Early Modern Mythological Texts: Troia Britanica XVI (1-50)

Thomas Heywood. Troia Britanica (1609)

CANTO XVI (1-50)

Stanzas 1-10 — 11-20 — 21-30 — 31-40 — 41-50 — 51-95

Ed. Nick MYERS

 

Argumentum

Having the sight of our wished harbour gained,

The years from Brute to Christ: what famous kings

Governed in Britain, and how long they reigned

From Christ to Norman William, and what things

Of special note were in their days contained,

In a brief chronicle, our muse next sings:

Much matter in few words: swift runs our glass,

We many ages in one instant pass.

 

Arg. 2

A genealogy exactly found,

From the first man, to Norman William crowned.

 

1

Adam got Seth; Seth, Enos; Enos, Cayne,

Cayne got MelalielJareth next begot,

From Jared Enoch, that to heaven was ta’n,

He got Methusalem, whose line doth run

To Lamech; of him Noah, and from Noah came

Japheth; then Cichem, who was Japheth’s son.

   Cichem got Cipre; Cipre, Creete, and so

   Creete, Saturn: from whose branch great Jhove doth grow.

 

2

Dardanus is immediate heir from Jhove,

And by Candame, got Erichthonius,

Erichthon Tros; Tros Ilion; next him strove

Laomedon, and he got Priamus,

And when the Greeks from Troy Aeneas drove,

He by Creusa had Ascanius

   Who, after Carthaginian Dido passed,

   Up through the river Tiber sails at last.

 

Dardanus son to Jupiter and Electra

 

3

At Hostia’s port—the place the gods behight

Aeneas lands. Evander him receives.

The Latins’ king his daughter at first sight

Aeneas loves, and for her sake, bereaves

The Tuskayne king of life in single fight.

Turnus being dead, the fair Lavinia leaves

   Her virgin vows, by whom the Trojan prince

   Silvius begot; and Silvius, Brutus since.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Turnus king of Tuskayne

 

4

Brute’s mother in her painful throes deceased.

Hunting, his glancing shaft his father slew,

For which with melancholy griefs infest,

From Italy the prince himself withdrew,

Ten thousand voluntary men unpressed

Consort him, strange adventures to pursue—

   Whom Corineus with many Trojans more

   Meets, and assists, new countries to explore.

 

5

Brute, Grecian Pandras who denied him way

And through his spacious kingdom passage free,

O’ercomes in battle, but denies to stay

Till he more coasts and various climates see.

Fair Innogen a virgin fresh as May,

He marrieth, and with Pandras doth agree

   For her rich dower to have a royal fleet,

   Well furnished for his train, with all things meet.

 

 

 

 

 

Innogen daughter to Pandras

 

6

He passed Alcides’ pillars, even to Gaul,

Landing in Guienne. Guffor the proud king

Denies Prince Brute to hunt but maugre all

He chased his deer, and made his bucks to spring.

Thence Albion he descries, like a white wall

Washed with the sea, and longs his fleet to bring

   To a safe harbour, where he might survey

   The long-sought isle where he his bones must lay.

 

7

When Ayoth judged Israel in the year

Threescore and twelve of his command and state,

Egyptian Danaus’ daughters landed here,

After long search, who for they had of late

Their nine and forty husbands by th’austere

Injunction of their sire brought to sad fate,

   Were in a mastless ship to exile thrown

   And landing here, called this isle Albion.

 

 

Hugh Genesis and Hardyng

 

 

 

 

Albion of Albania the eldest sister

 

8

Some say of these viragos spirits begot

Giants, that were of huge and monstrous size,

Who when they grew to stature, spared not

Affinity, for son with mother lies,

Brother with sister: so the learned Scot

Marian doth in his chronicles comprise:

   And of these lustful ladies, in small while,

   Twelve thousand giants peopled this large isle.

 

The year of the world above the line

The year before Christ below the line

 

9

Prince Brute with Corineus doth Albion enter

At Totnes; thirty monstrous giants kills,

And after much and dangerous adventure,

Builds London (called New Troy): his throne he fills

Twenty-four years, then pays his last debenter

To nature. Britain he to Locrine wills,

   Scotland to Albanact, Wales Camber sways,

   Israel was judged by Samuel in their days.

 

Brute

 

2855/1108

 

 

 

2878/1085

 

10 

Locrine reigned twenty years. His wife him slew,

Because he Sabrine loved, and her forsook.

Mother and child bold Guendolina threw

Into the Severn streams, who their name took

From Sabrine; in his days young David grew,

And with a sling the great Goliah strook,

   At Locrine’s death, stern Guendoline began;

   Her husband she succeeds; and her, her son.

 

Locrine

 

Guendoline

 

2889/1074

 

 

 

11

Madan ruled forty years, and in his days

Was beautious Absolom by Joab slain.

Memprisius twenty years the sceptre sways,

Procuring first his brother Manlius’ bane

Whom Madan loved, and had intent to raise.

In lust and riot he consumed his reign,

   For which just heavens their righteous vengeance poured,

   Memprisius hunting was by wolves devoured.

 

Madan

2916/1047

Memprisius

2954/1009

 

12

Him his son Ebranke in the throne succeeds,

Who governs threescore happy summers through.

Famous for many charitable deeds,

He builded York, Dunbar, and Edenborowe.

Next him Brute Green-shield donned th’imperial weeds.

After twelve happy years his subjects’ sorrow

   For his untimely fate; and in his reign,

   B’Elias’ prayer the priests of Baal were slain.

 

Ebranke

2972/991

 

 

Brute Green.

3033/930

 

3034/929

 

13

Leill, Brute’s son, reigned five and twenty years

And Carleil built, then did his seat  resign

To young Lud  Hurdibras, loved of his peers,

Who governed Britain’s sceptre twenty-nine.

He Winchester and Canterbury rears,

With Shaftsbury, then seeks a throne divine,

   Whose obits were in Britain long bemoaned.

   The prophet Zachary in his days was stoned.

 

Leill

3046/917

Lud Hurdibras

3071/892

 

 

 

 

 

14

Bladud, Lud’s son, reigned next and Bath erected,

A sorcerer, and did attempt to fly,

And having twenty years the realm protected,

He brake his neck down from a steeple high.

Amos and Amazia were directed

In those holy days by the spirit of prophecy.

   Leir next him, in whose time, as books say,

   Jonas three days in the whale’s belly lay.

 

3097/896

Bladud

 

3109/854

 

 

Leir

3123/840

 

15

Leir built Leicester, forty years was crowned,

Famous in his three daughters and their love,

The youngest most suspected, faithful found,

And they that promised most, least thankful prove.

Kindest Cordeilla that did most abound

In filial zeal next Leir sits above:

   Morgan and Cunedagius two false peers,

   Depose their aunt after five unhappy years.

 

 

 

 

 

Cordeilla

3158/805

Morgan

Cunedagius

 

16

They jointly reign, till Cunedagius slew

His brother Morgan in Glamorganshire,

From whom the title of that country grew,

And after governed three and thirty yeare,

Now Naum preached. Rivallo doth pursue

The kingdom next, a prince that had no peer.

   In his days prophecied Esay, Micheas,

   The prophets Adad, Amos and Oseas.

 

3162/801

 

 

 

Rivallo

3196/767

 

17

Forty-six years he governed. In his reign

Rome was first built, wise Sybil gave forth saws,

King Ezechy by God healed of his pain,

Had fifteen years’ life promised. For some cause

The sun full ten degrees turned back again.

Thales Milesius to the Greeks gave laws.

   In Britain it rained blood, Rivallo waned,

   And eight and thirty years Gurgustius reigned.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gurgustius

3242/721

 

18

Now Joel  taught, his Iliads Homer  wrate,

And Glaucus Chius soldering first invented.

Sisillius next Gurgustius takes the state,

Forty-nine years he governs well contented.

Amon in Juda reigned, Zaleucus  sate

Judge on his son’s eye, Jeremy lamented

   For the sad tragedy of King Josias.

   Now flourish Olda, Baruch, Sophonius.

 

 

 

3252/711

Sisillius

 

3279/684

 

3295/668

 

19

Now Phalaris in Agrigentine swayed,

And thrust Perillus in his brazen bull

To taste the torment he for others made.

Iago next Sisillius makes up full

Twenty-five years, then in his tomb was laid.

Nebuchadnezar sought to disannul

   The Hebrew laws. Susanna’s fame increased,

   By th’Elders wronged, by Daniel’s doom released.

 

 

3311/652

 

 

Iago

 

3327/636

 

20

Fifty-four years Kinimachus was known

After Iago in the British chair;

Arion with his harp was o’erboard thrown,

Whom through the seas the pitious dolphin bare;

Bel was called God, and ’fore him trumpets blown,

And the three children in the robes they wear

   Cast in the fiery furnace. Now I guess,

   Lived Solon; Sappho the sweet poetess.

 

3351/612

Kinimachus

 

 

 

 

3369/594

 

 

21

Anaximander th’horoscope first made,

Aesop in birds and beasts first figured men.

Next King Kinimachus Gorbodug swayed

The British sceptre. In the lions’ den

Daniel was cast. Now Cyrus did invade

Cressus of Lydia. ’Twas the season when

   Zacharias, Aggeus, Malach’ prophesied,

   And the chaste Lucrece by her own hand died.

 

 

 

Gorbodug

3404/559

 

3417/546

3430/533

 

 

22

Next Gorbodug, Ferrex and Porrex reigned;

After five years, bold Porrex Ferrex slew,

For which their mother Porrex much disdained,

And in his blood did her black hands imbrue.

After their death sedition was maintained

Full one and fifty years. Whilst no man knew

   Th’immediate heir, and whilst these wars were nourished,

   Darius, Xerxes, and Queen Hester flourished.

 

Ferrex, Porrex

3467/496

 

 

 

 

3475/488

 

23

Th’Athenian Sophocles a tragic poet;

Plato, Cratinus, Aristarchus were

All comic writers, as their works best show it.

Empedocles of Athens did acquire

Music’s full ground, and made the world to know it;

Parmenides made logic first appear,

   Which in Mount Caucasus he first devised;

   Esdras the scribe the Scriptures now comprised.

 

 

3513/450

 

 

 

 

 

 

24

Mulmutius Dunwallo, son and heir

To Cloten, Duke of Cornwayle’s next instated.

He did the four broad highways first repair;

First crowned, Paul’s church first built and consecrated,

And after forty years from Britain’s chair

To a new throne in heaven he was translated.

   Now Socrates th’Athenian hearers charms,

   Demosthenes, famous for arts and arms. 

 

3522/441

Mulmutius

 

 

 

3550/413

 


25

Beline and Bren the British crown divide.

Being by their mother, after wars, atoned,

While Bren in foreign arms his valour tried,

Beline built Belinsgate; all Denmark groaned

Beneath his yoke. Bren, to the Gauls allied,

Sacked Rome, burnt Delphos, and was after stoned

   With hail and thunder-stroke; much blood was spilt.

   In Italy ten stately towns he built.

 

Beline, Bren

 

 

 

3563/400

 

26

Twenty-six years betwixt them they supply

The crown and sceptre. Dionysius reigned

In Sicily. Damon and Pythias try

Their mutual friendship. Xenophon maintained

His school in Athens. Plato, prized higher,

His Academy reared. Now was ordained

   For King Mausolus, by the Carian queen,

   A stately tomb ranked among the wonders nine.

 

3568/395

 

 

 

 

 

3586/377

 

27

Gurguintus, Belin’s son, nineteen years made

The Britons homagers, by even tradition.

Aristotle lived, whose fame shall never fade,

Son to Nicomachus, a great physician.

Now Macedonian Philip ’gan t’invade

His neighbour kings in many an expedition.

   The noble Marcus Curtius, for Rome’s sake

   Armed at all points, leapt in the Curtian lake.

 

Gurguintus

3588/375

 

 

3595/368

 

 

3604/359

 

28

Guintheline six and twenty years made good

His right in Britain. Mercia his fair wife

Devised the Mercian laws. By Tiber flood

The clouds rained stones. After Darius’ strife,

Which ended in effusion of much blood,

By poison Alexander lost his life.

   Next Guintheline seven years Cecilius reigned.

   Next him three years Kimar the state maintained.

 

Guintheline

3607/356

3628/335

 

 

Cecilius

Kimar

3633/330

 

29

Nine years Elanius reigned, Morindus eight,

Devoured of a sea monster. In their days

Onias son of Jaddus reached the height

Of the priest’s office. Gorbomanus sways

Eleven full years, a prince assisting right.

Simon, Onias’ son, the Hebrews raise

   To the priesthood. Next just Gorboman

   Fierce Archigall to tyrannise began;

 

Elanius, Morindus

3652/311

 

Gorbomanus

3660/303

 

Archigall

3671/292

 

30

After five years deposed. His second brother

Succeeded in the style of Elidure,

A virtuous prince, there sat not such another

In Britain’s chair, in life severe and pure;

Five years himself did Archigallo smother,

And his deposing patiently endure.

   At length by Elidurus met and known,

   To Archigallo he resigns his throne.

 

 

Elidure

3676/287

 

 

 

Archigallo

3681/282

 

31

Ten years the twice crowned Archigallo now

Governs the state in honour, and then dying,

To Elidure again the Britons bow.

After two years, his brothers him defying

Keep him in bonds. The Briton peers allow

Their double rule, nine years their conquest trying.

   Vigenius and Peridure are past,

   And Elidure the third time crowned at last,

 

 

Elidure

3691/272

 

Vigenius, Peridure

3693/270

Elidure

3702/261

 

32

Reigning four years. In this forepassed state

Lived Epire Pyrrhus, and Lysimachus.

The high priest Eleazar, choosed of late,

Receives th’Egyptian league. Now breathe Seleucus

And Ptolemy; now by the Roman senate

Silver was coined first. Theos Antiochus

   In Syria reigned, blood sprang out of a well,

   And from the clouds milk in abundance fell.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3684/279

 

33

Manasses lived high priest among the Jews.

Ten years ruled Gorboman, Morgan fourteen,

Emerianus next to him pursues

The diadem: a tyrant full of spleen

After seven years deposed. Inall ensues,

A temperate prince, who twenty years was seen

   In Britain’s throne. Amilcar Carthage swayed,

   Illyrian Teuta did proud Rome invade.

 

 

3705/258

Gorboman, Morgan, Emerianus

 

 

3736/227

 

 

 

34

Rimo reigned sixteen years. Bold Hannibal

And Scipio fought. Wise Cato lived in Rome.

Next Rimo King Geruntius they install.

Him after twenty years his lords entomb.

The lofty Spaniards from Rome’s empire fall,

And after stand to Fulvius Flaccusdoom.

   Ten years Catellus reigned: the Jews were foiled,

   And by Antiochus God’s temple spoiled.

 

3756/207

Rimo

Geruntius

3771/192

 

Catellus

3790/173

 

35

The mother and her seven sons martyred were,

The worthy Judas Maccabeus fought

God’s battles. Coill reigned twenty year,

Great Carthage was destroyed, and Corinth

Brought to fall by fire. The Doctrines first appear

The Pharisees and Sadducees taught.

   Five years just Porrex, drunken Cherimus

   One, Fulgen two, one Eldred, one Androgeus.

 

3795/168

Coill

3800/163

 

3820/143

 

Porrex, Cherimus, Fulgen, Eldred, Androgeus

 

36

Dendantius five years, two Detonnus held

The sovereignty, then left this life for new.

Nature a monstrous birth in Rome compelled,

Having four hands, four feet; corn grew

In Bonony on trees, whose taste excelled.

The Parthian Arsaces Demetrius slew.

   Great Scipio Africanus ends his life,

   By false Sempronia his disloyal wife.

 

Dedantius, Detonnus

3843/120

 

 

 

 

3835/128

 

 

37

Young Urianus three, King Eliud five,

Two Merianus, and Bladunus twain;

Capenus three; Ovinius doth next strive,

And his imperial state two years maintain;

Two Silius; Bledgabredus did survive

Full twenty years in his auspicious reign.

   Hircanus governed in the high priest’s stead,

   Marius triumphed o’er Jugurth, captive led.  

 

Urianus, Eliud

Merianus, Bladunus

3848/115

Capenus, Ovinius

 

Silius, Bledgabredus

 

3857/109

 

38

Archemalus reigned two, Eldolus four,

Two Rodianus, three Redargius,

Samulius two the Britons next adore.

King Penisellus three, two princely Pyrrhus,

And after him Caporus two, no more.

Now grew the wars twixt Scilla and Marius.

   Dinellus four, Helyus, Ely named,

   Governed ten months, when death his body claimed.

 

3869/94

Archemalus, Eldolus

Rodianus, Redargius

Samulius

Penisellus, Pyrrhus

Caporus

Dinellus, Helyus

 

39

Lud, Helyus’ son, his happy rule began,

Named Troynovant Lud’s town, Ludgate erected,

Eleven years reigned, then to Cassibelan

Left his two infant sons to be protected,

Who till the princes grew to state of man,

By all the British peers was king elected;

   Reigned nineteen years; in his days twice repelled, 

   The Roman Caesar the bold Britons quelled.  

 

3893/70

Lud

3894/69

Cassibelan

 

 

Caesar

3911/52

 

40

Nennius won Caesar’s sword, and had it brought

To be hanged o’er his hearse. Pompey the Great

With Julius Caesar in Pharsalia fought.

Julius usurps in Rome’s imperial seat,

Was stabbed with bodkins, he that never fought

But conquered, in all martial acts complete.

   Now flourished Cicero with praise divine,

   Hermius and seditious Catiline.

 

 

 

3916/47

 

 

 

3919/44

 

41

And not the least grace to triumphant Rome,

The rare comedian Roscius. Next in row

Of British kings must young Tenancius come,

Twenty-three years he reigned, and then did owe

No more to nature. Then th’adopted son

Of Caesar, great Augustus: now doth grow

   Rome’s monarchy. Mark Antony through pride

   Rebelled, by asps great Cleopatra died.  

 

 

3921/42

Tenancius

 

3934/29

 

42

Virgil and Horace flourished: in these days

Jesus Fabetes’ son was consecrated

High priest. King Herod Jewry’s sceptre sways.

A general peace is through the world debated.

The Britons next King Cymbelinus raise,

And five and thirty years he is instated.

   And now the Saviour of the world was born,

   Th’eternal King crowned with a wreath of thorn.

 

3944/19

 

 

Cymbeline

 

The yeare of the world above the line.

The year after Christ under the line.

 

43

Hortensius, Livy, Sallust, Ovid, all

Were famed in Rome. Valiant Guiderius next

The Britons as their sovereign liege install.

Twenty-eight years he governs, much perplexed

With Roman war. Now chanced Sejanus’ fall

Under Tiberius. Now as saith the text,

   John Baptist preached, and by King Herod died,

   Pilate was judge, and Christ was crucified.  

 

3962/1

3978/17

Guiderius

 

3985/24

 

 

3994/33

 

44

Now Arviragus reigns, and takes to wife

Th’emperor Claudius’ daughter. Jewry’s king

Was eat with worms. Grave Senec breathed this life,

And Simon Magus did his money bring

To buy the Holy Ghost, his fame was rife

Among the Romans. Now did Nero sing

   Upon a hill Troy’s burning to his lyre,

   Having before set stately Rome afire.

 

4006/45

Arviragus

 

 

 

4017/56

 

 

45

Saint Mark in Alexandria martyred was,

At Jerusalem James for the gospel died.

Paul suffered too, whose boldness did surpass;

Peter likewise in Rome was crucified.

Queen Voada, a gallant British lass,

Marched with five thousand ladies by her side,

   And in one battle—if report be true—

   Full fourscore thousand valiant Romans slew.

 

 

4019/58

 

4029/68

 

46

Next Arviragus Briton Marius guided.

Now was the Temple of the highest defaced,

His City sacked, and those that Christ derided

Burnt, starved or slain, Jerusalem quite razed.

Josephus lived, Domitian Rome divided,

And after Titus in the throne was placed.

   Ignatius’ life in Rome ’mongst lions vanished.

   Saint John whom Christ loved was to Patmos banished.

 

Marius

4024/73

 

 

 

 

 

4070/108

 

47

In Rome now lived Cornelius Tacitus,

Suetonius, younger Pliny, Juvenal,

Valerius Flaccus, and Patavius,

And the lascivious poet Martial,

And under Trajan, Aulus Gelius,

Plutarch and Apuleius. Now the wall

   From Tyne to the Scotch sea was made for strength,

   Being one hundred and twelve miles in length.

 

 

 

48

Coylus built Colchester. Now Justin wrote,

And with his books and life Christ’s faith defended.

Egyptian Ptolemy the stars did note,

And mathematics found. Lucius ascended

The state next Coyll, who first set afloat

Baptism in England, by the Church commended.

   For our first Christian king: he mounts the spheres

   And without king leaves Britain fifteen years.

 

4087/126

Coyll

 

Lucius

 

4141/180

 

 

49

Severus th’emperor did five years supply

The British throne, then of the gout he died

At York, to Bassianus his ally,

Leaving both Rome and Britain’s isle to guide.

Six years this Caracalla lifted high

His crownèd state in tyranny and pride.

   Tertullian now and Origen were known,

   Carassus next assumes the British throne, 

 

4169/208

Severus

4174/213

Caracalla

 

4179/218

 

Carassus

 

50

Governed eight years, then by Alectus died;

After three years bold Asclepiodote

Alectus slew, in height of all his pride,

And Roman Wallus, by whose timeless fall

Walbrook took name. He thirty years supplied

The kingdom, then exchanged his mortal state.

   Artabanus great Artaxerxus slew,

   Saint Alban martyred left this life for new.

 

4187/226

Alectus

Asclepiodote

 

4193/232

 



Back to Canto XV

Notes to Canto XVI (stanzas 1-40; stanzas 41-70; stanzas 71-95 & endnotes)

On to Canto XVI (51-95)


How to cite

Nick Myers, ed., 2019.  Troia Britanica Canto XVI (1609).  In A Dictionary of Shakespeare's Classical Mythology: A Textual Companion, ed. Yves Peyré (2009-).

http://www.shakmyth.org/page/Early+Modern+Mythological+Texts%3A+Troia+Britanica+XVI+%281-50%29


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