[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.
[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 [page 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.
[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.
[1] But of these fiue kings or dukes, the English chro|nicle alloweth Cloton king of Cornewall for most rightfull heires. There appeareth no [...] any [...] cer|teine by report of ancient author how long this variance continue [...] amongst the Britains [...] but (as some say) it lasted for the space of 51 yeres coniecty|ring so much by [...] recorded in Polychron who saith, Fabian. Ciuill warras 51. yeares. [...] till the beginning of the reigne of Dunwallon, Mulmucius who began to gouerne [...] the time that Brute first en|tred. Britaine, about the space of 703 thrée yeares.
[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.