Hitherto haue we spoken of the inhabitants of this Ile before the comming
of Brute, although some will néeds haue it, that he was the first which
inhabited the same with his people descended of the Troians, some few
giants onelie excepted whom he vtterlie destroied, and left not one of
them aliue through the whole Ile. But as we shall not doubt of Brutes
comming hither, so may we assuredly thinke, that he found the Ile peopled
either with the generation of those which Albion the giant had placed
here, or some other kind of people whom he did subdue, and so reigned as
well ouer them as ouer those which he brought with him.
[Sidenote: _Humfr. Lhoyd_.]
This Brutus, or Brytus [for this letter (Y) hath of ancient time had the
sounds both of V and I] (as the author of the booke which Geffrey of
Monmouth translated dooth affirme) was the sonne of Siluius, the sonne of
Ascanius, the sonne of Aeneas the Troian, begotten of his wife Creusa, &
borne in Troie, before the citie was destroied. But as other doo take it,
[Sidenote: _Harding. Alex. Neuil. W. Har._]
the author of that booke (whatsoeuer he was) and such other as follow
him, are deceiued onelie in this point, mistaking the matter, in that
Posthumus the sonne of Aeneas (begotten of his wife Lauinia, and borne
after his fathers deceasse in Italie) was called Ascanius, who had issue
a sonne named Iulius, who (as these other doo coniecture) was the father
of Brute, that noble chieftaine and aduenturous leader of those people,
which being descended (for the more part in the fourth generation)
from those Troians that escaped with life, when that roiall citie was
destroied by the Gréekes, got possession of this woorthie and most famous
Ile.
To this opinion Giouan Villani a Florentine in his vniuersall historie,
speaking of Aeneas and his ofspring kings in Italie, séemeth to agrée,
where he saith: "Siluius (the sonne of Aeneas by his wife Lauinia) fell
in loue with a néece of his mother Lauinia, and by hir had a sonne, of
whom she died in trauell, and therefore was called Brutus, who after
as he grew in some stature, and hunting in a forrest slue his father
vnwares, and therevpon for feare of his grandfather Siluius Posthumus he
fled the countrie, and with a retinue of such as followed him, passing
through diuers seas, at length he arriued in the Ile of Britaine."
Concerning therefore our Brute, whether his father Iulius was sonne to
Ascanius the sonne of Aeneas by his wife Creusa, or sonne to Posthumus
called also Ascanius, and sonne to Aeneas by his wife Lauinia, we will
not further stand. But this, we find, that when he came to the age of 15.
yéeres, so that he was now able to ride abrode with his father into
the forrests and chases, he fortuned (either by mishap, or by Gods
[Sidenote: Brute killeth his father.]
prouidence) to strike his father with an arrow, in shooting at a déere,
of which wound he also died. His grandfather (whether the same was
Posthumus, or his elder brother) hearing of this great misfortune that
had chanced to his sonne Siluius, liued not long after, but died for
verie greefe and sorow (as is supposed) which he conceiued thereof. And
the young gentleman, immediatlie after he had slaine his father (in maner
before alledged) was banished his countrie, and therevpon got him into
Grecia, where trauelling the countrie, he lighted by chance among some of
the Troian ofspring, and associating himselfe with them, grew by meanes
of the linage (whereof he was descended) in proces of time into great
reputation among them: chieflie by reason there were yet diuers of the
[Sidenote: Pausanias.]
Troian race, and that of great authoritie in that countrie. For Pyrrhus
the sonne of Achilles, hauing no issue by his wife Hermione, maried
Andromache, late wife vnto Hector: and by hir had thrée sonnes, Molossus,
Pileus, and Pergamus, who in their time grew to be of great power in
those places and countries, and their ofspring likewise: whereby Brutus
or Brytus wanted no friendship. For euen at his first comming thither,
diuers of the Troians that remained in seruitude, being desirous of
libertie, by flocks resorted vnto him. And amongst other, Assaracus was
one, whom Brute intertained, receiuing at his hands the possession of
sundrie forts and places of defense, before that the king of those
parties could haue vnderstanding or knowledge of any such thing. Herewith
also such as were readie to make the aduenture with him, repaired to him
on ech side, wherevpon he first placed garisons in those townes which
had bene thus deliuered vnto him, and afterwards with Assaracus and the
residue of the multitude he withdrew into the mountains néere adioining.
And thus being made strong with such assistance, by consultation had with
them that were of most authoritie about him, wrote vnto the king of that
countrie called Pandrasus, in forme as followeth.
_A letter of Brute to Pandrasus, as I find it set downe in Galfride
Monumetensis._
"Brute leader of the remnant of the Troian people, to Pandrasus king of
the Gréekes, sendeth greeting. Bicause it hath beene thought a thing
vnworthie, that the people descended of the noble linage of Dardanus
should be otherwise dealt with than the honour of their nobilitie dooth
require: they haue withdrawne themselues within the close couert of the
woods. For they haue chosen rather (after the maner of wild beasts) to
liue on flesh and herbs in libertie, than furnished with all the riches
in the world to continue vnder the yoke of seruile thraldome. But if this
their dooing offend thy mightie highnesse, they are not to be blamed, but
rather in this behalfe to be pardoned, sith euerie captiue prisoner
is desirous to be restored vnto his former estate and dignitie. You
therefore pitieng their case, vouchsafe to grant them their abridged
libertie, and suffer them to remaine in quiet within these woods which
they haue got into their possession: if not so, yet giue them licence to
depart forth of this countrie into some other parts."
The sight of these letters, and request in them conteined, made Pandrasus
at the first somewhat amazed, howbeit deliberating further of the matter,
and considering their small number, he made no great account of them, but
[Sidenote: Pandrasus prepareth an armie to supress the Troian ofspring.]
determined out of hand to suppresse them by force, before they should
grow to a greater multitude. And to bring his intention the better to
[Sidenote: Sparatinum.]
passe, he passed by a towne called Sparatinum, & marching toward the
woods where he thoght to haue found his enimies, he was suddenlie
assalted by Brute, who with three thousand men came foorth of the woods,
and fiercelie setting vpon his enimies, made great slaughter of them,
so that they were vtterlie discomfited, & sought by flight to saue
[Sidenote: Peraduenture Achelous.]
themselues in passing a riuer néere hand called Akalon. Brute with his
men following fast upon the aduersaries, caused them to plunge into the
water at aduenture, so that manie of them were drowned. Howbeit Antigonus
[Sidenote: Antigonus, the brother of Pandrasus.]
the brother of Pandrasus did what he could to stay the Grecians from
fléeing, and calling them backe againe did get some of them togither,
placed them in order, and began a new field: but it nothing auailed, for
the Troians, preasing vpon him, tooke him prisoner, slue and scattred
his companie, and ceased not till they had rid the fields of all their
aduersaries.
[Sidenote: Brute entreth into Sparatinum.]
This doone, Brute entering the towne, furnished it with six hundred able
souldiours, and afterwards went backe to the residue of his people that
were incamped in the woods, where he was receiued with vnspeakeable ioy
for this prosperous atchiued enterprise. But although this euill successe
at the first beginning sore troubled Pandrasus, as well for the losse of
the field, as for the taking of his brother, yet was he rather kindled
in desire to séeke reuenge, than otherwise discouraged. And therefore
assembling his people againe togither that were scattered here and there,
he came the next day before the towne of Sparatinum, where he thought to
haue found Brute inclosed togither with the prisoners, and therfore he
shewed his whole endeuour by hard siege and fierce assaults to force them
within to yeeld.
To conclude, so long he continued the siege, till victuals began to waxe
scant within, so that there was no way but to yeeld, if present succour
came not to remoue the siege: wherevpon they signified their necessitie
vnto Brute, who for that he had not power sufficient to fight with the
enimies in open field, he ment to giue them a camisado in the night
season, and so ordered his businesse, that inforsing a prisoner (named
Anacletus whome he had taken in the last battell) to serue his turne, by
constreining him to take an oth (which he durst not for conscience sake
breake) he found means to encounter with his enimies vpon the aduantage,
that he did not onelie ouerthrowe their whole power, but also tooke
[Sidenote: Pandrasus taken prisoner.]
Pandrasus prisoner, whereby all the trouble was ended: and shortlie after
a perfect peace concluded, vpon these conditions following.
[Sidenote: The conditions of the agréement betwixt Brute & Pandrasus.]
First, that Pandrasus should giue his daughter Innogen vnto Brute in
mariage, with a competent summe of gold and siluer for hir dowrie.
Secondlie, to furnish him and his people with a nauie of ships, and to
store the same with victuals and all other necessaries.
Thirdlie, that Brute with his people should haue licence to depart the
countrie, to séeke aduentures whither so euer it should please them to
direct their course, without let, impeachment, or trouble to be offered
anie waies by the Gréeks.
To all these conditions (bicause they touched not the prerogatiue of his
kingdome) Pandrasus did willinglie agrée, and likewise performed.
* * * * *
_Brute and his wife Innogen arriue in Leogitia, they aske counsell of an
oracle where they shall inhabit, he meeteth with a remnant of Troians on
the coasts neere the shooting downe of the Pyrenine hills into the sea._