¶ And heere to speake my fansie also what I thinke of this Aruiragus, and other the kings (whome Galfrid and such as haue followed him doo register in order, to succeed one after another) I will not denie but such persons there were, and the same happilie bearing verie great rule in the land, but that they reigned as absolute kings ouer the whole, or that they succeeded one after another in manner as is auouched by the same writers, it seemeth most vnlike to be true:  for rather it maie be gessed by that, which as well Gyldas as the old approoued Romane writers haue written, that diuerse of these kings liued about one time, or in times greatlie differing from those times which in our writers we find noted.  As for example, Iuuenal maketh this Aruiragus, of whom we now intreat, to reigne about Domitians time.  For my part therefore, sith this order of the British kinglie succession in this place is more easie to be flatlie denied and vtterlie reprooued, than either wiselie defended or trulie amended, I will referre the reforming therof vnto those that haue perhaps seene more than I haue, or more deepelie considered the thing, to trie out an vndoubted truth:  in the meane time, I haue thought good, both to shew what I find in our histories, and likewise in forren writers, to the which we thinke (namelie in this behalfe, whilest the Romans gouerned there) we maie safelie giue most credit, doo we otherwise neuer so much content our selues with other vaine and fond conceits.

To proceed yet with the historie as we find it by our writers set foorth:  it is reported, that after the solemnization of this marriage, which was doone with all honour that might be deuised, Claudius [Sidenote:  Legions of souldiers sent into Ireland.] sent certeine legions of souldiers foorth to go into Ireland to subdue that countrie, and returned himselfe to Rome.

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Aruiragus denieth subiection to the Romans, Vespasian is sent to represse him and his power, the Romane host is kept backe from landing, queene Genissa pacifieth them after a sharpe conflict:  & what the Romane writers say of Vespasians being in Britaine, the end of Aruiragus.

THE FOURTH CHAPTER.

Then did king Aruiragus ride about to view the state of his realme, repairing cities and townes decaied by the warre of the Romans, and saw his people gouerned with such iustice and good order, that he was both feared and greatlie beloued:  so that in tract of time he grew verie welthie, and by reason thereof fell into pride, so that he [Sidenote:  Vespasian in Britaine. Cornel.  Tacit. in uit.  Agr. lib. 3 & li. 6.  Gal.  Mon.  Rutupium.] denied his subiection to the Romans.  Wherevpon Claudius appointed Vespasian with an armie to go as lieutenant into Britaine.  This iournie was to him the beginning of his advancement to that honour, which after to him most luckilie befell.  But if we shall credit our Britaine writers, he gained not much at Aruiragus hands, for where he would haue landed at Sandwich or Richborough, Aruiragus was readie to resist him, so as he durst not once enter the hauen:  for Aruiragus had there such a puissant number of armed men, that the Romans were afraid to approach the land.