2.8. Of Gorbodug and his two sonnes Fer|rex and Porrex,
one brother killeth ano|ther, the mother slaieth hir
sonne, and how Britaine by ciuill warres (for lacke of
issue legitimate to the gouernment) of a mo|narchie
became a pentarchie: the end of Brutes line. The eight
Chapter.
Of Gorbodug and his two sonnes Fer|rex and Porrex,
one brother killeth ano|ther, the mother slaieth hir
sonne, and how Britaine by ciuill warres (for lacke of
issue legitimate to the gouernment) of a mo|narchie
became a pentarchie: the end of Brutes line. The eight
Chapter.
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1 _GOrbodug the sonne of Ki|nimacus began his reigne
o|uer the Britains,Gorbodug the 18.
ruler. in the yeare after the creation of the
world 3418, from the building of the citie of Rome
202, the 58 of the Iews captiuitie at Baby|lon. This
Gorbodug by most likelihood to bring histories to
accord, should reigne about the tearme of 62 yeares,
and then departing this world, was buried at London,
leauing after him two sonnes Ferrex and Porrex, or
after some wri|ters, Ferreus and Porreus.
Compare 1577 edition:
1 FErrex with Porrex his brother began iointlie to rule
ouer the Britaines,Ferrex the 19.
ruler. in the yeare of the world 3476, after
the building of Rome 260, at which time, the people of
Rome forsooke their citie in their rebel|lious mood.
These two brethren continued for a time in good
friendship and amitie, till at length through
couetousnesse, and desire of greater dominion,
pro|uoked by flatterers, they fell at variance and
discord, whereby Ferrex was constreined to flée into
Gallia,Ferrex fled into
Gallia. and there purchased aid of a great duke
called Gun|hardus or Suardus, and so returned into
Britaine, thinking to preuaile and obteine the
dominion of the whole Iland. But his brother Porrex
was readie to receiue him with battell after he was
landed, in the which battell Ferrex was slaine, with
the more part of his people. The English chronicle
saith, that Por|rex was he that fled into France,
& at his returne, was slaine, and that Ferrex
suruiued. But Geffrey of Monmouth
& Polychronicon are of a contrarie
opi|nion. Matthew Westmonasteriensis writeth,
that Porrex deuising waies to kill Ferrex,Matth. West. atchiued his
purpose and slue him. But whether of them so euer
suruiued, the mother of them was so highlie offended
for the death of him that was slaine, whom the most
EEBO page image 15 intierlie loued, that setting
apart all motherlie affec|tion, she found the meanes
to enter the chamber [...] him that suruiued in
the night season, and as he slept, the with the helpe
of his maidens slue him, and cut him into small
péeces, as the writers doo affirme. Such was the end
of these two brethren,The mother
killeth hir son. after they had reigned by
the space of foure to fiue yeares.
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1 After this followed a troublous season, full of
cruell warre, and seditious discord, wherby and in the
end, [...] for the space of fiftie yeares, the monarchie or
sole gouernement of the Iland
became [...] that is, it was diuided betwixt fiue
kings or rulers, till Dunwallon of Cornewall ouercame
them all. Thus the line of Brute (according to the
report of most writers) tooke an end: for after the
death of the two foresaid brethren,Robert Record no rightfull inheritor was
left a|liue to succéed them in the kingdome. The names
of these fiue kings are found in certeine old
pedegrées: and although the same be much corrupted in
diuers copies, yet these vnder named are the most
agréeable.
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1
But of these fiue kings or dukes, the English chronicle alloweth Cloton king of Cornewall for most rightfull heire.
There appeareth not any time certeine by report of ancient authors how long this variance continued amongst the
Britains but (as some say) it lasted for the space of 51 yeres,
Fabian Ciuill Warres 51. yeares coniecturing so much by that which is
recorded in Polychron who saith, who it endured euen till the beginning of the reigne of Mulmucius Dunwallon,
who began to gouerne from the time that Brute first entred Britaine, about the space of 703 three yeares.
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1 ¶Here ye must note, that there is difference a|mongst
writers about the supp [...]tation and account of
these yeares, Insomuch that some making their
reckoning after certeine writers, and finding the same
to varie aboue thrée C. yeares, are brought in|to
further doubt of the truth at the whole historie: but
whereas other haue by [...]aligent search tried
out the continuance of euerie gouernors reigne, and
redu|ced the same to a likelihood of some conformitie,
I haue thought best to follow the same, leauing the
credit thereof with the first authors.
The pentarchie.
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1 - 1 Rudacus
- 2 Clotenus
- 3 Pinnor
- 4 Staterus
- 5 Yewan
- king of
- Wales.
- Cornewall.
- Loegria.
- Albania.
- Northumberland.
The end of the second Booke.