space of 120 years: the wicked King Vitiza being a man (like this our Ʋrianus) given over to lust and carnality, infected and corrupted all Spain, not only with the bad example of his own dissolute life, (having divers Wives at once besides many Concubines) but also with abo­minable Laws, whereby he gave leave to all sorts of men to have as many Wives & Concubines as they listed, yea and forced Priests and such as would have lived chast to marry, by which means all Spain became within a while to be no better then a common Stew or Brothel. And although Almighty God according to his accustomed mercy expected their conversion and amendment all the time of that Kings Reign, and laid onely the penalty thereof upon him whom he deprived both of his Crown and his eye-sight, by the means of Roderick who succee­deed him in the Kingdome: yet when the said Roderick followed his steps as well in his vici­ous life as in the maintenance of his abominable Laws, it pleased God of his justice to per­mit him to give the occasion both of his own ruine and also of the overthrow of all Spain by the sin of the flesh, wherewith the whole Kingdome was as it were overflowed.

For whereas King Roderick had sent a Kinsman of his own Count Julian Embassador into Affrick, and in the mean time ravished his Daughter, or (as some write) his wife; the Count understanding it at his return, was so incensed therewith against the King, that in revenge thereof he practised with the Moores to bring them into Spain, who with his assistance conque­red it speedily, and with such destruction of the people, that the punishment of God was evident­ly seen therein. For having first overthrown King Roderick (whose body could never after the Battail be found) they subdued almost all Spain in eight Months, or in fourteen, as some say, and slew 700000 of all sorts of people, besides great numbers of Captives which they sent Prisoners into Barbary; and from that time forward remained in the possession of that Kingdome, or of some part thereof for the space of 700 years.

ELIƲD.

ELIƲD Reigned five years; he was a great Astronomer, Astrologiae peritissimus Rex. This vain study, especially of judicial Astrology in these our dayes, is much in request even amongst Troopers disbanded; some of whom I know so ignorant that they cannot write true English, nay scarce read. The Professors of this Science, especially such as would seem to be learned, would make it very ancient, fetching the Original from the Egyptians and Babylonians, the most ancient of all Mortals: Jactabant olim Astrologi Chaldæos qua­dringinta & septuaginta annorum millia in periclitandis, experiendis (que) pueris quicunque nasce­rentur, posuisse, To have spent forty and seventy thousand years, and yet the Chaldeans had their beginning at the destruction of the Tower of Babel: And Picus Mirandulanus in his se­cond Chapter of his 12. Book, to disprove the Name and forged Antiquity of Astrologers, [Page 75] saith he can shew no Students thereof before the time of Nebuchodonosor: Benedictus Pirerius. and Benedictus Pire­rius in a Book which he writes de divinatione Astrologiæ: Tanta est Astrologorum (qui vulgo Judiciarii appellantur) vel impudentia vel Amentia, ut etiam sibi divinam Scripturam suf­fragari suæque Astronomatiæ fidem & Authoritatem firmare jactent: etenim verba illa quæ dixit Deus creans luminaria, Et sint in signa & tempora, &c. ad suam referunt divinationem Astrologi­cam, per quam ipsi profitentur ex observatione siderum futura rerum eventa posse prædici: quo­circa B. Basilius & Ambrosius, aliique permulti patres in explanatione eorum verborum bene longam & acuratam in refellendi istiusmodi Astrologorum prædictionibus orationem posuerunt; quorum nos Patrum exemplis provocati & gravissimis Dei sententiis contra Astrologos multifa­riam in divina Scriptura proditis permoti, quin etam justissimo adversus Astrologos odio propter fraudulenta & perniciosa eorum figmenta librum hunc ad confutandas eorum prædictiones à no­bis scriptum, gratum multis & utilem fore existimamus; scripsit adversus Astrologos quidem co­piose Joannes Picus Mirandula: sed multos ab ejus lectione deterret prolixitas operis. Nos licet in prædiviti & uberi versemur argumento, eo tamen breves erimus, quod non omnia quæ disputari possent, sed aptiora duntaxat causae firmior aque tractabimus: quinque autem erunt hujus libri & disputationis adversos Astrologos capita; primo enim docebimus sacrae & Ecclesiasticæ doctrinae aivinationem Astrologicam esse contrariam; tum ostendemus Astrologos esse rerum cælestium impe­ritos; Deinde divinatricem istam artem rectae rationi ac Philosophiæ adversari demonstrabimus; ad hæc probabimus astra non solum non esse causas efficientes rerum futurarum, verum nec esse certa figna quæ res futuras præuotent ac præmonstrent; ad extremum, cur nonnulla Astrologorum præ­dicta sint vera, causas exponemus. This Author reduceth his book into five principall heads against Astrologers. First he sheweth Astrology to be contrary to sacred and Ecclesiastical do­ctrine. Secondly, Astrologers themselves to be ignorant of Celestial things; and that that divining Art is opposite both to sound Reason and Philosophy; and that the Stars are not the efficient causes of future things, no not so much as certain Signs to point out or shew us things to ensue: and lastly, he makes appear the Causes why some Astrological predictions may prove true. I wish every man of learning would read Pirerius, to laugh at the folly of our Age, wherein every paltery Almanack-maker will make him to open the Closets and Cabi­nets of Princes Counsels, and condemn Personages of high and eminent Quality to violent and untimely deaths at their pleasure; where the best of them, even Ly-Ly himself is obser­ved to tell Lyes in the plural Number, and Verites scare in the singular.

DEDANTIƲS.

DEDANTIƲS or as other call, Dedacus, was after his Predecessor, King of Great Brittain the space of five years also: of this Prince no further mention is made; atque per tot alios, (scil. quinque annos) Dedacus inde tenuit. Dedacus, Com. Pal.

DETONƲS.

DETONƲS Reigned two years, as affirmeth Mr. Howes; Com. Pa. speaketh nothing of this Prince, but after Dedacus, saith, Enimvero Clotenus nisi duos annos regnabat; and Fa­bian also next to Dedacus puts Clotenus, and then Gurgenites, and tells us that Lanquet leaveth these out; Com. Pal. puts one Gurguineus, it may be the same which Fabian calls Gurginetes, to rule three years.

MERIANƲS.

MERIANƲS by consent of all Writers, was King two years.

BLADƲNƲS.

BLEDƲ ƲS as Fabian saith, or Bladunus, as others, ruled two years.

CAPENƲS.

CAPENƲS or Cap, was King three years.

OVINƲS.

OVIMƲS, Oenus or Owyn, ruled other three years.

SISILIƲS.

SISILIƲS or Silius, governed the Bittains two years.

BLEDGABREDƲS.

BLEDGABREDƲS or Bledgabridus, wore the Brittish purpure ten years, as Mr. Howes affirmeth, Fabian saith twenty; he loved and studied Musick, in so much that Com. Pal. tells us tanta canendo excellentia superavit omnes homines ut quidem in arte Musica deus esse videretur, he so far excelled all mortal men in the art of singing, that he seemed to be the god of Musick; this he confirmes in his notes, figure the 18. Deinde Galfridus lib. 1. c. 22. Bel­gridus omnes cantores quos aetas præcedens habuit, plurimum excellebat tum in modulis, tum in om­nibus musicis instrumentis, ita ut deus faculatorum esse videretur. Belgridus so far excelled all the singers of the precedent age, as well in Madrigall and voice as all other Musical instruments, that he was called the god of mirth, or merry companions; nam ita Cajus, Belgabridem homi­nem regem (inquit) tantum fuisse musicum constaet, ut propter excellentem musices cognitionem musi­corum deus appellaretur. Belgabride a Princely man was so rare and skilful in the Art of Mu­sick that for his excellency therein, he was called the god of Musitians, I dare not say Min­strils, least some should think the King a Fidler; many great Princes, Kings and Empe­rours have singularly affected the heavenly melody of Musick; and much may be spoken in praise thereof, which I forbear; yet I am of an opinion that no man can be of a good nature who loves it not.

ARCHIMALƲS.

ARCHIMALƲS, Archimelus or Archemall, Reigned two years: Isti frater Archi­malus in regno suffectus est, qui & ipse post annos duos accepit Eldolum successorem.

ELDOLƲS.

ELDOLƲS, Elden or Eldell, was King of the Brittaines four years, in whose time of Go­vernment many prodigious signs were seen as Globes of fire bursting out of the air with great noyse; ignei Globi de nubibus erumpentes cum aeris maxime strepitu.

RODIANƲS.

RODIANƲS or Redian was King two years.

REDARGIƲS.

REDARGIƲS Reigned three years, Com. Pal. calls him Roderecius, saying, Rodere­cius hunc sequitur pro tribus annis; but Fabian is so far from speaking of this King, that he quite leaves him out, making no mention of his name.

SAMƲLIƲS.

SAMƲLIƲS was King two years; Samulius pro duobus, Com. Pal.

PENISILLƲS.

PENISILLƲS Reigned three years; rursum pro tribus Penisellus; Com. Pal. Fabian saith that Samul Penisel was but one individuum, and that he Reigned five years.

PYRRƲS.

PYRRƲS, whom Fabian calls Pyr Phyrrus, Reigned two years.

CAPORƲS.

CAPORƲS whom Fabian calls Capoir, Reigned two years.

DINELLƲS.

DINELLƲS the Son of Caporus, whom Fabian calls Glyguell Dinell, Vilus fol. 205. ruled the Brittain [...] four years; Com. Pal. Dinellus autem Caporii filius, gerendarum rerum scientissimus prin­ceps, pro summa suavitate morum & erga singulos benignitate laudatur. Quanquam homines ex infima plebe nascerentur, tamensi erant bene periti earum rerum quæ in deliberatione ponebantur, ipsorum sententias libenter audiebat, ne (que) magis à quo quamquæ ad rem præsentem utiliter di­cerentur attendebat; etenim consilia sciebat non ex persona suggerentium sed sua vi esse ponderan­da. Idcirco viri conditione humilis opinionem sapenumero præserebat sententiae viri nobilis ac illustris domi; pœnas male facientibus infligebat, foris annonam & omnia militibus necessaria pro­curabat, aegros ac debiles corpore visebat; nec eo contentus, res quibus indigebant, liberaliter suppeditabat, extinctus morte cum annos regnasset septem; Dinellus the son of Caporius, a Prince excellently well seen in managing his Affairs, for his love and affable carriage towards all men had in high esteem; In his consultations his judgement reflected not upon the persons of men, whether mean and born of low degree, or sprung from noble and illustrious Families; but alwaies, in all debates, he gave ear to such as spoak most to the purpose, not regarding who the speaker was, but what he spake: for he rightly knew that matters were not to be bal­lanced after the quality & condition of the Relator, but according to the essence and truth of the thing: which caused him often to prefer a mean mans opinion before a Courtiers, or No­bles; at home he caused condigne punishments to be inflicted upon malefactors, and abroad he was very sedulous and careful to provide all things convenient and necessary for his Soul­diers; The infirm, weak and sick he often visited; not that alone but whatsoever they wanted, he took order that it should be brought unto them: after all which good deeds he left this world, having Reigned seven years. Howes and Fabian say but four.

HELY.

HELY Son of Dinellus, governed the Brittains one or not fully one year:Mr. Howes. of this Prince the Isle of Ely took it Name, saith Geffrey. Hoc vero nomen (saith Mr. Cambden) Beda ab anguillis deduxit, unde nonnulli Insulam anguillarum dixerunt; Polidorus Virgilius à Greco [...] quod paludem denotat; alii ab Helig Britannico quod salices significat, quarum, cum aliarum arborum sit impatiens, est feracissima tum soli natura, tum quod contra irrumpentium omnium impetus satæ, saepius (que) caesa innumera hærede, ut Pliniano verbo utar, profuerunt, ex quibus hic & alibi corbes texuntur, quas nunc Brittanni Baskes vocant. The Name of Ely (saith Mr. Camb­den) Beda deriveth from Eeles, insomuch that some call it the Isle of Eeles; Polidor Virgil will have it named from the Greek word [...], which signifieth a Marrish or Fennish place; others bring it from the Brittish word Helig, which signifieth an Osier or Sallow, which kind of twigs grow there in great abundance, though otherwise the Isle is bare of Trees and Tim­ber; but these grow partly from the nature of the soil, and partly are planted to stop and hinder the irruptions of the water, and bring such a numerous encrease, that they supply Tradesmen for the making of Baskets not only there but in the Countries round about. This Isle hath in it a City of the same Name, had in account for the repute and holinesse of Votary Nuns residing there, built first by Audrey wife of Tombreta Prince in this Province, who had in this place a part of her Dowry;Anomus Maps in Camb. sh. she having departed from her second Husband Egbert King of Northumberland by his leave and consent, devoted her self to the service of [Page 78] God, and built there a Monastery whereof she became the first Abbesse; This in the Danish desolations was destroyed, but soon after reedified by Ethelwold Bishop of Winchester, who stored it with Monks, unto whom King Edgar granted the jurisdiction over four hundred and a half, within these Fens and the East Angle-limits, which to this day are called the Liber­ties of St. Audrey. After whose Examples the Nobles so enriched it with large Revenues, that as Malmesbury saith, The Abbot thereof laid up yearly into his own Coffers, a thousand and four hundred pounds. And of latter times the Monks thereof became so wealthy that their old decayed Church they renewed with new and stately Buildings, which is now the Cathedral of the Diocesse, and for beauty giveth place to no other in England. Comes Pal. speaking of this Hely saith, A quo splendor Imperii Brittannici coepit in orbe Romano per filios maximos belli duces apparere: From whom the splendor and glory of the Brittish Empire through the Va­lour of its Martial Children began first to display its beam in the Roman Orb or Hemisphere. Com. Palat. (though others allow, as Howes and Fabian, but one year to his Reign) saith, He­lius Regnum annis quadraginta gubernat, tres filios generat, Luddum, Cassuellanum, Nen­nium; whose very names manifest a certain excellancy: And he further saith, that Giraldus affirms, Pirrhi mansionem fuisse Castrum Manubri, quod aetate sua fuerat adhuc turribus & pro­pugnaculis eximium, ab occidente portum habebat extensum, à Circio & Borea sub ipsis mae­nibuss vivarium egregium tam sui venustate quam profunditate aquarum valde conspicuum.

LƲD.

LƲD the Son of K. Hely, by right of Inheritance, and general applause of all the Brit­tains, is Crowned King of this Island: The first Act worthy of Observation which he took in hand was to immure the City of Troynovant, which he inclosed with strong Walls, garnishing the same with many lofty and stately Towers; which done, he gives command to the Citizens to Erect their Structures and Edifices within the Compasse of the same: the mo­tion proceeding as it were out of an innate love and respect which he bore to that place, in which he spent most of the time which he had spar'd from war-like Affairs and the publique Administation of justice. In this City he built (saith Com. Pal.) Palatium egregtum, a stately and sumptuous Pallace; and on the West side thereof, a strong & defensible Gate of large big­nesse and solid work, which to this day is called Lud's Gate. Trinovant being now beautified with most delicate and pleasing Buildings, peopled and inhabited by rich & wealthy Citizens, began to shake hands with its old Name, and bid it adieu, resuming a new Nomenclation from its present Benefactor and Restaurator, and begins to be better known by the Name of Luds Town then Trinobant, now corruptly London, then Troynovant. This King Lud sir­named Imanuentius, was a Prince of a most heroick and warlike Spirit, and remarkable for the Courtship which he used, in inviting his Nobles and Chieftains to costly Feasts and Ban­quets; but amongst all these Interludes and Princely Pastimes, the provident King forgot not to root out such overgrown and inveterate Customes, as he observed to be ob­noxious to the Commonwealth; and what by experience he found irregular, he quite abro­gated, instituting new and commodious Laws and Edicts in their places; and knowing that no Republick can be well governed without a due Observation of Religion and Piety, he builded many goodly Temples in the honour of his gods: It is in my judgement worthy ob­servation, how zealous Pagan Princes have been to build places of adoration to their false gods; and in the infancy of Christianity and primitive Church, with what devotion and piety, not onely Christian Emperours, Kings and Princes, but even Noble Men and private Citizens bestowed their Wealth and Patrimonies in erecting Churches to the honour of our most Bles­sed Saviour and his holy and glorious Martyrs; and how those who in our present times call themselves Saints (sunt autem intus Lupi rapaces,) pollute, contaminate, deface and destroy Churches, and Chappels, pull down the Fonts wherein they received the badg of Christianity, the sacred Lavacre of Baptisme, draw down the monuments and shrines of Martyrs, Sepul­chres of those whose Memories are held in Veneration, unclapper the Bells, sacrilegiously take away the Ropes, (sed dabit Deus his quoque funem;) if these be acts of Religion, or a Re­formation (as forsooth they term it) then will I say, That Gardiner rectifieth and reformeth a good Orchard, planted with the choicest Fruit-bearing Trees, when he pulleth up by the roots all those goodly stocks, and leaves the ground digged and turned up by the profane snouts of Hogs and wild Boars, and taketh no care to replant young Saplings and Graffts in their places.

King Lud began his Reign in the year of the World five thousand one hundred and thirty one; who after he had governed the Brittains with great justice and moderation eleven years, ended the period of his days, and was buried in the Temple which he had built nere Ludgate in Caer Lud or London, for so hereafter we must usually call it; leaving two Sons, Androgeus and Tenancius or Temancius.

CASSABILAN.

CASSABILAN brother to King Lud, began to govern the Brittains, in the year of the world five thousand one hundred and forty two; The Nobles and Commons made e­lection of this Prince, in regard that the two Sons of his deceased brother were so young, that the eldest of them was held unfit to govern: Cassebilan, as witnesseth the old Chronicle, and also Flos Historiarum, was not Crowned long, but only elected Protector during the Nonage of his Nephews; but Ambition and the dazling aspect of a princely Diadem are able with out the grace of the Almighty, if it were possible, to overthrow even honesty and justice it self: yet Cassabilan a Pagan shews far more civility and natural tenderness, then Richard the third a Christian, who murdered his Nephewes being their Protector; Cassabilan lets them enjoy that breath which God & nature had bestowed upon them; but so cunningly by his wily practises, by doing justice, shewing himself liberal and bountiful to the subjects, he insinuates himself into their hearts and bosomes, that as a man immediately sent from the Gods, with ge­neral Votes and suffrages he is Crowned King of Brittain: yet had he an after-game to play full of hazard and difficulty; his two Nephewes are living: had Machiavel been his Tutor, he had sent them long ere this to their Graves; and whilst the lawful Heirs are in being, the unjust possessor upon what title soever can never be secure; Cassibalan to stop the mouths of all such as should find themselves aggrieved with the disinheriting of the Orphans, gives unto Andro­gias the City of London, with the Dukedome or Earldome of Kent; And unto Tenantius the Earldome of Cornwall; but men deprived of their Birth-right will make hard shift, rather then not obtain their Right, or at least be revenged; This was the present condition of Brittany, about the four and fiftieth year, before the Birth of our Saviour Jesus Christ: Cæsar being the Governour of Gallia for the Senate and people of Rome, and having brought some part of that Countrey under obedience, intended a Voyage into Brittany, partly upon pretence of revenge (for that the Brittaines had divers times aided those of Gallia in their Wars against the Romans) and partly to satisfie himself with the sight of the Island: and knowing the In­habitants and their custome, whereby he might be perhaps the more readily induced by reason of his own natural Inclination to undertake great and difficult attempts, and with the encrease of his own glory to enlarge the limits of the Roman Empire: unto which at that time the Soveraignity of the whole world was by divine providence Allotted; And to this end he thought good to be first informed of the nature of the people, and of such havens in the Isle as were most commodious to receive any shipping that should come thither; which things where in a manner unkown to the Gaules, by reason the Flanders suffered none to have accesse to them but Merchants onely, neither knew they any other places then the Sea Coasts, and those parts of the Isle that confronted the continent of Gallia; wherupon Cæsar supposing it necessary to make some discovery before he adventured himself in the action, sent Caius Volu­semus in a long boat, with instructions to enquire of the quantity of the Island, of the condi­tions of the Inhabitants, of their manner of making War, of their Government in Peace, and what places were fittest for Landing; After which dispatch made, he himself with all his For­ces, (which were newly returned from making War beyond the Rhene) Marched into the Country of theThe ancient Inhabitants of the Guines and Bolonois in Pi­cardie. Morini, from whence was the shortest cut into Brittany, for there he had ap­pointed his shipping to meet him.

In the mean time his purpose being known to the Brittains, by report of the Merchants (that traded with them) divers states of the Isle (either fearing the greatness of the Roman pow­er, or affecting Innovation for some private respects) sent over Ambassadours, who promised in their names to deliver Hostages for assurance of their obedience to the people of Rome; but Cæsar though he was fully resolved to enter the Island, curteously entertained their offer, exhorting them to continue in that good mind, as a means to draw on the rest in following the example of their submission; for the better effecting whereof he appointed Comius the chief Governour of the Attrebates (as a man whose wisdome and faith he had tryed, and whom he knew to be respected of the Brittains) to accompany the Ambassadours in their return, giving him in charge to go to as many Cities as would permit him acoesse, and to perswade the Rulers to submit themselves as some of their Nation had already done: and further to let them know, that himself with all convenient speed would come thither.

The Princes of the Isle being yet altogether unacquainted with any civil kind of Govern­ment, maintained quarrels & factions among themselves, whereby one sought to offend another, and to enlarge his own part by encroaching upon his Neighbors (not observing that what they gained in particular one of another, they lost altogether in a general reckoning) they made an open passage in the end for the Roman to Conquer the whole (a thing common to them with other Nations, who have found the like effects, to proceed from the like cause) for the most part of the Brittains in those dayes, delighted in War, neglecting Husbandry, or perhaps not then knowing the use of it; Their manner of living and customes were much, like to those of the Inhabitants of Gallia; Their Diet was such as nature yielded of her self without the in­dustry of man; for though they had great store of Cattle, yet they lived (especially in the In­land [Page 80] Country) with Milk; It was held among them as a thing unlawful to eat of a Hare, a Hen, or a Goose, and yet they nourished them for Creation sake. Their apparel was made of the skins of Beasts, though their bodies were for the most part naked and stained with woad, which gave them a blewish colour, and as they supposed, made their Aspect terrible to their Enemies in Battail. TheirYet had they Cities wald, and strong; this must be understood of those which we now call Peasants and Cottagers. Houses were compact of stakes, reeds and boughes of trees fastned together in a round Circle. They had ten or twelve wives a piece common among them, though the issue were alwayes accounted his that first married the Mother being a Mai­den. They were in stature taller then the Gauls; by this time Volusenus (who durst not set foot on land to hazard himself among the Ilanders) returned to Cæsar (to wit, the fifth day after his setting forth) and made relation of such things as he had seen and heard by report in roving up and down the Coast in view of the Iland.

Cæsar having composed some Tumults in the hither part of Gallia, that he might leave no Enemy behind him to annoy him in his absenee, pursued the Enterprize of Brittain, having to that end prepared a Navy, which consisted of about fourscore Ships of burden (a number sufficient) as he thought, for the transportation of two Legions, besides his long Boats, wherein the Questor, the Lieutenant, and other Officers of the Camp were to be embarked; There were also eighten ships of burden (that lay wind bound about eight miles from the Port) appointed to waft over the Horse-men. P. Pulpitius Rufus, a Lieutenant of a Legion was commanded to keep the Haven it self with such power as was thought sufficient. These things being thus ordered, and a good part of the summer being now spent, Cæsar put out to Sea about the third watch of the night, having given direction, that the Horsemen should embarke in the up­per Haven, and follow him; wherein while they were somewhat slack, Cæsar with his shipping about the fourth hour of the day Arrived upon the Coast of Brittain, where he beheld the Clifts possessed with a multitude of people rudely armed, but ready to make resistance.

The nature of the place was such, as by reason of the steep hills (encloasing the Sea on each side in a narrow strait) it gave great advantage to the Brittains, in casting down their darts upon their Enemies underneath them. Cæsar finding this place unfit for landing his Forces, put off from the shore and cast Anchor, expecting the rest of his Fleet; and in the mean time calling a Council of the Lieutenants and Tribunes of the Souldiers, he declared unto them, what he had understood by Volusenus, and directed what he would have done, warning them that (as the state of War, and especially the Sea service required) they would be ready to weigh Anchor and to remove Too and Fro upon all occasions at a beek, and in an instant.

This done, having advantage both of Wind and Tide, he set forward with his Navy about four League from that place, and then lay at Anchor in view of the open and plain shore; But the Ilanders upon intelligence of the Romans purpose had sent thither (before Cæsars coming) a company of Horsemen and Chariots called Esseda (which they then used in their Wars) and following afterwards with the rest of their Forces, empeached their Enemies from Landing, whose ships by reason of their huge bulks (drawing much water) could not come near to the shore, so as the Roman Souldiers were thereby enforced in places unknown (their bo­dies being charged with their Armour) to leap into the water and encounter the Brittains, who assailed them nimbly with their Darts, and drove their Horses and Chariots with main force upon them. The Romans being therewith terrified, as Men unacquainted with that kind of Fight, failed much of the wonted courage which they had shewed in their former land Services; and Cæsar perceiving it, caused the long boats which seemed more strange to the Brittaines, and were more serviceable by reason of the swiftnesse of their motion, to put off by little and little from the great Ships, and to Row towards the shore, from whence they might more easily charge the Ilanders, with their Arrowes, Slings and other Warlike Engines, which (being then unknown to the Inhabitants, as also the fashion of the ships and motion of the Oares in the long Boats, having stricken them with fear and amazement) caused them to make a stand and afterwards to draw back a little. But the Roman Souldiers making no haste to pursue them, by reason of the water which they suspected in some place to be deep and dangerous, the Standerd-bearer of the Eagle for the tenth Legion, praying that his attempt might prove succesful, then the Legion cryed out with a loud voice saying, Fellow Souldiers leap out of your Boats, and follow me, except you mean to betray your Standard to the Enemy; for my own part, I mean to discharge the duty I owe to the Commonwealth, and to my Generall; This said, he cast himself into the water, and carried the Standard boldly against the Brit­tains; whereupon the Souldiers exhorting one another to follow the Ensign what fortune so ever befel, with a common consent leapt out of their long Boats, one seconding another, and so wading through the water, at length got to shore, where began a sharp and bloody Fight on both sides. The Romans were much Incumbred by reason that they could neither keep their ranks nor fight upon firm ground, nor follow their own Standard; for every one as he came on Land, ran confusedly to that which was next him; some of the Brittains who knew the flats and shallow places, espying the Romans as they came single out of their ships, pricked forward their horses and set upon them, overlaying them with number, and finding them unwieldy and unready to make any great resistance, by reason of the depth of the water, and weight of their Armour, while the greater part of the Natives with their Darts assailed them fierely upon the shore, which Cæsar perceiving, commanded the Cock-boats and Scouts to be Manned with Souldiers whom he sent in all haste to rescue their Fellows.

There was a Souldier of Cæsars Company called Cassius Scaeva, who with some other of the same Band, was carried in a small Boat unto the Rock, which the ebbing Sea in that place had make accessible. The Brittains espying them, made thitherwards: the rest of the Romans escaping, Scaeva was left alone upon the Rock, to which Island the fury of the enraged mul­titude assailed him with their darts, which he received upon his Shield, and thrust at them with his Spear till it was broken, and his Helmet and Shield lost: then being tyred with ex­treme toyl, and dangerously wounded, he betook himself to flight (carrying two little Har­nesses on his back) with much difficulty recovered Cæsars Tent, where he craved pardon for making so bold an attempt without commandment of his General. Cæsar did both remit the Offence, and rewarded the Offender by bestowing upon him the Office of a Centurion. This was that Scaeva who afterwards gave good cause to have his Name remembred in the Roman Histories for the memorable service he did to Cæsar, in the time of the civil Wars be­tween him and Pompey at the battail near Dyrrachium. The Romans having at length got footing on the dry land, gave a fresh charge unto the Brittains, and in the end forced them to turn their backs, and leave the shore, though they could not pursue them far into the Land for want of Horsemen, Cæsars accustomed Fortune failing him in this one accident.

The Brittains after this overthrow assembling themselves together (upon consultation had amongst them) sent Embassadors to Cæsar, promising to deliver in pledges, or to do whatsoe­ver else he would command them: With these Embassadors came Comius of Arras, whom Cae­sar had sent before out of Gallia into Brittain, where having delivered the Message he had then in charge, he was apprehended and committed to Prison, and now after the battel re­leased. The chief States of the Brittains, seeking to excuse their attempt, laid the blame upon the multitude, who being the greater number, and wilfully bent to take Arms, would neither by perswasion nor Authority be restrained: And they pretended their own ignorance as be­ing a free people, and not experienced in the Customes of other Nations. Cæsar although he reproved them for making War in that manner, considering that of their own accord, they had sent Embassadors to him, before his arrival in Brittany to desire peace; yet was content to pardon them upon delivery of pledges, whereof some he received presently, and the rest being to come from remote places, he appointed to be sent in by a set day; so the Brittains were dismissed to return into their Countries; and in the mean time there came divers Prin­ces from other parts of the Isle to submit themselves and their Cities to Cæsar. The fourth day after, the Romans Landing the ships before mentioned, appointed for Transportation of Cæsars Horse men, having a favourable Gail of wind, put out to Sea from the upper Haven; and approaching near the Island in view of the Roman Camp, a suddain storme arose and scattered them, driving some back again to the Port from whence they came, and some others upon the lower part of the Island Westward, where after they had cast Anchor, (their Keeles being all most overwhelmed with the Waves) they were carried by violence of the storm in the night into the Main, and with very great peril recovered a harbour in the Continent.

The same night the Moon was at the full, at which time commonly the Sea in those parts is much troubled, and overfloweth the banks by reason of the high Tides (a matter unknown unto the Romans) insomuch as the long Boats which transported the Army, then lying upon the shore, were filled with the flood, and the ships of burden that lay at Anchor were beaten with the storm and split in pieces, the greater number of them perishing in the water, and the rest being made altogether unserviceable (the Anchors lost and Tacklings broken) wherewith the Romans were much perplexed, for that they neither had any other ships to transport them back again, nor any means to repair what the Tempest had Ruined; and Cæsar had former­ly resolved to winter in Gallia, by reason he was unfurnished of victuals to maintaine his Ar­my, during the Winter season: which being known to the chief States of the Brittains (who had met together about the accomplishment of such things as Cæsar had commanded them) they supposed a fit opportunity was offered them to revolt, while the Romans wanted Horse­men, shipping and all manner of provisions; the number of their Forces seeming also the lesse, in respect of the small circuit of their Camp (Cæsar having transported his Legions, with­out any Carriages, or such like Warlike necessaries) whereupon they concluded to keep them from Victuals, and to prolong the War till Winter; assuring themselves that if they could ei­ther vanquish the Romans, or bar them from returning thence, there would no Forraigne Nation after them adventure to set foot again in Brittany; and hereupon they conveyed them­selves by stealth out of the Roman Camp, and gathered company to them privily from di­vers parts to make head against their Enemies.

Cæsar, albeit he was ignorant of the Brittains purpose, yet supposing that the State of his Army and the loss of his ships were to them known, and considering that they had broken day with him, in detaining the pledges contrary to the contract, he suspected that which afterwards proved true; And therefore to provide remedies against all chances, he causedThe Brit­tains not ig­norant of Agriculture, as som aver they then were, as the Author from whom I took this, seemeth to say. Corn to be brought daily out of the Fields into his Camp; and such ships as could not be made fit for service were used to repair the rest, and such other things as were wanting thereto, he appoint­ed to be brought out of the same continent; by which means and the diligence of his Souldi­ers, by losse of twelve ships, the rest of the Navy was made able to bear sail, and brook the Seas again: while these things were in doing, the seventh Legion (according to custome) was sent forth a Forraging, till which time the Brittains revolt was not certainly known, for that [Page 82] some of them remained abroad in the Fields, and others came ordinarily into the Roman Camp; The Warders in the station before the Camp, gave notice to Cæsar that the same way which the Legion went, there appeared a greater dust then was wont to be seen; Cæsar mi­strusting some new practice of the Brittains, commanded the Companies (that kept Ward) to march thither, appointing two others to supply their rooms, and the rest of his Forces to Arme themselves with speed and follow him; when he approached near the place discried, he per­ceived his Souldiers to be over-charged by the Brittains, who assailed them on all sides with darts; For the Brittains having commanded their Corn from all other parts (this onely ex­certed) and suspecting that the Romans would come thither, lay in the woods all night to in­texcept them: and finding them dispersed and unready, they suddenly set upon them (as they were reaping) killing a few of them and disordering the rest with their Horses and Chariots.

The manner of the Brit­tains fighting in ChariotsThe manner of their fighting in Chariots was thus; First they used to ride round about their Enemies Forces, casting their Darts where they saw advantage, and often times with the fiercenesse of their Horses, and whirling of their Chariots wheels, they broak their Ene­mies ranks: and being gotten in among the Troops of Horsemen, they would leap out of their Chariots and Fight on Foot. The Chariot-drivers in the mean time withdrew them­selves by little and little out of the battle, and placed themselves in such sort, as their Masters (being over matched by their Enemies) might readily recover their Chariots, so that in their Fighting they performed the Offices both of Horsemen in swiftness of motion, and also of Footmen in keeping of ground: and by daily use and exercise they were grown so expert in managing their Horses as driving them forcibly down a deep hill, they were able to stay or turn them in the midway, yea to run along the beam, to stand firm upon the yoak, and to return thence speedily into their Chariots again.

The Romans being much troubled with this new kind of fight, Cæsar came in good time to the rescue; for upon his approach the Brittains gave over the Skirmish, yet keeping still their ground as Masters of the Field; and the Romans for fear, retired themselves to their Gene­ral, who thought it no point of wisdome to hazard his Forces in a place unknown: but ha­ving staid there a while, conducted the Legions back again to his Camp, and in the mean time, the Brittains that were in the Field dispersed themselves and shrunk away. After this there were many dayes together continual tempests, which kept the Romans in their Camp, and hindred the Brittains from making any open attempt; though they sent Messengers se­cretly into divers parts of the Ile, publishing abroad what a small number of their enemies were left, what hope there was of a rich booty, and what apparent likelyhood of recovering their liberty, if they drive the Romans from their Camp: and hereupon in short time they assembled a great number of Horse and Foot men to put their purpose in execution. Against the which (Cæsar understanding thereof) made preparation for Defence, having gotten also about him thirty Horse men, (which Comius of Arras brought over with him) whose service he supposed very necessary, if the Brittains (according to their wonted manner) should seek to save themselves by flight; The Legions were placed in battle Array, before the Camp. Then the Brittains began to Fight, which had not long continued, when they gave back and fled, the Romans pursuing them as far as they durst, killing many whom they overtook, and burning Houses and Towns as they returned to their Camp. The same day the Brittains sent Embassadours to Cæsar desiring peace, which after long sute was granted upon Conditions, that the Pledges (which was before required) should be now doubled, and speedily sent over into Gallia. For the Aequinoctial drawing neer, Cæsar made haste thither, doubting his crased ships would not be well able to brook the Seas in Winter: whereupon taking advantage of the next fair wind, he embarqued his Forces about midnight, and with the greatest part of his Fleet Arrived in the Continent. The Roman Senate (upon Relation of these his Services) decreed a Supplication for him, for the space of twenty dayes.

In the spring of the year following, Cæsar having pacified some tumults in Gallia, prose­cuted the enterprise of Brittain, and to that end he had prepared a Fleet of new ships, all ap­pointed and commodiously built for landing his Forces, (the want whereof he had found before to his great losse) and a sufficient Army consistent of five Legions, and a proportionable number of Horse which he embarked atCalis Portus Iccius about Sun setting: having a faire Southern wind to set them forward, which failing them about midnight, the Tide diverted their course, so as in the morning he discovered the Island on his left hand, and then follow­ing the turning of the Tide, he commanded his Souldiers to use their Oares, that they might reach that part of the Isle, where they had found the best landing the summer before; wherein they took such pains, as their ships of burden kept way with their long boats and lighter Ves­sels; about noon they landed on the shore, where there appeared no man to make resistance; the cause whereof was (as Cæsar afterwards learned by such Prisoners as he took) for that the Brittains having assembled themselves together in Armes at the Sea side, were so terrified with the sight of the ships (which of all sorts were esteemed above eight hundred sayle) that they left the shore, and ran to hide themselves in the Upland Countries; Cæsar (upon intelligence of Fugitives, where the Brittish Forces lay) leaving at the Sea side ten Chariots, and three hundred Horse to guard the ships then lying at Anchor (whereof Quintus Atrius had the charge) Marched forward with the rest of his Army in the night about twelve miles into the [Page 83] Land, where he espied a multitude of Brittains flocking together neer a river, having gotten the upper ground, from whence they began, to charge the Romans with their horse and Cha­riots, but being repulsed by Cæsars Horsemen, they fled and hid themselves in the Woods in a place which being notably strengthned both by nature and art, they had used as a Fortresse in their civil War, among themselves; for by reason there were many great Trees cut down and lay'd overthwart the passages round about, there could hardly any entrance be found into the wood: Howbeit the Brittains themselves would oft times, sally forth upon advantage, and empeach the Romans where they attempted to enter, hereupon Cæsar commanded the Souldiers of the seventh Legion to make aA warlike Engine made of bords cove­red over with raw hides to serve for a de­fence against fire or stones in scaling a Wall. Testudo, and to raise a Mount against the place; by which means after loss of men on both sides, the Romans in the end got the Fort, and cha­sed the Brittains over the wood; but Cæsar would not suffer his Souldiers to pursue them; for in regard the place was unknown, and a great part of the day being spent, he thought it fit to bestow the rest in fortifying the Camp. The next day in the morning he sent out Horsemen and Footmen three several wayes to pursue them that fled; but before they had gotten sight of the Brittains, certain Horsemen sent from Quintus Atrius (who had charge of the shipping) brought news that a great Tempest the night before had distressed his ships, and beaten them upon the shore, the Anchors and Cabels being not able to hold them, nor the Mariners to guide them, or to endure the force of the storm; whereupon Cæsar caused the Legions and Horsemen to be sent for back again, and marched with speed towards the Sea side, where he found his Navy in ill plight; forty of his ships being clean cast away, and the rest with great difficulty seeming likely to be recovered: for effecting whereof he took some ship-rights out of the Legions, and sent for others out of the Continent, writing to Labienus who had the charge of certain Legions there, and the guard of Portus Iccius, that he should prepare as many ships as he could to be sent over to him with expedition; and though it were a work of great toyle, yet he thought it necessary to have all the ships haled on shore, and to be brought into the Camp where his Land-forces lay, that one place might be a safe-guard to them both; in the accomplishment hereof he spent ten dayes (the Souldiers scarce intermitting their labour in the night time) till all was finished.

Cæsar having fortifide his Camp, and left there the same Forces, (which were before ap­pointed to keep the harbour) returned to the place whence he dislodged, upon Atrius his in­formation, where he found the number of the Brittains much increased by confluence of people from sundry parts within the Island; The chief Commandment and direction for the War, was by publick consent of the States of the Isle assigned to Cassibelin, the bounds of whose Territorie were divided from the Maritime Cities, by the River Thamesis, and were cast out from the Sea about fourscore miles. There had been of long time continuall War between him, and some other Princes of the Countries near adjoyning: but now (both parts fearing to be over-run by a Forraign Enemy) neglected private respects, and joyned their Forces to­gether, appointing him to be their Leader, as a man of whose valour and sufficiency in mili­tary Affairs they had good experience. The Roman Army being come in view of their E­nemies Camp, the Brittains pressed forward to begin the Fight with their Horsemen and Cha­riots, and Cæsar sent out his Horsemen to Encounter them, so as the battle was maintained with great resolution on both parts, and the event thereof seemed doubtful, till in the end the Brittains gave ground, and fled through the woods to the hills, many of them being slain in the Chase, and some of the Romans also who adventurously pursued them so far.

Not long after the Romans (suspecting no danger) were occupied in fortifying their Camp, the Brittains sallyed suddenly out of the Woods and made an Assault upon the Warders that kept station before the Campe; to whose aid Cæsar sent out two Cohorts (the chief of the two Legions) which making a lane through the middest of the Brittish Forces joyned them­selves with their distressed Fellowes, and rescued them from the peril, though Quintus Liberius Durus, a Tribune of the Souldiers, was slain in that Enterprize: But new Cohorts coming to supply the former, the Brittains were repulsed, and sought to save themselves by flight. By the manner of this Skirmish (which was fought in view of the Roman Camp) the Romans per­ceived the Advantage, which the Britains had of them, and how ill themselves were appointed for such a fight, when by reason of the weight of their Armour they could neither pursue such as fled, nor durst leave their Ensignes, nor were able (without great disadvantage) to en­counter the Brittish Horse men, which oft-times gave ground on purpose; and having with­drawn themselves a little and a little from the Legions, would leap out of their Chariots and fight on foot; the manner of their fighting with Horse and Chariots, being alike dange­rous to those that retired, and to those that pursued; Besides they divided their Forces into Companies (when they fought) and had several stations, with great distances between them; one Troop seconding another, and the second and fresh men yielding Supplies to the woun­ded and wearied. The day following, the Brittains were discried upon the Hills afaroff, scattered here and there in great numbers together; being not very forward to begin a new Fight, till Cæsar having sent out three Legions, and all his Horse men under the Conduct of C. Trelonius the Lieutenanant to go a forraging, they flocked suddenly together from all parts, and set upon the Forragers, not sparng to assail the Ensignes Legions themselves who strongly resisted them, and made them turn their backs, when the Roman Horse men also eagerly pur­sued them, never giving over the chase (as being confident in the aid of the Legions that fol­lowed [Page 84] them) untill they had driven them headlong before them, killing all those they over­took, and giving the rest no time, either to gather themselves together, or to make a stand, or once to forsake their Chariots: after this overthrow many of the Natives (who had come from divers parts to aid their Countrymen) shrunk away; and Cæsar understanding what course the rest of the Brittains meant to hold in prosecuting the War, led his Army to the bounds of Cassibelins Country upon the River of Thames, which was passible on Foot in one place onely, and that with some difficulty; when he came thither, he perceived that the Brit­tains had great Forces in readinesse on the further side of the River, the banks whereof were fortified with sharp-pointed stakes or piles (about the bignesse of a mans thigh, and bound a­bout with lead) pitch'd near the shore, to impead their passage, and some others of the same kind, (the remnants whereof continue to this Age) were planted covertly under the water in the main River; of this, Cæsar having intelligence (by some Fugitives and prisoners that he had taken) commanded the Horse men first to enter the River, and the Legions to follow, so as (the dangerous places being discovered) the Romans waded through (their heads onely appearing above the water,) and charged the Brittains with such violence, as they forced them to forsake the sh [...]e and betake themselves to flight.

Cassibelin seeing no likelyhood to maintain the War any longer by Force, dismissed the great­er part of his power, and keeping with him, about four thousand Chariots only, retired into the Woods and places of most Safety, driving Men and Cattel before him out of the Fields all that way by which the Romans should passe with their Army, whose Horse men as they ran­ted up and down to plunder, he surprised with his Chariots, and distressed them in such sort as they durst not march forward, but keeping themselves in their strength gave over their former purpose; and from thenceforth sought onely to annoy the Brittains by spoiling and burning their Houses and Towns.

In the mean time theThe ancient Inhabitants of Middlesex and Essex. Troynobantes, one of the chief States of those parts, sent Embassa­dors to Cæsar, promising to submit themselves and to be at his Commandment. There was also one Mandrubratius who had fled over to Cæsar, when he was in Gallia, and was now be­come a Follower of his Fortune, while preferring the satisfaction of his own discontented humour, before the advancement of the common Cause, he served as an instrument to be­tray his native Contrey, abusing the credit which he had with his Countrymen, by working their subversion to his own dishonour, and advantage of a Forraign enemy. His Father Ima­nentius (having been sometime chief Ruler of the City of Trinobantes, and well esteemed a­mong them) was slain by Cassibelin the present Governour, against whom the Citizens de­sired Cæsar to protect Mandubratius, and to commit unto him the Government of that City, which Cæsar granted upon delivery of a certain number of Pledges, and a sufficient propor­tion of Victuals for provision of his Army. Hereupon divers petty states thereabout sent Em­bassadors, and yielded themselves to Cæsar, who understood by them that Cassibelina his Town (being well stored with Men and Cattle) was not far from thence; this Town was only a circuit of ground inclosed with wood and marshes, or else entrenched with a Ranger of Earth about it: Cæsar coming with his Legion to this place (which he found very strong, as being fortifyed Naturally, and also by the industry of man) began to assail it on both sides. The Brittains having expected a while the event of the enterprise, and perceiving themselves unable to withstand the assault, issued out at a back way, where many of them being slain, and some taken as they fled, the Town it self and all the provisions within it were left as a spoil to the Romans: while these things were doing among the Trinobants, Cassabelin dispatched mes­sengers into Kent or Cantium that lyes upon the Sea. The Inhabitants of these parts were better furnished to make War then any other of the Isle; the Country at that time was Go­verned by four Kings, as Cæsar himself calleth them, either for that they had among them a kind of absolute Government in several, or else for that being the Register of his own Acts, he supposed it would be more for his glory to be reputed a Conqueror of Kings; their names were Cingetorix, Carvilius, Taximugulus, and Segonax, whom Cassibelin then required to raise all the power they could make, and on the sudden to assail the Roman Forces that Guarded their ships at the Sea side. This was attempted accordingly, but with ill successe, for that the Romans having timely advertisement of their purpose, prevented the execution thereof, by setting upon them as they drew near the Roman Army: and so after a great slaughter made of the Brittains (Cingetorix a Noble Captain, and one of the Princes being taking prisoner) the Romans returned safe to their Camp. Cassibelin hearing of the unhappy issue of his enterprize, after so many losses sustained on his part, his Country being wasted with War, and himself in a manner forsaken, by the revolt of the Cities round about, which most of all disc [...]uraged him, sent Embassadors to Cæsar by Comius of Arras, offering to sub­mit himself upon reasonable conditions. Cæsar determining to winter in Gallia (the state of his affairs there requiring it) and the summer being almost spent, commanded that he should deliver certain pledges for assurance of his obedience, and that he should offer no wrong, nor give cause of offence to Mandubratius or the Troynobants, whom he had taken into special pro­tection; and then having imposed a Tribute to be paid yearly by the Brittains to the people of Rome, he marched towards the sea side, where he embarked his Forces, and arrived with them safely in the Continent.

Thus Cæsar having rather shewed some part of Brittain to the Romans then made a Con­quest [Page 85] of the whole, supposed he had done sufficiently for his own glory in undertaking a matter so rare and difficult in those Times. At his coming to Rome he presented there cer­tain Captives (which he had taken in the Brittish Wars) whose strangenesse of shape and be­haviour filled the peoples eyes both with wonder and delight; He offered also in the Temple of Venus Genetrix a Surcote embroidered with Brittish Pearl as a Trophy and spoil of the O­cean, leaving to posterity a perpetual remembrance of his Enterprize in this Iland, to the ho­nour both of his own Name and of the Roman Nation.

After the death of Julius Cæsar (by reason of the civil Wars among the Romans) the Isle of Brittain was for a time neglected, and Augustus Cæsar being setled in the Empire (which was then grown to such greatness as it seemed even cumbred therewith) accounted it good policy to contain the same within it known bounds; Besides the attempt was like to prove dan­gerous, and a matter of very great expence to send an Army so far off to make War with the Brittish Nation for desire of glory only, (no special cause besides moving thereto.) Howbeit as some Writers Report above Twenty years after Julius Cæsar's first Entrance, Augustus intended a Voyage hither in person, alledging for pretence of the War, the wrong offered to the Roman State by such Princes of the Isle as had for certaine years witheld the Tribute which Cæsar his Prædecessor had imposed upon them; intelligence whereof being got, the Brittains sent over Embassadours, who meeting the Emperour inThe Coun­trey between the Rivers Garony and Seinin, France. Gallia Celtica, declared their submission and desired pardon; And the better to win favour, they had carried over certain gifts of good value to be presented as offerings in the Roman Capitol (having already learned the Art to flatter for Advantage, and to appease Princes by rewards) Hereupon a conditional peace was granted them, and the Emperour having pacifyed some troubles in Gallia, returned to Rome: then began the Ilanders to pay Tribute and Custome of all kind of Wares which they exchanged with the Gaules; as namely, Ivory boxes, Iron chaines, and other trinkets of Amber and Glasse which were Transported Too and Fro, both out of Gallia and Brittain. The year following the Brittains having failed in performance of Conditions, he prepared for another expedition; but being set forward on his Voyage, the revolt of theThe Bis­cayans. Cantabrians andThe Inhabi­tants between Gallicia and Portugal. Assyrians stayed him from proceeding any further therein; after which time the Brittains were left to themselves to enjoy their Liberty, and use their own Laws with­out molestation of forraign Invaders; for that the Romans having found the sweetnesse of peace (after long civil Wars) sought rather to keep in obedience such Provinces as had been before time brought under subjection, then by attempting new Conquests to hazard the losse of that they had already gotten.

In those dayes the Countrey of the Troynobants in Brittain was Governed by Conobelin, who kept his residence atMalden in Essex. Camalodunum; he began first to reclaim the Brittains from their ill customes, and to make his state more respected, he afterwards caused his own Image to be stamped on his Coyne after the manner of the Romans, a custome never used by the Brittains before his dayes, and but then newly received by the Romans themselves; for before that time the Brittains used Rings of Iron, and little plates of Brasse of a certaine weight instead of Coyne; During the time of his Government, the divine mystery of humane Redemption was accomplished by the birth of our Saviour Christ Jesus; Augustus Cæsar then possessing the Roman Empire, which he afterwards left to Tiberius his Adopted Son, a Wary and Politick Prince, who following the advice and example of Augustus, did never attempt any thing in Brit­tain, nor maintain any Garrison there: Howbeit the Brittains at that time were well affected to the Romans, as appeared by the entertainment which their petty Princes gave to some Soul­diers of the Roman Army in Germany, who crossing the Seas were by force of weather cast upon the coast of Brittain, and from thence in courteous manner sent back to Germanicus their General.

This Conobelin or Kimbelin, was in Rome when the blessed Tidings of the Incarnation of the Son of God were declared through the world; for Augustus after the death of Julius Cæsar, successor in the Empire (as say our Antiquaries both ancient and late) by the will of God had established most sure peace through the world; our Redeemer Jesus Christ, true God and Man was born in the 42 year of his Empire, in the fifth year of the Reign of Cunobelin or Kimbelin in this Kingdome of the Brittains. A little before which time, by the great providence of God, to make this our Brittain more timely and particularly partaker of such heavenly tidings before other Nations, Augustus intending an expedition against this Kingdome, Embassadours came from Brittain to Rome, entreating for peace, swearing fealty in the Temple of Mars, offering gifts in the Capitol to the Gods of the Romans, and submitting part of the Isle to Augustus;Mr. Br. f. 1. & [...] they gave him for security, so many great Nobles of this Land for Pledges and Hostages, that all here were so quiet, that one band of Souldiers and a few Horsemen were sufficient to keep the Isle in the Roman possession.

Now by such means the Romans did ever here secure themselves of the Brittains, from their first invasion by Julius Cæsar, carrying away from hence, and keeping at Rome for their glory, honour and quiet not only many of our chief Nobility, Men, Women and Children: but of the Regal race, and blood, and Kings themselves; Among which we find that Androgius Son and Heir to King Lud lived and dyed there; Cassibeline his Uncle, who was subdued by Cæsar, gave Hostages, and made this Kingdome Tributary to the Roman Empire. Theo­mantius his Nephew and Successor in the Kingdome payed Tribute to the Romans, which Cas­sibeline [Page 86] had granted and Reigned quietly. And his Son Cunobeline King after him, (his Fa­ther) was one of his Fathers Hostages in Rome, and was Knighted there. Adaminus Sonne of King Cunobeline, was kept at Rome by Cajus; thus much and much more Mr. Broughton that eminent Antiquary in his first and second Folio, out of divers Authors by him there cited, which I here for brevity omit.

Augustus Cæsar the Emperour being urged by the Romans to be made a God, after the Heathenish manner then, or about the very time when Christ was born, before he would con­sent unto it, consulted with Sybilla Tiburtina, then renowned for her Prophesies. Sybillam Tiburtinam super hoc consuluit, quæ post trium dierum jejunium respondit in hunc modum; Judicii in signum, Tellus sudore madescet; De cœlo rex adveniet per secla futurus: Quorum ver­suum capitales literae hunc reddebant sensum, Jesus Christus Dei filius salvator. Eo illico apertum est cœlum; & nimius splendor irruit super eum, & vidit in cœlo pulcherrimam virginem stantem super altare, puerum tenentem in brachiis, & miratus est nimis, & vocem dicentem audivi, Hæc ara filii Dei est. Qui statim projiciens in terram adoravit, quam visionem Senatoribus retulit, & ipsi mirati sunt nimis. After she had fasted three dayes, Sybilla answered in these Achrostical known verses, whose first letters make this sence, Jesus Christ the Son of God our Saviour; and presently the Heaven opened, and an exceeding brightnesse fell down upon the Emperour, and he saw in Heaven: a most beautiful Virgin standing upon an Altar, holding a Child in her Armes, and he marvelled exceedingly, and heard this voice saying, This is the Altar of the Sonne of God; whereupon presently prostrating himself upon the ground, he adored, which Vision he related to the Senators, who marvelously wondered at it.

And this miraculous preaching of Christs birth so far off, then at Rome, was so much more publick and general, that at or a little before this time the same Emperour, as Suidas witnes­seth,Suidas in Augusto. in their than greatest sacrifice, was told by their Oracle that an Hebrew Child command­ed the Gods (as they termed them) to silence; whereupon Augustus ab oraculo reversus in Ca­pitolio aram erexit, Romanis (que) literis inscripsit, Hæc Ara est Primogeniti Dei. Augustus return­ing from the Oracle, erected an Altar in the Capitol, and made this inscription upon it in Ro­man Letters; This it the Altar of the first and only begotten Sonne of God; our English Histo­rians with others proceed to more such publick testimonies concerning Christ at Rome, Jo. Herc. in Martin. Polon. Dedic. to Q. Eliz. Martin. Polon. in Aug. & alii. Mr. B. Fol. 4. and at that very time; hoc ipso die quo natus est Christus, trans Tyberim fons olei emanavit, ac per totum diem largissimo rivo fluxit; tunc etiam circulus ad speciem cælestis arcus circa solem appa­ruit; etiam statim ut virgo peperit, illa statua aurea corruit in Romuliano Palatio quam Romu­lus posuerat dicens, Non cadet donec virgo pariat. The very day on which Christ was born, be­yond Tiber at Rome, a fountaine of oyl flowed, and ran with a most large stream all the day: The circle like to a heavenly bow appeared about the Sun; also presently so soon as the Virgin brought forth her Son, the Golden Statue in the Palace of Romulus fell down, which Romulus placed there (above 700 years before) saying, it shall not fall untill a Virgin be brought to bed of a Child.

Upon these and other such motives this Emperour was so fully perswaded of the Messias then born, that he highly reverenced all testimonies thereof; the Prophesies of the Sybills which are so clear for almost all Mysteries of Christ, as his Nativity, Life, Passion, Resurrecti­on, Ascention, with the rest, as if they had been present witnesses, rather then Prophets or E­vangelists of those things,Suetonius in Augusto. he so respected, that as Suetonius a Pagan writeth, Quidquid fatidicorum librorum Graeci Latini (que) generis nullis vel parum idoneis autoribus vulgo ferebatur, supra duo millia contracta, undi (que) concremavit, & solos retinuit Sybellinos, hos quo (que) dilectu habito, condidit (que) duobus forulis auratis sub Palatini Apollinis basi; he gathered together all books of South-sayers Greek and Latine, and he burnt about two thousand, whose Authors were either un­known or of little credit; he only preserved the books of the Sybills, making also the best choice of them, and those he layed up in two guilded chests under the Base of Apollo Palatinus; And was so convinced in his understanding by these means of the truth of Christ, that as our moderne Writers with others write, when the Romans came to him & said, Te volumus adorare quia deus est in te: si hic non esset, non tibi omnia tam prospere succederent; we will adore thee, because God is in thee: if he were not here, all things could not succeed so prosperously with thee; yet he being the greatest Conquerour that ever was in the world, and was never Conquered and overthrown in battel; Quum ipsum pro Deo colere vellent Romani, prohibuit, nec se Dominum appellari permisit; when the Romans would haue worshipped him for God, he forbad it, and would not suffer himself to be called Lord.

And if we may follow our Brittish Histories, Mathew of Westminster, a Man as all tell us, ex­cellent for History and supputation of years, Quantum ad Historiam, in recta annorum supputa­tione singularis, and our late Writers; By computation of time, our King Kymbeline was then in Rome; Ja. Bal. l de script. cent. 3. fol. 143. in Math. Flor. Calf. Mon. Hist. l. 4. c. 11. Ponticus aerun. Hist. Brit. l. 4. Heath. West. Anno Dom. 5. for we are told, Post Tenantium ad culmen regale Kimbelinus filius suus miles stre­nuus quem Cæsar Augustus nutriverat, promotus est; After Tenantius Kimbeline his Sonne, a Valiant Knight, whom Augustus Cæsar had brought up and promoted to the Kingdome of Brit­tain; Kimbeline was but young, when Augustus Cæsar first brought him up, and he stayed in Rome so long that as divers, and also Verunnius affirmeth, Augustus made him Knight, quem Aug. Cæsar nutrierat & armis decoraverat; and if we follow this exact supputator of times, Mathew of Westminster, he was come from Rome to be King here but five years before the birth of Christ. Anno Dominicae Inacrnationis quinto Kimbelonus Rex Brittaniam decem annos [Page 87] tenuisset. And most certain it is by all Histories of our Noble and Renowned Brittish Hosta­ges resident in Rome all the time of Augustus Cæsar, and after that we had many worthy Brittains there, both ear and eye witnesses to know these passages by themselves, and to testi­fie them to their Countrymen and Friends at home.

This Kimbeline Sonne of Tenantius was made King of the Brittains in the year of the world 5180 of his Reign. Authors write diversly, some shewing no years, others very few,Fabian fol. 39. part. 3. which agreeth not well with the Computation of other Writers. The Author of the Flower of Hi­stories, affirmeth, that he Reigned thirty five years; after which time gloriously spent, he died, and was buried at Caer Lud, leaving two Sons, Guiderius and Arviragus.

The Brittish History (written by a namelesse Author,) yet some suppose him Noble, and for private reason to have conceal'd his Name, maketh little mention of Tiberius concerning our Brittish Affairs; but because certain passages with happened during the time of his Empire, will redound to the glory of the Brittish Nation, it is expedient, and I hope will not offend the Reader, to write some things hapning in his life time. Kimbeline continued King of England till the 15 or 16 year after Christs Nativity, which must needs he in this Tiberius his time,Mr. Bro. fol. 12. when the true knowledge of Christ was more clearly manifested unto the world, and among others, to some Brittains of this Nation, especially such [...] then lived in Rome; For as in the time of this Emperour our Saviour began and ended his preaching, and suffered his Passion for our Redemption: so those things in such order as they were accomplished in the Land of Jury, they were presently and truly declared and sent to the Emperor at Rome and others there. Matthew of Westminster, and Ranulphus Higeden, consent in this with others, that Tiberius was truly informed at Rome of Christs miraculous life and preaching long before his Passion;Mr. Bro. ibid. and being afflicted with a Leprosy, was so confident in the heavenly power of Christ, esteeming him then at the least for a great Prophet, Saint and worker of Miracles, that he sent with great solemnity Volusianus to Hierusalem to entreat Christ Jesus to come with him to Rome, to cure him of his incurable Malady; but the Jewes had caused Pilate to put him to death before.

The Magdeburgians with others, have published to the World an Epistle of Lentulus out of the Annals of the Roman Senators, to this Emperour Tiberius before the death of Christ, thus beginning; Apparuit his temp ribus & adhuc est homo magnæ virtutis nominatus Iesus Christus, qui dicitur à Gentibus Propheta, quem ejus Discipuli vocant filium Dei, suscitans mor­tuos, & sanans omnes languores: There appeared in these time and still is a man of great vertue named Christ Jesus, who is called of the Gentils a Prophet, whom his Disciples call the Son of God, raising the dead, and curing all diseases. And presently upon the death of Christ, as it is proved both by our own and Forraign Antiquaries, ancient and later, Greek and Latine; Pontius Pilate wrote unto Tiberius the Emperor of Rome of the Passion of Christ in this man­ner. De passione Dominica Pilatus Tiberio Cæsari scripsit in hunc modum. Episcopus Ana­cet. de morte Christi. Matth. Westm. an. 33. Flor. Wigorn. an. 38. Tertull. Apolon. c. 5, & 21. Eust. Hist. l. 1. c. 24. Oros. l. 7. c. 4. Nuper accedit quod & ipse probavi, Judæos per invidiam se suos (que) posteros crudeli damnatione peremisse; nam cum promissum haberent Patres eorum quod Deus illis mitteret de cœlo Sanctum suum, qui eorum qui eorum merito Rex diceretur ut hunc se promiserit per Virginem missurum ad terram, iste me praside Hæbræorum Deus cum venerit, ut vidissent eum cæcos illuminasse, leprosos mundasse, paralyticos curasse, Dæmones ab hominibus fugasse, mortuos sucistasse, ventis imperasse, super mare siccis pedibus ambulasse, & multa alia mirabilia fecisse, cum omnis populus Judæorum hunc Dei Filium dicerent, invidiam contra eum passi sunt Principes Sacerdotum, mihi (que) tradide­runt, & alia pro aliis mentientes, dixerunt illum magum esse, & contra eorum legem agere; ego autem credidi ita esse, & flagellatum tradidi arbitrio eorum; At i [...]i crucifixerunt eum, & sepulto ei custodes adhibuerunt; ille vero militibus meis custodientibus eum tertia die resurrexit. Sed in tantum exarsit nequitia eorum ut darent eis pecuniam, dicentes, Dicite quia Discipuli ejus corpus ipsius rapuerunt; veruntamen milites cum accepissent pecuniam, quod factum fuerat tacere non potuerunt; nam & illum resurrexisse testati sunt, & à Judæis pecuniam accepisse; & ideo suggessi hoc, ne quis aliter referens mentiatur, & existimet credendum Judæorum mendaciis. Pilate wrote unto Tiberius of our Lord's Passion in this manner; It lately chanced which I have made proof of, that the Jews through envy have destroyed themselves and their posterity with cruel damnation. For when their Fathers, had a promise, that God would send unto them his holy One from Heaven, who worthily should be called their King, and promised him to be born of a Virgin to the Earth: This God of the Hebrews when he came, I being Præsident, when Men had seen him to cause blind men to see, to have cleansed the Lepers, cured the diseased with Palsies, to have driven Divels from Men, to have raised the dead, commanded the winds, to have walked upon the sea with his Feet, and to have done many other marvellous things, when all the people of the fews said he was the Son of God, the principal of the Jews were malicious against him, and delivered him unto me, and devising many lyes, said, he was a Magician, and did a­gainst their Law, and I believed it was so: and having whipped him, delivered him to their will: but they crucifyed him, and being buried they appointed Keepers unto him. But he rose again the third day, my Souldiers keeping him: but their iniquity so flamed out that they gave Money unto them saying, Say you that his Disciples took him away: but the Souldiers when they had received the Money, could not conceal that which was done; for they both witnessed that he rose again, and that they had received Money from the Jews. And therefore I have suggested this, lest any Man relating it otherwise, should make a Lye, and think we should give credit unto the Lyes [Page 88] of the Jews; Hitherto the words of the Epistle of Pontius Pilate himself to the Emperour, not only allowed by our English moderns and other our Authors, the greatest Chronographers of their time by their Judgement, but word for word so justifyed by the German Writers; Ter­tulian and almost all ancient Writers and others treating of that age, approve of it.

And Tiberius the Emperour having sent Volusianus (as before) to to invite Christ to come unto him to heal his Leprosie, Christ being put to death before Volusianus his coming thither, he brought from thence with him, as our English Authors witnesse, that miraculous Image of Christ which he gave to St. Veronica in a handkerchief, wherewith he wiped his Face going to his Passion, and with great reverence presented it to this Emperour at Rome, and he as reve­rently received it;Bal. in Flor. Wig. & Math. Floril. Magde­bur. cent. l. 1. c. 10. Col. 354. Tert. Apol. adver. gent. Nauel. in Chron. volum. 2 gener. p. 512. &c. Eng. Pro. in Math. West. Anno Dom. 37. Ranulph. Hige­den. Polychron l. 4. for say these Authors, Cæsar viam pannis sericis sterni fecit, & imaginem sibi præsentari fecit. Qui mox ut eam fuit intuitus, pristinam assequutus est sanitatem; & hæc imago us (que) hodie Romae in ecclesia Apostolorum Principis, populo demonstratur, quæ & à portatri­ce, & a quibusdam Veronica appellatur: Cæsar caused the way to be spread with cloaths of silk, and commanded the Image to be presented unto him, who presently as he had beheld it, obtained his former health; And this image even to this day, is shewed to the people in the Church of the Prince of the Apostles at Rome, and is called by the name of her that carried it Veronica; and although Pilate as before, had so excused himself, and acknowledged Christ for the Messias unto his Emperour, yet say the German Writers, Narrat Nicephorus Pilatum ideo maximis Romae affectum esse contumeliis, quod Maria Magdelena Romam adierit, & salvatoris res ibi retulerit; Nicephorus maketh relation that Pilate suffered most great reproaches at Rome, for that Mary Magdelen went thither, and there related the things of our Saviour in Tiberius time, whereby Tiberius was so moved and convinced for acknowledging the truth of Christs Doctrine, that these English Authors thus confesse with St. Gildas, Tertullian and many others, Tunc Cæsar cum suffragio magni favoris retulit Epistolam ad Senatum, postulant ut Christus Deus haberetur; sed Senatus consecrationem Christi recusavit, indignatione commotus quod non secundum morem prius Epistola sibi delata fuisset; Cæsar with his voyce of great favour, related the Epistle of Pilate to the Senate, requesting that Christ should be accounted God; but the Senate refused the consecration of Christ, moved with indignation, because the Epistle was not first delivered to them, as the custome was.

Sabelicus l. 2. Eucad. 7. Sabelicus with others writeth that Pilate did truly repent him of delivering Christ to the Jewes, was actually a Christian, and obtained pardon for his sinns; Non defuerunt qui træ­diderunt Pilatum suæ impietatis pœnitentiam egisse, meru isse (que) adeo veniam; And that in this be­ginning of the Gospel, the Faith of Christ might be every where received, without let, or con­tradiction as the ancient Learned Father Ferculphus saith, God put it into the mind of Tiberius the Emperour,Ferculphus Lexonien. Epis. l. 1. c. 9. Gildas de ex­cid. & cong. Brit. c. 6. Math West. ann. gra. 37. Ranul. Hig. in Manusc. Polychron. l. 4. c. 4. Manus. antiq. Gall. in Tibe­rio, &c. Fabian fol. 40. to give it way and suppress the persecution of the Senate: Quod profecto divina providentia jam tunc Cæsaris sensibus ingessit, ut abs (que) ullo obstaculo in ipsis dun­taxat initiis Evangelii sermo undiqua (que) percurreret. And our Learned Countryman St. Gil­das with others witnesseth, he threatned death to those that should accuse Christians: Tem­pore summo Tiberii Cæsaris, abs (que) ullo impedimento Christi propagatur Religio, comminata, Se­natu volente, à Principe, morte delatoribus militum ejusdem; which is proved and confirmed by all sorts of Writers. Tunc Senatus edicto constituit, Christianos ab urbe esse exterminandos. Sed Cæsar hæc indigntatus, accusatoribus Christianorum mortem comminatus est. Then the Senate ordained by an edict that Christians should be driven forth of the City; but the Emperour being therewith offended, threatned death to the accusers of Christians. Occasion being here offered to speak of the Incarnation of the Messias our most blessed Saviour Jesus Christ; Fa­bian tells us from the first creation of Adam, to the birth of Christ, was five thousand one hun­dred and ninety nine, the which account is approved, as he saith, by Isidore, Beda and others; thus he brings his account.

GƲIDERIƲS.

GƲIDERIƲS the first Son of Kimbeline, was advanced to the Legal command of the Brittains, who were under his Fathers subjection: he was invested in the year of the world, 5216. Anno Dom. 170. This King was potent and abounded in Treasure, which indeed are the sinews of War, and was alwaies a Prince of Haughty courage: and where wealth and cou­rage meet, almost miracles may be wrought, if the cause be good, and guided by a celestial providence; but self-Love, Pride and Arrogancy often bringeth confusion; Guiderius bol­stered up with these supporters, denies the covenanted Tribute to the Romans: which, if thus [Page 89] confirmed by Authors, Expletis diebus vitae suæ, cessit gubernaculum Regni Guiderio;Mr. Bro. fol. 23. 8. cum ergo Tributum quod appetebant Romani, ipsis denegaret, supervenit Claudius qui in Imperium sub­rogatus fuerat; When Kimbeline was dead, Guiderius succeeeded in the Kingdome; therefore when he denied the Tribute, the Roman Claudius came hither being then Emperor. Mr. Br. 335. And I have read in a very good Author, That in Claudius the Roman Emperors time, he with his Romans brought the Orchades, and after them Anglesey under the Roman subjection; though this Act be commonly ascribed to Julius Agricola. Fabian confirms my Authors Assertion, saying, Wherefore Claudius who was Uncle to Caius Caligula the Fourth Emperor of Rome, arrived in Brittain with a great Army; and not only as writeth Polychronican, constrained the Inhabitants to pay the Tribute, but also subjected to the Roman yoke the Iles of Orchades, or Orkeys, which are scituate beyond Scotland, and at the end of six Months returned to his Imperial City. In this Army (as tells us the English Chronicle and Gaufride) was a Captain called Hame or Hamo, who to compasse his purpose against the Ilanders, changed his Armour and Shield, arming himself like a Brittain, and in this Disguise did extreme Damage unto his Enemies; and still pressing forward, at length came to the very place where King Guiderius was fighting, and by this unexpected Stratagem and Policy slew him; which his Brother Ar­viragus perceiving, used the like policy, immediately investing himself in Princely Array, that the Fall of the King was not perceived; and thus personating a Soveraign in his Regal Ensignes, he encouraged the Brittains, and by his own Example, Courage and Valour, so animated them, that they did Feats beyond belief, insomuch that they put the Romans to flight.

Thus was Guiderius by the opinion of several Authors slain by Hamo, after he had reigned the space of twenty eight years, leaving his Brother Arviragus, by reason that he had no Issue of his own to succeed him.

ARVIRAGƲS.

ARviragus the youngest Son of Kimbeline, and brothor to Guiderius, was Crowned King of Great Brittain in the year of Christs Incarnation forty and four. The English Chroni­cle calls him Armiger; he was a Prince of a high Spirit, and skilful in warlike Affairs, maintai­ning with great resolution and prosperous successe his Wars against the invading Romans, neither suffered he the death of his Brother to passe unrevenged; For with his own hands he slew Hamo, the Murderer of Guiderius, near a Port or Haven, which by reason of that Fact, was called Hamons Haven, and now with some alteration South-Hampton; a Town, populous rich and beautiful, from which the whole Shire deriveth her Name; most strongly walled with square stone, containing in Circuit, one thousand and two hundred Paces, having se­ven Gates for entrance, and twenty nine Towers for Defence, two very stately Keyes for Ships arrivage, and five fair Churches for God's divine Service; besides an Hospital called God's House, wherein the unfortunate Richard, Earl of Cambridge, beheaded for Treason, lyeth inter'd. On the West of this Town is mounted a beautiful Castle in form Circular, and wall within wall, the Foundation upon a hill so topped, that it cannot be ascended but by stairs, carrying a goodly prospect both by Land and Sea, and in the East without the Walls a goodly Church sometimes stood, called St Maries, which was pulled down, for that it gave the French direction of Course, who with fire had greatly endangered the Town; instead thereof is newly Erected a small and unfinisht Chappel. In this place, saith Learned Camb­den, stood the ancient Clausentium, a Fort of the Romans, whose Circuit on that side extended it self to the Sea: this suffered many depredations by the Saxon Pirates, and in Anno, 980. was by the Danes almost quite overthrown. In K. Ed. 3. time it was fired by the French, under the conduct of the King of Sicills Son, whom a Countryman encountred and struck down with his Club, he crying, Rancon, that is, Ransome; but he neither understanding his Language, nor the Law that arms doth allow, laid on more soundly; I know thee a Francon, and therefore thou shalt die. And in Richard the Seconds time it was somewhat removed, and built in the place where now it is. In this Clausentium Canute to evict his Flatterers, made tryal of his Deity, commanding the Seas to keep back from his Feet; but being not obey­ed, acknowledged God to be the only supreme Governour, and in a religious Devotion gave up his Crown to the rood at Winchester.

• 1067.
  1 Bevis of Hampton, that famous Souldier so much talked of, Azure 3 Lyons passant gardant, Or.
• 2 William Fitz-Williams. Losenge arg. and Gules.
• [Page 90]3 Thomas Wricthesley L. Ch. created E. by Ed. 6. and King at Arms.
• 4 Henry Wricthesley.
• 5 Henry Wricthesley.
• 6 Thomas Wricthesley. 1641. Azure a Cross, Or, 4 fulcons closed argent.