[Sidenote: ERCHENWIN. The kingdom of the Eastsaxons.]
In those daies also the kingdome of the Eastsaxons began, the
chéefe citie whereof was London. It contained in effect so much as
at this present belongeth to the diocesse of London. One Erchenwin a
Saxon was the first king thereof, the which was sonne to one Offa, the
sixt in lineall descent from one Saxnot, from whom the kings of that
countrie fetched their originall. Harison noteth the exact yéere of
the erection of the kingdome of the Eastsaxons to begin with the end
of the eight of Cerdicus king of the Westsaxons, that is, the 527 of
Christ, and 78 after the comming of the Saxons. In the 13 yéere of the
reigne of Cerdicus, he with his sonne Kenrike, and other of the
Saxon capteins fought with the Britains in the Ile of Wight at
Witgarsbridge, where they slue a great number of Britains, and so
conquered the Ile, the which about four yéeres after was giuen by
Cerdicus vnto his nephues Stuffe and Witgar.
[Sidenote: ARTHUR.]
After the deceasse of Vter Pendragon (as we doo find in the British
histories) his sonne Arthur, a yoong towardlie gentleman, of the age
of 15 yéeres or thereabouts, began his reigne ouer the Britains in
[Sidenote: 516.]
[Sidenote: _Matth. West._ hath noted 518.]
the yéere of our Lord 516, or as Matt. Westmin. saith 517, in the
28 yéere of the emperour Anastasius, and in the third yéere of the
reignes of Childebert, Clothare, Clodamire, and Theodorike, brethren
that were kings of the Frenchmen. Of this Arthur manie things are
written beyond credit, for that there is no ancient author of
authoritie that confirmeth the same: but surelie as may be thought he
was some woorthie man, and by all likelihood a great enimie to the
Saxons, by reason whereof the Welshmen which are the verie Britains in
déed, haue him in famous remembrance. He fought (as the common report
goeth of him) 12 notable battels against the Saxons, & in euerie of
them went away with the victorie, but yet he could not driue them
quite out of the land, but that they kept still the countries which
they had in possession, as Kent, Sutherie, Norfolke, and others:
howbeit some writers testifie, that they held these countries as
tributaries to Arthur.
But truth it is (as diuers authors agrée) that he held continuall
warre against them, and also against the Picts, the which were allied
with the Saxons: for as in the Scotish histories is conteined, euen
at the first beginning of his reigne, the two kings of the Scots and
Picts séemed to enuie his aduancement to the crowne of Britaine,
bicause they had maried the two sisters of the two brethren, Aurelius
Ambrosius, and Vter Pendragon, that is to say, Loth king of Picts had
married Anne their eldest sister, and Conran king of Scots had in
mariage Alda their yoonger sister, so that bicause Arthur was begotten
out of wedlocke, they thought it stood with more reason, that the
kingdome of the Britains should haue descended vnto the sisters
sonnes, rather than to a bastard, namelie Loth the Pictish king, which
had issue by his wife Anna, sore repined at the matter.
Wherefore at the first, when he saw that by suit he could not
preuaile, he ioined in league with the Saxons, and aiding them against
Arthur, lost many of his men of warre being ouerthrowne in battell,
which he had sent vnto the succours of Colgerne the Saxon prince that
ruled as then in the north parts. But finallie a league was concluded
betwixt Arthur and the foresaid Loth king of Picts, vpon certeine
conditions, as in the Scotish historie is expressed, where ye may read
the same, with many other things touching the acts of Arthur, somewhat
in other order than our writers haue recorded.
¶ The British authors declare, that Arthur (immediatlie after he had
receiued the crowne of Dubright bishop of Caerleon) went with his
power of Britains against the Saxons of Northumberland, which had to
their capteine (as before is said) one Colgrime or Colgerne, whome
Arthur discomfited and chased into the citie of Yorke, within which
[Sidenote: Yorke besieged.]
place Arthur besieged him, till at length the same Colgrime
escaped out of the citie, & leauing it in charge with his brother
[Sidenote: Cheldrike commeth in aid of Colgrime. _Matt. Westm._ saith
but 700.]
called Bladulfe, passed ouer into Germanie vnto Cheldrike king of that
countrie, of whom he obteined succor, so that the said Cheldrike made
prouision of men and ships, and came himselfe ouer into Scotland,
hauing in his companie fiftéene hundred sailes one with an other.
When Arthur was aduertised thereof, he raised his siege, and withdrew
to London, sending letters with all speed vnto Howell king of little
Britaine in France, that was his sisters sonne, requiring of him
[Sidenote: Howell king of Britaine commeth ouer in aid of Arthur.]
in most earnest wise his aid. Howell incontinentlie assembled his
people, to the number of fifteene thousand men, and taking the sea,
landed with them at Southhampton, where Arthur was readie to receiue
him with great ioy and gladnesse. From thence they drew northwards,
where both the hosts of Arthur and Howell being assembled togither,
marched forward to Lincolne, which citie Cheldrike did as then
[Sidenote: Cheldrike ouerthrowne in battell.]
besiege. Here Arthur and Howell assailed the Saxons with great
force & no lesse manhood, and at length after great slaughter made of
the enimies, they obteined the victorie, and chased Cheldrike (with
the residue of the Saxons that were left aliue) vnto a wood, where
they compassed them about within the same, in such wise, that in the
ende they were constreined to yéeld themselues, with condition that
they might be suffered to depart on foot to their ships, and so auoid
the land, leauing their horsse, armour, and other furniture vnto the
Britains.
Héerevpon the Britains taking good hostages for assurance, permitted
the Saxons to go their waies, and so Cheldrike and his people got them
to their ships, in purpose to returne into their countrie: but being
on the sea, they were forced by wind to change their course, and
comming on the coasts of the west parts of Britaine, they arriued
at Totnesse, and contrarie to the couenanted articles of their last
composition with Arthur, inuaded the countrie anew, and taking such
armour as they could find, marched foorth in robbing and spoiling the
people, till they came to Bath, which towne the Britains kept and
defended against them, not suffering them by anie meanes to enter
there, wherevpon the Saxons inuironed it with a strong siege.
[Sidenote: Bath besieged.]
Arthur informed heereof, with all spéed hasted thither, and giuing the
enimies battell, slue the most part of Cheldrikes men.
[Sidenote: The Saxons (sic) ouerthrow Colgrime and Bladulfe.]
There were slaine both Colgrime and Bladulfe, howbeit Cheldrike
himselfe fled out of the field towards his ships, but being pursued
by Cador earle of Cornwall (that had with him ten thousand men) by
Arthurs appointment, he was ouertaken and in flight slaine with all
[Sidenote: Cheldrike slaine by Cador duke of Cornwall.]
his people. Arthur himselfe returned from this battell foughten at
[Sidenote: K. Howell besieged by the Scots.]
Bath with all speed towards the marshes of Scotland, for that he
had receiued aduertisement, how the Scots had besieged Howell K. of
Britaine there, as he lay sicke. Also when Cador had accomplished his
enterprise and slaine Cheldrike, he returned with as much spéed as was
possible towards Arthur, & found him in Scotland, where he rescued
Howell, and afterwards pursued the Scots which fled before him by
heaps.
[Sidenote: Guillomer.]
About the same time, one Guillomer king of Ireland arriued in
Scotland with a mightie power of Irishmen (neere the place where
Arthur lodged) to helpe the Scots against the Britains: wherevpon
Arthur turning his forces towards the same Guillomer, vanquished him,
and chased him into Ireland. This doone, he continued in pursute of
the Scots, till he caused them to sue for pardon, and to submit them
selues wholie to him, and so receiuing them to mercie, & taking homage
of them, he returned to Yorke, and shortlie after tooke to wife
[Sidenote: Guenhera.]
one Guenhera a right beautifull ladie, that was néere kinswoman to
Cador earle of Cornwall.
[Sidenote: _W. Harison_. 525.]
In the yéere following, which some note to be 525, he went into
Ireland, and discomfiting king Guillomer in battell, he constreined
him to yéeld, and to acknowledge by dooing his fealtie to hold the
realme of Ireland of him. It is further remembred in those British
[Sidenote: Gothland.]
histories, that he subdued Gothland and Iseland, with all the
Iles in and about those seas. Also that he ouercame the Romans in the
countrie about Paris, with their capteine Lucius, and wasted the most
part of all France, and slue in singular combats certeine giants that
were of passing force and hugenesse of stature. And if he had not
béene reuoked and called home to resist his coosen Mordred, that was
sonne to Loth king of Pightland that rebelled in his countrie, he had
passed to Rome, intending to make himselfe emperor, and afterward to
vanquish the other emperor, who then ruled the empire. ¶ But for so
much as there is not anie approoued author who dooth speake of anie
such dooings, the Britains are thought to haue registered méere fables
in sted of true matters, vpon a vaine desire to aduance more than
reason would, this Arthur their noble champion, as the Frenchmen haue
doone their Rouland, and diuerse others.
* * * * *
_Arthur is resisted by Mordred the usurper from arriuing in his owne
land, they ioine battell, Gawaine is slaine and his death lamented
by Arthur, Mordred taketh flight, he in slaine, and Arthur mortallie
wounded, his death, the place of his buriall, his bodie digged vp, his
bignesse coniecturable by his bones, a crosse found in his toome with
an inscription therevpon, his wife Guenhera buried with him, a rare
report of hir haire, Iohn Lelands epitaph in memorie of prince
Arthur._