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5.6. Druis.

Druis.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 [figure appears here on page 3] DRuis, whõ Seneca calleth Dryus,De morte Cl [...]ud. be|ing the ſon of Sarron, was after his father e|ſtablyſhed the fourthe king of Celtica, indif|ferentely reignyng as well ouer the Celtes as Britons, or rather (as the inhabitantes of this Iſle were then called) Samothians.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 This Prince is cõmended by Beroſus to bee ſo plentifullye endued with wiſedome and ler|ning, that Annius taketh him to be the vndoub|ted authour of the beginning and name of the famous ſecte of Philoſophers called Druides, whome Ceſar and all other auncient Greeke and Latine writers doe affirme to haue had their be|ginning in Brytayne, and to haue bin brought from thence into Gallia, in ſo muche that when there aroſe any doubt in that countrey touching any point of their diſcipline, they did repaire to be reſolued therin into Britayne, where, eſpeci|ally in the Ile of Angleſey, as Humfrey Llhuyd witneſſeth, they made their principal aboade.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 Touching their vſages many things are wri|ten by Ariſtotle, Secion, Plinie, Laertius,Anti. lib. 5. Annius ſu|per eundem. De bello Gal|lico. lib. 9. De bello Gal|lico. lib. 6. Bo|dinus, and others: which I will gather in brief, and ſet downe as followeth.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 They had (as Ceſar ſayth) the charge of cõ|mon and priuate ſacrifices, ye diſcuſſing of poin|tes of religion, the bringing vp of youth, the de|termining of matters in variance, with full po|wer to inte [...]ite ſo manye from the ſacrifice of their goddes, and the company of men, as diſo|beyed their awarde.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 Polidore affirmeth,Hist. an. li. 1. how they taught ye mens ſoules coulde not dye, but departed from one bo|dye to an other, and that to the intente to make men valiant and dreadleſſe of death.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 Tullic writeth, that partely by tokens,De diui. li. 1. and partely by ſurmiſes, they wold foretell of things to come. And by report of Hector Boetius,Hist. Scoti lib. 2. ſome of them were not ignorant of the immortalitie of the one and euerlaſting God.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 All theſe things they had written in the greke toung,De migr. gen lib. 2. Marcellinus. in ſo much that Wolfg. Lazius vpon re|porte of Marcellinus declareth howe the Greeke letters were firſt brought to Athenes by Tima|gines from the Druides, and herevpon it cometh alſo to paſſe, the Britiſh toung to this daye hath in it remayning ſome ſmacke of the Greke.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 Among other abuſes of the Druides, they had (according to Diodorus) one cuſtome to kill men, and by the falling, bleeding, and diſmem|bring of them to diuine of things to come: for the whiche and other wicked practiſes,De vitae A|gricolae. their ſecte was firſt condemned for abhominable (as Cor. Taritus writeth,) and diſſolued in Gallia (as Auentinus witneſſeth) by Tyberius and Clau|dins the Emperours:Anna. Bo [...]o|rum lib. 22. and laſtly aboliſhed heere in Britayne, by report of Caius when the goſ|ſpel of Chriſt by the preaching of Fugatius and Damianus was receyued among the Britons,De ant. Cant. cent. vnder Lucius king of Britayne, about the yeare of our ſauiour. 179.

5.7. Bardus.

Bardus.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 [figure appears here on page 3] BArdus ye ſon of Dru+is ſucceeded his fa|ther in the kingdome of Celtica,Beroſus ant. lib. 5. & was the fift K. ouer the Celtes and Samothians, amõgſt whome he was highly renoumed as appereth by Beroſus for inuen|tion of Dities and mu|ſike,Annius in commen. ſu|per eundem. wherein Annius of Viterbo writeth, that hee trayned his peo|ple: and of ſuch as excelled in this knowledge he made an order of philoſophicall Poets or He|ralds, EEBO page image 4 calling them by his own name Bardi. And it ſhuld ſeeme by doctor Caius and maſter Bale,Ant. Cant. li. 1. ſcript. Bri+tan. cent. 1. that Ceſar founde ſome of them here at his arri|uall in this Iſle, and reported that they had alſo their firſt beginning in the ſame.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 Nonnius Marcel. Strabo. Diodo. Sicul. lib 6. Carol Stepha. in dict. hiſt. Eale. Iohn Priſe.The profeſſion and vſages of theſe Bardi, by Nonnins, Strabo, Diodorus, Stephanus, Bale and ſir Iohn Priſe, are in effecte reported after this ſort. They did vſe to record the noble exploi|tes of the auncient capitaines, and to drawe the pedigrees & genealogies of ſuche as were liuing. They woulde frame pleaſaunt dities and ſongs, learne the ſame by hart, and ſing them to inſtru|ments at ſolemne feaſtes and aſſemblies of noble men and gentlemen: and were therfore hadde in ſo high eſtimation, that if two hoſtes had bin redy raunged to ioyne in battayle, and that any of thẽ had fortuned to enter among them, both the ho|ſtes as wel the enimie as the frends would haue holden their handes giuen eare vnto them, and ceaſſed from fight, vntill theſe Bardes had bene departed out of the battayle. Of the Bardes the Poet Lucan writeth theſe verſes.Lucan. lib. 1.

Compare 1587 edition: 1
Vos quo qui fortes animas bello peremptas,
Laudibus in longum vates dimittitis aenum,
Plurima ſecuri fudistis carmina Bardi.

Whiche are engliſhed thus.

Compare 1587 edition: 1
And you o Poet Bardes from danger voyde that dities ſounde,
H. F.Of ſoules of dreadleſſe men, whõ rage of battaile would confounde,
And make their laſting praiſe to time of laterage redounde.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 Bycauſe the names of theſe Poets were ney|ther diſcrepant from the ciuilitie of the Romans, nor repugnant to the religion of the Chriſtians, they of all the other ſectes before ſpecified, were ſuffred only to continue vnaboliſhed in all ages, in ſomuch that there flouriſhed of them among the Britains,

Iohn Bale ſcript. Britan. cent. [...].

Io. Priſe def [...]. hiſt. Brit. C [...]ius de ant. Cant. lib. 1. Io Leland. ſyllab. ant. dict.

Hum. Lluyd de Mona in|ſula.

according to Bale) before the birth of Chriſte, Plenidius and Oronius: after Chriſt (as Priſe recounteth) Saleſtine, & the two Mer|lins, Melkin Glaſkirion and others: and of late dayes among the Welchmen, Dauid Die, Iollo Gough, Dauid ap William, with an infinite number more: and in Wales there are ſundrye of them, as Caius reporteth, remayning vnto this day, where they are in their language called (as Leland writeth) Barthes. Alſo by the witnes of Humfrey Llhuyd, there is an Iland neer vn|to Wales, called Inſula Bardorum, and Bardſey, wherof the one name in Latine, and the other in Saxon or olde Engliſh, ſignifieth the Ilande of the Bardes or Barthes.

5.7.1. The ende of the Celtes gouerne|ment in this Iſle.

The ende of the Celtes gouerne|ment in this Iſle.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 Bale.AFter Bardus, the Celtes (as Bale ſayth) loa|thing the ſtraite ordinances of their auncient kings, and betaking themſelues to pleaſure and idelneſſe, were in ſhort tyme, and with ſmall la|bour broughte vnder the ſubiection of the Giaunt Albion, the ſonne of Neptune, who altering the ſtate of things here in this yland, ſtraited ye name of Celtica and the Celtes within the boundes of Gallia, from whence they came firſt to inhabite this land vnder the conduct of Samothes, as be|fore ye haue hearde,A [...] accordingly as [...] hath gathered out of Berolus ye Chaldean, who ther|in agreeth alſo with the Scripture, the ſaying of Theophilus the Doctor, and the generall cõſente of all writers, whiche fully agree,Theoph [...] that the firſte inhabitantes of this Iſle came out of the parties of Gallia, although ſome of them diſagree of the tyme and maner of their comming,Sir Brian Tuke. Sir Brian Tuke thinking it to be meant of the arriuall of Brute, when he came out of thoſe countreys into this Ile. Ceſar and Tacitus ſeeme to be of opi|nion, that thoſe Celtes which firſt inhabited here,Ca [...]ſar. Tacitus. Bodinus. came ouer to view ye coũtry for trade of merchan|diſe. Bodinus wold haue them to come in (a gods name) from Lãguedoc, and ſo to name this land Albion, of a citie in Lãguedoc named Alby. Be|da and likewiſe Polidore (who foloweth him) af|firme that they came from the coaſts of Armori|ca,Beda. Polyd [...]. whiche is nowe called little Britayn.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 But as the authorities afore recited, are ſuffi|cient to proue the tyme, ſo that this Iland was firſt inhabited by the Celtes, the olde poſſeſſours of Gallia, not only the neereneſſe of the regions, but alſo the congruence of the languages, two great argumentes of originals, do fully confirme the ſame. Bodinus writeth vpon report,Bodinus. that the Britiſhe and Celtike language was all one: but whether that be true or not, I am not able to af|firme, bicauſe the Celtike toung is long ſithence growne wholly out of vſe. But yet ſome ſuch [...] Celtike words as remayn in the writings of old authors may be perceiued to agree with ye Welch tong, being the incorrupted ſpeech of the auncient Brytons. In deed Pauſanias the Greeke,Pauſania [...]. ma|keth mention how the Celtes in their language called a horſe marc: and by ye name do the Welch men call a horſe vnto this daye: and the worde trimare in Panſani as, ſignifyeth in the Celtike toung, three horſes.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 Thus it appeareth by authortie of writers, by ſituation of place, and by affinitie of language, that this yland was firſt found and inhabiteed by the Celtes, that their name from Samothes to Albion continued heere the ſpace of. 310. yeres or therabouts And finally it is likely,Iohn Bale. that aſwel the progenie as the ſpeeche of them is partely remai|ning in thys Iſle among the inhabitantes, and ſpecially the Britiſhe, euen vnto this daye. But nowe to oure purpoſe of Albion his com|ming into this Iſle.

5.8. Albion.

EEBO page image 5

Albion.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 [figure appears here on page 5] NEptunus called by Moyſes (as ſome take it) Nepthuim, [...]word. the ſixte ſonne of Oſyris, after the account of In|nius, and the brother of Hercules, had appoyn|ted to hym,Annius Vi [...]erbo. Diodorus Si| [...]lu [...]. of hys father (as Diodorus writeth) the gouernement of the Ocean ſea: wherefore he furniſhed himſelf of ſundry light ſhips for ye more redie paſſage by water, whych in the end grew to the nũber of a ful nauie: [...]neſſes or Ga| [...]y [...]. & ſo by continual exer|ciſe he became ſo ſkilful, and therwith ſo mightie vpon the waters, as Higinus and Pictonius doe write,Higinus. Pictonius. that he was not onely called the king, but alſo eſteemed the god of the ſeas. He had to wife a Lady called Amphitrita, who was alſo hono|red as goddeſſe of the ſeas, and on hir he begate ſundry children: [...]crip. Bri. [...]ent. 1. And as Bale reporteth, he made euery one of them king of an Iland. And in the Iſle of Britayne he landed his fourth ſon called Albyon the Giant, who brought the ſame vnder his ſubiection. And herevpon it reſteth, that Iohn Textor and Polydore Virgile made mention that light ſhippes were firſt inuented in the Bri|tiſhe ſeas,Iohã. Texter. Polyd. Verg. and that the ſame were couered round with the hyde of beaſts, for defending them from the ſurges and waues of the water.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 This Albion being put by his father in poſ|ſeſſion of this Iſle of Britayne, within ſhorte tyme ſubdued the Samothians, the firſte inha|bitauntes therof, without fynding any great re|ſiſtance, for that as before ye haue hearde, they had giuen ouer the practiſe of all warlyke and o|ther paynfull exerciſes, and through vſe of effe|minate pleaſures wherevnto they hadde giuen themſelues ouer, they were become nowe vnapt to withſtande the force of their enimies: and ſo by the teſtimonie of Nicholaus Perottus,Nichol. Pe|rottus. Ringamanus [...]hileſius. Aristotle. Hum. Lloyd. Rig|manus Phileſius, Ariſtotle, & Humfrey Llhuyd with diuers other, both forraine and home wry|ters, this Ilande was firſt called by the name of Albion, hauing at one tyme bothe the name and inhabitauntes chaunged from the line of Iaphet vnto the accurſed race of Cham.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 This Albion (that thus chaunged the name of this Iſle) and his companie, are called Gy|ants, which ſignifieth none other thã a tall kind of men, of that vncorrupte ſtature and highneſſe naturally incident to the firſt age (whiche Bero|ſus alſo ſeemeth to allow,Beroſus. where he writeth, that Noe was one of the Gyantes: and were not ſo called only of their monſtrous greatneſſe, as the common people thinke (although in deede they exceeded the vſuall ſtature of men nowe in theſe dayes, (but alſo for ye they tooke their name of the ſoyle where they were born:VV [...]at gigan+tes ſignifyeth. for Gigantes ſignifi|eth the ſons of the earth: the Aborigines (or as Ceſar calleth them Indigina,) that is, borne and bred out of the earth where they inhabited.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 Thus ſome thinke, but verily although that their opinion is not to be allowed in any condi|tion,Againſt the o|pinion of Abo|rigines. which maynteyne that there ſhould be any Aborigines, or other kynde of men than thoſe of Adams lyne, yet that there haue bin menne of farre greater ſtature than are nowe to be founde, is ſufficiently proued by the huge bones of thoſe that haue bin founde in our tyme, or lately be|fore: whereof here to make further relation, it ſhall not neede, ſith in the deſcription of Britain herevnto annexed, ye ſhall fynde it ſufficiently declared.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 But now to our purpoſe.Bale. Bergion bro|ther to Albion As Albion held Bri|tayn in ſubiection, ſo his brother Bergion kepte Irelande and the Orkeneys vnder his rule and dominion,Hercules Ly|bicus. and hearing that their couſin Herru|cules Libicus hauing finiſhed his Conqueſtes in Spayn, ment to paſſe through Gallia into Ita|lye, againſt their brother Leſtrigo, that oppreſſed Italy, vnder ſubiection of him and other of his brethren the ſons alſo of Neptune, as well Al|bion as Bergion, aſſembling their powers togi|ther, paſſed ouer into Gallia, to ſtoppe the paſ|ſage of Hercules, whoſe intention was to van|quiſhe and deſtroy thoſe tyrantes the ſonnes of Neptune and their complices that kepte dyuerſe countreys and regions vnder the paynefull yoke of their heauie thraldome.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 The cauſe that moued Hercules thus to pur|ſue vpon thoſe tyrantes nowe reignyng thus in the world,The cauſe vvhy Hercu|les purſued his couſins. was for that not long before the grea|teſt part of them had conſpired together, & ſlayne his father Oſyris, notwithſtanding that they were nephues to the ſame Oſyris, as ſonnes to his brother Neptune, and not contented with his ſlaughter, they deuided hys carcaſſe alſo a|mong them, ſo that eche of them got a peece in token of reioycing at their murderous atchieued enterpriſe.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 For this cauſe Hercules whonie Moyſes cal|leth Laabin, proclaymeth warres agaynſt them al in reuẽge of his fathers death: & firſt he killeth Tryphon and Buſyris in Egypt, then Anteus in Mauritania, the Gerions in Spayne, whiche enterpriſe atchieued, he led his army towards I|taly, and by the waye paſſeth through a part of Gallia,Pomp. Mola. where Albion and Bergion hauing vni|ted theyr powers togither, were ready to receyue him with bataile: and ſo nere to the mouth of the riuer called Rhoſne, in latin Rhodanus, they met and fought: At the firſt there was a right terrible and cruell conflicte betwixte them: And albeit that Hercules hadde the greateſt number of menne, yet was it verye doubtefull a greate EEBO page image 6 whyle to whether parte the glorye of that dayes worke would bend: whervpon when the victorie beganne outrighte to turne vnto Albion, and to his brother Bergion, Hercules perceyuing the daunger and likelyhode of vtter loſſe of that bat|tayle, ſpecially for that his men had waſted their weapons, he cauſed thoſe that ſtood ſtil, and were not otherwyſe occupied, to ſtoupe down, and to gather vp ſtones,Hercules diſ|comfiyeth his enimyes. wherof in that place there was great plentie, whyche by his commaundemente they beſtowed ſo freely vpon theyr enimies, that in the ende hee obteyned the victorie, and dyd not only put his aduerſaries to flighte, but alſo ſlew Albion there in the fielde,Albion is ſlayn together with his bro|ther Bergion, and the moſte parte of all theyr whole armie.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 This was the ende of Albion, and his brother Bergion, by the valiant prowes of Hercules, who as one appointed by the prouidence of GOD to ſubdue the cruell and vnmercifull tyrants, ſpent his tyme to the benefite of mankynde, deliuering the oppreſſed from the heauie yoke of myſerable thraldome, in euery place where he came.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 And by the order of this battayle wee maye learne whereof the Poets hadde their inuention,The occaſion of the fable of Iupiters hel|ping his ſonne Hercules. when they fayne in their writings, that Iupiter holpe his ſonne Hercules, by throwyng downe ſtones from heauen in this battayle agaynſt Al|bion and Bergion.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 Moreouer, fro hẽceforth was this Iſle of Bri|tayn called Albion,Hovve this Iſle vvas called Al|bion, of the gi|aunt Albion. as (before we haue ſayde) af|ter the name of the ſayde Albion bicauſe he was eſtabliſhed chief ruler and kyng thereof bothe by his grandfather Oſyris, and his father Neptune that cunning ſaylour,Bale. reigning therein (as Bale ſayth) by the ſpace of .xliiij. yeares, till finally he was ſlayne, in manner afore remembred, by his vncle Hercules Lybicus.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 After that Hercules had thus vanquiſhed and deſtroyed his enimies, hee paſſed to and fro tho|rough Gallia, ſuppreſſing the tyrantes in euerye part where he came, and reſtoring the people vn|to a reaſonable kynde of libertie, vnder lawfull gouernours: and as we fynde, he buylded the ci|tie of Alexia in Burgongne nowe called Alize.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 Moreouer, by Lilius Giraldus in the lyfe of Hercules it is auouched, that the ſame Hercules came ouer hither into Britayne. And this dothe Giraldus write by warraunt of ſuche Brytons (as ſayth he) haue ſo written themſelues, which thing peraduenture he hath redde in Gildas the auncient Bryton poet: Whiche booke he confeſ|ſeth in the .v. Dialogue of his hiſtories of Poets that he hath ſeen. The ſame thing alſo is confir|med by the name of an head of land in Britayn called Promontorium Herculis, as in Ptolomie ye may reade, whiche is thought to take name of his arriual at that place. Thvs much for Albion and Hercules.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 But nowe where as it is not denyed of anye,Dyuers op [...]+ons vvhy Ile vvas cal [...] Albion. that this Ile was called aunciently by the name of Albion: yet there be dyuers opinyons how it came by that name: for many doe not allow of this hiſtorie of Albion the Giannte. But for ſo muche as it appertayneth rather to the deſcripti|on than to the Hyſtorie of this Iſle,See [...] of in the de|ſcription. to rippe vp and lay foorth the ſecrete myſteries of ſuch mat|ters: and bicauſe I think that this opinion which is heere auouched howe it tooke that name of the foreſayd Albion, ſonne to Neptune, may be con|firmed with as good authoritie, as ſome of the o|ther, I here paſſe ouer the reſte, and thus proceede with the hiſtorie.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 When Albion chiefe Capitayn of the Gyants was ſlayn, the reſidue that remayned at home in the Iſle, continued without any rule or reſtraint of lawe, in ſo muche that they fell to ſuch a diſ|ſolute order of lyfe, that they ſeemed little or no|thing to differ from brute beaſtes: & thoſe are they which our auncient Chronicles call the Giants, who were ſo named, as well of the huge propor|tion of their ſtature (ſithens as before is ſayd, that age brought foorth far greater men than are now liuing) as alſo for that they were the firſte, or at the leaſt the furtheſt in remembrance of any that had inhabited this countrey. For this word Gigi|nes, or rather Gegines, from whence our word giant (as ſome take it) is deriued, is a greek word, and ſignifieth borne or bred of or in the earth: for our foreelders, ſpecially the Gentiles, being igno|rant of the true beginning of mankind, were per|ſwaded, that the firſt inhabitaunts of any coũ|trey were bred out of the earth, and therfore when they could go no higher, reckening the diſcented of their predeceſſours,Terraefilius, vvhat is [...]s; [...]fyeth. they wold name him Ter|raefilius, the ſonne of the earth: and ſo the Giants which the Poets fain to haue ſought to make ba|tayle againſt heauen are called the ſonnes of the earth: and the firſt inhabitantes generally of eue|ry countrey, wer of the Grekes called Gigines, or Gegines, and of the Latines Aborigines, Aborigines Indigan [...] and In|diganae, that is, people borne of the earth from the beginning, and cõming from no other countrey, but bred within the ſame.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 And theſe Giaunts and firſt inhabitauntes of thys Iſle, continued in their beaſtly kinde of lyfe vnto the arriuall of the Ladies, whiche ſome of our chronicles ignorantly write to be the daugh|ters of Diocleſian the king of Aſſiria, wheras in dede they haue bene deceiued in taking the worde Danaus to bee ſhort written for Diocleſianus:The myſtak [...] of the [...] Diocleſianus Danaus. and by the ſame meanes haue dyuers wordes and names bene miſtaken bothe in our Chro|nicles and in diuerſe other aunciente written woorkes. But this is a faulte that learned men ſhoulde not ſo muche trouble themſelues about, EEBO page image 10 conſidering the ſame hath bin alreadie founde by ſundry authors long ſithence, as Hugh the Italiane, Iohn Harding, and Iohn Rouſe of Warwicke,Hughe the Ita|lyan. Hardyng. Iohn Rous out of Dauid Pencair. and others, ſpeciallye by the healpe of Dauid Pencair, a Britiſhe hiſtori|cien, who recite the Hiſtorie vnder the name of Danaus and his daughters: and bycauſe we would not any man to thinke, that the hi|ſtorie of theſe daughters of Danaus is onely of purpoſe deuiſed, & brought in place of Dio|cleſian, to excuſe the imperfection of our wri|ters, whereas there was eyther no ſuch hiſto|rie, or at the leaſt no ſuch women that arriued in this Iſle,Nennius. the authoritie of Nennius a Bri|ton writer may be auouched, who wrote aboue ix.C, yeares paſt, and maketh mencion of the arriuall of ſuche ladies.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 Belus, Priſcus.To bee ſhorte, the Hiſtorie is thus: Belus the ſonne of Epaphus, (or as ſome wryters haue) of Neptune and Libyes,Dictionarium poeticum. whom Iſis af|ter the death of Apis maried,) hadde iſſue two ſonnes: the firſt Danaus, called alſo Armeus, and Egyptus called alſo Rameſes, and theſe two were kings among the Egyptians.Danaus. Aegyptus. Da|naus the elder of the two, hauyng in his rule the vpper region of Egypt,Higinus. had by ſundry wi|ues .50. daughters, whiche his brother Aegyp|tus gaping for the dominion of the whole, did inſtantly deſire, that his ſons being alſo .50. in number, might matche with thoſe fifty ladies.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 But Danaus hauing knowledge by ſome prophecie or oracle, that a ſonne in law of his ſhoulde be his death, refuſed ſo to beſtowe his daughters.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 Herevpon grew warre betwixt the brethrẽ, in the end wherof, Danaus being the weaker, was inforced to flee his countrey, whervpon he prepared a nauie, imbarqued himſelfe & his daughters, and with them paſſed ouer into Greece, where he found meanes to diſpoſſeſſe Gelenor (ſonne to Stenelas king of Argos,) of his rightfull inheritance, driuing him oute of his countreye, and reigned in his place by the aſſiſtance of the Argiues themſelues, that had conceyued an hatred towardes Gelenor, and a great likyng towardes Danaus, who in very deede did ſo farre excell the kings that had rei|gned there before hym, that the Greekes in remembraunce of hym, were after called Danai.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 But his brother Aegyptus, taking greate diſdayne for that hee and his ſonnes were in ſuche ſorte deſpiſed of Danaus, ſente his ſons with a greate armie to make warre on theyr Vncle, giuing them in charge not to returne tyll they had eyther ſlayne Danaus, or obtey|ned his daughters in mariage.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 The yong Gentlemen accordyng to theyr fathers commaundemente, beeing arriued in Greece, made ſuch warre agaynſte Danaus, that in the ende he was conſtrayned to gyue vnto thoſe his fifty nephues his .50. daughters, to ioyn with them in mariage, & ſo acording|ly maried they were: but as the prouerb ſayth, In truſt appeared treacherie: for the firſt night of the mariage, Danaus deliuered to eche of his daughters a ſworde, chargyng them that when their huſbands after their banquets and paſtimes were once brought into a ſoũd ſlepe, eche of them ſhould ſlea hir huſband, menacing them with death vnleſſe they fulfilled his com|maundement. They all therfore obey the will of their father, Hypermneſtra onely excepted, with whom preuayled more the loue of kinred and wedlock, than the feare of hir fathers diſ|pleaſure: for ſhee alone ſpared the lyfe of hir huſbande Lynceus, wakening him out of his ſleepe, and warning hym to departe and flee into Egypt to his father. He therfore hauing all the wicked practiſe reuealed to hym by his wyfe, followed hir aduiſe, and ſo eſcaped.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 But when Danaus perceiued howe all his daughters had accompliſhed his cõmaundemẽt ſauing onely Hypermneſtra,Pauſanias. he cauſed hir to be brought forth into iudgemẽt for diſobeying him in a matter wherin both the ſafetie & loſſe of his life reſted: but ſhe was acquit by the Ar|giues, and diſcharged: howbeit hir father kept hir in priſon, and ſeeking to fynde oute other huſbandes for his other daughters that hadde obeyed his pleaſure in ſleaing their firſte huſ|bandes, long it was ere he coulde fynde any to matche with them: for the heynous offence committed in the ſlaughter of their late huſ|bandes, was yet too freſhe in memorie, and their bloud not wiped out of mynde.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 But yet neuertheleſſe to bring his purpoſe the better to paſſe, he made proclamation that his daughters ſhould demaunde no ioynters, and euery ſuter ſhuld take his choyce without reſpect to the age of the ladie, or abilitie of him that came to make his choyce, but ſo as fyrſte come, beſte ſerued, according to their owne phantaſies and likings. But when this poli|cie alſo fayled, and would not ſerue his turne, he deuiſed a game of running, ordeining ther|with, that who ſoeuer got the beſt price ſhould haue the firſt choyce among all the ſiſters, and he that got the ſecond, ſhuld chooſe next to the fyrſt, and ſo foorth eche one after an other, ac|cordyng to the tryall of theyr ſwyfteneſſe of foote.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 How muche this practiſe auayled, I knowe not: but certain it is, diuers of them were be|ſtowed either by this means, or by ſome other: for we finde that Autonomes was maried to EEBO page image 141 Architeles Chryſantas, or (as Pauſanias hath) Scea was matched with Archandrus, Anenome with Neptunus Equeſtris, on whome he begate Nauplius.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 [...]inus.But nowe to returne vnto Lynceus, whome his wyfe Hipermneſtra preſerued, (as before ye haue herd) after he was once got out of the reach and daunger of his father in law king Danaus, he gaue knowledge thereof to his wyfe, in ray|ſing a fyre on heyghte beaconwyſe, [...]uſanias. accordingly as ſhee hadde requeſted him to doe at hys de|parture from hir: and this was at a place which afterwardes tooke name of him, and was called Lyncea.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 Vpon his returne into Egypt, he gaue his fa|ther to vnderſtande the whole circumſtaunce of the trecherous crueltie vſed by his vncle and hys daughters in the murder of his brethren, and how hardly he himſelfe hadde eſcaped death out of hys vncles handes. Whervpon at tyme conuenient he was furniſhed foorth with men and ſhippes by his father, for the ſpeedie reuenge of that heynous vnnaturall and moſte diſloyall murder, in which enterpriſe he ſped him foorth with ſuch diligence, that in ſhorte tyme he found meanes to diſpatch hys vncle Danaus, ſet his wyfe Hypermneſtra at libertie, and brought the whole kingdome of the Argiues vnder his ſubiection.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 This don, he cauſed the daughters of Danaus (ſo many as remayned within the limittes of his dominion) to be ſent for, whome he thought not worthie to lyue, bycauſe of the cruell murther which they had committed on his brethren: but yet for that they were his wiues ſiſters, he would not put them to death, but commaunded them to be thruſt into a ſhippe, without maiſter, mate or mariner, & ſo to be turned into the mayn ocean ſea, and to take and abyde ſuch fortune as ſhould chance vnto them, thinking the worſt that might befall on them, coulde bee no worſſe than they had deſerued.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 Hanlyng. Iohn R [...]s out of Dauid Pen [...].Theſe Ladies thus imbarqued and left to the mercie of the raging ſeas, at length by hap were brought to ye coaſts of this yle then called Albiõ, where they took land, & in ſeeking to prouide thẽ|ſelues of victuals by purſute of wylde beaſts, met with no other inhabitantes than the rude and ſa|uage giauntes, of whome before we haue made mencion, which our hiſtoricians for their beaſtly kynde of lyfe, doe call Deuilles: And with theſe monſters theſe ladies finding none other to ſatiſ|fye the motions of their ſenſuall luſte, ioyned in the act of generation, and ingendred a race of peo|ple in proportion nothing differing from their fa|thers that begote them, nor in conditions from their mothers that bare them.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 But now peraduenture ye will thinke that I haue forgotten my ſelfe in reherſing this hiſtorie of the Ladies arriuall here, bycauſe I make no mencion of Albina, whiche ſhold be the eldeſt of the ſiſters, of whome this lande ſhoulde alſo take the name of Albion.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 To this we anſwer, that as the name of their father hathe bene miſtaken, ſo lykewyſe hath the whole courſe of the hiſtorie in this behalfe: for althoughe we ſhall admit that to be true whiche is reherſed (in maner as before ye haue heard) of the arriuall heere of thoſe ladies, yet certain it is that none of them bare the name of Albina, from whom this land might be called Albion. For further aſſurãce wherof,Hig [...]. The names of the daughters of Dana [...]. if any mã be deſirous to knowe all their names, we haue thoughte good here to reherſe thẽ as they be founde in Higinus, Pauſanias, & others. 1. Idea. 2. Philomela. 3. Scillo. 4. Phicomene. 5. Evippe. 6 Demoditas 7. Hyale. 8. Trite. 9. Damone. 10. Hippothoe. 11. Mirmidone. 12. Euridice. 13. Cleo. 14. Arania. 15. Cleopatra. 16. Phylea. 17. Hypareta. 18. Chriſo|themis. 19. Piranta. 20. Armoaſte. 21. Danaes, 22. Scean. 23. Glaucippe. 24. Demophile. 25. Au|todice. 26. Polixena. 27. Hecabe. 28. Achamantis, 29. Arſalte. 30. Monuſte. 31. Amimone. 32. Helice, 33. Amaome 34. Polibe. 35. Helicte. 36. Electra. 37. Eubule. 38. Daphildice. 39. Hero. 40. Europome|ne. 41. Critomedia. 42. Pyrene. 43. Eupheno. 44. Themiſtagora. 45. Paleno. 46. Erate. 47. Au|tonomes. 48. Itea. 49. Chryſanta. 50. Hy|permneſtra.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 Theſe were the names of thoſe Ladies, the daughters of Danaus: howebeeit, whiche they were that ſhoulde arriue in this Iſle, we can not ſay. But it ſuffizeth to vnderſtande, that none of them hight Albina, ſo that whether the hiſtorie of their landing heere ſhoulde be true or not, it is all one, for the matter concerning the name of this Iſle, which vndoubtedly was called Albion, ey|ther of Albion the giaunt (as before I haue ſayd) or by ſome other occaſion.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 And thus much for the Ladies,See more in the Diſcrip [...] whoſe ſtrange aduenture of their arriual here, as it may ſeme to manie, and with good cauſe incredible, ſo with|out further auouching it for a truthe, I leaue it to the conſideration of the reader, to thinke therof as reſon ſhal moue him, ſith I ſee not how either in this, or in other things of ſuche antiquitie we can haue any ſufficient warrant otherwyſe than by lykely coniectures. Whiche as in this hiſtorie of the ladies they are not moſt probable, yet haue we ſhewed the likelyeſt, yt (as we think) may be demed to agree with thoſe authors yt haue writ of their comming into this yle. But as for an aſſured proofe that this Ile was inhabited with people before the commyng of Brute, I truſte it may ſuffiſe whiche before is recited out of An|nio de Viterbo, Theophilus, Gildas, and other, although muche more might be ſayd: As of the EEBO page image 9 commyng hyther of Oſyris, as wel as into the other parties of ye world: And likewyſe of Vlyſ|ſes his being here, [...] Bri| [...] who in performing ſome vow whiche he eyther then did make, or before hadde made, erected an Altar in that parte of Scotland which was aunciently called Calidonia, as Iu|lius Solinus Polihiſtor in playne wordes doth recorde. [...]olinus.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 So that vpon theſe conſiderations I haue no doubt to deliuer vnto the Reader, the opinion of thoſe that thinke this lande to haue bin inhabited before the arriuall here of Brute, truſting it may be taken in good parte, ſith wee haue but ſhewed the coniectures of others, till time that ſome ſuf|ficient learned man ſhall take vpon him to deſci|pher the doubts of all theſe matters.

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1.2. Of Samothes, Magus, Sarron, Druis, and Bardus, fiue kings suc|ceeding each other in regiment ouer the Celts and Samotheans, and how manie hundred yeeres the Celts inhabited this Iland. The second Chapter.

Of Samothes, Magus, Sarron, Druis, and Bardus, fiue kings suc|ceeding each other in regiment ouer the Celts and Samotheans, and how manie hundred yeeres the Celts inhabited this Iland. The second Chapter.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 _SAmothes the first begot|ten sonne of Iaphet called by Moses Mesech,Gen. 2. Dis,De migr. gen. by others receiued for his portion (according to the report of Wolfgangus Lazius) all the countrie lieng betwéene the riuer of Rhene and the Py|renian mountains, where he founded the kingdome of Celtica ouer his people called Celtae. Which name Bale affirmeth to haue bene indifferent to the inha|bitants both of the countrie of Gallia,Cent. 1. and the Ile of Britaine, & that he planted colonies of men (brought foorth of the east parts) in either of them, first in the maine land, and after in the Iland.Anti. lib. 1. He is reported by Berosus to haue excelled all men of that age in lear|ning and knowledge:Bale script. Brit. cent. 1. and also is thought by Bale to haue imparted the same among his people; name|lie, the vnderstanding of the sundrie courses of the starres,Caesar commen [...]. lib. 8. the order of inferiour things, with manie o|ther matters incident to the morall and politike go|uernment of mans life: and to haue deliuered the same in the Phenician letters: out of which the Gréekes (according to the opinion of Achilochus) deuised & deriued the Gréeke characters,In epithes. temp. De aequiuocis contra Appio|nem. insomuch that Xenophon and Iosephus doo constantlie report (although Diogenes Laertius be against it) that both the Gréekes and other nations receiued their letters and learning first from these countries.Lib. de Magic. success. lib. 22. Of this king and his learning arose a sect of philosophers (saith An|nius) first in Britaine, and after in Gallia, the which of his name were called Samothei. They (as Aristo|tle and Secion write) were passing skilfull both in the law of God and man: and for that cause excéeding|lie giuen to religion,Script. Brit. cent. 1. De ant. Cant. cent. lib. 1. especiallie the inhabitants of this Ile of Britaine, insomuch that the whole nation did not onelie take the name of them, but the Iland it selfe (as Bale and doctor Caius agree) came to be called Samothea, This Ile cal|led Samo|thes. which was the first peculiar name that euer it had, and by the which it was especiallie knowne before the arriuall of Albion.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 MAgus the sonne of Samothes,Magus the son of Samothes Lib. 9. after the death of his father, was the second king of Celtica; by whome (as Berosus writeth) there were manie townes builded among the Celts, which by the wit|nesse of Annius did beare the addition of their foun|der Magus:Annius in co [...] men. super [...]|dem. Geogr. of which townes diuers are to be found in Ptolomie: And Antoninus a painfull surueior of the world and searcher of cities, maketh mention of foure of them here in Britaine, Sitomagus, Neo|magus, Niomagus, and Nouiomagus. Neomagus sir Thomas Eliot writeth to haue stood where the ci|tie of Chester now standeth; Niomagus, George Lillie placeth where the towne of Buckingham is now remaining. Beside this, Bale dooth so highlie commend the foresaid Magus for his learning re|nowned ouer all the world, that he would haue the Persians, and other nations of the south and west parts, to deriue the name of their diuines called Ma|gi from him. In déed Rauisius Textor, and sir Iohn Prise affirme, that in the daies of Plinie, the Britons were so expert in art magike, that they might be thought to haue first deliuered the same to the Per|sians. What the name of Magus importeth, and of what profession the Magi were, Tullie declareth at large,De diui. lib. 1. DE fastis li. 5. and Mantuan in briefe, after this maner:

Ille penes Persas Magus est, qui sidera norit,
Qui sciat herbarum vires cultumú deorum,
Persepoli facit ista magos prudentia triplex.
The Persians terme him Magus, that
the course of starres dooth knowe,
The power of herbs, and worship due
to God that man dooth owe,H. F.
By threefold knowledge thus the name
of Magus then dooth growe.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 SArron the third king of the Celts succéeded his father Magus in gouernement of the contrie of Gallia,Sarron the sonne of Magus. De ant. Cant. lib. 1. Bale script. Brit. cent. 1. and the Ile Samothea, wherein as (D. Caius writeth) he founded certaine publike places for them that professed learning, with Berosus affirmeth to be done, to the internt to restraine the wilfull outrage of men, being as then but raw and void of all ciui|litie. Also it is thought by Annius, that he was the first author of those kind of philosophers, which were called Sarronides, of whom Diodorus Siculus wri|teth in this sort:Lib. 6.

There are (saith he) among the Celts certaine diuines and philosophers called Sarronides, whom aboue all other they haue in great estimation. For it is the manner among them, not without a philosopher to make anie sacrifice: sith they are of be|léefe, that sacrifices ought onelie to be made by such as are skilfull in the diuine mysteries, as of those who are néerest vnto God, by whose intercession they thinke all good things are to be required of God, and whose aduise they vse and follow, as well in warre as in peace.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 DRuis, whom Seneca calleth Dryus,Druis the son of Sarron. being the sonne of Sarron,De morte Claud was after his father establi|shed the fourth king of Celtica, indifferentlie reig|ning as wel ouer the Celts as Britons, or rather (as the inhabitants of this Ile were then called) Samo|theans. This prince is commended by Berosus to be so plentifullie indued with wisedome and lear|ning, that Annius taketh him to be the vndoubted author of the beginning and name of the philosophers called Druides, whome Caesar and all other ancient Gréeke and Latine writers doo affirme to haue had their begining in Britaine, and to haue bin brought from thence into Gallia, insomuch that when there arose any doubt in that countrie touching any point of their discipline, they did repaire to be resolued therein into Britaine, where, speciallie in the Ile of Anglesey (as Humfrey L [...]oyd witnesseth) they made their principall abode.Anti. lib. 5. Annius super eu [...]ndem. De bello Gal|lico. lib. 9. De belio Gal|lico. 6; Touching their vsages many things are written by Aristotle, Socion, Plinie, La|ertius, Bodinus, and others: which I will gather in briefe, and set downe as followeth. They had (as Cae|sar saith) the charge of common & priuate sacrifices, EEBO page image 3 the discussing of points of religion, the bringing vp of youth, the determining of matters in variance, with full power to interdict so manie from the sacri|fice of their gods and the companie of men, as diso|beied their award.Hist. an. lib. 1. Polydore affirmeth, how they taught, that mens soules could not die, but departed from one bodie to another, and that to the intent to make men valiant and dreadlesse of death. Tullie writeth,De diui. lib. 1. that partlie by tokens, and partlie by surmi|ses, they would foretell things to come. And by the report of Hector Boetius, Hi [...]t. S [...]oti, li. 2. some of them were not ig|norant of the immortalitie of the one and euerla|sting God.Demigr. gen. [...] 2. All these things they had written in the Greeke toong, insomuch that Wolf Lazius (vpon the report of Marcellinus Marcellinus.) declareth how the Gréeke let|ters were first brought to Athens by Timagenes from the Druides. And herevpon it commeth also to passe, that the British toong hath in it remaining at this day some smacke of the Gréeke. Among other abuses of the Druides, they had (according to Dio|dorus) one custome to kill men, and by the falling, bleeding, and dismembring of the, to diuine of things to come: for the which and other wicked prac|tises, their sect was first condemned for abhomina|ble (as some haue written) and dissolued in Gallia (as Auentinus witnesseth) by Tiberius and Cladius the emperours;Anna. B oiorum. lib. 22. and lastlie abolished here in Bri|taine (by the report of Caius) when the gospell of Christ by the preaching of Fugatius and Damianus was receiued among the Britaines,De ant. Caut. vnder Lucius king of Britaine, about the yeare of our sauior, 179.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 3 4 BArdus the sonne of Druis succéeded his father in the kingdome of Celtica,Bardus the sonne of Druis. Berosus ani. lib. 2. Annius in com| [...]en super eur [...]|dem. and was the fift king ouer the Celtes and Samotheans, amongst whom he was highlie renoumed (as appeareth by Be|rosus) for inuention of dities and musicke, wherein Annius of Viterbo writeth, that he trained his peo|ple: and of such as excelled in this knowledge, he made an order of philosophicall poets or heraulds, calling them by his owne name Bardi. And it should séeme by doctor Caius and master Bale, Ant. Cant. li. 1. script. Britain. cent. 1, that Caesar found some of them here at his arriuall in this Ile, and reported that they had also their first begining in the same. The profession and vsages of these Bardi, Nonnius, Strabo, Diodorus, Stephanus, Bale, Nonnius Marcel. Strabo. Diodor. Sicul. lib. 6. [...]arol. Stepha. [...]n dict. hist. Bale. Iohn Prise. and sir Iohn Prise, are in effect reported after this sort. They did vse to record the noble exploits of the ancient capteins, and to drawe the pedegrées and genealo|gies of such as were liuing. They would frame plea|sant dities and songs, learne the same by heart, and sing them to instruments at solemne feasts and as|semblies of noble men and gentlemen. Wherefore they were had in so high estimation, that if two hosts had beene readie ranged to ioine in battell, and that any of them had fortuned to enter among them, both the hosts (as well the enimies as the friends) would haue holden their hands, giuen eare vnto them, and ceassed from fight, vntill these Bards had gone out of the battell. Of these Bards Lucane saith,

Vos quo qui fortes animas belló peremptas,Lucan. lib. 1.
Laudius in longum vates dimittitis aeuum,
Plurima securi fudistis carmina Bardi:
And you ô poet Bards from dan|ger void that dities sound,
Of soules of dreadlesse men,H. F. whom rage of battell would confound,
And make their lasting praise to time of later age rebound.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 Because the names of these poets were neither discrepant from the ciuilitie of the Romans, nor re|pugnant to the religion of the Christians, they (of all the other sects before specified) were suffered onlie to continue vnabolished in all ages, insomuch that there flourished of them among the Britains (accor|ding to Bale) before the birth of Christ,Iohn Bale script Britan. cent. 2. Iohn Prise defen hist. Brit. Caius de ant. Cant lib. 1. Iohn Leland syllab. ant. dict. Hum. Lloyd de Mona insula. Plenidus and Oronius: after Christ (as Prise recounteth) Thale|stine, and the two Merlins, Melkin, Elaskirion, and others: and of late daies among the Welshmen, Dauid Daie, Iollo Gough, Dauid ap William, with an infinite number more. And in Wales there are sundrie of them (as Caius reporteth) remaining vn|to this day, where they are in their language called (as Leland writeth) Barthes. Also by the witnes of Humfrey Llhoyd, there is an Iland néere vnto Wales, called Insula Bardorum, and Bardsey, whereof the one name in Latine, and the other in Saxon or old English, signifieth the Iland of the Bardes or Barthes.

Thus farre the gouernement of the Celts in this Ile.

1.2.1. An appendix to the former chapter.

An appendix to the former chapter.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 AFter Bardus,Bale. the Celts (as Bale saith) loathing the streict ordinances of their ancient kings, and b [...]aking themselues to pleasure and idlenesse, were in short time, and with small labour brought vnder the subiection of the giant Albion, the sonne of Neptune, who altering the state of things in this Iland, streicted the name of Celtica and the Celts within the bounds of Gallia, from whence they came first to inhabit this land vnder the conduct of Sa|mothes, as before ye haue heard, accordinglie as Annius hath gathered out of Berosus the Chaldean,Annius. who therein agréeth also with the scripture, the sai|eng of Theophilus the doctor,Theophilus. and the generall con|sent of all writers, which fullie consent, that the first inhabitants of this Ile came out of the parties of Gallia, although some of them dissent about the time and maner of their comming. Sir Brian Tuke thin|keth it to be ment of the arriuall of Brute,Sir Brian Tuke when he came out of those countries into this Ile. Caesar and Tacitus séeme to be of opinion,Caesar. Tacitus. Bodinus. that those Celts which first inhabited here, came ouer to view the countrie for trade of merchandize. Bodinus would haue them to come in (a Gods name) from Languedoc, and so to name this land Albion, of a citie in Languadoc named Albie. Beda, Beda. Polydor. and likewise Polydore (who fol|loweth him) affirme that they came from the coasts of Armorica, which is now called little Britaine.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 But that the authorities afore recited are suffi|cient to proue the time that this Iland was first in|habited by the Celts, the old possessors of Gallia; not onelie the néernesse of the regions, but the congru|ence of languages, two great arguments of origi|nals doo fullie confirme the same. Bodinus writeth vpon report,Bodinus. that the British and Celtike language was all one. But whether that be true or not, I am not able to affirme, bicause the Celtike toong is long sithens growne wholie out of vse. Howbeit some such Celtike words as remaine in the writings of old authours may be perceiued to agrée with the Welsh toong, being the voncorrupted spéech of the an|cient Britains. In déed Pausanias the Grecian ma|keth mention how the Celts in their language cal|led a horsse Marc: Pausanias. and by that name doo the Welsh|men call a horsse to this day: and the word Trimarc in Pausanias, signifieth in the Celtike toong, thrée horsses.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 Thus it appeareth by the authoritie of writers, by situation of place, and by affinitie of language, that this Iland was first found and inhabited by the Celts, that there name from Samothes to Albion continued here the space of 310 yeares or there a|bouts. And finallie it is likelie,Iohn Bale. that aswell the proge|nie as the spéech of them is partlie remaining in this Ile among the inhabitants, and speciallie the Bri|tish, euen vnto this day.

1.3. Of the giant Albion, of his comming into this Iland, diuers opinions why it was called Albion: why Albion and Bergion were slaine by Hercules: of Danaus and of his 50. daughters. The third Chapter.

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Of the giant Albion, of his comming into this Iland, diuers opinions why it was called Albion: why Albion and Bergion were slaine by Hercules: of Danaus and of his 50. daughters. The third Chapter.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 _NEptunus called by Mo|ses (as some take it) Nepthu|im,Bale. the sixt sonne of Osiris, after the account of Annius, and the brother of Hercules,Annius de Vi|terbo. Diodorus Si|culus. had appointed him of his fa|ther (as Diodorus writeth) the gouernement of the ocean sea: wherefore he furnished himselfe of sundrie light ships for the more redie pas|sage by water,Pinnesses or gallies. which in the end grew to the number of a full nauie: & so by continuall exercise he became so skilfull, and therewith so mightie vpon the wa|ters (as Higinus & Pictonius doo write) that he was not onelie called the king,Higinus. Pictonius. but also estéemed the god of the seas. He had to wife a ladie called Am|phitrita, who was also honored as goddesse of the seas, of whose bodie he begat sundrie children: and (as Bale reporteth) he made euerie one of them king of an Iland.Scrip. Bri. cens. 1. In the Ile of Britaine he landed his fourth son called Albion the giant, who brought the same vnder his subiection. And herevpon it resteth, that Iohn Textor, and Polydor Virgil made men|tion, that light shippes were first inuented in the British seas,Ioh. Textor. Polydor. and that the same were couered round with the hides of beasts, for defending them from the surges and waues of the water.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 This Albion being put by his father in possession of this Ile of Britaine, within short time subdued the Samotheans, the first inhabitantes thereof, without finding any great resistance, for that (as be|fore ye haue heard) they had giuen ouer the practise of all warlike and other painefull exercises, and through vse of effeminate pleasures, whereunto they had giuen themselues ouer, they were become now vnapt to withstand the force of their enimies: and so (by the testimonie of Nicholaus Perottus, Rigma|nus Philesius, Aristotle, Nichol. Perot. Rigmanus Philesius. Aristotle. Hum. Lhoyd. and Humfrey Llhoyd, with diuers other, both forraine & home-writers) this I|land was first called by the name of Albion, hauing at one time both the name and inhabitants changed from the line of Iaphet vnto the accursed race of Cham.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 This Albion (that thus changed the name of this Ile) and his companie, are called giants, which sig|nifieth none other than a tall kind of men, of that vn|corrupt stature and highnesse naturallie incident to the first age (which Berosus also séemeth to allow,Berosus. where he writeth, that Noah was one of the gi|ants) and were not so called only of their monstrous greatnesse, as the common people thinke (although in deed they exceeded the vsuall stature of men now in these daies) but also for that they tooke their name of the soile where they were borne:What Gigantes signifie. for Gigantes signi|fieth the sons of the earth: the Aborigines, or (as Ce|sar calleth them) Indigenae) that is, borne and bred out of the earth were they inhabited.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 Thus some thinke, but verelie although that their opinion is not to be allowed in any condition, which maintaine that there should be any Aborigines,Against the o|pinion of the Aborigines. or o|ther kind of men than those of Adams line; yet that there haue béene men of far greater stature than are now to be found, is sufficientlie prooued by the huge bones of those that haue beene found in our time, or lately before: whereof here to make further relation it shall not need, sith in the description of Britaine ye shall find it sufficientlie declared.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 But now to our purpose. As Albion held Britaine in subiection, Bale. Bergion [...] ther to [...] Hercules [...]bicus. so his brother Bergion kept Ireland and the Orkenies vnder his rule and dominion, and hearing that their coosine Hercules Lybicus ha|uing finished his conquests in Spaine, meant to passe through Gallia into Italie, against their bro|ther Lestrigo that oppressed Italie, vnder subiection of him & other of his brethren the sons also of Nep|tune; as well Albion as Bergion assembling their powers togither, passed ouer into Gallia, to stoppe the passage of Hercules, whose intention was to vanquish and destroie those tyrants the sonnes of Neptune, & their complices that kept diuers coun|tries and regions vnder the painefull yoke of their heauie thraldome.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 The cause that moned Hercules thus to pursue vpon those tyrants now reigning thus in the world,The cause why Hercu|les purs [...] his coosins. was, for that not long before, the greatest part of them had conspired togither and slaine his father. O|siris, not withstanding that they were nephues to the same Osiris, as sonnes to his brother Neptune, and not contented with his slaughter, they diuided his carcase also amongst them, so that each of them got a peece in token of reioising at their murtherous atchiued enterprise.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 For this cause Hercules (whome Moses calleth Laabin) proclamed warres against them all in re|uenge of his fathers death: and first he killed Tri|phon and Bustris in Aegypt, then Anteus in Mau|ritania, & the Garions in Spaine, which enterprise atchiued, he led his armie towardes Italie, and by the way passed, through a part of Gallia, where Al|bion and Bergion hauing vnited their powers togi|ther,Pomp Me [...] were readie to receiue him with battell: and so néere to the mouth of the riuer called Rhosne, in Latine Rhodanus, they met & fought. At the first there was a right terrible and cruell conflict betwixt them. And albeit that Hercules had the greatest number of men, yet was it verie doubtfull a great while, to whether part the glorie of that daies worke would bend. whereupon when the victorie began outright to turne vnto Albion, and to his brother Bergion, Hercules perceiuing the danger and likelihood of vtter loose of that battell, speciallie for that his men had wasted their weapons, he caused those that stood still and were not otherwise occupied, to stoope downe, and to gather vp stones,Hercules [...] conifite [...]h [...] enimies. whereof in that place there was great plentie, which by his commande|ment they bestowed so fréelie vpon their enimies, that in the end hée obteined the victorie, and did not only put his aduersaries to flight,Albion is slaine. but also slue Al|bion there in the field, togither with his brother Ber|gion, and the most part of all their whole armie. This was the end of Albion, and his brother Bergion, by the valiant prowesse of Hercules, who as one ap|pointed by Gods prouidence to subdue the cruell & vnmercifull tyrants, spent his time to the benefit of mankind, deliuering the oppressed from the hea|uie yoke of miserable thraldome, in euerie place where he came.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 And by the order of this battell wée maye learne whereof the poets had their inuention,The occ [...] of the fables Iupiters [...]ping his s [...] Hercules. How this [...] was called Albion, [...] giant Ilbe [...] Iohn Bale. when they faine in their writings, that Iupiter holpe his sonne Hercules, by throwing downe stones from heauen in this battell against Albion and Bergion. More|ouer, from henceforth was this Ile of Britaine cal|led Albion (as before we haue said) after the name of the said Albion: because he was established chiefe ruler and king thereof both by his grandfather Osi|ris, and his father Neptune that cunning sailour reigning therein (as Bale saith) by the space of 44. EEBO page image 5 yeares, till finally he was slaine in maner afore re|membred by his vncle Hercules Libicus.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 After that Hercules had thus vanquished and de|stroied his enimies, hée passed to and fro thorough Gallia, suppressing the tyrants in euerie part where he came, and restoring the people vnto a reasonable kinde of libertie, vnder lawfull gouernours. This Hercules (as we find) builded the citie Alexia in Burgongne, nowe called Alize. Moreouer, by Li|lius Giraldus in the life of Hercules it is auouched, that the same Hercules came ouer hither into Bri|taine. And this dooth Giraldus writer by warrant of such Britons as (saith he) haue so written them|selues, which thing peraduenture he hath read in Gil|das the ancient Briton poet: a booke that (as he confesseth in the 5. dialog of his histories of po|ets) he hath séene. The same thing also is confirmed by the name of an head of land in Britaine called Promontorium Herculis, as in Ptolomie ye may read, which is thought to take name of his arriuall at that place. Thus much for Albion and Hercules.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 But now,Diuers opi|nions why this Ile was called Albion. See more hereof in the description. whereas it is not denied of anie, that this Ile was called ancientlie by the name of Al|bion: yet there be diuers opinions how it came by that name: for manie doo not allow of this historie of Albion the giant. But for so much as it appertei|neth rather to the description than to the historie of this Ile, to rip vp and lay foorth the secret mysteries of such matters: and because I thinke that this opi|nion which is here auouched, how it tooke that name of the forsaid Albion, sonne to Neptune, may be con|firmed with as good authoritie as some of the other, I here passe ouer the rest, & procéed with the historie.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 When Albion chiefe capteine of the giants was slaine, the residue that remained at home in the Ile, continued without any rule or restraint of law, in so much that they fell to such a dissolute order of life, that they séemed little or nothing to differ from brute beasts: and those are they which our ancient chro|nicles call the giants, who were so named, as well for the huge proportion of their stature (sithens as be|fore is said, that age brought foorth far greater men than are now liuing) as also for that they were the first, or at the least the furthest in remembrance of any that had inhabited this countrie. For this word Gigines, or Gegines, from whence our word giant (as some take it) is deriued, is a Gréeke word, and signifieth, Borne or bred of or in the earth, for our fore-elders, specially the Gentiles, being ignorant o the true beginning of mankind, were persua|ded, that the first inhabitants of any countrie were bred out of the earth, and therefore when they could go no higher, reckoning the descents of their prede|cessours, Terrae filius what it signi|fieth. they would name him Terrae filius, The sonne of the earth: and so the giants whom the poets faine to haue sought to make battell against heauen are called the sonnes of the earth: and the first inha|bitants generally of euery countrie were of the Gréekes called Gigines, or Gegines, and of the La|tines Aborigines, Aborigines. Indigenae. and Indigenae, that is, People borne of earth from the beginning, and comming from no other countrie, but bred within the same.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 These giants and first inhabitants of this Ile con|tinued in their beastlie kind of life vnto the arriuall of the ladies,The mista|king of the name of Dio|clesianus for Danaus. which some of our chronicles ignorantly write to be the daughters of Dioclesian the king of Assyria, whereas in déed they haue béene deceiued, in taking the word Danaus to be short written for Dioclesianus: and by the same meanes haue diuers words and names beene mistaken, both in our chro|nicles, and in diuers other ancient written woorks. But this is a fault that learned men should not so much trouble themselues about, considering the same hath bin alreadie found by sundrie authors ling sithens, as Hugh the Italian, Iohn-Harding, Iohn Rouse of Warwike,Hugh the I|talian. Harding. Iohn Rous out of Dauid Pencair. and others, speciallie by the helpe of Dauid Pencair. a British historie, who recite the historie vnder the name of Danaus and his daugthers. And because we would not any man to thinke, that the historie of these daughters of Da|naus is onelie of purpose deuised, and brought in place of Dioclesianus, to excuse the imperfection of our writers, whereas there as either no such histo|rie (or at the least no such women that arriued in this Ile)Nennius. the authoritie of Nennius a Briton writer may be auouched who wrote aboue 900. yeares past, and maketh mention of the arriuall of such ladies.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 3 To be short, Belus priscus. Dictionarium poeticum. the historie is thus. Belus the sonne of Epaphus, or (as some writers haue) of Neptune and L [...]bies (whome Isis after the death of Apis ma|ried) had issue two sonnes: the first Danaus, called also Armeus; and Aegyptus called also Rameses: these two were kings among the Aegyptians. Da|naus the elder of the two,Danaus. Aegyprus. Higinus. hauing in his rule the vp|per region of Aegypt, had by sundrie wiues 50. daughters, with whome his brother Aegyptus, ga|ping for the dominion of the whole, did instantlie labour, that his sonnes being also 50. in number, might match. But Danaus hauing knowledge by some prophesie or oracle, that a sonne in law of his should be his death, refused so to bestow his daugh|ters. Hereupon grew warre betwixt the brethren, in the end whereof, Danaus being the weaker, was inforced to flée his countrie, and so prepared a nauie, imbarked himselfe and his daughters, and with them passed ouer into Gréece, where he found meanes to dispossesse Gelenor (sonne to Stenelas king of Argos) of his rightfull inheritance, driuing him out of his countrie, and reigned in his place by the assistance of the Argiues that had conceiued an hatred towardes Gelenor, and a great liking to|wardes Danaus, who in verie deed did so farr ex|cell the kings that had reigned there before him, that the Gréekes in remembrance of him were after called Danai.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 But his brother Aegyptus, taking great disdaine for that he and his sonnes were in such sort despised of Danaus, sent his sonnes with a great armie to make warre against their vncle, giuing them in charge not to returne, till they had either slaine Danaus, or obteined his daugthers in mariage. he yoong gentlemen according to their fathers com|mandement, being arriued in Greece, made such warre against Danaus, that in the end he was con|strained to giue vnto those his 50. nephues his 50. daughters, to ioine with them in mariage, and so they were. But as the prouerbe saith, In trust appea|red treacherie. For on the first night of the mariage, Danaus deliuered to ech of his daughters a sword, charging them that when their husbands after their bankets and pastimes were once brought into a sound sléepe, ech of them should slea hir husband, me|nacing them with death vnlesse they fulfilled his commandement. They all therefore obeied the will of their father, Hypermnestra onely excepted, with whom preuailed more the loue of kinred and wed|locke, than the feare of hir fathers displeasure: for shee alone spared the life of hir husband Lynceus, waking him out of his sléepe, and warning him to depart and flée into Aegypt to his father. He there|fore hauing all the wicked practises reuealed to him by his wife, followed hir aduice, and so escaped.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 Now when Danaus perceiued how all his daughters had accomplished his commandement,Pausanias. sauing onelie Hypermnestra, he caused hir to be brought forth into iudgement, for disobeing him in a matter wherein both the safetie and losse of his life rested: but she was acquitted by the Argiues, & EEBO page image 6 discharged. Howbeit hir father kept hir in prison, and séeking to find out other husbands for his other daughters that had obeied his pleasure in sleaing their first husbands, long it was yer he could find any to match with them: for the heinous offense com|mitted in the slaughter of their late husbands, was yet too fresh in memorie, and their bloud not wiped out of mind. Neuerthelesse, to bring his purpose the better to passe, he made proclamation, that his daughhters should demand no ioinctures, and euerie suter should take his choise without respect to the age of the ladie, or abilitie of him that came to make his choise, but so as first come best serued, according to their owne phantasies and likings. Howbeit when this policie also failed, & would not serue his turne, he deuised a game of running, ordeining therewith, that whosoeuer got the best price should haue the first choise among all the sisters; and he that got the se|cond, should choose next to the first; and so foorth, ech one after an other, according to the triall of their swiftnesse of foote.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 How much this practise auailed, I know not: but certeine it is, diuers of them were bestowed, either by this or some other meanes, for we find that Auto|nomes was maried to Architeles, Chrysanta or (as Pausanias saith) Scea was matched with Archan|drus, Amaome with Neptunus Equestris, on whome he begat Nauplius.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 But now to returne vnto Lynceus,Higinus, whome his wife Hypermnestra preserued, as before ye haue heard. After he was once got out of the reach and danger of his father in law king Danaus, he gaue knowledge thereof to his wife,Pausanias. in raising a fire on heigth beaconwise, accordingly as she had requested him to doo at his departure from hir: and this was at a place which afterwards tooke name of him, and was called Lyncea. Upon his returne into Aegypt, he gaue his father to vnderstand the whole circum|stance of the treacherous crueltie vsed by his vncle and his daughters in the murder of his brethren, and how hardly he himselfe had escaped death out of his vncles handes. Wherevpon at time conuenient he was furnished foorth with men and ships by his fa|ther, for the spéedie reuenge of that heinous, vnnatu|rall and most disloiall murder, in which enterprise he sped him foorth with such diligence, that in short time he found meanes to dispatch his vncle Dana|us, set his wife Hypermnestra at libertie, and sub|dued the whole kingdome of the Argiues.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 This done, he caused the daughters of Danaus (so many as remained within the limits of his domini|on) to be sent for, whome he thought not worthie to liue, bicause of the cruell murther which they had committed on his brethren: but yet for that they were his wiues sisters, he would not put them to death, but commanded them to be thrust into a ship, without maister, mate or mariner, and so to be tur|ned into the maine ocean sea, and to take and abide such fortune as should chance vnto them. These la|dies thus imbarked and left to the mercy of the seas, by hap were brought to the coasts of this Ile then called Albion,Harding and Iohn Rous out of Dauid Pen|cair. where they tooke land, and in sée|king to prouide themselues of victuals by pursute of wilde beasts, met with no other inhabitants, than the rude and sauage giants mentioined before, whome our historiens for their beastlie kind of life doo call diuells. With these monsters did these ladies (fin|ding none other to satisfie the motions the motions of their sen|suall lust) ioine in the act of venerie, and ingendred a race of people in proportion nothing differing from their fathers that begat them, nor in conditions from their mothers that bare them.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 3 But now peraduenture ye wil thinke that I haue forgotten my selfe, in rehearsing this historie of the ladies arriuall here, bicause I make no mention of Albina, which should be the eldest of the sisters, of whome this land should also take the name of Albi|on. To this we answer, that as the name of their fa|ther hath bene mistaken, so likewise hath the whole course of the historie in this behalfe. For though we shall admit that to be true which is rehearsed (in ma|ner as before ye haue heard) of the arriuall here of those ladies; yet certeine it is that none of them bare the name of Albina, from whome this land might be called Albion. For further assurance whereof, if any man be desirous to know all their names,Higinus. we haue thought good bere to rehearse them as they be found in Higinus, Pausanias, The names of the daughters of Danaus. and others, 1 Idea, 2 Philo|mela, 3 Scillo, 4 Phicomene, 5 Euippe, 6 Demodi|tas, 7 Hyale, 8 Trite, 9 Damone, 10 Hippothoe, 11 Mirmidone, 12 Euridice, 13 Chleo, 14 Urania, 15 Cleopatra, 16 Phylea, 17 Hypareta, 18 Chrysothe|mis, 19 Heranta, 20 Armoaste, 21 Danaes, 22 Scea, 23 Glaucippe, 24 Demophile, 25 Autodice, 26 Polyxena, 27 Hecate, 28 Achamantis, 29 Ar|salte, 30 Monuste, 31 Amimone, 32 Helice, 33 A|maome, 34 Polybe, 35 Helicte, 36 Electra, 37 Eu|bule, 38 Daphildice, 39 Hero, 40 Europomene, 41 Critomedia, 42 Pyrene, 43 Eupheno, 44 Themista|gora, 45 Paleno, 46 Erato, 47 Autonomes, 48 I|tea, 49 Chrysanta, 50 Hypermnestra. These were the names of those ladies the daughters of Dana|us: howbeit, which they were that should arriue in this Ile, we cannot say: but it sufficeth to vnder|stand, that none of them hight Albina. So that, whe|ther the historie of their landing here should be true or not, it is all one for the matter concerning the name of this Ile, which vndoubtedlie was called Al|bion, either of Albion the giant (as before I haue said) or by some other occasion.See more in the descripti|on.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 And thus much for the ladies, whose strange ad|uenture of their arriuall here, as it may séeme to manie & (with good cause) incredible, so without fur|ther auouching it for truth, I leaue it to the conside|ration of the reader, to thinke thereof as reason shall moue him; sith I sée niot how either in this, or in other things of such antiquitie, we cannot haue sufficient warrant otherwise than by likelie coniectures. Which as in this historie of the ladies they are not most probable, yet haue we shewed the likeliest, that (as we thinke) may be déemed to agrée with those au|thors that haue written of their comming into this Ile. But as for an assured proofe that this Ile was inhabited with people before the comming of Brute, I trust it may suffice which before is recited out of Annius de Viterbo, Theophilus, Gildas, and other, al|though much more might be said: as of the comming hither of Osiris, as well as in the other parties of the world: and likewise of Ulysses his being here,Ulysses in Britaine. who in performing some vow which he either then did make, or before had made, erected an altar in that part of Scotland which was ancientlie called Cali|donia, as Iulius Solinus Polyhistor in plaine words dooth record.Iulius Solinus.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 ¶Upon these considerations I haue no doubt to de|liuer vnto the reader, the opinion of those that thinke this land to haue bene inhabited before the arriuall here of Brute, trusting it may be taken in good part, sith we haue but shewed the coniectures of others, till time that some sufficient learned man shall take vpon him to decipher the doubts of all these mat|ters. Neuerthelesse, I thinke good to aduertise the reader that these stories of Samothes, Magus, Sar|ron, Druis, and Bardus, doo relie onelie vpon the au|thoritie of Berosus, whom most diligent antiquaries doo reiect as a fabulous and counterfet author, and Vacerius hath laboured to prooue the same by a spe|ciall treatise latelie published at Rome.

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THE SECOND BOOKE of the Historie of England.

2.1. Of Brute and his descent, how he slue his father in hunting, his banishment, his letter to king Pan|drasus, against whom he wageth battell, taketh him prisoner, and concludeth peace vpon conditions. The first Chapter.

Of Brute and his descent, how he slue his father in hunting, his banishment, his letter to king Pan|drasus, against whom he wageth battell, taketh him prisoner, and concludeth peace vpon conditions. The first Chapter.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 _HItherto haue we spoken of the inha|bitants of this Ile before the com|ming of Brute, al|though some will néeds haue it, that he was the first which inhabited the same with his peo|ple descended of the Troians, some few giants onelie excepted whom he vtterlie destroied, and left not one of them aliue through the whole Ile. But as we shall not doubt of Brutes comming hither, so may we assuredly thinke, that he found the Ile peopled either with the generation of those which Albion the giant had placed here, or some other kind of people whom he did subdue,Humfr. Lhoyd. and so reigned as well ouer them as o|uer those which he brought with him.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 This Brutus, or Brytus [for this letter (Y) hath of ancient time had the sounds both of V and I) (as the author of the booke which Geffrey of Monmouth translated dooth affirme) was the sonne of Siluius, the sonne of Ascanius, the sonne of Aeneas the Trio|an, begotten of his wife Creusa, & borne in Troie, before the citie was destroied. But as other doo take it,Harding Alex. Neuil. W. Har. the author of that booke (whatsoeuer he was) and such other as follow him, are deceiued onelie in this point, mistaking the matter, in that Posthumus the sonne of Aeneas (begotten of his wife Lauinia, and borne after his fathers deceasse in Italie) was called Ascanius, who had issue a sonne named Iulius, who (as these others doo coniecture) was the father of Brute, that noble chieftaine and aduenturous lea|der of those people, which being descended (for the more part in the fourth generation) from those Troi|ans that escaped with life, when that roiall citie was destroied by the Gréekes, got possession of this woor|thie and most famous Ile.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 To this opinion Giouan Villani a Florentine in his vniuersall historie, speaking of Aeneas and his ofspring kings of Italie, séemeth to agrée, where he saith:

Siluius (the sonne of Aeneas by his wife Lauinia) fell in loue with a néece of his mother La|uinia, and by hir had a sonne, of whom she died in tra|uell, and therefore was called Brutus, who after as he grew in some stature, and hunting in a forrest slue his father vnwares, and therevpon for feare of his grandfather Siluius Posthumus he fled the coun|trie, and with a retinue of such as followed him, pas|sing through diuers seas, at length he arriued in the Ile of Britaine.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 Concerning therefore our Brute, whether his fa|ther Iulius was sonne to Ascanius the sonne of Ae|neas by his wife Creusa, or sonne to Posthumus called also Aseanius, and sonne to Aeaneas by his wife Lauinia, we will not further stand. But this, we find, that when he came to the age of 15. yéeres, so that he was now able to ride abrode with his father into the forrests and chases, he fortuned (either by mishap, or by Gods prouidence) to strike his father with an arrow,Brute killeth his father. in shooting at a déere, of which wound he also died. His grandfather (whether the same was Posthumus, or his elder brother) hearing of this great misfortune that had chanced to his sonne Sil|uius, liued not long after, but died for verie greefe and sorow (as is supposed) which he conceiued thereof. And the yoong gentleman, immediatlie after he had slaine his father (in maner before alledged) was ba|nished his countrie, and therevpon got him into Grecia, where trauelling the countrie, he lighted by chance among some of the Troian ofspring, and asso|ciating himselfe with them, grew by meanes of the linage (whereof he was descended) in proces of time into great reputation among them: chieflie by rea|son ther were yet diuers of the Troian race, and that of great authoritie in that countrie. For Pyr|rhus the sonne of Achilles,Pausanias. hauing no issue by his wife Hermione, maried Andromache, late wife vnto Hector: and by hir had thrée sonnes, Molossus, Pile|us, and Pergamus, who in their time grew to be of great power in those places and countries, and their ofspring likewise: whereby Brutus or Brytus wan|ted no friendship. For euen at his first comming thither, diuers of the Troians that remained in ser|uitude, being desirous of libertie, by flocke resorted vnto him. And amongst other, Assaracus was one, whom Brute intertained, receiuing at his hands the possession of sundrie forts and places of defense, be|fore that the king of those parties could haue vnder|standing or knowledge of any such thing. Herewith also such as were readie to make the aduenture with him, repaired to him on ech side, wherevpon he first placed garisons in those townes which had bene thus deliuered vnto him, and afterwards with Assaracus and the residue of the multitude he withdrew into the mountains néere adioining. And thus being made strong with such assistance, by consultation had with them that were of most authoritie about EEBO page image 8 him, wrote vnto the king of that countrie called Pandrasus, in forme as followeth.

2.1.1. A letter of Brute to Pandrasus, as I find it set downe in Galfride Monumetensis.

A letter of Brute to Pandrasus, as I find it set downe in Galfride Monumetensis.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 _BRute leader of the remnant of the Troian people, to Pandrasus king of the Greekes, sendeth greeting. Bi|cause it hath beene thought a thing vnworthie, that the people descended of the noble linage of Dardanus should be otherwise dealt with than the honour of their nobilitie dooth require: they haue withdrawne them|selues within the close couert of the woods. For they haue chosen rather (after the maner of wild beasts) to liue on flesh and herbs in di|bertie, than furnished with all the riches in the world to continue vnder the yoke of seruile thraldome. But if this their dooing offend thy mightie highnesse, they are not to be blamed, but rather in this behalfe to be pardoned, sith euerie captiue prisoner is desirous to be resto|red vnto his former estate and dignitie. You therefore pitieng their case, vouchsafe to grant them their abridged libertie, and suffer them to remaine in quiet within these woods which thay haue got into their possession: if not so, yet giue them licence to depart forth of this coun|trie into some other parts.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 3 The sight of these letters, and request in them con|temed, made Pandrasus at the first somewhat ama|zed, howbeit deliberating further of the matter, and considering their small number, he made no great account of them, but determined out of hand to sup|presse them by force,Pandrasus prepareth an armie to sup|presse the Troian of|spring. before they should grow to a greater multitude.Sparatinum. And to bring his intention the better to passe, he passed by a towne called Sparati|num, & marching toward the woods where he thoght to haue found his enimies, he was suddenlie assal|ted by Brute, who with thrée thousand men came foorth of the woods, and fiercelie setting vpon his eni|mies, made great slaughter of them, so that they were vtterlie discomfited, & sought by flight to saue themselues in passing a riuer néere hand called A|kalon. Brute with his men following fast vpon the aduersaries, caused them to plunge into the water at aduenture,Peraduen|ture Achelous so that manie of them were drowned. Howbeit Antigonus the brother of Prandrasus did what he could to stay the Grecians from fléeing,Antigonus, the brother of Pandrasus. and calling them backe againe did get some of them to|gither, placed them in order, and began a new field: but it nothing auailed,He is taken prisoner. for the Troians preasing vp|on him, tooke him prisoner, slue and scattred his com|panie, and ceased not till they had rid the fields of all their aduersaries.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 This doone, Brute entering the towne,Brute en|treth into Sparatinum. furnished it with six hundred able souldiours, and afterwards went backe to the residue of his people that were incamped in the woods, where he was receiued with unspeakeable ioy for this prosperous atchieued en|terprise. But although this euill successe at the first beginning sore troubled Pandrasus, as well for the losse of the field, as for the taking of his brother, yet was he rather kindled in desire to séeke reuenge, than otherwise discouraged. And therefore assem|bling his people againe togither that were scattered here and there, he came the next day before the towne of Sparatinum, where he thought to haue found Brute inclosed togither with the prisoners, and ther|fore he shewed his whole endeuour by hard siege and fierce assaults to force them within to yeeld.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 To conclude, so long he continued the siege, till victuals began to waxe scant within, so that there was no way but to yeeld, if present succour came not to remoue the siege: wherevpon they signified their necessitie vnto Brute, who for that he had not power sufficient to fight with the enimies in open field, he ment to giue them a camifado in the night season, and so ordered his businesse, that inforsing a prisoner (named Anacletus whome he had taken in the last battell) to serue his turne, by constreining him to take an oth (which he durst not for conscience sake breake) he found means to encounter with his eni|mies vpon the aduantage,Pandrasus taken prisoner that he did not onelie o|uerthrowe their whole power, but also tooke Pan+drasus prisoner, whereby all the trouble was ended: and shortlie after a perfect peace concluded, vpon these conditinos following.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 First that Pandrasus should giue his daugther Innogen vnto Brute in mariage,The condin|ons of the a|gréement be|twixt Brute & Pandrasus. with a competent summe of gold and siluer for hir dowrie.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 Secondlie, to furnish him and his people with a nauie of ships, and to store the same with victuals and all other necessaries.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 Thirdlie, that Brute with his people should haue licence to depart the countrie, to séeke aduentures whither so euer it should please them to direct their course, without let, impeachment, or trouble to be of|fered anie waies by the Gréekes.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 To all these conditions (bicause they touched not the prerogatiue of his kingdome) Pandrasus did willinglie agrée, and likewise performed.