Traditionary Britain

Great Britain, like all other historic lands, has had its period of fable, with a mixture of truth even in its wildest traditions. The tradition declares that the island was first colonized by Albion, the son of Neptune, or that Angul, son of Japhet, was its discoverer and godfather. But Milton accords to Brutus, grandson of AEneas, the honor of destroying the remnant of the "giants" whom he found on the island, and of giving the land to his own followers. This done, Brutus built a city and called it Troya Nova (New Troy), corrupted by time into Trinovant, afterwards changed to Lud's Town (London) by King Lud, who, "bold in warre and in peace a jolly feaster, was buried by that gate, which is thence called Ludgate." The landing of Brutus may be associated with the period when Eli was high priest of God's chosen people, or about the year B. C. 1145. There is a probability, tradition affirms, that he ruled Britain for twenty-four years and died, leaving the island to his three sons. Locrine had the middle part, called Loegria, now England; Camber had Cambria, now Wales; Albanect had Albania, now Scotland. Brutus' line failing, a period of anarchy succeeded, and the island was divided into five kingdoms. Here comes in King Lear, who died B. C. 800, leaving no male heir, but three daughters. The Kingdoms of Britain were at length united by Dunwallo Molmutius, who is called by old authors the first king of Britain, because he wore a golden crown and was the first to adopt that custom. He wrote the Molmutine laws, which King Alfred revised. He reigned for forty years alone, and was "buried with rude pomp and lamentation in Trinovant."

The two sons of Molmutius, Belinus and Brennus, divided the kingdom. Brennus, dissatisfied with his potion--the northern half--sailed away to Norway to seek assistance from Jarl Elsing, who not only gave him a fleet of ships, but also his sister in marriage. The claims of these brothers were amicably adjusted, and some English historians claim that they afterwards overran Gaul, and that it was Brennus, the Briton, who led the Gauls in their attack upon Rome 300 B. C. To this period, also, belongs the Danes, who for more than 1000 years struggled for the possession of the island of Britain. But whatever obscurity may surround the ancient Britons, one fact remains undisputed, that they were a brave, free people. But all tradition ends when Julius Caesar landed upon the shores of Britain 55 B. C.