APPENDIX.
XII.
EARLS OF CORNWALL.
The following account of the different individuals who have held the office of Prince or Earl of Cornwall from the earliest times, till the period of its becoming merely nominal, excepting as to emolument and patronage, with the new appellation of Duke, under the fantastic settlement of King Edward the Third, is derived from Dugdale’s Baronage.
EARLS OF CORNWALL ANTE CONQU:
Anno 499. Of this county was Gorlois Earl, in the time of Uther Pendragon, King of the Britons, of whom this is reported.[182] That Uther determining to solemnize the Feast of Easter at London, with great honor, appointed all his nobles to be thereat, amongst which, this Gorlois then was, together with Igerna his wife, whose beauty did surpass all other British women, so that the king fell in love with her, and courted her with all delicates; which being discerned by the Earl, he retired speedily into his country without leave; the king, therefore, being highly incensed against him for so doing, hasted after him into Cornwall, and fired divers of his towns, and at length besieged him at Dimilioch, provoked him to come out to battle, which he did so inconsiderately,
he being one of the first mortally wounded, his followers disperst themselves. After whose death the king took Igerna to wife, and begot on her a son, called Arthur, who became afterwards not a little famous.
Anno 517. The next Earl was Cador,[183] who when King Arthur had besieged Colgrine, the Saxon General in the City of York, understanding that Baldulph the brother of Colgrine, expecting the coming of more Saxons upon the sea coast, designed to fall upon King Arthur in the night time, Arthur having notice thereof by his scouts, sent this valiant Cador with six hundred horse, and three thousand foot, who, meeting the enemy unexpectedly, slew many of them, and routed the rest.
Anno 520. About three years after,[183] upon another invasion of the Saxons, and a great battle fought with them near Bathe in Somersetshire, wherein Colgrine and Baldulph (before mentioned) lost their lives; and Cheldric the other principal leader of them, with the remaining part of their forces, were put to flight, this Earl Cador, by King Arthur’s command, pursued them into the Isle of Thanet, slew Cheldric, and forced the rest to yield themselves to his mercy.
Anno 542. This noble Cador left issue Constantine,[183] whom King Arthur at his death appointed to be his successor in his kingdom of Britain.
The next Earl was Godric,[184] of whom I have seen no other mention than that Egelwold, sometime King of England, leaving no other issue that survived him, but one daughter, named Goldusburgh, (six years of age at his death) committed her to the tuition of this Godric, who afterwards gave her in marriage to Haveloc, son to Birkelan King of Denmark.