[figure appears here on page 131]
[1] [2] [3] After the deceaſe of Vter Pendragon (as we finde in the Britiſhe hiſtories, his ſonne Arthur, a yong towardly Gentleman, of the age of .xv. yeares or theraboutes, began his reigne ouer the Britons in the yere of our lord .516. or as Math.516. Math. VVeſt hath noted .5 [...] Weſt. hath .57. in ye .18. yere of the emperor Ana|ſtaſius, & in the .iij. yere of the reignes of Ch [...]|bert, Clathare, Clodain [...]e, & Theodorik brethrẽ, yt were [...] of the Frenchmẽ. Of this Arthure [...] are writen beyond credite, for that there is no ancient author of authoritie that cõ|firmeth the ſame: But [...]inely as may be thought he was ſome worthie man, and by all [...] a great [...] to the Saxons, by rea [...] wherof the Wei [...]hemen which or the very Brytons in [...] haue [...] fa [...] [...]. He fought as the common report of him goeth .xi [...]. notable batayles agaynſt the Saxons, and in euery of them wente awaye with the victorie. But yet hee myghte not vtterlye dryue them oute of [page 136] the lande, but that they kepte ſtill the countreys whiche they had in poſſeſſion, as Kent, South|rey, Northfolke, and others: howbeit ſome wri|ters teſtifie, that they helde theſe countreyes as tributaries to Arthure. But trouth it is (as dy|uers authours agree) that hee helde continuall warre agaynſt them, and alſo agaynſt the Pic|tes, the whiche were alyed wyth the Saxons: For as in the Scottiſhe hiſtories is conteyned, euen at the fyrſte beginning of hys reigne, the two kings of Scottes and Pictes ſeemed to en|uie hys aduauncemente to the crowne of Bry|tayne, bycauſe that they had maryed the two ſyſters of the two brethren, Aurelius Ambro|ſius, and Vter Pendragon, that is to witte, Loth kyng of Pictes hadde maryed Anne theyr eldeſt ſyſter, and Conran kyng of Scottes had in maryage Alda theyr yonger ſiſter, ſo that bi|cauſe Arthur was begot out of wedlocke, they thoughte it ſtoode wyth more reaſon, that the kyngdome of the Brytons ſhould haue deſcen|ded vnto the ſiſters ſonnes rather than to a ba|ſtarde, namely Loth the Pictiſhe king, whyche had iſſue by his wyfe Anna, ſore repined at the matter: and therefore at the fyrſt when he ſawe that by ſuite he coulde not preuayle, hee ioyned in league wyth the Saxons, and ayding them agaynſte Arthure, loſte many of his menne of warre being ouerthrown in battayle, which he had ſent vnto the ſuccours of Colgerne the Sa|xon Prince that ruled as then in the north par|tes. But fynallye a league was concluded be|twixte Arthur and the foreſayde Lothe kyng of Pictes, vpon certain conditions, as in the Scot|tiſhe hiſtory is expreſſed, where ye may read the ſame, with many other things touching the acts of Arthure, ſomewhat in other order, than oure writers haue recorded.
[1] The Britiſhe authors declare, that Arthure immediately after he had receyued the Crowne of Dubrighte Biſhoppe of Caerlleon, wente wyth his power of Brytons agaynſt the Sax|ons of Northumberlande, whiche had to their Capitayne, as before is ſayde one Colgrime or Colgerne, whome Arthure diſcomfited and cha|ſed into the Citie of Yorke,Yorke beſie|ged. within which place Arthur beſieged him, til at length the ſame Col|grime eſcaped out of the Citie,Cheldrike co|~meth in ap [...] of Colgrime. and leauing it in charge with his brother called Bladulffe paſſed ouer into Germanie vnto Cheldrike kyng of that Countrey, of whome he obteyned ſuccors, ſo that the ſayde Cheldrike made prouiſion of menne and ſhippes,Mat [...]. VVeſt hath but [...] hundred. and came hymſelfe ouer i [...]|to Scotlande, hauing in his company .xv. hun|dred ſayles of one and other.
[1] When Arthur was aduertiſed thereof, he rey|ſed his ſiege, and withdrewe to London, ſending letters with all ſpeede vnto Howell king of lit|tle Britayne in Fraunce, that was his ſiſters ſonne, requiring hym in moſte earneſt wyſe of ayde.Hovvell [...] of Britayn [...]|meth ouer a ayde of [...] Howell incontinentely aſſembled hys people, to the number of xv. thouſande men, and taking the ſea, landed with them at Southamp|ton, where Arthure was ready to receyue hym with great ioye and gladneſſe. From thence they drewe Northewardes, where both the hoſtes of Arthur and Howell beeing aſſembled together, marched forewarde to Lyncolne, whiche Citie Cheldrike did as then beſiege.
[1] Heere Arthur and Howell aſſayling the Sa|xons [figure appears here on page 136] with greate force and manhoode, and at lengthe after greate ſlaughter made of the eni|myes, they obteyned the victorye, and chaſed Chelderyke) wyth the reſ [...]dewe of the Saxons that were lefte alyue) vnto a woodde, where they compaſſed them aboute wythin the ſame,Childerike o|uerthrovvne in batayle. in ſuche wyſe, that in the ende they were con|ſtreyned to yeelde themſelues, wyth condition [page 133] that they myghte bee ſuffred to departe a foote to their ſhippes, and ſo auoyde the lande, leauyng theyr horſe, armour, and other furniture vnto the Brytons.
[1] Heerevpon the Brytons takyng good hoſt a|ges for aſſuraunce, permitted the Saxons to go their ways, and ſo Cheldrike and his people got them to theyr ſhippes, in purpoſe to returne in|to their countrey: but being on the ſea, they were forted by wynde to chaunge theyr courſe, and comming on the coaſtes of the Weaſt partes of Britayne, they arriued at Totneſſe, and con|trarye to the couenaunted articles of theyr laſte compoſition wyth Arthure, inuade the countrey of newe, and taking ſuch armure as they could fynde, marched foorth in robbing and ſpoyling the people, til they came to Bathe, which towne the Brytons kepte and defended agaynſt them, not ſuffryng them by any meanes to enter there,Bathe beſieged wherevppon the Saxons enuironed it with a ſtrong ſiege.
[1] Arthur enfourmed hereof, with all ſpeede ha|ſted [figure appears here on page 133] thyther, & giuyng the enimies battayle, ſlew the moſte parte of Cheldrikes men.The Saxons ouerthrovve Colgrime and Bladulff.
[1] There were ſlayne both Colgrime and Bla|dulff, howbeit Cheldrike himſelfe fled out of the fielde towardes his ſhippes, but beeing purſued by Cador Earle of Cornewall (that had with him .x.Cheldrik ſlayne by Cador duke of Cornvvall. thouſande men) by Arthures appoynte|ment, he was ouertaken and in fight ſlayn with all his people.
[1] Arthur himſelfe retourned from this battayle foughten at Bathe with all ſpeede towardes the marches of Scotlande, for that he hadde recey|ued aduertiſement,K. Hovvell be|ſieged by the Scottes. howe the Scottes had be|ſieged Howell kyng of Brytayne there, as hee laye ſicke.
[1] Alſo when Cador had accompliſhed his en|terpryſe and ſlayne Chelderike, hee retourned with as muche ſpeede as was poſſible towardes Arthure, and founde him in Scotlande, where he reſkued Howell, and afterwarde purſued the Scottes which fled before him by heapes.
[1] Guillomer.About the ſame tyme one Guillomer king of Ireland arriued in Scotlande with a myghtie power of Iriſhmen (neare to the place where Ar|thur lodged) to healpe the Scottes agaynſte the Britons: whervpon Arthur turning his forces towardes the ſame Guillomer, vanquiſhed him, and chaſed him into Irelande.
[1] This don, he cõtinued in purſute of the Scots til he cauſed thẽ to ſue for pardon, and to ſubmit themſelues wholly to him, and ſo receiuing them to mercie, and taking homage of them, hee re|turned to Yorke,Guenever. and ſhortly after tooke to wyfe one Guenhera a right beautifull Lady, that was neere kinſwoman to Cador Erle of Cornwall.
[1] In the yeare folowing,VVil. Harriſon noteth it to be which Hariſon noteth to be. 525. he went into Irelande, and diſcomfi|ting king Guillomere in battayle,525. hee conſtray|ned him to yelde, and to acknowledge by doing his fealtie to holde the realme of Ireland of him.
[1] It is further remembred in thoſe Britiſhe hi|ſtories,Gothland [...]. that hee ſubdued Gutlande and Iſeland with all the Iſles in and about thoſe ſeas.
[1] Alſo that hee ouercame the Romaines in the countrey aboute Parys wyth theyr capitayne Lucius, and waſted the moſte parte of all Fraunce, and ſlewe in ſyngular combates cer|tayne Gyauntes that were of paſſyng force and hugeneſſe of ſtature.
[1] And if he had not bene reuoked home to reſiſt his couſin Mordred that was ſon to Loth king of Pightlande that rebelled in his countrey, he had paſſed to Rome, intending to make himſelfe Emperour, and afterwarde to vanquiſhe the o|ther Emperoure, that then ruled the Empire: but for ſo muche as there is not anye appro|ued [page 134] authour dothe ſpeake of any ſuche doings, the Britons are thoughte to haue regiſtred mere fables in ſtede of true matter, vpon a vayne de|ſire to aduaunce more than reaſon woulde, thys Arthur theyr noble champion, as the Frenche|men haue doone by their Roulande, and others. But to proceede.
[1] At his returne into Britayne, he found [...] that Mordred had cauſed himſelfe to be made kyng,Rather Cer|dick as Io. Le|land thinketh. and hauing alyed himſelf with Cheldrike a Sa|xon, not hym whome Galfride (as yee haue heard,) ſuppoſeth to haue ben ſlaine before, was readie to reſiſt his landing, ſo that before he could come a lande, he loſt many of his men: but yet at lengthe hee repulſed the enimies, and ſo tooke lande at Sandwiche, where he fyrſte arriued: and then ioyning in battayle wyth his enimies, diſ|comfited them, but not without great loſſe of his people: ſpecially hee ſore lamented the death of Gawayn the brother of Mordred, whyche lyke a faythfull gentleman, regarding more his ho|nour and loyall truthe than neareneſſe of bloud and couſinage, choſe rather to fight in the qua|rell of his liege king and louing maiſter, than to take parte with his naturall brother in an vn|iuſt cauſe, and ſo there in the battaile was ſlayn, together alſo with Anguſſell, to whome Arthur afore tyme had committed the gouernemente of Scotland. Mordred fled from this battayle, and getting ſhippes, ſayled Weſtwarde, and fy|nally landed in Cornewall.
[1] King Arthur cauſed the corps of Gaway [...] to be buryed at Douer,Gawa [...]ed at [...] (as ſome holde opinion:) But Willyam Malmeſburie ſuppoſeth, he was buryed in Wales, as after ſhall be ſhewed.
[1] The dead bodie of Anguyſſell was conueyed into Scotlande, and was there buryed.
[1] After that Arthur hadde put his enimies to flight, and had knowledge into what part Mor|dred was withdrawne, wyth all ſpeede he rein|forced his armie with newe ſupplyes of ſouldi|ours called out of diuers parties, and with hys whole puiſſaunce, haſted forwarde; not reſting tyll hee came neere to the place where Mordred was encamped, wyth ſuche an A [...]iye as hee coulde aſſemble togither oute of all ſuch parties where he had any frendes.
[1] Here (as it appeareth by Iohn Leylande, in his booke entitled, The Aſſertion of Arthure,) it may be doubted in what place Mordred was en|camped: but Geffrey of Monmouthe ſheweth, that after Arthure hadde diſcomfyted Mordred in Kent at the firſte landyng, it chaunced ſo that Mordred eſcaped, and fledde to Wyncheſter, whyther Arthure followed hym, and there gy|uyng hym battayle the ſeconde tyme, didde al|ſo put hym to flyght. And following him from thence, foughte efteſoones wyth hym at a place called Camblan, or Kemelene in Cornewall, (or as ſome Authours haue neere vnto Glaſten|bury.)
[1] This battayle was foughte ſo to the vtte|rance,Richarde To|ner. [figure appears here on page 134] that finally Mordred was ſlayne, wyth the more parte of his whole armie, and Arthur receyuyng diuers mortall woundes dyed of the ſame ſhortly after, when he had reigned ouer the Britons by the terme of .xxvj. yeares. His corps was buryed at Glaſtenburye aforeſayde, in the Churche yarde, betwixte two pillers: where it was founde in the dayes of kyng Henry the ſe|conde, about the yeare of our Lorde .1191. which was in the laſte yeare of the reigne of the ſame Henry, more than ſixe hundred yeeres after the buryal therof. He was layd .xvj. foot deepe vnder grounde, for doubte that his enimies the Saxons ſhoulde haue founde hym. But thoſe that dig|ged the grounde there to fynde his bodye, after they had entred aboute ſeuen foote deepe into the [page 135] [...]
[...][...]
[1] [...] the middle thighe of a ryghte tall manite: [...] Monke of that [...] hath [...], whyche did lyue in thoſe dayes, and [...] it. But Gir [...] [...] whyche alſo lyued in [...] dayes, and ſpake with the [...]ot of the place, by whome the [...] of thys Arthure were [...] founde, affirmeth, that by [...] of the ſa [...] [...] hee ſtatued, that the [...] of the ſayd [...] being ſette vp by the legge of a [...] tall manne, (the whiche the Abbot ſhewed to the ſame [...]) [...] aboue the [...] of the ſame man the length of [...] bread to whiche is a greate deale more lyk [...] than the other.
[1] The ſkull of his head was alſo of a [...] full largeneſſe, ſo that the ſpace of his forheade bet|twixt his two eyes was a ſpanne broade. There appeared in his heade the ſignes and priuies of tenne woundes or moe: [...]l [...] the whyche were growen into one [...], excepte onely that whereof it ſhould ſeeme hee dyed, whiche beyng greater than the reſidue, appeared very playne. Alſo in openyng the To [...]ie of his wyfe querrie Gu [...]nhera, that was buryed wyth hym, they founde the treſſes of his haue whole and perfect, and ſyuely platted, of colou [...] lyke to the [...]|ſhed golde, the whiche beeing touched, immedi|atly fell to duſte. The Abbotte, whyche then was gouernour of the houſe, hyght Stephan, or Henry de Bloys,Henricus Ble+cenſis ſeu So|liacenſis. Io. Leland. otherwyſe de Sullie, nephew to king Henry the ſecond (by whoſe commaun|demente he hadde ſearched for the graue of Ar|thure) tranſlated the boanes as well of him as of Qu [...]ene Gueneuer, beyng ſo founde, into the greate Churche, and there buryed them in a fayre double Tombe of Marble, laying the bo|dye of the kyng at the head of the Tombe, and the bodye of the Queene at his feete towardes the weaſt parte.
[...]
VVho vanquiſhe [...] troupes, with battayles bloudier [...]And [...] to hymſelfe a name with warlyke [...]VVho [...] ſhiuering ſhining ſworde, the Picts ſo oft diſmaydeAnd eke vn [...]eldie ſeruile yoke on neck of Scots hath layde:VVho Frenchmen pufft with pride, & who the Germaines fierce in fightDiſcomfited and daunted Daues with mayne and martialll might:VVho of that murdring Mordred did the vitall breath expellThat monſter griſly, lothſom, huge that direſom tyrant fell.Here lyueleſſe Arthur lies entombde, within this ſtately hearſe.Of chiualrie the brighte [...]o [...]o [...]me, and vertues nurſly [...]g fierce:VVhoſe glorie great, nowe ouer all the worlde doth compaſſe flye,And of the ayry thunder ska [...]es, the loftie buyl|ding hye.Therfore you noble progenie of Brytayne lyne and race,Aryſe vnto your Emprour great, of thryee re|nou [...]ed grace.And caſte vpon his ſacred tombe, the roſe al gar|landes ga [...]eThat fra [...] a [...]ſme [...] may witneſſe well, your [...]|ries you diſplay,
[1] [page 156] The occaſion that moued kyng Henry the ſe|conde to cauſe his nephew the layd Abbotte to ſearche for the gra [...]e of kyng Arthur was, for that hee vnderſtoode by a Welch [...] minſtrell or Barde (as they call him) that coulde ſing manye hiſtories in the Welche language of the acts of the aunciente Brytons, that in the foreſayde Churcheyarde at Glaſtenburye, betwixte the ſayde two pillers the bodye of Arthur was to bee founde buryed ſixteene foote deepe vnder the grounde. Bi [...]aldus Cambrenſis affirmeth, that the tree in the whyche Arthurs bodie was founde ſo [...]oſed, was an oke, but other ſuppoſe, that it was an Alder tree, bycauſe that in the ſame place a great number of that kynde of trees doe growe, and alſo for that it is knowne, that an Alder lying vnder grounde where moyſture is, will long continue without rotting.
[1] By the fynding thus of the bodie of Arthure buryed (as before ye haue heard) ſuche as hither|to beleeued that he was not dead,As for example in a caue neere a vvater called Ponde peril|lous at Salisbu|rye, vvhere he and his knights should ſlepe ar|med, till an o|ther knighte should be born that shoulde come and a|vvake them. but conueyed away by the Fairies into ſome pleaſaunt place, where he ſhoulde remayne till a tyme, and then to returne agayne, and reigne in as great autho|ritie as euer he didde before, mighte well perceiue themſelues deceyued in crediting ſo vayne a fa|ble: but yet (where it myghte otherwyſe be dou|ted whether any ſuche Arthur was at all, as the Britiſhe hiſtories mencion, bicauſe neyther Gil|das nor Beda in their workes ſpeake any thyng of hym) it maye appeare, the circumſtaunces conſidered, that ſurely ſuche one there was of that name hardie and valiaunt in armes, though not in diuers poyntes ſo famous as ſome wri|ters paint him out.
[1] William Malmeſburie a writer of good cre|dite and authoritie amongeſt the learned hathe theſe wordes in his fyrſte booke entitled De regi|bus Anglorum, VVil. Mal. lib. 1. de regi|bus Ang. ſaying: But he being dead (mea|ning Vortimer) the force of the Britons waxed feeble, their decayed hope went backewarde a|pace: and euen then ſurely hadde they gone to deſtruction, if Ambroſius (whiche alone of the Romaynes remayned yet alyue, and was king after Vortigerne) hadde not kepte vnder, and ſtayed the loftye Barbarous people, that is to meane the Saxons, by the notable ayde and aſ|ſiſtaunce of the valiaunt Arthur.
[1] This is the ſame Arthur, of whome the tri|fling tales of the Britons euen to this day fan|taſtically doe deſcante and reporte wounders: but worthie was he doubtleſſe of whome feigned fables ſhoulde not haue ſo dreamed, but rather that true Hiſtories myghte haue ſette foorth hys woorthye prayſes, as he that dyd for a long ſea|ſon ſuſteyne and holde vp hys Countrey that was readie to goe to vtter ruyne and decaye, en|couraging the bolde hearts of the Brytons vn|to the wa [...]e, and finally in the ſiege of Ba [...]o [...] hyll, hee ſette vppon nyne hundred of the [...]|myes, and with incredible ſlaughter didde p [...]e them all to flighte.
[1] On the contrarye parte, the Engliſhe Sa|xons, althoughe they were toſſed with ſundrye happes of Fortune, yet ſtill they [...]hued theyr bandes wyth newe ſupplyes of their countrey|menne that came out of Germany, and ſo with holder courage aſſayled their enemies, and by little and little cau [...]yng them to giue place, ſpred themſelues ouer the whole Iſle. For althoughe there were manye battayles in the whiche ſome|tyme the Saxons and ſometyme the Brytons got the better, yet the greater number of Sax|ons that was ſlayne, the greater number of them ſtill came ouer to the ſuccour of their coun|treymen, being called in and ſente for out of eue|ry quarter about them.
[1] Here is alſo to be noted, that where the Bri|tiſhe hiſtorie declareth, that Gawen or Ga [...]lo|wy [...] beeing ſlay [...]ie in the battayle [...]oughte be|twixte Arthure and Mordred in [...], was bu|ryed at Douer,Ga [...] [...] he is buryed. ſo that his boane [...] remayned there to be ſhewed of long time after: yet by that whyche the foreſayde Willyam Malmeſburye writeth in the thirde booke of his volume enti|titled De regibus Anglorum, VVil. M [...]|li. [...] de reg|bus. the contrarie may ſeeme true: his woordes are theſe Then (ſayth he) in the prouince of Wales, whiche is called Roſſe, the ſepulture of Walwyne was founde, the whyche was [...]phue to Arthur by his ſiſter, not going out of kind from ſo worthy an vnel [...]. He reigned in that part of Britaine whiche vnto this daye is called VValwithia, a knighte for hys high prowes moſt highly, renoumed, but exp [...]l|ſed out of his kingdome by the brother & nephew of Hengiſt, of whome in the firſte booke we haue made mention, firſte requiting his baniſhemente with greate detrimente and loſſe to thoſe his eni|mies, wherein he was partaker by iuſt deſerte of his vncles worthy praiſe, for that he ſtayed for a great many yeres, the deſtruction of his countrey which was now running hedlong into vtter ru|ine and decay. But Arthurs graue no w [...]ere ap|peareth: but the others tombe (as I haue ſayde) was founde in the dayes of William the Con|queror, king of England, vpon the ſeaſide, and conteyned in length fourtene foote, where he was (as ſome ſay) wounded by his enimies, and caſt vp by ſhipwrack. But other write, that he was ſlayne at a publike feaſte or banket by his owne countreymen. Thus hathe William Mal|meſburye.
[1] But here you muſte conſider, that the ſayde Malmeſburie departed this lyfe about the begin|nyng of the reigne of kyng Henry the ſeconde, certayne yeres before the boanes of Arthur were [page 157] found as before ye haue hearde.
[1] But now to ſpeak ſomwhat of queene [...]|hera or G [...]vee,Io. Leland. ſo [...]he iudge that [...] [...]he name of hir excellent beautie, by [...] or G [...]n [...] in the Welch to [...]ng [...],Quene Gury|here. ſo that ſhe was named [...] or rather [...]| [...]lean: euen (as you [...] ſay) the faire or beauty|full Leonore or Helene. She was brought vpon the houſe of Cador Earle of Cornewall [...] Arthur maryed hi [...] and as it appeareth by wri|ters, ſhe was [...]aill reported [...] and breache of land to hi [...] huſbande, in ſorte as for the more pai [...]e women of excellente beautie hardly eſcape the venimous blaſt of will to [...], and the ſharpe aſſaultes of the followe [...] of [...]enus. The Br [...] hiſtorie affirmeth that ſhould not onely [...] pa [...]y [...]ng wyth [...]ordred, [...] that [...] th [...] abſence, ſhe conſented to take him to huſ|bande.
[1] It is lykewyſe founde recorded by an olde w [...]yter, that Arthure beſieged on a tyme thẽ mariſhes neere to Glaſtenburye, for diſpleaſur [...] that he bare vnto a certayne Lorde that hyghte Mel [...]: whiche hadde rauiſhed Gumnere, and ledde h [...] into thoſe Marſhes, and there dydd [...] keepe hir. Hir corps notwithſtandyng (as be|fore is recited) was enterred togyther wyth: Ar|thurs, ſo that it is thought ſhe liued not long af|ter his deceaſſe.
[1] Arthur had two wynes, as Giralou [...] Cam|brenſis affirmeth, of whiche the latter (ſayth hee) was buryed wyth hyde, and hi [...] boanes founde with his mone Sepulchre, ſo deuided yet, that two partes of the Tombe towardes the heade were appoynted to receyue the bones of the man, and the thyrde parte towardes the feete con|teyned the womans boanes, a parte by them ſelues.
[1] Here is to bee remembred, that Hector Boe|tius wryteth otherwyſe of the death of Arthure than before in thys booke is mencioned, and al|ſo that Guen [...]ere beeyng taken pryſon [...] by the Pictes, was conueyed into Scotlande, where fynally ſhee dyed, and was there buryed in A [...]|gus, as in the Scottiſhe Chronicle further ap|peareth.
[1] And thys may be true, if he hadde three ſun|drye wyues, eche of them bearing the name of Guenhere, as ſir Iohn Price doth auouche that hee had.
[1] Bycauſe of the contrarie [...]ie in wryters tou|chyng the greate actes atchieued by this Arthur, and alſo for that ſome difference there is amon|geſt them, aboute the tyme in whyche he ſhould reigne, many haue doubted of the truthe of the whole hiſtorie whyche of hym is written (as be|fore ye haue hearde.)
[1] The Britiſhe hiſtories and alſo the Scottiſhe Chronicles doe agree, that he lyued in the days of the Emperour Iuſtinian, about the fifteenth yeare of whoſe reigne hee dyed, whiche was in the yeare of our Lorde: 542.542. as Harriſon alſo confirmeth. Howbeit ſome write farther from all lykely [...], that he was aboute the tyme of the Emperor [...]eno, who began his reign about the yeare of our Lord. 47 [...].
[1] The [...] of the booke [...] Aurea hi|ſtoria affirmeth,Aurea hi|ſtoria. Leland. that in the [...] of Cerdi|cus king of Weaſt Saxons, Arthur the war|riour r [...]fe amongeſt the Bryt [...]ns. Alſo Di [...]|neu [...] writeth, that [...] fyghtyng often|tymes with Arthur, if he were ouercome in one [...], he [...]oſe [...] an other [...] more t [...]rce had [...] to giue battayle that before.
At lengthe Arthure [...] VVeſtſexon. after the [...]elfth yeare [...] [...] gaue vnto [...] his hom [...] [...] and [...]apl [...] [...] the ſhyres of [...] and Somerſet, the whiche [...] [...]er|diems named Weſt [...].
[1] This Ce [...]icius or [...] came into Bri|tayne aboute the yeare of our Lorde. 491. and [...] yere after his [...] hither, that is to witte, about the yeare of our Lorde. [...] he be|ganne ga [...] his raigne [...] the Weſt Saxons, and gouer [...] the [...] kyng by the ſpace of the yea|res, as before ye haue heard.
[1] But to followe the courſe of oure Chroni|cles accordingly as we haue begunne, we muſte allowe of their accompte herein as in other pla|ces and ſo proceede.
[1] In this meane [...] that the Real [...] was diſ [...]eted with ſore and continuall warres be|twixte the Brytons and Saxons [...] (a [...] before you haue hearde) the chriſtian religion was not only aboliſhed in places where the Saxons got habitation [...], but alſo amongſt the Britons,The hereſie of the Pelagiane reu [...]ded the ryght faithe was broughte into daunger by the remnaunt of the Pelagian hereſye whiche be|ganne agayne to be brached by dyuers naughtie [figure appears here on page 157] perſones. Hist. Mag. Dubritius and Dauid learned Bishops. But Dubritius that was fyrſte Bi|ſhoppe of Lan|daffe, and after Archbiſhoppe of Ca [...]l [...]on. Ar|wſke and hys ſucceſſoure Da|uid, with other lerned men ear|neſtlye bothe by preaching and writing defended the contrarye cauſe, to the confuting of thoſe errours, and ree|ſtabliſhing of the truth.