Chapter XXIV: Part II: By THOMAS BLENER-HASSET (7)

Thus hit felle afterwarde that tho two eldest doughtres wolde nought abide til that Leir hire fader were dede but werred vppon him whiles that he leued and moche sorwe and shame him dede. Wherfore thei benomen him holly the reame and betwene ham had ordeyned that one of ham shulde haue kyng Leir to soiourne all his life tyme with xl [lx] knyghtes and hire squiers, that he myght worshipfully gone and ride whider that he wolde into what contre that him likede to playn and to solacen. So that Managles kyng of Scotland had kyng Leir with him in the maner as is aboue seide and or other halfe yere were passide Corneill [sic] his eldest doughter that was quene of Scotland was so anoyed of him and of his peple that anone he and hire lorde speken togedres. Wherfore his knyghtes and his squyers half frame him were gone and no mo lefte but oneliche xxx. And whenne this was done Leir began for to make moche sorowe, for incheson that his astate was inpeired, and men had of him more scorne and despite thanne euere thei hadde beforne. Wherfore he wiste neuer what to done and atte the laste thought that he wolde wende into Cornewaile to Ragan his other doughter. And whenne he was come there, the Erle and his wife that was Leier’s doughter, him welcomede and with him made muche ioy, and there he dwelled with xxx knyghtes and squyers. And he had dwellede there scarsly tuelf month that his doughter of him nas fulle and of his companye, and hire lorde and shee of him had scorne and despite so that fro xxx knyghtes thei brougten vnto ten and afterwarde five and so there lefte with him no mo. Tho made he sorwe enough and said, sore wepying: allas that euere he come into that lande. And seid yit had me better for to haue dwellede with my ferst doughter. And anone wente thennes a yein to his first doughter: but anone as she sawe him come, she swore be God and his holy names, and be as moche as she myght that he shulde haue no mo with him but on knyght if he wolde there abide. Tho began Leir wepe and made moche sorwe and said, tho allas nou to longe haue I leuede that this sorwe and mischefe is to me nowe falle: for now am I pouer that somtyme was riche but nou haue I no frende ne kyn that me wolle dune eny goode. But whenne that I was riche alle men me honoured and worsheped and now euery man hath of me scorne and despite: And now I wote that Cordeil my yong doughter saide me treuthe whenne she saide as moche as I hadde so moche shulde I bene beloued. And alle the while that I hadde good tho was I beloued and honoured for my richesse: but my two doughteres me glosed tho and now of me thei setten litel price. And sothe [truth] tolde me Cordeil but I wolde nought belyve hit ne vnderstonde: And therefore I lete hire gone fro me as a thing that I sette litel price of and now wote I neuer what for to done sith my ij doughteres haue me thus deceyuede that I so moche louede. And nou mote I nedes sechen hire that is in another lande, tha lightely I lete hire gone fro me with oute eny rewarde of yiftes. And sheo said she loued me as moche as she aught hire fadre by al manere resonn: And tho I shulde haue axed of hire no more, and tho that me otherwise behighten thurgh hire fals speche nou haue me deceyued. In this maner Leir longe tyme him began to make his mone and at the laste he shope him to the see and passed ouer into Fraunce and axede and aspiede where the quene myghten bene founde and men tolde where that she was. And whenne he come to the cite that sheo was inne priuiliche be sente his squyer to the quene to telle here that hire fadere was comen to hier for grete nede. And whenne the squyer come to the quene be tolde hire euere dele of hire sustres fro the beginnyng vnto the ende. Cordeil the quene anone nome gold and siluer grete plente and toke hit to the squier in counsell that he shulde gone into a certeyn citee and him arrayen, bathen, and wesshen, and then come ayein to hire and bringe with him an honest companye of knyghtes, fourty atte the leste with hire mayne: and thanne he shulde sende to hire lorde the kyng and sein that he were comen for to speke with his doughter and him for to seen. And whenne the kyng and the quene herde that he come they hym receyued with mochel honour. The kyng of Fraunce tho lete sende thurgh alle his reame and comanded that al men to him shulde ben entendaunt to Lier the quenes fader in al maner of thing as hit were to himselfe. Whenne Lier hadde duelled their a monthe and more he tolde to the kyng and to the quene his doughter hou his tueyn eldest doughtres had him serued. Agampe anone lete ordeyne a grete hooste of Fraunce and sente hit into Brutaine with Leir, the quenes fader, for to conquere his lande ayein and his kyngdome. And Cordeill also come with hire fader into Brutaine for to haue the reame after heir fadres deth. And anone thei wente to shipp and passede the see and come into Brutaigne and foughten with the felons and ham scomfetede and quelde and Leir tho had his lande ayein and after leued iij yere and helde his reame in pees and afterward deid and Cordeil his doughtere him lete entere with mochel honour at Leycetre.--Whenne that kyng Leir was dede Cordeill his yongeste doughter helde and hadde the lande v yere and in the mene tyme deide here lorde Agampe that was kyng of Fraunce and efter his dethe she lefte wedowe. And tho come Morgan and Conadage, that wer Cordiell sistre sones, and to hire had enuye for as moche that hire aunte shuld haue the lande: so that betwene ham they ordeyned a grete pouer and vppon hire werrede gretely, and neuere they reste til that they hadde here taken and putte hire vnto dethe. M. S. Brute.

[503] Selfe from blame, blame worthy I. ed. 1575.

[504] Am. ib.

[505] Mothers, ed. 1575.

[506] Foe-mens. N.

[507] I deem’d if that I might once put her downe. N.

[508]

By force or fraud I did intend alone,
To sit as King vpon the Britaine throne. N.

[509] Nephewes. ed. 1575.

[510] O caytife vile, that did constraine a Queene. N.

[511] Nay traytour I as nowe by proofe is seene. ed. 1575.

[512] For vengeaunce and at length procurde. ib.

[513] Cunedagius “slough Morgan that was rebel ayanst him in Glamorgan in Wales, and by cause of that happe that countree is called Morgan’s londe.” _Polychronicon._

[514] That. N.

[515] THE AUTHOUR.

With that Morganus quickly past away,
The night me thought likewise was far epast,
Whereby it weried me so long to staye,
But Morpheus bad me bide and see the last,
“(Quoth he) the stories passe awaye as fast,
“As doth the tyme, and sith th’art nigh th’ende:
“Thou nedste not grutche, so short a space to spend.”

And turning then him selfe from me asyde,
He calde the next which therwithall in sight
Appear’d, and all his breste with bloud bedide.
What chaunce (quoth I) hath so thy corps bedight,
Thou worthy prince, or what mishaps of fight?
“I will (quoth he) with all my hart vnfolde
“My fatall fall, and therwithall he tolde.”

[516] This legend is not in the first edition.

[517] Which sought by outrage golden gaines to winne. N.

[518]

A sleepie sicknesse, nam’d the Lethargie,
Opprest me sore till death tooke life away:
This was the guerdon of my gluttonie,
As with the candles light the flie doth play,
Though in the ende it worke her liues decay:
So of the gluttons cup so long I drunke,
Till drown’d in it with shamefull death I sunke. N.

[519] This line omitted by Niccols.

[520] In the first edition this legend is in quatrains.

_Forrex declares howe hee minding to kill his brother which ruled with him (that he might therby raigne alone) was by him slain. About the yeare before Christe, 491._

Pride moues the mindes of stately wightes
Such hauty hartes to haue,
And causeth vs for glory vayne,
That is not ours to craue.

Pryde pluckes out reason forth hir place,
And planted will in stede:
She puffes our mindes with vayne desires,
Our fancies fonde to feede.

Wherby we growe so obstinate,
And so ambitious ill:
That vs at length our brauery bids
In all things vse our will.

Ambition thinkes that lawefull is,
Which likes hir fancie best:
And demes she ought to haue hir forth,
And swinge before the rest.

She loues no mates, controlment shee
And warning doth despise:
She demes her selfe in all hir deede
And actions, wonders wise.

She hath desire of this and that,
To get by crouche or clawe:
By right or wrong she forceth not,
She vseth will for lawe.

No kinde, or countrey she regardes,
No mother, father shee:
Nor wyfe, or husbande, kithe or kin:
But enuies eche degree.

For if thy hart Ambition haue,
Thy greedy mynde to still:
Thou wilt not sticke thy dearest frende,
Or nerest kin to kill.

But as the prouerbe sayes that Pryde
Must needes at length haue fall:
Though we suppose of strength and powre
We haue the deuill and all.

Euen so I say: Ambition makes
Vs often clime so hie:
At length we fall, we come to nought,
And drownde in darkenes lye.

This may I Forrex well auouche,
By proufe to true I finde:
Wherefore I praye thee with the rest,
Do put my faultes in mynde.

My father olde, hight Gorboduge,
Raignde three score yeares and three:
And at his death gaue all his lande
Twene Porrex proude and mee.

Fiue yeares we helde it so in peace,
In reste we ruled well:
But at the last by pryde and wrath
We foule at discorde fell.

We eache encrochte on others partes,
For rule we liu’de at strife:
And eache did seeke occasion aye
To reaue the others life.

I made this counte I elder was,
By birth the realme was myne:
By warre, or wrong, or bloud I ment
To haue it all in fine.

And he although he yonger were,
Esteemde his state so sure
As mine: and thought it his, if hee
My death might once procure.

My mother eke that lou’de me more
Although he yonger was:
By diuers meanes did helpe me still
To bring my feates to passe.

Wherby I thought my selfe so sure
To haue my purpose sped,
As I requirde: if once I might
Get of his crafty head.

See here what faith what frendship is,
What loue what fauour wee
Do shewe to any wight aliue,
If once aloft we bee.

To fathers we are faithlesse ofte:
To brothers, butchers vile:
Of sisters small accounte we make,
And wedded wyues exile.

If any kithe, or kin, we haue,
By whom we vantage may:
We care not by what cruell meanes
Their liues we take away.

But for to get the seate alone,
And for to wynne the crowne:
We care not whom, nor when, nor how:
So we may get them downe.

O brutish beasts! nay worse then those,
For they are still content
With that they haue, what euer them
Hath God or Nature sent.

But we do gape, and gaze for glore:
We prowle, and powle, and pill,
And sweare, and stare, and striue, and fight,
And one another kill.

And all for pompe, and glorie great,
For name, renowne, estate:
Not caring of the commons crye,
Or God’s eternall hate.

If I had had the giftes of grace,
I neuer would haue sought
By any meanes such worldly trashe,
With brother’s bloud to bought.

But as I ment euen so I sped,
So bloudy butchers thye:
When moste I deemde my purpose sure,
He was to good for me.

For as I thought his bloud to shed,
I compast was about,
So that for thousand kingdomes, I
Could not with life scape out.

He pearst my hart, what skilles it sith,
My minde was euen as bad:
For why what measure I him mente,
My selfe like measure had.

And so all such, as murder meane,
Intende, or treason vse,
Shall at the length, like ends attayne,
Or worse they cannot chuse.

[521] To tell my storie on the tragicke stage. N.

[522]

I may complaine that felt god Mars his rage,
Alas, that fate to state should be so fell;
Had I been meaner borne I know right well. N.

[523] While that my kingly sire, _Gorbodug_, raign’d. N.

[524] Not sticke oft times in field to fight. N.

[525]

Into her bowels by the force of hand,
With steele and iron we do dig profound,
Working her woe to make our ioyes abound. N.

[526] If we behold the substance. N.

[527] How he is made of elements. N.

[528] Armie strong for field. N.

[529] Heard the counsell. N.

[530] Hope will slip. N.

[531] Bred. N.

[532] The concluding Alexandrine omitted by Niccolls.

THE AUTHOUR.

When as king Forrex thus had tolde his tale,
Me thought he stayde no whit but went his way.
Then came a mangled corps as full of bale,
And or he nerer came made half a stay.
(Quoth Morpheus) come, for shame thou nedste not stay,
As bad as thou haue tolde their tales before,
And so must thou and diuers other more.

[533] The life of Porrex was also re-written. It is thus in the first edition.

_Porrex recites howe for the slaughter of his brother, he was slaine by his owne mother and hir maydens, as he laye sleeping. About the yeare before Christ, 491._

[Sidenote: Genes. 4.]

From darkesome dennes, where cruel Cayne,
And other like do lye:
Whose bloudie blades were bathde in bloud,
Poore caytiue thence come I.

[Sidenote: Annius.]

Where Typhon is, his brother slewe,
Osiris in despite:
And where their sister Isis is,
Did him againe requite.

[Sidenote: Virgil. in culi.]

Where Dardanus to rule alone
His brother made away:
Etheocles, Polinices,
At once did others sley.

[Sidenote: Seruius. 3. Aeneid. Ouid in Ibin.]

Where Helenus king Priam’s son
His brother Theon kilde.
Medea eke in bloudy wyse,
Hir brother’s bloud that spilde.

[Sidenote: Statius.]

Where Tydeus is in hunting shote
His brother through the side:
Polytes eke his brother’s harte
With sworde that opened wyde.

[Sidenote: Herodotus. Gel. li. 4. cap. 3.]

And where as that Cambyses is,
His sister once that slewe:
And Polipontes king that made,
His brother treason rewe.

And cruell where Odores s,
Which mercy did deny
To Mithridate his brother deare,
That did for pardon crie.

[Sidenote: Herodotus.]

Eke where Learchus is, that did
His brother sicke destroy:
With poyson deadly hoping so,
To make him selfe a Roy.

[Sidenote: Ouid in Ibin.]

And where that wretche Mamertes lies,
His brothers sonnes that spilte:
And Sisapho tormenting him,
For such an heynous gilte.

[Sidenote: Plutarch. Laert. Volater.]

Where Rhesus and Caduidus are,
With shaftes their brethren slewe:
And Philadelphus Ptolomæ
His brother’s death did brewe.

[Sidenote: Volater.]

Where Philopater Ptolomæ
His father made away
And after that his brother with
His dearest frendes did slay.

[Sidenote: Plato. 10. de rep.]

And where Ardieus, tyraunt vile,
His aged father stroyde,
And after that his elder brother,
Kingdomes to enioyde.

[Sidenote: Cælius.]

Where Mithridates, beastly king,
Of Pontus feeles anoye:
Which mother his, and brother eke,
Sixe children did destroye.

[Sidenote: Volater.]

Where is Antiochus the great,
His brother brought to graue:
That he might onely raigne alone,
And all the kingdome haue.

[Sidenote: Liuius. Lucan. Ouid.]

Wher Romulus, that Remus slew,
Of Romaines, first had fall:
Though louing brother first he were,
Presumde to scale the wall.

[Sidenote: Flores Histor.]

And where Mempricius lewde doth lye,
A Britayne Prince that slue,
His brother Manlius fearing lest
He were to him vntrue.

[Sidenote: Salust.]

Where Iurgurth eke that basterde is,
His brethren brought to graue:
That after them Numidia
He might for kingdome haue.

And where a thousande are beside,
Which were to long to tell,
Their parentes deare and brethren slue,
And now in darkenes dwell.

From thence I came a Britayne yore,
Namde Porrex once a king:
Againe to shewe what vices mee
To sodaine death did bring.

Now list a while and then do write,
What I thee tell, that others may
Themselues in such attempts as these,
From bloudy acts, as brethren stay.

My brother Forrex fiue yeares space,
And I this kingdome helde:
Betweene vs both the common weale,
We scace did wisely welde.

At length we fondly fell at strife,
So Princes bide no mate,
Nor make, nor partners, with to raigne
But beare their equals hate.

The heire because I yongest was,
Thought his by right the crowne:
But I esteemde the halfe was mine,
And all if he were downe.

Whereby, O brothell, butcher eke,
Not brother I did slay:
My brother for to haue it all,
And get his right away.

Such are the acts of heedelesse youthes,
Such are their studies still:
Which care not what offence they make,
So they their fancies fill.

But as it is vniustice, and
An haynous acte to vse:
Such murder, slaughter, parricide
And iustice all refuse.

So Ioue the iust at length requites
Our deedes: and makes vs rewe
We euer were, to God, or man
Or nature’s hestes vntrue.

For when I deemde the crowne was mine,
Which had my brother slayne,
O griefe to tell, my mother, and
Hir maydens wrought my payne.

Both for my fault, and for she lou’de
My brother Forrex still:
With all hir maydes she came by night,
My sleeping corps to kill.

And I that slombring sleeping lay,
Though many dreames fortolde
My haplesse fall, could neuer wake,
The meaning to vnfolde.

But last supposing with my selfe,
I cruell Tigres sawe,
With rauening fearcenes rent their yong,
Against dame Nature’s lawe.

She came on me to fill my dreame,
Before my eyes could wake,
And with a dagger reft my life,
For Forrex slaughter’s sake.

[Sidenote: Virgil in Culice.]

Much like Agaue and his mates,
Shee and hir maydens got
Them tooles therefore, and hewde my corse,
As small as fleshe to pot.

[Sidenote: Ouid. 6. Metamor.]

Or Progne Queene hir children slue,
and hewde their membres small:
In wrathfull ire made Tereus feede,
and fil himselfe withall.

[Sidenote: Virgil. 8. Aegl.]

Or like Medea monster Queene,
hir Iason’s sonnes that kilde:
Because she was forsaken when
his purpose was fulfilde.

Like these was shee, nay worse, for why,
This ended Brutus lyne:
Brought me to ende and hir to shame,
though first the fault were mine.

Bid those beware that weene to winne,
by bloudy acts the crowne:
Lest from the height they feele the fall
of topsy turuye downe.

For if when they suppose themselues
aloft to touch the skie,
There chaunce a storme, there is no holde
to staye themselues so hie.

But faster farre, more swiftly they,
and with more swinge descende,
Then euer erst they could with all
there force to clime contende:
Do bid them then in all their deedes
marke well the finall ende.

[534]

Or Typhon who for state and worldly pelfe,
His deare Osiris. N.

[535] Then to do the like may trie. N.

[536] Orodes slew his brother. N.

[537] So I my brother’s life away did take. N.

[538] Procur’d the slaughter. N.

[539] This. N.

[540] They would not so aspire to Princes place. N.

[541] From bale to blisse and downe from heauen to hell. N.

[542] Touch not the Prince, crowne, scepter, &c. N.

[543] THE AUTHOUR.

Next after Porrex came an other such,
Had all his body quite in peeces rent:
A desperate man, his life bewayling much:
Which for he seemed sorely to lament,
I was the rather him to heare content:
That I might also note his story here,
From like attempts of vices you to feare.

[Here follows the tragedy of Kimarus, as at p. 208.]

[544] The author has followed the authority of the Polichronicon in making Porrex the survivor. In the chronicle by Harding and other authorities their destiny is reversed; though generally it is stated, that the conqueror obtained the kingdom through the powerful aid of the king of France. Upon the story of these brothers was founded the tragedy of Gorboduc, produced by Norton and Sackvile in 1561, which was one of the earliest legitimate productions of the English drama. The murderous events of their history seem not to have been considered sufficient to maintain the interest of the play, and the traditionary tale was deviated from by making the old king Gorboduc survive his sons, and to fall a sacrifice with the queen, to the rage of the multitude. But this accumulation of horror was in taste with the times, and Sir P. Sidney describes the piece as “full of morality, which it doth most delightfully teach, and thereby obtain the very end of poetry.”

[545] The three formed part of a pentarchy, whereon the chronicles are uniform as to the obscurity.

[546] Not in the first edition.

[547] Right ouerrunnes. N.

[548] After comes. N.

[549] If good be gaine. N.

[550] The grape growes on the vine and not the hop. N.

[551]

Of this now spoken, this would I inferre,
Men may by might a kingdome long withhold
Not due to them: but they far better were
To yeeld vnto the right, what reason would.
Good mettals bides the touch, which tries the gold,
When copper counted counterfeit in cast,
Is deem’d but drosse and called in at last. N.

[552]

I am that Pinnar, who when Brutus blood
Extincted was in bloodie Porrex raigne,
Amongst the Princes in contention stood,
Who in the Britaine throne by right should raigne:
Mongst whom by might a part I did obtaine,
That part of Albion call’d Logria hight,
I did long time vsurpe against all right. N.

[553]

Stater who stept into the Scottish throne,
And Rudacke, that vsurpt the Cambrian crowne,
Their minds to mine did frame and ioyn’d in one,
To keepe the Cornish Prince stout Cloten downe,
Twixt whom and vs in fighting, for renowne
Faire Ladie Albion Europes wondred Ile,
Rob’d of her beautie was, alas the while. N.

[554]

Duke Cloten, though a man of worthie praise,
Who claim’d the crowne as due to him by right:
Could not preuaile till death did end his daies,
His sonne Mulmucius that vndaunted Knight
Pursu’d his fathers claime with all his might,
And meeting vs in many a bloodie field,
At length in manly fight did make vs yeeld. N.

[555]

He Lion-like himselfe with his all troope
Of nimble Cornish met vs on the way,
And to his conquering arme did cause vs stoope,
The price of treason I with blood did pay,
My wrong deem’d right appear’d in my decay.
Who so by violence scales the throne of State,
Seldome sits sure, but falles by violent fate. N.

[556] Not in the first edition. It is scarcely necessary to notice to the reader the change to the anapæstic metre in this short life, which the author has just called “staylesse staggering footed verse.”

[557] Desist not in histories truly to tell. N.

[558] Mirrours. N.

[559] Our souldiers were slaughter’d, or forced to yeeld. N.

[560] Were killed before. N.

[561] Or forced to yeeld, or abandon the coast. N.

[562] Not in the first edition.

[563] Esteem’d. N.

[564] Bladhud’s fond deuice. N.

[565] Adowne. N.

[566] By my mishaps let other men be wise. N.

[567] (For Forrex hight and Porrex both were slayne. N.)

[568] The wors er thereby our faithfull friends were. N.

[569] We do enioy her vaine ioyes. N.

[570] Stand. N.

[571] When I who with others did thinke myselfe sure. N.

[572] Who, when to field our power we did draw. N.

[573] Donwallo with honour. N.

[574] Oppose. N.

[575] Not inserted in the first edition.

[576]

Mulmucius who with conquering blade did free
The Britans troubled state from tyrants vile. N.

[577] With me in Albany to leade a princely life. N.

[578] His eie on Samye’s beautie had so fed. N.

[579] By force of armes to beare the. N.

[580] Erst bene heard mongst wise men sawes. N.

[581]

----the like by strife,
Or make assault by wrong to winne a Prince’s wife. N.

[582]

But on his side the conquest did appear,
I yeelded her. N.

[583] For tribute hostage gaue to Beline ere he past. N.

[584] And why false fortune my attempt did crosse. N.

[585] At seas we met our foes. N.

[586] The. N.

[587] And threatned Beline sore. N.

[588] Then appointed was to take the warre in hand. N.

[589] Whose bounteous grace for aye my loue to him did bind. N.

[590] Rashnes (by proofe I found) incurs the greatest ill. N.

[591] With her his Dukedome. N.

[592] By this you shall defame. N.

[593] Wore. N.

[594] Or force him yeeld.

[595]

By bloodshed they do build and prop their tottering state,
Raigne, liue and die despisde, in never dying hate. N.

[596]

----your force, by discord and by strife,
Distaine your bloods and reaue Corwenna’s of her life. N.

[597] Then let my iust request haue place. N.

[598]

----Pleading for a righteous peace
Aswage the warres which gods commands you to surcease. N.

[599]

----We met, and did imbrace,
All warre was set aside and ladie peace tooke place. N.

[600]

The craggie mountaines that do touch the skies,
With aged heads are euer white with snow,
The seas allow do rore, whence vapours rise,
And from the hilles great streames of waters floe,
The pathes so strict to passe which few do goe. N.

[601] Hang threatning death to them below. N.

[602] The Tuscans as we droue our heards of neat. N.

[603] Frenchmen with vs were. N.

[604] Could not hold vs well. N.

[605]

We raised straight, at Rome we founded loud alarmes,
To wreake reuenge for breach done gainst the law of armes. N.

[606] We came, which we possesse. N.

[607] Paid. N.

[608] Desired peace not daring vs prouoke. N.

[609] Though by the gods. N.

[610] And here he them. N.

[611] Who for a crowne breakes faith, and murders foule commits. N.

[612] He will be. N.

[613]

But from King Ptolomie these newes we heare,
No peace he crau’d, no tribute. N.

[614] Ne friendship crau’d. N.

[615]

Except our weapons laid adowne we should submit,
No arguments of peace he would admit. N.

[616] Quoth he, _not_ lost. N.

[617] Will all dispoiled bee. N.

[618] Without your powerful aides, whose actes the world haue won. N.

[619]

For which the souldiers all did chuse him for their king,
But them as captaine he against their foes would bring. N.

[620] Horse, which made a goodly sight. N.

[621] We wan the fielde in fight, we spoild the land at will. N.

[622] After this battle Beline must be presumed to haue returned to his native land, and many are the notable deeds which he reputedly effected for the weal of Britain. He, “both in ciuile iustice and also religion, as at that time was vsed, encresed his realm, constituting thre Archflamins, whose seas wer at London, York, and Carleon: He finished the foure great waies begun by his father: [Viz. Watling-street, Ikenild-street, the Fosse, and Ermin-street, thus referred to in Camden’s _Britannia_: 'Some imagine that these ways were made by one MULMUTIUS, God knows who, many ages before the birth of Christ: but this is so far from finding credit with me that I positively affirm, they were made from time to time by the Romans!’ To return: he] subdued and made tributarie vnto him Denmark. In London he made the hauen which at this day reteineth the name of him, called Belines-gate: and as master Leiland writeth (whose labour and industrie, in most diligent serchyng out the antiquities of this realm, is greatly to be commended) builded the tower of London. He maried his daughter Cambra vnto a prince of Almain called Antenor, of whom those people were called Cimbri and Sycambri. Finally after he had reigned with his brother and alone 26 yeres he died, and after the pagan maner with great pompe was burned.” _Lanquet._

[623] On high his temple. N.

[624] With gifts of gold. N.

[625] Brenne ouercame the Macedones with their Duke Sosteme, and after spoyled their goddes and their temples, and sayde in myrth, riche Goddes must geue to men some of their riches. _Grafton._

[626] Brought both far and wide. N.

[627] No foes to doubt. N.

[628] Could since be made. N.

[629] One that cride, one cride. N.

[630] T’erect a temple. N.

[631] Was spread a wondrous fame. N.

[632] The answere of deluding sprites the priests do show. N.

[633] The gold of kings and iewels rich were there. N.

[634] Run that doubtfull are. N.

[635] Then. N.

[636] Was with gold so inricht. N.

[637] Courage good nought feare I bid. N.

[638] With Delphos spoile. N.

[639] Stout Euridane and Thessalone I did assay. N.

[640] Did prouide defence. N.

[641] Their foes in face. N.

[642]

The Greekes in villages to make them trip
Intreated them to make. N.

[643] Our foes scarce fourteene. N.

[644] Statures all of gold. N.

[645] Stood faire golden. N.

[646] For here the God Apolloe’s pride. N.

[647] Surmounts all Greece beside. N.

[648] Ouerborne. N.

[649] The principal events of this long life of Brennus are also recorded by Grafton and Harding, or may be found in the amusing and copious relation of Fabian. The supernatural discomfiture of his army and occasion of his death is thus related in the Polychronicon. “Efte Brennius tourned agayn oute of the eest countrees: And efte ouercome the Macedoyns and theyr duck Sosten, and spoyled goddes and temples and sayde meryly, that ryche goddes muste gyue men somwhat of her rychesse. Also he spoyled Appolyn Delphicus temple in the hylle mount Pernasus. There men of the countrey prayde helpe of her God, and sodaynly the erthe began to shake and a grete parte of the hylle felle vpon the hooste of Galles; and haylestones slough that other dele. The duc Brennius for sore of his woundes myght not endure, and therefore he slough himself with a sharpe swerde. No man shal wonder though Appolyn toke wreche of hem that spoyled the goddes and the temples: for God suffred Appolyn destroye many nacions by cause of theyr trespaas and euyl lyuyng and dedes. For it is certayn that spirites of the ayer may vse her shrewdnes in them that be mysbyleuyd and euyll of dedes: For grace is wythdrawe from suche maner men and euyl of spirytes haue leue graunted to noye them and to greue them.”

[650] Declare what good. N.

[651] No kingly state. N.

[652] Lofty. ed. 1575.

[653] Sith vertue. ib.

[654] Such praise that all the world giue them applause. N.

[655] “Marcia was right connynge and conde many maner craftes, she made the lawe called Marcene lawe.” _Polychronicon._

[656] Or shall I saye, Kimarus I was king. ed. 1575.

[657] Praise the men that vertuous bin. N.

[658] Purpose I to passe did meane to bring. N.

[659] Of Kimarus “there is nothing written, but that he was a wilde and wanton Prince, geuen to all pleasure and pastime, and reigned but thre yeres, beyng slain of his aduersaries as he was a hunting.” _Grafton._

[660] THE AUTHOURE.

On this Kimarus left me all alone,
And so did Morpheus, then I thought to reste:
But yet againe he came presenting one,
For audience likewise making his requeste,
A worthy prince, he ware a warlike creste:
A blade in hande, he bloudy rusty bore,
Was all his harnesse from his shoulders tore.

His armes and handes were all embrued in bloud,
So was his breste, but all the rest beside
Seemde rayde with matter vyle, or slimy mud,
With red and yelowe as it were bedide:
You scarcely could the sight therof abide:
Yet sith he seemde some worthy wight to be,
It brought by farre lesse squemishnes to me.

[661] Which I do beare. N.

[662] I the dreadfull monster slew. N.

[663] On whom long time did. N.

[664] Till on her wheele’s steepe top she did me bring. N.

[665] Subiected thoughts doth wicked pride suppresse. N.

[666] Without all law as was my lawlesse life. N.

[667] Whom. ed. 1575.

[668]

By strokes to find a passage to his life,
But now I found in vaine was all my strife. N.

[669] From scales. ed. 1575.

[670] Seazed. N.

[671] Vs. N.

[672] This fable of the monster is repeated with little if any variation by most writers. “As he (Morindus) wente vppon a tyme by the see side, he mette a grete beste that was blak and horrible, and hidous: and wente that hit had bene a whale of the see: And bente an arweblaste and wolde haue slayn that beste with a quarell, but he myght nought smyte hit. And when he hade shote alle his quarell, the beste anone come to hym in grete haste, and him deuourede alyue, and so he deide.” _M. S. Brute._

[673]

---- an haplesse falle,
Or God’s reuenge, example take by mee,
And let my death sufficient warning bee. ed. 1575.

THE AUTHOURE.

I could not thus departe to take my reste,
For Morpheus bad me byde and heare the last.
(Quoth he) behinde as yet, is one the beste:
“Do stay a whyle, giue eare till he be past,
“And therewithall approtched one full fast,
The worthiest wight I euer erste did see”:
These wordes he spake, or like it seemed mee.

[674] Not in the first edition.

[675] Except the rest of Britaine princes should. N.

[676] The chronicles say six or seuen years, and deposed for his tyranny.

[677] To yex, to have the hiccough. _Johnson._

[678] Not in the first edition.

[679] An unwilling dolt.

[680]

A drunken sot whose faltering feete do slip,
Must pardon craue, his tongue in talke will trip. N.

[681] Erynnys, _i. e._ the goddesses that were to search into those men who had committed heinous offences: their names are Megæra, Tisiphone, and Alecto.

[682] Chaung’d in me. N.

[683] Sow, a great lump of melted iron or lead. _Bailey._

[684] Not in the first edition.

[685] Also prosper. N.

[686] Yet doth stand. N.

[687] Their. N.

[688] With those that will. N.

[689] Doth spoile the corps. N.

[690] Weaker force to. N.

[691] The like examples. N.

[692] Neuerthelesse. N.

[693] This censure was probably from the circumstance of the deeds and name of Nennius being omitted in the Polychronicon, and by Fabian, Lanquet, Rastell, and Stowe.

[694]

As on such tyrants who as bloodie foes,
Vnto their countrey wrought such deadly woes. N.

[695] As for myselfe I doe not. N.

[696] That to the dead these moderne writers doe. N.

[697] Any one of yore. N.

[698] Both tall forraine force in fight. N.

[699] Of their foes may haue. N.

[700] Place height Ely of his name. N. Some, as Camden observes, derive the name of Ely “from Helig, a British word signifying willows or sallows, which it bears in abundance; and indeed they are the only thriving trees here.” _Camden’s Britannia._

[701] This stanza omitted by Niccols.

[702] Lanquet, Stowe, Grafton, Flores Histor. _Margin_ of ed. 1575.

[703]

----as stories tell,
And fame did beare his name both wide and far. N.

[704] Enlargde them made with. ed. 1575.

[705] _Sic._ Strong. N.

[706] A place for gates to keepe. ed. 1575.

[707] Foemen. N.

[708] The. ed. 1575.

[709]

----these letters he did frame,
Brought by ambassadours which hither came. N.

[710] Pledges. ed. 1575.

[711] This. N.

[712] Require. ed. 1575.

[713] No doubt the Romaines more then half were mad. ed. 1575.

[714] Ile to mee. N.

[715] He fully straight decreed. ed. 1575.

[716] Therefore. ib.

[717] The Britaines eke prepar’d themselues. N.

[718] They. N.

[719] Wee Britaynes then farre deemde. ed. 1575.

[720] To meete him first. ib.

[721] Giue an entry here. ib.

[722] Here. ib.

[723] The enemies t’aband. N.

[724] Straunger. ed. 1575.

[725] Sought the noble Britaines. N.

[726] Not looke on mee. ed. 1575.

[727] The ancient stories. N.

[728] I had. N.

[729] My case haue tride. ed. 1575.

[730] Wounded in fight. N.

[731] Romaines stout their courage lose. N.

[732] A. ed. 1575.

[733] “Upon land Cæsar’s horsemen at the first encounter were vanquished, and Laberius Durus the tribune slaine, in a place now called Cheston wood neare vnto Rochester, as saieth the Chronicle of Wigmore.” _Stowe._

[734] Make thee mendes. ib.

[735] Friendship.

[736] For. ib.

[737] “The same [British] historie also maketh mention of one Belinus that was generall of Cassibellane’s armie, and likewise of Nenius brother to Cassibellane, who in fight happened to get Cesar’s swoord fastened in his shield by a blow which Cesar stroke at him. Androgeus also and Tenancius were at the battell in aid of Cassibellane. But Nenius died within 15 daies after the battell of the hurt receiued at Cesar’s hand, although after he was so hurt, he slue Labienus one of the Romane tribunes: all which may well be true, sith Cesar either maketh the best of things for his owne honour, or else coueting to write but commentaries maketh no account to declare the needeful circumstances, or any more of the matter, than the chiefe points of his dealing.” _Holinshed._

[738] Behofe. ed. 1575.

[739] The first eight stanzas of the “L’enuoy” form the like number commencing “the Author” in the edition of 1575.

[740] He vanisht with so sweete an heauenly smell. ib.

[741] Me seemde the. ib.

[742] With. ed. 1575.

[743] And mazed. ib.

[744] Which graunted, al they vanisht. ed. 1575.

[745]

On this in traunce I lay me thought a while
And musde reioysing. ib.

[746] Knight. ib.

[747] Playne. ib.

[748] Whose vertues so did passe. ib.

[749] As. ib.

[750] Deseruede. ib.

[751] So. ib.

[752] And let your. ib.

[753] The remainder of “the Authour” from the first edition.

But let me nowe retourne againe to tell,
What after this, me chaunst to see and heare.
I trust yee Readers like my dealing well,
In promise that I made, this later yeare.
For sure I thinke, a man farre better were
Not speaks at all, to promese hilles of gold,
And in performance, waxe as key full colde.

I saide (if God sent time, and space therfore)
Ye should receaue from mee (as leysure came)
Of these my simple toyles, a greater store,
And partly you perceaue, how I performe the same.
Such workes, as this my simple muse can frame,
(With all my harte and minde) you freely haue:
As free, as God these giftes me frely gaue.

Wherefore giue eare, now harken well to this:
As to these tunes, I gaue me thought some heede,
In doubte if sences led my mynde amisse,
Or whether [Greek: pathos] me with toyes did feede.
What doth (said Morpheus) now this musing nede?
Art thou so farre orewatcht, thy wittes the fayle?
Or els do fancies more then wit preuayle?

Not so (quoth I) though far the night be past,
And yet me thinkes, I could be well content
To leaue them so (if this were now the last)
So thou therto and Somnus sweete consent:
This noble Nennius well the time hath spent.
I would haue staide, if he had spoken more:
’Twas his departure, troubled me so sore.

(Quoth he) thou must a whyle yet longer byde:
In fewe he shall declare, how he hath sped
That commes. And euen with that I lookt aside,
And sawe a coarse approache without a head.
What now (quoth I) though erste (by thee) the dead
Were causde to speake, declaring all their will,
Yet speach of headlesse men doth passe my skill.

With that gan Morpheus touch him with his mace,
And sodainly an head, on shoulders pight.
For lacke of vse, he could not turne his face,
Or else had Morpheus scarcely set it right.
He had forgotten eke, to turne his sight:
But still he stode his face to set awrye,
And wappering turnid vp his white of eye.

As t’were a dead man, reared vp an end,
Deuoyde of life, and yet a feeling had:
His lippes lay open, grimly ofte hee grend:
With hollowe eyes, full oft he frowned sad,
And bent his browes, and lookte as he were mad:
I sawe not in my life, I thinke his pere:
Nor shall not, if I liue this hundred yeare.

At length he tryde, which way to tell his mynde:
Yet how to speake his tonge had quite forgotte:
Each instrument forgotten had his kinde,
That erste could run at randon and by roate,
But then me thought, with fist his brest hee smote,
The other hande his musing browes did holde:
And as awakte (at laste) this tale he tolde.

[754] Daunce. N.

[755] As. ed. 1575.

[756] Their. ib.

[757] Insteede of cheese to fill thy chaps with chalke. ed. 1575.

[758]

I will be briefe and truly tell thee all
The cause why I from graue do now appeare. N.

[759]

Let who so stands trust to a stedfast hold,
If stedfast hold he thinke that he may find,
Presume not on thy strength, nay yet be bold
On Fortune’s gifts, nay let her guide thy mind
In hope of hap, for she is counted blind. N.

[760]

So bad but we it frame. N.

[761] To done. ed. 1575.

[762] Nephewe. ib.

[763] For feates in armes, for fauour, and for fame. N.

[764] Nephew, ed. 1575.

[765] No, no, be sure. ib.

[766] How seeming friends did prooue my chiefest foes. N.

[767] As. N.

[768] That. N.

[769] Quoth we, by thee did all these Britaines die. N.

[770] Yet darst not. ed. 1575.

[771] Their wounds in flight all scattered. N.

[772] Tongues ioy to light could bring. N.

[773] Our king. N.

[774] Therewith for battaile bent as mad. N.

[775] Our foes foule flight. N.

[776] Seemely there but swordes in sight. ed. 1575.

[777] And men lesse deem’d do giue the conquering stroke. N.

[778] (And turneys.) ed. 1575.

[779] The stanza thus altered by Niccols.

A solemne iusts proclaimed was for those,
Who would to win renowne their valour trie,
Where th’earle of London’s cosin did expose
Himselfe to purchase praise, against whom I
To win the prize did all my powers applie:
But fatall was the scope I did intend,
Th’effects bewray’d my folly in the end.

[780] Fawting eye. ed. 1575. _i. e._ favouring eye. Their former friendly eie. N.

[781] Their foes to feare. N.

[782] Friends worse then forren. N.

[783] That fall at oddes for fond vaine glorie’s sake. N.

[784] That. ed. 1575.

[785] Wise before it be to late. ed. 1575.

[786] Did foule display. ed. 1575.

[787] He me. ib.

[788] Mens. N.

[789] The common rout. N.

[790] Made my foes to stare. N.

[791] Nothing lesse. ed. 1575.

[792] Not be well therwith. ib.

[793] But rather therfore beare. ed. 1575.

[794] Here the following stanzas occur in the first edition.

To which he aunswerd as despite had spoke,
With hasty wordes and tauntes of hygher peres.
I list not any iote (quoth he) reuoke,
Of that is sayd, ne darste thou for thine eares
(What euer lookes in place thy fauters beares)
Alone to mete me in the field to fraye.
But I may hap (by chaunce) to finde the day,
Wherein thou shalt not beare the price away.

As for the king we doubte if he be heyre,
The kingdome is the Earle of London’s right,
And though that he the prince his person beare
(In his nonage) he ought not reue it quyte,
Ne shall he stay mee if I mynde to fighte.
Then where thou speakst (quoth he) of princes peace,
And wouldst me warne, from furder dealing seace:
Thou better were (perhaps) to holde thy peace.

On which I playnly sayde, highe treason t’was,
So much to speake, against our soueraigne Lorde:
Quoth I, the boundes of modestie you passe,
That dare your case with prince his right accorde:
Your betters would far better wordes auorde,
And you perhaps your selfe so stoute that showe
Which make as though you sought his ouerthrowe,
Shall shortly more his grace his pleasure knowe.

[795] And. ed. 1575.

[796]

Thyselfe a traytour rather semest right,
That darste presume amongst thy betters so. ib.

[797] I raught to him. ib.

[798] My frendes likewyse could. ib.

[799] They drew. ib.

[800] We freshly. ib.

[801] They. ed. 1575.

[802] Was. ib.

[803] They. ib.

[804] Wherfore they layde about them francke. ib.

[805] Knight. ib.

[806] Several of the early historians concur in representing that this improvident quarrell, and unexpected rencounter, first enabled Cæsar to establish his landing in Britain, from the assistance afterwards given him by the Earl of London. The following is one of the briefest of the statements:--“It befell thus vpon a day that the gentylmen of the kynge’s housholde and the gentylmen of the Erle’s housholde of London after meet, went togyder for to play. And thrugh debate that arose ymonge them Enelin, that was the Erle’s cosyn of London, slewe Irenglas that was the kynge’s cosyn. Wherfore the kynge swore that Enelyn sholde be hanged. But the Erle of London, that was Enelin’s lorde, wolde not suffer hym. Wherfore the kynge was greatly wroth and vexed towarde the Erle and thought hym to dystroye. And pryuely the Erle sende letters to Julius Cezar, that he sholde come into this lande for to helpe hym, and hym auenge vpon the kynge, and he wolde helpe hym with al his myght. And whan the emperour herde these tydynges he was full glad, and ordeyned a stronge power, and came agayne the thyrde tyme into this lande, and the Erle of London helped hym with viii M. men. And at the thyrde tyme was Cassybolon ouercome and dyscomfyted, and made peas to the Emperour for thre thousande pounde of syluer, yeldynge by yere for truage for this lande for euermore.” _Chron. of St. Albans._

[807] Oh that my friend of yore. N.

[808] The edition of 1575 finishes with the life of Lord Irenglas, which Higgins calls the FIRST PART in his concluding lines of

THE AUTHOR.

With that (me thought) he vanisht quite away:
And I was come to end my worke at last:
Not minding longer on the which to staye,
My penne did trudge to wryte these verses fast.
I trust sith once, they haue the Printer past
That went before: these fragmentes come behinde,
Shall of the Readers, likewyse fauour finde.

So of my first part here I make an ende,
The Seconde parte which I haue now to fyle
Doth call me hence, from these to those to wende:
In which if God send grace to guyde my style,
I shall (I trust) and that in shorter whyle,
Againe retourne, to Printer’s presse with those:
Which shal likewise, their fight and falles disclose.

Till then farewell a thousand times to thee,
Which takst in hand this booke to shun the ill,
That was the fall of these describde by mee,
And haste to mende their faultes a firme good will,
I wishe thy health, increase of vertu still,
Adieu, farewell, I haue but this to say,
God send vs both his heauenly grace for aye.

_I. Higgins._

[809] Surely. N.

[810] In brief. N.

[811] Aurelia faire. N.

[812] Morall discipline instruct. N.

[813]

----and write the truth,
Of all my noble actions from my youth. N.

[814] The divorce of Henry VIIIth from Q. Katherine is undoubtedly here alluded to by the poet.

[815] That wrought his swift decay. N.

[816] The valiant Galles. N.

[817] Nations which were whilome. N.

[818] My famous warres. N.

[819] Each. N.

[820] That eke. N.

[821] Haue in field of Romane. N.

[822] Both stout. N.

[823] Went. N.

[824] Shippes againe: a wondrous thing. N.

[825] Where hauens be. N

[826] “The Brytons had pyght sharpe stakes in the ryuer of Tamyse there Julius hadde landed, the stakes were grete, shapen as a manne’s thygh and sette about with lede as it is yet seen.” _Polychronicon._

[827] When many diu’d the deepe before the land wee won. N.

[828] Being hardly. N.

[829] Come the following yeare. N.

[830] So stubburne. N.

[831] By our power bee ruled. N.

[832] For our second flight with sports. N.

[833] Neither best appeares. N.

[834] Elenine was stout, for. N.

[835] Vntill at length in fight hight Irenglas was slaine. N.

[836] Before the iudge doe doome. N.

[837] To me in France. N.

[838] He also Sceua sent for pledge. N.

[839] His losse in doubtfull war. N.

[840] His people’s base reuoult he chiefly did deplore. N.

[841] I after sent. N.

[842] The warlike Galles. N.

[843] I led my conquering host. N.

[844] But from. N.

[845] Slaine in fight, or more. N.

[846] But either fell in fight, or from the field did flie. N.

[847] For all our. N.

[848]

----and sonnes by myght did oft assaye,
When he was done to death. N.

[849] Of cunning skill. N.

[850] He wins immortall fame, thrice blessed is the crowne. N.

[851] The. N.

[852] Was alone. N.

[853] Sole to be. N.

[854] Me many secret. N.

[855] Soueraigne sway. N.

[856] My ruin and decay. N.

[857] Could no thing in state determin’d bee. N.

[858] Enui’d at me that. N.

[859] As hautie Cassius. N.

[860] The chiefest crime. N.

[861] Dispatch and death. N.

[862] Mine acts, my raigne, and. N.

[863] Yet. N.

[864] Fatall tombe. N.

[865] Without the guide of man. N.

[866] A little wren. N.

[867] My fall in slumber, I. N.

[868] Was from earth and. N.

[869] Hand in hand I thought I walkt with. N.

[870] Make me much that morning to mislike. N.

[871] Can void death’s dart when he doth strike. N.

[872] Seekes his life for to betray? N.

[873] Traytor bloodie Brutus. N.

[874] At last I went and there did meet vntimely fate. N.

[875] To senate as I went behold a Roman stood. N.

[876] Euery traytours name. N.

[877] Sought to spill my blood. N.

[878] Presently decreed to execute. N.

[879] I blind wretch supposde. N.

[880] My vnhappie hand. N.

[881] For which I lost my life, as you shall vnderstand. N.

[882] Diuinings true I then did. N.

[883] To warne me of my death the priest did seeke in vaine. N.

[884] I gaue. N.

[885] My cruell foes. N.

[886] Beset me round about. N.

[887] Perceiu’d my death’s approching sting. N.

[888]

Yee princes all and noble men beware of pride,
Wracke not the Commonwealth for wealthie kingdome’s sake;
Be warn’d by me that set myselfe the world to guide,
Beware what bloodie warres for rule you vndertake:
Ere three and twentie wounds had made my heart to quake,
How many thousands fell from Pompeyes pride and mine?
How many valiant Knights did loued life resigne? N.

[889] Themselues againe for griefe. N.

[890] For they would neuer yeeld though I did them subdue. N.

[891] Some trauail’d farre away. N.

[892] Loth to stay and see. N.

[893] Swift. N.

[894] On Aphrike’s coasts, and Asia. N.

[895] Also knew. N.

[896] Was nought but glorie. N.

[897] Rule 'mongst men aboue. N.

[898] In mind of. N.

[899] So oft addrest. N.

[900] I iustly deeme. N.

[901] Wounds this sentence long hath stood. N.

[902] Of. N.

[903] All men that in affaires themselues imploy. N.

[904] Doe. N.

[905] But first vnto Augustus what befell.

[906] I was both vnto warre. N.

[907] The Romanes heapt on me all worldly blisse. N.

[908] Best 'mongst them. N.

[909] But otherwise then I had thought it fell. N.

[910] About that time did. N.

[911] Loe now when as the Hebrewes. N.

[912] Fiends. N.

[913] All men called. N.

[914] The priests in enuie brought him vnto me. N.

[915] Wisard ’gainst. N.

[916] Which I belieuing whipt him. N.

[917] They kept three daies with souldiers stout: yet he. N.

[918] Which wheu they heard, they. N.

[919] Say, his corpes was stolne away. N.

[920]

--they money taken had;
I write the truth, if any otherwise
Do bring report, account it but vain lies. N.

[921] Punish. N.

[922] To their accusers threaten. N.

[923] I eke Germanicus with poyson slew. N.