[Sidenote: MULMUCIUS. _Matth. West. Polyd_.]
Now to proceede with the aforesaid authors, Mulmucius Dunwall[=o],
or as other saie Dunuallo Mulmucius, the sonne of Cloton (as
testifieth th'english chronicle and also Geffrey of Monmouth) got
the vpper hand of the other dukes or rulers: and after his fathers
deceasse began his reigne ouer the whole monarchie of Britaine, in the
yéere of the world 3529, after the building of Rome 314, and after the
deliuerance of the Israelites out of captiuitie 97, and about the 26
yéere of Darius Artaxerxes Longimanus, the fift king of the Persians.
This Mulmucius Dunuallo is named in the english chronicle Donebant,
and prooued a right worthie prince. He builded within the citie of
[Sidenote: _Fabian_. See more in the description.]
London then called Troinouant, a temple, and named it the temple of
peace: the which (as some hold opinion, I wote not vpon what ground)
was the same which now is called Blackwell hall, where the market
for buieng and selling of cloths is kept. The chronicle of England
affirmeth, that Mulmucius (whome the old booke nameth Molle)
[Sidenote: Malmesburie and the Vies built. _Matth. West_. Lawes made.]
builded the two townes Malmesburie and the Vies. He also made manie
good lawes, which were long after vsed, called Mulmucius lawes, turned
out of the British spéech into the Latine by Gildas Priscus, and long
time after translated out of latine into english by Alfred king of
England, and mingled in his statutes. He moreouer gaue priuileges to
temples, to plowes, to cities, and to high waies leading to the same,
so that whosoeuer fled to them, should be in safegard from bodilie
harme, and from thence he might depart into what countrie he would,
[Sidenote: _Caxton_ and _Polychron_.]
with indemnitie of his person. Some authors write, that he began to
make the foure great high waies of Britaine, the which were finished
by his sonne Blinus, as after shall be declared.
[Sidenote: The first king that was crowned with a golden crowne.]
After he had established his land, and set his Britains in good and
conuenient order, he ordeined him by the aduise of his lords a crowne
of gold, & caused himselfe with great solemnitie to be crowned,
according to the custome of the pagan lawes then in vse: & bicause he
was the first that bare a crowne héere in Britaine, after the opinion
of some writers, he is named the first king of Britaine, and all the
other before rehearsed are named rulers, dukes, or gouernors.
[Sidenote: _Polyd_. Weights and measures.]
Amongst other of his ordinances, he appointed weights and measures,
with the which men should buy and sell. And further he deuised sore
[Sidenote: Theft punished. _Fabian_.]
and streight orders for the punishing of theft. Finallie, after he
had guided the land by the space of fortie yéeres, he died, and was
buried in the foresaid temple of peace which he had erected within
the citie of Troinouant now called London, as before ye haue heard,
appointing in his life time, that his kingdome should be diuided
betwixt his two sonnes, Brennus and Belinus (as some men doo
coniecture.)
* * * * *
_The ioint-gouernment of Belinus and Brennus the two sonnes of
Mulmucius, their discontentment, the stratagems of the one against the
other, the expulsion of Brennus out of Britaine_.