Chronicles (1 of 6): The Historie of England (3 of 8)Holinshed, Raphael
History
Chronicles (1 of 6): The Historie of England (3 of 8)
Holinshed, Raphael
Great Britain -- History -- To 55 B.C.
And though we doo admit this to be true, yet may it be, that in the
beginning, after Brute entered the land, there was ordeined by him a
monarchie, as before is mentioned, which might continue in his
posteritie manie yeares after, and yet at length before the comming of
Cesar, through ciuil dissention, might happilie be broken, and diuided
into parts, and so remained not onelie in the time of this Cassibellane,
but also long after, whilest they liued as tributaries to the Romans,
till finallie they were subdued by the Saxons. In which meane time,
through the discord, negligence, or rather vnaduised rashnes of writers,
hard it is to iudge what may be affirmed and receiued in their writings
for a truth; namelie, concerning the succession of the kings that are
said to haue reigned betwixt the daies of Cassibellane, and the comming
[Sidenote: _Cor. Tacit. in uita. lib. Agr._]
of the Saxons. The Roman writers (and namelie Tacitus) report, that
the Britains in times past were vnder the rule of kings, and after
being made tributaries, were drawne so by princes into sundrie
factions, that to defend and kéepe off a common ieopardie, scarselie
would two or thrée cities agrée togither, and take weapon in hand
with one accord, so that while they fought by parts, the whole was
ouercome. And after this sort they say that Britaine was brought into
the forme of a prouince by the Romans, from whom gouernors vnder the
name of legats and procurators were sent that had the rule of it.
But yet the same authors make mention of certeine kings (as hereafter
shall appeare) who while the Romane emperors had the most part of the
earth in subiection, reigned in Britaine. The same witnesseth
[Sidenote: _Gildas in epist._]
Gildas, saieng: Britaine hath kings, but they are tyrants: iudges it
hath, but the same are wicked, oftentimes spoiling and tormenting the
innocent people. And Cesar (as ye haue heard) speaketh of foure kings
that ruled in Kent, and thereabouts. Cornelius Tacitus maketh mention
[Sidenote: Some take Prasutagus and Aruiragus to be one man.]
of Prasutagus, and Cogidunus, that were kings in Britaine: and Iuuenal
speaketh of Aruiragus: and all the late writers, of Lucius. Hereby it
appeareth, that whether one or mo, yet kings there were in Britain,
bearing rule vnder the Romane emperors.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account