Chronicles : The Historie of England | Page 3

into the north, beginning at the corner of
Totnesse in Cornewall, and so passing foorth by Deuonshire, and
Somersetshire, by Tutherie, on Cotteswold, and then forward beside
Couentrie vnto Leicester, and from thence by wild plaines towards
Newarke, and endeth [Sidenote: Watling stréet.] at the citie of Lincolne.
The second waie was named Watling stréete, the which stretcheth
ouerthwart the Fosse, out of the southeast into the northeast, beginning
at Douer, and passing by the middle of Kent ouer Thames beside
London, by-west of Westminster, as some haue thought, and so foorth
by S. Albons, and by the west side of Dunstable, Stratford, Toucester,
and Wedon by-south of Lilleborne, by Atherston, Gilberts hill, that
now is called the Wreken, and so foorth by Seuerne, passing beside
Worcester, vnto Stratton to the middle of Wales, and so vnto a place
called Cardigan, at the Irish sea. The [Sidenote: Erming streét.] third
way was named Ermingstréet, which stretched out of the west
northwest, vnto the east southeast, and beginneth at Meneuia, the which
is in Saint Dauids land in west Wales, and so vnto Southampton.
[Sidenote: Hiknelstréet.] The fourth and last waie hight Hiknelstréete,
which leadeth by Worcester, Winchcombe, Birmingham, Lichfield,
Darbie, Chesterfield, and by Yorke, and so foorth vnto Tinmouth. After
he had caused these waies to be well and sufficientlie raised and made,
he confirmed [Sidenote: Priuilegs granted to the waies.] vnto them all
such priuileges as were granted by his father.
* * * * *

_Brennus marrieth with the duke of Alobrogs daughter, groweth into
great honour, commeth into Britaine with an armie against his brother
Beline, their mother reconcileth them, they ioine might & munition and
haue great conquests, conflicts betweene the Galles and the Romans,
the two brethren take Rome_.
THE THIRD CHAPTER.
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 [Sidenote: Brenne
and Beline made friends by intercession of their mother.] as they were
at point to haue ioined battell, by the intercession of 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 [Sidenote: They inuade
Gallia and Italie.] conquered 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