The Romans being thus put to their extreame shift, deuised among
themselues how to reuoke Furius Camillus from exile, whom not long
before they had vniustlie banished out of the citie. In the end they
did not onelie send for him home, but also created him dictator,
committing into his handes (so long as his office lasted) an absolute
power ouer all men, both of life and death. Camillus forgetfull of the
iniurie done to him, and mindfull of his dutie towards his countrie,
and lamenting the state thereof, without delay gathered such an armie
as the present time permitted.
In the meane time those that kept the capitoll (being almost famished
[Sidenote: A composition.]
for lacke of vittels) compounded with Brenne and Beline, that for a
thousand pounds weight in gold, the Romans should redéeme their
liberties, and the said Brenne and Beline depart with their armie out
of the citie and all the territories of Rome. But at the deliuerie of
the monie, and by a certeine kind of hap, the Romans name was
preserued at that time from such dishonor and ignominie as was likelie
to haue insued. For some of the couetous sort of the Galles, not
contented with the iust weight of the gold, did cast their swords also
into the balance where the weights lay, thereby to haue ouer weight:
wherevpon the Romans refused to make paiment after that weight.
And thus whilest they were in altercation about this matter, the one
importunnate to haue, the other not willing to grant, the time passed,
till in the meane season Camillus came in amongst them with his power,
[Sidenote: Camillus disappointeth the Galles of their paiment.]
commanding that the gold should be had away, and affirming that
without consent of the dictator, no composition or agréement might be
concluded by the meaner magistrate. He gaue a signe to the Galles to
prepare themselues to battell, whervnto they lightlie agréed, and
togither they went. The battell being once begun, the Galles that
[Sidenote: The Galles overthrowne.]
looked earst for gold, and not for battell, were easilie ouercome,
such as stood to the brunt were slaine, and the rest by flight
constreined to depart the citie.
Polybius writeth, that the Galles were turned from the siege of the
citie, through wars which chanced amongst their owne people at home,
and therefore they concluded a peace with the Romans, and leauing them
in libertie returned home againe.
But howsoeuer the matter passed, thus much haue we stept from our
purpose, to shew somwhat of that noble and most famous capteine
Brennus, who (as not onelie our histories, but also Giouan Villani the
Florentine dooth report) was a Britaine, and brother to Beline (as
before is mentioned) although I know that manie other writers are not
of that mind, affirming him to be a Gall, and likewise that after this
present time of the taking of Rome by this Brennus 110 yeares, or
there abouts, there was another Brennus a Gall by nation (say they)
vnder whose conduct an other armie of the Gals inuaded Grecia, which
Brennus had a brother that hight Belgius, although Humfrey Llhoyd and
sir Iohn Prise doo flatlie denie the same, by reason of some
discordance in writers, & namelie in the computation of the yeares set
downe by them that haue recorded the dooings of those times, whereof
the error is growen. Howbeit I doubt not but that the truth of this
matter shall be more fullie sifted out in time by the learned and
studious of such antiquities. But now to our purpose.
This is also to be noted, that where our histories make mention, that
Beline was abroad with Brennus in the most part of his victories, both
[Sidenote: _Titus Liu._]
[Sidenote: _Polydor._]
in Gallia, Germanie, and Italie; Titus Liuius speaketh but onlie of
Brennus: wherevpon some write, that after the two brethren were by
their mothers intreatance made friends, Brennus onlie went ouer to
Gallia, and there through proofe of his woorthie prowesse, atteined to
such estimation amongst the people called Galli Senones, that he was
chosen to be their generall capteine at their going ouer the
[Sidenote: _Matth. West._]
mountaines into Italie. But whether Beline went ouer with his brother,
and finallie returned backe againe, leauing Brennus behind him, as
some write, or that he went not at all, but remained still at home
whilest his brother was abroad, we can affirme no certeintie.
Most part of all our writers make report of manie woorthie deeds
accomplished by Beline, in repairing of cities decaied, & erecting of
[Sidenote: _Polychr._]
[Sidenote: _Gal. M._]
[Sidenote: Caerleon Wiske built by Belline.]
other new buildings, to the adorning and beautifieng of his realme and
kingdome. And amongst other works which were by him erected, he
builded a citie in the south part of Wales, neare to the place where
the riuer of Vske falleth into Seuerne, fast by Glamorgan, which citie
hight Caerleon, or Caerlegion Ar Wiske. This Caerleon was the
principall citie in time past of all Demetia, now called Southwales.
Manie notable monuments are remaining there till this day, testifieng
the great magnificence and roiall buildings of that citie in old time.
In which citie also sith the time of Christ were thrée churches, one
of saint Iulius the martyr, an other of saint Aron, and the third was
the mother church of all Demetia, and the chiefe sée: but after, the
same sée was translated vnto Meneuia, (that is to say) saint Dauid in
Westwales. In this Caerleon was Amphibulus borne, who taught and
instructed saint Albon.
[Sidenote: _Fabian._]
This Beline also builded an hauen, with a gate ouer the same, within
the citie of Troinouant now called London, in the summitie or highest
part wherof afterwards was set a vessell of brasse, in the which were
put the ashes of his bodie, which bodie after his deceasse was burnt,
[Sidenote: _Iohn Leland._]
as the maner of burieng in those daies did require. This gate was long
after called Belins gate, and at length by corruption of language
Billings gate. He builded also a castell eastward from this gate (as
[Sidenote: The Tower of London built by Beline.]
some haue written) which was long time after likewise called Belins
castell, and is the same which now we call the tower of London. Thus
Beline studieng dailie to beautifie this land with goodlie buildings
and famous workes, at length departed this life, after he had reigned
with his brother iointlie and alone the space of 26 yeres.
* * * * *
_Of Gurguintus, Guintolinus, and Sicilius, three kings of Britaine
succeeding ech other by lineall descent in the regiment, and of their
acts and deeds, with a notable commendation of Queene Martia._