Chronicles : The Historie of England | Page 7

them the Ile of Ireland,
which as then (by report of some authors) lay waste and [Sidenote:
Polychron.] without habitation But it should appeare by other writers,
that it was inhabited long before those daies, by the people called
Hibernenses, of Hiberus their capteine that brought them also out of
Spaine.
After that Gurguintus was returned into his countrie, he ordeined that
the laws made by his ancestors should be dulie kept and obserued. And
thus administring iustice to his subiects for the tearme of 19 yeares, he
finallie departed this life, and was buried at London, or as [Sidenote:
Caius.] some haue at Caerleon. In his daies was the towne of

Cambridge with the vniuersitie first founded by Cantaber, brother to
the aforesaid Bartholin (according to some writers) as after shall
appeare.
[Sidenote: GUINTOLINUS.] Guintolinus or Guintellius the sonne of
Gurguintus was admitted king of Britaine in the yere of the world 3614,
after the building of the citie of Rome 399, and second yere of the 206
Olimpiad. This Guintoline was a wise prince, graue in counsell, and
sober in behauior. He had also a wife named Martia, a woman of
perfect beautie, & wisedome incomparable, as by hir prudent
gouernement and equall administration of iustice after hir husbands
deceasse, during hir sonnes minoritie, it most manifestlie appeared.
It is thought that in an happie time this Guintoline came to the
gouernement of this kingdome, being shaken and brought out of order
with ciuill dissentions, to the end he might reduce it to the former estate,
which he earnestlie accomplished: for hauing once got the place, he
studied with great diligence to reforme anew, and to adorne with iustice,
lawes and good orders, the British common wealth, by other kings not
so framed as stood with the quietnesse thereof. But afore all things he
vtterlie remooued and appeased such ciuill discord, as séemed yet to
remaine after the maner of a remnant of those seditious factions and
partakings, which had so long time reigned in this land. But as he was
busie in hand herewith, death tooke him out of this life, after he had
reigned 27 yeares, and then was he buried at London.
[Sidenote: SICILIUS.] Sicilius the sonne of Guintoline, being not past
seuen yeares of age when his father died, was admitted king, in the
yeare 3659, after the building of Rome 430, & after the deliuerance of
the Israelites out of captiuitie 218, & in the sixt after the death of
Alexander. [Sidenote: Queene Martia gouerneth in hir sonnes roome.]
By reason that Sicilius was not of age sufficient of himselfe to guide
the kingdoms of the Britains, his mother that worthie ladie called
Martia, had the gouernance both of his realme and person committed to
hir charge.
She was a woman expert and skilfull in diuers sciences, but chiefelie
being admitted to the gouernance of the realme, she studied to preserue

the common wealth in good quiet and wholsome order, and [Sidenote:
She maketh lawes.] therefore deuised and established profitable and
conuenient lawes, the which after were called Martian lawes, of hir
name that first made them. These lawes, as those that were thought
good and necessarie for the preseruation of the common wealth, Alfred,
or Alured, that was long after king of England, translated also out of
the British toong, into the English Saxon speech, and then were they
called after that [Sidenote: _Matt. West_.] translation Marchenelagh,
that is to meane, the lawes of Martia. To conclude, this worthie woman
guided the land during the minoritie of hir sonne right politikelie; and
highlie to hir perpetuall renowme and commendation. And when hir
sonne came to lawfull age, she [Sidenote: _Matt. Westm_.] deliuered
vp the gouernance into his handes. How long he reigned writers varie,
some auouch but seuen yeares, though other affirme 15. which agréeth
not so well with the accord of other histories and times. He was buried
at London.
* * * * *

_Of Kimarus and his sudden end, of Elanius and his short regiment, of
Morindus and his beastlie crueltie, all thrée immediatlie succeeding
each other in the monarchie of Britaine, with the exploits of the last_.
THE SIXT CHAPTER.
[Sidenote: KIMARUS. Fabian.] Kimarus the sonne of Sicilius began to
reigne ouer the Britaines, in the yeare of the world 3657, and after the
building of Rome 442, & in the first yeare of the 117. Olimpiad. This
Kimarus being a wild yoong man, and giuen to follow his lusts and
pleasures, was slaine by some that were his enimies, as he was abroad
in hunting, when he had reigned scarselie three yeares.
[Sidenote: ELANIUS.] Elanius the sonne of Kimarus, or (as other haue)
his brother, began to rule the Britaines in the yeare after the creation of
the