Raphael Holinshed - Chronicles (1 of 6): The Historie of England (3 of 8)
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Raphael Holinshed >> Chronicles (1 of 6): The Historie of England (3 of 8)
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_Of Gurguintus, Guintolinus, and Sicilius, three kings of Britaine
succeeding ech other by lineall descent in the regiment, and of their
acts and deeds, with a notable commendation of Queene Martia_.
THE FIFT CHAPTER.
[Sidenote: GURGUINTUS]
Gurguintus the sonne of Beline began to reigne ouer the Britains,
in the yeare of the world 1596, after the building of Rome 380, after
the deliuerance of the Israelites out of captiuitie 164 complet, which
was about the 33 yeare of Artaxerxes Mnenon, surnamed Magnus, the
seuenth king of the Persians. This Gurguint in the English chronicle
[Sidenote: _Matth. West_]
is named Corinbratus, and by Matthew Westmin. he is surnamed
Barbiruc, the which bicause the tribute granted by Guilthdag king of
Denmarke in perpetuitie vnto the kings of Britaine was denied, he
[Sidenote: _Gal. M_. Gurguint c[=o]strained the Danes by force to pay
their tribute.]
sailed with a mightie nauie and armie of men into Denmarke, where he
made such warre with fire and sword, that the king of Denmarke with
the assent of his barons was constreined to grant eftsoones to
continue the paiment of the aforesaid tribute.
After he had thus atchiued his desire in Denmarke, as he returned
backe towards Britaine, he encountred with a nauie of 30 ships beside
the Iles of Orkenies. These ships were fraught with men and women, and
had to their capteine one called Bartholin or Partholin, who being
[Sidenote: _Matth. West. Gal. Mon.]
brought to the presence of king Gurguint, declared that he with
his people were banished out of Spaine, and were named Balenses or
[Sidenote: Basques.]
Baselenses, and had sailed long on the sea, to the end to find
some prince that would assigne them a place to inhabit, to whom
[Sidenote: See more hereof in Ireland.]
they would become subiects, & hold of him as of their souereigne
gouernor. Therefore he besought the king to consider their estate, and
of his great benignitie to appoint some void quarter where they might
settle. The king with the aduice of his barons granted to them the Ile
of Ireland, which as then (by report of some authors) lay waste and
[Sidenote: Polychron.]
without habitation But it should appeare by other writers, that
it was inhabited long before those daies, by the people called
Hibernenses, of Hiberus their capteine that brought them also out of
Spaine.
After that Gurguintus was returned into his countrie, he ordeined that
the laws made by his ancestors should be dulie kept and obserued. And
thus administring iustice to his subiects for the tearme of 19 yeares,
he finallie departed this life, and was buried at London, or as
[Sidenote: Caius.]
some haue at Caerleon. In his daies was the towne of Cambridge with
the vniuersitie first founded by Cantaber, brother to the aforesaid
Bartholin (according to some writers) as after shall appeare.
[Sidenote: GUINTOLINUS.]
Guintolinus or Guintellius the sonne of Gurguintus was admitted
king of Britaine in the yere of the world 3614, after the building
of the citie of Rome 399, and second yere of the 206 Olimpiad.
This Guintoline was a wise prince, graue in counsell, and sober in
behauior. He had also a wife named Martia, a woman of perfect beautie,
& wisedome incomparable, as by hir prudent gouernement and equall
administration of iustice after hir husbands deceasse, during hir
sonnes minoritie, it most manifestlie appeared.
It is thought that in an happie time this Guintoline came to the
gouernement of this kingdome, being shaken and brought out of order
with ciuill dissentions, to the end he might reduce it to the former
estate, which he earnestlie accomplished: for hauing once got the
place, he studied with great diligence to reforme anew, and to adorne
with iustice, lawes and good orders, the British common wealth, by
other kings not so framed as stood with the quietnesse thereof.
But afore all things he vtterlie remooued and appeased such ciuill
discord, as seemed yet to remaine after the maner of a remnant of
those seditious factions and partakings, which had so long time
reigned in this land. But as he was busie in hand herewith, death
tooke him out of this life, after he had reigned 27 yeares, and then
was he buried at London.
[Sidenote: SICILIUS.]
Sicilius the sonne of Guintoline, being not past seuen yeares of
age when his father died, was admitted king, in the yeare 3659, after
the building of Rome 430, & after the deliuerance of the Israelites
out of captiuitie 218, & in the sixt after the death of Alexander.
[Sidenote: Queene Martia gouerneth in hir sonnes roome.]
By reason that Sicilius was not of age sufficient of himselfe to guide
the kingdoms of the Britains, his mother that worthie ladie called
Martia, had the gouernance both of his realme and person committed to
hir charge.
She was a woman expert and skilfull in diuers sciences, but chiefelie
being admitted to the gouernance of the realme, she studied to
preserue the common wealth in good quiet and wholsome order, and
[Sidenote: She maketh lawes.]
therefore deuised and established profitable and conuenient lawes, the
which after were called Martian lawes, of hir name that first made
them. These lawes, as those that were thought good and necessarie for
the preseruation of the common wealth, Alfred, or Alured, that was
long after king of England, translated also out of the British toong,
into the English Saxon speech, and then were they called after that
[Sidenote: _Matt. West_.]
translation Marchenelagh, that is to meane, the lawes of Martia.
To conclude, this worthie woman guided the land during the minoritie
of hir sonne right politikelie; and highlie to hir perpetuall renowme
and commendation. And when hir sonne came to lawfull age, she
[Sidenote: _Matt. Westm_.]
deliuered vp the gouernance into his handes. How long he reigned
writers varie, some auouch but seuen yeares, though other affirme
15. which agreeth not so well with the accord of other histories and
times. He was buried at London.
* * * * *
_Of Kimarus and his sudden end, of Elanius and his short regiment,
of Morindus and his beastlie crueltie, all three immediatlie
succeeding each other in the monarchie of Britaine, with the exploits
of the last_.
THE SIXT CHAPTER.
[Sidenote: KIMARUS. _Fabian_.]
Kimarus the sonne of Sicilius began to reigne ouer the Britaines,
in the yeare of the world 3657, and after the building of Rome 442,
& in the first yeare of the 117. Olimpiad. This Kimarus being a wild
yoong man, and giuen to follow his lusts and pleasures, was slaine by
some that were his enimies, as he was abroad in hunting, when he had
reigned scarselie three yeares.
[Sidenote: ELANIUS.]
Elanius the sonne of Kimarus, or (as other haue) his brother,
began to rule the Britaines in the yeare after the creation of the
world 3361, after the building of Rome 445, after the deliuerance
[Sidenote: _Matth. West_.]
of the Israelites 229, and in the fourth yeare of the Seleuciens,
after which account the bookes of Machabees doo reckon, which began
in the 14, after the death of Alexander. This Elanius in the English
Chronicle is named also Haran; by Mat. Westm. Danius; and by an old
chronicle which Fabian much followed, Elanius and Kimarus should seeme
to be one person: but other hold the contrarie, and saie that he
reigned fullie 8. yeares.
[Sidenote: MORINDUS.]
Morindus the bastard sonne of Elanius was admitted king of
Britaine, in the yeare of the world 3667, after the building of Rome
451, after the deliuerance of the Israelites 236, and in the tenth
yeare of Cassander K. of Macedonia, which hauing dispatched Olimpias
the mother of Alexander the great, and gotten Roxanes with Alexanders
sonne into his hands, vsurped the kingdome of the Macedonians, and
held it 15 yeeres. This Morindus in the English chronicle is called
Morwith, and was a man of worthie fame in chiualrie and martiall
dooings, but so cruell withall, that his vnmercifull nature could
scarse be satisfied with the torments of them that had offended him,
although oftentimes with his owne hands he cruellie put them to
torture and execution. He was also beautifull and comelie of
personage, liberall and bounteous, and of a maruellous strength.
[Sidenote: _G. Mon_.]
In his daies, a certeine king of the people called Moriani, with a
great armie landed in Northumberland, and began to make cruell warre
vpon the inhabitants. But Morindus aduertised heerof, assembled his
Britains, came against the enimies, and in battell putting them to
flight, chased them to their ships, and tooke a great number of them
prisoners, whome to the satisfieng of his cruell nature he caused
to be slaine euen in his presence. Some of them were headed, some
strangled, some panched, and some he caused to be slaine quicke.
¶ These people (whome Gal. Mon. nameth Moriani) I take to be either
those that inhabited about Terrouane and Calice, called Morini, or
[Sidenote: The like may be thought of those Murreis or Morauians of
whom _H.B_. speaketh. _Fabian_.]
some other people of the Galles or Germaines, and not as some esteeme
them, Morauians, or Merhenners, which were not known to the world (as
Humfrey Llhoyd hath verie well noted) till about the daies of the
emperour Mauricius, which misconstruction of names hath brought the
British historie further out of credit than reason requireth, if the
circumstances be dulie considered.
But now to end with Morindus. At length this bloudie prince heard of a
monster that was come a land out of the Irish sea, with the which
when he would needs fight, he was deuoured of the same, after he
had reigned the terme of 8 yeeres, leauing behind him fiue sonnes,
Gorbonianus, Archigallus, Elidurus, Vigenius, or Nigenius, and
Peredurus.
* * * * *
_Of Gorbonianus, Archigallus, Elidurus, Vigenius, and Peredurus, the
fiue sons of Morindius, the building of Cambridge, the restitution
of Archigallus to the regiment after his depriuation, Elidurus three
times admitted king, his death and place of interrement_.
THE SEUENTH CHAPTER.
[Sidenote: GORBOMEN OR GORBONIANUS.]
Gorbonianus the first son of Morindus succeeded his father in the
kingdome of Britain, in the yeere of the world 3676, after the
building of Rome 461, and fourth yeere of the 121. Olimpiad. This
Gorbonianus in the English chronicle is named Granbodian, and was a
righteous prince in his gouernment, and verie deuout (according to
[Sidenote: A righteous and religious prince.]
such deuotion as he had) towards the aduancing of the religion of
his gods: and thervpon he repaired all the old temples through his
kingdome, and erected some new.
He also builded the townes of Cambridge and Grantham (as Caxton
writeth) and was beloued both of the rich and poore, for he honoured
the rich, and relieued the poore in time of their necessities. In his
time was more plentie of all things necessarie for the wealthfull
state of man, than had beene before in anie of his predecessors daies.
He died without issue, after he had reigned (by the accord of most
writers) about the terme of ten yeares.
Some write that this Gorbonian built the townes of Cairgrant, now
[Sidenote: Cambridge by whome it was built.]
called Cambridge, & also Grantham, but some thinke that those
which haue so written are deceiued, in mistaking the name; for that
Cambridge was at the first called Granta: and by that meanes it might
be that Gorbonian built onlie Grantham, and not Cambridge, namelie
because other write how that Cambridge (as before is said) was built
in the daies of Gurguntius the sonne of Beline, by one Cantaber a
Spaniard, brother to Partholoin, which Partholoin by the aduice of the
same Gurguntius, got seates for himselfe and his companie in Ireland
(as before ye haue heard.)
The said Cantaber also obteining licence of Gurguntius, builded a
towne vpon the side of the riuer called Canta, which he closed with
walles, and fortified with a strong tower or castell, and after
procuring philosophers to come hither from Athens (where in his youth
he had bene a student) he placed them there, and so euen then was that
place furnished (as they saie) with learned men, and such as were
readie to instruct others in knowledge of letters and philosophicall
doctrine. But by whome or in what time soeuer it was built, certeine
it is that there was a citie or towne walled in that place before the
comming of the Saxons, called by the Britaines Caergrant, and by the
Saxons Granchester.
This towne fell so to ruine by the inuasion of the Saxons, that at
length it was in maner left desolate, and at this day remaineth as a
village. But neere therevnto vnder the Saxon kings, an other towne was
built, now called Cambridge, where by the fauour of king Sigebert and
Felix a Burgundian, that was bishop of Dunwich, a schoole was erected,
as in place conuenient shall appeare.
[Sidenote: ARCHIGALLUS.]
Archigallus, the second sonne of Morindus, and brother vnto
Gorbonianus, was admitted king of Britaine, in the yeare 3686, after
the building of the citie of Rome 470, after the deliuerance of the
Israelites out of captiuitie 255, and in the first yeare of Sosthenes
king of Macedonia. This Archigallus (in the English chronicle called
Artogaill) followed not the steppes of his brother, but giuing
[Sidenote: He is giuen to nourish dissention.]
himselfe to dissention and strife, imagined causes against his nobles,
that he might displace them, and set such in their roomes as were men
of base birth and of euill conditions. Also he sought by vnlawfull
meanes to bereaue his wealthie subiects of their goods and riches,
so to inrich himselfe and impouerish his people. For the which his
inordinate dooings, his nobles conspired against him, and finallie
depriued him of all his honor and kinglie dignitie, after he had
reigned about the space of one yeare.
[Sidenote: ELIDURUS.]
Elidurus the third sonne of Morindus, and brother to Archigallus,
was by one consent of the Britains chosen to reigne ouer them in his
brothers stead, after the creation of the world 3687, and after the
building of the citie of Rome 471, after the deliuerance of the
Israelites 256, & in the first yeare of Sosthenes king of Macedonia.
This Elidurus in the English chronicle named Hesider, or Esoder,
prooued a most righteous prince, and doubting least he should doo
otherwise than became him, if he did not take care for his brother
Archigallus estate, a man might woonder what diligence he shewed in
trauelling with the nobles of the realme to haue his brother restored
to the crowne againe.
Now as it chanced one day (being abroad on hunting in the wood called
Calater) neare vnto Yorke, he found his brother Archigall wandering
there in the thickest of that wildernesse, whom in most louing
[Sidenote: By this it should seeme that Acliud should not be in
Scotland, contrarie to the Scotish authors.]
maner he secretlie conueied home to his house, being as then the citie
of Aldud, otherwise called Acliud. Shortlie after he feined himselfe
sicke, and in all hast sent messengers about to assemble his barons,
who being come at the day appointed, he called them one after another
into his priuie chamber, and there handled them in such affectuous
sort with wise and discreet words, that he got their good wils
to further him to their powers, for the reducing of the kingdome
eftsoones into the hands of his brother Archigallus.
After this he assembled a councell at Yorke, where he so vsed the
matter with the commons, that in conclusion, when the said Elidurus
had gouerned the land well and honourablie the space of three yeares,
he resigned wholie his crowne and kinglie title vnto his brother
Archigallo, who was receiued of the Britaines againe as king by
mediation of his brother in manner as before is said. ¶ A rare
[Sidenote: An example of brotherlie loue.]
example of brotherlie loue, if a man shall reuolue in his mind what
an inordinate desire remaineth amongst mortall men to atteine to the
supreme souereintie of ruling, and to keepe the same when they haue it
once in possession. He had well learned this lesson (as may appeare by
his contentation and resignation) namelie, that
Nec abnuendum si dat imperium Deus,
Nec appetendum,
[Sidenote: Sen. in Thiess.]
otherwise he would not haue beene led with such an equabilitie of
mind. For this great good will and brotherlie loue by him shewed thus
toward his brother, he was surnamed the godlie and vertuous.
[Sidenote: ARCHIGALLUS AGAIN.]
When Archigallus was thas restored to the kingdome, and hauing
learned by due correction that he must turne the leafe, and take out a
new lesson, by changing his former trade of liuing into better, if
he would reigne in suertie: he became a new man, vsing himselfe
vprightlie in the administration of iustice, and behauing himselfe so
woorthilie in all his doings, both toward the nobles & commons of his
realme, that he was both beloued and dread of all his subiects. And so
continuing the whole tearme of his life, finallie departed out of this
world, after he had reigned this second time the space of ten yeares,
and was buried at Yorke.
[Sidenote: ELIDURUS AGAINE. _Matt. West_.]
Elidurus brother to this Archigallus was then againe admitted king
by consent of all the Britaines, 3700 of the world. But his two yonger
[Brother against brother.]
brethren, Vigenius and Peredurus, enuieng the happie state of
this woorthie prince, so highlie for his vertue and good gouernance
esteemed of the Britains, of a grounded malice conspired against him,
and assembling an armie, leuied warre against him, and in a pitcht
[Sidenote: Elidure committed to prison.]
field tooke him prisoner, and put him in the tower of London, there to
be kept close prisoner, after he had reigned now this last time the
space of one yeare.
[Sidenote: VIGENIUS AND PEREDURUS.]
Vigenius and Peredurus, the yoongest sonnes of Morindus, and
brethren to Elidurus, began to reigne iointlie as kings of Britaine,
in the yeare of the world 3701, after the building of Rome 485, after
the deliuerance of the Israelites 266 complet, and in the 12 yeare of
Antigonus Gonatas, the sonne of Demetrius king of the Macedonians.
These two brethren in the English chronicles are named Higanius and
Petitur, who (as Gal. Mon. testifieth) diuided the realme betwixt
[Sidenote: Britaine divided into two realmes.]
them, so that all the land from Humber westward fell to Vigenius, or
Higanius, the other part beyond Humber northward Peredure held. But
other affirme, that Peredurus onelie reigned, and held his brother
Elidurus in prison by his owne consent, forsomuch as he was not
willing to gouerne.
But Gal. Mon. saith, that Vigenius died after he had reigned 7 yeares,
and then Peredurus seized all the land into his owne rule, and
gouerned it with such sobrietie and wisedome, that he was praised
aboue all his brethren, so that Elidurus was quite forgotten of the
[Sidenote: Varitie in writers.]
Britains. But others write that he was a verie tyrant, and vsed
himselfe verie cruellie towards the lords of his land, wherevpon they
rebelled and slue him. But whether by violent hand, or by naturall
sicknesse, he finallie departed this life, after the consent of most
[Sidenote: _Caxton_.]
writers, when he had reigned eight yeares, leauing no issue behind
[Sidenote: _Eth. Bur_.]
him to succeed in the gouernance of the kingdome. He builded the
[Sidenote: ELIDURUS THE THIRD TIME.]
towne of Pikering, where his bodie was buried. Elidurus then, as
soone as his brother Peredurus was dead, for as much as he was next
heire to the crowne, was deliuered out of prison, and now the third
time admitted king of Britaine, who vsed himselfe (as before) verie
orderlie in ministring to all persons right and iustice all the daies
of his life, and lastlie being growne to great age died, when he had
[Sidenote: He is buried at Caerleill.]
reigned now this third time (after most concordance of writers)
the tearme of foure yeares: and was buried at Caerleill.
* * * * *
_A Chapter of digression, shewing the diuersitie of writers in
opinion, touching the computation of yeares from the beginning of the
British kings of this Iland downewards; since Gurguintus time, till
the death of Elidurus; and likewise till King Lud reigned in his
roialtie, with the names of such kings as ruled betweene the last
yeare of Elidurus, and the first of Lud_.
THE EIGHT CHAPTER.
Here is to be noted, that euen from the beginning of the British
kings, which reigned here in this land, there is great diuersitie
amongest writers, both touching the names, and also the times of their
reignes, speciallie till they come to the death of the last mentioned
[Sidenote: _Polydor_.]
king Elidurus. Insomuch that Polydor Virgil in his historie of
England, finding a manifest error (as he taketh it) in those writers
whome he followeth touching the account, from the comming of Brute,
vnto the sacking of Rome by Brennus, whome our histories affirme to be
the brother of Beline, that to fill vp the number which is wanting in
the reckoning of the yeares of those kings which reigned after Brute,
till the daies of the same Brenne & Beline, he thought good to change
the order, least one error should follow an other, and so of one error
making manie, he hath placed those kings which after other writers
should seeme to follow Brenne and Beline, betwixt Dunuallo and
Mulmucius, father to the said Beline and Brenne, and those fiue
kings which stroue for the gouernement after the deceasse of the two
brethren, Ferrex and Porrex, putting Guintoline to succeed after the
fiue kings or rulers, and after Guintoline his wife Martia, during the
minoritie of hir sonne, then hir said sonne named Sicilius.
After him succeeded these whose names follow in order, Chimarius,
Danius, Morindus, Gorbonianus, Archigallo, who being deposed, Elidurus
was made king, and so continued till he restored the gouernement (as
ye haue heard) to Archigallo againe, and after his death Elidurus was
eftsoones admitted, and within awhile againe deposed by Vigenius and
Peredurus, and after their deceasses the third time restored. Then
after his deceasse followed successiuelie Veginus, Morganus, Ennanus,
Idunallo, Rimo, Geruntius, Catellus, Coilus, Porrex the second of that
name, Cherinus, Fulgentius, Eldalus, Androgeus, Vrianus and Eliud,
after whom should follow Dunuallo Molmucius, as in his proper place,
if the order of things doone, & the course of time should be obserued,
as Polydor gathereth by the account of yeares attributed to those
kings that reigned before and after Dunuallo, according to those
authours whom (as I said) he followeth, if they will that Brennus
which led the Galles to Rome be the same that was sonne to the said
Dunuallo Mulmucius, and brother to Beline.
But sith other haue in better order brought out a perfect agreement in
the account of yeares, and succession of those kings, which reigned
and gouerned in this land before the sacking of Rome; and also another
such as it is after the same, and before the Romans had anie perfect
knowledge thereof; we haue thought good to follow them therein,
leauing to euerie man his libertie to iudge as his knowledge shall
serue him in a thing so doubtfull and vncerteine, by reason of
variance amongst the ancient writers in that behalfe.
And euen as there is great difference in writers since Gurguintus,
till the death of Elidurus, so is there as great or rather greater
after his deceasse, speciallie till king Lud atteined the
[Sidenote: _Fabian_.]
kingdome. But as maie be gathered by that which Fabian and other whome
he followeth doo write, there passed aboue 185 yeares betwixt the last
yeare of Elidurus, and the beginning of king Lud his reigne, in the
which time there reigned 32, or 33, kings, as some writers haue
mentioned, whose names (as Gal. Mon. hath recorded) are these
immediatlie heere named; Regnie the sonne of Gorbolian or Gorbonian,
a worthie prince, who iustlie and mercifullie gouerned his people;
Margan the sonne of Archigallo a noble prince likewise, and guiding
his subiects in good quiet; Emerian brother to the same Margan, but
far vnlike to him in maners, so that he was deposed in the sixt yeare
of his reigne; Ydwallo sonne to Vigenius; Rimo the sonne of Peredurus;
Geruntius the sonne of Elidurus; Catell that was buried at Winchester;
Coill that was buried at Nottingham; Porrex a vertuous and most gentle
prince; Cherinus a drunkard; Fulginius, Eldad, and Androgeus; these
three were sonnes to Chercinus, and reigned successiuelie one after
[Sidenote: _Vrianus_.]
another; after them a sonne of Androgeus; then Eliud, Dedaicus,
Clotinius, Gurguntius, Merianus, Bledius, Cop, Owen, Sicilius,
Bledgabredus an excellent musician: after him his brother Archemall;
then Eldol, Red, Rodiecke, Samuill, Penisell, Pir, Capoir; after him
his sonne Gligweil an vpright dealing prince, and a good iusticiarie;
whom succeeded his sonne Helie, which reigned 60 yeares, as the
forsaid Gal. Mon. writeth, where other affirme that he reigned 40
yeares, and some againe say that he reigned but 7 moneths.
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