Chronicles (1 of 6): The Historie of England (3 of 8)

"Chronicles (1 of 6): The Historie of England (3 of 8)" by Raphael Holinshed is a historical account written in the late 16th century. This work presents a detailed narrative of the history of England, beginning with the legendary origins of the British kings and tracing the outset of their reigns, conflicts, and notable actions. The book delves into various monarchs, including Mulmucius, Brennus, and Belinus, exploring their contributions to British society and governance as well as their conflicts with one another and outside invaders. The opening of this historical chronicle introduces Mulmucius, identified as the first king of Britain, recounting his coronation, laws, and foundations he established, including the famous "temple of peace." Holinshed continues to narrate the subsequent reign of Mulmucius's sons, Brennus and Belinus, who initially ruled together but soon became embroiled in rivalry, leading to military conflicts against each other. The text captures the societal structure, the beginnings of law enforcement, and the creation of important infrastructure, providing readers with a framework of early British history intertwined with myth and legend, setting a compelling tone for the detailed accounts that follow. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Raphael Holinshed was an English chronicler, who was most famous for his work on The Chronicles of England, Scotlande, and Irelande, commonly known as Holinshed's Chronicles. It was the "first complete printed history of England composed as a continuous narrative". The Holinshed Chronicles was a major influence on many Renaissance writers, such as Shakespeare, Spenser, Daniel and Marlowe.