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.)

3.2. The ioint-gouernment of Belinus and Brennus the two sonnes of Mulmucius, their discontentment, the stratagems of the one against the other, the expulsion of Brennus out of Britaine. The second Chapter.

The ioint-gouernment of Belinus and Brennus the two sonnes of Mulmucius, their discontentment, the stratagems of the one against the other, the expulsion of Brennus out of Britaine. The second Chapter.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 _BRennus and Belinus began to reigne iointlie as kings in Britaine,Belinus and Brennus. in the yéere of the world 3574, af|ter the building of the citie of Rome 355, and after the de|liuerance of the Israelites out of captiuitie 142,3574 which was about the seuenth yéere of Artaxerxes surna|med Mnenon, the seuenth king of the Persians. Be|linus held vnder his gouernment Loegria,Matth. West. Wales, and Cornwall: and Brennus all those countries o|uer and beyond Humber. And with this partition were they contented by the tearme of six or seuen yéeres, Polyd. saith 5. Brennus not content with his portion. after which time expired, Brennus coueting to haue more than his portion came to, first thought to purchase himselfe aid in forreine parties, & there|fore by the prouocation and counsell of yong vnquiet heads, sailed ouer into Norway, and there married the daughter of Elsung or Elsing,Elsingius. as then duke or ruler of that countrie. Beline offended with his bro|ther, that he should thus without his aduice marrie with a stranger, now in his absence seized all his lands, townes, and fortresses into his owne hands, placing garisons of men of warre where he thought conuenient.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 In the meane time, Brenne aduertised hereof, as|sembled a great nauie of ships, well furnished with people and souldiers of the Norwegians, with the which he tooke his course homewards, but in the waie he was encountred by Guilthdacus king of Den|marke,Guilthdacus king of Den|marke. the which had laid long in wait for him, bi|cause of the yoong ladie which Brenne had maried, for whome he had béene a sutor to hir father Elsing of long time. When these two fléetes of the Danes and Norwegians met, there was a sore battell betwixt them, but finallie the Danes ouercame them of Norway, and tooke the ship wherein the new bride was conueied, and then was she brought aboord the ship of Guilthdacus. Brenne escaped by flight as well as he might. But when Guilthdacus had thus obtained the victorie and prey, suddenlie therevpon arose a sore tempest of wind and weather,A tempest. which scattered the Danish fleete, and put the king in dan|gers to haue béene lost [...] but finallie within fiue daies after, being driuen by force of wind, he landed in Northumberland, with a few such ships as kept togi|ther with him.Guilthdacus landed in the north.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 Beline being then in that countrie, prouiding for defense against his brother, vpon knowledge of the king of Denmarks arriuall, caused him to be staied. Shortlie after, Brenne hauing recouered and gotten togither the most part of his ships that were disper|sed by the discomfiture, and then newlie rigged and furnished of all things necessarie, sent word to his brother Beline, both to restore vnto him his wife wrongfullie rauished by Guilthdacus, and also his lands iniuriouslie by him seized and his possession. These requests being plainlie and shortlie denied, Brenne made no long delaie, but spéedilie made to|ward Albania, and landing with his armie in a part thereof, incountred with his brother Beline néere vnto a wood named as then Calater, where (after cru|ell fight,Calater wood is in Scotland. and mortall battell betwixt them) at length the victorie abode with the Britains, and the discomfi|ture did light so on the Norwegians, that the most of them were wounded, slaine, and left dead vpon the ground.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 Hereby Brenne being forced to flée, made shift, and got ouer into Gallia, where after he had sued to this prince, at length he abode, and was well receiued of one Seguinus or Seginus duke of the people called then Allobrogs (as Galfrid of Monmouth saith) or rather Armorica,Seguinus or Seginus duke of the Allobrogs, now the D [...]|phinat or Sauoy. which now is called Britaine, as Polychronicon, and the english historie printed by Caxton, more trulie maie seeme to affirme. But Be|line hauing got the vpper hand of his enimies, assem|bling his councell at Caerbranke, now called York, tooke aduise what he should doo with the king of Den|marke: where it was ordeined, that he should be set at libertie, with condition and vnder couenant, to ac|knowledge himselfe by dooing homage, to hold his land of the king of Britaine, and to paie him a yéere|lie tribute. These couenants being agréed vpon,The Danes tributarie to the Britains. and hostages taken for assurance, he was set at libertie, and so returned into his countrie. The tribute that he couenanted to paie, was a thousand pounds, as the English chronicle saith.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 When Beline had thus expelled his brother, and was alone possessed of all the land of Britaine, he first confirmed the lawes made by his father: and for so much as the foure waies begun by his father were not brought to perfection,The foure high waies fi|nished. he therefore caused workmen to be called foorth and assembled, whom he set in hand to paue the said waies with stone, for the better passage and ease of all that should trauell through the countries from place to place, as occasi|on should require.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 3 4 The first of these foure waies is named Fosse,The fosse. and stretcheth from the south into the north, beginning at the corner of Totnesse in Cornewall, and so passing foorth by Deuonshire, and Somersetshire, by Tuthe|rie, on Cotteswold, and then forward beside Couen|trie vnto Leicester, and from thence by wild plaines towards Newarke, and endeth at the citie of Lin|colne. The second waie was named Watling stréete, the which stretcheth ouerthwart the Fosse,Watling street out of the southeast into the northeast, beginning at Douer, and passing by the middle of Kent ouer Tha|mes beside London, by-west of Westminster, as some haue thought, and so foorth by S. Albons, and by the west side of Dunstable, Stratford, Toucester, and Wedon by-south of Lilleborne, by Atherston, Gilberts hill, that now is called the Wreken, and so foorth by Seuerne, passing beside Worcester, vnto Stratton to the middle of Wales, and so vnto a EEBO page image 17 place called Cardigan, at the Irish sea. The third way was named Ermingstréet,Ermingstréet which stretched out of the west northwest, vnto the east southeast, and be|ginneth at Meneuia, the which is in Saint Dauids land in west Wales, and so vnto Southampton. The fourth and last waie hight Hiknelstréete,Hiknelstréete. which lea|deth by Worcester, Winchcombe, Birmingham, Lichfield, Darbie, Chesterfield, and by Yorke, and so foorth vnto Tinmouth. After he had caused these waies to be well and sufficientlie raised and made,Priuileges granted to the waies. he confirmed vnto them all such priuileges as were granted by his father.

3.3. Brennus marrieth with the duke of A|lobrogs daughter, groweth into great ho|nour, commeth into Britaine with an armie against his brother Beline, their mother re|concileth them, they ioine might & muni|tion and haue great conquests, conflicts betweene the Galles and the Ro|mans, the two brethren take Rome. The third Chapter.

Brennus marrieth with the duke of A|lobrogs daughter, groweth into great ho|nour, commeth into Britaine with an armie against his brother Beline, their mother re|concileth them, they ioine might & muni|tion and haue great conquests, conflicts betweene the Galles and the Ro|mans, the two brethren take Rome. The third Chapter.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 _IN the meane time that Beline was thus occupied a|bout the necessarie affaires of his realme and kingdome, his brother Brenne that was fled into Gallia onelie with 12. persons, bicause he was a goodlie gentleman, and sée|med to vnderstand what apperteined to honour, grew shortlie into fauour with Seginus the duke afore mentioned, and declaring vnto him his aduersitie, and the whole circumstance of his mishap, at length was so highlie cherished of the said Seginus, deli|ting in such worthie qualities as he saw in him dai|lie appearing,Brenne mari|eth the duke of Alobrogs daughter. that he gaue to him his daughter in mariage, with condition, that if he died without issue male, then should he inherit his estate & duke dome: and if it happened him to leaue anie heire male be|hind him, then should he yet helpe him to recouer his land and dominion in Britaine, béerest from him by his brother.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 These conditions well and surelie vpon the dukes part by the assent of the nobles of his land concluded, ratified, and assured, the said duke within the space of one yéere after died. And then after a certeine time, being knowne that the duches was not with child, all the lords of that countrie did homage to Brenne, receiuing him as their lord and supreme gouernour, vpon whome he likewise for his part in recompense of their curtesie, bestowed a great portion of his trea|sure.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 Shortlie after also,Brenne with an armie re|turneth into Britaine. with their assent he gathered an armie, and with the same eftsoones came ouer into Britaine, to make new warre vpon his brother Be|line. Of whose landing when Beline was informed, he assembled his people, and made himselfe readie to méete him: but as they were at point to haue ioined battell,Brenne and Beline made friends by in|tercession of their mother. by the intercession of their mother that came betwixt them, and demeaned hirselfe in all motherlie order, and most louing maner towards them both, they fell to an agréement, and were made friends or euer they parted asunder.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 After this they repaired to London, and there taking aduice togither with their peeres and coun|cellors, for the good order and quieting of the land, at length they accorded to passe with both their armies into Gallia, to subdue that whole countrie, and so following this determination, they tooke shipping and sailed ouer into Gallia, where beginning the warre with fire and sword, they wrought such mai|steries, that within a short time (as saith Geffrey of Monmouth) they conquered a great part of Gal|lia,They i [...] made Gallia and Italie. Italie, and Germanie, and brought it to their subiection. In the end they tooke Rome by this occa|sion (as writers report) if these be the same that had the leading of those Galles, which in this season did so much hurt in Italie and other parts of the world.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 After they had passed the mountains, & were en|tred into Tuscan,Now Clusi. they besieged the citie of Clusium, the citizens whereof being in great danger, sent to Rome for aid against their enimies. Wherevpon the Romanes, considering with themselues that although they were not in anie league of societie with the Clusians, yet if they were ouercome the danger of the next brunt were like to be theirs:Ambassa|dours sent from Rome. with all spéed they sent ambassadours to intreat betwixt the parties for some peace to be had.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 They [...]hat were sent,Brennus answere. required the capteines of the Galles, in the name of the senat and citizens of Rome, not to molest the friends of the Romans. Wherevnto answere was made by Brennus, that for his part he could be content to haue peace, if it were so that the Clusians would be agréeable that the Galles might haue part of the countrie which they held, being more than they did alreadie well oc|cupie, for otherwise (said he) there could be no peace granted.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 The Romane ambassadours being offended with these wordes,The treatie of peace brea|keth off. demanded what the Galles had to doo in Tuscan, by reason of which and other the like ouerthwart wordes, the parties began to kindle in displeasure so farre, that their communication brake off, and so they from treating fell againe to trie the matter by dint of sword.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 The Romane ambassadours also to shew of what prowesse the Romans were, contrarie to the law of nations (forbidding such as came in ambassage a|bout anie treatie of peace to take either one part or other) tooke weapon in hand, and ioined themselues with the Clusians, wherewith the Galles were so much displeased, that incontinentlie with one voice, they required to haue the siege raised from Clusium, that they might go to Rome. But Bren|nus thought good first to send messengers thither, to require the deliuerie of such as had broken the law, that punishment might be done on them according|lie as they had deserued. This was done, and know|ledge brought againe, that the ambassadors were not onelie not punished, but also chosen to be tri|bunes for the next yeare.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 The Galles then became in such a rage (because they saw there was nothing to be looked for at the hands of the Romans, but warre, iniurious wrongs, and deceitfull traines) that they turned all their force against them,The Galles make to|wards Rome. marching streight towardes Rome, and by the waie destroied all that stood before them. The Romans aduertised thereof, assembled them|selues togither to the number of 40. thousand,The Romans incountring with the Galles are o|uerthrowne. and encountring with Beline and Brenne, neare to the riuer Allia, about 11. miles on this side Rome, were slaine and quite discomfited.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 The Galles could scarse beléeue that they had got the victorie with so small resistance: but when they perceiued that the Romans were quite ouerthrowne and that the field was clearelie rid of them, they got togither the spoile, and made towards Rome it selfe, where such feare and terror was striken into the heartes of the people,The Ro|mans in despaire with draw into the capitoll. and all men were in des|paire to defend the citie: and therefore the senate with all the warlike youth of the citizens got them into the capitoll, which they furnished with victuals and all things necessarie for the maintenance of the EEBO page image 18 same against a long siege. The honorable fathers and all the multitude of other people not apt for warres, remained still in the citie, as it were to pe|rish with their countrie if hap so befell.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 In the meane time came the Galles to the citie,The Galles enter into Rome. and entring by the gate Collina, they passed forth the right way vnto the market place, maruelling to sée the houses of the poorer sort to be shut against them, and those of the richer to remaine wide open; where|fore being doubtfull of some deceitfull traines, they were not ouer rash to enter the same; but after they had espied the ancient fathers sit in their chaires ap|parelled in their rich robes, as if they had bin in the sanat,The reuerend aspect of the senators. they reuerenced them as gods, so honora|ble was their port, grauenesse in countenance, and shew of apparell.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 3 In the meane time it chanced,Marcus Papi|rius. that Marcus Pa|pirius stroke one of the Galles on the head with his staffe, because he presumed to stroke his heard: with which iniurie the Gall being prouoked, slue Papirius (as he sat) with his sword, and therewith the slaugh|ter being begun with one, all the residue of those ancient fatherlie men as they sat in their chaires were slaine and cruellie murthered. After this all the people found in the citie without respect or diffe|rence at all,Rome sacked. were put to the sword, and their houses sacked. And thus was Rome taken by the two bre|thren, Beline and Brenne, 365 yeares after the first building thereof. Besides this, the Galles at|tempted in the night season to haue entred the capi|toll:365 and in déed ordered their enterprise so secretlie,The capitoll defended. that they had atchiued their purpose, if a sort of ganders had not with their crie and noise disclosed them, in wakening the Romans that were asléepe: & so by that meanes were the Galles beaten backe and repelled.