[Sidenote: ERCHENWIN. The kingdom of the Eastsaxons.]
In those daies also the kingdome of the Eastsaxons began, the
chéefe citie whereof was London. It contained in effect so much as
at this present belongeth to the diocesse of London. One Erchenwin a
Saxon was the first king thereof, the which was sonne to one Offa, the
sixt in lineall descent from one Saxnot, from whom the kings of that
countrie fetched their originall. Harison noteth the exact yéere of
the erection of the kingdome of the Eastsaxons to begin with the end
of the eight of Cerdicus king of the Westsaxons, that is, the 527 of
Christ, and 78 after the comming of the Saxons. In the 13 yéere of the
reigne of Cerdicus, he with his sonne Kenrike, and other of the
Saxon capteins fought with the Britains in the Ile of Wight at
Witgarsbridge, where they slue a great number of Britains, and so
conquered the Ile, the which about four yéeres after was giuen by
Cerdicus vnto his nephues Stuffe and Witgar.

[Sidenote: ARTHUR.]
After the deceasse of Vter Pendragon (as we doo find in the British
histories) his sonne Arthur, a yoong towardlie gentleman, of the age
of 15 yéeres or thereabouts, began his reigne ouer the Britains in
[Sidenote: 516.]
[Sidenote: _Matth. West._ hath noted 518.]
the yéere of our Lord 516, or as Matt. Westmin. saith 517, in the
28 yéere of the emperour Anastasius, and in the third yéere of the
reignes of Childebert, Clothare, Clodamire, and Theodorike, brethren
that were kings of the Frenchmen. Of this Arthur manie things are
written beyond credit, for that there is no ancient author of
authoritie that confirmeth the same: but surelie as may be thought he
was some woorthie man, and by all likelihood a great enimie to the