and forrage the Countrey then passing the Straits of Gibralter came as Geffrey of Monmouth saith into the Tyrrhen Sea It should seem the old British Writers meant not by that name the Sea of Etruria for the Straits-mouth was out of the way from the Mediterranean thither but they understood some nearer Sea by it as appears by Nennius who tells us that King Belinus the Son of Minocanus subdued the Isles of the Tyrrhen Sea whereas the Britans never used to sail so far as â—â—ruria with any considerable Fleets yet why any Sea between the Straits and Britain should be so called I cannot see Here Brutus met with another Fleet of Trojans commanded by Chorinaeus who was descended from Antenor him he acquaints with the Answer he had from the Goddess and prevails with him to joyn with him in his Design Hence they pass forward through the Gallick Sea and cast Anchors in the River Loire which parted Aquitaine and Armorica Gaule was at this time governed by twelve Princes one of whom named Groffarius had Pictavia and part of these two Provinces aforenamed for his share who hearing the arrival of these Strangers in his Dominions sent out a party to take an account of them These found Chorinaeus with two hundred men chasing their Master's Deer and after some angry Expostulations fell to blows where Imbert Commander of the Gaules was slain by Cherinaeus and his men put to flight Groffarius hereat incensed marches against the Trojans who now were all landed and ready for the Encounter which was very sharp but at last the Victory fell to the new Comers who wasting the Country at their pleasure loaded their Ships with spoil and pillage In this Battel one Suardus a great Nobleman of Gaul lost his life by the hand of Chorinaeus But now the other Eleven Princes hasten to the succour of their vanquished friend and overbearing the Strangers with multitude beat them to their Camp and there beseige them About midnight Chorinaeus gets out with three thousand men and lodges them in an adjoyning Wood till morning at what time Brutus marched into the field whom the Gauls most furiously assail with assured hopes of Conquest when on a sudden Chorinaeus from the Wood falls in desperately upon their Rear who seeing themselves engaged both before and behind and thinking these last had been a new supply brought by Sea and more in number than they were began to faint which their Enemies perceiving redoubled their courages and charged them so fiercely that they put them to a total rout In this fight Turnus the Nephew of Brutus who came from Italy with Chorinaeus was slain after he had performed incredible exploits from whom the people of the countrey where the Battle was fought were named Turones Brutus began now to consider the numbers of his men were shrewdly diminished by these conflicts whereas the losses of his Adversaries would easily be repaired by fresh recruits which he could not have and therefore enquiring the name of the Land and finding that the place intended him by the Oracle lay beyond it he re-embarqued his Soldiers and with a prosperous Gale sailed into Britain arriving at Totnes in the Province of Danmonia and putting to flight the Albionians who opposed his landing The forementioned war between the Samotheans and Albionians becoming hereditary had lasted for divers Ages the former having the better of it and possessing the best part of the Isle so long as their Kings kept their residence in Gaul and assisted them in their exigencies but when Franâ—us removed his Court into Pannonia committing the government of Gaule to twelve Prefects whom he likewise ordered to be aiding to his Samothean Subjects when they should need their help they minding nothing more than to establish themselves in their Prefectures and to secure them to their Posterity took no care at all of Britain whereby the Albionians who were glad to keep themselves in the craggy and mountainous Moors while the others were helped from beyond Sea were emboldned to contend with them in open field The issue was that after many bloody Battels both Nations were reduced to such a paucity that Diana's Oracle when consulted by Brutus about the event of his Voyage is said to have termed this a Desart Island such animosity and hatred was between these two people though there was room enough and to spare for both The Samotheans having heard of Brutus his same presently repaired to him and received him for their King who to make good the opinion his new Subjects had conceived of him sought out the Albionians and utterly defeated them and then gave Danmonia to Chorinaeus from whom the Western part of it was called Corinia now Cornwall But as they were solemnizing a Festival for joy of their Successes not suspecting any danger on a sudden they were set upon and many killed by thirty of the boldest Albionians who since their overthrow had lurked in Caves thereabouts Brutus and Chorinaeus with their company betake themselves to their weapons and surrounding these Desperadoes slue them all but their Chief whose name was Gormagot and is reported to have been a Giant of a prodigious height whose strength Chorinaeus desired to try in wrestling which he afterwards did by the Sea-side in which contest he was so enraged with the pain of his three Ribs which had broke in the strugling that heaving him up by main strength he cast him violently down a steep Rock into the Sea where he perished After which to prevent such surprises for the future they by degrees extirpated his whole Crue and this was the end of the Albionians so named from their Founder Albion who are said to have been a Generation of Giants Brutus thus settled in his new Kingdom ordained that all his Subjects both Samotheans and Trojans should be called Britans and then upon the side of the River Thames he built the City Trinobant which the Welsh will have to be more rightly named Troynovant for a place of Residence for himself and his Successors dying after a happy Reign of four and twenty years he left his Kingdom to be divided between his three Sons but reserved the Superiority and Soveraignty to the Eldest which was Locrinus whose part was better than both his Brothers and was of him named Loegria as Camber's part was named Cambria and Albanactus his share Albania This last was invaded and slain by Humber King of the Hunnes whose death was soon revenged by Locrinus and Camber by whom the Hunnes were overthrown and destroyed and their Prince drowned in his flight Three Ladies were taken Prisoners by Humber in Germany whom he brought with him into Britain one of which called Estrildis was a King's Daughter Locrinus intended her for his wife and therefore carried them all three with him to Court But Chorinaeus hearing of it to whose only Daughter and Heiress he had been affianced while his Father lived came to him and by menaces compelled him to persorme his
escaped from the City and the Battel sled to the City of Veij and afterwards under the conduct of Camillus who before was banished to Ardea but now made Dictator relieved those Senators which still held out the Capitol who compelled by famine had newly bought their lives and were paying the Gold Brennus had received the greatest part when Camillus came upon him and worsting him in a tumultuary skirmish forced him to quit Rome and following the Enemy fought a pitcht battel with him eight miles off in the Gabine Way where after a sharp dispute the Romans prevailed and the valiant Brennus with all his Gauls and Britans lost their lives upon the spot not one escaping as Livy writes Dec. 1. lib. 5. to carry the news Here was most of the Gold regained the rest being a long time after recovered by Livius Drusus Propraetor of Gallia Cisalpina Suâ—t in Tib. which at the first appearance of the Dictator had been sent away for Tuscany where the Gauls had then divers Colonics with some Troops to guard it who hearing the loss of their Companions entred into the Service of the Tyrant Dionysius Belinus had better fortune and subdued Pannonia where he settled the Gauls and most of his Britans married his Daughter Cambra a warlike Lady to Antenor King of the Sicambrians and returning home with Honour died in peace Next to him reigned his Son Gorguntius who slew the Danish King and conquered his countrey because he refused to pay the promised Tribute Then Guiteline Son to Gorguntius and Husband to the Learned Queen Martia Sisillius Son to Guiteline Chiomarus Son to Sisillius Danius Brother to Chiomarus and Morindus Son to Danius by his Concubine Tangustella by whom the King of the Morini invading this Land was overthrown and slain This victory he used cruelly putting all to the Sword that were taken Morindus is said to have aided the King of Orkney against Basanus King of the Sicambrians but lastly adventuring to fight singly with a Sea-monster he was devoured by it the Monster dying presently after of the wounds he had given it After his death the Kingdom was divided between his five Sons Gorbonian Archigallo Elidurus Eugenius and Peridurus Of these Gorbonian a just Prince dyed peaceably and was succeeded by his Son Regin Archigallo for Tyranny was expelled by his Nobles who gave his Kingdom to his Brother Elidurus through whose intercession he was restored and reigned afterwards very nobly parting his Principality at his death between his two Sons Morgan and Eneon But Elidurus found not the same kindness from his other two Brothers who took him prisoner and shared his Province between them till Eugenius dying first and then Peridurus he again recovered his Kingdom and left it to his Son Gerontius Edwal the Son of Eugenius or Owen and Runo the Son of Peridurus succeeded their Fathers like wise in their Provinces Thus was Britain cantoned into sundry parcels besides that the Descendents of those Princes who acknowledged the Soveraignty of Dunvallo and his Successors hitherto now renounced all manner of Subordination Which caused Tacitus to write of the Britans thus In vita Agric Heretofore they were governed by Kings now they are drawn by petty Princes into Partialities and Factions After Gerontius reigned his Son Cadellus for the British History takes no notice of the Posterity of the other Princes Then followed Coelus the Son of Cadellus Porrex the Son of Coelus Cherinus the Son of Porrex whose three Sons shared their Father's Inheritance between them Their names were Fulgentius Eldadus and Androgeus To this last succeeded his Son Vrianus after whom reigned these Kings in a direct line from Father to Son Flind Clidacus Clotenus Gorguntius Merianus Bladud Capys Owen and Sisillius who made another partition between his two Sons Blegâ—red and Archivallo Eldon the Son of Archivallo ruled after his Father and then followed in a lineal Succession Redion Rodericus Sawyl sirnamed Penissel Pyrrhus Caporius Gilquellus sirnamed Minocanus and Belinus he by his valour much enlarged his Hereditary Dominions for which he was entitled The Great For this is that B. M. Beli Maur so famous among the Cambrian Genealogists He had three Sons whom in his old age for he lived till the first coming of Caesar he assumed as Partners in his Kingdom assigning each of them a Province with Regal Authority and Title Immanuentius had the Trinobantes and was Sirnamed Lhud that is to fay Russet or Tawny it being usual with the Britans both ancient and modern to impose Names and Sirnames from colours Caswallan had the Cattieuchlani and is by Dion Cassius called Suellan corruptly for Cassuellan And indeed it is very likely that the same causes which lost us so many Books of that excellent Author might make some corruptions in them that were left unless we shall think Suellan or Swallan was his true name Cas being a Praeaddition taken from the Cassii the chief Sept of the Cattieuchlani as Cattimarus Teutobochus and Decebalus had the beginnings of their Names from the Catti Teutâ—nes and Daci though afterwards the name of Swallan grew out of use and Caswallan was used in its stead in honour of this Prince Nennius I conceive had Kent and might be the Father of Cyngetorix Carvilius Taximagulus and Segonax These three Princes acknowledged a subordination to their Father Belinus whom Geffrey of Monmouth will have to be dead some years before the Romans arrived here vainly esteeming it a disparagement to Lhud to reign under his Father and aiming to give Caswallan the entire honour of managing all the war from the first beginning and therefore makes that Belinus which then lived to be Caswallan's General and Counsellor not his Father contrary to Nonnius who expresly termes him King of the Britans And Henry of Huntington will needs have him to be his Brother and Cambden takes him for Caswallan himself contrary to the Cambrian Genealogists who all consent that he was his Father Thus far have we waded through the Maeandrian Intrigues of Antiquity from Samothes obtruding nothing upon the Reader 's belief of this that we have taken either from Annius of Viterbo or Geffrey of Monmouth though both those Authors have been followed and owned by some Learned men Neither is there any thing herein more incongruous or incredible than what the Greek and Roman Writers have delivered concerning the Originals of their Nations which things are yet allowed a place in many Authentick Historians and Chronologers What follows comes from the hands of more approved Authors In the year of the World's Creation Three Thousand Eight Hundred Ninety five according to the common Computation Pompey and Crassus being Consuls the second time Calus Julius Caesar having now by Conquests over-run Gaul out of an innate desire of Glory allured also as Suetonius saith with hope of Pearls which as he was informed were ingendred and gathered in the Creeks of the British Sea and being incensed against the Britans for sending
former Engagement Yet he still retaining his affection to the Captive Lady who was very beautiful kept her and her two Companions in a Cave till the death of Chorinaeus and then repudiating Guendolena married Estrildis But this injury was not long unpunished for the rejected Queen returning into Danmonia levied an Army wherewith she gave Battel to her wanton Husband in Worcestershire by the River Stour and victoriously slew him Estrildis here taken was thrown into the River Severne and drowned with her Daughter Habren which she had by Locrinus Madan the Son of Locrinus and Guendolena being under age his Mother governed for him as Guardian fifteen years and then retiring to a private life dyed within a short space whereupon the King gave Danmonia to his Uncle Camber After Madan reigned his Son Mempricius who murdered his Brother Manlius then Eboracus or Ebrauc the Son of Mempricius Brute Sirnamed Green-shield the Son of Ebrauc Leil the Son of Brute Rudibras the Son of Leil Bladud the Son of Rudibras and Leir the Son of Bladud This Leir had only three Daughters Gonerilla married to Maglanus Prince of Albania descended from Albanactus Ragana married to Henninus Prince of Danmonia descended from Camber and Cordella married to Aganippus a Gaulish Prince descended from one of those twelve with whom Brutus fought which twelve after the death of Galates the Son of Wolfheim Sichinger had made themselves absolute in their several Provinces each of them assuming the Name and Title of King as likewise did the German Princes after the death of Celtes Aganippus restored King Leir who had been expelled by his other Sons in Law and he in requital at his death left his Kingdom to Cordella which she ruled worthily while her Husband lived but after being taken and imprisoned by her Nephews she killed her self The Kingdom must now be divided into two parts whereof the Southern is allotted to Cuneda the Son of Henninus and all North of Humber to Morgan the Son of Maglanus which Agreement held not long for Morgan not satisfied with his moiety falls out with his Cousin who overcomes and kills him thereby getting the whole which he leaves to his Son Râ—â—aâ—â— To him succeeded his two Sons one after the other first Gorgustus then Sisillius and after him Jago Son or Grandson to Gorgustus Chinimarchus the Son of Sisillius and Gorbodugus the Son of Chinimarchus whose two Sons contended for the Kingdom but Ferrea finding himself the weaker fled into Gaule whence returning with such forces as he had procured of Suardus one of the Kings there he was slain in battel by his Brother Porrex who yet enjoyed not the fruits of his victory being in revenge hereof cruelly murdered as he slept in his Tent by Queen Videnia the Mother of them both assisted in that bloudy design by her Maids This plunged Britain into Civil Wars and turned the Monarchy into a Pentarchy under the Governments of Pinnar King of Loegria Rudaue King of Cambria Stater King of Albania Jevan King of Northumbria and Cloten King of Cornwall whose Father Chinimarchus was son to Prydain and Grandson to Aedhmaur the son of King Gorgustus Dunvallo Molmutius the son of Cloten reduced the Land to a Monarchical State again subduing all his Competitors but Jevan or Owen as some call him who terrified by the death of the rest submitted himself yet the generous Conquerour suffered their Sons to hold under him part of what their Fathers had enjoyed He is said to be the first that wore a Crown of Gold here His sons Belinus and Brennus parted the Island between them after their Fathers death the Southern moiety with the Soveraignty being assigned to Belinus as the Elder and the Northern to Brennus whom Cenulphus King of the Morini invaded to his own hurt being vanquished and chased home with shame Brennus herewith puffed up would no longer stand to the first Agreement but by the advice of some flattering Incendiaries sailed to the King of Norway and obtaining his Daughter in Marriage with a strong Army to make war upon his Brother who being informed of his design had seized his Principality into his own hands The King of Denmark a former lover of the Norwegian Princess armes all his power and meets this bold Britan upon the Sea where in the heat of the fight a sudden Tempest severs and scatters the Fleets The Danish King having luckily seized the Ship wherein was his beloved Lady was with two others making four Ships in all cast upon the British Shore and there taken and delivered to Belinus while his Fleet made shift to get home and Brennus with his Navy was driven upon the Gallick Coasts nor was it long ere he crossed over to Northumbria and fought with his Brother in the Forrest of Galtres but losing the day and all his Ships but one fled to Seginus King of the Senones and Allobroges Belinus now treats with his Danish Prisoner who swearing to become his Liegeman and pay a yearly Tribute and leaving Hostages for performance is dismissed with his Lady Brennus in this time had so far gained the love of Seginus that he bestowed upon him his only Daughter and dying shortly after left all to him so that he thought himself able to deal with his Brother and getting leave of his Neighbour-Princes to conduct his Soldiers through their Countreys transported them into Britain where the two Brothers being ready to encounter one another were reconciled by their mother Convenna They therefore fall to consulting how they should dispose of those multitudes of Warriours that were raised and brought together on both sides and resolve to purchase Renown by conquering forreign Nations Passing into Gaul they easily induced these people to joyn with them in their Enterprises being thereto encouraged by the former prosperous successes of Sigovesus in Germany and Pannonia and of Belâ—â—vesus and Elitovius in Italy Having now greatly increased their numbers and strength it was judged sit to divide their Forces and part asunder Brennus enters Italy having Aruns an inhabitant of Clusium for his Guide over the Alps and at his instigation besiegeth that City Aruns did this because he could not otherwise be revenged upon Lucumo a potent Citizen who had abused his Wife The Clusines crave help of the Romans who send three Sons of Marcus Fabius Ambustus to Brennus to try if fair words might avail any thing in the behalf of their Friends But these hot-spirited Youths taking offence at the Answer they received forgot the duties of Mediators and Ambassadors and encouraging the besieged to make a Sally put themselves in the head of their Troops in which Action Quintus one of the Brothers slew a great Commander of the Gauls This was a violation of the Law of Nations for which Brennus having in vain demanded their persons of the Senate marches towards Rome and takes the City having first defeated their Army near the place where the River Allia runs into Tibur They that
Land was Brutain call'd from Brute's own name One Woman caus'd the Trojan Warr whose name Was Helen Dardan Prince of noble fame Was Ancestor to Brute first British King From whom the Stemmes of British Princes spring No small question is raised about his Father Sylvius whom Monumethensis will have to be the Son of Ascanius supposing probably that after the difference between Julus and his Uncle the Son of Lavinia was reconciled whereby Sylvius Postbumus was adjudged to succeed his deceased Brother and the Pontificate being the next degree of Honour to the Kingly Dignity was assigned to Julus He in respect to the King and to ingratiate himself with the Albans among whom the name of Sylvius was in great request as Virgil in his Sixth Book of his Aeneads denotes Sylvius Albanum nomen the fair Daughter of Tyrrhus the chief Herd-master to King Latinus being also named Sylvia might assume that name for his praenomen and for a straiter linking of their Friendship married the Neece as Geffrey saith of Queen Lavinia Some conceive Sylvius the Father of Brutus to be the same with Posthumus and Son to Aeneas really but to Ascanius adoptively which opinion cannot be admitted because he after about Nine and twenty years Reign dyed a natural death which our British Historians deny of the other making him to be slain by his mistaking Son so that their relation would better agree with Sylvius Aeneas the Son of Posthumus of whose immature death there is some shew of a conjecture out of * Aen. 6. Virgil who makes a doubt whether he ever attained to be King Sylvius Aeneas paritèr pietate vel armis Egregius sin unquam regnandam acceperit Albam Aeneas Sylvius renown'd for Arms and Piety If e're of Alba he attain the Royal Monarchy And * Met. 15. Ovid favours this leaving him out of his Catalogue of Alban Kings and making Latinus the immediate Successour to Posthumus Successit Sylvius illi Quo satus antiquo tenuit repetita Latinus Nomina cum Sceptro Sylvius succeeds whose Son upholds with fame The old Latinus 's Scepter and his name And if Sylvius Posthumus were also named Ascanius as well as his Elder Brother which Livy seems to hint in the beginning of his * Pec. 1. History then may Brutus be this way too the Grandson of Ascanius and being banished for his Parricide leave his Brother Latinus to succeed his Grandfather in the Kingdome Though I am not ignorant that others understand Virgil speaking in that place of Sylvius Aeneas not to mean that he dyed before his Father but that it was very long before regained his right which his usurping Guardian had withheld from him And in leed as Livy saith who can positively determine about things so ancient As concerning the Original of this People Learned Cambden proves them to be descended from the Gauls by solid Arguments drawn from their agreement in Religion Customes and Language their vicinity their very name For they did most generally as still they do call themselves Kumero Cymro and Kumeri and a British Woman Kumeraes and their Tongue it self Kumeraeg And hence we have the names of Cambri and Cambria Cumbri and Cumbria which proves them a stock of the famous Cimbrians who were the same with the Gauls being one Nation called by two names So * Dâ— Pâ—â—coâ—sul Cicero speaking of Marius saith that he repressed the Armies of the Gaules etring in great numbers into Italy when yet Historiographers witness that they were Cimbrians and Lucan calls the Fellow that was hired to kill Marius a Cimbrian whom Livy and others affirm to have been a Gaule And out of Plutarch's Errours Reinerius Reineccius averreth That the Gauls and Cimbrians used the same Language And hereunto Appian in his Illyricks gives his suffrage The Celts or Gauls saith he whom they call Cimbrians And as all other Nations fetch their first Original from Asia so do these from the Asiatick Cimmerians the posterity of Gomer the Son of Japhet from whom also as Josephus and Zonaras report the ancient Gaules were called Gemari Gomeraei and Gomeritae from whence the name of Kumeri is easily deduced Mr. Humfrey Lhuyd in his short Description of Britain conceives these Kumeri or Kymri to be those very Cimbrians who so terribly endangered the state-of Rome and finding in the Book of Triads that one Irpus of Scandia by subtlety under pretence of Kindred and Honour to be atchieved induced a great number of Britans to assist him in his Enterprise who never returned home again he concludes it probable that the British Kymri passed over into the Danish Chersonesse whereby it came to be termed Cimbrica and after some Exploits there joyning with the neighbouring Teutons and afterward with the Ambrens a people of Gaule made sharp Warre upon the Romans vanquished Papyrius Scaurus Manlius Silanus and Caepio and were at length with much difficulty overcome by Marius and Catulus After which the remainders of the Cimbrians and Teutons seem to have retired to the Chersonesse These Ambrons who aided the Cimbrians in this Warre were a people so mischievously addicted to Spoyl and Rapine that in Tract of time the word Ambro came to be commonly used to signifie a Devourer as Isidore long ago hath told us whence John Caius his mistake in thinking that Gildas joyns these Ambrons with the Picts and Scots when he speaks of their second vastation of his Countrey saying that they came aesi Ambrones Lupi like Ambrones Wolves is very obvious it being clear that by Ambrones Lupi he meant devouring Wolves in which sense Geffrey of Monmouth termeth the Saxons also Ambrones Mr. Lhuyd to strengthen his opinion produces Plutarch's testimony in his life of Marius that it was not known whence the Cimbrians came onely that it was from a far Countrey and that like clouds they issued into France and Italy with the Teutons tacitely inferring a likelyhood that they might come from this Island And to this he adds divers other Arguments drawn from the agreement of that people with the Britans in Language and names of their Kings and their Customes as their neglecting of Gold and Silver their Reverence towards Women and Priests their sacrificing men to Mercury their Shields Armour and Swords and the very shape of their Bodies Nor was this the first time that the Britans made Warr upon the Romans if we may believe the relation of the British History and the constant Tradition of that people concerning Brennus Sir John Price in his Defence of the British History is offended with Polydore Virgill for saying that the Insular Britans had both their Name and Original from the Britans of Armorica and will not allow that any Britans were before the time of Constantine the Great Yet Pomponius Laetus saith That they were descended from the Armorican Cities And Pliny among the Maritime people over against Britain near the County of Bullen reckoneth the Britans from whom a Haven of the
Son to Olbius Namnes Son to Galates and Rhemus Son to Namnes During the Reigns of these Samothean Kings hapned nothing remarkable only that in the time of King Lucus Osiris the great King of Egypt was slain by his Brother Typhon with the help of Laestrigon Antaeus Gerion Albion and Bergion the Grandsons of the murdered Heroe by his Son Neptune after which Albion and Bergion with a multitude of Africans coming into Spain where Gerion reigned from thence invaded and conquered Britain and Ireland where they ruled for some years But in the time of Celtes Hereules pursuing the revenge of his Father's death kills Typhon and Antaeus settles his Brother Orus and his mother Isis in the Kingdom of Egypt destroyes Gerion in Spain and marches into Gaule with intention to pass into Italy Celtes joyfully entertains him in requital whereof he built the City of Alexia Albion and Bergion suspecting he would at length call them to an account resolved to be before hand with him and came against him with a puissant Army who having married Galatea and increased his Army with Gaulish Supplies encountred them in a place named The Stony Strond or Stony Field now called by the French Le Craux where after a long and terrible fight the two Brothers were deseated and slain From thence Hercules departed into Italy where he slew Laestrygon The Samotheans in Britain emboldned by the success of this Battel took up Arms against the residue of the Africans that were lest behind commencing a long war which continued till the coming of Brutus In this interval the fifty Daughters of Dioclesian King of Syria having all murdered their Husbands in one night were for their punishment embarqued in a Ship well victualled but without Pilot Mast or Sail and so committed to the mercy of the Seas At last they were cast upon the Western Coast of this Island then inhabited by the African Progeny to whom women were very welcome in regard the Samotheans disdained to give their Daughters to them The Eldest of these named Albina was married to the Prince of these Barbarians and renewed to this Isle the name of Albion which had been before imposed by Neptune's forementioned Son of that name but now was worn out This Fable I conceive to be founded upon the Grecian Story of Danaus his Daughters King Remus having no other children but one Daughter gave her in marriage to Franicus Francus or Francion Son to Hector King of the Germans whose Father Brennus was lineally descended from the ancient Tuisco He succeeded his Father and Father-in-Law and kept his residence in a City of Pannonia which himself had built and called Sicambria after the name of his Son Sicamber who reigned after him and married a Lady named Galatea having first slain his Rival Acis a Sicilian Prince The Greeks for his valour called him Polyphemus which signifies famous and the Poets fable him to be a Cyclopian Giant and Son of Neptune whom they generally make the Father of Gigantick Issues This Polyphemus Sicamder is by the Germans named Woltheim Sichinger At his death he divided his Kingdom between his three Sons to Celtes he left Germany who extended the name of Celts to all the people of that Land Gaule and so much of Britain as was held by the Samotheans fell to Galates and Pannonia to Illyrius who by Conquest added to it the Countrey which of him took the name of Illyris Francus had parcelled Gaule into twelve Provinces and appointed over each of them a Vice-roy with orders to be aiding to his Samothean Subjects as occasion should require but Ambition prompted them to other Designs whereunto they were animated by their Princes over-large Bounty who it seems had made their Prefectures Hereditary so that after the death of Galates whose Reign was spent in Wars abroad they assumed to themselves the Royal Title and Power In the Reign of Wolfheim Sichinger the famous City of Troy was taken by the Greeks whereupon Aeneas and Antenor were forced to seek new seats of whom the latter found means to settle himself about Padua the other in Latium whose Son and Successour Ascanius built Alba Longa. But far worse fortune had many of their Countreymen who with their Families were carried away Captive into Greece by Pyrrhus and by him kept in slavery From him descended one Pandrasus as Geffrey calls him though the Greeks had another name for him who shewed himself very cruel to the issue of these Trojans In his time a certain Nobleman dying left two Sons the one by a Greek wife the other named Assaracus by a Trojan who falling out about the sharing of their Father's Territory caused the King to interest himself in the quarrel who hating the Trojan Nation and consequently Assaracus for his relation to them took his Brothers part against him and would by force have disseised him of his Inheritance if he had not been opportunely succour'd by Brutus of whom we come now to speak Ascanius King of Alba dying there arose a controversie about the succession between his Son Julus and his Half-Brother Sylivins Posthumus the Son of Aeneas by Lavinia the first being favoured by the Trojans the other by the Latines who being more numerous advanced Posthumus to the Crown assigning the Pontificate to Julus who upon the reconciliation assumed his Uncles name for his Praenomen and was called Sylvius Julus It was made a piea against him that he was not of years sufficient to manage the weighty affairs of a Kingdom by which it appears that he married very young having had two Sons before his Fathers death from the Elder of whom the Julian Family descended The Younger named Brutus proved fatal to both his Parents for his Mother died in Child-bed and at fifteen years of age he by mischance killed his Father at a hunting for which he was banished by Posthumus and went into Greece where upon sundry occasions he gave such proofs of his valour as encouraged the poor oppressed Trojans to repair to him and request him to undertake the freeing of them from the Grecian Bondage Brutus becomes their Prince and entring league with Assaracus wins two victories of Pandrasus In the first Antigonus the King's Brother and his friend Anacletus were taken Prisoners in the other the King himself Hereupon by the means of a Trojan named Mempricius ensued a peace whereby Assaracus was secured in his Right and Brutus obtained in marriage the King 's eldest Daughter Innogen with a Fleet of three hundred twenty four Ships well provided with all necessaries to transport the Trojans and their Families to another Country The first place he arrived at was an Island where Diana had a Temple whose Oracle he with his Soothsayer Gerion consults about the success of his Voyage and receives a propitious Answer From hence departing he sailed along the coast of Africk conquering by the way the Pirates of those Seas and for a fresh supply of provision was forced to land in Mauritania
twenty fifth of July in the year three hundred and six he could have reckoned but thirty years nine months and twenty eight dayes to the twenty second day of May in the year three hundred thirty seven at which time Constantine died Besides the Panegyrist speaks of his ennobling this Land by his Birth where he saith to him of his Father Liberavit ille Britannias servitute tu etiam nobiles illic oriendo fecisti He freed Britain from Servitude Thou madest it also Noble by being Born there For I know not how to render Oriendo better than by Being Born and the Grammarians will tell us that Orior and Oriundus which comes from it import Birth and Descent Yet others from the mistaken words of Julius Firmicus Julius Fir mic mathes lib. cap. 4. conceive him to be born at Naisus in Illyricum not considering that Firmicus speaks of Constantius the Son of Constantine who was also styled Maximus and born in Illyricum as appears by Julian his Cousin and Successor And Lipsius misled by a corrupted Copy of Firmicus in stead of Naisus reads Tarsus and placeth it in Bithynia Orat. 1. iâ— laudem Coâ—â—stantii near Drepanum where Nicephorus reports this Emperour to be born in the time of Diocletian whereas the Age of Constantine according to all approved Writers proves him to be born in the Reign of Aurelianus Britain was his Birth-place in Gaul he was made Caesar in Britain he was invested with the Purple Robe and the Imperial Dignity though he modestly abstained from the Title of Augustus till at his Marriage in Gaul it was conferred upon him by his Father-in-Law He re-edified Byzantium in Thrace for the conveniency of its situation and Drepanum in Bithynia in honour of the Martyr Latcianus there buried calling the former from his own name Constantinopolis and the latter from his Mothers Helenopolis And as William of Malmesbury saith he planted a Colony of Britans which had served him in his Wars in Armarica which I conceive to be that Army mentioned in the Book of Triads that went forth under the conduct of Caswallan the younger and Gueno and Guavar and sate down in Aquitain whereof the Britans accounted Armorica to be a part both this and Conan's forementioned Army are said to have consisted of one and twenty thousand men apiece By his Concubine Minervina he had a Son named Crispus whom he put to death and by his wise Fansta he had three Sons Constantinus Constantius and Constans among whom he divided his Empire In this division Britain with Gaul and Spain fell to Constantinus who as Eldest Brother expected a larger share and finding himself disappointed invaded the Territories of his Brother Constans by whose Captains he was trained into an Ambush and slain near Aquileia when he had reigned three years His Provinces were presently seized by Constans who having overcome the Franks in a great Battel Liban in Basilico crossed over into Britain as Libanius writes with his Brother Constantius in the Winter-time and quieted some stirs here 343. Julius Firmic de Error profan Releg c. 29. Whereupon Julius Firmicus not the Pagan Astrologer but the Christian speaks thus to them Ye have in Winter-time subdued under your Oars the swelling and raging Billows of the British Ocean the waves now of the Sea unto this time hardly known to us have trembled and the Britains were afraid to see the unexpected face of the Emperour What would ye more the very Elements as vanquished have given place to your Virtues This Voyage was in the year four Hundred forty three and four years after Constans caused a Council to convene at Sardica at which some British Bishops were present and gave their suffrages for Paulus and Athanasius against the Arians At this time Gratianus Father to the Emperours Valentinian and Valens was General of all the Military Forces in Britain who was Sirnamed Funarius because in his youth going about with a Rope to sell five Soldiers that set upon him were not able to wrest it from him In the year three hundred and fifty Constans was slain by the Traiterous Conspiracy of Magnentius Sirnamed Taporus the Son of a Britain but born in Gaul among the Laeti who usurped the Western Empire and after three years inauspicious Reign being vanquished by Constantius he slew himself to avoid the Conqueror's Justice After this victory strict Enquiry is made for his Abettors and among the rest that suffered Gratianus Funarius who had now quitted all publick employment and betook himself to a private life was sined in the confiscation and loss of his Goods because he was reported to have lodged the Tyrant and given him entertainment For the like purpose Paulus a Notary Sirnamed Catena from his craft in linking matters together Amm. Marcel lib. 14. was sent into Britain to discover and apprehend the Favourers of Magnentius who violently seized upon the Fortunes and Estates of many spoiling and undoing a great number imprisoning such as were free-born and grieving their bodies with Bonds and bruising some of them with Manacles and all by patching together many false Accriminations against them Which gave such distaste to Martinus the Vice-gerent here an honest upright man that having in vain entreated him not to ruine such innocent persons he threatned to depart the Land hoping this malicious Inquisitor might for fear thereof be induced to surcease his cruel proceedings But Paulus supposing that hereby his Trade was empaired converted his spight against the Vice-gerent himself whom he drew in to have his part in the common perils and went very near to bring him also prisoner bound with Tribunes and several others to the Emperours Privy Counsel Whereat Martinus was so incensed that he assailed him with his Dagger but failing to wound him mortally stabbed himself and Paulus fearing to stay any longer in an enraged Province now destitute of a Governour hasted away carrying over with him a great company in chains of whom some were dragg'd and tortured some proscribed and outlawed some banished and others suffered punishment by the sword And now Constantius being sole Monarch resolves to promote the interest of Arianism and to that end in the year three hundred fifty nine summons a Council to meet at Ariminum upon the Emperour's charges which was resused by the Gaulish and British Bishops only three of the British for meer poverty accepted it judging it not so blameable to live upon the Prince's Cost as to burden any private Purse though the other Bishops had offered to contribute to them Here though the Arians got some advantage by the Emperour's power and the violence of his Prefect Taurus and the subtle Policies of the two Heretical Bishops Valens and Vrsacius yet did the Western Provinces and particularly Britain continue free from that Herefie long after as Athanasius and the other Bishops of Egypt and Lybia testisie in their Letter to the Emperour Jovianus concerning the Nicene Creed In the year three
saith in his brief Commentaries there were extant in his time very ancient British Rhymes if he mistake him not for another Gerontius that was Prince of Danmonia many years after this man's time Upon the surrendry of Arles Constantius goes against Jovinus whom he overcomes and drives out of the countrey In his room up starts his Brother Sebastian whom Constantius soon defeated and slew together with his Complices Salustius and Rusticus Next he conducts his Forces into Spain against Maximus whom with like success he vanquishes and takes Prisoner but after a short time dismisses him as one who had not aspired to that usurpation through his own ambition but was only made a Stale to the Politick ends of his Advancers Those Britans that came over with Constantine when the War was ended never went home but joyned themselves with their Brethren in Armorica Procop. de bello Vand. lib. 1. Bed lib. 1. cap. 11. yet did not the Romans at all look after the recovery of Britain as Procopius and Bede with others tell us having still work enough nearer home And for some time indeed the Britans defended themselves pretty well but in the year four hundred and eighteen their old Enemies assailed them so fiercely doing so much mischief both by Sea and Land and threatning more that the residue of those Romans who had planted themselves here thought it their wisest and safest course to remove into Gaul Annal. Saxon Athelward lib. 1. hiding for hast under ground great part of their Treasure which was never after found Gildas stiles this Invasion which lasted some years A Trampling under foot a most cruell Infestation and Depression and calls it the First accounting all their former Hostilities as nothing in comparison of this and those that ensued the Picts he terms here a Transmarine Nation because parted from the rest of Britain in a manner by two Armes of the Sea now named the Friths of Edenborough and Dunbritton The Britans thus overpower'd and oppressed send Ambassadors to the Emperour Honorius and humbly beseech him with pittious prayers and promises of perpetual Subjection and Loyal Obedience for the future to succour them in this their distress whereupon in the year four hundred twenty two a Legion strongly provided for the War was by Aetius General of the Forces in Gaul dispatched hither who encountring with the Enemies and killing a huge number of them drove them out of the Province and by so bloody a victory delivered their Friends and Subjects from imminent peril Then they ordered them to build across the Island between the aforesaid Friths of Edenborough and Dunbritton from Abercorne to Kirk Patrick as Lollius and Cerausius had done before a Wall which being made with Garrisons of Soldiers might be a terror to their Foes and a safeguard to themselves But the Romans being recalled to be employed against other Enemies could not stay to see the work done so that it being made without fit Directors by the common people and unreasonable Rout not so much of Stone as of Turs proved to little purpose This year the two forementioned Usurpers Maximus and Jovinus going about to raise new Stirs with the assistance of the Barbarous Nations were taken in Spain by Castinus and Boniface who sent them into Italy where they served to adorn the Trinmph of the Emperour Honorius About this time flourished two famous British Bishops Fastidius and Ninianus of whom the former wrote to one Fatalis a worthy Book concerning Christian Life as some Copies of Gennadius have it or as others concerning Christian Faith and another of continuing in the state of Widowhood the other converted the Southern Picts inhabiting between Forth and Grantzbain and was the first Bishop of Candida Casa now Whitleerne in Galloway where he built a Church of Stone which as Joannes Tinmuthensis saith was the first Church of Stone in Britain and in Ireland he founded a large Monastery at a place called Cluayn Coner both he and his Brother Plebeias were Canonized for Saints In the year four hundred twenty five the Picts and Scots knowing that the Romans were returned home again invaded the Britans breaking down the Rampire and all other Fences committing all sorts of cruelty and sending out their Piratick Vessels robbed and ransackt their Coasts in a miserable manner The Britans therefore again send suppliant Ambassadors to entreat the Romans in meer commiseration of their case and for their own Honour once more to relieve them Whereupon Aetius by the Emperour Valentinian's command in the year four hundred twenty six sends over another Legion under the conduct of Gallio of Ravenna wo forthwith marched against those spoiling Enemies and giving them a notable Overthrow chased them home with a terrible slaughter After this Exploit the Romans declare to the Britans That the present condition of the Empire would not permit them to take any more such troublesome Journeys and therefore they must resolve to defend themselves and not be afraid of Nations no wayes more valiant than they if by sloth and idleness they did not weaken themselves So giving Manful Exhortations to a Fearful People and teaching them to make and handle Arms they together with the Inhabitants at the common charge of all and with the private additional helps of many built a Wall of Stone from Sea to Sea in the same place where as Bede and others say Bed lib. 5. cap. 12. Severus built his Wall and on those Shores which used to be most infested with Pirats they erected Watch-Towers in divers places at convenient distances and beyond the Wall they fortified up and down Stations for Soldiers as was done in Severus his time And so the Romans never to return again bid adieu to the Britans and the year following Gallio who had done this Service Mavortius and Sinnox were sent into Africk against Boniface in which War the two former lost their lives the same year by the treachery of their companion Sinnox who himself received the just reward of a Traitor from the hands of Boniface being by him put to death In the year four hundred twenty nine Presp Florentius and Dionysius being then Consuls Agricola the Pelagian the Son of Severianus a Pelagian Bishop comes into Britain and here diffuses the contagion of his pestilent opinion against whom the British Clergy more Pious than Learned in those calamitous times knowing his Doctrine to be Heretical and yet not able to confute him crave aid of the Gallick Bishops whom Pope Celestine at the Suit of Palladius a Deacon of Rome excites to help their British Brethren in this exigence Whereupon a Council is assembled wherein German Bishop of Auxerre and Lupus Bishop of Troyes men famous for their Learning and Sanctity are assigned to the work These crossing the Sea in the dead of Winter had a very stormy passage which was attributed to Evil Spirits and at their arrival found a great deal of hurt had been done here in a short