Chronicles : The Historie of England | Page 6

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 [Sidenote: Matth West.] chosen to be
their generall capteine at their going ouer the 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 whitest 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
[Sidenote: _Polychr. Gal. M_. Caerleon Wiske built by Belline.] of
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 [Sidenote: Iohn Leland.] was burnt, 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 some haue written) which was long
time [Sidenote: The Tower of London built by Beline.] 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_.
THE FIFT CHAPTER.
[Sidenote: GURGUINTUS] Gurguintus the sonne of Beline began to
reigne ouer the Britains, in the yeare of the world 1596, after the

building of Rome 380, after the deliuerance of the Israelites out of
captiuitie 164 complet, which was about the 33 yeare of Artaxerxes
Mnenon, surnamed Magnus, the seuenth king of the Persians. This
Gurguint in the English chronicle [Sidenote: _Matth. West_] is named
Corinbratus, and by Matthew Westmin. he is surnamed Barbiruc, the
which bicause the tribute granted by Guilthdag king of Denmarke in
perpetuitie vnto the kings of Britaine was denied, he [Sidenote: _Gal.
M_. Gurguint c[=o]strained the Danes by force to pay their tribute.]
sailed with a mightie nauie and armie of men into Denmarke, where he
made such warre with fire and sword, that the king of Denmarke with
the assent of his barons was constreined to grant eftsoones to continue
the paiment of the aforesaid tribute.
After he had thus atchiued his desire in Denmarke, as he returned backe
towards Britaine, he encountred with a nauie of 30 ships beside the Iles
of Orkenies. These ships were fraught with men and women, and had to
their capteine one called Bartholin or Partholin, who being [Sidenote:
_Matth. West. Gal. Mon.] brought to the presence of king Gurguint,
declared that he with his people were banished out of Spaine, and were
named Balenses or [Sidenote: Basques.] Baselenses, and had sailed
long on the sea, to the end to find some prince that would assigne them
a place to inhabit, to whom [Sidenote: Sée more hereof in Ireland.] they
would become subiects, & hold of him as of their souereigne gouernor.
Therefore he besought the king to consider their estate, and of his great
benignitie to appoint some void quarter where they might settle. The
king with the aduice of his barons granted to