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
the Lordes good pleasure the victorie fell euen to their desire From that time otherwhiles the Citizens otherwhiles the enemies got the vpper hand that in this people it might be approued how the Lord after his accustomed maÌ„ner dealt with this present Israell and whether he loued the same yea or no euen vnto the yeare of the seege of the mount Badon and lastly almost of the petty spoylers there in no litle hurly-burly whereas euen I my selfe was borne These saith Gildas Behold the slaunderer is now present and as one cruell of eye sight requyreth a reason of me why Gildas remembreth not Arthure if he were then liuing To these I answere that I will hereafter speake of Gildas In means time the aduersarie calleth to minde that Gildas when the battaile was fought at Bathe was but an Infant By reason whereof euen his Actes done or not done of him somewhat slenderly are vnderstood by the aduersarie Gulielmus a Medulphi Curia a little before beareth so honourable a testimonie of Arthure that smally it shall differ whether if not superiour yet as equall hee reputed him with Ambrose But Nennius an Authour of no bad credite so much perfourmed in fauour of Aurelius Ambrosius as Gildas in the fauour of Arthure Uiz. that leauing out the name of the one hee might attribute vprightly by iust cause vnto the other all honour concerning the battle fought at Bathe But neither doe these alone performe this There are a number of good authours which coÌ„firme the selfe same matter with a certaine iust Authority Except in meane time he be so vniust a Judge that he allowe of nothing bee it neuer so credible which smelleth not of Tullie or Liuy when he him selfe in meane time smelleth I knowe not what of Aemilius Which thing shall not displease me when I shall vnderstand that hee franckely confesseth this matter In the meane while I wil recyte the testimony of that Iohn which concerning Arthure write the golden historie This yeere beeing the tenth of Cerdicius king of the West Saxones did arise Arthure amoÌ„g y e Brittaines a most valiaÌ„t warrier CHAP. IIII. K. Arthures expedition towardes the French THe sixte booke of the History of Brittaine speaketh copiously touching things done by Arthure in Fraunce vnto which countrie he went not before hee had foreseene as it seemed then in deede with aduised counsell the immunitie or disburdenance of Brittaines troubles He had to Nephewe one Mordred by name sonne of Lotho king of the Pictes of Anna sister of Aurelius Ambrosius king of Brittaine Unto this man because hee was most nearest in bloodde and familiar in acquaintance did hee committe all his kingdome together with Guenhera his most louing wife For Mordred in respect of fortitude or magnanimitie was most commendable and besides this for his quicke and prompt witte in accomplishing his affayres which vertues had hee not obscured with most ardent lust of ruling and offence of adultery but in meane time at first kept close for feare hee had in deede beene worthie to haue beene accompted amongst the most famous personages Nowe had Arthure entered into Fraunce and the Gouernors being subdued hee had left a notable testimony of his prowesse there Behold now commeth a sauage Tyraunt cruell and fierce who had rauished Helen the neece of Hoel of Armorica or the lesse Brittaine stolen away and brought out of Brittaine at the coaste of Fraunce and where vpon she died Arthure could not take well this so heynous a repreach done vnto Helen and straight way gotte the Tyraunte by the throate that hee vtterly destroyed this greate and horrible Monster And not longe after did Hoel cause to bee erected a sacred Tombe for Helen in the Islande where she died and a name fitly giuen vnto the place where Helens Tombe was made which serueth euen till this daye The Cronicles of the writer of Digion in Burgonie doe with greate commendation extolle Arthure warring in Fraunce by these like wordes Arthure for nine yeeres space subdued Fraunce vnto him hauing betaken his kingdome and Queene vnto Mordred his Nephew But he desiring ambitiously to raigne yet fearing only Cerdicius gaue him to the end hee should fauour his doinges seauen other prouinces viz. Sudo Saxony or Southsex SudorheiaÌ„ or Southery Berrochiam or Barckeshyre Vilugiam or Wiltshier Duriam or Dorcetshire Deuoniam or Deuonshier and Corineam Cornwale And Cerdicius coÌ„senting vnto these seÌ„ding for y e englishmeÌ„ restored his prouinces and was crowned after the manner of the countrie at Wintchester But Mordred was crowned ouer the Brittaines at London And so Cerdicius wheÌ„ he had raigned three yeeres died while Arthure yet remayned amongest the French vnto whome Kinrichus succeeded In the Seauenth yeere of whose Raigne Arthure returned into Englande Thus farre out of the Cronicles These which I haue nowe recited haue not onely their antiquitie but also credite and with a certaine circumstance are consonant to the History And that I may somwhat more friendly speake in fauour of Athures Tryumphes ouer the French there are besides these many thinges which I with a certaine zeale doe omitte altogether But yet that must I as it were touch by passing ouer the rest viz. that it is manifest by the inscription of Arthures greate Seale concerning which wee will in place conuenient speake circumspectly that he was made famous by the sirname of a French men And neither was this donne without manyfest occasion at any time For as touching the Antiquytie and euen most sure knowledge of the Seale so euidently I doubt not but that I may assuredly beleeue so their appeare vpright Judges heerein and which are skilfull in auncient monumentes that I shall proue by notable reasons the same was proper peculier and naturall and proceeding from the workemaster But these thinges more rightly appeare in there place I will at this instant onely heereto adioyne one Valerius which remembreth vs of thirtie kingdomes vanquished by Arthure For in those dayes a greate company of Gouernoures helde vnder their JurisdictioÌ„ the Islands together with Fraunce and Germany CHAP. V. K. Arthures Familier Cheualyers or knightes SOme man woulde peraduenture heere looke for that I shoulde also with a mightie praise blaze on the victoryes of Arthure touching which the historie of Brittaine reporteth Historiographers doe contend in this behalfe and the controuersie as yet resteth vnder the Judge But I will declare nothing rashly For so much as it appeareth most euidently that both obscure and absurde reportes haue crept into the historie of Arthure which thing is of the curious sorte easily sound faulte with But this in deede is not a cause sufficient iust why any man should neglect â—abiect or deface the Historie otherwise of it selfe lightsome and true Howe much better is it casting awaye trifles cutting off olde wiues tales and superfluous fables in deede of stately porte in outwarde shew but nothing auayleable
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
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
vnto credite beeing taken away to reade scanne vpon and preserue in memorie those thinges which are consonant by Authorytie For that which nowe a long time is embraced of Learned men with greate consent ought not in what soeuer moment of time barcking against it together with faith or credite thereof to be quite taken away Otherwise the History had not hetherto remained in so greate reputation Therefore because it is a worke of greater importaunce then wee presentlie are in hande with exquisitely curiously and perfectlie to displaye all the deedes of Arthure let vs for this season omitte the Romaines and let vs aduaunce with penne his famylier friendes Hoelus Gouernour of Armorica or the lesse Brittaine in this famous company of Nobles by a certaine right of his requyreth the next place from the first Concerning whose comming into Brittaine and warlike prowesse we haue formerly written in the chapter of the warres accomplished by Arthure Hetherunto ensewe Mordred and Gallouinus Brethren Germaynes vnto Arthure by bloodde and familiarity alyed Of which two this first at length like a periured persoÌ„ and the same a Reuoulter neuer enough discommendable that I speake nothing of the crime of his adultery was slayne in battle One Hector Abrinus beeing thereof scarce a true witnesse and as I gather with iudgement more rightly sirnamed Alaunicus But the second being alwaies a man constant perfourmed most faithfull diligence both in all forraine warres and also specially in that conflict at Dorcester aboute the returne of Arthure out of Fraunce into Brittaine who was chiefe next vnto him against Mordred Melchinus the Brittish Poet blazseth the fame of Gallouinus The same doth Iohannes Anneuillanus in his booke intituled Architrenio a worke not vnelegant namely by these verses Et Walganus ego qui nil reminiscor auara Illoculasse manu non haec mea fulgurat auro Sed gladio dextra recipit quo spargat enses Non loculos stringit nec opes in carcere miles Degener cupide tumulato rusticus aere Et me bella vocant Et tua forsitan vrget Solicitudo vale And Walgan I with couetous hand nought distribute which haue This my right haÌ„d shines not with gold but with the sword so braue It takes that it may distribute euen swordes not bagges it bendes Nor wealth though I a Knight distrest yet not vntrue to friendes Ne yet in countrie liued I like a couetouse muckâ—scrape But now the warres away call me vnto my wonted state And thine affaires also Perhappes vrge the thereto Farewell ALso that History of Arthure in deede Fabulus which commonly is carried about written in the mother tongue affirmeth that Gallouinus was buried in a certaine Chappell at Dorcester In which poynt what manner booke soeuer it be it misseth not the marke altogether as the booke entituled Scalaecronicon makes manifest relation and y e inhabitantes of y e Castle do now repute his bones almost Gyanllike in stead of a miracle And that long since in the time of Lucius Magnus there was a Chappell founded in the Castle of Dorcester and dedicated vnto our Lord and Sauiour Christ what time Fugatius and Damianus Brittaines preached the Gospell as by the Annales or yearly recordes of the same Cittie hearing a reuereÌ„t figure resemblance of Antiquitie it doth plainely appeare That it may be most acceptable and besides that most true which I haue aboue inferred touching both the death and buriall of Galouinus it shall not through me stand that the iudgement of William de Medulphi Curia as touching the death and buriall of this Gallouinus by reason of his fortitude neuer enough commended should eyther weare out of memory or vtterly perish Wherefore I esteeme it worthie the labour here to sette downe his wordes out of the third booke of the Kinges of England that herehence the discreete Reader might euen fully try as it were at a tutchstone the sincere brightnesse of true gold from that which is counterfeite Then in the Prouince of Wales which is called Rossia was founde the Sepulchre or Tombe of Gallouinus or Walwine which was the Nephewe not degenerate of Arthure by his sister He gouerned in that Coast of Brittaine which to this day is called Waluuthia as a Knight most famous in prowesse but being of his brother and the Nephew to Hengistus concerning whom I haue spoken in the first booke driuen out of his Kingdome did first to their great detriment recompeÌ„ce his banishment iustly pertaking praise with his Unckle for that he put off or auoyded the downefall from his Country then ruinouse But Arthures Tombe was at no time seene whereupon Antiquitie of foolish dreames and fables did vainely surmise that he would yet come againe But the burying place of the other as before I set down in the time of William the first King of EnglaÌ„d was found fourtéene foote long vpon the Sea coast where as some men affirme he was wounded of his enemies and cast out of shipwrake certaine persones haue saide hee was slaine by the Citizens at publique banquet So saith the Authour Gulielmus Meildunensis as concerning Gallouinus But I if it might bee lawfull for me as a puny would make tryall of my strength w t these weapons against this authour Meildunensis so olde and most beaten Souldier to bestow beare of the blowes viz. It is not like to be true that men of Gyantlike height as I gather by y â— graue 14. foote long were then liuing in the dayes of Gallouinus Wherefore vndoubtedly in mine opinion it is more credible that it was the graue of some Gyant inhabitinge the countrie For that first such did inhabit Albion it appeareth both by auctoritie of forraine and of our owns writers The one of which two his credit I folowing namely Iosephus of Deuonshire a Brittish Poet most absolutly elegante by all meanes hauing taken out of his Antiocheides a work immortall these few verses I will vse them as testimony for breuitie sake His Brutus auito Sanguine Troianus Latijs egressus ab oris Post varios casus consedit finibus orbem Fatalem nactus debellatorque Gigantum Et terrae Victor nomen dedit A Troian Brute by auncient bloude ariued froÌ„ Romane roade After sundry hazardes and here in these coastes aboade And hauing got his destned land subdued the Gyants fell As Conquerour he left his fame vpon the earth to dwell Architrenius in his sixt booke of Gyantes inhabiting Albion recyteth these Hos auidum belli Corinei robor auerno Praecipites misit cubitis ter quatuor altum Gogmagog Herculea suspendit in aere lucta Antheumque suum scopulo detrusit in aequor These Corineus his puysant strength of eager moode to fight To hell sent headlong Gogmagog of twelue cubites height By him like Hercules wrastling into the aire was throwne His Antheus eke and from the rocke in seaes was cast adowne NEyther am I ignorant that in
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
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
vnto sound argumentes and relation of auncient writers proueth that Arthures Tombe was in times past eyther erected betwene the two Pyrameds or in a place not far distant from them Of Giraldus we wil say more in the Tombe of Arthure found In the meane time I wil herevnto annex the discription of the Pyrameds artificially purtrayed out by the very pencilles of the same Gulielmus as it were in a plaine table to the eyes of the beholders And where as that no doubte is vnknowne vnto all men I would willingly publish it if I could possibly expresse the truth what those Pyrameds do meane which being erected in a litle space from the olde Church do after a sorte include the Churchyarde of those religiouse persons Undoubtedly the more statelyer larger and nearer Pyramed vnto the Church hath fyue storyes height or flooers boorded is in height 26. foote This although it foreshewed some decay by reason of y e too much oldnesse yet hath it a few apparant spectacles of Antiquitie which may be plainely reade although they can not fully be vnderstode For in the vpper story or floore boorde is made an image in likenesse of a Bishoppe In the second is an Image expressing a Kingly state and letters Her Sex Bliswerh In the third neuerthelesse are names Wem Creste Bantomp Winewegn In the fourth Hate Wulfredi Franflede In the fifte and which is the lowest an image and this writing Logwor Weslielas Bregdene Swellwes Huyrgendes berne But the other Pyramed hath 18. foote height and foure storyes or flooers boorded wherein these wordes are reade Hedde Episcopus Bregorred Beorwalde What these may signifie I do not rashly define but I gather by suspition that within or about the same place are laide in hollow stones the bones of them whose names are reade on the outside Surele Logwor for certaine is affirmed to be the person by reason of whose name Logweres Beorh was so called which is now called Montacute Beorwalde neuerthelesse was Abbot after Hemgiselus These saith Meildunensis vnto whom the learned ought to referre these Pyrameds as from him by all meanes borowed and most famously set forth Now y e lady Guenhera offereth her selfe to be ioyned w t Aâ—hure her Husband CAP. XIIII What manner Person Guenhera was I Haue easely beleeued that Guenhera was descended out of the progeny of the Dukes of Cornwale both leaninge vnto other argumentes and also for this cause specially that the History of Brittaine makes mention y t she was brought vp in y e Pallas of Cadorus â—uke of Cornwale also from hence taken vnto wiâ—e by Arthure The coniecture is and that not altogether vncertaine this name of Guenhera soundeth in the Brittish language the same that Bella Dona doth in the Italian in freÌ„ch Belle Dame no doubt the name was giuen for some fame as Guenllean that is White or fayre Leonora or of coniecture Helena so as y e worde White may signifie faire beautifull or amiable â—ut as it is sufficiently apparant y e she was beautifull so it is a thing doubted whether she was chaste yea or no. Truly so far as I can with honestie I would spare the impayred honor and fame of noble womeÌ„ But yet the truth of y e historie pluckes me by the eare willeth not onely but commandeth me to declare what the Ancients haue deemed of her To wrestle or contend with so greate authoritie were in deede vnto me a controuersie and that greate The historie of Brittaine affirmeth that she had not onely carnall knowledge of Mordred the Pict but also that she was ioyned to him in mariage O mischiefe O lewd life O filthy dayes The writer of the historie of Gildas is in deede an Auncient Author but in mine exemplar that same Anonymus declareth these things of Guenhera the adultresse Arthure in despite of Mâ—lua the ruler beseeged the fenny countries neare vnto Glesconia which noble man had defiled Guenhera being stolne away and caried thether This testimonie as touching a Queene though hee say she was stolne away is scarce honourable Women of such beauty are now and then stolne away by their owne good will Howsoeuer it was most assured is this that she liued no long time after the Death of her Husband and the Adulterer But whether through any disease of the bodie or with vnfayned sorrowe she dyed which I doe sooner beleeue it appeareth not playnely Writers make mention that the beeing mooued with repentance did put vpoÌ„ her a holy Veyle at Ambrosia and that there she dyed and was also there buried vntill both the dilligence and also Godlinesse of Sir Lancelot the most courteous and most inuincible knight had translated the bones and ashes afterwardes vnto Aualonia Heere aryseth a doubt against the suspition of this Adulterie Whether so notable a Louer or friend of Arthure and the same a reuerencer of his royaltie had coÌ„mitted such a fact that hee woulde burie the Adultresse in the most Religiouse place so neare her husbaÌ„ds graue in the earth The history of the cloister at GlasteÌ„bury which was dilligeÌ„tly collected fully sheweth that Guenhera was buried in the religious place neare her husbandes Tombe and that her bones and ashes were found the same time that her husbandes were Siluester Giraldus MeneneÌ„sis coÌ„firmeth this in his booke De Institutione Principis speaking of Arthure in theâ—e wordes For hee had two wiues whereof in deede the last was buryed with him and her bones founde at one time with her husbandes bones so yet separated that the two parts of the graue towardes the head namely which should containe the bones of her husband had beene ascribed vnto him But the third part at the feete coÌ„tained the bones of a woman vpwardes Where as also a yeallow locke of a womaÌ„s haire with the former integrity coulour was fouÌ„d which as a certaine Moncke desirously caught vp in his hand lifted it vp it altogether streightway perished into dust or pouder The same Giraldus recyteth such like matters in his booke intituled Speculo Ecclesiastico Hee doubtlesse might well with some authority speake concerning this geare for so much as euen then he beeing established in the fauour of K. Kichard coeur de Lion king of England came the very same time that the Sepulchre was found at Glastenbury and as an eye witnes by coÌ„duction of Henry de Soliaco nephew vnto K. Henry by Adela and cosen germaine of K. Richard beeing the president of Glastenburie but afterwardes Bishop of Winchester learned full and whole all thinges which vnto Arthure appertained Yet notwithstanding if it were lawfull for me heere to speake all thinges which I thinke I would surely affirme that those thinges are of farre better credite which are delyuered vs of Arthures buryall then of Guenheras And yet woulde I not doe any iniurie vnto the Authorytie of Auncyent wryters that euen
the nobilitie thither resorting And to the ende now that so noble a deede of King Edwarde who neuer enough can bee commended may enioy eternall fame I will recyte al and singuler such testimonies hetherunto pertayning as were most faithfully taken out of the Arches of the Monastery of Glastenbury Authour of which things also was the same Monck of Glastenbury who had in him a most earnest care to extoll Arthure with due commendations and with a sounde faith to aduaunce vnto the posteritie these actes done by him The writer neyther wanted lightsome order nor wit in handling his matters But that age had neyther familierly Greeke nor Latine eloquence What manner thinges so euer these bee as he write them so will I recyte them in order yet pondering by the way that poynt in time conuenieÌ„t not with how greate elegancie but how worthie and howe true those thinges are which he maketh mention of Anno Domini 1276. King Edward the Sonne of Henry the thirde came with the Queene his wife vnto Glastenbury But vpon Tewsday next folowing the Kinge and all his Court was entertayned there at the Monasteries chardges On which day in the twylight time he caused to be opened Arthures Tombe where in two Coffines theire portractures and Armes being depainted thereon hee founde the bones of the saide Kinge of a wonderfull thicknesse and largenesse seperated The picture of the Queene in deede was made with a Crowne vpon her heade The Crowne of the Kinges picture was made lyinge downe with the abscision of his left eare and with the euident signes of that wounde whereof hee dyed Upon euery one of these was founde a manifest plaine inscription The day folowing namely being wednesday the Kinge shutting vp the Kinges bones and the Queene his wife the Queenes bones folded vppe in seuerall wrappers of precious preseruatiues and putting to their seales commaunded that the same Tombe should be with all speede placed before the hye Alter outwardly retayning still the heades of them both to be seene engrauen by reason of the zeale of the people inwardly setting therein such a like sentence Haec sunt ossa nobilissimi Regis Arthurij quae Anno Dominicae incarnationis 1278. Decimo calend Maij per. Dominum Edwardum Regem Angliae illustrem hic fuerunt sic collocata praesentibus Leonora serenissima eiusdeÌ„ Regis consorte filia Domini Edwardi Regis Hispaniae Magistro Gulielmo de Midleton tunc Noowiceâ—si electo Magistro Thoma de Becke Archidiacono Dorcetensi predicti Regis Thesaurario Domino Henrico de Lascey comite Lincolniae Domino Amadio comite Sabaudiae multis magnatibus Angliae Thus farre mentioneth the Mòncke of Glastenbury Go now William Paruus together with thy successour in place and stoutly deny thou that eyther Arthure liued not or was not victoriouse in times past Surely thou shalt neyther haue me partaker nor fauourer no nor yet one in loue with thine opinion nay rather errour at any time Undoubtedly it were a greate and greeuouse crime not onely worthie of stripes but also of all kinde of punishment if any man should derogate from her the glory due to his Cuntrie should enuy the fame of his Princes which haue most iustly deserued well of the common weale and should not finally stand vp with valiancy and famouse actes by all meanes to adorne and illustrate the same Truly I hope most friendly Readers it will fall out that the equitie of the cause being knowne and also y e truth I shall haue you my friendly healpeâ—s herein and that such is your good will humanitie and integritie you will also willingly render me thankes for my duety towards the commen weale In the meane time I trusting to this good fortune will doubtlesse endeuour all that I may so as hauing taken a fresh courage vnto me and that most confirmed I may bodly enterprise to â—uckle with hand to hand and by might and maine ouermatch the broode of backbyters which importunatly greeuously and enuiously murmure at and inueigh against the commendations of Arthure for so as it were to make an end of my worke haue I by all meanes determined with my selfe CHAP. XVij A confutation and ouerthrow of Slaunders rashly affirming that Arthure was not liuing HIstoriographers do contend and as yet the controuersie is before the iudge at what time Arthure florished And this contention hath so encreased and gathered force that doubts concerning vniuersall credite of the historie which declareth his exploits done as yet sticke to the feoble concepts of the Readers But this is so weake a slaunder that if needes not any diligent answere Valerius saith that he florished in the time of Zenon the Emperour But Hector Boetius reporteth in the time of Iustinian the Barbarians then inhabiting Italy Finally others write otherwise concerning the time I doe not much force vpon were it euen now Although yet from hence the time is easily gathered namely froÌ„ the raigne of Aurelius Ambrosius of whome also Paule the Deacon makes mention Perhaps some of the aduersaries will say Now comes it to passe that Paule remembreth not Arthure I answere Paule had other matters to busie himselfe with then doubtfully to make famous the Brittaines which were not as yet forsakeÌ„ of the Romans In y â— meane time he takes away nothing froÌ„ Arthures dignitie or historie because he is not named of him seeing by the way a good number of noble perosnages throughout the whole worlde are of the same Author passed ouer with silence Undoubtedly y â— seemeth to haue greate effect whereas Gildas the wryter of Brittaine wrytes nothing at all of Arthure There be which cyte the testimonie of Gildas both in his fauour and praise also But that Gildas in deede is a fabler and layde foorth as an open praie vnto filly wormes and Moathes at Oxenforde in the Lybrary Gildas his historie is published abroade of Polidorus vndoubtedlie a fragment of y â— old Gildas but it is lame out of order and maimed so farre forth as if he were now againe restored to life the father would scarce knowe his chylde It is euidently knowne that he wrote bookes which by him were entituled Cambriedos found out eight handreth yeres and more agone in the Islandes of Ireland and caried ouer in to Italy Admitte the Historie of Gildas bee true How coulde he as an eye witnesse declare any thing truely of Arthure when he him selfe saith y â— he was borne in the yeere when the battle was fought at Bathe where Arthures victorie and that in deede most famous fell vnto him as Nennius witnesseth The enemy gathereth Gildas makes no mention at all of Arthure Ergo he was neuer liuing Undoubtedly a subtile gathering such a one as this is Gildas remembreth not Aruiragus Lucius or Constantine the greate and therefore they were not liuing O strange force of Logicke And yet being hartened with this so weake argument as it
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