[Sidenote: The mother killeth hir son.]
in the night season, and as he slept, she with the helpe of hir maidens
slue him, and cut him into small péeces, as the writers doo affirme. Such
was the end of these two brethren, after they had reigned by the space of
foure or fiue yeares.

After this followed a troublous season, full of cruell warre, and
seditious discord, whereby in the end, and for the space of fiftie
yeares, the monarchie or sole gouernement of the Iland became a
pentarchie, that is, it was diuided betwixt fiue kings or rulers,
till Dunwallon of Cornewall ouercame them all. Thus the line of Brute
(according to the report of most writers) tooke an end: for after the
[Sidenote: _Robert Record_.]
death of the two foresaid brethren, no rightfull inheritor was left aliue
to succéed them in the kingdome. The names of these fiue kings are found
in certeine old pedegrées: and although the same be much corrupted in
diuers copies, yet these vndernamed are the most agréeable.

But of these fiue kings or dukes, the English chronicle alloweth Cloton
king of Cornewall for most rightfull heire. There appeareth not any time
certeine by report of ancient authors, how long this variance continued
[Sidenote: _Fabian_. Ciuill warres 51. yeares.]
amongst the Britains: but (as some say) it lasted for the space of 51
yeres, coniecturing so much by that which is recorded in Polychron, who
saith, who it endured euen till the beginning of the reigne of Mulmucius
Dunwallon, who began to gouerne from the time that Brute first entred
Britaine, about the space of 703 thrée yeares. (sic)

¶ Here ye must note, that there is difference amongst writers about the
supputation and account of these yeares, insomuch that some making their