vsed in many battels and specially in that battell at Bathe In such tryfling matters I do not much force to write But by the way that is not a thing vnworthie to be heard of the godly which Samuel the writer of Brittaine and Disciple of Elbodus the Bishoppe who flourished about nyne hundreth yeares agoe thus maketh mention of concerning Arthures expedition or rather peregrenation Arthure went vnto Ierusalem when as he tooke with him the signe of the Crosse of wood in memory of his Sauiour whereof the fragmentes are at this day reserued in Wedale a towne of Lodoneia six miles from Mailros Finally he exceedingly estéemed of those Church men at Glastenbury as partly I haue aboue saide in Idero and as I will here more largely shewe Siluester Gyraldus in his booke De Institutione Principis thus wryteth For aboue all the Churches in his Kingedome he fauoured and beare best good will vnto the Church of our Lady S. Mary at Glastenbury and with greater deuotion aduaunced the same before other Churches Polidorus according to his equitie and iudgment and so farre as his aucthoritie serueth him declareth there was no Monasterie at Glastenbury in Arthures time So exquisite a iudge is he of Antiquitie and specially concerning Brittaine He also contendeth that euen all the whole worlde by this rule but in deeds a most vniust rule is constrayned to embrace maintaine and beleeue that which is spoken of him touching Antiquitie as that which is pronounced for an Oracle To that he saith and writeth in truth will I as Virgill saith Ense leuis nudo parmaque inglorius alba That is With naked sword and sclender bright sheelde without boasting easely defend his aucthoritie and iudgment so auncient But what he falsly or vntruly declareth which thing he doth somewhat oftener through all partes of his History I may not beare with all I can not abide it neyther will I suffer it but the truth so much as it shall stand me vpon will I restore to her comelynesse fame and glory as one cheerefull and nothing fearefull in so doing though the enemies of truth burst them selues with inwarde mallice For vnto this most honest opinion that I should couragiously cleaâ—e in this behalfe the thing done by those two Apostles of the Brittaines namely Fugatius and Damianus and the Epistle of Patritius the great which I haue in my custody confirming the same to omit for breuitie sake the testimonies of many others do will me or rather commaund me Henry PlaÌ„tagenet the Nephew of Henry Beauclarcke King of England by the daughter of Mathilda affirmeth by prescript and manifest wordes in a certaine deede of gift that he saw and that it should not want vpright credit that hee read the couenants and articles concerning a certaine beneuolence of Arthures extended towardes the religiouse persons inhabiting Aualonia But I will hereunto annexe the very wordes of King Henries gift out of the originall deede Moreouer what thinges so euer haue beene giuen me from my Predecessors William the first William the second and Henry my Vnckle Yea of their Ancestors namely of Eadgar the father of Sir Edwarde of Edmond and of his father Edward and of Ealfred the Grandsire of the same of Brinwalchius Kenwinus Baldredus Ina Cuthredus and of Arthure and many other Christian Kinges And also of Kenwalchius the Pagan King whose priuileges and writings I haue diligently caused to be searched and to be preseÌ„ted read in my presence Thus far the deed of gift If these witnesses of sure credit make not sufficieÌ„t for most apparant knowledge of the truth surely there can nothing at any time auaylably serue For not to be satisfied with these being receyued and knowen at full is neyther the parte of a wise head no nor yet of a good iudgment CAP. VIII King Atthures Seale ANd because I haue againe entred into the Misteries of sacred Antiquitie and am descended a curious searcher into the bowels thereof it liketh me to bring forth to light an other matter namely Arthures Seale a monumeÌ„t most cunningly engrauen auncient and reuerent Concerninge which Caxodunus maketh mention yet breefly and sclenderly in his preface to the history of Arthure which the common people readeth printed in the English tongue Being moued with the testimony of Caxodunus whatsoeuer it were I went vnto Westminster to the end that what so as an eare witnesse I had heard I might at length also as an eye witnesse beholde the same Pondering well that sayinge of Plautus in my minde Pluris valet oculatus testis vnus quam Auriti decem Of more force standes eye witnesse one Then ten eare witnesses among The keeper of those secretes being requested of mee to shew me this monument by and by delyuered it both to bee seene and handled The sight of the Antiquitie pleased me at full and for a long time the Maiestie thereof not onely drewe away but also detayned myne eyes from me to the beholding thereof Of such force it is for a man aptly to chaunce vpon a thing with greate care desired The substance which tooke the most lyuelyest figure of Arthure imprinted vpon the Seale and which as yet doth firmely keepe the same still is ware of redde coloure which by some mishape or iniury of long time perished is crazed here there into peeces But so yet notwithstanding as no part of it is altogether lacking For the fragmentes or litle peeces thereof being before time by some mischaunce crazed are so closed vp together with siluer plates which is of rounde forme such as is the vtter side of the Seale that no parte of them may fall off For vpon the vtterside of this seale it is thus engraued with these breefe but in very deede most excellent most hauty and most magnificent tytles That is to say PATRICIVS ARTVRIVS BRITTANNIAE GALLIAE GERMANIAE DACIAE IMPERATOR And of trueth this inscription circleth the outermost compasse of the Seale The former parte thereof is most bright shining by a circle of christall which being taken off streightway may any man touch the war which by reason of the Antiquitie is most harde But the Portracture of Arthure printed thereupon resembleth I wotte neare what Heroyicall Maiestie For the Prince as it were inuested with purple royally sitteth vpon a halfe circle such one as we see the raine boe is Hauing a crowne vpon his heade he shineth like the sunne In his right hand riseth vp a scepter wrought with a Flowerdeluce at the toppe And his left hand holdeth a globe adorned with a crosse His bearde also groweth comely large and at length and euen that is a maiestie The other side of the Seale is altogether couered ouer with a thinne plate of Siluer By meanes wherof also it is vncertaine of what fashion it is There hangeth downe at the same a string chainefashionlike twisted of Siluer Certes Reader I pray God I
A Learned and True Assertion of the original Life Actes and death of the most Noble Valiant and Renoumed Prince Arthure King of great Brittaine Who succeeding his father Vther Pendragon and right nobly gouerning this Land sixe and twentie yeares then dyed of a mortall wounde receyued in battell together with victory ouer his enemies As appeareth Cap. 9. And was buried at â—lasteâ—bury Cap. 1â— An. 543. Collected and written of late yeares in lattin by the learned English Antiquarie of worthy memory Iohn Leyland Newly translated into English by Richard Robinsâ—â— Citizen of London Anno Domini 1582. LONDON Imprinted by Iohn Wolfe dwelling in Distaffe Lane ouer against the Signâ— of the Castell 1582. Insignia Illustrium Patronorum huius opusculi selectorum ARTVRVS BARO Gray de VVilton D. HENRICVS SIDNEY Illustrissimi Ordinis Garterij Miles vnus Consiliariorum D. Reg. in Principatu Walliae Praesid Magister Thomas Smith D. Reginae Custumarius Principalis in Portu London To the Right Honorable Lord ARTHVRE GRAY Baron of Wilton Lord Deputie Liefetenant Generall for the Queenes Maâ—estie in Ireland To the Right Honorable Sir HENRY SIDNEY Knight of the Honorable Order of the Garter President for her Maiestie in the 〈◊〉 of Wales To the Right worshipfull M. THOMAS SMITH Esquire Chiefe Customer for her Maiestie in the Porte of London to the Worshipfull Societie of Archers in London yearely celebrating the renoumed memorie of the Magnificent Prince ARTHVRâ— his Knightly Order of the Round Table Grace mercy Peace in the Lord Euerlastinge HAVING in mindefull memorie Right Honourable and Worshippfull that mercifull couenaunt of peace by our omnipotent Creator towardes all flesh thus manifested I do set my Raine Bowe in the cloudes it shall be as a tokeÌ„ betwene me the earth promising hereby neuer to destroy the same any more by waters how much ought maÌ„kind specially enioying by this peaceable pact from HeaueÌ„ Earth the Sea aboundance of benefittes feare God in his holines loue one an other in righteousnesse and vse these benefittes with thankfulnesse to the aduauncement of his glory For this Bowe this Rainebowe I say of his couenant and pledge of his peace left vnto vs froÌ„ the deluge as Aristotle affirmeth Naturally appeareth by reflection or giuing backe of the light of the Sunne from a cloude opposite or against the same So our heaueÌ„ly God the Father of light and giuer of grace departeth with the light of his manifolde mercies vnto mankinde from the opposite cloude of his displeasure Againe this Bowe of his couenant and pledge of his peace as it is saide by Albertus To be so much lesse in appearance as by how much the Sunne is higher in the Heauens and contrarie wise so much greater as the Sunne is lower to the earth So much lesse be the mercies of God minded of man as his mightie power appeareth out of our sight and againe so much greater seeme his mercies vnto vs as his mightie power is nere vs in sight Thirdly according to Aristotle this Rainebow of his couenant pledge of his peace As it appeareth in the Spring time in Sommer in Autume in Winter euening morning but specially in Autumne So is the performance of his mercifull couenant and peaceable pacte at all times apparant but specially in Autumne that is when mankinde laboureth most to leaue sinne and bring-forth fruites of good life as I saide fearing God in his holinesse louing one an other in righteousnesse and vsing his benefittes with thankfulnesse Thus and to this end graunting his couenant our omnipotent Creator and gratiouse God ordayning Man ruler ouer his Creatures in earth yet vnder his protection in heauen hath not onely bounde vnto him all humaine societie but hath also substituted euen his liuetenauntes godly rulers ouer the same to the foresaide effect for the aduauncement of his glory confirming the same couenant with the aucthoritie of his holie worde on this manner I will ordaine a place for my people of Israell I. And I will plant him and I will dwell with him II. And he shall be no more troubled III. And the children of iniquitie shall not vexe or afflict him any more IIII. By his word here he promised that which by his deede he performed to our forefathers Adam in Paradise Gen. 1. Noah his children Gen. 9. Abraham his seede Gen. 12. But louing his â—lect and hating their enemies he performed his promise vnto Iacob in his prouidence and vnto Laban in his iudgments Gen. 30. So did he in like manner vnto Ioseph and his vnnaturall brethren Gen. 37. Yea in his prouidence laying his right hand vpon Ephraim and in his iudgement his left hand vpon Manasses Gen. 48. Whereby as he prospered and protected his holy ones in peace and warres against their enemies we reade also in the deuine histories from time to time how and by what ordenarie meanes of power force and defence he reached vnto his feeble flocke his mightie arme to the discomforture of the enemie vtter subuertion both of their power pollicie according to his promises aforesaide Heere then memorable and praiseworthie is the prouidence of this most mightie God who promising helpe vnto the Iewes against the Gentiles vsed no kinde of speach so much as this That he would bend his Bow and dye his shaftes in bloud As who say God wilâ— make the Iewes shoote strong shootes to ouerthrow their enemies or at the least that shooting is a wonderful mightie thing whereunto the high power of God is likened This bow a weapon of defence the Raine Boe a token of truce This Bow in peace a pleasure the Raine Bowe a signe of serenitie this Bow in warres a paine to the enemie the Raine Bow at al times and to all people Gods toaken betwene him and the earth The one an instrment of mercy the other of destruction the godly haue both as their comfort and sauegarde by Gods protection the vngodly either wanting the one or hauing both haue them to their confusion and subuertion by his reiection As we reade of King Saul that he was slaine of the Philistians being mightie bow men and with him also his Sonne â—onathas who as the scripture saith neuer shot shaft in vaine And that the kingdome of Israell after Sauls death came vnto King Dauid who after he was King decreed by the first statute which he enacted That all the children of Israell should learne to shoote in the bowe according to a law made many a day before vt patet in libro iustorum a booke not now in vse to be â—ounde In his booke of Psalmes as hee saide He was at peace with them that hated peace So named hee the bow and arrowes in diuers manners meaninges as in his Psal. 7. vers 13. 14. Psal. 11. vers 2. Psal. 18. vers 13. Psal. 21. vers 12. Psal. 45. vers 6. Psal. 49. vers 9.
vnlearned what soeuer otherwise persōs ignorant of antiquitie which thinke themselues to haue knowledge shall say as vnto a firme defence rather then vnto the fond fables or base stuffe of forraine writers Truly in fables which haue crept into the history of Arthure I doe not more delite then Polidorus the Iudge But to bee afraide of any man by reason of his greate age or eloquence or authoritie finally as like a foolish forsaker of the truth I shoulde so leaue her partes vndefended that certainely will I neuer doe An other way do equity honesty the rule of fame and heerehence a iust loue to my country yea truth it selfe thē which one thing nothing more deare I loue fully moue me But yet neither thinke I to wage battaile with y t Learned In meane time yet by good reason it shall be free for me to make most famous the state of my coūtrie and specially the partes of truth euen with singuler dilligence expedyte industry cheerefull labour prompt counsell quicke iudgment yea and finally by all meanes Therefore trusting in the good will humanitie and courteous fauour of the honest readers I will now attempt somewhat more circumspectly to finde out Prince Arthures Originall euen from the very egge Est locus Abrini sinuoso littore ponti Rupe situs media refluus quem circuit aestus Fulminat hic laté turrito vertice Castrum Nomine Tindagium veteres dixere Corini A place there is ith' winding shoare of th' Abryne Sea by name Scituate in middest of a rocke wheare ebbing ryde the same Enuironeth A Castle here with towery top shines bright By auncient Cornish mē so called which Tintagill tho hight A Constant same is there giuen out by the voyce of manie and also confirmed with the wrytinges of Learned men that Gorloys the Gouernour of Cornewale had heere his habytation for him and his He had to wife Igerna a woman no doubt of most louely Feature but of an Improbate or vitious Chastitie Hether somewhat oftener for recreation of his minde repayred Vther kinge of the Brittaines and surnamed Pendragon So called for his Serpentine or subtile wisedome as I suppose whose friendlie wellwiller Gorloys also was Architrenius in his fifth booke if I count aright writes these verses Hoc trifido mundum Corinei postera sole Irradiat Pubes quartique puerpera Phoebi Pullulat Arturum facie dum falso adulter Tintagoll irrumpit nec amoris Pendragon aestum Vincit omnificas Merlini consulit artes Mentiturque Ducis habitus Rege latenti Induit absentis presenti Gorloys ora The after coming youth lightens the world of Coriney With his three clouē sonne she that brought forth at that day The fourth Phoebus broght forth Arthur whilst the adulterer he Euen Tintagol so false of face brake in most wickedly Neither Pendragon vanquished the flaming fire of Loue But Merlins artes so manifold by counsel seekes to proue And counterfeites the Dukes attyre as while the King did gles◠Thus He put on the present face of absent Duke Gorloys CUstome acquaintance and companying together doe sette loue one sire And because as a certaine Poet sayth Lis est cum forma magna Pudicitiae that is Twixt Comelinesse and Chastitie greate Debate there seemes to bee Lust gotte the mastery ouer Igernaes Chastitie Wherevppon also afterwardes Arthure was begotten of her together with a beautifull virgin named Anna. It must not heere bee omitted whereof Hector Boetius makes relation namelie that Vther at length slue Gorloys as hee was fighting in the behalfe of Nothaleos Gouernour agaynst the Saxonnes and forsaken of him that euen the rather hee might more freely obtayne his will of Igerna But the name of Arthures is knowne to bee noble with the Romaynes yea and also familyer amongest them that from hence Iuuenall the Poet in his third Satyre writeth these Cedamus Patria Viuant Arturius istic Catulus Frō our Countrie depart let vs There Arthure liue Catulus Samuell the Brittish writer describeth the starre Arcturus so called Per Cappa ad vrsam alluding that hee taketh his name or significatiō thereof from the Greeke Originall But here it ought not to redounde vnto Arthures preiudice or reproch that the father being an adulterer did leaue after him a sonne borne to valiant courage prosperitie triumphant victories seeing he was not in fault that he the lesse proceeded frō lawfull matrimony seeing that he afterwardes proued both a valiant and honest person Nam genus Proauos quae non fecimus ipsi Vix ea nostra puto For kindred forefathers eke which we Haue not begun I scarce thinke ours to be How greatly also the childe prospered in vertue it then appeared what time his father who had florished in strength Counsell and Judgemente also not without Glorie dedeparted out of this life at Verolamium hauing ordayned beefore the dignitie Royall vnto his base gotten sonne because he had none borne in lawfull matrimony CHAP. II. K. Arthures Coronation THe history of Brittaine affirmeth that Arthure began his Raigne ouer the Islandes of this kingdome in the xv yeere of his age and was crowned of Dubritius Bishop of the City of Caerlegion vpon Vske in Wales Johanues y ◠writer of the goldē history seemeth to accounte vpō xviii yeeres when Arthure ascended vp to the Roayll seate Scalaecronica of which booke as I am moued by coniecture one Gray was Authour doe say that Arthure receaued the dignitie of his crowne at Venta alîas Caerguent now called Winchester The two rulers of the Pictes and Scots viz. Lotho vnto whome Anne the sister of Aurelius Ambrosius king of Brittaines was maried and Conranus vnto whome Ada the sister of Anne was espoused began to enuy at the same so ioyfull prosperitie of Arthure for both of them but especially Lotho aspyred vnto the Dominion of Brittaine Heereuppon followed afterwardes that hee ioyning vnto him Osca otherwise Occa a most filthye person made warre against Arthure At length the matter came to hande stroakes and the Pict beeing ouercome had the worse successe partly by the helpe or furtherance of the most inuincible Hoel who plaied the Captaines parte there The little booke of the Empyre of the Brittaynes and English men vpon the Scottes their friendly wellwillers affirmeth this victory to bee obtayned at Yorke by the saide Hoel And that the Scottes beeing vanquished Arthure left the auncyent Dominions by petitions beeing so moued vnder the rule of his friende Augusellus whom hee made Gouernour ouer them Neither did better fortune happen vnto the Saxonnes when as Colgrino the Duke was slaine and Baldricus with Childricke fledde away After victorie ensewed Concord Lotho yeelded him selfe vnto the Brittaynes Mordred and Galloambieuinus the Sonnes of Lothon by Anne besought Arthure of fauour pardon by wonderfull meanes and at length were made friendes In the meane season had Arthure married Guenhera daughter vnto
Cadorus the Duke of Cornwale a woman of rare beawtie Afterwards also he subdued vnto him the Saxones with most bloudy battels CHAP. III. The XII Battelles fought by Arthure NEnnius the Brittaine a writer of good and auncient credit amongst many others maketh most lightsome mention of his battels whose wordes although by the negligence of Printers and iniurie of time they be somewhat displaced yet notwithstandinge because they make much for our present matter and bring with them a certaine reuerent antiquitie I will here set them downe and in their order Arthure fought in deed against those Saxones with the gouernours of the Britaines but he himselfe was generall The first battell was at the entraunce of the floude called Gleyn alias Gledy The second third fourth and fift was vpon an other floud called Dugles which is in the Countrie of Lynieux The sixt was vpon the floud which is called Bassas The seauenth was in the wood Caledon that is Catcoit Celidon The eight in the Castle of Gwynyon The nynth was fought in the Cittie of Caerlegion vpoÌ„ Vske The tenth on the Sea shore which is called Traitheurith otherwise Rhydrwyd The eleauenth in the hill Which is called Agned Cathregonion The twelfth in the Mount Badonis wherein many were slaine by one assault of Arthure Thus farre witnesseth Nennius Iohannes the wryter of the golden historie ratifyeth the selfe same truth touching the twelue battels fought against those Saxones Aluredus Fibroleganus the historeographer also declareth the like And so these are the wordes of Henry sirnamed of Huntington in the second booke of his history Arthure the warrier in those dayes the Captaine generall of soldiours and of the rulers in Brittaine fought most valiantly against the Saxons Twelue times was he generall of the battell and twelue times got he the victory And there also But the battles and places wherein they were fought a certaine historiographer declareth Henry of Huntington seemeth here to haue hitte vpon the bréefe history of Nennius the name of whose exemplar as it seemeth was not set downe Herehence came that silence Neyther was that booke common in mens handes at that time and in this our age is surely most rare onely three exemplars do I remember that I haue seene Iohn Rhesus a louer of Antiquitie the same a diligent setter forth thereof hath a little booke entituled Gilde which booke so farre as I gather by his speach had not to Authour Gildas but Nennius The Elenchus or Registred Table of the librarie at Batle Abbey accounteth the historie of Gildas among there treasures I haue diligently enquyred for the booke but as yet haue I not found it The Reporte is that the exemplar was translated or carried to Brecknocke there to be kept Now must we report the Battels THe writer of the life of the reuerent Dubritius Archebishop of the Cittie Caerlegion vpon Vsk not vnelegantly doth coÌ„memorate such like matters When at length Aurelius the King was made away by poyson and that Vther his brother ruled a few yeares Arthure his Sonne by the helpe of Dubritius succeded in gouernement who with bold courage set vpon the Saxones in many battles and yet could he not vtterly roote them out of his Kingdome For the Saxones had subdued vnto them selues the whole compasse of the Island which stretcheth from the water of Humber vnto the Sea Cattenessinum or Scottish Sea For that cause the Peares of the Realme being called together he determined by their counsell what he might best do against the irruption of the Pagane Saxones At length by commâ—n counsell he sendeth into Armorica that is to say the letter Brittaine vnto King Hoel his Ambassadors which aduertised him at full touching the calamitie of the Brittaines who comming with fiftene thousand of armed men into Brittaine was honorably entertayned of Arthure and D. Dubritius going vnto the Cittie of Lincolne beseeged of the Saxones hauing fought y e battell there were six thousand of Saxones which eyther being drowned or wounded with weapons dyed But the others flying away vnto the wood of Caledon being beseeged by the Brittaines were constrayned to yeeld themselues and pledges being taken for tribute yearely to be paied he gaue them leaue with their shippes onely to returne into their Countrie Afterwardes within a short time the Saxones were ashamed of the league made and hauing recouered their strength they made their league as voyde and beseeged the Cittie Badon rounde about which now is called Bathe this when Arthure hearde of hauinge gathered his hoast together and beholding the Tentes of his enemies he spake thus vnto them Because the most vngodly Saxones disdaine to keepe promise with me I keping faith with my God will endeuoure to be aduenged of them for the bloud and slaughter of my Citizens Let vs therefore manfully set vpon those Traytours whom by the Mediation of Christ out of all doubt we shall ouercome with a wished triumphe And hee rushing vpon the ranckes of the Saxones beinge helped by the prayers of Dubritius in ouerthrowing many thousandes obtayned the victorie and the few which fled this garboyle he caused them to yeelde to his mercy Boccace in his booke of Lakes and Marishes thus wryteth Murais that Lake so called famous is by the victory of Arthure King of Brittaine for men say that the Scottes Pictes and Irishmen being by him beseeged were compelled to yeelde themselues there The same Authour in his viii booke of Famouse Personages maketh a notable mention of Arthure being moued with a certaine Godly zeale to the end he would not with vnthankfull silence ouerpasse so mightie a personage and so worthie a man Neyther here are those thinges which appeare in the Cronicles of a certaine writer of Digion differing from our purpose Cerdicius hauing more often conflict with Arthure if he were one moneth vanquished he more sharply assaulted in another moneth At length Arthure with irksome toyle so being awearied after the Xii yeare of Cerdicius his comming by fealtie to him sworne gaue him the Country Auonia Southwarde and Somaria which part Cerdicius called West saxony Gulielmus a Medulphi curia both a gallant writer and also a learned and which thing first in his history he as most faithfull in his first booke of the Kinges of Britaine mencioneth bringeth in by the way these testimonies of Arthure And now truly had it come to an euill passe with the Brittaines as he vnderstoode had not Ambrose onely of the Romans bene left aliue who after Vortigerus was Monarke or King with the surpassing exployt of warlike Arthure repressed the outragiouse barbarouse enemines of the Kingdome Moreouer hetherunto seeme these things to pertaine which in the fragmentes of Gildas the Brittaine are reade after this manner The Brittaines like conquerours take courage to them prouocating their enemies to fight vnto whom by
circumstance of speach here admonisheth me that I expresse somewhat touching Arthures buriall whereof as I haue made sufficient mention so iudge I it specially for the lightsome order conuenient that I should first with exquisite diligence consecrate vnto posteritie the Antiquitie of that place whither vnto the deade corpes was caried Aual in the Brittish tongue signifieth Malum or as I may with a more commoÌ„ phraise interprete it Pomum an Aple and Aualon signifieth Pomarium or Orcharde By reason whereof also of Merlinus Caledonius as Geoffrey Arthurius of Monmouth interpreteth the same it is called the Isle of Apples in these wordes Insula â—omorum quae fortunata vocatur â—'x re nomen habet quia per se singula profert Non opus est illi sulcantibus arua colonis Omnis abest cultus nisi quem natura ministrat Vltro foecundas segetes producit Vuas Nataque poma suis praetonso germine syluis The Isle of Apples which called is fortunate Of effect hath name for it bringes forth all thinges The seeded ground no neede of Plowmen hath All tillage wantes saue that which Nature bringes Of it owne accorde it beares both Grapes Corne And apples grow in woods first grafts being pruned shorne MElchinus the Brittaine makes mention of Aualonia and of the religious place there Siluester Giraldus in his booke De Institutione Principis thus speaketh And y â— island which at this day is called Glastenbury was called in auncient time Aualonia For it is an Islande altogether environed with moorish or fenny groundes Whereupon in the Brittish tongue it is called Aualon that is an Island fruitefull of apples For with apples which in the Brittish tongue are called Aual this place aboundeth Patricius the Apostle or teacher amongest the Irishmen in a certaine Epistle makes mention of this place but by another name whose wordes also I will hereunto annex I haue conuerted Ireland vnto the way of truth and when I had grounded them in the christian faith I returned at length into Brittaine as I beleeue by the guidance of God who is the way and the life I chaunced into the Island Iniswitriue wherein I found a holy and auncient place chosen of God and consecrated vnto the Virgin Mary and there also founde I certaine BrethreÌ„ instructed with the rudiments of the Christian faith which succeeded the Disciples of Fugatius and Damianus Thus farre sayth Patriâ—ius who in that place of his epistle also recyteth the names of twelue religious persons where of two were noble personages Of all which twelue he had chiefe Rule as by these wordes it is manifest So they preferred me though against my will before themselues And againe in the same Epistle the brethren shewed me writings of those holy men Fugatius and Damianus wherein was conteyned that the twelue Disciples of S. Philip and Iacob the Apostles had founded and erected that auncient Church and that three Pagan kinges had giuen so many possessions of land vnto those twelue And last of al how that Fugatius Damianus had builded a chappell on a high hill not farre from Aualonia in the honor of God and S. Michaell Heere is enough at this preseÌ„t euen touch and goe to haue vnderstanding of the reuerend father Patricius his Epistle Gulielmus Meildunensis in his booke of the antiquitie of the religious house at Glastenburie and in his first booke of kinges vnto Henrie Blesensis otherwise Soliasensis Bishop of Venta Simenorum or Winchester writeth not vnlike matters Wherupon also by good coniecture it may bee scene that this William tooke his translations out of the Epistle of Patricius Siluester Giraldus in his booke De Institutione Principis not inconueniently explaneth the EtymoÌ„ or true interpretation of the name It was also in times past called in the brittish language â—niswitrine by y e which word the Saxones which came thether afterwarde called that place Glastenbury For Gles in their tongue signifieth Vitrum or glasse and Bury signifieth Castrum or Castle and is called together the city of Glastenburie These doth he affirme Truly vnto me this seemeth to bee a â—cule faulte in writers of bookes that they heere do recite Byry for burg or berg Byry in the Saxon tongue is in Latine Curia As for example Aldermanburie that is to say Seniorum Curia Also Litlebyry that is Parua Curia Canonbyry commonly called Canbyry Burg otherwise Borow signifieth a hill and high places of earth cast vp Finally Beng is in the Latine tongue called Castrum by reason whereof I more truly beleeue we must reade Berg or Burg for a Castle which worde Giraldus vseth or maketh it to serue for a Towne although as I may freely confesse I finde the name written diuersly amongest the ancients viz. Glessenbyry GlestoÌ„bury and GlesseÌ„burg And there are which pronounce Glas for Gles Although Gles is more perfect and more Auncient as by the name of the Islandes of Glastenburie it appeareth plainly CHAP. XII K. Arthures Buriall NEither can I nor wil I publish for trueth whether Arthure dyed out right in the battle fought at Alaune which is commoÌ„ly called CamblaÌ„ or at Aualonia while his wouÌ„ds were in healing The writers of Brittaine with one voyce holde argument that he dyed at Aualonia through griefe of the same woundes But touching the place of his buriall they doe all agree as one This one thing dare I be bolde to affirme the Brittanes were so sorowfull for the death of their Soueraigne Lorde that they endeuored by all meanes to make the same famous and to leaue the name of their Gouernour euen for euer fearefull and to bee trembled at amongest the Saxones So farre foorth as they with a certaine plausible and straunge inuention did spreade abroade Rumors both of his comming againe and of his ruling againe Touching the againe comming of Arthure so wouÌ„ded to death into Aualonia aforesaid certaine Brittaines did blindly write But none more at large nor more lightsome then Merlinus Caledonius being instructed as some men suppose of Theliesinus the Poet whose verses also I will heere annex selected out of his little booke of prophecy Geoffrey Arthurius beeing interpreter thereof Illuc post Bellum Camblani vulnere laesum Duximus Arthurum nos conducente Barincho Aequora cui fuerant coeli Sidera nota Hoc Rectore ratis cum Principe venimus illuc Et nos quo decuiâ— Morgan suscepit honore Inque suis thalamis posuit super aurea Regem Fulcra manuque sibi detexit vulnus honesta Inspexitque diu tandem redire salutem Posse sibi dixit si secum tempore longo Esset ipsius vellet Medicamina fungi Gaudentes igitur Regem commissimus illi Et dedimus ventis redeundo vela secundis The English Thether after the battle was at Camblan fiercely fought Barinchus so conducting vs we Arthure wounded brought Who knew the seas of the
stars the Clymats perfectly By this guider of the helâ—e with Prince we thether ply And Morgan vs receiued as it behouea with honor dewe In ChaÌ„ber his on GoldeÌ„ hearse and laide the king to view And with his frieÌ„dly haÌ„d forthwith did Arthures wouÌ„d vnhill Long looking thereon said may be life come againe yet will If he along time were with him would his medicines vse Therfore with ioy the king to him we did betake to chuse And hoist our sailes with prosperous wind by our returne our porte to finde SYluester Gyraldus writeth in his Speculo Ecclesiastico that MorgaÌ„s noble wife made prouision for Arthures â—uriall And againe in his booke De Institutione Principis he makes relation of these thinges Whereupon also the noble wife of Morgan and Gouernesse of those partes againe as Patronesse there and also neare of blood vnto Arthure after the battle at Kemelen caused him to be conueyed into an Isle which now is called Glasconia to cure and heale vp his woundes The interpretor of the Brittish history writeth of the death of Arthure on this manner as in his sixt booke appeareth Arthure being wounded vnto death at the battle at Camblan went vnto Aualonia his kingdome being left vnto Constantine the sonne of Cadorius Duke of Cornwale Iohannes Burgensis Abbot in his Annales hath left these wordes in credible writinges When Arthure was at the pointe of death he kept him selfe secret that his enemies should not insult at such and so great a mishap nor his friends be discoÌ„forted as troubled in minde Thus farhe Now must wee speake of the relious place at Aualonia wherein Arthure was buried Melchinus specially makes mention of this and also of Arthure buried there Gulielmus a Medulphi curia both els where and specially in his booke De antiquitate Glessoburgensi religiously celebrateth this place where Arthure was buried The same thing doth Giraldus Meneuensis also in his Speculo Ecclesiastico and in his booke De Institutione Principis religiouse houses were not at that time so common and in so many places of Brittaine as they be in these dayes Saxons of noble linage a people without knowledge of God if happely being sicke they dyed at home were buryed in pleasant gardens if they were flame abroade and in battell they were then buryed in graues digged out of the earth which they called Burghs neare vnto their tentes but the base common people were buried euen in medowes and open fieldes There was at that time a religiouse place neare vnto the olde Church in very greate estimation By which title and of the whole nobilitie in all the west Prouinces of Brittaine it was chosen as a place allotted for their burials The same was afterwardes often done by such Saxons as had the knowledge of God As at Douer of the Kentishmen at Yorke of the Brygantes at Lindiffarna or Ly-land and so forth in other places Concerning the place of his buriall it is now sufficient manifest It remayneth that I make declaration of the ceremony and manner of his buriall There was present but secretly a Troupe of Noble personages which mourned for y e death of their soueraigne Lord bereft froÌ„ them by such sinister fate The wife of Morgan alone prouided for the buriall thinges needfull a woman doubtlesse of incomperable godlinesse who performed all ceremonies and seruices with greefe of minde and floudes of teares The manner in those dayes was to bury in the graues and to lay them as a surceasing from sorrow to the vse of Tombes or sepulcres great boules or bodyes of Alder trees whereof the places about Aualonia neare adioyning were most fruitfull For the Alder tree hath I know not what propertie with the naturall moyst ground such as is a Churchyarde so farre forth as the substance thereof laide on this sorte more deepe in the Earth should be reputed for euerlasting not onely The body of Arthure thus bewailed and mourned for was buryed in a graue of sufficient depth with the greate boale of Alder tree therein laide hollow And because he liued most magnificent in fame factes and rule of his kingdome they folowing diligently the custome and integritie of Christians in this poynt bestowed vpon the Tombe of Arthure so buried a toaken of perpetuall memory namely a Crosse signyfyinge Mnemosynen vitae perpetuae that is to say the remembrance of life euerlasting It was made of a leaden plate one foote long more or lesse which I haue beholden with most curiouse eyes and handled with feareful ioyntes in each part being moued both with the Antiquitie and worthinesse of the thing It conteyneth vpon it these wordes in those not so greate Romane letters but indifferent cunningly grauen viz. HIC IACET SEPVLTVS INCLITVS REX ARTHVRIVS IN INSVLA AVALONIAE But here peraduenture some curiouse person would search out for what purpose the inscription was commended to our memory vpon the leaden plates It was a most vsual manner in that age and endured euen vntill latter times to bestow vpon Noble mens Tombes leaden plates engrauen Of which not a fewe haue I seene in euery place throughout all Brittaine Leade of his nature is easilie engrauen and when it is once grauen continueth both a very long time and also most firmly as witnesseth experience The myne hilles where leade groweth much are scarce fiue miles distant from Aualonia The Romans as Lordes of riches were not ashamed to set vp a standard of stone vnto Claudius Caesar by a very long table of leade almost in the very bottomes of those hilles at the headâ— springes of the fabulus little floude Ochides within the iurisdiction of Fontanus the Bishoppe engrauen on this manner TI. CLAVDIO CAESARI AVGVST P. M. TR. P. VIIII IMP. XVI DE BRITAN This Standard of Stone a few yeares past was turned vp out of the earth by the plowe and translated vnto the house of Thomas Howarde Duke of Northfolke at London CAP. XIII The two Pyrameds in that religious place WIthin the burying place which was consecrated at Aualonia stand two Pyramedes of most auncient buylding bearing a shew of figures letters but the windes stormes and time which consumeth all thinges finally enuy of man from time to time haue so defaced the notable figures and inscription of auncient workes that they can scarce be discerned by any neuer so sharpe sight of the eye The continuall trauell of writers commendeth these and specially the diligence of Gulielmus Meildunensis that greate Antiquary whom also Siluester Geraldus euen he a louer of Antiquities doth follow at an inche Doubtlesse both of theÌ„ handle their matters learnedly The one whereas by exquisite labour he restored to light a fresh both titles and figures which were not altogether raced out of knowledge for foure hundreth yeares before according as in his famouse and elegant litle booke De Antiquitate Glessoburgensi appeareth The other in that he leaning
seemeth to him in deede he thinkes he hath easily gotten the best game Is this an Italian reason For certainly now can I hardly any longer abyde to be called VltramoÌ„tanus or one that goeth beyond his boundes And surely why Caelum non animum mutant qui trans Mare curruÌ„t The ayer not mind change they Which take their voyage ouer the Seay I know yet in the meane time what y â— Wealch Writers doe iudge of Gildas his silence so much as vnto Arthure appertaineth namely for that Hoel the cosengermaine of Gildas was slaine of Arthure this was y e cause his name was neglected But I will not so much rest vpoÌ„ this helpe or sauegard being rather ready to fight out the battle with him because as vnthankefull and the same scarse wise I will not say vngodly hee hath blemished his countrimen the Brittaines with this blot or error of his Britanni nec in Bello fortes nec in pace fideles Surely but that I should seeme to fauour mine owne affection or feede the choller of my stomake I my self woulde heere coragiously enforce my weapoÌ„ that in deede sharpe against this slaÌ„derous enemy of y e Brittaines But I will moderate mine anger being ready to bring hether from another place amoÌ„gst these most valiaÌ„t or stoute defeÌ„ders of y e truth least mine affectioÌ„ may seeme to haue iniured any man Siluester Giraldus in his Topographia or description of Wales promiseth that he will answere this slander of Gildas in his Topographie or description of Brittaine which booke y â— he hath so writteÌ„ in times past I doubt not but so far as I know it is not in these our dayes extant in any place What hee in meane while writeth in his 2. booke of y â— DescriptioÌ„ of Wales I wil now amongest others bring forth to light But for so much as Iulius Caesar who was such a maÌ„ner of maÌ„ as y e testimony of the whole worlde vnder Cassiuilane y e Duke sheweth viz. when as Lucane y e Poet saith Territa quaesitis ostendit terga Britannis Vnto the Brittaines by him sought He shewed his trembling backe for nought Were not those Brittaines valiant and coragious persons Againe what were they wheÌ„ Bellinus Brennus added y â— Romane Empyre vnto their victories what were they in y â— daies of Constantine the Emperor sonne of Helen sometime heere Queene what were they in y e raigne of Aurelius Ambrosius Anno post Christ. 466. whom also Paule the DeacoÌ„ extolleth with praises And to coÌ„clude what fellowes were they in y e daies of our famous Arthure An post Christ 516. Iosephus the writer brought vp at Exceter in Deuonshire in his booke Antiochiedes thus singeth Inclita fulsit Posteritas Ducibus tantis tot diues Alumnis Tot faecunda Viris praemerent qui viribus orbem Et fama veteres Hinc Constantinus adeptus Imperium Romam tenuit Bizantion auxit Hinc Senonum ductor captiua Brennius vrbe Romuleas domuit flammis Victricibus artes Hinc saeua satus pars non obscura tumultus Ciuilis magnum solus quimole soluta Obsedit meliorque stetit pro Caesare murus Hinc celebri fato foelici floruit ortu Flos Regum Arthurus Cuius cum facta stupori Non micuere minus totus quòd in aure voluptas Et populo narrante fauus Quaecunque priorum Inspice Peleum commendat fama Tyrannum Pagina Caesareos loquitur formosa tryumphos Alciden domitis attollit gloria monstris Sed nec Pinetum Coryli nec sydera solem Aequant Annales Latios Graiosque reuolue Prisca parem nescit aequalem Postera nullum Exhibitura dies Reges supereminet omnes Solus praeteritis melior maiorque futuris The English Noble Posteritie With so great Princes richlie shined Patrons so many So stored with men which coÌ„quered the world with valiancy And fame extolleth auncients Hence had Constantine possest The Empyre Rome he surely kept and Bizance eke encreast Hence Brennus the Italians guide in Citie captiued so With coÌ„quering flames the stately towers of Rome did ouerthrow And hence those cruell Impes a part of ciuilâ—roile not base Alone besiedge their mightie Prince the huge hoaste letting pâ—sse Defence sauegarde so whereby to Caesar was Hence florished by famous fate origin prosperous Arthure the flowre of kinges whose deedes shined no lesse marueilous TheÌ„ that both peoples eares tongues did in his praise delue As if thou view of former wights what euer bookes recite Fame doth Peleus tyrant blaze and Romane histâ—ries Extoll their Caesars tryumphes greate after their victories Renoume aduanceth Hercules subduing monsters greate But not Coryli Pinetus nor Starres the Sunne his heate Coequate Search the Cronicles of Greekes Latines both Auncient age knoweth not his like ne yet posteritie doth His match declare All kinges alone in deede surmounteth he Better then those are dead gone Greater then any shall be HOw or in what manner these may not answere the prayses by Gildas before recyted the discreets Reader at large fully seeth and perceyueth Arthures commendations hereunto amongest the rest added to agree so well vnto this place that I almost haue no néede to reckon them as I trust with any fault of mine but in deede good Readers if I iudge aright with your very much pleasure and delight For the verses before going haue their right father or authour that he in deede should then be liuing Moreouer againe they so pleasantly allure the eares of vncorrupt sense with a certaine apt continnitie or proper agreement with pure elegancie and equall Maiestie that except fancy faile me they shall fully wholy please the Reader yea were it so that I reckoned them ouer ten times Ponticus Verunnius an Italian but yet one that loued the Brittaines well beinge iustly angry with Polidorus the Italian thundereth forth these wordes O admirabile tunc genus Britonum qui eum CaesareÌ„ â—â—ntelligit bis in fugam expulerunt qui totum orbem submiserat occidentis Cui quasi totus mundus postea nequiuit resiâ—tere illi etiam fugati resistunt parati pro patria libertate mortem subire Which may thus be englished O wonderfull nation of the Brittaines in that age which twise put him he meaneth Caesar to flight who had conquered the whole west part of the world whom as it were when the vniuersall world could not resist afterwardes euen they them selues being put to flight resisted being ready to dy for their Country and the libertie thereof Hereupon singeth Lucane the Poet vnto their praises writing of Caesar as before is saide Territa quaesitis oftendit terga Britannis Vnto the Brittaines by him sought he shewed his trembling backe for nought IF in this place I should rather endeuour to mende the matter with multitude of testimonies then with vpright truth of effect I could also take out of Iohannes Anneuillanus his