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.