Chronicle of the Brutes, The

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A Chronycle with a Genealogie declaryng that the Brittons and Welshemen are lineallye dyscended from Brute. Newly and very wittely compyled in Meter.

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To the hyghe and moste excellente Prince Edwarde the sixte, Kynge of Englande, Fraunce and Irelande, and in yearthe the supreme heade of the Churche of Englande and Irelande: Arthur_Kelton wyssheth continuall peace, helthe of bodye, and prosperous successe. yearthe: =earth

AS the worthy, prudent Secretary

In those daies, named Danucius

Wrote volumes large, of famous memory,

Onely to prefer, and make glorious

The name of his Lord, called Aurelius

Thinkyng it sinne, rebuke and shame

Out of his boke, to seclude his name.

¶ Eucolpius, euen in like case

Preferred, Alexander_Seuerus

Whiche in his tyme, so worthy was

The Romain Cato, with Titus_Liuius

Aduaunced the name, of Ceasar Iulius

Thus one after other, their time did apply

To that entent, good fame shuld not dy.

¶Euen so most mighty, and gracius prince

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Under support of your benigne grace,

I mindyng sleuth, vtterly to conuince

As most vnworthy, folowyng their trace

Your redoubted father, in euery lyke case

For to aduaunce, my wittes will frame

With the most worthiest, to set out his name

¶After shall intreate, of his magnificence

His lawes, statutes, his Ciuil ordinaunce

His mighty powre, his wonderfull prudence

His iust iudgementes, his rightfull gouernance

Namely to speake of very true substance

His graces lawes, most godly deuised

Lately into Wales, to vs there commised

¶With a certayne true comparison

Whiche was most worthiest, of Antiquitie

The Romains, with their foundacion

Ether the Brutes, with their posteritie Ether: =either

And of their Cities, the soueraigntie

Which of them twayne, shuld other surmount

London or Rome, as after shall recount.

¶With an extract, or a Genealogy

Conueiyng his, and your most noble discent

As auncient Aucthors, putteth in memory

From the fyrst age, to this time present

Accordyng to their myndes, and true iudgement

Who wrote the same, in time long paste

To that intent, it shuld indure and last.

¶Consideryng the high magnificence

Of your father, most clerely did shyne

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Passing al other, in princely excellence

None to be compared before his tyme

Al men perceiue, your nature doth inclyne

To amplify the same, more out at large

Surmounting the steps of your fathers stage

¶In whom consisteth, our confidence

Our hope, our trust, our consolacion

Wherin nature, sheweth an euidence

Accordyng to our expectacion

To folowe the same, by inclinacion

With your mother, most gracious Quene

Whose vertue plaine in your face is sene.

¶Thus God of his deuine myght

Hath indued, your most noble maiestie

As appeareth to euery mannes syght

Whose incomperable dexteritie

In learnyng, hauyng a soueraigntie

Passyng all other, by reporte of name

Consideryng your age, this is the fame.

¶The procedynges, of your noble age

Doth vs encourage, your subiectes trewe

Well perceauyng, your verteous courage

Most godly stories, for to insewe

Which doth insence: my hert doth renewe

To dedicate this vnworthy litell boke

Unto your highnes, therevpon to loke.

¶Whiche was begon, in your fathers time

Unto whose highnes, I minded the same

But death alas, his life did vptwyne

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Before I coulde my purpose well frame

Preuenting al thinges, but his worldly fame

Whiche may not passe, wither, nor yet decaie

His famous report, indure shal alway.

¶O ye infernal systers of the darcke nighte

With Cerberus in Hel, as Poetes doth fain

Of all nobilitie, the quenchers of lighte

Whose crueltie, no wight can restrayne

Ye cut the thred, ye parte in twayne

The life of man, without respecte

The poore ye spare, the noble reiecte.

¶Cursed be ye, ye doughters of Hell

Whiche are in number, counted but three

Cloto, Lachesis, and Atropos the fell

Ye might haue spared, your crueltie

A littel tyme, of our felicite

Untill our king, most noble of corage

Had proceded into moo yeares of age.

¶What I haue written in sentence playne

In laude or prayse, of your father dere

Unto your highnes, let it remayne

As though it did, to your grace appere

Written of your-selfe, as matter clere

With no lesse zeale, obedience and loue

Then duetie may obserue, increase and moue

¶I do confesse, and this is trewe

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If Cato the sage, or prudent Tully

With their fyled tonges, and sentence newe

Were here again his grace to magnify

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As they dyd the Romains glorify

Yet shulde they not, as in this case

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Worthely geue prayse, vnto his grace

¶All thynges remembred as of my parte

Most humbly desireth, your noble grace

With constant wyll, and faithfull heart

To pardon my boldenes, foly and trespace

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Consideryng alway, as in this case

That euery trewe heart, inforced is

To rendre his loue, duetie and seruice.

The ende of the preface.

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The Chronicle of the Brutes.

IN the Golden tyme when al thynges florished

As it were, by deuyne prouidence

And that nature in manne was stablished.

Hauyng reason, wisdome and science

By gifte of the high magnifycence

To vnderstand, determine and knowe

The Heauens aboue, and the earth alowe.

¶Then the wyse, sage and auncient

By great industry and diligent laboure

By sobre respecte and great aduisement

Made lawes, statutes, with other good order

Man to stablyshe, onely by fauoure

Them to conducte, sauely to bryng

Unto knowledge, wisdome and learnyng.

¶Thus by politike moderacion

Without rigoure, or cruel ordinaunce

Prynces notable, of intencion

Hauyng poure and mightye gouernaunce

Established lawes, by discrete purueyaunce

Onely theyr subiectes, to keepe in awe

Dreadyng God, and fearyng his lawe.

Such Princes, kinges and famous Emperors

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Of duetie ought to be magnified

Not onely as worthy Conqueroures

But as men with grace nutrified

Whose actes are worthy to be specified

Enrolled vp with golde pearle and stone

Registred in a boke, them-selfes alone.

¶Like as the Romains wyse and circumspect

In tyme long past, their fame to aduaunce

All notable thynges, as in effecte

Made by statutes, or Ciuill ordynance

Registered was, for a remembraunce

Their Senate onely to magnify

By famus report, as thei thought them worthy.

¶The Romaines most commended Ceasar

The Troians Hector the famous knyghte

The Percians, great Alexander

The Grekes Achilles, for manhode and myghte

The Carthagiens, to maintain their righte

Affirmyng Hanniball, their lodesterre

Thus euery-one, his tyme dyd preferre.

¶And we Arthur most worthyest of all

Ought to remember, in our fantasy

Passyng all other, in deedes marciall

Like Mars him-selfe, shinyng in glory

In his triumphes, conquest and victory

As the story of him dothe recounte

All other kinges in his time dyd surmount.

AS that tyme is past, and worne out

This tyme present, we must put in vre

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That in time to come, there be no doute

But that this tyme, that time may assure

For time once past, is without recure

Wherfore this tyme, let vs intende

The time to come, may this time commende.

¶Let the Romains, adua[u]nce their Ceasar

The Troian Hector, their famous knyght

The Percian their great Alexander

The Greke Achilles, for strength and myght

The Carthagiens, to maintain their ryghte

Onely preferryng, their Hannyball

Yet haue we one, passyng them all.

¶Whiche we ought of duety and reuerence

Most humbly, his grace to magnify

Salute in heart, worde and sentence

Somwhat of hym to exemplify

I meane our kyng, most famous Henry

Our naturall Lord, our supreme hed

Most renoumed, and most to be dred.

¶Lyke as Cato, the prudent counceler

Wrote volumes large, of famous report

Prynces notable, onely to preferre

Among the Romaynes, vertue to supporte

Whose example, is to our comforte

Folowyng the same, vice to confounde

Thus of our dutie, surely are we bounde.

¶Wherfore I wyll my pen aduaunce

Mekely thereto my-selfe incline

With most dilygent attendaunce

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Directyng my style, this present tyme

In worde and sence, straight as a lyne

With Rome, Carthage, Thebes and other mo

As farre as the best, his fame to goo.

¶Lyke as Phebes, in the midday spere

His radiant beames, moste pure and bryghte

Illustreth out, bothe freshe and cleare

Persyng the dewes, by force of might

Illuminyng all maner of syght Illuminyng] I illuminyng 1547

Comforting frutes, flowers earbes and grasse

So doth our king, al other kynges passe.

¶I wold to Chryst that my edicion

Accordyng to my iudgement

Myght take effecte, like my intencion

In thynges condyng worthy or equiuolent condyng: =condign

Unto his grace, this tyme present

Then wolde I, the truthe declare

Which am inforced with terms rude and bare

¶Yet neuerthelesse, my inwarde desyre

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Without any more loquacitee

Greatly I seke, as reason doth requyre

For to approue, his noble maiestie

Of all other kinges, to haue the soueraintee

As sonne and ayre, to lusty dame nature

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Resemblyng her person shape and fygure

¶I dare alledge, as in this case

That nature sought, tyme oportune

When she first formed, his noble grace

Onely by respecte, of gentell Fortune

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All other causes, for to contune

Assured to_gether, by promise bounde

That in his parson, no faulte were founde.

¶Thus hathe nature, by great aduisemente

With circumspecte deliberacion

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Full lyke a Goddesse, pure and excellent

Shewed her powre, and mighty operacion

Nothyng reseruyng, at his creacion

Whiche myght his nobilitee aduaunce

Unto his byrthe she gaue suche attendaunce.

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¶With strength, beawtie, and semelynesse

She hath amplyfyed his courage

Most renoumed, for gentlenesse

Therin he hathe so great aduauntage

Passyng all other, his parentage

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Thus by report, preferred is his name,

Intitled in the boke, of worthy fame.

¶Gentel[e]st of Gentyles, grace to recure Gentelest] Gentelst 1547

Like Alcibyades, that famous knyghte

Of Athenes prince, their party to assure Alcibiades of Athenes.

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So is his grace, most gentelest in syghte

Whose inwarde respecte, iudgyng a_ryghte

A prynce of nature, that gentle is

Of faythfull subiectes, can neuer mysse.

¶For like as gentlenes, doth playne appere

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Onely by naturall inclinacion

In countenaunce, in speache and cheare

So dothe the loue, and hearty affection

Exclude all maner of contencion

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Causeth subiectes, them-selfes to endeuer

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Where gentlenes is, in loue to perceuer.

¶By his gentlenes our wronges ar redressed

By his gentlenes, our loue made pardurable

By his gentlenes, the truth out expressed

Our heartes are made sure, and veritable

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His gentlenes is so resemblable

That al thinges to him, he doth accumulate

Whiche to gentlenes is appropriate.

¶So that his grace, passeth all other

An euident thyng for to declare

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There reigned, neuer suche another

His subiectes to kepe, preserue and spare

Wherfore we may in this compare

All-most one thyng, as in degree

His gentlenes, to mercyfull pitie.

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¶For that lande dominion or regiment

That hathe a prince, of gentell nature

God hathe promised, long stablishment

In loue together, they shall indure

Wherfore in this, let vs assure

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Sith gentlenes commeth of gyft deuine

Let vs to gentlenes, our heartes incline.

¶Thus are we bounde, plainly to expresse

His gentlenesse, onely to discure

Conseruyng our wealth, and whole redresse

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By his grace, lately put in vre

Of his lawes, nowe are we made sure

Among the mountaynes hilles and vales

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Now is it England, somtime called Wales.

¶And further in this to reporte

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Accordyng to his mercifull yousage yousage: =usage

Our abusions onely to transporte

Hath deuised with his counsayl sage

Wales to conducte from all bondage

Brefely to conclude, this to vnderstand

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Priuileged we ar, with the lawes of England.

¶Like as Minos, that famous kyng

Somtime raignyng, in the land of Crete Minos king of Crete

Full renoumed for science and connyng

Founde out the lawes, most holsome and swete

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Grounded on reason, with vertue replete

Ministryng them, as a iudge royall

Among his subiectes, by deedes equal.

¶Prouidyng before, in his aduertence

None shoulde declyne, as in this case

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For lacke of knowledge, and experience

So ready he was, their welthe to purchace

Thus of his liuyng, and bountifull grace

Preparyng in tyme, them to aduaunce

Onely by lawe, and Ciuil ordinaunce.

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¶Though he wer a kyng, with scepter and croune

To execute right, nothing disdained

For all his fame, his princely renoume

In iudgement sate, his domes vnfayned

Loue nor hate, his person constrayned

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But like the deserte, as then did appere

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His sentence gaue, with right princely chere.

¶ Methamorphosios, there may ye se

Of Mines the princely gouernaunce

Also of Scille voyde of all pitie

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Her father slewe with cruell vengeaunce

Onely of Minos, to haue acquaintaunce

And he agayne like a ryghtfull kyng

Gaue sentence plain, her dede condempning.

¶For to affyrme and brefely conclude

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Our partie in this, fully to sustayne

Unto Minos with lyke similitude

Let vs aduaunce, our kyng and souerayne

In all thynges that dothe appertayne

Unto Iustice, or good gouernaunce

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By lawe, reason or Ciuill ordynaunce.

¶Was there euer yet, any prince liuyng

In Chronicle, story, or sentence playne

His noble grace, in this resemblyng

O[u]r common-welthe, for to sustayne Our] Or 1547

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Or for our sake, vndertoke suche payne

As dothe his grace, this present tyme

Us to preserue from damnable cryme.

¶Howe far were we, out of oure way

For lacke of Iustice and good gouernaunce

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Was there euer any, before this day

Kyng or prynce, of suche remembraunce

Us to instructe, by lawe or ordinaunce

Wherby we myght, our foly redresse

Till now his grace, the truthe to confesse.

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¶Whiche by study, and diligent laboure

Most circumspectly, herein aduised

For to reforme, our olde behauior

His gracious lawes, to vs hath commised

To the entent we shulde not be supprised

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By bondage inforced with crueltee

From olde customes, set vs at lybertee.

¶We must of force, the truthe confesse

We cannot well, our-selues excuse

Our deedes playnely beareth witnesse

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Of our folly and great abuse

Olde customes had, lothe to refuse

Surely at the fyrste, howe they began

Not pleasyng to God, nether yet to man.

¶For among al, some customes we had

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Whiche before God were intollerable

As I suppose, all men beyng sadde

Will graunt it, trewe and veritable

A thyng vniuste falce and flexable

Though some affirmed their customes sure

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By Charter Riall, euer to indure.

¶Some Lordes no doute had great rialtie

Conserued by kinges, in times long past

In Forest and Chace, hauyng libertie

But not their subiectes, to spoyle and waste

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By colour or craft, su[c]he meanes to caste suche] suthe 1547

Them to kepe in thraldome and bondage

Where they ought, no dewtie nor seruage.

¶Yet some there were, by way of exaction

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Under pretence, of suche rialtee

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By craft, and subtill collusion

Onely to deceiue, the porealtee

Affirmyng vnder suche libertee

All men to take, that there shoulde passe

Out of their way, to fine for their trespasse.

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¶A_lacke that suche ingratitude

In mannes mynd shuld be comprehended

A poore man, beyng destitude

Oute of his way, nothyng offended

The oppression, before entended

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Compound they must, be it right or wronge

Or els inforced to some pryson stronge.

¶Suche was the custome, without defence

Playnely to yelde, or money to pay

Foly it was, to speake of indigence

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For ready money, wolde then away away] a away 1547

(And further) some dothe report and say,

They must agre, and be at a poynt

As the Foster wold, or els lose a ioynte.

¶Worthy Edippus the famous yong knight

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Which was so lusty, and freshe of courage [Ed]ippus of [Th]ebes

So strong, so hardy, so full of myght

Had neuer so dredefull, a passage

Nor in the lengthe of all his voyage

Founde none so monsterus a beast

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In mountayne, wodde chace or forest.

¶Spynx the serpent whiche was so odible

So monsterus, so fearefull to see

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So fyerse, so cruell, and so terrible

Deuouryng all-thyng without pitie

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Was neuer so full of crueltie

Men for to spoyle, for siluer or golde

In story founde, that euer was tolde.

¶This Edippus with full pure entent

Goyng towarde Thebes, that famous citie

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Of aduenture met this cruell Serpent

Uppon the mountayne, called Phocie

Of his manfull, Magna[ni]mitee Magnanimitee] Magnamitee 1547

There he slewe this monsterous beast

Settyng the countrey, and Thebes at rest

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¶But our Edippus, refuge and Champion

Our comforte our ioye and heartes solace

Our noble, most famous of renoune

Our kyng most worthiest that euer was

Onely by prudence, hath brought to pas

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A thousande hath slayne, as in effecte

Whiche of suche cryme, by force wer detecte.

Our mountains, our wodes, our chases gret

From suche exactions, are made full playne

No rauenous prayes, now can they geate

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They must of force, their fury restrayne

They may no longer, suche purpose attayne

There is no helpe for their refute

But leaue their custome, and olde pursute.

¶There shall no crafte, nor yet colusion

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No fayned tales, no falce pretence

No colour, deceipte, or adulacion

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Be taken nowe for their defence

Lyke as they are, suche-lyke recompence

So that the truthe shalbe defended

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When the vniuste shalbe condempned.

¶Hathe not his grace, of his mere goodnes

Moste pryncely, our causes to renewe

Brought vs from all wrongfull dures

Suche abusions, onely to subdew

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And further all offenders to pursewe

Hathe stablyshed vs by prudent purueiaunce

Them to Chastise, for their misgouernaunce.

¶ Hercules the strong, and pereles knyghte [He]rcules of [Tr]oie [?] or E[gip]te.

Of whom the Poetes, so muche dothe faine

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Had neuer more vertue force or myght

Then hath our kyng, Lorde and soueraygne

Yet dyd he wonderfull thinges attayne

In his conquest triumphes and victory

As the stories of hym dothe specify.

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¶ Busiris Antheus and Gereon

Of Egipte, Libie, also of Spayne

All thre kynges by succession

Can witnesse this story playne

Diomed in Trace, as kyng did raygne

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Cacus Nessus and Cerberus the great

Also the Lyon, and the Bulle of Crete.

¶ Abcor the Serpent, odious and blacke

Most outragious wylde and sauage

The monsterus messe, of Archades lake

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Deuouryng all thynges in their rage

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Hercules with most knyghtly visage

Slewe them all, suche was his grace

None might withstand, his knighthod to deface.

¶These tirantes great, by odius cryme

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Accused were, of thefte and robbery

Bryngyng the countrey, vnto ruine

Spoilyng the people, of malice and enuy

Delityng in murder, and tiranny

Whiche caused Hercules, maugre their wyll

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Them to betray, and after to kyll.

¶Here must ye note, marke this ryght well

As Diodorus , affirmeth it playne

Also Sainct Ierome , likewyse doth tell

How that there were, Hercules twayne

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Whiche were ryght noble, stories be playne

But Hercules, named Egipcius

Was he that dyd, these dedes meruaylous.

¶Not Hercules, called Alcides

Whiche the Greekes, so highly do commend

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Sonne of Iupiter, this is douteles

To whose powre he myght not extend

Who-euer wyll the cause defend

Loke in the fifth boke, of Antiquities

Of Birosus , the Ethimologies.

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¶As in a treatise, lately compyled

After my simple, and rude deuice

As auncient Aucthors, hathe comprysed

In time long past, right famous and wyse

Whiche to set forth, I did enterpryse

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Where ye may see, of these nobles twayn

For the common-welth which toke most payn.

¶Of this Hercules, Called Egipcius

Came the notable, and famous lignage

Downe to Troy, and so to Brutus

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Unto this day, with all the surplusage

To our most noble, ryall of courage

Henry the eyght, elect by grace deuine

Of the same discent, stocke blud and lyne.

¶Whiche onely nowe, for our redresse

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With like vygoure, and manfull myght

As a kyng, of wisedome perelesse

Consideryng all thynges of ryght

Suche tiranny hath appealed out of syghte

By his royall powre, and heart most constant

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As at this tyme, to vs is apparaunt.

¶Where are become, these tirauntes great

So insaciate, of their desyre

Whose rauin some-time, no man could let

So inraged was, their mortall yre

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Who durst denay, what they did require

To burne or spoyle, all was one thyng

Suche was their vse, custome and liuyng.

¶The trewe man abrode, he might not pas

But must of force, with them compounde

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Like as they wold, geue more or las

Or els they wolde, his wealthe confounde

With some distres, to beate or wounde

His cattell steale, or goodes to spoile

Thus wolde the Thefe, the true man defoile.

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¶Yf they were taken, as seldome was sene

They wolde alledge, for theyr defence

The Lord of the soyle myght them redeme

And of this roialtee, with them dispence

Suche was their vse, and vyle pretence

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Paiyng therfore, their fine accustomed

From all daungier, to be franchysed

¶The partie nothyng herein suffysed

Must nedes of force, his wrong sustayne

Goddes people vtterly despysed

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The trewe man the losse, the thefe the gayne

Restitucion none should they attayne

Fiue pounde and a peny, paid for the fyne

The Thefe goeth quite, for fault and crime.

¶And yet alas, one custome we had

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Whiche as I thincke, all grace dyd expell

I suppose neuer none halfe so bad

Ingendred in the pitte of Hell

The pryce of a man, was knowen to well

Yf he were slayne, the paiment should be

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Lyke as he was, in byrthe or degre.

¶O custome vnkynde, causer of distresse

Whose terrible plage, infecteth the Ayre

Mannes lyfe with murdre, to represse

Consideryng Christ, mannes solle to repayre

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Became man, of a Virgyn fayre

Onely for loue, man to redeme

Alas that man, with murdre shuld be sene.

¶Murdre of truthe, is intollerable

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¶Murdre before God, calleth for vengeaunce

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Murdre to man, is abhominable

Murdre to nature, is a defiaunce

Murdre to lyfe, is a discontinuance

Murdre to grace, is playne a rebell

Murdre at the first, began sure in Hell.

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¶This was our countrey brought in defame This: =Thus

Sclaundred and noysed, for our outrage

All trewe men of this reaported shame reaported: =reported

God knoweth who had the pylage

The poore man, but small aduauntage

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The Thefe his pleasure, on mountayn and hyll

Yf he had money, myght walke at his wyll.

¶Thus the slaunder ranne far abrode

All-most to our greate desolacion

As thoughe we all had ben of one accorde

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No diuersitee in their opinion

Suche was the rumoure and communicacion

Nothyng reseruyng in their iudgement

Betwene a Thefe and the Innocent.

¶And thus full ofte, we bare the blame

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Causeles, of truethe nothyng offended

Nor by consent, worthy of infame

Yet by report we were suspended

As though we had, therto intended

Idelnesse was cause, as in effecte

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Why we were had in suche respecte.

¶Oh thou vicious Sardanipall [v]icius Sarda[ni]pall.

The beginnyng of slouthe and Idlenesse

sig: c1

Whose example all welth dooth appall

Delightyng in synne and wretchednesse

460

With surfeites great, the body to oppresse

Whiche brought in thefte and robery

Murder, riote, also aduoutry.

¶Who list the story, to accompte

Shall well perceiue, in sloth and idlenesse

465

All other before the, thou didst surmounte

Thy vicious life, bereth full witnesse

She was thy lady and chiefe mastresse

To whom thou didst, thy-self abounde

Whiche was the cause thy person to confound

470

¶For Arbachus, of vertues respecte Uerteou[s] Arbachu[s]

As a prince of excellent wisedome

Did thee manace, chastice and correcte

For thy froward, abhominacion

Idlenesse was cause, and occacion

475

Why thou vicious Sardanapall

From thyne estate, had so greate a fall

¶For like as verteous businesse

Inuenteth thynges right laudable

So doth riote and idlenesse

480

Increase mische[u]es intollorable

One thyng marke, whiche is veritable

Put idlenesse, clene out of vre

For custome all-moste, turneth to nature.

¶Note where idlenesse, doth oft remayne

485

Fare-well all verteous businesse

For idlenesse, inflameth the brayne

sig: [c1v]

And bryngeth in newe-fanglenesse

Sequestrith the herte, from all goodnesse

And aldre-last, note this for euer

490

God from man, it doth cleane deceuer. deceuer] deceiuer 1547

¶Idlenes, caused our abusion

By idlenes, increased our infame

Till now of late, by politicke reason

Of our kyng, moste gracious of name

495

Whiche hath brought vs into a new frame

So that we fele, by worldly businesse

There commeth gayne, and moderat richesse

¶Thus hath our wise worthy Arbachus

Suppressed our foly and customes rude

500

Causyng our hertes, to be desirus

To folowe the sage, multitude

Idlenes vtterly to exclude

Laboryng abrod[e], our fode to gete abrode] abrod 1547

Leuyng by our handes, and bodely sweate.

505

¶To digge and delue, to eare and sowe

To graffe or plant, in rough or playne

On mountayns hie, or vales lowe

Litle we force, for labor and payne

So that we maie, our welth attayne

510

Tenderyng so muche our businesse

That we forget, the vice of idlenesse.

¶For where-of truthe, with vs late past

Bothe corne and fruite, was scant and bare

Our countree voyde, laie halfe in wast

515

I dare allege, and surely declare

sig: c2

Now at this tyme we maie well spare

If there should chaunce, a tyme of nede

With corne and cattaile, our neighbors fede

¶And thus daily, we do preuaile

520

In our increase, bothe cataile and corne

Thankes be to God, all is quoche-quaile quoche-quaile: see OED s.v. couch-quail

The chaffe the wedes, a_waie are shorne

Neuer so well, sens we wer borne

Our countree made playne, and habitable

525

Whiche semed before, irrecurable.

¶And further, of his benyng grace

Through his moste mercifull assent

Our commune-welth, for to purchace

Hath remitted, of pure intent

530

Two thousande markes, of yerely rent

Before paied, in siluer and golde

Taxed emong vs, of customes olde.

¶Yet hath our Troian, most mighty emperoure

Planted vs, with prudent Catons

535

To be our president and gouernour

Associate with noble S[c]ipions Scipions] Sipions 1547

With diuerse mo, of high discressions

For to augment, our common-weale

Graunted by comission, vnder his seale.

540

¶In sundery partes, for our redresse

As did some-tyme, the noble senate

Consules prefectes, of greate sadnesse

Dictatours full famous, of estate

Decemuires, wisedome to approbate

sig: [c2v]

545

Trauersyng the countries rounde aboute

Where suspecte persones, wer had moste in doubte.

¶To that intent, our ciuility

Wer not suppressed, for lacke of gouernance

Nether is inforced, by tyrrany

550

But redused, to a Ciuile substance

Accordyng to the vse, and continuance

Of Englishe lawes, in tyme long past

Wherof we bee now, made sure and fast.

¶Thus charge vpon charge, daily doth insewe

555

Unto his grace, in maner importable

Inuentyng lawes, and statutes newe

Gentill and softe, by meane tretable

To th'entent, it should bee pardurable

Emong vs for euer, this is the meane

560

Uncorrupted to kepe vs pure and cleane.

¶Thus a kyng of vigilant respecte

Sheweth vnto vs, this constant loue

As a father, in this effecte

Tenderyng his childe, vice to remoue

565

Without rigoure, our foly doth reproue

Caryng not for treasure or expence

But to withdrawe, the cause of our offence.

¶For to compare, and brefe the tyme

Accompt all stories, that euer was

570

Inforce your-self, thereto to inclyne

Rede where ye list, your tyme to pas

And ye shall not finde, that euer there was

A kyng of better remembrance

sig: c3

His subiectes to kepe, preserue and aduance.

575

¶Reken Cesar, with his triumphes all

Alexander, Hector, or Achilles

Edippus, or worthy Haniball

Minos the Iudges, or greate Harcules

Or yet Arbachus, of knighthod pereles

580

Let theim come all, their vertue to declare

Yet shall thei not, with his grace compare.

¶For these princes, these conquerors great

Set their mynde, and full attendance

Countrees to subdewe, and kyngdoms to geate

585

Onely by strength and mightie puysance

And some again to take their chance

Ieopard their persones to get theim a name

As beastes wilde, to make theim tame.

¶And thus thei wrought all by fantasy

590

As fortune list, the party assure

To win or lose, put in ieopardy

Hap as it would, all in aduenture

Goodes, landes, life, body and treasure

But those kynges, are moste to be commended

595

From vicious life, their subiectes hath defended.

¶As our noble, and moste famous kyng

Appoyncted by grace, of the deite

Moste circumspecte, in ouer-lokyng

His subiectes to kepe, in a conformite

600

One lawe, one kyng, one deuinite

One faithe, one hope, one erudicion

One mynde, one will, and one intencion.

sig: [c3v]

¶Neuer none like, accompt the tyme

Sens Brute, our first progenitoure

605

Borne by dissent, of right noble lyne

Beyng prince, kyng, and gouer[no]ure gouernoure] goueronure 1547

Unto our parents, chiefe protectoure

Through whose manfull magnanimite

Thei wer deliuered from olde captiuite.

610

¶As famous auctours, moste seriously

With a sincere opposicion

In tyme long past right willyngly

By a louyng emulacion

Onely for our, eriducion

615

Hath related, as after shall insewe

More exactly, matter constaunt and trewe.

¶Some-what herin, doubtles am I moued

For to expresse, my fantasy

Not of impacience, muche greued

620

But that some, hath iudged wrongfully

As in reproche, of our country

Deniyng playne, moste noble Brute

Our antecessor our stocke and our frute.

¶A boke of late, there was compiled

625

By Polidorus , in Italy borne [Po]lidorus.

Nothyng to vs reconsiled

But rather written, in hatred or scorne

Yet shall we saie, if he had sworne

We Welshmen, with hym shall compare

630

For olde antiquities, the truth to declare.

¶His slanderous stile, to exterminate

sig: c4

Reiect, auoyde, and cleane put a_waie

Whiche is so subtle, and intricate

Thynkyng therby, our fame to decaie

635

None will so reporte, I dare well saie

Hauyng wit, reason or intelligence

Ether to iustice, myndyng aduertence.

¶Not contented, this to deny

But would of force, our name appall

640

Clea[n]e to extincte, out of memory

As though we wer, reiectes of all

Knowyng not, our discent naturall

From whence we came, nor of what lyne

Us to infame, this is his cryme.

645

¶Me-thinke of truth, to muche ye erre

In your reproche, spoke of disdain

Affirmyng plaine, in tyme of warre

We Welshemen, no honor to attain

Nether yet in peace, trewe to remain

650

Your barberous wordes, backe doth rebounde

To your infame, all thynges doth sounde.

¶It is vnmete, a man of your age

Accompted sadde, wise and discrete

So violently abrode to rage

655

Matters to penne, whiche is vnmete

With wordes vntrew, with termes onswete

Or thynges deny whiche auctours olde

In tyme long past, bothe wrote and tolde.

¶Who shal but thinke, your sentence light

660

As thynges in vain, to none effecte

sig: [c4v]

Wordes of reproche, spoke again right

Menne should abhorre, and cleane reiecte

To breue my tyme, this is th'effecte

Your slaunderous wordes, affirmeth plaine

665

To rise of ire, hatred or disdayne.

¶If ye of force, will vs persewe

Onely through your ingratitude

Blame vs nothyng, your wordes exchewe

Beware hurte not, a multitude

670

Lest some perchaunce, with sentence rude

Iustely again, like your offence

Euen with the same, will you recompence.

¶We speake to you, Master Polidorus

Whose ingratitude, we greatly complain

675

Ye go aboute, to rase out the floures

Of our parentes, as thynges in vain

And yet of truthe, ye cannot refrain

But generally, vs to accuse

No indifferency, herin ye vse.

680

¶We Welshemen saie for our defence

That ye Romayns, surmountyng in pride

With your Imperiall magnificence

Supposyng therby, the heuens to deuide

Came long after, our noble tribe

685

So that we maie, write of your estate

Not ye of vs, ye came all to late.

¶How should ye knowe, our antecessours

Our stocke, our line, our progeny

Our moste mightie conquerours

sig: c5

690

Sithe ye bee of muche lesse memory

Writyng nothyng, almoste plainly

But what doth rebounde, to your estate

Magnifiyng the pompe, of your Senate.

¶By_cause your auctoure, Titus_Liuius

695

Of noble Brute maketh no mencion

Beyng perchaunce, somewhat obliuius

Or knewe not, of that succession

Therfore ye make no discripcion

But onely of your kynges of Italie

700

Whiche reigned there, successiuely.

¶As appereth, by storie euident

Called Fasciculus Temporum

Where litle is, to vs pertinent

But to the first, of your succession

705

Hauyng the regall possession

Breuely doth passe, all other thynges

Onely doth write, but of a fewe kynges.

¶Though he forgate, this noble prince

Or listed not, his fame to conuaie

710

Yet shall he not his name conuince

Nor this his honor, to pulle awaie

Fasciculus Temporum , plainly doth saie

That Brute beganne, first to excell

When Heli was prieste, and Iudge of Israel

715

Holy Eusebius , doth testifie

Also sainct Bede , maketh mencion

That noble Brute of the age, fiue and thirty

Entered first into this region

sig: [c5v]

Whiche was before Christes incarnacion

720

A thousand .i.C. twenty and twayne

And after Troye .xliii. yeres playne

¶ Galfridus affirmeth assuredly

That noble Brute, in his yeres grene

Like Marce for strength, fearce and hardy

725

In Grece moste princely was sene

Wan there croune, ceptre and diademe

From Panderus of Achilles blud

His doughter, his treasure, with all his gud.

¶And further the Grekes to deface

730

That daie he did, the felde recure

Moste princely, met them in the face

Whose knightly strokes, thei might not indure

A shilde he bare, the felde of asure

Three crounes of gold, sumteously wrought

735

A Lion sette, on his helmet a_lofte.

¶Also Guydo, de Collumpnia

Doth verifie, this to be trewe

That he did honor the goddes Diana

Passyng the seas, fortune to insewe

740

Where he had answere, his ioyes to renewe

Beyng right yong, should supply the place

With scepter and croune, his enemies to inchase

¶ Ranulphus , a manne of perfeccion

Writeth right playne, as in this case

745

How noble Brute, within this region

Landed first, by a speciall grace

Predestinate before, was that place

sig: [c6]

As Diana the mightie Goddes

Had promised, namyng it Totnesse,

750

¶Also the floure, of histories

Named Peter_Pactauiences

With many noble writers

Alloweth the verie same sences

To muche of truthe, are their offences

755

Whiche will alone, suche thynges deny

That auctours olde, do write and verify.

¶ Martinus super Cronicas

Veropius , and Sabellicus

Affirmeth playne, how all-thyng was

760

In the tyme of Brenne and Belenus

Of the discent, of noble Brutus

How thei entered, first in Italie

Hauyng at Rome-gates, a noble victorie.

¶This story to amplifie and augment

765

The sixt yere of Artaxarses the kyng

As Iacobus_Phillippus doth assent

Over the Persians, that tyme reignyng

These princes .ii. with standerdes displaiyng

As brother with brother, of one minde and assent

770

Again you Romains, with hert most veruent

¶Had a battaill strong, as is expressed

Where your Senate, Tribunes and Dictators

By knightly force, wer clene oppressed

Your Pretours, Consules and gouernors

775

Your lusty manfull, young soldiors

Your valiant knightes, in stele armed bright

sig: [c6v]

All were taken, slain or put to flight.

¶Ye cannot well, these auctours deny

For all your vain, [o]stentacion ostentacion] stentacion 1547

780

Your citee spoyled, all went a_wry

Make therof a true declaracion

Ye wer right faine by composicion

A peace to take, th[i]s is no naie this] ths 1547

Els to yelde vp, or sone flie awaie.

785

¶Noble Arthur the famous Brute

Of the same line, and true succession

Whiche by his conquest, and princely pursute

Uanquished full many a region

Sonne of Utir called Pendragon

790

Chronicles, plainly doth it specify

Yet ye Romaines, this prince will deny

¶Loke in Fasciculus Temporum

The tyme of Bisshoppe, Hilarius

In lina Christi , accomptyng the sum

795

Foure hundred sixty and foure, truly to discus

Then florished Arthur, that was victorious

With his owne hande, in one daie he slewe

Foure hundred and sixty, if that story be true.

¶Also beholde Policronicon

800

The .xxiii. Chapiter, the seuenth boke

There maie ye se, by plain discripcion

The yere of our Lorde, who list to loke

A .xi hundred foure score, his body vp_toke

Translated into Glastinbury

805

By the famous kyng, the second Henry.

sig: [c7]

¶In the thirtie yere, or there-aboute

Of our soueraigne, kyng Henry th'eight

Ye blinded Romains, to put out of doubte

The cause made plain, perfect and streight

810

A crosse was founde, of full greate waight

In Glastenbury, with letters of golde

Grauen full depe, with this sentence olde.

¶Here lieth Arthur, the worthy kyng

Depe in the grounde, his body to hide

815

Sometyme in Britaine, famously reignyng

God of his mercie, for hym prouide

His solle vnto rest, to be his guide

For a more concordaunce of yearthly fame

For euermore, florishe mought his name.

820

¶But ye Romains so full of pride

Will in nowise, to this assent

In couerture, all thynges to hide

Of ambicion, and froward intent

In all your stories, this is full ment

825

Nothyng to touche, or matter to frame

Whiche should rebounde, to your rebuke or shame

¶Youre olde enmite, rancor and debate

Will not permit, the Brutes to aduaunce,

By_cause your noble Imperiall estate

830

By theim was brought, vnto vtteraunce

At your hard walles, suche was your chaunce

The honor ye lost, your knightes manly slain

By princes notable, kynges of Britain.

¶For shame a_wake, beginne of newe

sig: [c7v]

835

Recante your fayned fantasie To Master Polidorus.

Confesse your faulte, all is vntrewe

Make some excuse, with honestie

Affirme the slepe, was in your iye

Feble with watche, heuy was your hed

840

Ye wist not well, what ye wrote or said.

¶And thus maie ye, your-self excuse

Referryng it, vnto ignorance

Your old errours, clene to refuse

Resityng playne, as matter insubstance

845

All that ye did, was of inconstance

Affeccion moued so muche your intent

For to write trewe, ye could not assent.

¶Sithe ye so largely, in your pretence

Here-tofore, haue vs frequented

850

I[n] amplifiyng your cruell insence In] Ia 1547

Again vs moste fraude[le]ntly inuented fraudelently] fraudently 1547

Though herin my spirites be incensed

You to requite, in writyng so large

Take it a_worth, myne is the charge.

855

¶For he that will, causeles procure

Or it inuent, thynges of defame

He maie well iudge, beyng right sure

Men will requite hym, euen with the same

Likewise again, in borde or in game

860

As the cause is, seke out the grounde

Slandered report, clene to confounde

¶Ye are vnueritabl, in your reporte

Unshamefast, auctours to deny

sig: [c8]

And we very lothe, for to supporte

865

Fables vntrewe, to inuent a lye

Let Boccas b[e] iudge, if ye will apply be] by 1547

Whiche of vs twaine, moste haue offended

Or in this case, worthiest to be commended.

¶Where ye alledge, and vs accuse

870

That we in battaill, are feble and faint

No fetes of armes, that we can vse

But must of force, of very constraint

Intreate of peace, as cowardes attaint

Your slandered reporte, to your infame

875

Shall euer increase, in hinderyng your name

¶I will appeale, as in this case

Recorde to take, of Titus_Liuius

Let hym verify, how all thynges was

In the tyme of noble Camillus

880

Dictatour of Rome with famous Lucius

Consuls electe, as for that yere

With Emilius , the story is full clere.

¶ Eutropius an auctoure full trewe

Likewise plainly, doth defyne

885

As in the story, before doth insewe

The famous Brutes as in their tyme

Beyng of discente, bloud birthe and lyne

Of noble Brute, their fury to withstande.

Rome inclosed, with moste mighty Englande

890

¶If ye list by clere, computacion

Plainly to knowe, the yeres and the tyme

How long it was, after Romes foundacion

sig: [c8v]

Three hundred thre score puttyng therto nyne

The first fall, the wofull ruyne

895

Of Rome that euer, I did of rede

Neuer before, standyng in suche feare and drede

¶Oh ye Romains, full of presumpcion

Remembre your birthe, stocke, and your line

And of your citee, the first foundacion

900

Accomptyng Amilius your parentyne

With Rea his sister, the feminyne

And Aldre-last, truly to discus

The two brethren, Remus and Romulus.

¶Ye beganne with robery and pilage

905

And we by marciall dissipline

Ye froward of birthe, bloud and linage

And we right noble, famous of line

Accompt bothe male, and feminyne

Ye in fayned, fables to in[s]ewe insewe] inewe 1547

910

And we in_forced, to stories trewe.

¶Thynges grounded on wrong maie not indure

Scripture therof, maketh mencion

An euill beginnyng, who maie assure

Therof to make, a good foundacion

915

For where nothyng is, but fraude and treason

Murdre riote, with foule aduoutry

The ende must nedes, be full of misery.

¶Though fortune fauor, a tyme to aduance

In her assence, climyng a_lofte

920

With a pretence, of faire countenance

As hath been proued, in tymes full ofte

sig: d1

In her returne, fallyng vnsofte

She hath agayne, with frownyng chere

Dusked the weather, before pure and clere.

925

¶Where ar nowe, your famous Emperors

Your triumphant knightes, stately ridyng

Your notable wise Senatoures

Your Consulers, your Citie guidyng

Your preefectes Dictatours, clerely shining

930

Are they not consumed, frustrate and gone

And ye from fauoure, almost left alone?

¶Your noble Marcke called Aurelius

Which was of Rome, the famous Emperor Marcus_Aurelius

Criyng out, with voice most piteous

935

Cursyng the tyme, the day and houre

When Rome beganne, first for to flowre

Triumphyng in pompe, also in pride

Which caused vertue, from Rome to deuide.

¶Did not he also, piteously complayne

940

Saiyng of truthe, Rome shal be confounded

Of very Iustice, the Goddes cannot refrain

But of equitie, must be condempned

For like he said, as Rome was commended

Aboue all other, most worthiest of name

945

The time shall come, of reproche and shame.

It must procede, by iustfull sentence

Consideryng al thynges of ryght

Where oppression is done by violence

It may not indure, by force of myght

950

Example good, to euery wight

sig: [d1v]

Beholde ye Romains, this present tyme

Are ye not almost, brought vnto ruine.

¶Considre well, your first begynnyng

Of Remus and Romulus, brother and brother Remus and Romulus

955

An accident, of very euill liuyng

If ye note well, Rea their mother

Sacred to Uesta, it was no other

Professed there, onely to Chastitee

Hir lyfe duryng, to liue in virginitie.

960

¶The Temple by her, defiled was

The story playne, beareth full witnesse

And she againe, for her trespasse

By her brother, cruell and merciles

Uoyde of all succoure, beyng remediles

965

Died in prison, recure was there none

Her chyldren sole, left alone.

Their father not knowen, for birth or linage

Fostered they were, without al reuerence

Of a shee-Wolfe, full wilde and sauage

970

The children froward, cruell of corage

Of very hatred, ire and disdayne

The elder brother, the yonger hath slayne.

¶Lyke as their vncle, named Emilius

His brother slewe, with fraude and treason

975

So in like case, most cruell Romulus

Against all kynd, and naturall reason

His brother slewe, for his possession

Thus of Rome, was the Antiquitie

Murdre vpon murdre, voyde of all pitie.

sig: d2

980

¶Remembre Rome, thy olde abusion

Thy infamed, and cursed gouernance

Thy tiranny, and falce extorcion

Thy great adultrie, and foule daliaunce

Way these together, al in one balaunce

985

And thou shalt not fynd, any rightful sentence

Against the Brutes, to geue euidence.

¶Who began fyrst, the Ciuill warres

Discord, discencion, troble and stryffe

The proude Romains, surmounting the sterres

990

Whiche was the losse, of many mannes life

Marius and Silla, began the myschefe Marius and Silla.

Foure thousand lay deade and slayne

Six hundred knightes, the story is playne

¶Likewyse most dredefull and piteous

995

For to reherse, the woful distruction

Betwene Pompey, and Ceasar Iulius

Thre hundred M. brought to confusion

Murdred and slain, through falce abusion Ceasar Iulius Pompeius

Thus of the Romains, was the gouernaunce

1000

Let Boccus be iudge, of al their mischaunce.

¶Who were the cruell, persecutours

Who subplanted, Christes religion

Who were the falce, conspiratours

Who were the traytours, to euery region

1005

Who wrought fraud, who wrought treason Who] Who, 1547

Who slewe the Appostles, Peter and Paule

Who martered, all-most the sainctes all.

¶Who inuented, falce conspiracie

sig: [d2v]

Who oppressed, the pore Innocent

1010

Who slewe the worthy, Scipions thre

Oh cursed people, without al reuerence

Who conspired against the magnificence Scipions

Of Ceasar, most mightiest of estate

By treason slaine, among your Senate.

1015

¶Oh cruell Rome, confesse thy outrage

Thy shameful murdre, thy foule abusion

Cry out and complaine, with al thy surplusage

Alacke alacke, through falce contradiction

In the was slayne, by cruell treason

1020

The lantern the light, the prince of eloquence

Among you Romains, most of excellence.

¶Of Rethorique, the famous oratour

In his daies, called sage Tullye Tully

Chosen to be a gouernoure

1025

Your common-weale, onely to guyde

By meane of knighthode, also of Cleargy

Defended you, from proude Cataline

Which wold haue brought your citie to ruine

¶With all his falce conspiratours

1030

Which to his treason, were fully consented

Punished those rebelles, and traitours

By prison strong, their bodies turmented

By force wherof, the commons assented

The prison to call, after his owne name

1035

Tullian, the more to encreace his fame

¶What shuld I say, of your treasons all

To amplify them, and set them at large

sig: d3

In murdre and riote, like fendes infernall

So monsterous ye are, of mind and corage,

1040

Of customes olde, as beastes full sauage

Innocentes to kill, vertue to confound

Of all sorowes, the rote and the ground

¶Fourtene Emperours, in stories I fynde

One after other, there did insewe

1045

To Christes faith, cruell and vnkynde

Innocent bloud, causelesse to pursewe

Onely twayne, no mo was founde trewe

All the rest, as tirantes inflamed

Wold in no wise, Christ to be named.

1050

¶Recorde I take, of that cursed man

To God alway, founde contrarius

Called in his day, cruell Ualerian Ualarian

Uoide of all fauoure, most impiteous

Of Emperoures all. none more vngracious

1055

Against Christes faithe, of mind and will

By persecucion, his sainctes to kyll.

But god of his grace, his power to withdrawe Sapor

Caused Sapor that time kyng of Perce

For all his froward, and cursed lawe

1060

His imperiall powre, sone to suscesse suscesse: see OED s.v. succease, altered form of surcease

Toke him prisoner, in middes of the Prece

Made a fote-stoole, of his cursed Corse

When-euer he lyst, to mount on his Horsse.

¶Likewise the tiraunt, named Domician

1065

Proudest of all, recken any-one Domician

Persecuted many a Christian man

sig: [d3v]

Into Pathmos, exiled Sainct Ihon

Thought him-selfe, most worthiest alone

In his estate, proudly vp-stalled

1070

A God abrode, for to be called.

¶Made a decree, of very presumpcion

In paine of death, no man to deny

But God aboue, knowyng his intencion

To punishe his pride, in his owne army

1075

Caused his knightes, to wounde his body

With vnware death, the story to expresse

Denied of buriall, was his Carcasse.

¶Most cruell infamed Maxence Maxence

Likewyse our Faith, he did pursewe

1080

Causeles with most cruell violence

Hauyng no respecte, to Christ_Iesu

Slayne as a traytour, to God vntrewe

Of very disdayne, his life once past

His cursed troncke, into Tybre was cast.

1085

¶ Galerius falseste of assent Galerius

Against Christes faith, sought occasion

Them to destroy, by furious iudgement

Whiche was at length, to his confusion

With sicknesse take, thus in conclusion

1090

The Ayre corrupted, gan to putrify

Onely by stincke, of his carren body

¶Also valence, the prowes Emperour

Whiche in his rage, was so mercylesse Ualence.

Against Hermites, them to deuoure

1095

Liuyng in desert, and wildernesse

sig: d4

Slewe them all of very wilfulnesse

Consumed he was, by brennyng of Fyre

By the Gootes, which his death dyd conspire

¶Most cursed of all, that I rehearse can

1100

Among all your falce conspiratours

Was your Emperour, named Iulian Iulian_Apostita.

Whiche wrought by crafty inuencions

Called sprytes, by his Coniuracions

Did them worship, by way of sacrifice

1105

Unto God most hatefull, in such maner wise

¶With them he had, suche conuersacion

That they to hym, were fauourable

For his Ceremonies, and falce oblacion

Promisyng him, to be veritable

1110

That he shoulde passe, in deedes honorable

Great Alexander, in triumphant victory

As in excellyng, his state and glory.

¶Thus fell he into fayned fantasy

Trustyng to Pluto, the God infernall

1115

But then the Lorde most mighty

Disdayned his pryde, Imperiall

Send vnto him a knyght Immortall

Most Angelicke, in stele armed bryght

Roue hym to the hearte in his most myght.

1120

¶Among all other, that I can rede

Most vicious, and odius to heare

Was cursed Nero, without feare or drede Uicius Nero.

Whose shamful story, plainly doth appere

Consydre it well: ye Romains drawe nere

sig: [d4v]

1125

Suche do ye foster, nurrishe vp and bryng

Hatefull to God, most froward in liuyng

¶Who was more vicious of nature

By constraint of his disposicion

Who was more vnsure, grace to recouer

1130

Then was Nero, by inclinacion

More prouder of port, with fraude and treason

His wife his brother, causelesse he slewe

No matter of right, them to pursewe.

¶This story right sore, doth him accuse

1135

With his mother called Agripine

Like a ribauld her body shuld mysuse

In carnal knowlage, filthy as a swine

And further playnely to defyne

His mothers wombe, he corue vpon a day

1140

To se the place, nine monethes where he laie.

This proud tirant, vnfortunate man

Morall Senec, causeles he slewe Senec.

Which was his maister when he began

Uirgins profest, he dyd pursewe

1145

Beyng right chaste, stedfast and true

His Lecherus lust, onely to fulfyll

Rauished them of force, against their wyll

¶Yet moreouer, this Fend infernall

Against Christes faithe, most dispiteous Peter and Paule

1150

Slewe the Apostles, Peter and Paule

For which vengeance, and deedes most lecherus

God gaue him ouer, as man vngracious

With a dagger, roue him-selfe vnto the hert

sig: d5

Died for payne, anguishe and deadly smarte.

1155

¶Thus God of his righte, tirantes can chastyce

Which wil rebell, against pore innocencie

Them to murdre, and will not aduertise

In Christ to haue, trewe confidence

They must of force, without assistence

1160

Remayne with Cerberus, the Hell-hound

Linked with Tantalus in chaines fast bound.

¶Of [y]our Emperours, a ful great number your] our 1547

I coulde resite froward of courage

Christes faithe, causeles to incumber

1165

I will let pas, all the surplusage

No more to speake, of fraude and pyllage

Neither murdre, treason, with their infame

Set them together, with rebuke and shame.

¶Can ye deny, but this is trewe

1170

Why do ye then, vs Brutes accuse

We are right lothe, [y]our faultes to renue your] our 1547

But sithe ye causeles, do vs misuse

As in report, ye cannot refuse

Grosse is his witte, worthy of infame

1175

That will not defend, his countrey and name

¶If ye loke well, and iudge a_ryght

Ye ought not vs, Welshmen disdayne

Sith we with all our force and might

Your holy men did entertayne

1180

From your exile, and cruell payne

When that they durst, no-where abyde

For their refuge, we did prouide.

sig: [d5v]

¶For in the time, of your great outrage

When no man myght, your malice intreate

1185

So wilfull were ye, of minde and corage

Christ and his lawes, sone to forget

His electe to kyll, malice and threate

Of very constraint, inforced to flee

So cruell and merciles, that time were ye.

1190

¶Helpe or redresse, none could they finde

Their carefull life, for to assure

Their inspyred heartes, their constant minde

Inforced were, [by] lacke of recure by] 1547 omits

To seke abrode, their harde aduenture

1195

Where that they might, with pure intent

Christes religion for to augment.

¶Then into Wales, they dyd approche

Through Goddes prouidence, his myght to shewe

Under many a strong mighty roche

1200

Builded their Chappels, in desertes lowe

In sondry places, as men doth knowe

As at this day, plainely doth appere

The places olde, euident and clere.

¶This is no fayned inuencion

1205

Neither yet no curious fable

Who lyst to loke, without suspection

Shall fynde it trewe, and veritable

Written by fathers, honorable

For a more concordant of Godly fame

1210

Our Churches at this day, bereth their name

¶Loke vp your stories, and sentence olde

sig: [d6]

Accomptyng the tyme, yeares and season

I dare affyrme, Beyng so bolde

To make herein, a comparison

1215

With any Christen religion

For lengthe of time, bearyng good name

Concernyng our fayth, for any infame

¶A thousand .CCC. fowre score and twayne

Sithen it floryshed, fyrst with vs

1220

In the tyme of many a proude Romayne

Martered was holy Euleuterius

In whose tyme raigned Lucius

In Britaigne, the famous region

Then entered forth Christes religion

1225

¶This was in the yere of our Lorde

An hundred six and fiftye playne

After his byrthe, stories doth accord

Sithin the faythe, came fyrste into Britaygne

Among vs Brutes there to remayne

1230

As at this day, ye may well see

Neuer accused, of Infidelite

¶What place so constant, sure and stable

As at that tyme, myght there be founde

Like unto Wales, none so veritable

1235

No tiranny with vs, there did abounde

The faith remayned, full hole and sounde

Accordyng to Christes religion

Without spot or gall, of infection.

To what place shuld they haue resorted

1240

To haue had redresse, in this misery

sig: [d6v]

Or where shuld they haue ben supported

Nether in Rome, neither in Italy

Nether in Spaine, Fraunce, or Germany

Brefely to conclude, this is manifest

1245

From the sonne risyng, doune to the Weste.

Such tirantes that time had the gouernaunce

That no man durste Christ to confesse

Dispysed his lawes, and in that instaunce

In .xxx. daies, as Scripture doth witnesse

1250

Twenty thousand slayne this is doutlesse

By Dioclesian, raigning in the Easte [Di]oclecian [Ma]ximian

And Maximinian, downe in the west.

¶Who-euer harde of suche a sorte

So vngracious, and so vntrewe

1255

As were the Romaynes, in their report

To blaspheme our Lord, Christ_Iesu

Affirmyng plaine, this to be trewe

That Rome neuer ioyousely prospered

Sithin the faith, among them entered

1260

¶Loke in the time, of Arcadius

There may ye se, their false opinion

Beyng Emperour, with Honorius [Archadi]us Archadius] [...]haidus 1547 [wit]h hono[riu]s.Archadius] [...]haidus 1547

Unto their Idolles hauyng affection

As sainct Austine, maketh relacion

1265

In his boke called Ciuitate Dei

Where he confoundeth, their false Heresy.

¶My hand quaketh for fere and drede

My heart of truthe, beginneth to shrinke

When I beholde, this story to rede

sig: [d7]

1270

The teares weate, distilleth my incke

Oh Lorde, to remember and thincke

The crueltie, mischefe, and endles paine

Among the Romains, that time did raigne

¶Who shuld but morne, lament and wepe

1275

Consideryng all thynges of ryghte

The vertuous with grace then replete

Put in exile, cleane out of syght

The tirauntes great, by force of myght

Persecuted the innocent bloudde

1280

Thus with the Romains, that time it stode.

To brefe my sentence, the truthe to tel

With vs in Wales, none were opprest

No tirauntes great, with vs did dwelle

There was the place, of peace and rest

1285

Christ and his lawes, for to degest

None durst approche, that to deny

Agayne our faithe, once to reply.

¶How may ye then, with vs compare

Or why do ye, Welshmen defame

1290

Let your owne stories, the truthe declare

Ye are defectiue, even in the same

As in reproche, worthy of blame

Innocentes, gyltlesse to accuse

In that your-selfe, most dothe abuse.

1295

¶Of your nobles, and Emperours all

With Constantine, make no comparison

For his magnificence Imperiall

Borne in Britaygn, that famous region

sig: [d7v]

He was the fyrste, of hearty affection

1300

That dyd decree, al men to dye

Christ and his lawes that wolde denye.

¶Unto the Churche, for Christes sake

Excelled all other, before his time

The Romayne Temples, newely did make

1305

Dedicated them by sentence deuine

To the honour of God, and the orders nyne

With most mere and pure deuocion

Gaue to the Church, the fyrst possession

¶To that intent, from all indigence

1310

The ministers shuld stande at reste

God for to serue, with due reuerence

All worldly thoughtes to be represt

Uertue to increace, this is manifest

All solitary, there for to abyde

1315

For the loue of Chryst, this did he prouide.

Gaue goodes and treasure with ornaments large

Amplifyde all thynges, with great expence

Made a decree, and gaue in charge

That all men shuld, with due reuerence

1320

To Christes crosse, kepe his obedience

And was the fyrst, in Banner and Shylde

Crosses to peynt, that bare in felde.

¶Oh most famous Co[n]stantine

To whom no Romayne might attayne

1325

Whose goodnesse the worlde did inlumine

Borne in England, then called Brytaygne

Sonne of S. Helin, the story is playne

sig: [d8]

From Troy linially, downe discended

In Christes Churche, most to be commended.

1330

¶But nowe a_lacke, all is reuersed

Onely through fayned perfection

For doubtles, vertue was repressed

When Constantine, first of affection

To Peters Churche, gaue such possession

1335

Then obedience, beganne to rebell

Whiche caused pride, Humilitee to expell

¶O Rome Rome, change thi soil, remoue thy place

Barren and bare, fruteles is thy ground The bish[op] of Rome

Yet vnto this day, for lacke of grace

1340

Littell vertue, in the there doth abound

I dare alledge, this world so rounde

May not suffyce, this present houre

[T]o satisfye thy head and gouernoure To] So 1547

¶The cruell Emperours, by force of warre

1345

Myght neuer suche ryches attayne

Kingdomes to spoile, countreis to marre

As at this time the cause is playne

With so smal trauayl, and so great gayne

Suche Policie there is inuented

1350

By seale and wax, and parchment indented

¶Solles for to saue, ded gone and past

But God alone no wight can tell

Whether they be free, or in payne caste

In Paradice, Heauen, or in Hell

1355

Yet for money, those solles wil they sell

By auctoritee of Peter and Paule

sig: [d8v]

Pardon forgeue, and release them all

¶Thus Lord thy might, thei wold withdraw

To whom mercy, onely doth appertaigne

1360

As though they might, in heuen make a lawe

At their pleasure, solles to detayne

Some to release, and some to remayne

Lyke as they wolde, for mede or hyre

Some to acquite, some leaue in the fire.

1365

¶Oh Lorde aboue, a damnable offence

Among thy people, suche erroures to bryng

Against all trewthe, and godly reuerence [Ac]tes .iiii.

To haue a trust, in any other thyng

There is no helpe, no other meanyng

1370

Let this in our heartes, fast be graued

Onely by Christes blud, our solles ar saued.

¶And yet (O Lord) how farre do they erre

Thy maiesty is all full of mercy

No sinner doutles, wilt thou debarre

1375

Being penitent, contrite and sory

These couetous heades, cleane contrary

The poore solle, wrapped in woo and payne

Without money, shal lie still and complaine.

¶What Charitee herein is extended

1380

When two solles in paine, lieth together

Perchance both in one case haue offended

The one for money, his ioye shall recouer

The other for lacke, shal lye styll for euer

Suche is their Charitee, in time of nede

1385

Their wordly pompe, to set forth and fede.

sig: e1

¶If cruell Nero, had now a frende

That would disbource, and paie at large

So to compounde, and make an ende

For all his synnes, and fell outrage

1390

I thinke his solle might walke at large

Consideryng perdons, are so plentie

By meane wherof, hel is emptie.

¶Oh Lorde God, what wondrefull pride

Is it on yearth, goddes to be called

1395

Equall with thy grace, solles to deuide

As though thei wer, in heuen stalled

Thy enemies Lorde, thei maie be called

Whiche will thy people, suche errors bryng

For their profite, our solles deceiuyng

1400

¶Is there any other, maner of meane

Then in the bloud, of Christ_Iesus

The imm[a]culate lambe, moste pure and cleane immaculate] immuculate 1547

The sonne of God, whiche doth forgeue vs

If we knowledge, our deedes vicius

1405

Christ it is, that geueth remission

By the mercis, of his blessed passion.

¶The Apostle blessed sainct Peter

Nether yet inspired holy sainct Paull

The very trewe, and sincere preacher

1410

Euer pardoned any solle at all

The spirite once past, the body mortall

That onely to God, reserued is

His deuine power, consisteth in this.

¶O glorius God, how muche are we bound

sig: [e1v]

1415

Unto thy deuine maiestie

These errors greate for to confounde

Auoydyng the danger, of this infirmitie

In the tyme, of our necessite

Like as sometyme, surely it befell

1420

Unto thy electe, of Israell.

¶Whiche so tenderly, hast cared for vs

That nothing mought be, for our saluacion

But by thy pitie, moste glorious

Thou hast of thy godly affeccion

1425

Prepared the same, for our redempcion

As in the olde lawe, apereth full well

By Iosia, then kyng of Israell.

¶For when thy lawes, wer clene suppressed

By the space of many hundred yeres

1430

By Iosia again wer redressed

Dedicated to thy heuenly speres

Abholished their frounyng cheres

In worshippyng their false Idolatry

Thy glorious name, newly to magnify.

1435

¶By reason wherof, this prince deserued

A name of renowne, to hym most excellent

By thy grace Lorde, onely reserued

Whiche to his name, shalbe permanent

Neuer none to hym, equiuolent

1440

Reignyng as kyng ouer Israell

Lorde vnto thee, this is knowen right well.

¶So in likewise, moste mercifull Lorde

This present houre, of thy tender loue

sig: e2

Thy olde mercie, newly to recorde

1445

Our princes herte, inwardly doth moue

Suche abusions, to reiecte and reproue

Thy lawes, Lorde, long out of remembrance

Are now reduced, to thy godly ordinance.

¶By our moste noble, Henry th'eight

1450

Through thy incomperable goodnesse

All thynges Lorde, is made pure and streight

Abholished is all wickednesse

In especiall Lorde, this is doubtlesse

The power of Rome, so long misused

1455

Our kyng hath now vtterly confused.

¶ NOW to returne, where I began

So to conclude, and briefe my stile

Betwene the Brute and the Roman

No termes to seke, my tong to fyle

1460

No matter more, now to compile

The tyme to tracte, do I intende

But close vp my boke, and make an ende.

¶But first to you, master Polidorus

Your conscience, onely to discharge

1465

Whiche of long-tyme, hath been obliuious

Against vs Brutes, in writyng so large

Your spirites incensed, all in a rage

By your [r]eporte, vs to infame reporte] yeporte 1547

Your pen to rashe, your termes out of frame

1470

¶Where is become, your bounden deutie

Our antecessours, this to deface

Sithe it pleaseth, the high Maiestie

sig: [e2v]

Of our moste noble the kynges good grace.

Not to disdaine, as in this case

1475

To be compted, of the same stocke and lyne

Doune by dissent, to this present tyme.

Who wer more worthy, then wer these three

Hercules, Hector, and Arthur the kyng

For their princely Magnanimitee

1480

Was neuer none, to them resemblyng

In bodely strength, all other surmountyng

Lions, Dragons, monsterous and wild

By manly constraint made them tame and milde

¶These princely men, these worthies thre

1485

Whose knightly force, for to preferre

Poetes do fayne a singularitee

For their manhode, and strength in warre

Should be transformed, into a starre

As it wer, by a deuine grace

1490

In the Cristall sky, to take their place.

¶To bryng you, from all ambiguitie

Unto the truth, of this succession

By a dissente, and a genelogie

Without any vain, ostentacion

1495

I purpose with an honest emulacion

Here to conclude, who-so list to loke

Set together, at the ende of my boke.

¶But yet because, I haue expressed

As here-tofore, somewhat a[t] large at] al 1547

1500

Our old abuses, newly redressed

Perchance ye will ley, theim to my charge

sig: e3

¶Saiyng therin, ye haue aduantage

So that we cannot, the thyng deny

But with the Prophete, to saie peccaui.

1505

¶We do confesse, our simplicite

Like as it was, in tyme of Israell

To liue with milke, yerbes and hony

For greate excesse, we take no trauell

Nether for pompe, or riche apparell

1510

We Welshemen plaine, that do deny

Whiche is oft, muche vsed in Italie.

¶But as Dauid, with grace replete

In tyme of Saull, the famous kyng

Disdained not, his shepe to kepe

1515

Aboute the feldes, them pastoryng

Likewise do we, our-selfes conferryng

Disdaine not, herdmen to be

Whiche is a parte, of our ciuilite.

¶We vse no figges, in pees potage or meat

1520

Which in Italy, is oft frequented

Without suspecte, together we eate

No poysons with vs, is there inuented

And ye again contrary incensed

With poyson strong, this is in substance

1525

The greater estate, the lesse of assurance.

Withdrawe your pen, Master Polidorus

Your vain reporte, and fliyng fantasy

Your termes grose, and matter slanderus

No more in this, to amplify

1530

But what maie stande, with honesty

sig: [e3v]

Wordes of defame, ye maie well thinke

Men will requite, euen to the pittes brinke

¶Herin to make, a degression

After the mynde, of Iosephus

1535

In the yeres, and computacion

Betwene noble Brute, and Romulus

And of their citees, stately and sumpteous

Which of them twaine, should other surmount

Of antiquitee, their yeres to accompt.

1540

¶Also their stocke, birthe, and their lyne

As Eusebius , and also sainct Bede

Plainly doth define and determyne

Brute to bee, moste auncient in-dede

Foure hundred and twenty yeres as I rede

1545

So that London, was a citee of fame

When Rome, nor Romulus beare no name.

¶Loke vp your stories, and marke them well

When Brute began, his foundacion

Ely was Iudge, and prieste in Israell

1550

Nexte insuyng, after Samson

As holy scripture, maketh mencion

Whiche was before Christ, M.L.xxii. yere

As in the stories, more plainly doth apere

¶And thus Eusebius , also sainct Bede

1555

Affirmeth plain, in euery-thyng

How Rome was made, the iiii yere in-dede

Of Acham that tyme, of Italy kyng

Whiche doth agre, the yeres accomptyng

That London before Rome, was raised first

sig: e4

1560

Foure hundred and twenty yeres iust.

¶Also Galfridus , reherseth plain

How many kynges, successiuely

One after other, here did remain

Of one dissent, lyne and progeny

1565

Fully an hundred, as he doth specifie

Recon from Brute, doune to Cadwaladre

And thus of the kynges, was the hole numbre.

¶From Cadwalader, the yere accomptyng

As diuerse auctours, doth specify

1570

Untill this tyme, doune dissendyng

Till our moste noble, th'eight kyng Henry

Of the same stocke, lyne and progeny

As by dissent, the yeres doth appere

Fully eight hundred fiftie and eight yere.

1575

¶Then to accompt, the yeres and the numbre

Sithen Brute, toke his first possession

Equally deuide, them asunder

Recordyng to the computacion

And ye shall finde, by plain discription

1580

Two thousand sixe hundred .lxvi. yeres plain

Sithin Brute began, the yere of his reigne

¶Thus for yeres, tyme and continuaunce

For bloud, birthe, and high parentage

For nobilitee, and mightie puissaunce

1585

For vigoure, strength, and manfull corage

Let vs compare, with Rome and Cartage

With all other, notable citees

For our renoumed, olde antiquitees.

sig: [e4v]

¶What should I more, of this report

1590

Sithe stories olde, doth it renewe

Whose list therto, hymself resorte

As I haue saied, shall finde it trewe

Set out at large, as it is dewe

Honor reuerence, with all other thynges

1595

As doth appertayne, to worthy kynges.

¶Wherfore let vs Integratly intende

Our moste famous kyng, for to aduance

Like his desertes, his grace to commende

In his high and mightie gouernance

1600

Blessed are we, happy [is] our chance is] his 1547

To be borne vnder, so noble a kyng

To se his grace, ouer vs reignyng.

¶Whiche hath prouided, for our redresse

Neuer none like, before this daie

1605

Let vs in Wales, the truth confesse

And for his grace, moste hertely praie

Long to continewe, God graunt he maie

With rest and peace, emongest vs here

Saue our Quene, our prince, and his doughter dere.

¶The Autour.

COnsideryng, fortunes mutabilitee

Now vp now doune, as the whele goth a_bout

To_day a prince, of muche nobilite

To_morowe in danger, standyng in great doubt

This hath happened, the worlde throughout

Well-moste none, of the first bloud and lyne

In any region, reigneth at this tyme.

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¶Emong all princes of excellence

For length of tyme, bloud and progeny

Let vs preferre, the highe magnificence

Of our moste royall, th'eight kyng Henry

Whiche at this houre, by grace of the deity

Possesseth the same kyngdome and powre

Like as did Brute, his first progenitoure.

¶Though doble fortune, in tyme long past

His noble bloud, for to incumbre

Her traiterous traynes, a_brode did cast

With foren kynges, to kepe them vnder

In diuerse places, sente in an numbre

Yet God would not, of his deuine grace

The Troyans bloud, should lose their place.

¶As shall appere, by this dissente

Brifely set out, this present tyme

By auctours good, famous and excellent

As stories olde, doth determine

Though for a tyme, thei wer in ruine

Not possessyng their in_heritaunce

God of his might, hath now made assuraunce.

¶But sithe it wer, all to tedious

Their auncient names, for to prescribe

I will be briefe, and compendious

By numbre, to accompt this tribe

All foren kynges, for to deuide

Onely a fewe of the Brutes to name

As thei wer worthy, of laude and fame.

FINIS.

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¶A Genelogie of the Brutes.

Genealogical tables, comprising signatures e5v-f2, not entered

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THese Auctours olde, with one accorde

This famous line, conueigheth streight

To our most drad, soueraigne Lorde

By the grace of God, Henry the eyght,

To Edward our prince, our tresure of weight

Whom God aboue, their enemies represse

Send them long life, with plenteous successe.

FINIS.

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¶Imprinted at London in the parishe of Christes_Church within newgate by Richard_Grafton, Prynter to our soueraigne lorde Kyng Edward the .vi.

1547.

Cum priuilegio ad imprimendum solum.

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