[Sidenote: GURGUINTUS]
Gurguintus the sonne of Beline began to reigne ouer the Britains,
in the yeare of the world 1596, after the building of Rome 380, after
the deliuerance of the Israelites out of captiuitie 164 complet, which
was about the 33 yeare of Artaxerxes Mnenon, surnamed Magnus, the
seuenth king of the Persians. This Gurguint in the English chronicle
[Sidenote: _Matth. West_]
is named Corinbratus, and by Matthew Westmin. he is surnamed
Barbiruc, the which bicause the tribute granted by Guilthdag king of
Denmarke in perpetuitie vnto the kings of Britaine was denied, he
[Sidenote: _Gal. M_. Gurguint c[=o]strained the Danes by force to pay
their tribute.]
sailed with a mightie nauie and armie of men into Denmarke, where he
made such warre with fire and sword, that the king of Denmarke with
the assent of his barons was constreined to grant eftsoones to
continue the paiment of the aforesaid tribute.
After he had thus atchiued his desire in Denmarke, as he returned
backe towards Britaine, he encountred with a nauie of 30 ships beside
the Iles of Orkenies. These ships were fraught with men and women, and
had to their capteine one called Bartholin or Partholin, who being
[Sidenote: _Matth. West. Gal. Mon.]
brought to the presence of king Gurguint, declared that he with
his people were banished out of Spaine, and were named Balenses or
[Sidenote: Basques.]
Baselenses, and had sailed long on the sea, to the end to find
some prince that would assigne them a place to inhabit, to whom
[Sidenote: Sée more hereof in Ireland.]
they would become subiects, & hold of him as of their souereigne
gouernor. Therefore he besought the king to consider their estate, and
of his great benignitie to appoint some void quarter where they might
settle. The king with the aduice of his barons granted to them the Ile
of Ireland, which as then (by report of some authors) lay waste and
[Sidenote: Polychron.]
without habitation But it should appeare by other writers, that
it was inhabited long before those daies, by the people called
Hibernenses, of Hiberus their capteine that brought them also out of
Spaine.
After that Gurguintus was returned into his countrie, he ordeined that
the laws made by his ancestors should be dulie kept and obserued. And
thus administring iustice to his subiects for the tearme of 19 yeares,
he finallie departed this life, and was buried at London, or as
[Sidenote: Caius.]
some haue at Caerleon. In his daies was the towne of Cambridge with
the vniuersitie first founded by Cantaber, brother to the aforesaid
Bartholin (according to some writers) as after shall appeare.
[Sidenote: GUINTOLINUS.]
Guintolinus or Guintellius the sonne of Gurguintus was admitted
king of Britaine in the yere of the world 3614, after the building
of the citie of Rome 399, and second yere of the 206 Olimpiad.
This Guintoline was a wise prince, graue in counsell, and sober in
behauior. He had also a wife named Martia, a woman of perfect beautie,
& wisedome incomparable, as by hir prudent gouernement and equall
administration of iustice after hir husbands deceasse, during hir
sonnes minoritie, it most manifestlie appeared.
It is thought that in an happie time this Guintoline came to the
gouernement of this kingdome, being shaken and brought out of order
with ciuill dissentions, to the end he might reduce it to the former
estate, which he earnestlie accomplished: for hauing once got the
place, he studied with great diligence to reforme anew, and to adorne
with iustice, lawes and good orders, the British common wealth, by
other kings not so framed as stood with the quietnesse thereof.
But afore all things he vtterlie remooued and appeased such ciuill
discord, as séemed yet to remaine after the maner of a remnant of
those seditious factions and partakings, which had so long time
reigned in this land. But as he was busie in hand herewith, death
tooke him out of this life, after he had reigned 27 yeares, and then
was he buried at London.
[Sidenote: SICILIUS.]
Sicilius the sonne of Guintoline, being not past seuen yeares of
age when his father died, was admitted king, in the yeare 3659, after
the building of Rome 430, & after the deliuerance of the Israelites
out of captiuitie 218, & in the sixt after the death of Alexander.
[Sidenote: Queene Martia gouerneth in hir sonnes roome.]
By reason that Sicilius was not of age sufficient of himselfe to guide
the kingdoms of the Britains, his mother that worthie ladie called
Martia, had the gouernance both of his realme and person committed to
hir charge.
She was a woman expert and skilfull in diuers sciences, but chiefelie
being admitted to the gouernance of the realme, she studied to
preserue the common wealth in good quiet and wholsome order, and
[Sidenote: She maketh lawes.]
therefore deuised and established profitable and conuenient lawes, the
which after were called Martian lawes, of hir name that first made
them. These lawes, as those that were thought good and necessarie for
the preseruation of the common wealth, Alfred, or Alured, that was
long after king of England, translated also out of the British toong,
into the English Saxon speech, and then were they called after that
[Sidenote: _Matt. West_.]
translation Marchenelagh, that is to meane, the lawes of Martia.
To conclude, this worthie woman guided the land during the minoritie
of hir sonne right politikelie; and highlie to hir perpetuall renowme
and commendation. And when hir sonne came to lawfull age, she
[Sidenote: _Matt. Westm_.]
deliuered vp the gouernance into his handes. How long he reigned
writers varie, some auouch but seuen yeares, though other affirme
15. which agréeth not so well with the accord of other histories and
times. He was buried at London.
* * * * *
_Of Kimarus and his sudden end, of Elanius and his short regiment,
of Morindus and his beastlie crueltie, all thrée immediatlie
succeeding each other in the monarchie of Britaine, with the exploits
of the last_.