[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 variance and discord, wherby Ferrex
[Sidenote: Ferrex fled into Gallia.]
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 Monmouth & Polychronicon are of a contrarie opinion. Matthew
[Sidenote: _Matth. West._]
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 suruiue
[Sidenote: The mother killeth hir son.]
in the night season, and as he slept, she with the 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 Iland 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
(according to the report of most writers) tooke an end: for after the
[Sidenote: _Robert Record_.]
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 continued
[Sidenote: _Fabian_. Ciuill warres 51. yeares.]
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. (sic)
¶ 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.