[Sidenote: GORBODUG THE 18. RULER.]
GORBODUG the sonne of Kinimacus began his reigne ouer the Britains, in
the yeare after the creation of the world 3418, from the building of
the citie of Rome 202, the 58 of the Iews captiuitie at Babylon. This
Gorbodug by most likelihood to bring histories to accord, should
reigne about the tearme of 62 yeares, and then departing this world,
was buried at London, leauing after him two sonnes Ferrex and Porrex,
or after some writers, Ferreus and Porreus.
[Sidenote: FERREX THE 19. RULER.]
FERREX with PORREX his brother began iointlie to rule ouer the
Britaines, in the yeare of the world 3476, after the building of Rome
260, at which time, the people of Rome forsooke their citie in their
rebellious mood. These two brethren continued for a time in good
friendship and amitie, till at length through couetousnesse, and
desire of greater dominion, prouoked by flatterers, they fell at
[Sidenote: Ferrex fled into Gallia.]
variance and discord, wherby Ferrex was constreined to flée into
Gallia, and there purchased aid of a great duke called Gunhardus or
Suardus, and so returned into Britaine, thinking to preuaile and
obteine the dominion of the whole Iland. But his brother Porrex was
readie to receiue him with battell after he was landed, in the which
battell Ferrex was slaine, with the more part of his people. The
English chronicle saith, that Porrex was he that fled into France, &
at his returne, was slaine, and that Ferrex suruiued. But Geffrey of
[Sidenote: _Matth. West._]
Monmouth & Polychronicon are of a contrarie opinion. Matthew
Westmonasteriensis writeth, that Porrex deuising waies to kill Ferrex,
atchiued his purpose and slue him. But whether of them so euer
suruiued, the mother of them was so highlie offended for the death of
him that was slaine, whom she most intierlie loued, that setting apart
all motherlie affection, she found the meanes to enter the chamber of
him that suruiued in the night season, and as he slept, she with the
[Sidenote: The mother killeth hir son.]
helpe of hir maidens slue him, and cut him into small péeces, as the
writers doo affirme. Such was the end of these two brethren, after
they had reigned by the space of foure or fiue yeares.
After this followed a troublous season, full of cruell warre, and
seditious discord, whereby in the end, and for the space of fiftie
yeares, the monarchie or sole gouernement of the Lland became a
pentarchie, that is, it was diuided betwixt fiue kings or rulers, till
Dunwallon of Cornewall ouercame them all. Thus the line of Brute
[Sidenote: _Robert Record._]
(according to the report of most writers) tooke an end: for after the
death of the two foresaid brethren, no rightfull inheritor was left
aliue to succéed them in the kingdome. The names of these fiue kings
are found in certeine old pedegrées: and although the same be much
corrupted in diuers copies, yet these vndernamed are the most
agréeable.
But of these fiue kings or dukes, the English chronicle alloweth
Cloton king of Cornewall for most rightfull heire. There appeareth not
any time certeine by report of ancient authors, how long this variance
[Sidenote: _Fabian._]
[Sidenote: Ciuill warres 51. yeares.]
continued amongst the Britains: but (as some say) it lasted for the
space of 51 yeres, coniecturing so much by that which is recorded in
Polychron, who saith, who it endured euen till the beginning of the
reigne of Mulmucius Dunwallon, who began to gouerne from the time that
Brute first entred Britaine, about the space of 703 thrée yeares.
¶ Here ye must note, that there is difference amongst writers about
the supputation and account of these yeares, insomuch that some making
their reckoning after certeine writers, and finding the same to varie
aboue thrée C. yeares, are brought into further doubt of the truth of
the whole historie: but whereas other haue by diligent search tried
out the continuance of euerie gouernors reigne, and reduced the same
to a likelihood of some conformitie, I haue thought best to follow the
same, leauing the credit thereof with the first authors.