Holinshed, Chronicles (1577)
THE FOURTH CHAPTER.
WHEN Brute had entred this land, immediatlie after his arriuall (as writers doo record) he searched the countrie from side to side, and from end to end, finding it in most places verie fertile and plentious of wood and grasse, and full of pleasant springs and faire riuers.
As he thus trauelled to discouer the state and commodities of the land, he was encountred by diuers strong and mightie giants, whome he destroied and slue, or rather subdued, with all such other people as he found in the lland, which were more in number than by report of some authors it should appeare there were. Among these giants (as Geffrey of Monmouth writeth) there was one of passing strength and great estimation, named Gogmagog, with whome Brute caused Gerineusto wrestle at a place heside Douer, where it chanced that the giant brake a rib in the side of Cotuens while they stroue to claspe, and the one to oner. throw the other: wherewith Corineus heing sore chated and stirred to wrath, did so double his force that he got the upper hand of the giant, and cast him downe headlong from one of the rocks there, not farre from Douer, and so dispatched him: by reason whereof the place was named long after, The fall or legpe of Gogmagog, but afterward it was called The fall of Doner. For this valiant déed, and other the like seruices first and last atchiued, Brute gaue vuto Corineus the whole countrie of Cornwall. To be briefe, after that Brute had destroied such as stood against him, and brought such people vnder his subiection as he found in the Ile, and searched the land from the one end to the other: he was desirous to build a cile, that the same might be the seate roiall of his empire or kingdome. Wherevpon he chose a plot of ground lieng on the north side of the riuer of Thames, which by good consideration séemed to be most pleasant and conuenient for any great multitude of inhabitants, aswell for holsomnesse of aire, goodnesse of solle, plentie of woods, and commoditie of the riuer, serving as well to bring in as to carrie out all kinds of merchandize and things necessarie for the gaine, store, and vse of them that there should inhabit.
There is also a reference to Robert Welsh(e), who was the Vicar of St Thomas, Exeter in 1537. Welsh was a major player in the Prayerbook Rebellion (1549). Welsh’s final moments were tragic, being used as an example by being hung in his own Church.
This man had many good things in him. He was of no great stature, but well set, and mightilie compact. He was a very good wrestler; shot well, both in the long-bow, and also in the cross-bow; he handled his hand-gun and peece very well; he was a very good woodman, and a hardie, and such a one as would not give his head for the polling, or his beard for the washing. He was a companion in any exercise of activitie, and of a courteous and gentle behaviour. He descended of a good honest parentage, being borne at Peneverin, in Cornwall; and yet, in this rebellion, an arch-captain, and a principal doer.
—Vol. IV. p. 958, 4th edition.
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