Raphael Holinshed - Chronicles (1 of 6): The Historie of England (3 of 8)

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THE THIRD BOOKE

OF THE

HISTORIE OF ENGLAND.

_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.

[Sidenote: MULMUCIUS. _Matth. West. Polyd_.]
Now to proceede with the aforesaid authors, Mulmucius Dunwall[=o],
or as other saie Dunuallo Mulmucius, the sonne of Cloton (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
yeere 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
yeere of Darius Artaxerxes Longimanus, the fift king of the Persians.
This Mulmucius Dunuallo is named in the english chronicle Donebant,
and prooued a right worthie prince. He builded within the citie of
[Sidenote: _Fabian_. See more in the description.]
London then called Troinouant, a temple, and named it the temple of
peace: the which (as some hold opinion, 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, that Mulmucius (whome the old booke nameth Molle)
[Sidenote: Malmesburie and the Vies built. _Matth. West_. Lawes made.]
builded the two townes Malmesburie and the Vies. He also made manie
good lawes, which were long after vsed, called Mulmucius lawes, turned
out of the British speech 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 moreouer gaue priuileges to
temples, to plowes, to cities, and to high waies leading to the same,
so that whosoeuer fled to them, should be in safegard from bodilie
harme, and from thence he might depart into what countrie he would,
[Sidenote: _Caxton_ and _Polychron_.]
with indemnitie of his person. Some authors write, that he began to
make the foure great high waies of Britaine, the which were finished
by his sonne Blinus, as after shall be declared.

[Sidenote: The first king that was crowned with a golden crowne.]
After he had established his land, and set his Britains in good and
conuenient order, he ordeined him by the aduise of his lords a crowne
of gold, & caused himselfe with great solemnitie to be crowned,
according to the custome of the pagan lawes then in vse: & bicause he
was the first that bare a crowne heere 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 gouernors.

[Sidenote: _Polyd_. Weights and measures.]
Amongst other of his ordinances, he appointed weights and measures,
with the which men should buy and sell. And further he deuised sore
[Sidenote: Theft punished. _Fabian_.]
and streight orders for the punishing of theft. Finallie, after he
had guided the land by the space of fortie yeeres, he died, 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,
appointing in his life time, that his kingdome should be diuided
betwixt his two sonnes, Brennus and Belinus (as some men doo
coniecture.)

* * * * *

_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.

[Sidenote: Belinus and Brennus. 3574.]
Brennus and Belinus began to reigne iointlie as kings in Britaine,
in the yeere of the world 3574, after the building of the citie
of Rome 355, and after the deliuerance of the Israelites out of
captiuitie 142, which was about the seuenth yeere of Artaxerxes
[Sidenote: _Matth. West_.]
surnamed Mnenon, the seuenth king of the Persians. Belinus held
vnder his gouernment Loegria, Wales, and Cornwall: and Brennus all
those countries ouer and beyond Humber. And with this partition
[Sidenote: _Polyd_. saith 5.]
were they contented by the tearme of six or seuen yeeres, after which
[Sidenote: Brennus not content with his portion.]
time expired, Brennus coueting to haue more than his portion came
to, first thought to purchase himselfe aid in forreine parties, &
therefore by the prouocation and counsell of yong vnquiet heads,
[Sidenote: Elsingius.]
sailed ouer into Norway, and there married the daughter of Elsung or
Elsing, as then duke or ruler of that countrie. Beline, offended with
his brother, 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.

In the meane time, Brenne aduertised hereof, assembled 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
[Sidenote: Guilthdacus king of Denmarke.]
was encountred by Guilthdacus king of Denmarke, the which had laid
long in wait for him, bicause of the yoong ladie which Brenne had
maried, for whome he had beene a sutor to hir father Elsing of long
time. When these two fleetes 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
[Sidenote: A tempest.]
victorie and prey, suddenlie therevpon arose a sore tempest of
wind and weather, which scattered the Danish fleete, and put the king
in danger to haue beene lost: but finallie within fiue daies after,
[Sidenote: Guilthdacus landed in the north.]
being driuen by force of wind, he landed in Northumberland, with a
few such ships as kept togither with him.

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 dispersed 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 into his possession. These requests
being plainlie and shortlie denied, Brenne made no long delaie, but
speedilie made toward Albania, and landing with his armie in a part
thereof, incountred with his brother Beline neere vnto a wood named
[Sidenote: Calater wood is in Scotland.]
as then Calater, where (after cruell fight, and mortall battell
betwixt them) at length the victorie abode with the Britains, and the
discomfiture did light so on the Norwegians, that the most of them
were wounded, slaine, and left dead vpon the ground.

Hereby Brenne being forced to flee, made shift, and got ouer into
Gallia, where after he had sued to this prince, at length he
[Sidenote: Seguinus or Seginus duke of the Allobrogs, now the Delphinat
of Sauoy.]
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, which now is called Britaine, as Polychronicon, and the
english historie printed by Caxton, more trulie maie seeme to affirme.
But Beline hauing got the vpper hand of his enimies, assembling his
councell at Caerbranke, now called York, tooke aduise what he should
doo with the king of Denmarke: where it was ordeined, that he should
be set at libertie, with condition and vnder couenant, to acknowledge
himselfe by dooing homage, to hold his land of the king of
[Sidenote: The Danes tributarie of the Britains.]
Britaine, and to paie him a yeerelie tribute. These couenants being
agreed vpon, 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.

[Sidenote: The foure high waies finished.]
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, 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 occasion should require.

[Sidenote: The Fosse.]
The first of these foure waies is named 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 Tutherie, on Cotteswold, and then forward beside Couentrie vnto
Leicester, and from thence by wild plaines towards Newarke, and endeth
[Sidenote: Watling street.]
at the citie of Lincolne. The second waie was named Watling
streete, the which stretcheth ouerthwart the Fosse, out of the
southeast into the northeast, beginning at Douer, and passing by the
middle of Kent ouer Thames 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 place called Cardigan, at the Irish sea. The
[Sidenote: Erming street.]
third way was named Ermingstreet, which stretched out of the west
northwest, vnto the east southeast, and beginneth at Meneuia, the
which is in Saint Dauids land in west Wales, and so vnto Southampton.
[Sidenote: Hiknelstreet.]
The fourth and last waie hight Hiknelstreete, which leadeth 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, he confirmed
[Sidenote: Priuilegs granted to the waies.]
vnto them all such priuileges as were granted by his father.

* * * * *

_Brennus marrieth with the duke of Alobrogs daughter, groweth into
great honour, commeth into Britaine with an armie against his brother
Beline, their mother reconcileth them, they ioine might & munition and
haue great conquests, conflicts betweene the Galles and the Romans,
the two brethren take Rome_.

THE THIRD CHAPTER.

In the meane time that Beline was thus occupied about 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 seemed 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,
deliting in such worthie qualities as he saw in him dailie appearing,
[Sidenote: Brenne marieth the duke of Alobrogs daughter.]
that he gaue to him his daughter in mariage, with condition,
that if he died without issue male, should he inherit his estate &
dukedome: and if it happened him to leaue anie heire male behind him,
then should he yet helpe him to recouer his land and dominion in
Britaine, beereft from him by his brother.

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 yeere 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 treasure.

[Sidenote: Brenne with an armie returneth into Britaine.]
Shortlie after also, with their assent he gathered an armie, and
with the same eftsoones came ouer into Britaine, to make new warre
vpon his brother Beline. Of whose landing when Beline was informed, he
assembled his people, and made himselfe readie to meete him: but
[Sidenote: Brenne and Beline made friends by intercession of their
mother.]
as they were at point to haue ioined battell, 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 agreement, and were made friends or euer they parted asunder.

After this they repaired to London, and there taking aduice togither
with their peeres and councellors, 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 maisteries,
that within a short time (as saith Geffrey of Monmouth) they
[Sidenote: They inuade Gallia and Italie.]
conquered a great part of Gallia, Italie, and Germanie, and brought it
to their subiection. In the end they tooke Rome by this occasion (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.

After they had passed the mountaines, & were entred into Tuscan, they
[Sidenote: Now Clusi.]
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: with all
[Sidenote: Ambassadours sent from Rome. Brennus answere.]
speed they sent ambassadours to intreat betwixt the parties for some
peace to be had.

They that were sent, 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 agreeable that the Galles might haue part of the countrie which
they held, being more than they did alreadie well occupie, for
otherwise (said he) there could be no peace granted.

The Romane ambassadours being offended with these wordes, 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
[Sidenote: The treatie of peace breaketh off.]
so farre, that their communication brake off, and so they from
treating fell againe to trie the matter by dint of sword.

The Romane ambassadours also to shew of what prowesse the Romans were,
contrarie to the law of nations (forbidding such as came in ambassage
about 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 Brennus 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 accordinglie as they had deserued.
This was done, and knowledge brought againe, that the ambassadors were
not onelie not punished, but also chosen to be tribunes for the next
yeare.

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,
injurious wrongs, and deceitfull traines) that they turned all their
[Sidenote: The Galles make towards Rome. The Romans incountring with
the Galles are overthrown.]
force against them, marching streight towardes Rome, and by the waie
destroied all that stood before them. The Romans aduertised thereof,
assembled themselues togither to the number of 40. thousand, and
encountring with Beline and Brenne, neare to the riuer Allia, about
11. miles on this side Rome, were slaine and quite discomfited.

The Galles could scarse beleeue 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, that all
[Sidenote: The Romans in despaire withdraw into the capitoll.]
men were in despaire 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 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 perish with their countrie if hap so
befell.

[Sidenote: The Galles enter into Rome.]
In the meane time came the Galles to the citie, and entring by the
gate Collina, they passed forth the right way vnto the market place,
maruelling to see the houses of the poorer sort to be shut against
them, and those of the richer to remaine wide open; wherefore being
doubtfull of some deceitfull traines, they were not ouer rash to enter
the same; but [Sidenote: The Reuerend aspect of the senators.] after
they had espied the ancient fathers sit in their chaires apparelled
in their rich robes, as if they had bin in the senat, they reuerenced
them as gods, so honorable was their port, grauenesse in countenance,
and shew of apparell.

[Sidenote: _Marcus Papirius_]
In the meane time it chanced, that Marcus Papirius stroke one of
the Galles on the head with his staffe, because he presumed to stroke
his beard: with which iniurie the Gall being prouoked, slue Papirius
(as he sat) with his sword, and therewith the slaughter 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 difference at
[Sidenote: Rome sacked. 365.]
all, were put to the sword, and their houses sacked. And thus was Rome
taken by the two brethren, Beline and Brenne, 365 yeares after the
first building thereof. Besides this, the Galles attempted in the
night season to haue entred the capitoll: and in deed ordered their
enterprise so secretlie, that they had atchieued their purpose, if a
[Sidenote: The capitoll defended.]
sort of ganders had not with their crie and noise disclosed them,
in wakening the Romans that were asleepe: & so by that meanes were the
Galles beaten backe and repelled.

* * * * *

_Camillus reuoked from exile, made dictator, and receiueth
peremptorie authoritie, he ouerthroweth the Galles in a pitcht field,
controuersie betweene writers touching Brennus and Belinus left
vndetermined; of diuers foundations, erections and reparations doone
and atchiued by Belinus, the burning of his bodie in stead of his
burieng_.

THE FOURTH CHAPTER.

The Romans being thus put to their extreame shift, deuised among
themselues how to reuoke Furius Camillus from exile, whom not long
before they had vniustlie banished out of the citie. In the end they
did not onelie send for him home, but also created him dictator,
committing into his handes (so long as his office lasted) an absolute
power ouer all men, both of life and death. Camillus forgetfull of the
iniurie done to him, and mindfull of his dutie towards his countrie,
and lamenting the state thereof, without delay gathered such an armie
as the present time permitted.

In the meane time those that kept the capitoll (being almost famished
[Sidenote: A composition.]
for lacke of vittels) compounded with Brenne and Beline, that for
a thousand pounds weight in gold, the Romans should redeeme their
liberties, and the said Brenne and Beline depart with their armie out
of the citie and all the territories of Rome. But at the deliuerie
of the monie, and by a certeine kind of hap, the Romans name was
preserued at that time from such dishonor and ignominie as was likelie
to haue insued. For some of the couetous sort of the Galles, not
contented with the iust weight of the gold, did cast their swords also
into the balance where the weights lay, thereby to haue ouer weight:
wherevpon the Romans refused to make paiment after that weight.

And thus whilest they were in altercation about this matter, the one
importunnate to haue, the other not willing to grant, the time
[Sidenote: Camillus disappointeth the Galles of their paiment.]
passed, till in the meane season Camillus came in amongst them with
his power, commanding that the gold should be had away, and affirming
that without consent of the dictator, no composition or agreement
might be concluded by the meaner magistrate. He gaue a signe to the
Galles to prepare themselues to battell, whervnto they lightlie
[Sidenote: The Galles overthrowne]
agreed, and togither they went. The battell being once begun, the
Galles that looked earst for gold, and not for battell, were easilie
ouercome, such as stood to the brunt were slaine, and the rest by
flight constreined to depart the citie.

Polybius writeth, that the Galles were turned from the siege of the
citie, through wars which chanced amongst their owne people at home,
and therefore they concluded a peace with the Romans, and leauing them
in libertie returned home againe.

But howsoeuer the matter passed, thus much haue we stept from our
purpose, to shew somwhat of that noble and most famous capteine
Brennus, who (as not onelie our histories, but also Giouan Villani the
Florentine dooth report) was a Britaine, and brother to Beline (as
before is mentioned) although I know that manie other writers are not
of that mind, affirming him to be a Gall, and likewise that after this
present time of the taking of Rome by this Brennus 110 yeares, or
there abouts, there was another Brennus a Gall by nation (say they)
vnder whose conduct an other armie of the Gals inuaded Grecia, which
Brennus had a brother that hight Belgius, although Humfrey Llhoyd
and sir Iohn Prise doo flatlie denie the same, by reason of some
discordance in writers, & namelie in the computation of the yeares set
downe by them that haue recorded the dooings of those times, whereof
the error is growen. Howbeit I doubt not but that the truth of this
matter shall be more fullie sifted out in time by the learned and
studious of such antiquities. But now to our purpose.

This is also to be noted, that where our histories make mention, that
Beline was abroad with Brennus in the most part of his victories, both
[Sidenote: _Titus Liu. Polydor_.]
in Gallia, Germanie, and Italie; Titus Liuius speaketh but onlie
of Brennus: wherevpon some write, that after the two brethren were by
their mothers intreatance made friends, Brennus onlie went ouer to
Gallia, and there through proofe of his woorthie prowesse, atteined to
such estimation amongst the people called Galli Senones, that he was
[Sidenote: _Matth West_.]
chosen to be their generall capteine at their going ouer the
mountaines into Italie. But whether Beline went ouer with his brother,
and finallie returned backe againe, leauing Brennus behind him, as
some write, or that he went not at all, but remained still at home
whitest his brother was abroad, we can affirme no certeintie.

Most part of all our writers make report of manie woorthie deeds
accomplished by Beline, in repairing of cities decaied, & erecting
[Sidenote: _Polychr. Gal. M_. Caerleon Wiske built by Belline.]
of other new buildings, to the adorning and beautifieng of his realme
and kingdome. And amongst other works which were by him erected, he
builded a citie in the south part of Wales, neare to the place where
the riuer of Vske falleth into Seuerne, fast by Glamorgan, which
citie hight Caerleon, or Caerlegion Ar Wiske. This Caerleon was the
principall citie in time past of all Demetia, now called Southwales.
Manie notable monuments are remaining there till this day, testifieng
the great magnificence and roiall buildings of that citie in old time.
In which citie also sith the time of Christ were three churches, one
of saint Iulius the martyr, an other of saint Aron, and the third was
the mother church of all Demetia, and the chiefe see: but after, the
same see was translated vnto Meneuia, (that is to say) saint Dauid
in Westwales. In this Caerleon was Amphibulus borne, who taught and
instructed saint Albon.

[Sidenote: _Fabian_.]
This Beline also builded an hauen, with a gate ouer the same,
within the citie of Troinouant now called London, in the summitie or
highest part wherof afterwards was set a vessell of brasse, in the
which were put the ashes of his bodie, which bodie after his deceasse
[Sidenote: _Iohn Leland_.]
was burnt, as the maner of burieng in those daies did require.
This gate was long after called Belins gate, and at length by
corruption of language Billings gate. He builded also a castell
eastward from this gate (as some haue written) which was long time
[Sidenote: The Tower of London built by Beline.]
after likewise called Belins castell, and is the same which now
we call the tower of London. Thus Beline studieng dailie to beautifie
this land with goodlie buildings and famous workes, at length departed
this life, after he had reigned with his brother iointlie and alone
the space of 26 yeres.

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