2.7. Of Riuallus, Gurgustius, Sysillius, Iago, and Kinimacus, rulers of Britaine by succession, and of the accidents coincident with their times. The seuenth Chapter.

Of Riuallus, Gurgustius, Sysillius, Iago, and Kinimacus, rulers of Britaine by succession, and of the accidents coincident with their times. The seuenth Chapter.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 _RIuallus,Rïuallus the 13. ruler. the sonne of Cu|nedag, began to reigne ouer the Britaines in the yeare of the world 3203, before the building of Rome 15, Ioa|than as then being king of Iuda, and Phacea king of Is|rael. This Riuall gouerned the Iland in great welth and prosperitie. In his time it rained bloud by the space of thrée daies togither;It rained bloud. Matth. West. after which raine ensued such an excéeding number and multitude of flies, so noisome and contagious, that much people died by reason thereof. When he had reigned 46 yeares he died, and was buried at Caerbranke now called Yorke. In the time of this Riuals reigne was the citie of Rome builded,Rome builded after concordance of most part of writers. Perdix also a wizard, and a learned astrologian florished and writ his prophesies, and Herene also.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 GUrgustius,Gurgusti|us the 14. ruler. the son of the before named Riuall, began to gouerne the Britaines in the yeare af|ter the creation of the world 3249, and after the first foundation of Rome 33, Ezechias reigning in Iuda. This Gurgustius in the chronicle of England, is cal|led Gorbodian the sonne of Reignold, he reigned 37 yeares, then departing this life, was buried at Caer|branke (now called Yorke) by his father.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 SYsillius,Sysillius the 15. ruler. or after some writers Syluius, the bro|ther of Gurgustius, was chosen to haue the go|uernance of Britaine, in the yere of the world 3287, and after the building of Rome 71, Manasses still reigning in Iuda. This Sysillius in the English chronicle is named Secill. He reigned 49 yeares, and then died, and was buried at Carbadon, now called Bath.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 IAgo or Lago, the cousin of Gurgustius,Iago the 16. ruler. as next inheritor to Sysillius, tooke vpon him the go|uernement of Britaine, in the yeare of the world 3336, and after the building of Rome 120, in whose time the citie of Ierusalem was taken by Nabucho|donozar and the king of Iuda, Mathania, otherwise called Zedechias, being slaine. This Iago or Lago died without issue, when he had reigned 28 yeares, and was buried at Yorke.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 KInimacus or Kinmarus the sonne of Sysillius as some write,Kinima|cus the 17 ruler. or rather the brother of Iago, be|gan to gouerne the land of Britain, in the yere of the world 3364, and after the building of Rome 148, the Iewes as then being in the third yeare of their capti|uitie of Babylon. This Kinimacus departed this life, after he had reigned 54 yeares, and was buried at Yorke.

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.

Compare 1577 edition: 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.

Compare 1577 edition: 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.

Compare 1577 edition: 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.

Compare 1577 edition: 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.

Compare 1577 edition: 1
• 1 Rudacus
• 2 Clotenus
• 3 Pinnor
• 4 Staterus
• 5 Yewan
• king of
• Wales.
• Cornewall.
• Loegria.
• Albania.
• Northumberland.

3.1. Of Mulmucius the first king of Britaine, who was crowned with a golden crowne, his lawes, his foundations, with other his acts and deeds. The first Chapter.

Of Mulmucius the first king of Britaine, who was crowned with a golden crowne, his lawes, his foundations, with other his acts and deeds. The first Chapter.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 3 4 _NOw to proceede Mul|mucius. Matth. West. Polyd. with the aforesaid authors, Mulmu|cius Dunwallõ, or as other saie Dun|uallo Mulmucius, the sonne of Clo|ton (as testifieth th' english chronicle and also Geffrey of Monmouth) got the vpper hand of the other dukes or rulers: and after his fathers deceasse began his reigne ouer the whole monarchie of Britaine, in the yéere of the world 3529, after the building of Rome 314, and after the deliuerance of the Israelites out of captiuitie 97, and about the 26 yéere of Darius Artaxerxes Longimanus, the fift king of the Persi|ans. This Mulmucius Dunuallo is named in the en|glish chronicle Donebant, and prooued a right wor|thie prince. He builded within the citie of London then called Troinouant, a temple, and named it the temple of peace: the which (as some hold opinion, Fabian. See more in the descripti|on. I wote not vpon what ground) was the same which now is called Blackwell hall, where the market for buieng and selling of cloths is kept. The chronicle of England affirmeth,Malmesburie and the Uies built. Matth. West. Lawes made. that Mulmucius (whome the old booke nameth Molle) builded the two townes Malmesburie and the Uies. He also made manie good lawes, which were long after vsed, called Mul|mucius lawes, turned out of the British spéech into the Latine by Gildas Priscus, and long time after translated out of latine into english by Alfred king of England, and mingled in his statutes. He moreo|uer gaue priuileges to temples, to plowes, to cities, and to high waies leading to the same, so that whoso|euer fled to them, should be in safegard from bodilie harme, and from thence he might depart into what countrie he would, with indemnitie of his per|son. Some authors write,Caxton and Polychron. that he began to make the foure great high waies of Britaine, the which were finished by his sonne Blinus, as after shall be decla|red.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 EEBO page image 16 After he had established his land and set his Bri|tains in good and conuenient order,The first king that was crowned with a golden crowne. he ordeined him by the aduise of his lords a crowne of gold, & caused himselfe with great solemnitie to be crowned, accor|ding to the custome of [...] lawes then in vse: & bicause he was the first that bare a crowne héere in Britaine, after the opinion of some writers, he is named the first king of Britaine, and all the other before rehearsed are named rulers, dukes, or gouer|nors.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 Amongst other of his ordinances, Polyd. Weights and measures. he appointed weights and measures, with the which men should buy and sell. And further he deuised sore and streight orders for the punishing of theft.Theft puni|shed. Fabian. Finallie, after he had guided the land by the space of fortie yéeres, he di|ed, and was buried in the foresaid temple of peace which he had erected within the citie of Troinouant now called London, as before ye haue heard, appoin|ting in his life time, that his kingdome should be di|uided betwixt his two sonnes, Brennus and Beli|nus (as some men doo coniecture.)