Compare 1587 edition: 1 Eugenius in the beginning of his raigne, to win thereby the peoples fauor, demeaned himſelf moſt gently in al his proceedings, doing nothing that taſted in any part of crueltie. He woulde of|tentimes ſit amongſt the Iudges himſelfe,The humanity and fauorable friendſhip of king Eugenius towardes his people. and if he ſuſpected leaſt any man had wrong, he wold licence them to pleade their caſe of new. And ſuch as he perceyued were not of abilitie to folow their ſuite in any cauſe of right, he would helpe them with money of the common treaſurie. He orday|ned alſo, that no orphane ſhould be compelled to anſwere any action, or otherwiſe bee vexed by ſuite of law.Commẽdable ordinances. Moreouer, that no widow ſhould be conſtrayned to come paſt a mile forth of hir own doores for any matter in controuerſie betwixt hir and any other perſon, to be heard afore any Iud|ges or publike officers. Robbers, theues, and their receptors he cauſed to be duly puniſhed, to refrain other from attempting the like offences. And alſo he had a ſpeciall regarde for the obſeruing of the league betwixt his ſubiects and the Pictes, with the Brytaynes, according to the tenour of the ſame.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 About this ſeaſon ſhould i t be alſo that Arthur did atchieue all thoſe worthie victories which are aſcribed vnto him agaynſt the Scots,The victori|ous conqueſts aſcribed to Arthure. Iriſh men, Danes, Norwegians, & other northren people. Moreouer it is written by ſome authors, that he ſhoulde ſubdue the moſt part of Germanie with the low coũtreys, Brytain, Normandie, France, and the Romaines, with the people of the Eaſt, but the credit hereof reſteth with y^e ſame authors. Only it is certain (as Hector Boetius affirmeth) that Arthur liued in the dayes of Iuſtinianus the Emperour,This cauſeth no ſmal doubt to ariſe of the great victories aſcribed vnto Arthure. aboute whiche time the Gothes, Vandales, Burgonions, and Frenchmen did in|uade ſundrie partes of the Romaine Empyre, pitifully waſting and ſpoyling the ſame, where yet ſuche wryters as haue ſet forth thoſe warres make no mention of Arthur at all. Therfore let|ting all doubtfull things paſſe, I will proceede with my author, and declare what he hath found written in ſuch Scottiſh Chronicles as he follo|weth touching the Britiſh Arthur, which for that it partly varieth from the other our cõmon chro|nicles,Geffray of Monmouth. namely Geffray of Monmouth, I think it worthy to be noted here, to the ende that euery man may iudge therof as to him ſeemeth beſt.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 The Brytaines repent them|ſelues of the league con|cluded with the Pictes.To the purpoſe then: after the Brytains were deliuered from the terror of the Saxons, and that with quietneſſe they began to waxe welthie, they repented them of the league, which they had con|cluded afore with Loth king of the Pictes, ſpeci|ally for that they could not in any wiſe be cõten|ted to haue any ſtranger to raign amongſt them,The requeſt of the Brytaynes to haue one of their own na|tion appoyn|ted to ſucceed king Arthure. and hereupon comming vnto Arthur, required of him, ſith he himſelf had no iſſue to ſucceed him, y^t it might pleaſe him yet, to name one of his owne nation to gouerne them after his deceaſe.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 Eugenius in the beginning of his reigne, to win thereby the peoples fauor, demeaned himselfe most gentlie in all his procéedings, dooing nothing that [...] in anie part of crueltie. He would oftentimes The humani|tie and fauo [...]|rable [...] [...] of king Eugenius to|wards his people. sit amongst the iudges himselfe, and if he suspected least anie man had wrong, he would licence them to EEBO page image 105 plead their case anew. And such as he perceiued were not of abilitie to follow their sute in anie cause of right, he would helpe them with monie of the com|mon treasurie. He ordeined also, that no orphane should be compelled to answer anie action, or other|wise be vexed by sute of law. Moreouer, that no wi|dow Commenda|ble ordinan|ces. should be constreined to come past a mile foorth of hir owne doores for anie matter in controuersie betwixt hir and anie other person, to be heard a [...]ore a|nie iudges or publike officers. Robbers, théeues, and their receiuers he caused to be dulie punished, to re|fraine other from attempting the like offenses. And also he had a speciall regard for the obseruing of the league betwixt his subiects and the Picts, with the Britains, according to the tenor of the same.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 About this season should it be also that Arthur did atchiue all those woorthie victories, which are ascribed The victori|ous conquests ascribed to Arthur. vnto him against the Scots, Irishmen, Danes, Norwegians, and other northerne people. Moreouer it is written by some authors, that he should subdue the most part of Germanie with the low countries, Britaine, Normandie, France, and the Romans, with the people of the cast: but the credit héereof re|steth with the same authors. Onelie it is certeine (as Hector Boetius affirmeth) that Arthur liued in the daies of Iustinianus the emperor, about which time This causeth no small doubt to arise of the great victories ascribed vnto Arthur. the Gotthes, Uandals, Burgonions, & Frenchmen did inuade sundrie parts of the Romane empire, pi|tifullie wasting and spoiling the same, where yet such writers as haue set foorth those warres, make no mention of Arthur at all. ¶ Therefore letting all doubtfull things passe, I will procéed with mine au|thor, and declare what he hath found written in such Scotish chronicles as he followeth touching the Bri|tish Arthur, which for that it partlie varieth from the other our common chronicles, namelie Geffrey of Geffrey of Monmouth. Monmouth, I thinke it woorthie to be noted héere, to the end that euerie man maie iudge thereof as to him séemeth best.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 3 4 To the purpose then. After that the Britains were deliuered from the terror of the Saxons, and that The Bri|tains repent themselues of the league concluded with the Picts. The request of the Bri|tains to haue one of their owne nat [...]on appointed to succéed king Arthur. with quietnesse they began to wax wealthie, they re|pented them of the league, which they had concluded afore with Loth king of the Picts, speciallie for that they could not in anie wise be contented to haue a|nie stranger to reigne amongst them, and héerevpon comming vnto Arthur, required of him, sith he him|selfe had no issue to succéed him, that it might please him yet, to name one of his owne nation to gouerne them after his deceasse. Arthur not gainsaieng their request, willed them (sith their pleasure was such, in no wise to haue a stranger to reigne ouer them) to name one themselues, being descended of the bloud roiall, and such a one as in whome they had perceiued some towardlie proofe of wisedome and valiancie: and he for his part promised to ratifie their election. The nobles with great reioising of the people draw|ing together to consult for the choise of such a one, as might be acceptable to all the British nation, at length agréed vpon Constantinus, the sonne of Ca|dore duke of Cornwall, a goodlie yoong gentleman, both for his person and other his woorthie qualities much to be commended. Who being brought by the péeres of the realme into the councell chamber, and there presented vnto king Arthur, as one most mée|test to succeed him; Arthur accepted their election ve|rie gladlie, and caused the same Constantine foorth|with to be proclamed heire apparant to the crowne, Constantine proclamed heire appa|rant & prince o [...] Britaine. by the name of prince of Britaine, which notified him to be successor to the king in gouernement of the realme. Constantine being in such wise preferred, behaued himselfe so honorablie, and with such a shew of gentle demeanor, that he wan him much praise, with an opinion of high woorthinesse amongst all the British nation.