In the meane time that Beline was thus occupied about the necessarie
affaires of his realme and kingdome, his brother Brenne that was fled
into Gallia onelie with 12. persons, bicause he was a goodlie
gentleman, and séemed to vnderstand what apperteined to honour, grew
shortlie into fauour with Seginus the duke afore mentioned, and
declaring vnto him his aduersitie, and the whole circumstance of his
mishap, at length was so highlie cherished of the said Seginus,
deliting in such worthie qualities as he saw in him dailie appearing,
[Sidenote: Brenne marieth the duke of Alobrogs daughter.]
that he gaue to him his daughter in mariage, with condition, that if
he died without issue male, should he inherit his estate & dukedome:
and if it happened him to leaue anie heire male behind him, then
should he yet helpe him to recouer his land and dominion in Britaine,
béereft from him by his brother.
These conditions well and surelie vpon the dukes part by the assent of
the nobles of his land concluded, ratified, and assured, the said duke
within the space of one yéere after died. And then after a certeine
time, being knowne that the duches was not with child, all the lords
of that countrie did homage to Brenne, receiuing him as their lord and
supreme gouernour, vpon whome he likewise for his part in recompense
of their curtesie, bestowed a great portion of his treasure.
[Sidenote: Brenne with an armie returneth into Britaine.]
Shortlie after also, with their assent he gathered an armie, and with
the same eftsoones came ouer into Britaine, to make new warre vpon his
brother Beline. Of whose landing when Beline was informed, he
assembled his people, and made himselfe readie to méete him: but as
they were at point to haue ioined battell, by the intercession of
[Sidenote: Brenne and Beline made friends by intercession of their
mother.]
their mother that came betwixt them, and demeaned hirselfe in all
motherlie order, and most louing maner towards them both, they fell to
an agréement, and were made friends or euer they parted asunder.
After this they repaired to London, and there taking aduice togither
with their peeres and councellors, for the good order and quieting of
the land, at length they accorded to passe with both their armies into
Gallia, to subdue that whole countrie, and so following this
determination, they tooke shipping and sailed ouer into Gallia, where
beginning the warre with fire and sword, they wrought such maisteries,
that within a short time (as saith Geffrey of Monmouth) they conquered
[Sidenote: They inuade Gallia and Italie.]
a great part of Gallia, Italie, and Germanie, and brought it to their
subiection. In the end they tooke Rome by this occasion (as writers
report) if these be the same that had the leading of those Galles,
which in this season did so much hurt in Italie and other parts of the
world.
After they had passed the mountaines, & were entred into Tuscan, they
[Sidenote: Now Clusi.]
besieged the citie of Clusium, the citizens whereof being in great
danger, sent to Rome for aid against their enimies. Wherevpon the
Romanes, considering with themselues that although they were not in
anie league of societie with the Clusians, yet if they were ouercome
the danger of the next brunt were like to be theirs: with all spéed
[Sidenote: Ambassadours sent from Rome.]
they sent ambassadours to intreat betwixt the parties for some peace
to be had.
They that were sent, required the capteines of the Galles, in the name
of the senat and citizens of Rome, not to molest the friends of the
[Sidenote: Brennus answere.]
Romans. Wherevnto answere was made by Brennus, that for his part he
could be content to haue peace, if it were so that the Clusians would
be agréeable that the Galles might haue part of the countrie which
they held, being more than they did alreadie well occupie, for
otherwise (said he) there could be no peace granted.
The Romane ambassadours being offended with these wordes, demanded
what the Galles had to doo in Tuscan, by reason of which and other the
like ouerthwart wordes, the parties began to kindle in displeasure so
[Sidenote: The treatie of peace breaketh off.]
farre, that their communication brake off, and so they from treating
fell againe to trie the matter by dint of sword.
The Romane ambassadours also to shew of what prowesse the Romans were,
contrarie to the law of nations (forbidding such as came in ambassage
about anie treatie of peace to take either one part or other) tooke
weapon in hand, and ioined themselues with the Clusians, wherewith the
Galles were so much displeased, that incontinentlie with one voice,
they required to haue the siege raised from Clusium, that they might
go to Rome. But Brennus thought good first to send messengers thither,
to require the deliuerie of such as had broken the law, that
punishment might be done on them accordinglie as they had deserued.
This was done, and knowledge brought againe, that the ambassadors were
not onelie not punished, but also chosen to be tribunes for the next
yeare.
The Galles then became in such a rage (because they saw there was
nothing to be looked for at the hands of the Romans, but warre,
injurious wrongs, and deceitfull traines) that they turned all their
[Sidenote: The Galles make towards Rome.]
[Sidenote: The Romans incountring with the Galles are overthrown.]
force against them, marching streight towardes Rome, and by the waie
destroied all that stood before them. The Romans aduertised thereof,
assembled themselues togither to the number of 40. thousand, and
encountring with Beline and Brenne, neare to the riuer Allia, about
11. miles on this side Rome, were slaine and quite discomfited.
The Galles could scarse beléeue that they had got the victorie with so
small resistance: but when they perceiued that the Romans were quite
ouerthrowne and that the field was clearelie rid of them, they got
togither the spoile, and made towards Rome it selfe, where such feare
[Sidenote: The Romans in despaire withdraw into the capitoll.]
and terror was striken into the heartes of the people, that all men
were in despaire to defend the citie: and therefore the senate with
all the warlike youth of the citizens got them into the capitoll,
which they furnished with victuals and all things necessarie for the
maintenance of the same against a long siege. The honorable fathers
and all the multitude of other people not apt for warres, remained
still in the citie, as it were to perish with their countrie if hap so
befell.
[Sidenote: The Galles enter into Rome.]
In the meane time came the Galles to the citie, and entring by the
gate Collina, they passed forth the right way vnto the market place,
maruelling to sée the houses of the poorer sort to be shut against
them, and those of the richer to remaine wide open; wherefore being
doubtfull of some deceitfull traines, they were not ouer rash to enter
the same; but after they had espied the ancient fathers sit in their
[Sidenote: The Reuerend aspect of the senators.]
chaires apparelled in their rich robes, as if they had bin in the
senat, they reuerenced them as gods, so honorable was their port,
grauenesse in countenance, and shew of apparell.
[Sidenote: _Marcus Papirius._]
In the meane time it chanced, that Marcus Papirius stroke one of the
Galles on the head with his staffe, because he presumed to stroke his
beard: with which iniurie the Gall being prouoked, slue Papirius (as
he sat) with his sword, and therewith the slaughter being begun with
one, all the residue of those ancient fatherlie men as they sat in
their chaires were slaine and cruellie murthered. After this all the
people found in the citie without respect or difference at all, were
[Sidenote: Rome sacked.]
put to the sword, and their houses sacked. And thus was Rome taken by
[Sidenote: 365.]
the two brethren, Beline and Brenne, 365 yeares after the first
building thereof. Besides this, the Galles attempted in the night
season to haue entred the capitoll: and in déed ordered their
[Sidenote: The capitoll defended.]
enterprise so secretlie, that they had atchieued their purpose, if a
sort of ganders had not with their crie and noise disclosed them, in
wakening the Romans that were asléepe: & so by that meanes were the
Galles beaten backe and repelled.
* * * * *
_Camillus reuoked from exile, made dictator, and receiueth peremptorie
authoritie, he ouerthroweth the Galles in a pitcht field, controuersie
betweene writers touching Brennus and Belinus left vndetermined; of
diuers foundations, erections and reparations doone and atchiued by
Belinus, the burning of his bodie in stead of his burieng._