Book III, Chapter 15

GOrbodugs double Issue now, when eighteene Kings were past,
Hild ioyntly Empyre in this land: till Porrex at the last,
Not tyed so by brotherhood, but that he did disdaine
A fellowe King, (for neuer can one Kingdome brooke of twaine)
Did leuie secrete bands: for dread whereof did Ferrex flye,
And out of Gallia bringeth Warre, in which himselfe did dye.
Then Porrex only raigned heere, and ruled all in peace:
Till Iden, mother Queene to both, her furie did increase
So fearcely, as she seekes reuenge euen in the highest degree.
Why liueth this (quoth she) a King? in graue why lyeth he?
Dye Iden, dye: nay dye thou wretch, that me a wretch hast made:
His ghost, whose life stood in thy light, commaundeth me of ayde.
Nor want I (Ferrex) will to ayde: for why the Gods I see
Deferre reuenge, nor with a Deuill the Deuils disagree.
The heauens, me thinks, with thūderbolts should presse his soule to hell,
Or Earth giue passage, that at least with men he might not dwell.
But I my selfe, euen I my selfe, their slacknesse will supplye,
And Mothers name and Nature both to such a Sonne denye.

Dead night was come, when Iden found the King her sonne a sleepe,
And all was still: not then as now did Guards their Princes keepe.
Admit they had, who would haue fearde such mischiefe in a mother?
She whispring softly, sleepe thy last, yea sleep as doth thy brother,
Did gash his throte: who starting vp, whē strength & speech were gōe,
Lifts vp his faynting hands, and knewe the Tyrannesse anone:
And maketh signes, as who would say, ah mother thou hast done
A deede, as neuer mother earst did practise on her Sonne.
But name of Son, nor signes did serue, him still with wounds she plyes
Nor (more than Monster) did it please that simplie so he dyes,
But that his bodie, peecemeale tore, about the Lodging flyes.
And thus from noble Brute his line the Scepter then did passe:
When of his bloud for to succeede no heire suruiuing was.

FOwer Dukes at once, in ciuill broyles, seiunctly after raine.
Neere when, the Scottes (whō some accuse by Ante-dates to gaine)
Did settle in the Northerne Isles. These people bring their line
From Cecrops, and that Pharo he that euer did decline
From Moses, seeking Hebers house from Aegypt to conuay.
His daughter Scota Gathelus their Duke brought thence away,
When Pharos sinne to Iacobs Seede did neere that Land decay.
And Cecrops son brought thē frō thence (as Scottes inforce the same)
The Stone that Iacob slept vpon, when Angels went and came.
Of it was made their fatall Chaire: of which they beare in hand,
That whearesoere ye same is found, the Scottes shall brooke yt land:
At Westminster that Monument doth now, decaying, stand.
In Lusitania Gathelus did first his Kingdome found:
And of his race (of Scota, Scottes) when Spanish Scottes abound,
Ariue in Ireland, and in it a second Empire ground.
And thirdly, when their broodie Race that Isle did ouer-store,
Amongst the Islands Hebredes they seek out dwellings more.

These Irish, sometime Spanish Scots, of whence our now-Scots be,
Within the Isles of Albion thus, whilst Brutaines disagree,
Did seat themselues, & nestle too amongst the Mountaine groundes:
What time a Scythian people, Pichtes, did seaze the middle bounds
Twixt them and vs: & these did prooue to Brutaine double wounds.
The Penthland people and the Scots, alying, friendlie liue,
Vntill the Pichts, by Brittish wyles, contrarie cause did giue.
Then from their Captains fell the Scots, and chose to them a King:
And Fergus out of Ireland did the Chaire of Marble bring:
In which instald the first Scotch King in Albion, so he wrought
That Pichts and Scots, then vp in Armes, were to attonement brought.

Three valiant people thus at once in Albion Empire hold,
Brutes, Scots and Pichts: the latter twaine lesse ciuil, but as bold.
The Pichts were fierce and Scythian like: much like the Irish now
The Scots were then: couragious both: Nor them I disallowe
That write they fed on humane flesh, for so it may be well,
Like of these men their bloudie mindes their natiue stories tell:
But to our Brittish busines now, to shew what theare befell.

Not how the tri-partited Rule vnto his quartarne Rayne
Dunwallo, after fortie yeres, did Monarchize againe:
Not what precedent Kings in France, and Denmarke did obtaine
Speake I. From Porrex fortie Kings in silence shall remaine:
Alonelie valiant Brennus, and his brother Beline, thay
Vnpraised for their warres and works shall not escape away.