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diff --git a/37848.txt b/37848.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..8497195 --- /dev/null +++ b/37848.txt @@ -0,0 +1,28231 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Old English Chronicles, by Various + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Old English Chronicles + +Author: Various + +Editor: J. A. Giles + +Release Date: October 25, 2011 [EBook #37848] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OLD ENGLISH CHRONICLES *** + + + + +Produced by Taavi Kalju, Jane Hyland and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries) + + + + + + + + BOHN'S ANTIQUARIAN LIBRARY. + + Old English Chronicles. + + ETHELWERD--ASSER'S LIFE OF ALFRED--GEOFFREY + OF MONMOUTH--GILDAS--NENNIUS--AND + RICHARD OF CIRENCESTER. + + GEORGE BELL AND SONS + + LONDON: PORTUGAL ST., LINCOLN'S INN. + + CAMBRIDGE: DEIGHTON, BELL AND CO. + + NEW YORK: THE MACMILLAN CO. + + BOMBAY: A.H. WHEELER AND CO. + + Old English Chronicles, + + INCLUDING + ETHELWERD'S CHRONICLE. + ASSER'S LIFE OF ALFRED. + GEOFFREY OF MONMOUTH'S BRITISH HISTORY. + GILDAS. NENNIUS. + TOGETHER WITH THE + SPURIOUS CHRONICLE OF RICHARD OF CIRENCESTER. + + EDITED, WITH ILLUSTRATIVE NOTES, + BY J.A. GILES, D.C.L., + LATE FELLOW OF CORPUS CHRISTI COLLEGE, OXFORD. + + [Illustration] + + LONDON + GEORGE BELL & SONS + 1906 + +[_Reprinted from Stereotype plates._] + + + + +EDITOR'S PREFACE. + + +Of the present volume it will be sufficient to inform the reader that it +contains Six Chronicles, all relating to the history of this country +before the Norman Conquest, and all of essential importance to those who +like to study history in the very words of contemporary writers. + +We will at once proceed to enumerate them severally. + + + + +CHAP. I.--ETHELWERD'S CHRONICLE. + + +The short chronicle, which passes under the name of Ethelwerd, contains +few facts which are not found in the Saxon Chronicle its precursor. Of +the author we know no more than he has told us in his work. "Malmesbury +calls him 'noble and magnificent' with reference to his rank; for he was +descended from king Alfred: but he forgets his peculiar praise--that of +being the only Latin historian for two centuries; though, like Xenophon, +Caesar, and Alfred, he wielded the sword as much as the pen."[1] + +Ethelwerd dedicated his work to, and indeed wrote it for the use of his +relation Matilda, daughter of Otho the Great, emperor of Germany, by his +first empress Edgitha or Editha; who is mentioned in the Saxon +Chronicle, A.D. 925, though not by name, as given to Otho by her +brother, king Athelstan. Ethelwerd adds, in his epistle to Matilda, that +Athelstan sent _two_ sisters, in order that the emperor might take his +choice; and that he preferred the mother of Matilda. + +The chronology of Ethelwerd is occasionally a year or two at variance +with other authorities. The reader will be guided in reckoning the +dates, not by the heading of each paragraph, A.D. 891, 975, &c., but by +the actual words of the author inserted in the body of the text. + +I have translated this short chronicle from the original text as well as +I was able, and as closely as could be to the author's text; but I am by +no means certain of having always succeeded in hitting on his true +meaning, for such is the extraordinary barbarism of the style, that I +believe many an ancient Latin classic, if he could rise from his grave, +would attempt in vain to interpret it. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 1: Ingram, p. viii. note] + + + + +CHAP. II.--ASSER'S LIFE OF ALFRED. + + +This work is ascribed, on its own internal authority, to Asser, who is +said to have been bishop of St. David's, of Sherborne or of Exeter, in +the time of king Alfred. Though most of the public events recorded in +this book are to be found in the Saxon Chronicle, yet for many +interesting circumstances in the life of our great Saxon king we are +indebted to this biography alone. But, as if no part of history is ever +to be free from suspicion, or from difficulty, a doubt has been raised +concerning the authenticity of this work.[2] There is also another short +treatise called the Annals of Asser, or the Chronicle of St. Neot, +different from the present: it is published in vol. iii. of Gale and +Fell's Collection of Historians. And it has been suspected by a living +writer that both of these works are to be looked upon as compilations of +a later date. The arguments upon which this opinion is founded are drawn +principally from the abrupt and incoherent character of the work before +us. But we have neither time nor space to enter further into this +question. As the work has been edited by Petrie, so has it been here +translated, and the reader, taking it upon its own merits, will find +therein much of interest about our glorious king, concerning whom he +will lament with me that all we know is so little, so unsatisfying. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 2: See Wright's Biographia Literaria Anglo-Saxonica, p. 405. +Dr. Lingard, however, in his recent work on the History and Antiquities +of the Anglo-Saxon Church, vol. ii. pp. 424-428, has replied to Mr. +Wright's objections, and vindicated the authenticity of Asser's Life.] + + + + +CHAP. III.--GILDAS. + + +Of Gildas, the supposed author of the third work contained in this +volume, little or nothing is known. Mr. Stevenson, in the preface to his +edition of the original Latin, lately published by the English +Historical Society, says: "We are unable to speak with certainty as to +his parentage, his country, or even his name, the period when he lived, +or the works of which he was the author." Such a statement is surely +sufficient to excuse us at present from saying more on the subject, than +that he is supposed to have lived, and to have written what remains +under his name, during some part of the sixth century. There are two +legends[3] of the life of St. Gildas, as he is termed, but both of them +abound with such absurdities that they scarcely deserve to be noticed in +a serious history. Of the present translation, the first or historic +half is entirely new; in the rest, consisting almost entirely of texts +from Scripture, the translator has thought it quite sufficient to follow +the old translation of Habington, correcting whatever errors he could +detect, and in some degree relieving the quaint and obsolete character +of the language. It has been remarked by Polydore Virgil, that Gildas +quotes no other book but the Bible; and it may be added, that his +quotations are in other words than those of the Vulgate or common +authorized translation. The title of the old translation is as follows: +"The Epistle of Gildas the most ancient British Author: who flourished +in the yeere of our Lord, 546. And who by his great erudition, +sanctitie, and wisdome, acquired the name of _Sapiens_. Faithfully +translated out of the originall Latine." London, 12mo. 1638. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 3: Both these works are given in the appendix to the editor's +"History of the Ancient Britons."] + + + + +CHAP. IV.--NENNIUS. + + +The History of the Britons, which occupies the fourth place in this +volume is generally ascribed to Nennius, but so little is known about +the author, that we have hardly any information handed down to us +respecting him except this mention of his name. It is also far from +certain at what period the history was written, and the difference is no +less than a period of two hundred years, some assigning the work to +seven hundred and ninety-six, and others to nine hundred and +ninety-four. The recent inquiries of Mr. Stevenson, to be found in the +Preface to his new edition of the original Latin, render it unnecessary +at present to delay the reader's attention from the work itself. The +present translation is substantially that of the Rev. W. Gunn, published +with the Latin original in 1819, under the following title: "The +'Historia Britonum,' commonly attributed to Nennius; from a manuscript +lately discovered in the library of the Vatican Palace at Rome: edited +in the tenth century, by Mark the Hermit; with an English version, +facsimile of the original, notes and illustrations." The kindness of +that gentleman has enabled the present editor to reprint the whole, with +only a few corrections of slight errata, which inadvertency alone had +occasioned, together with the two prologues and several pages of +genealogies, which did not occur in the MS. used by that gentleman. + + + + +CHAP. V.--GEOFFREY OF MONMOUTH. + + +Geoffrey, surnamed of Monmouth, is celebrated in English literature as +the author, or at least the translator, of _Historia Britonum_, a work +from which nearly all our great vernacular poets have drawn the +materials for some of their noblest works of fiction and characters of +romance. He lived in the early part of the twelfth century, and in the +year 1152 was raised to the bishopric of St. Asaph. + +The first of his writings, in point of time, was a Latin translation of +the Prophecies of Merlin, which he undertook at the request of Alexander +bishop of Lincoln. His next work was that on which his fame principally +rests, the _Historia Britonum_, dedicated to Robert, duke of Gloucester, +who died in 1147. Into this second work he inserted the Latin +translation above-mentioned, which now appears as the seventh book of +_Historia Britonum_. A third composition has also been ascribed to +Geoffrey, entitled _Vita Merlini_, in Latin hexameter verse: but the +internal evidence which it affords, plainly proves that it is the work +of a different author. + +Although the list of our Chroniclers may be considered as complete, +without the addition of this work, yet we have thought it worthy of a +place in our series for many reasons. It is not for historical accuracy +that the book before us is valuable; for the great mass of scholars +have come to the decided conviction that it is full of fables. But it is +the romantic character which pervades the narrative, together with its +acknowledged antiquity, which make it desirable that the book should not +sink into oblivion. Those who desire to possess it as a venerable relic +of an early age, will now have an opportunity of gratifying their wish; +whilst others, who despise it as valueless, in their researches after +historic truth, may, nevertheless, find some little pleasure in the +tales of imagination which it contains. + +The value of this work is best evinced by the attention which was paid +to it for many centuries; Henry of Huntingdon made an abstract of it, +which he subjoined as an appendix to his history: and Alfred of +Beverley, a later writer, in his abridgment of this work which still +exists, has omitted Geoffrey's name, though he calls the author of the +original, Britannicus. + +An English translation of the work was first published by Aaron +Thompson, of Queen's College, Oxford, [8vo. Lond. 1718.] and lately +revised and reprinted by the editor of this volume, [8vo. Lond. 1842.] A +long preface is prefixed to that translation, wherein the author +endeavoured to prove Geoffrey of Monmouth to be a more faithful +historian than he is generally considered to be. His words are as +follow:--"I am not unsensible that I expose myself to the censures of +some persons, by publishing this translation of a book, which they think +had better been suppressed and buried in oblivion, as being at present +generally exploded for a groundless and fabulous story, such as our +modern historians think not worthy relating, or at least mention with +contempt. And though it is true, several men, and those of learning too, +censure this book who have but little considered it, and whose studies +no ways qualify them to judge of it; yet, I own this consideration has +for a long time deterred me from publishing it: and I should not at last +have been able to surmount this difficulty, without the importunity and +encouragement of others, to whom I owe a singular regard. I had indeed +before I entered upon the work perused the principal writers both for +and against this history, the effect of which upon my own judgment, as +to the swaying it to the one side more than the other, was but very +small; and I must confess, that I find the most learned antiquaries the +most modest in their opinions concerning it, and that it seems to me to +be a piece of great rashness, to judge peremptorily upon a matter, +whereof at this great distance of time there are no competent witnesses +on either side. At least I cannot but think it a sufficient apology for +my publishing this book, to consider only, that though it seems to +suffer under a general prejudice at present, yet it has not long done +so; but that upon its first appearing in the world, it met with a +universal approbation, and that too, from those who had better +opportunities of examining the truth of it, as there were then more +monuments extant, and the traditions more fresh and uncorrupted +concerning the ancient British affairs, than any critics of the present +age can pretend to; that it had no adversary before William of Newburgh +about the end of the reign of Richard the First, whose virulent +invective against it, we are told, proceeded from a revenge he thought +he owed the Welsh for an affront they had given him; that his opposition +was far from shaking the credit of it with our succeeding historians, +who have, most of them, till the beginning of the last century, +confirmed it with their testimonies, and copied after it, as often as +they had occasion to treat of the same affairs: that its authority was +alleged by king Edward the First and all the nobility of the kingdom, in +a controversy of the greatest importance, before Boniface the Eighth; +that even in this learned age, that is so industrious to detect any +impostures, which through the credulity of former times had passed upon +the world, the arguments against this history are not thought so +convincing, but that several men of equal reputation for learning and +judgment with its adversaries, have written in favour of it; that very +few have at last spoken decisively against it, or absolutely condemned +it; and that it is still most frequently quoted by our most learned +historians and antiquaries. All these considerations, I say, if they do +not amount to an apology for the history itself, show at least that it +deserves to be better known than at present it is; which is sufficient +to justify my undertaking the publishing of it." + +It is unnecessary in the present day to prove that king Brute is a +shadowy personage, who never existed but in the regions of romance: but +as the reader may justly expect to find in this place some account of +the controversy which has existed respecting this work, the following +remarks will not be deemed inappropriate. There seems no good reason for +supposing that Geoffrey of Monmouth intended to deceive the world +respecting the history of which he professed to be the translator; and +it may be readily conceived that he did no more than fulfil the task +which he had undertaken, of rendering the book into Latin out of the +original language. But those who, even as late as the beginning of the +last century, supported the authenticity of the history, have grounded +their opinions on such arguments as the following:-- + +1. That, upon its first appearance in the world, the book met with +universal approbation, and that too from those who had better +opportunities of examining the truth of it, as there were then more +monuments extant, and the traditions were more fresh and uncorrupted, +concerning the ancient British affairs, than any critics of the present +age can pretend to. + +2. That except William of Newburgh, about the end of the reign of +Richard I, it met with no opponents even down to the seventeenth +century, but was, on the contrary, quoted by all, in particular by +Edward I, in a controversy before Boniface the Eighth. + +3. That we see in this history the traces of venerable antiquity. + +4. That the story of Brute, and the descent of the Britons from the +Trojans, was universally allowed by Giraldus Cambrensis and others, and +was opposed for the first time by John of Wethamstede, [Nicolson's Eng. +Hist. Lit. 2nd ed. p. 1, c. v.] who lived in the 15th century: that +Polydore Virgil's contempt for it proceeded from his wish to preserve +unimpaired the glory of the Romans, and Buchanan's observations betray +his ignorance of the story. + +5. That Leland, who lived under Henry the Eighth, Humphrey Lhwyd, Sir +John Price, Dr. Caius, Dr. Powel, and others, have supported the story +of Brute, etc. + +Such arguments may have satisfied the credulous students of the +seventeenth century, but the more enlightened criticism of the present +day will no longer listen to them. It may not, however, be uninteresting +to hear the account which Thompson, the English translator gives of this +work, which in his own words, and with his additional remarks upon it, +is as follows:--"The story, as collected from himself, Leland, Bale, and +Pitts, is that Walter Mapes, _alias_ Calenius, archdeacon of Oxford, who +flourished in the reign of Henry I, and of whom Henry of Huntingdon, and +other historians as well as Geoffrey himself, make honourable mention, +being a man very curious in the study of antiquity, and a diligent +searcher into ancient libraries, and especially after the works of +ancient authors, happened while he was in Armorica to light upon a +History of Britain, written in the British tongue, and carrying marks of +great antiquity. And being overjoyed at it, as if he had found a vast +treasure, he in a short time after came over to England; where inquiring +for a proper person to translate this curious but hitherto unknown book, +he very opportunely met with Geoffrey of Monmouth, a man profoundly +versed in the history and antiquities of Britain, excellently skilled in +the British tongue, and withal (considering the time,) an elegant writer +both in verse and prose; and so recommended this task to him. +Accordingly, Geoffrey, being incredibly delighted with this ancient +book, undertook the translating of it into Latin, which he performed, +with great diligence, approving himself, according to Matthew Paris, a +faithful translator. At first he divided it into four books, written in +a plain simple style, and dedicated it to Robert, earl of Gloucester, a +copy whereof is said[4] to be at Bennet College, in Cambridge, which was +never yet published; but afterwards he made some alterations and divided +it into eight books, to which he added the book of Merlin's Prophecies, +which he had also translated from British verse into Latin prose, +prefixing to it a preface, and a letter to Alexander, bishop of Lincoln. +A great many fabulous and trifling stories are inserted in the history: +but that was not his fault; his business as a translator was to deliver +them faithfully such as they were, and leave them to the judgment of the +learned to be discussed. + +"To prove the truth of this relation, and to answer at once all +objections against Geoffrey's integrity, one needs no other argument +than an assurance that the original manuscript which Geoffrey +translated, of whose antiquity the curious are able to judge in a great +measure by the character, or any ancient and authentic copy of it, is +yet extant. And indeed, archbishop Usher[5] mentions an old Welsh +Chronicle in the Cottonian Library, that formerly was in the possession +of that learned antiquary, Humphrey Lhwyd, which he says is thought to +be that which Geoffrey translated. But if that be the original +manuscript, it must be acknowledged that Geoffrey was not merely a +translator, but made some additions of his own: since, as that most +learned prelate informs us, the account that we have in this History of +the British Flamens, and Archflamens, is nowhere to be found in it. But +besides this, there are several copies of it in the Welsh tongue, +mentioned by the late ingenious and learned Mr. Lhwyd in his +'Archaeologia Britannica.' And I myself have met with a manuscript +history of our British affairs, written above a hundred years ago by Mr. +John Lewis, and shortly to be published, wherein the author says, that +he had the original of the British History in parchment written in the +British tongue before Geoffrey's time, as he concludes from this +circumstance, that in his book Geoffrey's preface was wanting, and the +preface to his book was the second chapter of that published by +Geoffrey. My ignorance of the Welsh tongue renders me unqualified for +making any search into these matters; and though the search should be +attended with never so much satisfaction, to those who are able to judge +of the antiquity of manuscripts, yet to the generality of readers, other +arguments would perhaps be more convincing." + +The passages which we have here quoted at length, will give the reader +the most ample information concerning the nature of the question, and it +only remains to inform the reader what is my own opinion on this +long-agitated literary controversy. + +To those who have read the plain and simple statements of Julius Caesar +and the other classic historians who have described the early state of +Britain, it will be morally certain that all such accounts as we have in +Geoffrey of Monmouth are purely fabulous. The uncertainty of every +thing, save the bare fact, connected with the siege of Troy, is so +great, that to connect its fortunes with those of a distant and at that +time unheard-of island like Britain, can be admissible only in the pages +of romance. But in the latter part of the work which contains the +history of Britain, during its conquest by the Saxons, we may possibly +find the germs of facts unnoticed elsewhere. + +This view does not militate against the veracity of Geoffrey, who +professes to have translated from an original in the British language, +but whether any manuscript copy of this original now exists, is a point +which has not been satisfactorily ascertained. In 1811, the Rev. Peter +Roberts published the Chronicle of the Kings of Britain, translated from +Welsh manuscripts, and being in substance almost identically the same as +Geoffrey's History of the Britons,--but it is most likely that these +Welsh MSS., which are all comparatively modern, are themselves +re-translations from the Latin of Geoffrey. + +If no other arguments could be adduced to prove the utter incredibility +of the earlier parts of this history, the following Chronological Table +would furnish quite sufficient arguments to establish it, by the +extraordinary anachronisms which it contains. For instance, between the +reigns of Brutus and Leil, is an interval of 156 years; and yet Geoffrey +makes the capture of the ark contemporaneous with the reign of Brutus, +and the building of Solomon's temple with that of Leil. Now the interval +between these two events cannot by any possibility be extended beyond +eighty years. It is, moreover, impossible to bring the chronology of the +British kings themselves into harmony with the dates before Christ, as +there is no mention made of the exact interval between the taking of +Troy and Brutus's landing in Britain. + +Geoffrey inscribes his work to Robert, earl of Gloucester, son of Henry +the Second. + +GENEALOGICAL SUMMARY. + + LATINUS + __________ + | | + = AEneas = Lavinia (----) + | | + Ascanius | + | | + Sylvius = (Niece of Lavinia). I. 3. + Pandrasus | + | | + Ignoge = 1. Brutus at the age of 15 kills his father (I. 3.) Reigns + | twenty-four years. (II. 1.) + | At this time Eli governed Israel, and the ark was taken + | by the Philistines, and the sons of Hector reigned in + | Troy and Sylvius AEneas, uncle of Brutus, in Italy. + | (I. 17.) + -------------------------------- + | | | + | Corinaeus Albanact Kamber II. 1. + | | + 2. Locrin = 3. Guendoloena { Locrin by Estrildis has Sabre, who + r. 10 yrs. | 15 years. { being drowned in the Severn, gives + | { name to that river. + | + 4. Maddan. II. 6. { At this time Samuel governed Israel, + 40 yrs. { and Homer flourished. + | + ------------- + | | + 5. Mempricius Malim { Saul reigns in Judaea, Eurystheus in + 20 yrs. { Lacedaemon. + | + 6. Ebraucus { King David--Sylvius + 40 yrs. { Latinus--Gad--Nathanand Asaph. + (or 60, _quaere_, II. 7, 8) + | + 7. Brutus II., 12 yrs. and 19 other sons and 30 daughters, II. 8. + | + 8. Leil { Solomon--Queen of Sheba--Sylvius + 25 yrs. { Epitus. + | + 9. Hudibras Capys--Haggai--Amos--Joel--Azariah. + 39 yrs. + | + 10. Bladud Elijah. + 20 yrs. II. 10. + | + 11. Leir + 60 yrs. II. 11. + | + ---------------------------------------------- + | | | + 12. Gonorilla = Maglaunus, Regan = Henuinus, Cordeilla = Aganippus, + 5 yrs. | D. of | D. of K. of + | Albania. | Cornwall. Gaul. + | | + Margan 13. Cunedagius { Isaiah--Hosea--Rome built + 33 yrs. { by Romulus and Remus. + | + 14. Rivallo + | + ---------------- + | | + 15. Gurgustius (----) + | | + 16. Sisilius 17. Jago + | + | + 18. Kinmarcus + | + 19. Gorbogudo = Widen + | + ----------------- + | | + Ferrex Porrex + + Long civil wars. + + At length arose Dunwallo Molmutius, son of Cloten, king of + Cornwall. II. 17. + + 20. Dunwallo Molmutius = Conwenna + 40 yrs. | + ------------------------------ + | | + 21. Belinus Brennius + 5 yrs. in concert with Brennius. + | + 22. Gurgiunt Brabtruc. III. 11. + | + 23. Guithelin = Martia + | + 24. Sisillius + | + ------------------- + | | + 25. Kimarus 26. Danius = Tangustela + | + 27. Morvidus + | + ----------------------------------------------------- + | | | | | + 28. Gorbonian 29. Arthgallo 30. Elidure 31. Vigenius 32. Peredure + | | | | | + | Arthgallo was deposed in favour of Elidure, who, after a + | reign of five years, restored his brother, who reigned + | 10 years afterwards. Elidure then reigned a second time + | but was deposed by Vigenius and Peredure: after whose + | deaths he reigned a third time. + 33. Gorbonian's | | | | + son, III. 19. | | | | + ---------------- | | | + | | | | | + 34. Margan 35. Enniaunus | 36. Idwallo 37. Runno + | + 38. Geruntius + | + 39. Catellus + + 40. Coillus 41. Porrex 42. Cherin + | + ---------------------------------------- + | | | + 43. Fulgenius 44. Eldadus 45. Andragius + | + 46. Urianus + + 47. Eliud 48. Cledaucus 49. Cletonus 50. Gurgintius 51. Merianus + + 52. Bleduno 53. Cap 54. Oenus 55. Sisillius + + ---------------------- + | | + 56. Blegabred 57. Arthmail + + 58. Eldol 59. Redion 60. Rederchius 61. Samuilpenissel 62. Pir + + 63. Capoir III. 19. + | + 64. Cligueillus + | + 65. Heli + | + ------------------------------------------- + | | | + 66. Lud. III. 20 67. Cassibellaun Nennius + + Caesar's invasion took place during Cassibellaun's reign. + + 68. Tenuantius + | { Jesus Christ is born in + 69. Kymbelinus { the reign of Kymbelinus + | { or Cymbeline. + | Claudius + -------------------------------- | + | | | + 70. Guiderius 71. Arviragus = Genuissa + | + 72. Marius + | + 73. Coillus + | + 74. Lucius IV. 19. + + Lucius embraces Christianity: he dies, A.D. 156. + + 75. Severus + | + 76. Bassianus or Caracalla + + 77. Carausius, V. 3. 78. Allectus + + 79. Asclepiodotus 80. Coel + | + Helena = 81. Constantius + | r. 11 yrs. + | + 82. Constantine, emperor of Rome + + 83. Octavius assumes the crown of Britain. + | + (Daughter) = 84. Maximian, V. 11. + + 85. Gratian Municeps + + At this time the Picts and Scots harass the Britons, who apply to + the Romans. + + 86. Constantine, prince of Armorica, comes to assist the Britons. + | + ------------------------------------------ + | | | + 87. Constans 89. Aurelius Ambrosius 90. Utherpendragon = Igerna + VIII. 2. VIII. 17. | VIII. 19. + | + 88. Vortigern usurps the throne (VI. 9) and calls in | + the Saxons. | + ----------------- + | | + 91. Arthur IX. 1. Anne + + King Arthur dies, A.D. 542 (XI. 3.) + + 92. Constantine 93. Aurelius Conan 94. Wortiporius 95. Malgo + + 96. Careticus 97. Cadwan + ---------- | + | | | + Peanda (sister) = 98. Cadwallo + | + 99. Cadwallader + + Cadwallader goes to Rome, where he is confirmed in the faith of Christ + by pope Sergius, and dies A.D. 689. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 4: See Pitts and Voss.] + +[Footnote 5: Brit. Eccl. Prim. cap. 5] + + + + +CHAP. VI.--RICHARD OF CIRENCESTER. + + +The supposed chronicle of Richard of Cirencester was first brought +before the public by Charles Julius Bertram, Professor of the English +Language in the Royal Marine Academy, at Copenhagen, in the year 1757. + +Since the publication of the volume, it has been conclusively proved to +be a modern forgery. The editor's remarks on that portion of the volume +are therefore omitted, though the document is retained on the +supposition that it may be convenient to some readers to have the text +of a composition which was extensively used before its spurious +character was ascertained. + + + + +THE CHRONICLE + +OF + +FABIUS ETHELWERD, + +FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE WORLD TO THE YEAR OF OUR LORD 975. + +IN FOUR BOOKS. + + +To Matilda, the most eloquent and true handmaid of Christ, Ethelwerd the +patrician, health in the Lord! I have received, dearest sister, your +letter which I longed for, and I not only read it with kisses, but laid +it up in the treasury of my heart. Often and often do I pray the grace +of the Most High, to preserve you in safety during this life present, +and after death to lead you to his everlasting mansions. But as I once +before briefly hinted to you by letter, I now, with God's help, intend +to begin in the way of annals from the beginning of the world, and +explain to you more fully about our common lineage and descent, to the +end that the reader's task may be lightened, and the pleasure of the +hearer may be augmented, whilst he listens to it. Concerning the coming +of our first parents out of Germany into Britain, their numberless wars +and slaughters, and the dangers which they encountered on ship-board +among the waves of the ocean, in the following pages you will find a +full description. In the present letter therefore I have written, +without perplexity of style, of our modern lineage and relationship, who +were our relations, and how, and where they came from: as far as our +memory can go, and according as our parents taught us. For instance king +Alfred was son of king Ethelwulf, from whom we derive our origin, and +who had five sons, one of whom was king Ethelred[6] my ancestor, and +another king Alfred who was yours. This king Alfred sent his daughter +Ethelswitha into Germany to be the wife of Baldwin,[7] who had by her +two sons Ethelwulf and Arnulf, also two daughters Elswid and Armentruth. +Now from Ethelswitha is descended count Arnulf,[8] your neighbour. The +daughter of king Edward son of the above-named king Alfred was named +Edgiva, and was sent by your aunt into Gaul to marry Charles the Simple. +Ethilda also was sent to be the wife of Hugh, son of Robert: and two +others were sent by king Athelstan to Otho that he might choose which of +them he liked best to be his wife. He[9] chose Edgitha, from whom you +derive your lineage; and united the other in marriage to a certain +king[10] near the Jupiterean Mountains, of whose family no memorial has +reached us, partly from the distance and partly from the confusion of +the times. It is your province to inform us of these particulars, not +only from your relationship, but also because no lack of ability or +interval of space prevents you.[11] + +HERE ENDS THE PROLOGUE. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 6: Ethelred died and Alfred succeeded him A.D. 871.] + +[Footnote 7: Baldwin, count of Flanders died A.D. 918. See Malmesbury, +p. 121.] + +[Footnote 8: Arnulf, count of Flanders, A.D. 965.] + +[Footnote 9: The emperor Otho married Edgitha A.D. 930.] + +[Footnote 10: Lewis the blind.] + +[Footnote 11: The writer adds the barbarous verse, "Esto mihi valens +cunctis perhenniter horis," which is as easy to construe as to scan.] + + + + +BOOK THE FIRST BEGINS. + + +The beginning of the world comes first. For on the first day God, in the +apparition of the light, created the angels: on the second day, under +the name of the firmament he created the heavens; &c. &c.[12] + +Rome was destroyed by the Goths in the eleven hundred and forty-sixth +year after it was built. From that time the Roman authority ceased in +the island of Britain, and in many other countries which they had held +under the yoke of slavery. For it was now four hundred and eighty-five +years, beginning with Caius Julius Caesar, that they had held the island +above-mentioned, wherein they had built cities and castles, bridges and +streets of admirable construction, which are seen among us even to the +present day. But whilst the people of Britain were living carelessly +within the wall, which had been built by Severus to protect them, there +arose two nations, the Picts in the north and the Scots in the west, and +leading an army against them, devastated their country, and inflicted +many sufferings upon them for many years. The Britons being unable to +bear their misery, by a wise device send to Rome a mournful letter[13] +... the army returned victorious to Rome. But the Scots and Picts, +hearing that the hostile army was gone, rejoiced with no little joy. +Again they take up arms, and like wolves attack the sheepfold which is +left without a protector: they devastate the northern districts as far +as the ditch of Severus: the Britons man the wall and fortify it with +their arms; but fortune denied them success in the war. The cunning +Scots, knowing what to do against the high wall and the deep trench, +contrive iron goads with mechanical art, and dragging down those who +were standing on the wall, slay them without mercy: they remain victors +both within and without; they at once plunder and take possession; and a +slaughter is made worse than all that had been before. Thus ended the +four hundred and forty-fourth year since the incarnation of our Lord. + +The Britons, seeing themselves on every side vanquished, and that they +could have no more hopes from Rome, devise, in their agony and +lamentations, a plan to adopt. For in those days they heard, that the +race of the Saxons were active, in piratical enterprises, throughout the +whole coast, from the river Rhine to the Danish city,[14] which is now +commonly called Denmark, and strong in all matters connected with war. +They therefore send to them messengers, bearing gifts, and ask +assistance, promising them their alliance when they should be at peace. +But the mind of that degraded race was debased by ignorance, and they +saw not that they were preparing for themselves perpetual slavery, +which is the stepmother of all misfortune. + +The person who especially gave this counsel was Vurthern,[15] who at +that time was king over all, and to him all the nobility assented. They +preferred to procure assistance to them from Germany. Already two young +men, Hengist and Horsa, were pre-eminent. They were the grandsons of +Woden, king of the barbarians, whom the pagans have since raised to an +abominable dignity, and honouring him as a god, offer sacrifice to him +for the sake of victory or valour, and the people, deceived, believe +what they see, as is their wont. The aforesaid youths therefore arrive, +according to the petition of the king and his senate, with three +vessels, loaded with arms, and prepared with every kind of warlike +stores: the anchor is cast into the sea, and the ships come to land. Not +long afterwards they are sent against the Scots to try their mettle, and +without delay they sheathe their breasts in arms, and engage in a novel +mode of battle. Man clashes with man, now falls a German and now a Scot: +on both sides is a most wretched scene of slaughter: at length the +Saxons remain masters of the field. For this the king aforesaid honours +them with a triumph; and they privately send home messengers, to tell +their countrymen of the fertility of the country and the indolence of +its cowardly people. Their countrymen, without delay, listen to their +representations, and send to them a large fleet and army. Forthwith they +were magnificently received by the king of the Britons, and contracted a +league of hospitality with the natives. The Britons promise peace, +worthy gifts of alliance and honours, provided that they might remain in +ease under their protection from the attacks of their enemies, and pay +them immense stipends. + +Thus much of the alliance and promises of the Britons: now let us speak +of their discord and ill fortune. For seeing the cunningness of the new +people, they partly feared and partly despised them. They break their +compact, and no longer render them the honours of alliance, but instead +thereof, they try to drive them from their shores. These being their +designs, the thing is made public, the treaty is openly set aside, all +parties fly to arms: the Britons give way, and the Saxons keep +possession of the country. Again they send to Germany, not secretly as +before, but by a public embassy, as victors are wont to do, and demand +reinforcements. A large multitude joined them from every province of +Germany; and they carried on war against the Britons, driving them from +their territories with great slaughter, and ever remaining masters of +the field. At last the Britons bend their necks to the yoke, and pay +tribute. This migration is said to have been made from the three +provinces of Germany, which are said to have been the most +distinguished, namely, from Saxony, Anglia, and Giota. The Cantuarians +derived their origin from the Giotae [Jutes], and also the Uuhtii, who +took their name from the island Wihta [Isle of Wight], which lies on the +coast of Britain. + +For out of Saxony, which is now called Ald-Sexe, or Old Saxony, came the +tribes which are still called so among the English, the East Saxons, +South Saxons, and West Saxons; that is, those who are called in Latin, +the Oriental, Austral, and Occidental Saxons. + +Out of the province of Anglia came the East Anglians, Middle Anglians, +Mercians, and all the race of the Northumbrians. Moreover Old Anglia is +situated between the Saxons and Jutes, having a capital town, which in +Saxon is called Sleswig, but in Danish Haithaby. Britain, therefore, is +now called Anglia [England], because it took the name of its conquerors: +for their leaders aforesaid were the first who came thence to Britain; +namely, Hengist and Horsa, sons of Wyhrtels:[16] their grandfather was +Wecta, and their great-grandfather Withar, whose father was Woden, who +also was king of a multitude of barbarians. For the unbelievers of the +North are oppressed by such delusion that they worship him as a god even +to this day, namely the Danes, the North-men, and the Suevi; of whom +Lucan says, + + "Pours forth the yellow Suevi from the North." + +So greatly did the invasion of those nations spread and increase, that +they by degrees obliterated all memory of the inhabitants who had +formerly invited them with gifts. They demand their stipends: the +Britons refuse: they take up arms, discord arises, and as we have before +said, they drive the Britons into certain narrow isthmuses of the +island, and themselves hold possession of the island from sea to sea +even unto the present time. + +A. 418. In the ninth year also after the sacking of Rome by the Goths, +those of Roman race who were left in Britain, not bearing the manifold +insults of the people, bury their treasures in pits thinking that +hereafter they might have better fortune, which never was the case; and +taking a portion, assemble on the coast, spread their canvas to the +winds, and seek an exile on the shores of Gaul. + +A. 430. Twelve years after, bishop Palladius is sent by the holy pope +Celestinus to preach the gospel of Christ to the Scots. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 12: Here follow several pages, in which the writer, like other +annalists, deduces his history from the creation. It is now universally +the custom with modern writers and translators to omit such preliminary +matter.] + +[Footnote 13: There is evidently a hiatus in this passage, but see Bede +i. 13, p. 22.] + +[Footnote 14: Urbs, "city," seems here rather to designate _country_ or +_territory_.] + +[Footnote 15: Otherwise called Vortigern.] + +[Footnote 16: More commonly called Wihtgila.] + + + + +CHAPTER[17] + + +A. 449. When, therefore, nineteen years had elapsed, Maurice and +Valentine[18] became emperors of Rome; in whose reign Hengist and Horsa +at the invitation of Vortigern king of the Britons arrive at the place +called Wipped's-fleet, at first on the plea of assisting the Britons: +but afterwards they rebelled and became their enemies, as we have +already said. Now the number of years, completed since the marvellous +incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ, was four hundred and forty-nine. + +A. 455. In the sixth year after, Hengist and Horsa fought a battle +against Vortigern in the plain of AEgelsthrep. There Horsa was killed, +and Hengist obtained the kingdom. + +A. 457. But after two years, Hengist and AEsc his son renewed the war +against the Britons; and there fell in that day on the side of the +Britons four thousand men. Then the Britons, leaving Cantia, which is +commonly called Kent, fled to the city of London. + +A. 465. About eight years after, the same men took up arms against the +Britons, and there was a great slaughter made on that day: twelve chiefs +of the Britons fell near a place called Wipped's-fleet; there fell a +soldier of the Saxons called Wipped, from which circumstance that place +took its name; in the same way as the Thesean sea was so called from +Theseus, and the AEgaean sea from AEgeus who was drowned in it. + +A. 473. After eight years were completed, Hengist with his son AEsc, a +second time make war against the Britons, and having slaughtered their +army, remain victors on the field of battle, and carry off immense +spoils. + +A. 477. In the fourth year AElla landed in Britain from Germany with his +three sons, at a place called Cymenes-Ora, and defeated the Britons at +Aldredes-leage.[19] + +A. 485. After eight years, the same people fight against the Britons, +near a place called Mearcraedsburn. + +A. 488. After this, at an interval of three years, AEsc, son of Hengist, +began to reign in Kent. + +A. 492. After three years, AElla and Assa besieged a town called +Andreds-cester, and slew all its inhabitants, both small and great, +leaving not a single soul alive. + +A. 495. After the lapse of three more years, Cerdic and his son Cynric +sailed to Britain with five ships, to a port called Cerdic's-ore, and on +the same day fought a battle against the Britons, in which they were +finally victorious. + +A. 500. Six years after their arrival, they sailed round the western +part of Britain, which is now called Wessex. + +A. 501. Also after a year Port landed in Britain with his son Bieda. + +A. 508. Seven years after his arrival, Cerdic with his son Cynric slay +Natan-Leod, king of the Britons, and five thousand men with him. + +A. 514. Six years after, Stuf and Wihtgar landed in Britain at +Cerdic's-ore, and suddenly make war on the Britons, whom they put to +flight, and themselves remain masters of the field. Thus was completed +the fifty-sixth[20] year since Hengist and Horsa first landed in +Britain. + +A. 519. Five years after, Cerdic and Cynric fought a battle against the +Britons at Cerdic's-ford,[21] on the river Avene, and that same year +nominally began to reign. + +A. 527. Eight years after, they renew the war against the Britons. + +A. 530. After three years, they took the Isle of Wight, the situation +of which we have mentioned above: but they did not kill many of the +Britons. + +A. 534. Four years after, Cerdic with his son Cenric gives up the Isle +of Wight into the hands of their two cousins Stuf and Wihtgar. In the +course of the same year Cerdic died, and Cenric his son began to reign +after him, and he reigned twenty-seven years. + +A. 538. When he had reigned four years, the sun was eclipsed from the +first hour of the day to the third.[22] + +A. 540. Again, two years after, the sun was eclipsed for half-an-hour +after the third hour, so that the stars were everywhere visible in the +sky. + +A. 547. In the seventh year after this, Ida began to reign over the +province of Northumberland, whose family derive their kingly title and +nobility from Woden. + +A. 552. Five years after, Cenric fought against the Britons near the +town of Scarburh [Old Sarum], and, having routed them, slew a large +number. + +A. 556. The same, four years afterwards, fought with Ceawlin against the +Britons, near a place called Berin-byrig [Banbury?] + +A. 560. At the end of about four years, Ceawlin began to reign over the +western part of Britain, which is now commonly called Wessex. Moreover, +Ella the Iffing is sent to the race of Northumbria, whose ancestry +extends up to the highest, namely to Woden. + +A. 565. Five years afterwards, Christ's servant Columba came from Scotia +[Ireland] to Britain, to preach the word of God to the Picts. + +A. 568. Three years after his coming, Ceawlin and Cutha stirred up a +civil war against Ethelbert, and having defeated him, pursued him into +Kent, and slew his two chiefs, Oslaf and Cnebba, in Wubbandune.[23] + +A. 571. After three years, Cuthulf fought against the Britons at +Bedanford [Bedford], and took four royal cities, namely Liganburh +[Lenbury], Eglesburh [Aylesbury], Bensingtun [Benson], and Ignesham +[Eynsham]. + +A. 577. After the lapse of six years, Cuthwin and Ceawlin fight against +the Britons, and slay three of their kings, Comail, Condidan, and +Farinmail, at a place called Deorhamme [Derham?]; and they took three +of their most distinguished cities, Gloucester, Cirencester, and Bath. + +A. 584. After seven years, Ceawlin and Cutha fought against the Britons, +at a place called Fethanleage [Frethern?]: there Cutha fell; but Ceawlin +reduced a multitude of cities, and took immense spoils. + +A. 592. In the eighth year there was a great slaughter on both sides, at +a place called Wodnesbyrg [Wemborow?], so that Ceawlin was put to +flight, and died at the end of one more year. + +A. 593. After him, Cwichelm, Crida, and Ethelfrid, succeeded to the +kingdom. + +HERE ENDS BOOK THE FIRST. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 17: Capitulum in the original: but no number is annexed.] + +[Footnote 18: This should be Marcian and Valentinian.] + +[Footnote 19: Perhaps an error for Andredes-leage, formerly Anderida, in +Sussex.] + +[Footnote 20: This number should be sixty-six.] + +[Footnote 21: Charford, near Fordingbridge, Hants.] + +[Footnote 22: That is, from seven till nine o'clock in the morning.] + +[Footnote 23: Wimbledon, or Worplesdon, Surrey.] + + + + +HERE BEGINS THE PROLOGUE TO BOOK THE SECOND. + + +In the beginning of this book it will not be necessary to make a long +preface, my dearest sister; for I have guided my pen down through many +perplexed subjects from the highest point, and, omitting those things +extracted from sacred and profane history, on which most persons have +fixed their attention, have left higher matters to the skilful reader. +And now I must turn my pen to the description of those things which +properly concern our ancestors; and though a pupil is not properly +called a member, yet it yields no little service to the other members. + +We therefore entreat in God's name that our words may not be despised by +the malevolent, but rather that they may give abundant thanks to the +King of heaven, if they seem to speak things of high import. + + HERE ENDS THE PROLOGUE; + AND + THE SECOND BOOK BEGINS. + + + + +CHAP. I.--_Of the coming of Augustine, who was sent by the blessed Pope +Gregory._ [A.D. 596.] + + +As Divine Providence, mercifully looking down upon all things from all +eternity, is accustomed to rule them, not by necessity, but by its +powerful superintendence, and remaining always immoveable in itself, +and disposing the different elements by its word, and the human race to +come to the knowledge of the truth by the death of his only begotten +Son, by whose blood the four quarters of the world are redeemed, so now +by his servant doth it dispel the darkness in the regions of the west. + +Whilst therefore the blessed pope Gregory sat on the episcopal seat, and +sowed the seeds of the gospel of Christ, there stood by him some men of +unknown tongue and very comely to look on. The holy man admiring the +beauty of their countenances, asked of them with earnestness from what +country they came. The young men with downcast looks replied, that they +were Angles. "Are you Christians," said the holy man, "or heathens?" +"Certainly not Christians," said they, "for no one has yet opened our +ears." Then the holy man, lifting up his eyes, replied, "What man, when +there are stones at hand, lays a foundation with reeds?" They answer, +"No man of prudence." "You have well said," answered he; and he +straightway took them into a room, where he instructed them in the +divine oracles, and afterwards washed them with the baptism of Christ: +and further he arranged with them, that he would go with them into their +country. When the Romans heard of this they opposed his words, and were +unwilling to allow their pastor to go so far from home. The blessed pope +Gregory, therefore, seeing that the people were opposed to him, sent +with the men aforesaid one of his disciples, who was well instructed in +the divine oracles, by name Augustine, and with him a multitude of +brethren. When these men arrived, the English received the faith and +erected temples, and our Saviour Jesus Christ exhibited innumerable +miracles to his faithful followers through the prayers of the bishop, +St. Augustine; at whose tomb, even to the present day, no small number +of miracles are wrought, with the assistance of our Lord. + + + + +CHAP. II.--_Of king Ethelbert, and of his baptism._ [A.D. 597.] + + +When the man aforesaid arrived, Ethelbert bore rule over Kent, and +receiving the faith, submitted to be baptized with all his house. He was +the first king among the English who received the word of Christ. Lastly +Ethelbert was the son of Ermenric, whose grandfather was Ochta, who +bore the praenomen of Eisc,[24] from which the kings of Kent were +afterwards named Esings, as the Romans from Romulus, the Cecropidae from +Cecrops, and the Tuscans from Tuscus. For Eisc was the father of +Hengist, who was the first consul and leader of the Angles out of +Germany; whose father was Wihtgils, his grandfather Witta, his +great-grandfather Wecta, his great-grandfather's father Woden, who also +was king of many nations, whom some of the pagans now still worship as a +god. And the number of years that was completed from the incarnation of +our Lord was four years less, than six hundred.[25] + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 24: See William of Malmesbury, b. i. c. 1, p. 12, note.] + +[Footnote 25: A.D. 596.] + + + + +CHAP. III.--_Of Ceolwulf, king of the West-Saxons, and of his continued +wars._ + + +A. 597. At the end of one year, Ceolwulf began to reign over the Western +English.[26] His family was derived from Woden; and so great was his +ferocity that he is said to have been always at war, either with his own +nation or with the Britons, or the Picts or Scots. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 26: West-Saxons is the more correct term; but Ethelwerd often +uses the more general name Angles or English, for all the tribes settled +in England.] + + + + +CHAP. IV.--_Concerning Augustine's pall of apostleship sent him by pope +Gregory._ + + +A. 601. When he had reigned four years, pope Gregory sent to Augustine +the pall of apostleship. + + + + +CHAP. V.--_Of the faith of the East-Saxons, and of the decease of the +blessed pope Gregory._ + + +A. 604. After three years, the eastern English[27] also received baptism +in the reign of Sigebert [Sabert] their king. + +A. 606. Two years afterwards, the blessed pope Gregory departed this +world, in the eleventh year after he had bestowed baptism on the English +by sending among them Christ's servant Augustine. And the number of +years that was completed from the beginning of the world was more than +five thousand and eight hundred.[28] + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 27: _Orientales Angli_ is the expression of Ethelwerd, but it +should be _Orientales Saxones_, whose king's name is generally written +Sabert. See preceding note.] + +[Footnote 28: Ethelwerd adopts that system of chronology which makes +5300 to have elapsed before Christ.] + + + + +CHAP. VI.--_Of the reign of king Cynegils, his wars; and of the coming +of bishop Birinus, of the baptism of the king, and the faith of the +East-Saxons,[29] and of the baptism of Cuthred._ [A.D. 615-639.] + + +Afterwards Cynegils received the kingdom of the West-Angles, and, in +conjunction with Cuichelm, he fought against the Britons at a place +called Beandune,[30] and having defeated their army, slew more than two +thousand and forty of them. + +A. 629. Fourteen years after, Cynegils and Cuichelm fought against Penda +at Cirencester. + +A. 635. After six years bishop Birinus came among the Western Angles, +preaching to them the gospel of Christ. And the number of years that +elapsed since their arrival in Britain out of Germany, was about one +hundred and twenty. At that time Cynegils received baptism from the holy +bishop Birinus, in a town called Dorchester. + +A. 639. He baptized Cuthred also four years after in the same city, and +adopted him as his son in baptism. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 29: Should be West-Saxons.] + +[Footnote 30: Most probably Bampton in Oxfordshire. This battle took +place in 614. See the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle for that year.] + + + + +CHAP. VII.--_Of the reign of Kenwalk, and of his actions._ + + +A. 648. When nine years were fulfilled, Kenwalk gave to his relation, +Cuthred, out of his farms, three thousand measures, adjacent to a hill +named Esc's dune, [Aston?] + +A. 652. Four years after, he fought a battle against his own people, at +a place called Bradford, on the river Afene.[31] + +A. 655. Three years afterwards king Penda died, and the Mercians were +baptized. + +A. 658. After three years more, the kings Kenwalk and Pionna[32] renewed +the war against the Britons, and pursued them to a place called +Pederydan.[33] + +A. 661. After three years, Kenwalk again fought a battle near the town +of Pontesbury, and took prisoner Wulfhere, son of Penda, at Esc's-dune +[Ashdown], when he had defeated his army. + +A. 664. Three years afterwards there was an eclipse of the sun. + +A. 670. When six years were fulfilled, Oswy, king of Northumberland, +died, and Egfrid succeeded him. + +A. 671. After one year more, there was a great pestilence among the +birds, so that there was an intolerable stench by sea and land, arising +from the carcasses of birds, both small and great. + +A. 672. Twelve months after Kenwalk, king of the West-Angles, died; and +his wife, Sexburga, succeeded him in the kingdom, and reigned twelve +months. + +A. 673. After her Escwin succeeded to the throne, and two years were +fulfilled. His family traces to Cerdic. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 31: Avon.] + +[Footnote 32: This should be "at Pionna," [Pen]. See Saxon Chronicle.] + +[Footnote 33: Petherton.] + + + + +CHAP. VIII.--_Of Wulfhere and Cenwulf,[A] and of the council held by the +holy father Theodore._ + + +A. 674. After one year, Wulfhere son of Penda, and Cenwalh[34] fought a +battle among themselves in a place called Beadanhead [Bedwin]. + +A. 677. After three years a comet was seen. + +A. 680. At the end of two years a council was held at Hethlege,[35] by +the holy archbishop Theodore, to instruct the people in the true faith. +In the course of the same year died Christ's servant, Hilda, abbess of +the monastery called Streaneshalch [Whitby]. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 34: These names are both wrong; we must read Escwin.] + +[Footnote 35: Heathfield or Hatfield.] + + + + +CHAP. IX.--_Of king Kentwin and his wars._ + + +A. 682. After two years king Kentwin drove the Britons out of their +country to the sea. + +A. 684. After he had reigned two years[36] Ina became king of the +western English. A hundred and eighty-eight years were then fulfilled +from the time that Cerdic, his sixth ancestor, received the western +part of the island from the Britons. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 36: There is an error here: Caedwalla is omitted, and three +years are lost in the chronology.] + + + + +CHAP. X.--_Of Caedwalla's conversion to the faith of Christ._ + + +A. 684. In the course of the same year Caedwalla went to Rome, and +received baptism and the faith of Christ; after his baptism the pope of +that year gave him the surname of Peter. + +A. 694. About six years afterwards, the Kentish men remembered the cause +which they had against king Ina when they burnt his relation[37] with +fire; and they gave him thirty thousand shillings at a fixed rate of +sixteen pence each. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 37: His name was Mull: the passage is obscure. See the +Anglo-Saxon Chronicle.] + + + + +CHAP. XI.--_Of the acts of Ethelred king of the Mercians._ + + +A. 704. After ten years, Ethelred son of Penda and king of the Mercians +assumed the monastic habit, when he had completed twenty-nine years of +his reign. + +A. 705. After twelve months died Alfrid king of Northumberland. And the +number of years that was then fulfilled from the beginning of the world +was five thousand nine hundred. + +A. 709. Four years afterwards died the holy bishop Aldhelm, by whose +wonderful art were composed the words which are now read, and his +bishopric was the province which is now called Selwoodshire [Sherborne]. + + + + +CHAP. XII.--_Of the reign of Ina, and of his acts._ + + +A. 710. After a year, the kings and Ina made war against king +Wuthgirete;[38] also duke Bertfrid against the Picts. + +A. 714. After four years died Christ's servant Guthlac. + +A. 715. After a year Ina and Ceolred fought against those who opposed +them in arms at Wothnesbeorghge [Wanborough.] + +A. 721. After seven years Ina slew Cynewulf, and after six months made +war against the Southern English. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 38: Called Gerent in the Saxon Chronicle, and Gerentius in +Aldhelm's works.] + + + + +CHAP. XIII.--_Of king Ethelard._ + + +A. 728. When six years were fulfilled he went to Rome, and Ethelard +received the kingdom of the West Saxons. In the first year of his reign +he made war against Oswy.[39] + +A. 729. At the end of one year a comet appeared, and the holy bishop +Egbert died. + +A. 731. After two years, Osric king of Northumberland died and Ceolwulf +succeeded to the kingdom. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 39: Should be Oswald king of Northumberland.] + + + + +CHAP. XIV.--_Of the acts of king Ethelbald._ + + +A. 733. Two years after these things, king Ethelbald received under his +dominion the royal vill which is called Somerton. The same year the sun +was eclipsed. + +A. 734. After the lapse of one year, the moon appeared as if stained +with spots of blood, and by the same omen Tatwine and Bede[40] departed +this life. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 40: It is doubtful whether Bede died in 734 or 735.] + + + +CHAP. XV.--_Of the reign of Eadbert and of his deeds._ + + +A. 738. After four years, Eadbert succeeded to the kingdom of the +Northumbrians, and his brother Egbert discharged the archiepiscopal +office; and now they both lie buried in the city of York, under the +shade of the same porch. + + + + +CHAP. XVI.--_Of the rule of king Cuthred._ + + +A. 750. After twelve years king Cuthred began to make war against duke +Ethelhun, for some state-jealousy. + +A. 752. Again after two years he drew his sword against king Ethelbald +at a place called Beorgforda.[41] + +A. 753. After another year he gratified the fierce propensities of his +nature by making war against the Britons: and after another year he +died, A.D. 754. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 41: Without doubt this is Burford in Oxfordshire.] + + + + +CHAP. XVII.--_Of the acts of king Sigebert and of his reign._ + + +Furthermore Sigebert received the kingdom of the western English. + +A. 756. At the end of one year after Sigebert began to reign, Cynewulf, +invading his kingdom, took it from him, and drew away all the wise men +of the west country, in consequence of the perverse deeds of the +aforesaid king; nor was any part of his kingdom left to him except one +province only, named Hamptonshire [Hampshire]. And he remained there no +long time; for, instigated by an old affront, he slew a certain duke, +and Cynewulf drove him into the wilds of Andred: and so he fled from +thicket to thicket, until he was at last slain by a herdsman at a place +named Pryffetesflodan,[42] and so the blood of duke Cumbra was avenged. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 42: Privett, Hampshire.] + + + + +CHAP. XVIII.--_Of the reign of Cynewulf, his war and deeds._ + + +A. 755. These things having been premised, Cynewulf frequently fought no +slight battles against the Britons. For when thirty-one years had +passed, he tried to expel from his territories a certain chief named +Cyneard, brother to Sigebert, whose deeds have been related above. He +was afterwards besieged by this prince, for it was told him that he was +in company of a certain courtezan at a place called Meranton [Merton], +and though he had with him only a few men, who knew nothing of the +matter, he surrounded the house with arms. The king, seeing how he was +situated, leaped to the door, and bravely repelled their weapons; but +making up his mind he rushed upon the prince, and inflicted no slight +wounds upon him; his companions, not forgetting his threats, raised +their weapons and slew the king. The report being spread, the king's +soldiers, who had been in his company, each for himself, as was their +custom, made an attack, uttering shouts. But the prince, soothing them, +promised them gifts and ample honours. They desire death, now that their +lord is dead; nor do they attend to his promises, but rush with one +accord upon death. None of them escaped with life except one British +hostage, and he had received severe wounds. When, therefore, the day +dawned, it became known to the soldiers, who had remained behind the +king's back, they assembled together and set forth, and with them Osric +the duke and Wigferth the knight. They found the prince in the house, +where their master was lying dead. The doors are beleaguered on both +sides. Within are the one party, and the other party are without. The +prince asks a truce, and makes ample promises; his object is future +sovereignty. The king's friends spurn these offers, and rather seek to +separate from the prince their relations who were in his company. These +reject their proposals; on the contrary they answer their friends +thus:[43] "No tie is so powerful as that which binds us to our lord; and +whereas you ask us to depart, we tell you that we made the same proposal +to those who were slain with your king, and they would not accede to +it." To this the other party rejoined, "But you will remain unhurt, if +you only depart, nor share in the vengeance which we shall inflict for +those who were slain with the king." They returned no answer to this, +but silently begin the battle; shield punishes shield, and arms are +laced in bucklers, relation falls by his kinsman; they smash the doors, +one pursues after another, and a lamentable fight ensues. Alas! they +slay the prince; all his companions are laid low before his face, except +one, and he was the baptismal son of duke Osric, but half alive, and +covered with wounds. + +Now Cynewulf reigned thirty-one years, and his body lies entombed in the +city of Winchester. The above-named prince also reposes in the church +commonly called Axanminster.[44] Both their families trace to Cerdic. + +A. 755. In the same year Ethelbald, king of Mercia, was slain at a place +called Seccandune,[45] and his body rests in a monastery called +Reopandune.[46] Bernred succeeded to the kingdom, and not long after he +also died. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 43: This is a sort of paraphrase rather than a translation: +the original is not only bad in style and ungrammatical, but exceedingly +corrupt and very obscure.] + +[Footnote 44: Now Axminster. The syllable _an_ or _en_ occurs similarly +in many ancient Saxon towns; thus Bedanford, Oxenford, &c., and +Seccandune, Reopandune below.] + +[Footnote 45: Now Seckington.] + +[Footnote 46: Now Repton.] + + + + +CHAP. XIX.--_Of the reign of king Offa and of his deeds._ + + +A. 756. In the revolution of the same year, Offa succeeded to the +kingdom, a remarkable man, son of Thingferth; his grandfather was +Enwulf, his great-grandfather Osmod, his great-grandfather's father +Pybba, his great-grandfather's grandfather was Icel, his sixth ancestor +Eomaer, the seventh Angeltheow, the eighth Offa, the ninth Waermund, the +tenth Wihtlaeg, the eleventh Woden. + +A. 773. Also after seventeen years, from the time that Cynewulf took the +kingdom from Sigebert, the sign of our Lord's cross appeared in the +heavens after sun-set, and in the same year a civil contest[47] took +place between the people of Kent and Mercia, at a place called +Cittanford:[48] and in those days some monstrous serpents were seen in +the country of the Southern Angles, which is called Sussex. + +A. 777. About four years after, Cynewulf and Offa fought a battle near +the town of Bensington, which was gained by Offa. + +A. 779. Two years afterwards, the Gauls and Saxons stirred up no slight +contests with one another. + +A. 783. In short, after four years, Cyneard slays king Cynewulf, and is +himself also slain there. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 47: The term 'civile bellum'--_civil war_ is used by +Ethelwerd, to denote a battle between the kindred Anglo-Saxon kingdoms; +the classical reader will also note the use of the word 'bellum' for +'proelium.'] + +[Footnote 48: This should be Ottanford, or Otford, in Kent, a place of +great antiquity.] + + + + +CHAP. XX.--_Of the acts of Bertric, king of the West-Saxons._ + + +A. 783. In the same year Bertric received the kingdom of the +West-Angles, whose lineage traces up to Cerdic. + +A. 786. After three years, he took in marriage Offa's daughter Eadburga. + + + + +HERE ENDS BOOK THE SECOND, + +AND + +THE PROLOGUE OF BOOK THE THIRD BEGINS. + + +After what has been written in the foregoing pages, it remains that we +declare the contents of our third book. We exhort you, therefore, most +beloved object of my desire, that the present work may not be thought +tedious by you for its length of reading, since to thee especially I +dedicate this. Wherefore, the farther my mind digresses, the more does +my affectionate love generate and expand itself. + + + + +HERE ENDS THE PROLOGUE, + +AND THE BOOK BEGINS. + + +Whilst the pious king Bertric was reigning over the western parts of the +English, and the innocent people spread through their plains were +enjoying themselves in tranquillity and yoking their oxen to the plough, +suddenly there arrived on the coast a fleet of Danes, not large, but of +three ships only: this was their first arrival. When this became known, +the king's officer, who was already stopping in the town of Dorchester, +leaped on his horse and gallopped forwards with a few men to the port, +thinking that they were merchants rather than enemies, and, commanding +them in an authoritative tone, ordered them to be made to go to the +royal city; but he was slain on the spot by them, and all who were with +him. The name of the officer was Beaduherd. + +A. 787. And the number of years that was fulfilled was above three +hundred and thirty-four, from the time that Hengist and Horsa arrived in +Britain, in which also Bertric married the daughter of king Offa. + +A. 792. Moreover, it was after five years that Offa king of the Mercians +commanded the head of king Ethelbert to be struck off. + +A. 794. After two years Offa also died, and Egfert his son succeeded to +the kingdom, and died in the same year. Pope Adrian also departed this +life. Ethelred, king of the Northumbrians, was slain by his own people. + + + + +CHAP. I.--_Of Kenulf, king of the Mercians, and of his wars._ + + +A. 796. After two years, Kenulf, king of the Mercians, ravaged Kent and +the province which is called Merscwari,[49] and their king Pren was +taken, whom they loaded with chains, and led as far as Mercia. + +A. 797. Then after a year, the enraged populace of Rome cut out the +tongue of the blessed pope Leo, and tore out his eyes, and drove him +from his apostolical seat. But suddenly, by the aid of Christ, who is +always wonderful in his works, his sight was restored, and his tongue +regifted with speech, and he resumed his seat of apostleship as before. + +A. 800. After three years, king Bertric died. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 49: The Merscwari are thought to have been the inhabitants of +Romney, in Kent, and its vicinity.] + + + + +CHAP. II.--_Of the reign of Egbert, and his deeds._ + + +Therefore Egbert is raised to the kingdom of the West Saxons. On the +very same day, as king Ethelmund was passing through a farm, Wiccum, +intending to go to a ford called Cynemaeresford [Kempsford], duke Woxstan +met him there with the centuries of the inhabitants of the province of +Wilsaetum [Wiltshire]. Both of them fell in the battle, but the Wilsaetae +remained the victors. + +Also, down to the time that Egbert received the kingdom, there were +completed from the beginning of the world 5995 years, from the +incarnation of our Lord 800 years, from the coming of Hengist and Horsa +into Britain 350 years, from the reign of Cerdic, the tenth ancestor of +king Egbert, when he subdued the western part of Britain, 300 years, and +from the coming of Augustine, who was sent by the blessed pope Gregory +to baptize the English nation, 204 years: and in the tenth year +afterwards the holy father Gregory died. + +A. 805. After king Egbert had reigned five years, was the death of +Cuthred king of Kent. + +A. 812. In the seventh year Charles, king of the Franks, departed this +life. + +A. 814. After two years, the blessed pope Leo passed from one virtue to +another. + +A. 819. After five years, Kenulf king of the Mercians died. + +A. 821. His successor was Ceolwulf, who was deprived of the kingdom two +years afterwards. + +A. 822. A year afterwards a great synod was held at a place called +Cloveshoo,[50] and two dukes were there slain Burhelm and Mucca. + +A. 823. After one year a battle was fought against the Britons in the +province of Defna [Devonshire], at a place called Camelford. In the same +year king Egbert fought a battle against Bernulf king of the Mercians at +Ellandune,[51] and Egbert gained the victory: but there was a great loss +on both sides; and Hun duke of the province of Somerset was there slain: +he lies buried in the city of Winchester. Lastly, king Egbert sent his +son Ethelwulf with an army into Kent, and with him bishop Ealstan and +duke Wulfherd. They defeated the Kentish army, and pursued their king +Baldred into the northern parts beyond the Thames. To whom the men of +Kent are afterwards subjected, and also the provinces of Surrey and +Sussex, that is, the midland and southern Angles. + +A. 824. For in the course of the same year the king of the East-Angles +with the wise men of his realm, visits king Egbert, for the sake of +peace and protection, on account of his fear of the Mercians. + +A. 825. In the course of that year the aforesaid East-Angles made war +against Bernulf king of the Mercians, and having defeated his army they +slew him and five dukes with him. His successor was Withlaf. + +A. 827. Two years afterwards, the moon was eclipsed on the very night of +Christ's nativity. And in the same year king Egbert reduced under his +power all that part of the kingdom which lies to the south of the river +Humber: he was the eighth king in Britain who was famous for his great +power. For the first was AElla king of the South-Angles, who possessed +the same dominions as Egbert; the second was Ceawlin king of the +West-Angles; the third Ethelbert king of Kent; the fourth Redwald king +of the East-Angles; the fifth Edwin king of Northumbria; the sixth +Oswald; the seventh Oswy brother of Oswald; after whom the eighth +Egbert, of whom we have made mention above. He led his army against the +Northumbrians, who also bent their necks and submitted to him. + +A. 828. At the end of a year therefore, Withlaf again received the +kingdom. At that time also, king Egbert led his army against the +northern Britons, and when he had subdued all of them, he returned in +peace. + +A. 832. After four years therefore the pagans devastated the territories +of a place called Sceapige.[52] + +A. 833. After one year Egbert fought against the pagan fleet, in number +thirty-five vessels, at a place called Carrum [Charmouth]: and the Danes +obtained the victory. + +A. 836. Lastly after three years, a large army of Britons approached the +frontiers of the West-Saxons: without delay they form themselves into a +compact body, and carry their arms against Egbert king of the Angles. +Egbert therefore having ascertained the state of things beforehand, +assembled his army and twice imbued their weapons in the blood of the +Britons at Hengeston,[53] and put them to flight. + +A. 837. At the end of a year the powerful king Egbert died. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 50: Near Rochester, Kent.] + +[Footnote 51: Wilton.] + +[Footnote 52: The Isle of Sheppey.] + +[Footnote 53: Hengston-hill, Cornwall.] + + + + +CHAP. III.--_Of the reign of Ethelwulf and of his deeds._ + + +After his death, Athulf[54] succeeded to the throne of his father +Egbert, and he delivered up the kingdom of Kent to his son Athelstan, +together with East-Saxony, South-Saxony, and Surrey, i.e. the eastern, +southern and midland parts. + +A. 838. After one year, duke Wulfherd fought with the pagan fleet near +the town of Hamptun [Southampton], and having slain many of them gained +the victory: the number of ships in the fleet was thirty-three. After +this exploit the duke himself died in peace. The same year duke +Ethelhelm, with the people of the province of Dorset, fought another +battle against the pagan army at Port, and pursued them some distance: +but afterwards the Danes were victorious, and slew the duke and his +companions with him. + +A. 839. After one year duke Herebert was slain by the Danes at +Merswarum;[55] and the same year a great slaughter was made by that army +in the city of Lindsey, and in the province of Kent, and in East Anglia. + +A. 840. Also after one year, the same thing took place in the city of +London, in Quintanwic [Canterbury], and in the town of Rochester. + +A. 841. Meanwhile, after one year king Ethelwulf fought against the +Danes at a place called Charmouth, by whom also he was vanquished, and +the victors kept possession of the ground. + +A. 844. Three years afterwards duke Eanwulf, who governed the province +of Somerset, and bishop Ealstan also, and Osric duke of Dorset, fought a +battle against the pagans at the mouth of the Parret before-mentioned; +where they gained the victory, having defeated the Danish army. Also in +the same year king Athelstan and duke Elchere fought against the army of +the above-mentioned nation in the province of Kent, near the town of +Sandwich, where they slew many of them, put their troops to flight, and +took nine ships. + +A. 851. After seven years Ceorl duke of Devon fought a battle against +the pagans at Wembury,[56] where they slew many of the Danes and gained +the victory. In the course of the same year, the barbarians wintered +first in the isle of Thanet, which lies not far from Britain, and has +fruitful but not large corn fields. That year was not yet finished, when +a large fleet of pagans arrived, 350 ships, at the mouth of the river +Thames, commonly called Thames-mouth, and destroyed the city of +Canterbury and the city of London, and put to flight Berthwulf king of +Mercia, having defeated his army. After the battle they returned beyond +the river Thames towards the south through the province of Surrey, and +there king Ethelwulf with the Western Angles met them: an immense number +was slain on both sides, nor have we ever heard of a more severe battle +before that day: these things happened near Ockley Wood. + +A. 854. After three years king Burhred asked assistance from king +Ethelwulf to subdue the Northern Britons: he granted it, and having +collected his army, passed through the Mercian kingdom to go against the +Britons: whom he subdued and made tributary. In the same year king +Ethelwulf sent his son Alfred to Rome, in the days of our lord pope +Leo,[57] who consecrated him king and named him his son in baptism, when +we are accustomed to name little children, when we receive them from the +bishop's hand. In the same year were fought battles in the isle of +Thanet against the pagans; and there was a great slaughter made on both +sides, and many were drowned in the sea. The same year also after Easter +king Ethelwulf gave his daughter in marriage to king Burhred. + +A. 855. After a year the pagans wintered in Sheppey. In the same year +king Ethelwulf gave the tenth of all his possessions to be the Lord's +portion, and so appointed it to be in all the government of his +kingdom. In the same year he set out to Rome with great dignity, and +stayed there twelve months. As he returned home, therefore, to his +country, Charles, king of the Franks, gave him his daughter in marriage, +and he took her home with him to his own country. + +A. 857. Lastly, after a year king Ethelwulf died, and his body reposes +in the city of Winchester. Now the aforesaid king was son of king +Egbert, and his grandfather was Elmund, his great-grandfather Eafa, his +great-grandfather's father was Eoppa, and his great-grandfather's +grandfather was Ingild, brother of Ina, king of the Western-Angles, who +ended his life at Rome; and the above-named kings derived their origin +from king Kenred. Kenred was the son of Ceolwald, son of Cuthwin, son of +Ceawlin, son of Cynric, son of Cerdic, who also was the first possessor +of the western parts of Britain, after he had defeated the armies of the +Britons: his father was Elesa, son of Esla, son of Gewis, son of Wig, +son of Freawin, son of Frithogar, son of Brond, son of Beldeg, son of +Woden, son of Frithowald, son of Frealaf, son of Frithuwulf, son of +Finn, son of Godwulf, son of Geat, son of Taetwa, son of Beaw, son of +Sceldi, son of Sceaf. This Sceaf came with one ship to an island of the +ocean named Scani, sheathed in arms, and he was a young boy, and unknown +to the people of that land; but he was received by them, and they +guarded him as their own with much care, and afterwards chose him for +their king. It is from him that king Ethelwulf derives his descent. And +then was completed the fiftieth year from the beginning of king Egbert's +reign. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 54: Generally called Ethelwulf by modern writers.] + +[Footnote 55: Romney Marsh.] + +[Footnote 56: Near Plymouth.] + +[Footnote 57: Leo the Fourth.] + + + + +HERE ENDS THE THIRD BOOK, + +AND THE PROLOGUE OF THE FOURTH BOOK HERE BEGINS. + + +Three books are now finished, and it remains to guide my pen to the +fourth, in which also will be found greater gain, and the origin of our +race is more clearly intimated. And, although I may seem to send you a +load of reading, dearest sister of my desire, do not judge me harshly, +but as my writings were in love to you, so may you read them. + +And may God Almighty, who is praised both in Trinity and in Unipotence +ever preserve you under the shadow of his wings, and your companions +with you. Amen! + +HERE ENDS THE PROLOGUE. + + + + +CHAP. I.--_Of the reign of the sons of king Ethelwulf, namely Ethelbald +and Ethelbert._ + + +Meanwhile, after the death of king Ethelwulf, his sons were raised to +the kingdom, namely Ethelbald over the Western Angles, and Ethelbert +over the men of Kent, and the Eastern, Southern, and Midland Angles. + +A. 861. When five years were completed, king Ethelbald died, and his +brother Ethelbert succeeded to the possessions of both. In those days a +large fleet of pagans came to land, and destroyed the royal city which +is called Winton. They were encountered by Osric duke of Hampshire, and +Ethelwulf duke of Berkshire: a battle ensued; the pagans were routed, +and the English gained the victory. + +A. 865. After four years, from the death of king Ethelbald, the pagans +strengthened their position in the isle of Thanet, and promise to be at +peace with the men of Kent, who on their part prepare money, ignorant of +the future. But the Danes break their compact, and sallying out +privately by night, lay waste all the eastern coast of Kent. + +A. 866. After one year king Ethelbert died, and his body rests peaceably +in the monastery named Sherborne. + + + + +CHAP. II.--_Of the reign of king Ethelred._ + + +Ethelred succeeded to the throne after the death of his brother +Ethelbert. In the same year the fleets of the tyrant Hingwar arrived in +England from the north, and wintered among the East Angles, and having +established their arms there, they get on their horses, and make peace +with all the inhabitants in their own neighbourhood. + +A. 867. After one year that army, leaving the eastern parts, crossed the +river Humber into Northumberland to the city of Evoric, which is now +commonly called the city of Eoferwic [York]. For there was then a great +civil dissension between the inhabitants of that land, and they were so +enraged that they also expelled their king Osbert from his seat; and +having confirmed their resolves, they chose an obscure person for their +king; and after some delay they turned their thoughts to raise an army +and repulse those who were advancing. They collected together no small +bodies of troops, and reconnoitred the enemy: their rage was excited: +they joined battle, a miserable slaughter took place on both sides, and +the kings were slain. Those of them who were left made peace with the +hostile army. + +In the same year died Eanwulf, duke of Somerset; also bishop Ealstan, +fifty years after his succession to the bishopric, in the diocese called +Sherborne. There also his body now reposes; and that of the above-named +duke in the monastery called Glastonbury. + +A. 868. After one year therefore, the army of the pagans, of whose +arrival we have spoken above, measured out their camp in a place called +Snotingaham [Nottingham], and there they passed the winter, and Burhred +king of the Mercians, with his nobles, consented to their remaining +there without reproach. + +A. 869. At the end of a year therefore, the army was transported to +York, and there also they measured out their camp in the winter season. + +A. 870. Again after a year they departed, and passed through Mercia into +East-Anglia, and there measured out their camp for the winter at +Thetford. King Edmund carried on war against them for a short time, but +he was slain there by them, and his body lies entombed at a place called +Beodoricsworthe,[58] and the barbarians obtained the victory, but with +the loss of their king soon afterwards: for king Hingwar died the same +year; archbishop Ceolnoth also died that same year, and is buried in the +city of Canterbury. + +A. 871. After one year therefore the army of the barbarians +above-mentioned set out for Reading, and the principal object of the +impious crew was to attack the West-Saxons; and three days after they +came, their two consuls, forgetting that they were not on board their +fleet, rode proudly through fields and meadows on horseback, which +nature had denied to them.[59] + +But duke Ethelwulf met them, and though his troops were few, their +hearts resided in brave dwellings: they point their darts, they rout the +enemy, and triumph in abundant spoils. At length four days after their +meeting, Ethelred arrives with his army; an indescribable battle is +fought, now these, now those urge on the fight with spears immoveable; +duke Ethelwulf falls, who a short time before had obtained the victory: +the barbarians at last triumph. The body of the above-named duke is +privately withdrawn, and carried into the province of the Mercians, to a +place called Northworthig, but Derby in the language of the Danes. Four +days after king Ethelred with his brother Alfred fought again with all +the army of the Danes at AEscendune;[60] and there was great slaughter on +both sides: but at last king Ethelred obtained the victory. But it is +proper that I should declare the names of those chiefs who fell there: +Bagsac king, the veteran Sidrac their consul, the younger Sidrac also, +the consul Osbern, the consul Frene, the consul Harold; and, so to +speak, all the flower of the barbarian youth was there slain, so that +neither before nor since was ever such destruction known since the +Saxons first gained Britain by their arms. + +Fourteen days after, they again took courage and a second battle was +fought at a place called Basing: the barbarians came and took part over +against them; the fight began, and hope passed from the one side to the +other; the royal army was deceived, the enemy had the victory, but +gained no spoils. + +Furthermore after two months the aforesaid king Ethelred renewed the +battle, and with him was his brother Alfred, at Merton, against all the +army of the barbarians, and a large number was slain on both sides. The +barbarians obtained the victory; bishop Heahmund there fell by the +sword, and his body lies buried at Caegineshamme.[61] Many others also +fell or fled in that battle, concerning whom it seems to be a loss of +time to speak more minutely at present. Lastly, after the +above-mentioned battle, and after the Easter of the same year, died king +Ethelred, from whose family I derive my origin. + +And now I have followed up my plan, dear cousin Matilda, and will begin +to consolidate my subject; and like a ship which, having sailed a long +way over the waves, already occupies the port, to which in her patient +voyage she had been tending: so we, like sailors, are already entering, +and as I briefly intimated to you in my former epistle, so also in the +prefaces to this present book, and without any impropriety I again +remind you, and though I cut short the course of that which is +visionary, not impelled by necessity, but through love of your +affection, I now send it you again more fully to be meditated upon +concerning the origin of our family, and sufficiently embrace the study +of your sincerity.[62] + +Thus far then: I will now leave obscurity and begin to speak concerning +the sons of Ethelwulf. They were five in number: the first was +Ethelstan, who also shared the kingdom with his father: the second was +Ethelbald, who also was king of the Western English: the third was +Ethelbert, king of Kent: the fourth was Ethelred, who after the death of +Ethelbert succeeded to the kingdom, and was also my grandfather's +grandfather: the fifth was Alfred, who succeeded after all the others to +the whole sovereignty, and was your grandfather's grandfather. Wherefore +I make known to you, my beloved cousin Matilda, that I receive these +things from ancient tradition, and have taken care in most brief style +to write the history of our race down to these two kings, from whom we +have taken our origin. To you therefore, most beloved, I devote this +work, compelled by the love of our relationship: if others receive them +with haughtiness, they will be judged unworthy of the feast; if +otherwise, we advise all in charity to gather what is set before them. +Let us return then to the story that we broke off, and to the death of +the above-named Ethelred. His reign lasted five years, and he is buried +in the monastery which goes by the name of Wimborne. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 58: Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk.] + +[Footnote 59: I shall be glad if my readers will find a better +translation for this obscure and inflated passage.] + +[Footnote 60: See William of Malmesbury, b. ii. c. 3, p. 111, note.] + +[Footnote 61: Keynsham.] + +[Footnote 62: I must again request the reader to pardon the obscurity +which so frequently occurs in our author's style, and my inability to +deal with such passages; the above is a tolerably close translation of +the original.] + + + + +CHAP. III.--_Of the reign of king Alfred._ + + +A. 871. After these things, Alfred obtained the kingdom when his +brothers were dead,--he also was the youngest son of king +Ethelwulf--over all the provinces of Britain. + +There came a summer-army innumerable to Reading, and were eager to fight +against the army of the West-Angles: to their aid also came those who +had already long time been ravaging. But the army of the Angles at that +time was small on account of the king's absence, who at the same time +had performed his brother's obsequies, and although their ranks were not +full, yet their hearts were firm in their breasts, they rejoice in the +fight, and repel the enemy: but at length oppressed with fatigue, they +cease from the fight. The barbarians hold possession of a sterile field +of battle: afterwards also they spread themselves and ravage the +country. During their foul domination, there were three battles fought +by the Angles, besides the battles before-mentioned, and eleven of their +consuls, whom they call "earls," were slain, and one of their kings. +Lastly, in the same year the Eastern Angles made peace with them. And +the number of years to the encamping of the barbarian army in Reading +and to the death of king Ethelred and the succession of his brother +Alfred was the seventy-first from the time that Egbert had first +consolidated the kingdom, and forty-seven from the time that the +Mercians and Western Angles carried on civil wars at the place called +Ellandune,[63] and king Egbert received the name of victor twenty-six +years from the time that the battle was fought in Pedredan [Petherton]; +and twenty years after the contest which was waged near the wood called +Ockley, and lastly five years from the arrival of the pagans in the +country of the East Angles: and without long delay, they then went to +Reading. + +A. 872. After a year had elapsed from the time of their coming to +Reading, they measured out their camp in the neighbourhood of the city +of London. But the Mercians ratify a treaty with them, and pay a +stipend. + +A. 873. After one year the barbarians change their position to the +neighbourhood of the city of Lindsey in a place called Torksey. The +Mercian people renew their treaty with them. + +A. 874. After the lapse of a year, the barbarians at length remove to a +place called Repton, and drive king Burhred from the kingdom beyond the +sea. Twenty and two years are enumerated from the time that he first +occupied his father's kingdom. They now break the peace, and devastate +the lands of the Mercians. The above-named king did not abandon his hope +in Christ, but made a journey to Rome and died there, and his body, laid +in a worthy mausoleum, reposes in the temple of Christ's blessed mother, +which is now called the school of the English. At the same time Ceolwulf +possessed the kingdom of the Mercians. + +A. 875. Lastly after a year, the barbarians divide the kingdom into two +parts: and Halfdene the leader of the barbarians took one part, namely +the kingdom of the Northumbrians, and there he chose his winter-quarters +near the river called the Tyne, and they ravaged the country there on +every side. But they also made frequent wars on the Picts and the men of +Cumberland. Oskytel also, and Gothrun, and Anwiund, their three kings, +with an immense army, came from Repton to a place called Grantabridge +[Cambridge], and there remained twelve months. Furthermore in the summer +of the same year, king Alfred came out with his army on board a fleet by +sea, and the barbarians met them with seven tall vessels. A battle +ensues, and the Danes are routed: the king takes one of their ships. + +A. 876. After one year, the tyrant Halfdene obtained the kingdom of the +Northumbrians, all of whom he reduced to subjection. And in the course +of the same year, the army which had been at Cambridge made a junction +with the western army, a thing which they had not done before, near the +town which is called Wareham, and ravaged the greater part of that +province. Also the king ratified a treaty of peace with them and gave +them money. But they gave him hostages chosen out of their army, and +made oath to him on their sacred bracelet which they had never done to +the kings of the other districts, that they would quickly leave their +territories. + +A. 877. But they broke the peace and contravened their engagements, and +the following year extended their troops into the province of Devon, +where they passed the winter at Exeter. Lastly their fleets put to sea +and spread their sails to the wind: but a lamentable storm came on, and +the greatest part of them, namely a hundred of their chief ships, were +sunk near the rock which is called Swanwich. The barbarians renew their +fraud and offer peace: hostages were given, more than were demanded, to +the effect that they would withdraw out of the territories of king +Alfred; and they did so. They devastate the kingdom of the Mercians and +drive out all the free men. They erect their huts in the town of +Gloucester. + +A. 878. At the end of that year therefore this foul mob broke the +compact which they had before solemnly made with the Western Angles, and +they take up their winter-quarters at Chippenham. The people were +everywhere unable to resist: some of them were driven by the impious +wretches over the sea into Gaul. King Alfred was at this time straitened +more than was becoming. Ethelnoth also duke of Somerset lived with a +narrow retinue in a certain wood, and they built a stronghold in the +island of Athelingay,[64] which seems to have been situated in a marsh. +But the aforesaid king fought daily battles against the barbarians, +having with him the province of Somerset only; no others assisted him, +except the servants who made use of the king's pastures. In the same +year arrived Halfdene brother of the tyrant Hingwar with thirty galleys, +in the western parts of the Angles, and besieged Odda duke of Devon in a +certain castle, and war was stirred up on all sides. The king of the +barbarians fell, and eighty decads with him. At last the Danes obtain +the victory. + +Meanwhile, after the Easter[65] of that year, king Alfred fought against +the army that was in Chippenham, at a place called Ethandune,[66] and +they obtain the victory. But after the decision of the battle, the +barbarians promise peace, ask a truce, give hostages, and bind +themselves by oath: their king submits to be baptized, and Alfred the +king receives him from the laver in the marshy isle of Alney.[67] Duke +Ethelnoth also purified the same at a place called Wedmore, and king +Alfred there bestowed upon him magnificent honors. + +A. 879. After a year from the time of the pagan army leaving +Gloucester, they marched to Cirencester, and there wintered. In the +course of the same year the sun was eclipsed. + +A. 880. A year after the eclipse, the aforesaid army struck their tents, +and leaving Cirencester went into the country of the East Angles, and +pitching their camp, reduced all the inhabitants of those parts to +subjection. And it was now fourteen years since the barbarians first +wintered in the country aforesaid, and ravaged it. In the same year, +when they had reduced the district aforesaid, they went in a vessel to +Gaul and took up a position at a place called Ghent: the same men who +had formerly measured out their camp at a place called Fulham. + +A. 881. After a year, they attempt to proceed further; but the armies of +the Franks assail them and gain the victory; the barbarians were put to +flight. + +A. 882. After a year the aforesaid army passed into the upper districts +of the Maese and measured out their camp at a place called Escelum.[68] +In the same year king Alfred put to sea and fell in with four ships; +which he defeated, and destroyed two, the others surrendered. + +A. 883. The next year the aforesaid army entered the parishes of the +Scald,[69] to a place called Cundath;[70] and there measured out their +camp for the winter. + +A. 884. After one year had expired, that pestilential army aforesaid +removed to the higher districts of the Somme, to a place called +Embenum,[71] and there wintered. + +A. 885. After a year they divide themselves into two parts: one to +Sofenum,[72] the other to Rochester; and they laid siege to those towns. +They also construct other smaller camps. Defeat prevails among the +inhabitants until the arrival of king Alfred with an army. The foul +plague was vanquished, and sought reinforcement....[73] Some of them +made for the sea-coasts. The same year they renewed their league, and +gave hostages to the English, and twice in the year they counted the +spoil which they had obtained by fraud, in the land which borders on the +southern bank of the Thames. The filthy crew which were then in +possession of the East Angles, suddenly removed to a place called +Bamfleet; and there the allied band divided; some of them remained, and +some of them went beyond the sea. In the same year, therefore, the +aforesaid king Alfred sent his fleet into the country of the East +Angles, and immediately on their arrival, there met them at a place +called Stourmouth sixteen ships, which they forthwith ravaged, and slew +the captains with the sword. The rest of the pirate-crew met them; they +ply their oars, their armour shines over the constrained waters, the +barbarians obtain the victory. In the same year died Charles the +Magnificent king of the Franks, cut off by death before the revolution +of one year; after him came his uterine brother who ruled over the +western coasts of Gaul. Both were sons of Louis, who had formerly +possessed the sole sovereignty: his life had reached its termination +during the eclipse of the sun aforesaid. He was son of the great king +Charles, whose daughter Ethelwulf king of the English had taken to wife. +In the course of that year, a great number of barbarians landed and +filled the coasts of the Old Saxons; two battles were fought soon after: +the Saxons were the victors, and the Frisons also were present in the +contest. In the same year Charles the Younger succeeded to the +sovereignty of all the western parts of Gaul as far as the Tyrrhenian +sea, and, if I may so speak, of the dominions of his grandfather, except +the province of the Lidwiccas.[74] His father was Lodwicus, brother of +the middle Charles whose daughter was married to Ethelwulf king of the +English. And both of these were sons of Lodwicus, namely, Lodwicus was +son of Charlemagne who was the son of Pepin. + +In the same year died the blessed pope Martin,[75] who also gave freedom +to the school of the English, by the appointment of king Alfred, and +sent as a present part of the thrice blessed cross of Christ, who is the +salvation of the world. In the course of that year, the above-named +pestilential crew broke their engagements, and marched in arms against +king Alfred. Lastly, after a year, they went to the lower parts of +Gaul, and fixed on a place to winter near the river Seine. Meanwhile, +the city of London was fortified by king Alfred, whom no civil discord +could subdue, either by cunning or by force: all men received him as a +saviour, and particularly the Saxons--except the barbarians--and those +who were then held prisoners in their hands. Also, after his army was +strengthened, Ethered was appointed leader there by the aforesaid king, +to guard the citadel. + +A. 887. Now the army which were at that time ravaging the country of +Gaul cut their way through the bridge of the citadel of Paris, and +devastated the whole country along the Seine, as far as the Marne, and +above its vertex, as far as Catsig [Chezy], where they thrice fixed +their winter quarters. In the same year also died Charles, king of the +Franks, and his cousin Arnulf succeeded to the kingdom, seven years +before his uncle's death. The kingdom was then divided into five, and so +many kings in the same: but all things are done by the permission of +king Arnulf, and they promised to be all under his subjection, because +they were not like him, descended from the paternal stock; and he lived +after this on the eastern side of the river Rhine. But Rodulf occupied +the middle parts of the kingdom, Oda the western parts, and Beorngar +with Witha held the kingdom of the Lombards from the division of the +Jovian mountain.[76] There they began a civil war; people assailed +people; the lands of both were continually disturbed, nor was there any +hope of quiet. + +The same year, in which the barbarians had settled on the bridge of +Paris, duke Ethelhelm received no small part of the money paid from the +diocese of the English by the king for the people, and went to Rome. In +the same year died queen Ethelswitha. + +A. 888. In the lapse of the same year also, archbishop Athelred +deceased, and Ethelwold, commander in Kent. + +A. 889. After one year, abbat Bernhelm carried to Rome the alms for the +people, and principally those of the western English and of king Alfred. +Then also Gothrun, king of the northern English, yielded his breath to +Orcus; he had taken the name of Athelstan, as he came out of the +baptismal laver, from his godfather, king Alfred, and had his seat +among the East-Angles, since he there also had held the first station. + +In the same year, the aforesaid army of barbarians removed from the +river Seine to a place called Santlaudah,[77] situated between the +Bretons and the Franks; but the Bretons met them in arms, and obtained +the victory, and followed them to the windings of a certain river, and +there not a few of them were drowned in the waters. + +A. 891. One year afterwards, the bands of the aforesaid army visited the +eastern parts of France; king Arnulf met them; a fight of cavalry took +place before the fleets arrived. An army of eastern Franks came up, +Saxons and Bavarians; the pagans spread their sails to flee. In the same +year, three chosen men of Hibernian race, burning with piety, leave +their country: they privately form a boat by sewing ox-hides; they put +into it provisions for a week; they sail seven days and seven nights, +and arrive on the shores of Cornwall: here they left their fleet, which +had been guided, not by the strength of their arms, but by the power of +Him who rules all things, and set out for the court of king Alfred, who +with his senate rejoice in their coming. From thence they proceed to +Rome, and, as is customary with teachers of Christ, they essay to go +thence to Jerusalem:[78] ... Their names were, Dubslane, the first; +Macbeth, the second; Maelinmun, the third, flourishing in the arts, +skilled in letters, and a distinguished master of the Scots. Also in the +same year, after Easter a comet appeared, which some think to be an omen +of foul times, which have already past; but it is the most approved +theory of philosophers, that they foretel future things, as has been +tried in many ways. + +A. 893. One year after the barbarians fought against king Arnulf, they +go to Boulogne, and there build a fleet, and pass over into England. +There they station their fleet in the Limnean port, at a place called +Apoldre [Appledore, in the eastern part of Kent,] and destroy an ancient +castle, because there was but a small band of rustics within, and there +they make their winter camp. In the course of this year, a large fleet +belonging to Hasten arrives on the banks of the river Thames, and found +a citadel on the coasts of Kent, at a place called Middleton [Milton]: +they encamp there the whole winter; and the number of years that had +elapsed from the glorious nativity of our Saviour was nine hundred, all +but seven. + +After the Easter of that year, the army which had come from Gaul leave +their camp, and trace the intricacies of a certain immense wood, which +is called Andred, and they extend as far as the Western Angles. Slowly +as they go, they ravage the adjoining provinces, Hampshire and +Berkshire: these things were told to the heir of Edward, son of king +Alfred, who had been exercising himself in the southern parts of +England. After this they reach the Western Angles, who meet them with +threatening arms and dense array at Farnham: they exult, freed by the +arrival of the prince, like sheep under the protection of the shepherd; +the tyrant is wounded, and his troops are driven across the river Thames +into the northern countries. + +Meanwhile, the Danes are held besieged in Thorney isle. Earl Ethered, +setting out from the city of London, lent his aid to the prince. The +barbarians asked peace and a treaty: hostages are given, they promise by +oath to leave the kingdom of the aforesaid king; their words and deeds +agree together without delay. Lastly, they set out for the country of +the East-Angles, formerly governed by the king Saint Edmund, and their +ships fly round to them from the Limnean port to Meresige [Mersey], a +place in Kent. + +In the course of the same year, Hasten breaks away with his band from +Bamfleet, and devastates all Mercia, until they arrive at the end of +Britain. The army, which was then in the eastern part of the country, +supplied them with reinforcements, and the Northumbrian, in the same +way. The illustrious duke Ethelm, with a squadron of cavalry, and duke +Ethelnoth, with an army of Western-Angles, followed behind them, and +Ethered, earl of the Mercians, pressed after them with great +impetuosity. The youth of both people join battle, and the Angles obtain +the victory. These things are said by ancient writers to have been done +at Buttington, and the exertions of the Danes appeared futile; they +again ratify peace, give hostages, and promise to leave that part of the +country. In the same year Danaasuda,[79] in Bamfleet, was destroyed by +the people, and they divide the treasure among them. + +After this, Sigeferth, the pirate, lands from his fleet in Northumbria, +and twice devastates the coast, after which he returns home. + +A. 895. When two years were completed, from the time that an immense +fleet came from Boulogne to Limnae, a town of the Angles, duke Ethelnoth +set out from the western parts of the Angles, and goes from the city of +York against the enemy, who devastate no small tracts of land in the +kingdom of the Mercians, on the west of Stanford; _i.e._ between the +courses of the river Weolod[80] and a thick wood, called Ceoftefne. + +A. 896. In the course of one year also, died Guthfrid, king of the +Northumbrians, on the birthday of Christ's apostle, St. Bartholomew, +whose body is buried at York, in the high church. + +A. 900. Meanwhile, after four years, from the time that the above-named +king died, there was a great discord among the English, because the foul +bands of the Danes still remained throughout Northumberland. Lastly, in +the same year, king Alfred departed out of this world, that immoveable +pillar of the Western Saxons, that man full of justice, bold in arms, +learned in speech, and, above all other things, imbued with the divine +instructions. For he had translated into his own language, out of Latin, +unnumbered volumes, of so varied a nature, and so excellently, that the +sorrowful book of Boethius seemed, not only to the learned, but even to +those who heard it read, as it were, brought to life again. The monarch +died on the seventh day before the solemnity of All Saints, and his body +rests in peace in the city of Winton. Pray, O reader, to Christ our +Redeemer, that he will save his soul! + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 63: Allington, Wiltshire.] + +[Footnote 64: Athelney, no longer an island, is situated near +Borough-bridge in Somersetshire.] + +[Footnote 65: Easter Day was the 23rd of March in the year 878.] + +[Footnote 66: Heddington.] + +[Footnote 67: Some suppose that this is Aller near Athelingay, or +Athelney; but Athelney itself is called Alney by the common people; it +is therefore more likely that Athelingay and Alney were the same place, +as they are at present.] + +[Footnote 68: Aschloha, or Ascloha, is on the Maese, about fourteen +miles from the Rhine.] + +[Footnote 69: The Scheldt.] + +[Footnote 70: Conde.] + +[Footnote 71: More commonly Ambiani, now Amiens.] + +[Footnote 72: Louvain.] + +[Footnote 73: I acknowledge my inability to translate this and many +other passages of this obscure author. The events which here follow for +the next half page are referred by the Saxon Chronicle to the year 894.] + +[Footnote 74: Armorica, or Bretagne.] + +[Footnote 75: This should be Marinus, not Martinus.] + +[Footnote 76: Mount St. Barnard.] + +[Footnote 77: Saint Lo.] + +[Footnote 78: I omit this obscure passage rather than run the risk of +misleading the reader by an inaccurate translation of it.] + +[Footnote 79: This must be the fortress which Hasten's men built in +Bamfleet.] + +[Footnote 80: Welland, Northamptonshire.] + + + + +CHAP. IV.--_Of the reign of king Edward, and of his wars._ + + +A. 901. The successor to the throne was Edward, son of the above-named +king. He was elected by the nobles, and crowned with the royal crown on +Whitsunday, one hundred years having elapsed since his great +grandfather, Egbert, had gained his present territories. In the same +year Ethelbald received, in the city of London, the bishopric of the +city of York; and, it appears, that the number of years completed, since +Christ came in the flesh, was nine hundred full. + +A. 902. After two years was the battle of Holme.[81] ... Five days after +the festival of the blessed mother, they lock together their shields, +brandish their swords, and vibrate their lances in both hands. There +fell duke Siwulf and Sigelm, and almost all the Kentish nobility: and +Eohric, king of the barbarians, there descended to Orcus: two princes of +the English, in the flower of their youth, there yield up the breath of +life, and explore the foreign regions, under the waves of Acheron, and +numbers of full-grown men fall on both sides. The barbarians remain +victors, and triumph on the field of battle. + +A. 905. At length, after three years, the number of years completed +since the beginning of the world, was six thousand and one hundred. + +A. 908. After three years archbishop Plegmund inaugurized, in the city +of Winchester, a lofty tower, which had been recently founded in honour +of Mary, the mother of God. The pontiff aforesaid, in the course of the +same year carried to Rome the alms for the people, and for king Edward. + +A. 909. After one year the barbarians break their compact with king +Edward, and with earl Ethered, who then ruled the provinces of +Northumberland and Mercia. The lands of the Mercians are laid waste on +all sides by the hosts aforesaid, as far as the streams of the Avon, +where begins the frontier of the West-Saxons and the Mercians. Thence +they pass over the river Severn into the western regions, and gained by +their devastations no little booty. But when they had withdrawn +homewards, rejoicing in their rich spoils, they passed over a bridge on +the eastern side of the river Severn, at a place commonly called +Cantabridge,[82] the troops of the Mercians and West-Saxons met them: a +battle ensued, and in the plain of Wodnesfield the English obtained the +victory: the Danish army fled, overwhelmed by the darts of their +enemies: these things are said to have been done on the fifth day of +August; and their three kings fell there in that turmoil or battle, +namely, Halfdene, Ecwils, and Hingwar: they lost their sovereignty, and +descended to the court of the infernal king, and their elders and nobles +with them. + +A. 910. After one year, Ethered, who survived of the Mercians, departed +this life, and was buried peacefully in the city of Gloucester. + +A. 912. After two years, died Athulf in Northumbria; he was at that time +commander of the town called Bebbanburgh.[83] + +A. 913. After a year, a fleet entered the mouth of the river Severn, but +no severe battle was fought there that year. Lastly, the greater part of +that army go to Ireland, formerly called Bretannis by the great Julius +Caesar. + +A. 914. After one year, the day of Christ's nativity fell on a Sunday; +and so great was the tranquillity of that winter, that no one can +remember anything like it either before or since. + +A. 917. After three years, Ethelfled the king's sister departed this +life, and her body lies buried at Gloucester. + +A. 926. Also in the ninth year died Edward, king of the English. This +was the end; his name and his pertinacity here ceased. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 81: The particulars recorded in this passage, concerning the +battle of Holme, are ascribed, by Florence of Worcester and the Saxon +Chronicle, to another battle, fought three years later. This caused +Petrie to suppose, that the paragraph in question had slipped out of its +real place.] + +[Footnote 82: Cambridge, in Gloucestershire.] + +[Footnote 83: Bambrough.] + + + + +CHAP. V.--_Of the reign of king Athelstan, his wars and deeds._ + + +A. 926. The year in which the stout king Athelstan gained the crown of +the kingdom, was the nine hundred and twenty-sixth from the glorious +incarnation of our Saviour. + +A. 939. Therefore, after thirteen years, a fierce battle was fought +against the barbarians at Brunandune,[84] wherefore that fight is called +great even to the present day: then the barbarian tribes are defeated +and domineer no longer; they are driven beyond the ocean: the Scots and +Picts also bow the neck; the lands of Britain are consolidated together, +on all sides is peace, and plenty of all things, nor ever did a fleet +again come to land except in friendship with the English. + +A. 941. Two years afterwards the venerated king Athelstan died. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 84: Brumby, Lincolnshire.] + + + + +CHAP. VI.--_Of the reign of king Edmund._ + + +After him Edmund succeeded to the neglected kingdom. + +A. 948. After seven years, therefore, bishop Wulfstan and the duke of +the Mercians expelled certain deserters, namely, Reginald and Anlaf from +the city of York, and gave them into the king's hand. In the same year +died also queen Elfgiva, wife of king Edmund, and afterwards was +canonized. In her tomb, with God's assistance, even to the present day, +miracles are performed in the monastery called Shaftesbury. In the same +period also died king Edmund on the solemnity of Augustine the Less, who +also was the apostle of the English: and he held the kingdom six years +and a half. + + + + +CHAP. VII.--_Of the reign of king Edred._ + + +Edmund's successor was Edred his brother, to whom all the Northumbrians +became subject; and the Scots also give oaths of allegiance and +immutable fidelity. Not long after these things he also departed in +peace, on the birthday of the blessed pope and martyr Clement. He had +held the kingdom nine years and half. + + + + +CHAP. VIII.--_Of king Edwy._ + + +His successor to the throne was Edwy, who, on account of his great +personal beauty, was called Pankalus by the people. He held the +sovereignty four years, and was much beloved. + + + + +CHAP. IX.--_Of the reign of king Edgar._ + +A. 959. After this, Edgar was crowned, and he was an admirable +king.[85] + +Moreover from the nativity of our Lord and Saviour was then completed +the number of 973 years.[85] + + HERE HAPPILY ENDS THE FOURTH BOOK OF + FABIUS ETHELWERD, + QUESTOR AND PATRICIAN. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 85: Here follow two sets of Latin verses, of a most obscure +and angrammatical character, and altogether untranslatable.] + + + + +ANNALS OF THE REIGN + +OF + +ALFRED THE GREAT. + + + + +ANNALS OF THE REIGN + +OF + +ALFRED THE GREAT, + +FROM A.D. 849 TO A.D. 887. + +BY ASSER OF SAINT DAVID'S. + + +In the year of our Lord's incarnation 849, was born Alfred, king of the +Anglo-Saxons, at the royal village of Wanating,[86] in Berkshire, which +country has its name from the wood of Berroc, where the box-tree grows +most abundantly. His genealogy is traced in the following order. King +Alfred was the son of king Ethelwulf, who was the son of Egbert, who was +the son of Elmund, was the son of Eafa, who was the son of Eoppa, who +the son of Ingild. Ingild, and Ina, the famous king of the West-Saxons, +were two brothers. Ina went to Rome, and there ending this life +honourably, entered the heavenly kingdom, to reign there for ever with +Christ. Ingild and Ina were the sons of Coenred, who was the son of +Ceolwald, who was the son of Cudam, who was the son of Cuthwin, who was +the son of Ceawlin, who was the son of Cynric, who was the son of +Creoda, who was the son of Cerdic, who was the son of Elesa, who was the +son of Gewis, from whom the Britons name all that nation Gegwis,[87] who +was the son of Brond, who was the son of Beldeg, who was the son of +Woden, who was the son of Frithowald, who was the son of Frealaf, who +was the son of Frithuwulf, who was the son of Finn of Godwulf, who was +the son of Geat, which Geat the pagans long worshipped as a god. +Sedulius makes mention of him in his metrical Paschal poem, as +follows:-- + + When gentile poets with their fictions vain, + In tragic language and bombastic strain, + To their god Geat, comic deity, + Loud praises sing, &c. + +Geat was the son of Taetwa, who was the son of Beaw, who was the son of +Sceldi, who was the son of Heremod, who was the son of Iterinon, who was +the son of Hathra, who was the son of Guala, who was the son of Bedwig, +who was the son of Shem, who was the son of Noah, who was the son of +Lamech, who was the son of Methusalem, who was the son of Enoch, who was +the son of Malaleel, who was the son of Cainan, who was the son of Enos, +who was the son of Seth, who was the son of Adam. + +The mother of Alfred was named Osburga, a religious woman, noble both by +birth and by nature; she was daughter of Oslac, the famous butler of +king Ethelwulf, which Oslac was a Goth by nation, descended from the +Goths and Jutes, of the seed, namely, of Stuf and Wihtgar, two brothers +and counts: who, having received possession of the Isle of Wight from +their uncle, king Cerdic, and his son Cynric their cousin, slew the few +British inhabitants whom they could find in that island, at a place +called Gwihtgaraburgh;[88] for the other inhabitants of the island had +either been slain or escaped into exile. + +In the year of our Lord's incarnation 851, which was the third after the +birth of king Alfred, Ceorl, earl of Devon, fought with the men of Devon +against the pagans at a place called Wicgambeorg;[89] and the Christians +gained the victory; and that same year the pagans first wintered in the +island called Sheppey, which means the Sheep-isle, and is situated in +the river Thames between Essex and Kent, but is nearer to Kent than to +Essex; it has in it a fine monastery.[90] + +The same year also a great army of the pagans came with three hundred +and fifty ships to the mouth of the river Thames, and sacked +Dorobernia,[91] which is the city of the Cantuarians, and also the city +of London, which lies on the north bank of the river Thames, on the +confines of Essex and Middlesex; but yet that city belongs in truth to +Essex; and they put to flight Berthwulf, king of Mercia, with all the +army, which he had led out to oppose them. + +After these things, the aforesaid pagan host went into Surrey, which is +a district situated on the south bank of the river Thames, and to the +west of Kent. And Ethelwulf, king of the West-Saxons, and his son +Ethelbald, with all their army, fought a long time against them at a +place called Ac-lea,[92] i.e. the Oak-plain, and there, after a +lengthened battle, which was fought with much bravery on both sides, the +greater part of the pagan multitude was destroyed and cut to pieces, so +that we never heard of their being so defeated, either before or since, +in any country, in one day; and the Christians gained an honourable +victory, and were triumphant over their graves. + +In the same year king Athelstan, son of king Ethelwulf, and earl Ealhere +slew a large army of pagans in Kent, at a place called Sandwich, and +took nine ships of their fleet; the others escaped by flight. + +In the year of our Lord's incarnation 853, which was the fifth of king +Alfred, Burhred, king of the Mercians, sent messengers, and prayed +Ethelwulf, king of the West-Saxons, to come and help him in reducing the +midland Britons, who dwell between Mercia and the western sea, and who +struggled against him most immoderately. So without delay, king +Ethelwulf, having received the embassy, moved his army, and advanced +with king Burhred against Britain,[93] and immediately, on entering that +country, he began to ravage it; and having reduced it under subjection +to king Burhred, he returned home. + +In the same year, king Ethelwulf sent his son Alfred, above-named, to +Rome, with an honourable escort both of nobles and commoners. Pope Leo +[the fourth] at that time presided over the apostolic see, and he +anointed for king the aforesaid Alfred, and adopted him as his spiritual +son. The same year also, earl Ealhere, with the men of Kent, and Huda +with the men of Surrey, fought bravely and resolutely against an army of +the pagans, in the island, which is called in the Saxon tongue, +Tenet,[94] but Ruim in the British language. The battle lasted a long +time, and many fell on both sides, and also were drowned in the water; +and both the earls were there slain. In the same year also, after +Easter, Ethelwulf, king of the West-Saxons, gave his daughter to +Burhred, king of the Mercians, and the marriage was celebrated royally +at the royal vill of Chippenham.[95] + +In the year of our Lord's incarnation 855, which was the seventh after +the birth of the aforesaid king, Edmund the most glorious king of the +East-Angles began to reign, on the eighth day before the kalends of +January, i.e. on the birthday of our Lord, in the fourteenth year of his +age. In this year also died Lothaire, the Roman emperor, son of the +pious Lewis Augustus. In the same year the aforesaid venerable king +Ethelwulf released the tenth part of all his kingdom from all royal +service and tribute, and with a pen never to be forgotten, offered it up +to God the One and the Three in One, in the cross of Christ, for the +redemption of his own soul and of his predecessors. In the same year he +went to Rome with much honour; and taking with him his son, the +aforesaid king Alfred, for a second journey thither, because he loved +him more than his other sons, he remained there a whole year; after +which he returned to his own country, bringing with him Judith, daughter +of Charles, the king of the Franks. + +In the meantime, however, whilst king Ethelwulf was residing beyond the +sea, a base deed was done, repugnant to the morals of all Christians, in +the western part of Selwood. For king Ethelbald [son of king Ethelwulf] +and Ealstan, bishop of the church of Sherborne, with Eanwulf, earl of +the district of Somerton, are said to have made a conspiracy together, +that king Ethelwulf, on his return from Rome, should never again be +received into his kingdom. This crime, unheard-of in all previous ages, +is ascribed by many to the bishop and earl alone, as resulting from +their counsels. Many also ascribe it solely to the insolence of the +king, because that king was pertinacious in this matter, and in many +other perversities, as we have heard related by certain persons; as also +was proved by the result of that which follows. + +For as he was returning from Rome, his son aforesaid, with all his +counsellors, or, as I ought to say, his conspirators, attempted to +perpetrate the crime of repulsing the king from his own kingdom; but +neither did God permit the deed, nor would the nobles of all Saxony +consent to it. For to prevent this irremediable evil to Saxony, of a son +warring against his father, or rather of the whole nation carrying on +civil war either on the side of the one or the other, the extraordinary +mildness of the father, seconded by the consent of all the nobles, +divided between the two the kingdom which had hitherto been undivided; +the eastern parts were given to the father, and the western to the son; +for where the father ought by just right to reign, there his unjust and +obstinate son did reign; for the western part of Saxony is always +preferable to the eastern. + +When Ethelwulf, therefore, was coming from Rome, all that nation, as was +fitting, so delighted in the arrival of the old man, that, if he +permitted them, they would have expelled his rebellious son Ethelbald, +with all his counsellors, out of the kingdom. But he, as we have said, +acting with great clemency and prudent counsel, so wished things to be +done, that the kingdom might not come into danger; and he placed Judith, +daughter of king Charles, whom he had received from his father, by his +own side on the regal throne, without any controversy or enmity from his +nobles, even to the end of his life, contrary to the perverse custom of +that nation. For the nation of the West-Saxons do not allow a queen to +sit beside the king, nor to be called a queen, but only the king's wife; +which stigma the elders of that land say arose from a certain obstinate +and malevolent queen of the same nation, who did all things so contrary +to her lord, and to all the people, that she not only earned for herself +exclusion from the royal seat, but also entailed the same stigma upon +those who came after her; for in consequence of the wickedness of that +queen, all the nobles of that land swore together, that they would never +let any king reign over them, who should attempt to place a queen on the +throne by his side. + +And because, as I think, it is not known to many whence this perverse +and detestable custom arose in Saxony, contrary to the custom of all the +Theotiscan nations, it seems to me right to explain a little more fully +what I have heard from my lord Alfred, king of the Anglo-Saxons, as he +also had heard it from many men of truth, who in great part recorded +that fact. + +There was in Mercia, in recent times, a certain valiant king, who was +feared by all the kings and neighbouring states around. His name was +Offa, and it was he who had the great rampart made from sea to sea +between Britain[96] and Mercia. His daughter, named Eadburga, was +married to Bertric, king of the West-Saxons; who immediately, having +the king's affections, and the control of almost all the kingdom, began +to live tyrannically like her father, and to execrate every man whom +Bertric loved, and to do all things hateful to God and man, and to +accuse all she could before the king, and so to deprive them insidiously +of their life or power; and if she could not obtain the king's consent, +she used to take them off by poison: as is ascertained to have been the +case with a certain young man beloved by the king, whom she poisoned, +finding that the king would not listen to any accusation against him. It +is said, moreover, that king Bertric unwittingly tasted of the poison, +though the queen intended to give it to the young man only, and so both +of them perished. + +Bertric therefore being dead, the queen could remain no longer among the +West-Saxons, but sailed beyond the sea with immense treasures, and went +to the court of the great and famous Charles, king of the Franks. As she +stood before the throne, and offered him money, Charles said to her, +"Choose, Eadburga, between me and my son, who stands here with me." She +replied, foolishly, and without deliberation, "If I am to have my +choice, I choose your son, because he is younger than you." At which +Charles smiled and answered, "If you had chosen me, you would have had +my son; but as you have chosen him, you shall not have either of us." + +However, he gave her a large convent of nuns, in which, having laid +aside the secular habit and taken the religious dress, she discharged +the office of abbess during a few years; for, as she is said to have +lived irrationally in her own country, so she appears to have acted +still more so in that foreign country; for being convicted of having had +unlawful intercourse with a man of her own nation, she was expelled from +the monastery by king Charles's order, and lived a vicious life of +reproach in poverty and misery until her death; so that at last, +accompanied by one slave only, as we have heard from many who saw her, +she begged her bread daily at Pavia, and so miserably died. + +Now king Ethelwulf lived two years after his return from Rome; during +which, among many other good deeds of this present life, reflecting on +his departure according to the way of all flesh, that his sons might not +quarrel unreasonably after their father's death, he ordered a will or +letter of instructions to be written, in which he ordered that his +kingdom should be divided between his two eldest sons, his private +inheritance between his sons, his daughters, and his relations, and the +money which he left behind him between his sons and nobles, and for the +good of his soul. Of this prudent policy we have thought fit to record a +few instances out of many for posterity to imitate; namely, such as are +understood to belong principally to the needs of the soul; for the +others, which relate only to human dispensation, it is not necessary to +insert in this work, lest prolixity should create disgust in those who +read or wish to hear my work. For the benefit of his soul, then, which +he studied to promote in all things from the first flower of his youth, +he directed through all his hereditary dominions, that one poor man in +ten, either native or foreigner, should be supplied with meat, drink, +and clothing, by his successors, until the day of judgment; supposing, +however, that the country should still be inhabited both by men and +cattle, and should not become deserted. He commanded also a large sum of +money, namely, three hundred mancuses, to be carried to Rome for the +good of his soul, to be distributed in the following manner: namely, a +hundred mancuses in honour of St. Peter, specially to buy oil for the +lights of the church of that apostle on Easter eve, and also at the +cock-crow: a hundred mancuses in honour of St. Paul, for the same +purpose of buying oil for the church of St. Paul the apostle, to light +the lamps on Easter eve and at the cock-crow; and a hundred mancuses for +the universal apostolic pontiff. + +But when king Ethelwulf was dead, and buried at Stemrugam,[97] his son +Ethelbald, contrary to God's prohibition and the dignity of a Christian, +contrary also to the custom of all the pagans, ascended his father's +bed, and married Judith, daughter of Charles, king of the Franks, and +drew down much infamy upon himself from all who heard of it. During two +years and a half of licentiousness after his father he held the +government of the West-Saxons. + +In the year of our Lord's incarnation 856, which was the eighth after +Alfred's birth, the second year of king Charles III, and the eighteenth +year of the reign of Ethelwulf, king of the West-Saxons, Humbert, +bishop of the East-Angles, anointed with oil and consecrated as king the +glorious Edmund, with much rejoicing and great honour in the royal town +called Burva, in which at that time was the royal seat, in the fifteenth +year of his age, on a Friday, the twenty-fourth moon, being +Christmas-day. + +In the year of our Lord's incarnation 860, which was the twelfth of king +Alfred's age, died Ethelbald, king of the West-Saxons, and was buried at +Sherborne. His brother Ethelbert, as was fitting, joined Kent, Surrey, +and Sussex also to his dominion. + +In his days a large army of pagans came from the sea, and attacked and +destroyed the city of Winchester. As they were returning laden with +booty to their ships, Osric, earl of Hampshire, with his men, and earl +Ethelwulf, with the men of Berkshire, confronted them bravely; a severe +battle took place, and the pagans were slain on every side; and, finding +themselves unable to resist, took to flight like women, and the +Christians obtained a triumph. + +Ethelbert governed his kingdom five years in peace, with the love and +respect of his subjects, who felt deep sorrow when he went the way of +all flesh. His body was honourably interred at Sherborne by the side of +his brothers. + +In the year of our Lord's incarnation 864, the pagans wintered in the +isle of Thanet, and made a firm treaty with the men of Kent, who +promised them money for adhering to their covenant; but the pagans, like +cunning foxes, burst from their camp by night, and setting at naught +their engagements, and spurning at the promised money, which they knew +was less than they could get by plunder, they ravaged all the eastern +coast of Kent. + +In the year of our Lord's incarnation 866, which was the eighteenth of +king Alfred, Ethelred, brother of Ethelbert, king of the West Saxons, +undertook the government of the kingdom for five years; and the same +year a large fleet of pagans came to Britain from the Danube, and +wintered in the kingdom of the Eastern-Saxons, which is called in Saxon +East-Anglia; and there they became principally an army of cavalry. But, +to speak in nautical phrase, I will no longer commit my vessel to the +power of the waves and of its sails, or keeping off from land steer my +round-about course through so many calamities of wars and series of +years, but will return to that which first prompted me to this task; +that is to say, I think it right in this place briefly to relate as much +as has come to my knowledge about the character of my revered lord +Alfred, king of the Anglo-Saxons, during the years that he was an infant +and a boy. + +He was loved by his father and mother, and even by all the people, above +all his brothers, and was educated altogether at the court of the king. +As he advanced through the years of infancy and youth, his form appeared +more comely than that of his brothers; in look, in speech, and in +manners he was more graceful than they. His noble nature implanted in +him from his cradle a love of wisdom above all things; but, with shame +be it spoken, by the unworthy neglect of his parents and nurses, he +remained illiterate even till he was twelve years old or more; but he +listened with serious attention to the Saxon poems which he often heard +recited, and easily retained them in his docile memory. He was a zealous +practiser of hunting in all its branches, and hunted with great +assiduity and success; for skill and good fortune in this art, as in all +others, are among the gifts of God, as we also have often witnessed. + +On a certain day, therefore, his mother[98] was showing him and his +brother a Saxon book of poetry, which she held in her hand, and said, +"Whichever of you shall the soonest learn this volume shall have it for +his own." Stimulated by these words, or rather by the Divine +inspiration, and allured by the beautifully illuminated letter at the +beginning of the volume, he spoke before all his brothers, who, though +his seniors in age, were not so in grace, and answered, "Will you really +give that book to one of us, that is to say, to him who can first +understand and repeat it to you?" At this his mother smiled with +satisfaction, and confirmed what she had before said. Upon which the boy +took the book out of her hand, and went to his master to read it, and in +due time brought it to his mother and recited it. + +After this he learned the daily course, that is, the celebration of the +hours, and afterwards certain psalms, and several prayers, contained in +a certain book which he kept day and night in his bosom, as we +ourselves have seen, and carried about with him to assist his prayers, +amid all the bustle and business of this present life. But, sad to say, +he could not gratify his most ardent wish to learn the liberal arts, +because, as he said, there were no good readers at that time in all the +kingdom of the West-Saxons. + +This he confessed, with many lamentations and sighs, to have been one of +his greatest difficulties and impediments in this life, namely, that +when he was young and had the capacity for learning, he could not find +teachers; but, when he was more advanced in life, he was harassed by so +many diseases unknown to all the physicians of this island, as well as +by internal and external anxieties of sovereignty, and by continual +invasions of the pagans, and had his teachers and writers also so much +disturbed, that there was no time for reading. But yet among the +impediments of this present life, from infancy up to the present time, +and, as I believe, even until his death, he continued to feel the same +insatiable desire of knowledge, and still aspires after it. + +In the year of our Lord's incarnation 867, which was the nineteenth of +the life of the aforesaid king Alfred, the army of pagans before +mentioned removed from the East-Angles to the city of York, which is +situated on the north bank of the river Humber. + +At that time a violent discord arose, by the instigation of the devil, +among the inhabitants of Northumberland; as always is used to happen +among a people who have incurred the wrath of God. For the Northumbrians +at that time, as we have said, had expelled their lawful king Osbert, +and appointed a certain tyrant named AElla, not of royal birth, over the +affairs of the kingdom; but when the pagans approached, by divine +Providence, and the union of the nobles for the common good, that +discord was a little appeased, and Osbert and AElla uniting their +resources, and assembling an army, marched to York. The pagans fled at +their approach, and attempted to defend themselves within the walls of +the city. The Christians, perceiving their flight and the terror they +were in, determined to destroy the walls of the town, which they +succeeded in doing; for that city was not surrounded at that time with +firm or strong walls, and when the Christians had made a breach as they +had purposed, and many of them had entered into the town, the pagans, +urged by despair and necessity, made a fierce sally upon them, slew +them, routed them, and cut them down on all sides, both within and +without the walls. In that battle fell almost all the Northumbrian +warriors, with both the kings and a multitude of nobles; the remainder, +who escaped, made peace with the pagans. + +In the same year, Ealstan, bishop of the church of Sherborne, went the +way of all flesh, after he had honourably ruled his see four years, and +he was buried at Sherborne. + +In the year of our Lord's incarnation 868, which was the twentieth of +king Alfred's life, there was a severe famine. Then the aforesaid +revered king Alfred, but at that time occupying a subordinate station, +asked and obtained in marriage a noble Mercian lady, daughter of +Athelred, surnamed Mucil,[99] earl of the Gaini.[100] The mother of this +lady was named Edburga, of the royal line of Mercia, whom we have often +seen with our own eyes a few years before her death. She was a venerable +lady, and after the decease of her husband, she remained many years a +widow, even till her own death. + +In the same year, the above-named army of pagans, leaving +Northumberland, invaded Mercia and advanced to Nottingham, which is +called in the British tongue, "Tiggocobauc," but in Latin, the "House of +Caves," and they wintered there that same year. Immediately on their +approach, Burhred, king of Mercia, and all the nobles of that nation, +sent messengers to Ethelred, king of the West-Saxons, and his brother +Alfred, suppliantly entreating them to come and aid them in fighting +against the aforesaid army. Their request was easily obtained; for the +brothers, as soon as promised, assembled an immense army from all parts +of their dominions, and entering Mercia, came to Nottingham, all eager +for battle, and when the pagans, defended by the castle, refused to +fight, and the Christians were unable to destroy the wall, peace was +made between the Mercians and pagans, and the two brothers, Ethelred and +Alfred, returned home with their troops. + +In the year of our Lord's incarnation 869, which was the twenty-first of +king Alfred's life, there was a great famine and mortality of men, and a +pestilence among the cattle. And the aforesaid army of the pagans, +galloping back to Northumberland, went to York, and there passed the +winter. + +In the year of our Lord's incarnation 870, which was the twenty-second +of king Alfred's life, the above-named army of pagans, passed through +Mercia into East-Anglia, and wintered at Thetford. + +In the same year Edmund, king of the East-Angles, fought most fiercely +against them; but, lamentable to say, the pagans triumphed, Edmund was +slain in the battle, and the enemy reduced all that country to +subjection. + +In the same year Ceolnoth, archbishop of Canterbury, went the way of all +flesh, and was buried peaceably in his own city. + +In the year of our Lord's incarnation 871, which was the twenty-third of +king Alfred's life, the pagan army, of hateful memory, left the +East-Angles, and entering the kingdom of the West-Saxons, came to the +royal city, called Reading, situated on the south bank of the Thames, in +the district called Berkshire; and there, on the third day after their +arrival, their earls, with great part of the army, scoured the country +for plunder, while the others made a rampart between the rivers Thames +and Kennet on the right side of the same royal city. They were +encountered by Ethelwulf, earl of Berkshire, with his men, at a place +called Englefield;[101] both sides fought bravely, and made long +resistance. At length one of the pagan earls was slain, and the greater +part of the army destroyed; upon which the rest saved themselves by +flight, and the Christians gained the victory. + +Four days afterwards, Ethelred, king of the West-Saxons, and his brother +Alfred, united their forces and marched to Reading, where, on their +arrival, they cut to pieces the pagans whom they found outside the +fortifications. But the pagans, nevertheless, sallied out from the +gates, and a long and fierce engagement ensued. At last, grief to say, +the Christians fled, the pagans obtained the victory, and the aforesaid +earl Ethelwulf was among the slain. + +Roused by this calamity, the Christians, in shame and indignation, +within four days, assembled all their forces, and again encountered the +pagan army at a place called Ashdune,[102] which means the "Hill of the +Ash." The pagans had divided themselves into two bodies, and began to +prepare defences, for they had two kings and many earls, so they gave +the middle part of the army to the two kings, and the other part to all +their earls. Which the Christians perceiving, divided their army also +into two troops, and also began to construct defences. But Alfred, as we +have been told by those who were present, and would not tell an untruth, +marched up promptly with his men to give them battle; for king Ethelred +remained a long time in his tent in prayer, hearing the mass, and said +that he would not leave it, till the priest had done, or abandon the +divine protection for that of men. And he did so too, which afterwards +availed him much with the Almighty, as we shall declare more fully in +the sequel. + +Now the Christians had determined that king Ethelred, with his men, +should attack the two pagan kings, but that his brother Alfred, with his +troops, should take the chance of war against the two earls. Things +being so arranged, the king remained a long time in prayer, and the +pagans came up rapidly to fight. Then Alfred, though possessing a +subordinate authority, could no longer support the troops of the enemy, +unless he retreated or charged upon them without waiting for his +brother. At length he bravely led his troops against the hostile army, +as they had before arranged, but without awaiting his brother's arrival; +for he relied in the divine counsels, and forming his men into a dense +phalanx, marched on at once to meet the foe. + +But here I must inform those who are ignorant of the fact, that the +field of battle was not equally advantageous to both parties. The pagans +occupied the higher ground, and the Christians came up from below. There +was also a single thorn-tree, of stunted growth, and we have with our +own eyes seen it. Around this tree the opposing armies came together +with loud shouts from all sides, the one party to pursue their wicked +course, the other to fight for their lives, their dearest ties, and +their country. And when both armies had fought long and bravely, at last +the pagans, by the divine judgment, were no longer able to bear the +attacks of the Christians, and having lost great part of their army, +took to a disgraceful flight. One of their two kings, and five earls +were there slain, together with many thousand pagans, who fell on all +sides, covering with their bodies the whole plain of Ashdune. + +There fell in that battle king Bagsac, earl Sidrac the elder, and earl +Sidrac the younger, earl Osbern, earl Frene, and earl Harold; and the +whole pagan army pursued its flight, not only until night but until the +next day, even until they reached the stronghold from which they had +sallied. The Christians followed, slaying all they could reach, until it +became dark. + +After fourteen days had elapsed, king Ethelred, with his brother Alfred, +again joined their forces and marched to Basing to fight with the +pagans. The enemy came together from all quarters, and after a long +contest gained the victory. After this battle, another army came from +beyond the sea, and joined them. + +The same year, after Easter, the aforesaid king Ethelred, having +bravely, honourably, and with good repute, governed his kingdom five +years, through much tribulation, went the way of all flesh, and was +buried in Wimborne Minster, where he awaits the coming of the Lord, and +the first resurrection with the just. + +The same year, the aforesaid Alfred, who had been up to that time only +of secondary rank, whilst his brothers were alive, now, by God's +permission, undertook the government of the whole kingdom, amid the +acclamations of all the people; and if he had chosen, he might have done +so before, whilst his brother above-named was still alive; for in wisdom +and other qualities he surpassed all his brothers, and moreover, was +warlike and victorious in all his wars. And when he had reigned one +month, almost against his will, for he did not think he could alone +sustain the multitude and ferocity of the pagans, though even during his +brothers' lives, he had borne the woes of many,--he fought a battle with +a few men, and on very unequal terms, against all the army of the +pagans, at a hill called Wilton, on the south bank of the river Wily, +from which river the whole of that district is named, and after a long +and fierce engagement, the pagans, seeing the danger they were in, and +no longer able to bear the attack of their enemies, turned their backs +and fled. But, oh, shame to say, they deceived their too audacious +pursuers, and again rallying, gained the victory. Let no one be +surprised that the Christians had but a small number of men, for the +Saxons had been worn out by eight battles in one year, against the +pagans, of whom they had slain one king, nine dukes, and innumerable +troops of soldiers, besides endless skirmishes, both by night and by +day, in which the oft-named Alfred, and all his chieftains, with their +men, and several of his ministers, were engaged without rest or +cessation against the pagans. How many thousand pagans fell in these +numberless skirmishes God alone knows, over and above those who were +slain in the eight battles above-mentioned. In the same year the Saxons +made peace with the pagans, on condition that they should take their +departure, and they did so. + +In the year of our Lord's incarnation 872, the twenty-fourth of king +Alfred's life, the above-named army of pagans went to London, and there +wintered. The Mercians made peace with them. + +In the year of our Lord's incarnation 873, the twenty-fifth of king +Alfred, the above-named army, leaving London, went into the country of +the Northumbrians, and there wintered in the district of Lindsey; and +the Mercians again made treaty with them. + +In the year of our Lord's incarnation 874, the twenty-sixth since the +birth of king Alfred, the army before so often mentioned left Lindsey +and marched to Mercia, where they wintered at Repton. Also they +compelled Burhred, king of Mercia, against his will, to leave his +kingdom and go beyond the sea to Rome, in the twenty-second year of his +reign. He did not long live after his arrival, but died there, and was +honourably buried in the school of the Saxons, in St. Mary's church, +where he awaits the Lord's coming and the first resurrection with the +just. The pagans also, after his expulsion, subjected the whole kingdom +of the Mercians to their dominion; but by a most miserable arrangement, +gave it into the custody of a certain foolish man, named Ceolwulf, one +of the king's ministers, on condition that he should restore it to them, +whenever they should wish to have it again; and to guarantee this +agreement, he gave them hostages, and swore that he would not oppose +their will, but be obedient to them in every respect. + +In the year of our Lord's incarnation 875, which was the 27th of king +Alfred, the above-named army leaving Repton, divided into two bodies, +one of which went with Halfdene into Northumbria, and having wintered +there near the Tyne, reduced all Northumberland to subjection; they also +ravaged the Picts and the Strath-Clydensians.[103] The other division, +with Gothrun, Oskytel, and Anwiund, three kings of the pagans, went to a +place called Grantabridge,[104] and there wintered. + +In the same year, king Alfred fought a battle by sea against six ships +of the pagans, and took one of them; the rest escaped by flight. + +In the year of our Lord's incarnation 876, being the twenty-eighth year +of king Alfred's life, the aforesaid army of the pagans, leaving +Grantabridge by night, entered a castle called Wareham, where there is a +monasterium of holy virgins between the two rivers Fraun[105] and Trent, +in the district which is called in British _Durngueis_, but in Saxon +_Thornsaeta_, placed in a most secure situation, except that it was +exposed to danger on the western side from the nature of the ground. +With this army Alfred made a solemn treaty, to the effect that they +should depart out of the kingdom, and for this they made no hesitation +to give as many hostages as he named; also they swore an oath over the +Christian relics,[106] which with king Alfred were next in veneration +after the Deity himself, that they would depart speedily from the +kingdom. But they again practised their usual treachery, and caring +nothing for the hostages or their oaths, they broke the treaty, and +sallying forth by night, slew all the horsemen that the king had round +him, and turning off into Devon, to another place called in Saxon +_Exanceaster_,[107] but in British _Caer-wisc_, which means in Latin, +the city of Ex, situated on the eastern bank of the river Wisc, they +directed their course suddenly towards the south sea, which divides +Britain and Gaul, and there passed the winter. + +In the same year, Halfdene, king of those parts, divided out the whole +country of Northumberland between himself and his men, and settled there +with his army. In the same year, Rollo with his followers penetrated +into Normandy. + +This same Rollo, duke of the Normans, whilst wintering in Old Britain, +or England, at the head of his troops, enjoyed one night a vision +revealing to him the future. See more of this Rollo in the Annals.[108] + +In the year 877, the pagans, on the approach of autumn, partly settled +in Exeter, and partly marched for plunder into Mercia. The number of +that disorderly crew increased every day, so that, if thirty thousand of +them were slain in one battle, others took their places to double the +number. Then king Alfred commanded boats and galleys, i.e. long ships, +to be built throughout the kingdom, in order to offer battle by sea to +the enemy as they were coming. On board of these he placed seamen, and +appointed them to watch the seas. Meanwhile he went himself to Exeter, +where the pagans were wintering, and having shut them up within the +walls, laid siege to the town. He also gave orders to his sailors to +prevent them from obtaining any supplies by sea; and his sailors were +encountered by a fleet of a hundred and twenty ships full of armed +soldiers, who were come to help their countrymen. As soon as the king's +men knew that they were fitted with pagan soldiers, they leaped to their +arms, and bravely attacked those barbaric tribes: but the pagans, who +had now for almost a month been tossed and almost wrecked among the +waves of the sea, fought vainly against them; their bands were +discomfited in a moment, and all were sunk and drowned in the sea, at a +place called Suanewic.[109] + +In the same year the army of pagans, leaving Wareham, partly on +horseback and partly by water, arrived at Suanewic, where one hundred +and twenty of their ships were lost;[110] and king Alfred pursued their +land-army as far as Exeter; there he made a covenant with them, and took +hostages that they would depart. + +The same year, in the month of August, that army went into Mercia, and +gave part of that country to one Ceolwulf, a weak-minded man, and one of +the king's ministers; the other part they divided among themselves. + +In the year of our Lord's incarnation 878, which was the thirtieth of +king Alfred's life, the army above-mentioned left Exeter, and went to +Chippenham, a royal villa, situated in the west of Wiltshire, and on the +eastern bank of the river, which is called in British, the Avon. There +they wintered, and drove many of the inhabitants of that country beyond +the sea by the force of their arms, and by want of the necessaries of +life. They reduced almost entirely to subjection all the people of that +country. + +At the same time the above-named Alfred, king of the West-Saxons, with a +few of his nobles, and certain soldiers and vassals, used to lead an +unquiet life among the woodlands[111] of the county of Somerset, in +great tribulation; for he had none of the necessaries of life, except +what he could forage openly or stealthily, by frequent sallies, from the +pagans, or even from the Christians who had submitted to the rule of the +pagans, and as we read in the Life of St. Neot, at the house of one of +his cowherds. + +But it happened on a certain day, that the countrywoman, wife of the +cowherd, was preparing some loaves to bake, and the king, sitting at the +hearth, made ready his bow and arrows and other warlike instruments. The +unlucky woman espying the cakes burning at the fire, ran up to remove +them, and rebuking the brave king, exclaimed:-- + + Ca'sn thee mind the ke-aks, man, an' doossen zee 'em burn? + I'm boun thee's eat 'em vast enough, az zoon az 'tiz the turn.[112] + +The blundering woman little thought that it was king Alfred, who had +fought so many battles against the pagans, and gained so many victories +over them. + +But the Almighty not only granted to the same glorious king victories +over his enemies, but also permitted him to be harassed by them, to be +sunk down by adversities, and depressed by the low estate of his +followers, to the end that he might learn that there is one Lord of all +things, to whom every knee doth bow, and in whose hand are the hearts of +kings; who puts down the mighty from their seat and exalteth the humble; +who suffers his servants when they are elevated at the summit of +prosperity to be touched by the rod of adversity, that in their +humility they may not despair of God's mercy, and in their prosperity +they may not boast of their honours, but may also know, to whom they owe +all the things which they possess. + +We may believe that the calamity was brought upon the king aforesaid, +because, in the beginning of his reign, when he was a youth, and +influenced by youthful feelings, he would not listen to the petitions +which his subjects made to him for help in their necessities, or for +relief from those who oppressed them; but he repulsed them from him, and +paid no heed to their requests. This particular gave much annoyance to +the holy man St. Neot, who was his relation, and often foretold to him, +in the spirit of prophecy, that he would suffer great adversity on this +account; but Alfred neither attended to the reproof of the man of God, +nor listened to his true prediction. Wherefore, seeing that a man's sins +must be corrected either in this world or the next, the true and +righteous Judge was willing that his sin should not go unpunished in +this world, to the end that he might spare him in the world to come. +From this cause, therefore, the aforesaid Alfred often fell into such +great misery, that sometimes none of his subjects knew where he was or +what had become of him. + +In the same year the brother[113] of Hingwar and Halfdene, with +twenty-three ships, after much slaughter of the Christians, came from +the country of Demetia,[114] where he had wintered, and sailed to Devon, +where, with twelve hundred others, he met with a miserable death, being +slain while committing his misdeeds, by the king's servants, before the +castle of Cynuit (Kynwith[115]), into which many of the king's servants, +with their followers, had fled for safety. The pagans, seeing that the +castle was altogether unprepared and unfortified, except that it had +walls in our own fashion, determined not to assault it, because it was +impregnable and secure on all sides, except on the eastern, as we +ourselves have seen, but they began to blockade it, thinking that those +who were inside would soon surrender either from famine or want of +water, for the castle had no spring near it. But the result did not fall +out as they expected; for the Christians, before they began to suffer +from want, inspired by Heaven, judging it much better to gain victory +or death, attacked the pagans suddenly in the morning, and from the +first cut them down in great numbers, slaying also their king, so that +few escaped to their ships; and there they gained a very large booty, +and amongst other things the standard called Raven; for they say that +the three sisters of Hingwar and Hubba, daughters of Lodobroch, wove +that flag and got it ready in one day. They say, moreover, that in every +battle, wherever that flag went before them, if they were to gain the +victory a live crow would appear flying on the middle of the flag; but +if they were doomed to be defeated it would hang down motionless, and +this was often proved to be so. + +The same year, after Easter, king Alfred, with a few followers, made for +himself a stronghold in a place called Athelney, and from thence sallied +with his vassals and the nobles of Somersetshire, to make frequent +assaults upon the pagans. Also, in the seventh week after Easter, he +rode to the stone of Egbert,[116] which is in the eastern part of the +wood which is called Selwood,[117] which means in Latin Silva Magna, the +Great Wood, but in British Coit-mawr. Here he was met by all the +neighbouring folk of Somersetshire, and Wiltshire, and Hampshire, who +had not, for fear of the pagans, fled beyond the sea; and when they saw +the king alive after such great tribulation, they received him, as he +deserved, with joy and acclamations, and encamped there for one night. +When the following day dawned, the king struck his camp, and went to +Okely,[118] where he encamped for one night. The next morning he removed +to Edington, and there fought bravely and perseveringly against all the +army of the pagans, whom, with the divine help, he defeated with great +slaughter, and pursued them flying to their fortification. Immediately +he slew all the men, and carried off all the booty that he could find +without the fortress, which he immediately laid siege to with all his +army; and when he had been there fourteen days, the pagans, driven by +famine, cold, fear, and last of all by despair, asked for peace, on the +condition that they should give the king as many hostages as he pleased, +but should receive none of him in return, in which form they had never +before made a treaty with any one. The king, hearing that, took pity +upon them, and received such hostages as he chose; after which the +pagans swore, moreover, that they would immediately leave the kingdom; +and their king, Gothrun, promised to embrace Christianity, and receive +baptism at king Alfred's hands. All of which articles he and his men +fulfilled as they had promised. For after seven weeks Gothrun, king of +the pagans, with thirty men chosen from the army, came to Alfred at a +place called Aller, near Athelney, and there king Alfred, receiving him +as his son by adoption, raised him up from the holy laver of baptism on +the eighth day, at a royal villa named Wedmore,[119] where the holy +chrism was poured upon him.[120] After his baptism he remained twelve +nights with the king, who, with all his nobles, gave him many fine +houses. + +In the year of our Lord's incarnation 879, which was the thirty-first of +king Alfred, the aforesaid army of pagans leaving Chippenham, as they +had promised, went to Cirencester, which is called in British _Cair +Cori_, and is situate in the southern part of the Wiccii,[121] and there +they remained one year. + +In the same year, a large army of pagans sailed from foreign parts into +the river Thames, and joined the army which was already in the country. +They wintered at Fulham near the river Thames. + +In the same year an eclipse of the sun took place, between three o'clock +and the evening, but nearer to three o'clock. + +In the year of our Lord's incarnation 880, which was the thirty-second +of king Alfred, the above-named army of pagans left Cirencester, and +went among the East Angles, where they divided out the country and began +to settle. + +The same year the army of pagans, which had wintered at Fulham, left the +island of Britain, and sailed over the sea to the eastern part of +France, where they remained a year at a place called Ghent. + +In the year of our Lord's incarnation 881, which was the thirty-third +of king Alfred's life, the aforesaid army went higher up into France; +and the French fought against them; and after the battle the pagans +obtained horses and became an army of cavalry. + +In the year of our Lord's incarnation 882, the thirty-fourth of king +Alfred's life, the above-named army steered their ships up into France +by a river called the Mese [Meuse] and there wintered one year. + +In the same year Alfred, king of the Anglo-Saxons, fought a battle by +sea against the pagan fleet, of which he captured two ships, having +slain all who were on board; and the two commanders of two other ships, +with all their crews, distressed by the battle and the wounds which they +had received, laid down their arms and submitted to the king. + +In the year of our Lord's incarnation 883, which was the thirty-fifth of +king Alfred's life, the aforesaid army went up the river called Scald +[Scheldt] to a convent of nuns called Cundoht [Conde] and there remained +a year. + +In the year of our Lord's incarnation 884, which was the thirty-sixth of +king Alfred's life, the aforesaid army divided into two parts; one body +of them went into East France, and the other coming to Britain entered +Kent, where they besieged a city called in Saxon Rochester, and situated +on the eastern bank of the river Medway. Before the gate of the town the +pagans suddenly erected a strong fortress, but yet they were unable to +take the city, because the citizens defended themselves bravely, until +king Alfred came up to help them with a large army. Then the pagans +abandoned their fortress, and all their horses which they had brought +with them out of France, and leaving behind them in the fortress the +greater part of their prisoners, on the arrival of the king, fled +immediately to their ships, and the Saxons immediately seized on the +prisoners and horses left by the pagans; and so the pagans, compelled by +stern necessity, returned the same summer to France. + +In the same year Alfred, king of the Anglo-Saxons, led his fleet, full +of fighting men, out of Kent to the country of the East Angles, for the +sake of plunder;[122] and, when they had arrived at the mouth of the +river Stour,[123] immediately thirteen ships of the pagans met them, +prepared for battle; a fierce fight ensued, and all the pagans, after a +brave resistance, were slain; all the ships, with all their money, were +taken. After this, while the royal fleet were reposing, the pagans, who +lived in the eastern part of England, assembled their ships, met the +same royal fleet at sea in the mouth of the same river, and, after a +naval battle, the pagans gained the victory. + +In the same year, also, Carloman, king of the Western Franks, whilst +hunting a wild boar, was miserably killed by a large animal of that +species, which inflicted a dreadful wound on him with its tusk. His +brother Louis [III], who had also been king of the Franks, died the year +before. These two brothers were sons of Louis, king of the Franks, who +had died in the year above-mentioned, in which the eclipse of the sun +took place; and it was he whose daughter Judith was given by her +father's wish in marriage to Ethelwulf, king of the West Saxons. + +In the same year also a great army of the pagans came from Germany into +the country of the ancient Saxons, which is called in Saxon +Ealdseaxum.[124] To oppose them the said Saxons and Frisons joined their +forces, and fought bravely twice in that same year. In both those +battles the Christians, with the merciful aid of the Lord, obtained the +victory. + +In the same year also, Charles, king of the Almains, received, with +universal consent, all the territories which lie between the Tyrrhenian +sea and that gulf which runs between the old Saxons and the Gauls, +except the kingdom of Armorica, i.e. Lesser Britain. This Charles was +the son of king Louis, who was brother of Charles, king of the Franks, +father of the aforesaid queen Judith; these two brothers were sons of +Louis, but Louis was the son of the great, the ancient, and wise +Charlemagne, who was the son of Pepin. + +In the same year pope Martin, of blessed memory, went the way of all +flesh; it was he who, in regard for Alfred, king of the Anglo-Saxons, +and at his request, freed the school of the Anglo-Saxons resident at +Rome from all tribute and tax. He also sent many gifts on that occasion, +among which was no small portion of the holy and venerable cross on +which our Lord Jesus Christ was suspended, for the general salvation of +mankind. + +In the same year also the army of pagans, which dwelt among the East +Angles, disgracefully broke the peace which they had concluded with king +Alfred. + +Wherefore, to return to that from which I digressed, that I may not be +compelled by my long navigation to abandon the port of rest which I was +making for, I propose, as far as my knowledge will enable me, to speak +of the life and character and just conduct of my lord Alfred, king of +the Anglo-Saxons, after he married the above-named respected lady of +Mercian race, his wife; and, with God's blessing, I will despatch it +succinctly and briefly, as I promised, that I may not offend the +delicate minds of my readers by prolixity in relating each new event. + +His nuptials were honourably celebrated in Mercia, among innumerable +multitudes of people of both sexes; and after continual feasts, both by +night and by day, he was immediately seized, in presence of all the +people, by sudden and overwhelming pain, as yet unknown to all the +physicians; for it was unknown to all who were then present, and even to +those who daily see him up to the present time,--which, sad to say! is +the worst of all, that he should have protracted it so long from the +twentieth to the fortieth year of his life, and even more than that +through the space of so many years,--from what cause so great a malady +arose. For many thought that this was occasioned by the favour and +fascination of the people who surrounded him; others, by some spite of +the devil, who is ever jealous of the good; others, from an unusual kind +of fever. He had this sort of severe disease from his childhood; but +once, divine Providence so ordered it, that when he was on a visit to +Cornwall for the sake of hunting, and had turned out of the road to pray +in a certain chapel, in which rests the body of Saint Guerir,[125] and +now also St. Neot[126] rests there,--for king Alfred was always from his +infancy a frequent visitor of holy places for the sake of prayer and +almsgiving,--he prostrated himself for private devotion, and, after some +time spent therein, he entreated of God's mercy, that in his boundless +clemency he would exchange the torments of the malady which then +afflicted him for some other lighter disease; but with this condition, +that such disease should not show itself outwardly in his body, lest he +should be an object of contempt, and less able to benefit mankind; for +he had great dread of leprosy or blindness, or any such complaint, as +makes men useless or contemptible when it afflicts them. When he had +finished his prayers, he proceeded on his journey, and not long after he +felt within him that by the hand of the Almighty he was healed, +according to his request, of his disorder, and that it was entirely +eradicated, although he had first had even this complaint in the flower +of his youth, by his devout and pious prayers and supplications to +Almighty God. For if I may be allowed to speak briefly, but in a +somewhat preposterous order, of his zealous piety to God, in the flower +of his youth, before he entered the marriage state, he wished to +strengthen his mind in the observance of God's commandments, for he +perceived that he could with difficulty abstain from gratifying his +carnal desires; and, because he feared the anger of God, if he should do +anything contrary to his will, he used often to rise in the morning at +the cock-crow, and go to pray in the churches and at the relics of the +saints. There he prostrated himself on the ground, and prayed that God +in his mercy would strengthen his mind still more in his service by some +infirmity such as he might bear, but not such as would render him +imbecile and contemptible in his worldly duties; and when he had often +prayed with much devotion to this effect, after an interval of some +time, Providence vouchsafed to afflict him with the above-named disease, +which he bore long and painfully for many years, and even despaired of +life, until he entirely got rid of it by his prayers; but, sad to say! +it was replaced, as we have said, at his marriage by another which +incessantly tormented him, night and day, from the twentieth to the +forty-fourth year of his life. But if ever, by God's mercy, he was +relieved from this infirmity for a single day or night, yet the fear and +dread of that dreadful malady never left him, but rendered him almost +useless, as he thought, for every duty, whether human or divine. + +The sons and daughters, which he had by his wife above mentioned were +Ethelfled the eldest, after whom came Edward, then Ethelgiva, then +Ethelswitha, and Ethelwerd, besides those who died in their infancy, one +of whom was Edmund. Ethelfled, when she arrived at a marriageable age, +was united to Ethered, earl of Mercia; Ethelgiva also was dedicated to +God, and submitted to the rules of a monastic life. Ethelwerd the +youngest, by the divine counsels and the admirable prudence of the king, +was consigned to the schools of learning, where, with the children of +almost all the nobility of the country, and many also who were not +noble, he prospered under the diligent care of his teachers. Books in +both languages, namely, Latin and Saxon, were both read in the school. +They also learned to write; so that before they were of an age to +practice manly arts, namely, hunting and such pursuits as befit +noblemen, they became studious and clever in the liberal arts. Edward +and Ethelswitha were bred up in the king's court and received great +attention from their attendants and nurses; nay, they continue to this +day, with the love of all about them, and showing affability, and even +gentleness towards all, both natives and foreigners, and in complete +subjection to their father; nor, among their other studies which +appertain to this life and are fit for noble youths, are they suffered +to pass their time idly and unprofitably without learning the liberal +arts; for they have carefully learned the Psalms and Saxon books, +especially the Saxon poems, and are continually in the habit of making +use of books. + +In the meantime, the king, during the frequent wars and other trammels +of this present life, the invasions of the pagans, and his own daily +infirmities of body, continued to carry on the government, and to +exercise hunting in all its branches; to teach his workers in gold and +artificers of all kinds, his falconers, hawkers and dog-keepers; to +build houses, majestic and good, beyond all the precedents of his +ancestors, by his new mechanical inventions; to recite the Saxon books, +and especially to learn by heart the Saxon poems, and to make others +learn them; and he alone never desisted from studying, most diligently, +to the best of his ability; he attended the mass and other daily +services of religion; he was frequent in psalm-singing and prayer, at +the hours both of the day and the night. He also went to the churches, +as we have already said, in the night-time to pray, secretly, and +unknown to his courtiers; he bestowed alms and largesses on both +natives and foreigners of all countries; he was affable and pleasant to +all, and curiously eager to investigate things unknown. Many Franks, +Frisons, Gauls, pagans, Britons, Scots, and Armoricans, noble and +ignoble, submitted voluntarily to his dominion; and all of them, +according to their nation and deserving, were ruled, loved, honoured, +and enriched with money and power. Moreover, the king was in the habit +of hearing the divine scriptures read by his own countrymen, or, if by +any chance it so happened, in company with foreigners, and he attended +to it with sedulity and solicitude. His bishops, too, and all +ecclesiastics, his earls and nobles, ministers and friends, were loved +by him with wonderful affection, and their sons, who were bred up in the +royal household, were no less dear to him than his own; he had them +instructed in all kinds of good morals, and among other things, never +ceased to teach them letters night and day; but as if he had no +consolation in all these things, and suffered no other annoyance either +from within or without, yet he was harassed by daily and nightly +affliction, that he complained to God, and to all who were admitted to +his familiar love, that Almighty God had made him ignorant of divine +wisdom, and of the liberal arts; in this emulating the pious, the wise, +and wealthy Solomon, king of the Hebrews, who at first, despising all +present glory and riches, asked wisdom of God, and found both, namely, +wisdom and worldly glory; as it is written, "Seek first the kingdom of +God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto +you." But God, who is always the inspector of the thoughts of the mind +within, and the instigator of all good intentions, and a most plentiful +aider, that good desires may be formed,--for he would not instigate a +man to good intentions, unless he also amply supplied that which the man +justly and properly wishes to have,--instigated the king's mind within; +as it is written, "I will hearken what the Lord God will say concerning +me." He would avail himself of every opportunity to procure coadjutors +in his good designs, to aid him in his strivings after wisdom, that he +might attain to what he aimed at; and, like a prudent bird, which rising +in summer with the early morning from her beloved nest, steers her rapid +flight through the uncertain tracks of ether, and descends on the +manifold and varied flowers of grasses, herbs, and shrubs, essaying that +which pleases most, that she may bear it to her home, so did he direct +his eyes afar, and seek without, that which he had not within, namely, +in his own kingdom. + +But God at that time, as some consolation to the king's benevolence, +yielding to his complaint, sent certain lights to illuminate him, +namely, Werefrith, bishop of the church of Worcester, a man well versed +in divine scripture, who, by the king's command, first turned the books +of the Dialogues of pope Gregory and Peter, his disciple, from Latin +into Saxon, and sometimes putting sense for sense, interpreted them with +clearness and elegance. After him was Plegmund, a Mercian by birth, +archbishop of the church of Canterbury, a venerable man, and endowed +with wisdom; Ethelstan also, and Werewulf, his priests and chaplains, +Mercians by birth, and erudite. These four had been invited out of +Mercia by king Alfred, who exalted them with many honours and powers in +the kingdom of the West-Saxons, besides the privileges which archbishop +Plegmund and bishop Werefrith enjoyed in Mercia. By their teaching and +wisdom the king's desires increased unceasingly, and were gratified. +Night and day, whenever he had leisure, he commanded such men as these +to read books to him; for he never suffered himself to be without one of +them, wherefore he possessed a knowledge of every book, though of +himself he could not yet understand anything of books, for he had not +yet learned to read any thing. + +But the king's commendable avarice could not be gratified even in this; +wherefore he sent messengers beyond the sea to Gaul, to procure +teachers, and he invited from thence Grimbald,[127] priest and monk, a +venerable man, and good singer, adorned with every kind of +ecclesiastical discipline and good morals, and most learned in holy +scripture. He also obtained from thence John,[128] also priest and monk, +a man of most energetic talents, and learned in all kinds of literary +science, and skilled in many other arts. By the teaching of these men +the king's mind was much enlarged, and he enriched and honoured them +with much influence. + +In these times, I also came into Saxony out of the furthest coasts of +Western Britain; and when I had proposed to go to him through many +intervening provinces, I arrived in the country of the Saxons, who live +on the right hand, which in Saxon is called Sussex, under the guidance +of some of that nation; and there I first saw him in the royal vill, +which is called Dene.[129] He received me with kindness, and among other +familiar conversation, he asked me eagerly to devote myself to his +service and become his friend, to leave every thing which I possessed on +the left, or western bank of the Severn, and he promised he would give +more than an equivalent for it in his own dominions. I replied that I +could not incautiously and rashly promise such things; for it seemed to +me unjust, that I should leave those sacred places in which I had been +bred, educated, and crowned,[130] and at last ordained, for the sake of +any earthly honour and power, unless by compulsion. Upon this, he said, +"If you cannot accede to this, at least, let me have your service in +part: spend six months of the year with me here, and the other six in +Britain." To this, I replied, "I could not even promise that easily or +hastily without the advice of my friends." At length, however, when I +perceived that he was anxious for my services, though I knew not why, I +promised him that, if my life was spared, I would return to him after +six months, with such a reply as should be agreeable to him as well as +advantageous to me and mine. With this answer he was satisfied, and when +I had given him a pledge to return at the appointed time, on the fourth +day we left him and returned on horseback towards our own country. + +After our departure, a violent fever seized me in the city of +Winchester, where I lay for twelve months and one week, night and day, +without hope of recovery. At the appointed time, therefore, I could not +fulfil my promise of visiting him, and he sent messengers to hasten my +journey, and to inquire the cause of my delay. As I was unable to ride +to him, I sent a second messenger to tell him the cause of my delay, and +assure him that, if I recovered from my infirmity, I would fulfil what I +had promised. My complaint left me, and by the advice and consent of all +my friends, for the benefit of that holy place, and of all who dwelt +therein, I did as I had promised to the king, and devoted myself to his +service, on the condition that I should remain with him six months in +every year, either continuously, if I could spend six months with him at +once, or alternately, three months in Britain and three in Saxony.[131] +For my friends hoped that they should sustain less tribulation and harm +from king Hemeid.[132] who often plundered that monastery and the parish +of St. Deguus,[133] and sometimes expelled the prelates, as they +expelled archbishop Novis,[134] my relation, and myself; if in any +manner I could secure the notice and friendship of the king. + +At that time, and long before, all the countries on the right hand side +of Britain belonged to king Alfred and still belong to him. For +instance, king Hemeid, with all the inhabitants of the region of +Demetia, compelled by the violence of the six sons of Rotri, had +submitted to the dominion of the king. Howel also, son of Ris, king of +Gleguising, and Brocmail and Fernmail, sons of Mouric, kings of Gwent, +compelled by the violence and tyranny of earl Ethered and of the +Mercians, of their own accord sought king Alfred, that they might enjoy +his government and protection from him against their enemies. Helised, +also, son of Tendyr, king of Brecon, compelled by the force of the same +sons of Rotri, of his own accord sought the government of the aforesaid +king; and Anarawd, son of Rotri, with his brother, at length abandoning +the friendship of the Northumbrians, from which he received no good but +harm, came into king Alfred's presence and eagerly sought his +friendship. The king received him honourably, received him as his son by +confirmation from the bishop's hand, and presented him with many gifts. +Thus he became subject to the king with all his people, on the same +condition, that he should be obedient to the king's will in all +respects, in the same way as Ethered with the Mercians. + +Nor was it in vain that all these princes gained the friendship of the +king. For those who desired to augment their worldly power, obtained +power; those who desired money, gained money; and in like way, those who +desired his friendship, or both money and friendship, succeeded in +getting what they wanted. But all of them gained his love and +guardianship and defence from every quarter, even as the king with his +men could protect himself. + +When therefore I had come into his presence at the royal vill, called +Leonaford, I was honourably received by him, and remained that time with +him at his court eight months; during which I read to him whatever books +he liked, and such as he had at hand; for this is his most usual custom, +both night and day, amid his many other occupations of mind and body, +either himself to read books, or to listen whilst others read them. And +when I frequently asked his leave to depart, and could in no way obtain +it, at length when I had made up my mind by all means to demand it, he +called me to him at twilight, on Christmas eve, and gave me two letters, +in which was a long list of all the things which were in two +monasteries, called in Saxon, Ambresbury[135] and Banwell;[136] and on +that same day he delivered to me those two monasteries with all the +things that were in them, and a silken pall of great value, and a load +for a strong man, of incense, adding these words, that he did not give +me these trifling presents, because he was unwilling hereafter to give +me greater; for in the course of time he unexpectedly gave me Exeter, +with all the diocese which belonged to him in Saxony[137] and in +Cornwall, besides gifts every day, without number, in every kind of +worldly wealth, which it would be too long to enumerate here, lest they +should make my reader tired. But let no one suppose that I have +mentioned these presents in this place for the sake of glory or +flattery, or to obtain greater honour. I call God to witness, that I +have not done so; but that I might certify to those who are ignorant, +how profuse he is in giving. He then at once gave me permission to ride +to those two rich monasteries and afterwards to return to my own +country. + +In the year of our Lord's incarnation, 886, which was the thirty-eighth +since the birth of Alfred, the army so often before-mentioned again fled +the country, and went into the country of the Western Franks, directing +their ships to the river called the Seine, and sailed up it as far as +the city of Paris, and there they wintered and measured out their camp. +They besieged that city a whole year, as far as the bridge, that they +might prevent the inhabitants from making use of it; for the city is +situated on a small island in the middle of the river; but by the +merciful favour of God, and the brave defence of citizens, the army +could not force their way inside the walls. + +In the same year, Alfred, king of the Anglo-Saxons, after the burning of +cities and the slaying of the people, honourably rebuilt the city of +London, and made it again habitable. He gave it into the custody of his +son-in-law, Ethered, earl of Mercia, to which king all the Angles and +Saxons, who before had been dispersed everywhere, or were in captivity +with the pagans, voluntarily turned and submitted themselves to his +dominion. [138] [In the same year there arose a foul and deadly discord +at Oxford, between Grimbald, with those learned men whom he had brought +with him, and the old scholars whom he had found there, who, on his +arrival, refused altogether to embrace the laws, modes, and forms of +praelection instituted by the same Grimbald. During three years there had +been no great dissension between them, but there was a secret enmity, +which afterwards broke out with great atrocity, clearer than the light +itself. To appease this quarrel, that invincible king Alfred, having +been informed of the strife by a messenger from Grimbald, went to Oxford +to put an end to the controversy, and endured much trouble in hearing +the arguments and complaints which were brought forwards on both sides. +The substance of the dispute was this: the old scholars contended, that +literature had flourished at Oxford before the coming of Grimbald, +although the number of scholars was smaller than in ancient time, +because several had been driven away by the cruelty and tyranny of the +pagans. They also proved and showed, by the undoubted testimony of +ancient annals, that the orders and institutions of that place had been +sanctioned by certain pious and learned men, as for instance by Saint +Gildas, Melkinus, Nennius, Kentigern, and others, who had all grown old +there in literature, and happily administered everything there in peace +and concord; and also, that Saint Germanus had come to Oxford, and +stopped there half a year, at the time when he went through Britain to +preach against the Pelagian heresy; he wonderfully approved of the +customs and institutions above-mentioned. The king, with unheard-of +humility, listened to both sides carefully, and exhorted them again and +again with pious and wholesome admonitions to cherish mutual love and +concord. He therefore left them with this decision, that each party +should follow their own counsel, and preserve their own institutions. +Grimbald, displeased at this, immediately departed to the monastery at +Winchester,[139] which had been recently founded by king Alfred, and +ordered a tomb to be carried to Winchester, in which he proposed, after +this life, that his bones should be laid in the vault which had been +made under the chancel of St. Peter's church in Oxford; which church the +same Grimbald had built from its foundations, of stone polished with +great care.] + +In the year of our Lord's incarnation 887, which was the thirty-ninth of +king Alfred's life, the above-mentioned army of the pagans, leaving the +city of Paris uninjured, because they could not succeed against it, +sailed up the river Seine under the bridge, until they reached the mouth +of the river Materne [Marne]; where they left the Seine, and, following +for a long time the course of the Marne, at length, but not without much +labour, they arrived at a place called Chezy, a royal vill, where they +wintered one year. In the following year they entered the mouth of the +river Ionna [Yonne], not without doing much damage to the country, and +there remained one year. + +In the same year Charles, king of the Franks, went the way of all flesh; +but Arnulf, his brother's son, six weeks before he died, had expelled +him from his kingdom. After his death five kings were appointed, and the +kingdom was split into five parts; but the principal rank in the kingdom +justly and deservedly devolved on Arnulf, save only that he committed an +unworthy offence against his uncle. The other four kings promised +fidelity and obedience to Arnulf, as was proper; for none of these four +kings was hereditary on his father's side in his share of the kingdom, +as was Arnulf; therefore, though the five kings were appointed +immediately on the death of Charles, yet the empire remained in the +hands of Arnulf. + +Such, then, was the division of the kingdom; Arnulf received the +countries on the east of the river Rhine; Rodulf the inner parts of the +kingdom; Oda the western part; Beorngar and Guido, Lombardy, and those +countries which are in that part of the mountains; but they did not keep +these large dominions in peace, for they twice fought a pitched battle, +and often mutually ravaged their kingdoms, and drove each other out of +their dominions. + +In the same year in which that [pagan] army left Paris and went to +Chezy, Ethelhelm, earl of Wiltshire, carried to Rome the alms of king +Alfred and of the Saxons. + +In the same year also Alfred, king of the Anglo-Saxons, so often before +mentioned, by divine inspiration, began, on one and the same day, to +read and to interpret; but that I may explain this more fully to those +who are ignorant, I will relate the cause of this long delay in +beginning. + +On a certain day we were both of us sitting in the king's chamber, +talking on all kinds of subjects, as usual, and it happened that I read +to him a quotation out of a certain book. He heard it attentively with +both his ears, and addressed me with a thoughtful mind, showing me at +the same moment a book which he carried in his bosom, wherein the daily +courses and psalms, and prayers which he had read in his youth, were +written, and he commanded me to write the same quotation in that book. +Hearing this, and perceiving his ingenuous benevolence, and devout +desire of studying the words of divine wisdom, I gave, though in secret, +boundless thanks to Almighty God, who had implanted such a love of +wisdom in the king's heart. But I could not find any empty space in that +book wherein to write the quotation, for it was already full of various +matters; wherefore I made a little delay, principally that I might stir +up the bright intellect of the king to a higher acquaintance with the +divine testimonies. Upon his urging me to make haste and write it +quickly, I said to him, "Are you willing that I should write that +quotation on some leaf apart? For it is not certain whether we shall not +find one or more other such extracts which will please you; and if that +should so happen, we shall be glad that we have kept them apart." "Your +plan is good," said he, and I gladly made haste to get ready a sheet, +in the beginning of which I wrote what he bade me; and on that same day, +I wrote therein, as I had anticipated, no less than three other +quotations which pleased him; and from that time we daily talked +together, and found out other quotations which pleased him, so that the +sheet became full, and deservedly so; according as it is written, "The +just man builds upon a moderate foundation, and by degrees passes to +greater things." Thus, like a most productive bee, he flew here and +there, asking questions, as he went, until he had eagerly and +unceasingly collected many various flowers of divine Scriptures, with +which he thickly stored the cells of his mind. + +Now when that first quotation was copied, he was eager at once to read, +and to interpret in Saxon, and then to teach others; even as we read of +that happy robber, who recognized his Lord, aye, the Lord of all men, as +he was hanging on the blessed cross, and, saluting him with his bodily +eyes only, because elsewhere he was all pierced with nails, cried, +"Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom!" for it was only +at the end of his life that he began to learn the rudiments of the +Christian faith. But the king, inspired by God, began to study the +rudiments of divine Scripture on the sacred solemnity of St. Martin +[Nov. 11], and he continued to learn the flowers collected by certain +masters, and to reduce them into the form of one book, as he was then +able, although mixed one with another, until it became almost as large +as a psalter. This book he called his ENCHIRIDION or MANUAL, because he +carefully kept it at hand day and night, and found, as he told me, no +small consolation therein. + +But as has already been written by a certain wise man, + + "Of watchful minds are they whose pious care + It is to govern well," + +so must I be watchful, in that I just now drew a kind of comparison or +similarity, though in dissimilar manner, between that happy robber and +the king; for the cross is hateful to every one, wherever there is +suffering. But what can he do, if he cannot save himself or escape +thence? or by what art can he remain there and improve his cause? He +must, therefore, whether he will or no, endure with pain and sorrow that +which he is suffering. + +Now the king was pierced with many nails of tribulation, though placed +in the royal seat; for from the twentieth year of his age to the present +year, which is his fortieth,[140] he has been constantly afflicted with +most severe attacks of an unknown complaint, so that he has not a +moment's ease either from suffering the pain which it causes, or from +the gloom which is thrown over him by the apprehension of its coming. +Moreover, the constant invasions of foreign nations, by which he was +continually harassed by land and sea, without any interval of quiet, +were a just cause of disquiet. What shall I say of his repeated +expeditions against the pagans, his wars, and incessant occupations of +government? Of the daily embassies sent to him by foreign nations, from +the Tyrrhenian sea to the farthest end of Ireland?[141] For we have seen +and read letters, accompanied with presents, which were sent to him by +Abel the patriarch of Jerusalem. What shall I say of the cities and +towns which he restored, and of others which he built, where none had +been before? of the royal halls and chambers, wonderfully erected by his +command, with stone and wood? of the royal vills constructed of stone, +removed from their old site, and handsomely rebuilt by the king's +command in more fitting places? Besides the disease above-mentioned, he +was disturbed by the quarrels of his friends, who would voluntarily +endure little or no toil, though it was for the common necessity of the +kingdom; but he alone, sustained by the divine aid, like a skilful +pilot, strove to steer his ship, laden with much wealth, into the safe +and much desired harbour of his country, though almost all his crew were +tired, and suffered them not to faint or hesitate, though sailing amid +the manifold waves and eddies of this present life. + +For all his bishops, earls, nobles, favourite ministers, and prefects, +who, next to God and the king, had the whole government of the kingdom, +as is fitting, continually received from him instruction, respect, +exhortation, and command; nay, at last, when they were disobedient, and +his long patience was exhausted, he would reprove them severely, and +censure at pleasure their vulgar folly and obstinacy; and in this way he +directed their attention to the common interests of the kingdom. But, +owing to the sluggishness of the people, these admonitions of the king +were either not fulfilled, or were begun late at the moment of +necessity, and so ended less to the advantage of those who put them in +execution; for I will say nothing of the castles which he ordered to be +built, but which, being begun late, were never finished, because the +hostile troops broke in upon them by land and sea, and, as often +happened, the thwarters of the royal ordinances repented when it was too +late, and blushed at their non-performance of his commands. I speak of +repentance when it is too late, on the testimony of Scripture, whereby +numberless persons have had cause for too much sorrow when many +insidious evils have been wrought. But though by these means, sad to +say, they may be bitterly afflicted and roused to sorrow by the loss of +fathers, wives, children, ministers, servant-men, servant-maids, and +furniture and household stuff, what is the use of hateful repentance +when their kinsmen are dead, and they cannot aid them, or redeem those +who are captive from captivity? for they are not able even to assist +those who have escaped, as they have not wherewith to sustain even their +own lives. They repented, therefore, when it was too late, and grieved +at their incautious neglect of the king's commands, and they praised the +royal wisdom with one voice, and tried with all their power to fulfil +what they had before refused, namely, concerning the erection of +castles, and other things generally useful to the whole kingdom. + +Of his fixed purpose of holy meditation, which, in the midst of +prosperity and adversity he never neglected, I cannot with advantage now +omit to speak. For, whereas he often thought of the necessities of his +soul, among the other good deeds to which his thoughts were night and +day turned, he ordered that two monasteries should be built, one for +monks at Athelney, which is a place surrounded by impassable marshes and +rivers, where no one can enter but by boats, or by a bridge laboriously +constructed between two other heights; at the western end of which +bridge was erected a strong tower, of beautiful work, by command of the +aforesaid king; and in this monastery he collected monks of all kinds, +from every quarter, and placed them therein. + +For at first, because he had no one of his own nation, noble and free by +birth, who was willing to enter the monastic life, except children, who +could neither choose good nor avoid evil in consequence of their tender +years, because for many previous years the love of a monastic life had +utterly decayed from that nation as well as from many other nations, +though many monasteries still remain in that country; yet, as no one +directed the rule of that kind of life in a regular way, for what reason +I cannot say, either from the invasions of foreigners which took place +so frequently both by sea and land, or because that people abounded in +riches of every kind, and so looked with contempt on the monastic life. +It was for this reason that king Alfred sought to gather monks of +different kinds to place in the same monastery. + +First he placed there as abbat, John[142] the priest and monk, an old +Saxon by birth, then certain priests and deacons from beyond the sea; of +whom, finding that he had not as large a number as he wished, he +procured as many as possible of the same Gallic race, some of whom, +being children, he ordered to be taught in the same monastery, and at a +later period to be admitted to the monastic habit. I have myself seen a +young lad of pagan birth who was educated in that monastery, and by no +means the hindmost of them all. + +There was also a deed done once in that monastery, which I would utterly +consign to oblivion, although it is an unworthy deed; for throughout the +whole of Scripture the base deeds of the wicked are interspersed among +the blessed deeds of the just, as tares and darnel are sown among the +wheat: good deeds are recorded that they may be praised and imitated, +and that their imitators may be held in all honour; wicked deeds are +there related, that they may be censured and avoided, and their +imitators be reproved with all odium, contempt, and vengeance. + +For once upon a time, a certain priest and a deacon, Gauls by birth, and +two of the aforesaid monks, by the instigation of the devil, and excited +by some secret jealousy, became so embittered in secret against their +abbat, the above mentioned John, that, like Jews, they circumvented and +betrayed their master. For whereas he had two servants, whom he had +hired out of Gaul, they taught these such wicked practices, that in the +night, when all men were enjoying the sweet tranquillity of sleep, they +should make their way into the church armed, and shutting it behind them +as usual, hide themselves therein, and wait for the moment when the +abbat should enter the church alone. At length, when he should come +alone to pray, and, bending his knees, bow before the holy altar, the +men should rush on him with hostility, and try to slay him on the spot. +They then should drag his lifeless body out of the church, and throw it +down before the house of a certain harlot, as if he had been slain +whilst on a visit to her. This was their machination, adding crime to +crime, as it is said, "The last error shall be worse than the first." + +But the divine mercy, which always delights to aid the innocent, +frustrated in great part the wicked design of the wicked men, so that it +should not turn out in every respect as they had proposed. + +When, therefore, the whole of the evil counsel had been explained by +those wicked teachers to their wicked agents, and the night which had +been fixed on as most fit was come, the two armed ruffians were placed, +with a promise of impunity, to await in the church for the arrival of +the abbat. In the middle of the night John, as usual, entered the church +to pray, without any one's knowing of it, and knelt before the altar. +The two ruffians rushed upon him with drawn swords, and dealt him some +severe wounds. But he, being a man of a brave mind, and, as we have +heard say, not unacquainted with the art of self-defence, if he had not +been a follower of a better calling, no sooner heard the sound of the +robbers, before he saw them, than he rose up against them before he was +wounded, and, shouting as loud as he could, struggled against them, +crying out that they were devils and not men; for he himself knew no +better, as he thought that no men would dare to attempt such a deed. He +was, however, wounded before any of his people could come to his help. +His attendants, roused by the noise, were frightened when they heard the +word devils, and both those two who, like Jews, sought to betray their +master, and the others who knew nothing of the matter, rushed together +to the doors of the church; but before they got there those ruffians +escaped, leaving the abbat half dead. The monks raised the old man, in a +fainting condition, and carried him home with tears and lamentations; +nor did those two deceitful monks shed tears less than the innocent. But +God's mercy did not allow so bold a deed to pass unpunished; the +ruffians who perpetrated it, and all who urged them to it, were taken +and put in prison, where, by various tortures, they came to a +disgraceful end. Let us now return to our narrative. + +Another monastery, also, was built by the same king as a residence for +nuns, near the eastern gate of Shaftesbury; and his own daughter, +Ethelgiva, was placed in it as abbess. With her many other noble ladies +bound by the rules of the monastic life, dwell in that monastery. These +two edifices were enriched by the king with much land, as well as +personal property. + +These things being thus disposed of, the king began, as was his +practice, to consider within himself, what more he could do to augment +and show forth his piety; what he had begun wisely, and thoughtfully +conceived for the public benefit, was adhered to with equally beneficial +result; for he had heard it out of the book of the law, that the Lord +had promised to restore to him tenfold; and he knew that the Lord had +kept his promise, and had actually restored to him tenfold. Encouraged +by this example, and wishing to exceed the practices of his +predecessors, he vowed humbly and faithfully to devote to God half his +services, both day and night, and also half of all his wealth, such as +lawfully and justly came annually into his possession; and this vow, as +far as human discretion can perceive and keep, he skilfully and wisely +endeavoured to fulfil. But, that he might, with his usual caution, avoid +that which scripture warns us against: "If you offer aright, but do not +divide aright, you sin," he considered how he might divide aright that +which he had vowed to God; and as Solomon had said, "The heart of the +king is in the hand of God," that is, his counsel he ordered with wise +policy, which could come only from above, that his officers should first +divide into two parts the revenues of every year. + +When this division was made, he assigned the first part to worldly uses, +and ordered that one-third of it should be paid to his soldiers, and +also to his ministers, the nobles who dwelt at court where they +discharged divers duties; for so the king's family was arranged at all +times into three classes. The king's attendants were most wisely +distributed into three companies, so that the first company should be on +duty at court for one month, night and day, at the end of which they +returned to their homes, and were relieved by the second company. At +the end of the second month, in the same way, the third company relieved +the second, who returned to their homes, where they spent two months, +until their services were again wanted. The third company also gave +place to the first in the same way, and also spent two months at home. +Thus was the threefold division of the companies arranged at all times +in the royal household. + +To these therefore was paid the first of the three portions aforesaid, +to each according to their respective dignities and peculiar services; +the second to the operatives, whom he had collected from every nation, +and had about him in large numbers, men skilled in every kind of +construction; the third portion was assigned to foreigners who came to +him out of every nation far and near, whether they asked money of him or +not, he cheerfully gave to each with wonderful munificence according to +their respective merits, according to what is written: "God loveth a +cheerful giver." + +But the second part of all his revenues, which came yearly into his +possession, and was included in the receipts of the exchequer, as we +mentioned a little before, he, with ready devotion, gave to God, +ordering his ministers to divide it carefully into four parts, on the +condition that the first part should be discreetly bestowed on the poor +of every nation who came to him; and on this subject he said that, as +far as human discretion could guarantee, the remark of pope St. Gregory +should be followed: "Give not much to whom you should give little, nor +little to whom much, nor something to whom nothing, nor nothing to whom +something." The second of the four portions was given to the two +monasteries which he had built, and to those who therein had dedicated +themselves to God's service, as we have mentioned above. The third +portion was assigned to the school, which he had studiously collected +together, consisting of many of the nobility of his own nation. The +fourth portion was for the use of all the neighbouring monasteries in +all Saxony and Mercia, and also during some years, in turn, to the +churches and servants of God dwelling in Britain [Wales], Cornwall, +Gaul, Armorica, Northumbria, and sometimes also in Ireland; according to +his means, he either distributed to them beforehand, or afterwards, if +life and success should not fail him. + +When the king had arranged these matters, he remembered that sentence of +divine scripture, "Whosoever will give alms, ought to begin from +himself," and prudently began to reflect what he could offer to God from +the service of his body and mind; for he proposed to consecrate to God +no less out of this than he had done of things external to himself. +Moreover, he promised, as far as his infirmity and his means would +allow, to give up to God the half of his services, bodily and mental, by +night and by day, voluntarily, and with all his might; but, inasmuch as +he could not equally distinguish the lengths of the hours by night, on +account of the darkness, and ofttimes of the day, on account of the +storms and clouds, he began to consider, by what means and without any +difficulty, relying on the mercy of God, he might discharge the promised +tenor of his vow until his death. + +After long reflection on these things, he at length, by a useful and +shrewd invention, commanded his chaplains to supply wax in a sufficient +quantity, and he caused it to be weighed in such a manner that when +there was so much of it in the scales, as would equal the weight of +seventy-two pence,[143] he caused the chaplains to make six candles +thereof, each of equal length, so that each candle might have twelve +divisions[144] marked longitudinally upon it. By this plan, therefore, +those six candles burned for twenty-four hours, a night and day, without +fail, before the sacred relics of many of God's elect, which always +accompanied him wherever he went; but sometimes when they would not +continue burning a whole day and night, till the same hour that they +were lighted the preceding evening, from the violence of the wind, which +blew day and night without intermission through the doors and windows of +the churches, the fissures of the divisions, the plankings, or the wall, +or the thin canvass of the tents, they then unavoidably burned out and +finished their course before the appointed time; the king therefore +considered by what means he might shut out the wind, and so by a useful +and cunning invention, he ordered a lantern to be beautifully +constructed of wood and white ox-horn, which, when skilfully planed till +it is thin, is no less transparent than a vessel of glass. This lantern, +therefore, was wonderfully made of wood and horn, as we before said, and +by night a candle was put into it, which shone as brightly without as +within, and was not extinguished by the wind; for the opening of the +lantern was also closed up, according to the king's command, by a door +made of horn. + +By this contrivance, then, six candles, lighted in succession, lasted +four and twenty hours, neither more nor less, and, when these were +extinguished, others were lighted. + +When all these things were properly arranged, the king, eager to give up +to God the half of his daily service, as he had vowed, and more also, if +his ability on the one hand, and his malady on the other, would allow +him, showed himself a minute investigator of the truth in all his +judgments, and this especially for the sake of the poor, to whose +interest, day and night, among other duties of this life, he ever was +wonderfully attentive. For in the whole kingdom the poor, besides him, +had few or no protectors; for all the powerful and noble of that country +had turned their thoughts rather to secular than to heavenly things: +each was more bent on secular matters, to his own profit, than on the +public good. + +He strove also, in his own judgments, for the benefit of both the noble +and the ignoble, who often perversely quarrelled at the meetings of his +earls and officers, so that hardly one of them admitted the justice of +what had been decided by the earls and prefects, and in consequence of +this pertinacious and obstinate dissension, all desired to have the +judgment of the king, and both sides sought at once to gratify their +desire. But if any one was conscious of injustice on his side in the +suit, though by law and agreement he was compelled, however reluctant, +to go before the king, yet with his own good will he never would consent +to go. For he knew, that in the king's presence no part of his wrong +would be hidden; and no wonder, for the king was a most acute +investigator in passing sentence, as he was in all other things. He +inquired into almost all the judgments which were given in his own +absence, throughout all his dominion, whether they were just or unjust. +If he perceived there was iniquity in those judgments, he summoned the +judges, either through his own agency, or through others of his faithful +servants, and asked them mildly, why they had judged so unjustly; +whether through ignorance or malevolence; i.e., whether for the love or +fear of any one, or hatred of others; or also for the desire of money. +At length, if the judges acknowledged they had given judgment because +they knew no better, he discreetly and moderately reproved their +inexperience and folly in such terms as these: "I wonder truly at your +insolence, that, whereas by God's favour and mine, you have occupied the +rank and office of the wise, you have neglected the studies and labours +of the wise. Either, therefore, at once give up the discharge of the +temporal duties which you hold, or endeavour more zealously to study the +lessons of wisdom. Such are my commands." At these words the earls and +prefects would tremble and endeavour to turn all their thoughts to the +study of justice, so that, wonderful to say, almost all his earls, +prefects, and officers, though unlearned from their cradles, were +sedulously bent upon acquiring learning, choosing rather laboriously to +acquire the knowledge of a new discipline than to resign their +functions; but if any one of them from old age or slowness of talent was +unable to make progress in liberal studies, he commanded his son, if he +had one, or one of his kinsmen, or, if there was no other person to be +had, his own freedman or servant, whom he had some time before advanced +to the office of reading, to recite Saxon books before him night and +day, whenever he had any leisure, and they lamented with deep sighs, in +their inmost hearts, that in their youth they had never attended to such +studies; and they blessed the young men of our days, who happily could +be instructed in the liberal arts, whilst they execrated their own lot, +that they had not learned these things in their youth, and now, when +they are old, though wishing to learn them, they are unable. But this +skill of young and old in acquiring letters, we have explained to the +knowledge of the aforesaid king.[145] + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 86: Wantage.] + +[Footnote 87: The Gewissae, generally understood to be the West-Saxons.] + +[Footnote 88: Carisbrooke, as may be conjectured from the name, which is +a combination of Wight and Caraburgh.] + +[Footnote 89: Wembury.] + +[Footnote 90: Minster.] + +[Footnote 91: Canterbury.] + +[Footnote 92: Ockley, in Surrey.] + +[Footnote 93: This is one the few instances to be met with of the name +Britannia applied to Wales.] + +[Footnote 94: Thanet.] + +[Footnote 95: Wilts.] + +[Footnote 96: Offa's dyke, between Wales and England.] + +[Footnote 97: Ingram supposes this to be Stonehenge. Staeningham, +however, is the common reading, which Camden thinks is Steyning, in +Sussex. The Saxon Chronicle, A.D. 855, states, that Ethelwulf was buried +at Winchester.] + +[Footnote 98: We must understand this epithet as denoting his +mother-in-law, Judith, rather than his own mother, who was dead in A.D. +856, when Alfred was not yet seven years old. When his father brought +Judith from France Alfred was thirteen years old.] + +[Footnote 99: This nobleman occurs as a witness [Mucil, dux] to many +Mercian charters, dated from A.D. 814 to 866.] + +[Footnote 100: Inhabitants of Gainsborough.] + +[Footnote 101: Englefield Green is about four miles from Windsor] + +[Footnote 102: Aston, in Berkshire.] + +[Footnote 103: Stratclyde Britons.] + +[Footnote 104: Cambridge.] + +[Footnote 105: The Frome.] + +[Footnote 106: They swore oaths to Alfred on the holy ring, says the +Saxon Chronicle, p. 355. The most solemn manner of swearing among the +Danes and other northern nations was by their arms. Olaus Magnus, lib. +viii. c. 2.] + +[Footnote 107: Exeter.] + +[Footnote 108: It is necessary to inform the reader that many passages +of this work are modern interpolations, made in the old MS. by a later +hand. The "Annals" referred to in the text are supposed not to be a +genuine work of Asser.] + +[Footnote 109: Swanwich, in Dorsetshire.] + +[Footnote 110: This clause is a mere repetition of the preceding. See a +former note in this page.] + +[Footnote 111: Athelney, a morass formed by the conflux of the Thone and +the Parret. See Saxon Chron. p. 356, and Chronicle of Ethelwerd, p 31.] + +[Footnote 112: The original here is in Latin verse, and may therefore be +rendered into English verse, but such as every housewife in +Somersetshire would understand.] + +[Footnote 113: Probably the sanguinary Hubba.] + +[Footnote 114: Or South Wales.] + +[Footnote 115: Kynwith castle stood on the river Taw. Camden, p. 35.] + +[Footnote 116: Now called Brixton Deverill, in Wilts.] + +[Footnote 117: Selwood Forest extended from Frome to Burham, and was +probably much larger at one time.] + +[Footnote 118: Or Iglea. Supposed to be Leigh, now Westbury, Wilts.] + +[Footnote 119: Wedmore is four miles and three quarters from Axbridge, +in Somersetshire.] + +[Footnote 120: In the Saxon Chronicle (A.D. 878) it is said, that +Gothrun was baptized at Aller, and his _chrism-loosing_ was at Wedmore. +The _chrismal_ was a white linen cloth put on the head at the +administration of baptism, which was taken off at the expiration of +eight days.] + +[Footnote 121: Inhabitants of Gloucester, Worcester, and part of +Warwickshire.] + +[Footnote 122: This expression paints in strong colours the unfortunate +and divided state of England at this period, for it shows that the Danes +had settled possession of parts of it. In fact, all traces of the +heptarchy, or ancient division of the island into provinces, did not +entirely disappear until some years after the Norman conquest.] + +[Footnote 123: Not the river Stour, in Kent; but the Stour which divides +Essex from Suffolk. Lambard fixes the battle at Harwich haven.] + +[Footnote 124: Or, Old Saxons.] + +[Footnote 125: St. Guerir's church was at Ham Stoke, in Cornwall.] + +[Footnote 126: An interesting account of St. Neot will be found in +Gorham's History And Antiquities of Eynesbury and St. Neot's.] + +[Footnote 127: Grimbald was provost of St. Omer's.] + +[Footnote 128: John had been connected with the monastery of Corbie.] + +[Footnote 129: East Dene [or Dean] and West Dene are two villages near +Chichester. There are also other villages of the same name near East +Bourne.] + +[Footnote 130: This expression alludes to the tonsure, which was +undergone by those who became clerks. For a description of the +ecclesiastical tonsure see Bede's Eccles. Hist. p. 160] + +[Footnote 131: The original Latin continues, "Et illa adjuvaretur per +rudimenta Sancti Degui in omni causa, tamen pro viribus," which I do not +understand, and therefore cannot translate.] + +[Footnote 132: A petty prince of South Wales.] + +[Footnote 133: Or St. Dewi. Probably by the _parish_ of St. Deguus is +meant the _diocese_ of St. David's. Hence it is said, that Alfred gave +to Asser the whole parish (omnis parochia) of Exeter.] + +[Footnote 134: Archbishop of St. David's.] + +[Footnote 135: Amesbury, in Wilts.] + +[Footnote 136: In Somersetshire.] + +[Footnote 137: Wessex.] + +[Footnote 138: The whole of this paragraph concerning Oxford is thought +to be an interpolation, because it is not known to have existed in more +than one MS. copy.] + +[Footnote 139: Hyde Abbey.] + +[Footnote 140: This must consequently have been written in A.D. 888.] + +[Footnote 141: Wise conjectures that we ought to read Hiberiae, _Spain_, +and not Hiberniae, _Ireland_, in this passage.] + +[Footnote 142: Not the celebrated John Scotus Eregina.] + +[Footnote 143: Denarii.] + +[Footnote 144: Unciae pollicis.] + +[Footnote 145: Some of the MSS. record, in a note or appendix written by +a later hand, that king Alfred died on the 26th of October, A.D. 900, in +the thirtieth of his reign. "The different dates assigned to the death +of Alfred," says Sir Francis Palgrave, "afford a singular proof of the +uncertainty arising from various modes of computation. The Saxon +Chronicle and Florence of Worcester agree in placing the event in 901. +The first 'six nights before All Saints;' the last, with more precision, +'Indictione quarta, et Feria quarta, 5 Cal. Nov.' Simon of Durham, in +889, and the Saxon Chronicle, in another passage, in 900. The +concurrents of Florence of Worcester seem to afford the greatest +certainty, and the date of 901 has therefore been preferred."] + + + + +GEOFFREY OF MONMOUTH'S + +BRITISH HISTORY. + + + + +GEOFFREY OF MONMOUTH'S BRITISH HISTORY. + +BOOK I. + +CHAP. I.--_The epistle dedicatory to Robert earl of Gloucester._[146] + + +Whilst occupied on many and various studies, I happened to light upon +the History of the Kings of Britain, and wondered that in the account +which Gildas and Bede, in their elegant treatises, had given of them, I +found nothing said of those kings who lived here before the Incarnation +of Christ, nor of Arthur, and many others who succeeded after the +Incarnation; though their actions both deserved immortal fame, and were +also celebrated by many people in a pleasant manner and by heart, as if +they had been written. Whilst I was intent upon these and such like +thoughts, Walter, archdeacon of Oxford,[147] a man of great eloquence, +and learned in foreign histories, offered me a very ancient book in the +British tongue, which, in a continued regular story and elegant style, +related the actions of them all, from Brutus the first king of the +Britons, down to Cadwallader the son of Cadwallo. At his request, +therefore, though I had not made fine language my study, by collecting +florid expressions from other authors, yet contented with my own homely +style, I undertook the translation of that book into Latin. For if I had +swelled the pages with rhetorical flourishes, I must have tired my +readers, by employing their attention more upon my words than upon the +history. To you, therefore, Robert earl of Gloucester, this work humbly +sues for the favour of being so corrected by your advice, that it may +not be thought to be the poor offspring of Geoffrey of Monmouth, but +when polished by your refined wit and judgment, the production of him +who had Henry the glorious king of England for his father, and whom we +see an accomplished scholar and philosopher, as well as a brave soldier +and expert commander; so that Britain with joy acknowledges, that in you +she possesses another Henry. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 146: Robert, earl of Gloucester was the natural son of king +Henry I, by whose command he swore fealty to the empress Matilda, +daughter of that monarch. To prove his fidelity, he rebelled against +king Stephen, and mainly contributed to the success of Henry son of the +empress, afterwards Henry II.] + +[Footnote 147: Thought to be Walter Mapes the poet, author of several +ludicrous and satirical compositions.] + + + + +CHAP. II.--_The first inhabitants of Britain._ + + +Britain, the best of islands, is situated in the Western Ocean, between +France and Ireland, being eight hundred miles long, and two hundred +broad. It produces every thing that is useful to man, with a plenty that +never fails. It abounds with all kinds of metal, and has plains of large +extent, and hills fit for the finest tillage, the richness of whose soil +affords variety of fruits in their proper seasons. It has also forests +well stored with all kinds of wild beasts; in its lawns cattle find good +change of pasture, and bees variety of flowers for honey. Under its +lofty mountains lie green meadows pleasantly situated, in which the +gentle murmurs of crystal springs gliding along clear channels, give +those that pass an agreeable invitation to lie down on their banks and +slumber. It is likewise well watered with lakes and rivers abounding +with fish; and besides the narrow sea which is on the Southern coast +towards France, there are three noble rivers, stretching out like three +arms, namely, the Thames, the Severn, and the Humber; by which foreign +commodities from all countries are brought into it. It was formerly +adorned with eight and twenty cities,[148] of which some are in ruins +and desolate, others are still standing, beautified with lofty +church-towers, wherein religious worship is performed according to the +Christian institution. It is lastly inhabited by five different nations, +the Britons, Romans, Saxons, Picts, and Scots; whereof the Britons +before the rest did formerly possess the whole island from sea to sea, +till divine vengeance, punishing them for their pride, made them give +way to the Picts and Saxons. But in what manner, and from whence, they +first arrived here, remains now to be related in what follows.[149] + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 148: The names of thirty-three cities will be found in +Nennius's History of the Britons, Sec. 7.] + +[Footnote 149: This brief description of Britain is taken almost word +for word from the more authentic historians, Bede, Orosius, &c.] + + + +CHAP. III.--_Brutus, being banished after the killing of his parents, +goes into Greece._ + + +After the Trojan war, AEneas, flying with Ascanius from the destruction +of their city, sailed to Italy. There he was honourably received by king +Latinus, which raised against him the envy of Turnus, king of the +Rutuli, who thereupon made war against him. Upon their engaging in +battle, AEneas got the victory, and having killed Turnus, obtained the +kingdom of Italy, and with it Lavinia the daughter of Latinus. After his +death, Ascanius, succeeding in the kingdom, built Alba upon the Tiber, +and begat a son named Sylvius, who, in pursuit of a private amour, took +to wife a niece of Lavinia. The damsel soon after conceived, and the +father Ascanius, coming to the knowledge of it, commanded his magicians +to consult of what sex the child should be. When they had satisfied +themselves in the matter, they told him she would give birth to a boy, +who would kill his father and mother, and after travelling over many +countries in banishment, would at last arrive at the highest pitch of +glory. Nor were they mistaken in their prediction; for at the proper +time the woman brought forth a son, and died of his birth; but the child +was delivered to a nurse and called Brutus. + +At length, after fifteen years were expired, the youth accompanied his +father in hunting, and killed him undesignedly by the shot of an arrow. +For, as the servants were driving up the deer towards them, Brutus, in +shooting at them, smote his father under the breast. Upon his death, he +was expelled from Italy, his kinsmen being enraged at him for so heinous +a deed. Thus banished he went into Greece, where he found the posterity +of Helenus, son of Priamus, kept in slavery by Pandrasus, king of the +Greeks. For, after the destruction of Troy, Pyrrhus, the son of +Achilles, had brought hither in chains Helenus and many others; and to +revenge on them the death of his father, had given command that they +should be held in captivity. Brutus, finding they were by descent his +old countrymen, took up his abode among them, and began to distinguish +himself by his conduct and bravery in war, so as to gain the affection +of kings and commanders, and above all the young men of the country. For +he was esteemed a person of great capacity both in council and war, and +signalized his generosity to his soldiers, by bestowing among them all +the money and spoil he got. His fame, therefore, spreading over all +countries, the Trojans from all parts began to flock to him, desiring +under his command to be freed from subjection to the Greeks; which they +assured him might easily be done, considering how much their number was +now increased in the country, being seven thousand strong, besides women +and children. There was likewise then in Greece a noble youth named +Assaracus, a favourer of their cause. For he was descended on his +mother's side from the Trojans, and placed great confidence in them, +that he might be able by their assistance to oppose the designs of the +Greeks. For his brother had a quarrel with him for attempting to deprive +him of three castles which his father had given him at his death, on +account of his being only the son of a concubine; but as the brother was +a Greek, both by his father's and mother's side, he had prevailed with +the king and the rest of the Greeks to espouse his cause. Brutus, having +taken a view of the number of his men, and seen how Assaracus's castles +lay open to him, complied with their request.[150] + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 150: It is unnecessary to remind the classical reader that the +historians of Greece and Italy make no mention of Brutus and his +adventures. The minuteness of detail, so remarkable in the whole story, +as related by Geoffrey, is an obvious objection to its authenticity.] + + + + +CHAP. IV.--_Brutus's letter to Pandrasus._ + + +Being, therefore, chosen their commander, he assembled the Trojans from +all parts, and fortified the towns belonging to Assaracus. But he +himself, with Assaracus and the whole body of men and women that +adhered to him, retired to the woods and hills, and then sent a letter +to the king in these words:-- + +"Brutus, general of the remainder of the Trojans, to Pandrasus, king of +the Greeks, sends greeting. As it was beneath the dignity of a nation +descended from the illustrious race of Dardanus, to be treated in your +kingdom otherwise than the nobility of their birth required, they have +betaken themselves to the protection of the woods. For they have +preferred living after the manner of wild beasts, upon flesh and herbs, +with the enjoyment of liberty, to continuing longer in the greatest +luxury under the yoke of slavery. If this gives your majesty any +offence, impute it not to them, but pardon it; since it is the common +sentiment of every captive, to be desirous of regaining his former +dignity. Let pity therefore move you to bestow on them freely their lost +liberty, and permit them to inhabit the thickest of the woods, to which +they have retired to avoid slavery. But if you deny them this favour, +then by your permission and assistance let them depart into some foreign +country." + + + + +CHAP. V.--_Brutus falling upon the forces of Pandrasus by surprise, +routs them, and takes Antigonus, the brother of Pandrasus, with +Anacletus, prisoner._ + + +Pandrasus, perceiving the purport of the letter, was beyond measure +surprised at the boldness of such a message from those whom he had kept +in slavery; and having called a council of his nobles, he determined to +raise an army in order to pursue them. But while he was upon his march +to the deserts, where he thought they were, and to the town of +Sparatinum, Brutus made a sally with three thousand men, and fell upon +him unawares. For having intelligence of his coming, he had got into the +town the night before, with a design to break forth upon them +unexpectedly, while unarmed and marching without order. The sally being +made, the Trojans briskly attack them, and endeavour to make a great +slaughter. The Greeks, astonished, immediately give way on all sides, +and with the king at their head, hasten to pass the river Akalon,[151] +which runs near the place; but in passing are in great danger from the +rapidity of the stream. Brutus galls them in their flight, and kills +some of them in the stream, and some upon the banks; and running to and +fro, rejoices to see them in both places exposed to ruin. But Antigonus, +the brother of Pandrasus, grieved at this sight, rallied his scattered +troops, and made a quick return upon the furious Trojans; for he rather +chose to die making a brave resistance, than to be drowned in a muddy +pool in a shameful flight. Thus attended with a close body of men, he +encouraged them to stand their ground, and employed his whole force +against the enemy with great vigour, but to little or no purpose; for +the Trojans had arms, but the others none; and from this advantage they +were more eager in the pursuit, and made a miserable slaughter; nor did +they give over the assault till they had made nearly a total +destruction, and taken Antigonus, and Anacletus his companion prisoners. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 151: The Achelous, or perhaps the Acheron.] + + + + +CHAP. VI.--_The town of Sparatinum besieged by Pandrasus._ + + +Brutus, after the victory, reinforced the town with six hundred men, and +then retired to the woods, where the Trojan people were expecting his +protection. In the meantime Pandrasus, grieving at his own flight and +his brother's captivity, endeavoured that night to re-assemble his +broken forces, and the next morning went with a body of his people which +he had got together, to besiege the town, into which he supposed Brutus +had put himself with Antigonus and the rest of the prisoners that he had +taken. As soon as he was arrived at the walls, and had viewed the +situation of the castle, he divided his army into several bodies, and +placed them round it in different stations. One party was charged not to +suffer any of the besieged to go out; another to turn the courses of the +rivers; and a third to beat down the walls with battering rams and other +engines. In obedience to those commands, they laboured with their utmost +force to distress the besieged; and night coming on, made choice of +their bravest men to defend their camp and tents from the incursions of +the enemy, while the rest, who were fatigued with labour, refreshed +themselves with sleep. + + + + +CHAP. VII.--_The besieged ask assistance of Brutus._ + + +But the besieged, standing on the top of the walls, were no less +vigorous to repel the force of the enemies' engines, and assault them +with their own, and cast forth darts and firebrands with a unanimous +resolution to make a valiant defence. And when a breach was made through +the wall, they compelled the enemy to retire, by throwing upon them fire +and scalding water. But being distressed through scarcity of provision +and daily labour, they sent an urgent message to Brutus, to hasten to +their assistance, for they were afraid they might be so weakened as to +be obliged to quit the town. Brutus, though desirous of relieving them, +was under great perplexity, as he had not men enough to stand a pitched +battle, and therefore made use of a stratagem, by which he proposed to +enter the enemies' camp by night, and having deceived their watch to +kill them in their sleep. But because he knew this was impracticable +without the concurrence and assistance of some Greeks, he called to him +Anacletus, the companion of Antigonus, and with a drawn sword in his +hand, spake to him after this manner:-- + +"Noble youth! your own and Antigonus's life is now at an end, unless you +will faithfully perform what I command you. This night I design to +invade the camp of the Greeks, and fall upon them unawares, but am +afraid of being hindered in the attempt if the watch should discover the +stratagem. Since it will be necessary, therefore, to have them killed +first, I desire to make use of you to deceive them, that I may have the +easier access to the rest. Do you therefore manage this affair +cunningly. At the second hour of the night go to the watch, and with +fair speeches tell them that you have brought away Antigonus from +prison, and that he is come to the bottom of the woods, where he lies +hid among the shrubs, and cannot get any farther, by reason of the +fetters with which you shall pretend that he is bound. Then you shall +conduct them, as if it were to deliver him, to the end of the wood, +where I will attend with a band of men ready to kill them." + + + + +CHAP. VIII.--_Anacletus, in fear of death, betrays the army of the +Greeks._ + + +Anacletus, seeing the sword threatening him with immediate death while +these words were being pronounced, was so terrified as to promise upon +oath, that on condition he and Antigonus should have longer life granted +them, he would execute his command. Accordingly, the agreement being +confirmed, at the second hour of the night he directs his way towards +the Grecian camp, and when he was come near to it, the watch, who were +then narrowly examining all the places where any one could hide, ran out +from all parts to meet him, and demanded the occasion of his coming, and +whether it was not to betray the army. He, with a show of great joy, +made the following answer:--"I come not to betray my country, but having +made my escape from the prison of the Trojans, I fly thither to desire +you would go with me to Antigonus, whom I have delivered from Brutus's +chains. For being not able to come with me for the weight of his +fetters, I have a little while ago caused him to lie hid among the +shrubs at the end of the wood, till I could meet with some one whom I +might conduct to his assistance." While they were in suspense about the +truth of this story, there came one who knew him, and after he had +saluted him, told them who he was; so that now, without any hesitation, +they quickly called their absent companions, and followed him to the +wood where he had told them Antigonus lay hid. But at length, as they +were going among the shrubs, Brutus with his armed bands springs forth, +and falls upon them, while under the greatest astonishment, with a most +cruel slaughter. From thence he marches directly to the siege, and +divides his men into three bands, assigning to each of them a different +part of the camp, and telling them to advance discreetly, and without +noise; and when entered, not to kill any body till he with his company +should be possessed of the king's tent, and should cause the trumpet to +sound for a signal. + + + + +CHAP. IX.--_The taking of Pandrasus._ + + +When he had given them these instructions, they forthwith softly entered +the camp in silence, and taking their appointed stations, awaited the +promised signal, which Brutus delayed not to give as soon as he had got +before the tent of Pandrasus, to assault which was the thing he most +desired. At hearing the signal, they forthwith draw their swords, enter +in among the men in their sleep, make quick destruction of them, and +allowing no quarter, in this manner traverse the whole camp. The rest, +awaked at the groans of the dying, and seeing their assailants, were +like sheep seized with a sudden fear; for they despaired of life, since +they had neither time to take arms, nor to escape by flight. They run up +and down without arms among the armed, whithersoever the fury of the +assault hurries them, but are on all sides cut down by the enemy rushing +in. Some that might have escaped, were in the eagerness of flight dashed +against rocks, trees, or shrubs, and increased the misery of their +death. Others, that had only a shield, or some such covering for their +defence, in venturing upon the same rocks to avoid death, fell down in +the hurry and darkness of the night, and broke either legs or arms. +Others, that escaped both these disasters, but did not know whither to +fly, were drowned in the adjacent rivers; and scarcely one got away +without some unhappy accident befalling him. Besides, the garrison in +the town, upon notice of the coming of their fellow soldiers, sallied +forth, and redoubled the slaughter. + + + + +CHAP. X.--_A consultation about what is to be asked of the captive +king._ + + +But Brutus, as I said before, having possessed himself of the king's +tent, made it his business to keep him a safe prisoner; for he knew he +could more easily attain his ends by preserving his life than by killing +him; but the party that was with him, allowing no quarter, made an utter +destruction in that part which they had gained. The night being spent in +this manner, when the next morning discovered to their view so great an +overthrow of the enemy, Brutus, in transports of joy, gave full liberty +to his men to do what they pleased with the plunder, and then entered +the town with the king, to stay there till they had shared it among +them; which done, he again fortified the castle, gave orders for burying +the slain, and retired with his forces to the woods in great joy for the +victory. After the rejoicings of his people on this occasion, their +renowned general summoned the oldest of them and asked their advice, +what he had best desire of Pandrasus, who, being now in their power, +would readily grant whatever they would request of him, in order to +regain his liberty. They, according to their different fancies, desired +different things; some urged him to request that a certain part of the +kingdom might be assigned them for their habitation; others that he +would demand leave to depart, and to be supplied with necessaries for +their voyage. After they had been a long time in suspense what to do, +one of them, named Mempricius, rose up, and having made silence, spoke +to them thus:-- + +"What can be the occasion of your suspense, fathers, in a matter which I +think so much concerns your safety? The only thing you can request, with +any prospect of a firm peace and security to yourselves and your +posterity, is liberty to depart. For if you make no better terms with +Pandrasus for his life than only to have some part of the country +assigned you to live among the Greeks, you will never enjoy a lasting +peace while the brothers, sons, or grandsons of those whom you killed +yesterday shall continue to be your neighbours. So long as the memory of +their fathers' deaths shall remain, they will be your mortal enemies, +and upon the least trifling provocation will endeavour to revenge +themselves. Nor will you be sufficiently numerous to withstand so great +a multitude of people. And if you shall happen to fall out among +yourselves, their number will daily increase, yours diminish. I propose, +therefore, that you request of him his eldest daughter, Ignoge, for a +wife for our general, and with her, gold, silver, corn, and whatever +else shall be necessary for our voyage. If we obtain this, we may with +his leave remove to some other country." + + + + +CHAP. XI.--_Pandrasus gives his daughter Ignoge in marriage to Brutus, +who, after his departure from Greece, falls upon a desert island, where +he is told by the oracle of Diana what place he is to inhabit._ + + +When he had ended his speech, in words to this effect, the whole +assembly acquiesced in his advice, and moved that Pandrasus might be +brought in among them, and condemned to a most cruel death unless he +would grant this request. He was immediately brought in, and being +placed in a chair above the rest, and informed of the tortures prepared +for him unless he would do what was commanded him, he made them this +answer:-- + +"Since my ill fate has delivered me and my brother Antigonus into your +hands, I can do no other than grant your request, lest a refusal may +cost us our lives, which are now entirely in your power. In my opinion +life is preferable to all other considerations; therefore, wonder not +that I am willing to redeem it at so great a price. But though it is +against my inclination that I obey your commands, yet it seems matter of +comfort to me that I am to give my daughter to so noble a youth, whose +descent from the illustrious race of Priamus and Anchises is clear, both +from that greatness of mind which appears in him, and the certain +accounts we have had of it. For who less than he could have released +from their chains the banished Trojans, when reduced under slavery to so +many great princes? Who else could have encouraged them to make head +against the Greeks? or with so small a body of men vanquished so +numerous and powerful an army, and taken their king prisoner in the +engagement? And, therefore, since this noble youth has gained so much +glory by the opposition which he has made to me, I give him my daughter +Ignoge, and also gold, silver, ships, corn, wine, and oil, and whatever +you shall find necessary for your voyage. If you shall alter your +resolution, and think fit to continue among the Greeks, I will grant you +the third part of my kingdom for your habitation; if not, I will +faithfully perform my promise, and for your greater security will stay +as a hostage among you till I have made it good." + +Accordingly he held a council, and directed messengers to all the shores +of Greece, to get ships together; which done, he delivered them to the +Trojans, to the number of three hundred and twenty-four, laden with all +kinds of provision, and married his daughter to Brutus. He made also a +present of gold and silver to each man according to his quality. When +everything was performed the king was set at liberty; and the Trojans, +now released from his power, set sail with a fair wind. But Ignoge, +standing upon the stern of the ship, swooned away several times in +Brutus's arms, and with many sighs and tears lamented the leaving her +parents and country, nor ever turned her eyes from the shore while it +was in sight. Brutus, meanwhile, endeavoured to assuage her grief by +kind words and embraces intermixed with kisses, and ceased not from +these blandishments till she grew weary of crying and fell asleep. +During these and other accidents, the winds continued fair for two days +and a night together, when at length they arrived at a certain island +called Leogecia, which had been formerly wasted by the incursions of +pirates, and was then uninhabited. Brutus, not knowing this, sent three +hundred armed men ashore to see who inhabited it; but they finding +nobody, killed several kinds of wild beasts which they met with in the +groves and woods, and came to a desolate city, in which they found a +temple of Diana, and in it a statue of that goddess which gave answers +to those that came to consult her. At last, loading themselves with the +prey which they had taken in hunting, they return to their ships, and +give their companions an account of this country and city. Then they +advised their leader to go to the city, and after offering sacrifices, +to inquire of the deity of the place, what country was allotted them for +their place of settlement. To this proposal all assented; so that +Brutus, attended with Gerion, the augur, and twelve of the oldest men, +set forward to the temple, with all things necessary for the sacrifice. +Being arrived at the place, and presenting themselves before the shrine +with garlands about their temples, as the ancient rites required, they +made three fires to the three deities, Jupiter, Mercury, and Diana, and +offered sacrifices to each of them. Brutus himself, holding before the +altar of the goddess a consecrated vessel filled with wine, and the +blood of a white hart, with his face looking up to the image, broke +silence in these words:-- + + "Diva potens nemorum, terror sylvestribus apris; + Cui licet amfractus ire per aethereos, + Infernasque domos; terrestria jura resolve, + Et dic quas terras nos habitare velis? + Dic certam sedem qua te venerabor in aevum, + Qua tibi virgineis templa dicabo choris?" + + Goddess of woods, tremendous in the chase + To mountain boars, and all the savage race! + Wide o'er the ethereal walks extends thy sway, + And o'er the infernal mansions void of day! + Look upon us on earth! unfold our fate, + And say what region is our destined seat? + Where shall we next thy lasting temples raise? + And choirs of virgins celebrate thy praise? + +These words he repeated nine times, after which he took four turns round +the altar, poured the wine into the fire, and then laid himself down +upon the hart's skin, which he had spread before the altar, where he +fell asleep. About the third hour of the night, the usual time for deep +sleep, the goddess seemed to present herself before him, and foretell +his future success as follows:-- + + "Brute! sub occasum solis trans Gallica regna + Insula in oceano est undique clausa mari: + Insula in oceano est habitata gigantibus olim, + Nunc deserta quidem, gentibus apta tuis. + Hanc pete, namque tibi sedes erit illa perennis: + Sic fiet natis altera Troja tuis. + Sic de prole tua reges nascentur: et ipsis + Totius terrae subditus orbis erit." + + Brutus! there lies beyond the Gallic bounds + An island which the western sea surrounds, + By giants once possessed; now few remain + To bar thy entrance, or obstruct thy reign. + To reach that happy shore thy sails employ; + There fate decrees to raise a second Troy, + And found an empire in thy royal line, + Which time shall ne'er destroy, nor bounds confine. + +Awakened by the vision, he was for some time in doubt with himself, +whether what he had seen was a dream or a real appearance of the goddess +herself, foretelling to what land he should go. At last he called to his +companions, and related to them in order the vision he had in his sleep, +at which they very much rejoiced, and were urgent to return to their +ships, and while the wind favoured them, to hasten their voyage towards +the west, in pursuit of what the goddess had promised. Without delay, +therefore, they returned to their company, and set sail again, and after +a course of thirty days came to Africa, being ignorant as yet whither to +steer. From thence they came to the Philenian altars, and to a place +called Salinae, and sailed between Ruscicada and the mountains of +Azara,[152] where they underwent great danger from pirates, whom, +notwithstanding, they vanquished, and enriched themselves with their +spoils. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 152: It is probably impossible to discover whether these names +describe existing places, or are purely the invention of the author.] + + + + +CHAP. XII.--_Brutus enters Aquitaine with Corineus._ + + +From thence, passing the river Malua, they arrived at Mauritania, where +at last, for want of provisions, they were obliged to go ashore; and, +dividing themselves into several bands, they laid waste the whole +country. When they had well stored their ships, they steered to the +Pillars of Hercules, where they saw some of those sea monsters, called +Syrens, which surrounded their ships, and very nearly overturned them. +However, they made a shift to escape, and came to the Tyrrhenian Sea, +upon the shores of which they found four several nations descended from +the banished Trojans, that had accompanied Antenor[153] in his flight. +The name of their commander was Corineus, a modest man in matters of +council, and of great courage and boldness, who, in an encounter with +any person, even of gigantic stature, would immediately overthrow him, +as if he were a child. When they understood from whom he was descended, +they joined company with him and those under his government, who from +the name of their leader were afterwards called the Cornish people, and +indeed were more serviceable to Brutus than the rest in all his +engagements. From thence they came to Aquitaine, and entering the mouth +of the Loire, cast anchor. There they stayed seven days and viewed the +country. Goffarius Pictus, who was king of Aquitaine at that time, +having an account brought him of the arrival of a foreign people with a +great fleet upon his coasts, sent ambassadors to them to demand whether +they brought with them peace or war. The ambassadors, on their way +towards the fleet, met Corineus, who was come out with two hundred men, +to hunt in the woods. They demanded of him, who gave him leave to enter +the king's forests, and kill his game; (which by an ancient law nobody +was allowed to do without leave from the prince.) Corineus answered, +that as for that matter there was no occasion for asking leave; upon +which one of them, named Imbertus, rushing forward, with a full drawn +bow levelled a shot at him. Corineus avoids the arrow and immediately +runs up to him, and with his bow in his hand breaks his head. The rest +narrowly escaped, and carried the news of this disaster to Goffarius. +The Pictavian general was struck with sorrow for it, and immediately +raised a vast army, to revenge the death of his ambassador. Brutus, on +the other hand, upon hearing the rumour of his coming, sends away the +women and children to the ships, which he took care to be well guarded, +and commands them to stay there, while he, with the rest that were able +to bear arms, should go to meet the army. At last an assault being made, +a bloody fight ensued: in which after a great part of the day had been +spent, Corineus was ashamed to see the Aquitanians so bravely stand +their ground, and the Trojans maintaining the fight without victory. He +therefore takes fresh courage, and drawing off his men to the right +wing, breaks in upon the very thickest of the enemies, where he made +such slaughter on every side, that at last he broke the line and put +them all to flight. In this encounter he lost his sword, but by good +fortune, met with a battle-axe, with which he clave down to the waist +every one that stood in his way. Brutus and every body else, both +friends and enemies, were amazed at his courage and strength, for he +brandished about his battle-axe among the flying troops, and terrified +them not a little with these insulting words, "Whither fly ye, cowards? +whither fly ye, base wretches? stand your ground, that ye may encounter +Corineus. What! for shame! do so many thousands of you fly one man? +However, take this comfort for your flight, that you are pursued by one, +before whom the Tyrrhenian giants could not stand their ground, but fell +down slain in heaps together." + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 153: See Virgil's AEneid i, 241.] + + + + +CHAP. XIII.--_Goffarius routed by Brutus._ + + +At these words one of them, named Subardus, who was a consul, returns +with three hundred men to assault him; but Corineus with his shield +wards off the blow, and lifting up his battle-axe gave him such a stroke +upon the top of his helmet, that at once he clave him down to the waist; +and then rushing upon the rest he made terrible slaughter by wheeling +about his battle-axe among them, and, running to and fro, seemed more +anxious to inflict blows on the enemy than careful to avoid those which +they aimed at him. Some had their hands and arms, some their very +shoulders, some again their heads, and others their legs cut off by him. +All fought with him only, and he alone seemed to fight with all. Brutus +seeing him thus beset, out of regard to him, runs with a band of men to +his assistance: at which the battle is again renewed with vigour and +with loud shouts, and great numbers slain on both sides. But now the +Trojans presently gain the victory, and put Goffarius with his +Pictavians to flight. The king after a narrow escape went to several +parts of Gaul, to procure succours among such princes as were related or +known to him. At that time Gaul was subject to twelve princes, who with +equal authority possessed the whole country. These receive him +courteously, and promise with one consent to expel the foreigners from +Aquitaine. + + + + +CHAP. XIV.--_Brutus, after his victory with Goffarius, ravages Aquitaine +with fire and sword._ + + +Brutus, in joy for the victory, enriches his men with the spoils of the +slain, and then, dividing them into several bodies, marches into the +country with a design to lay it waste, and load his fleet with the +spoil. With this view he sets the cities on fire, seizes the riches that +were in them, destroys the fields, and makes dreadful slaughter among +the citizens and common people, being unwilling to leave so much as one +alive of that wretched nation. While he was making this destruction over +all Aquitaine, he came to a place where the city of Tours now stands, +which he afterwards built, as Homer testifies. As soon as he had looked +out a place convenient for the purpose, he pitched his camp there, for a +place of safe retreat, when occasion should require. For he was afraid +on account of Goffarius's approach with the kings and princes of Gaul, +and a very great army, which was now come near the place, ready to give +him battle. Having therefore finished his camp, he expected to engage +with Goffarius in two days' time, placing the utmost confidence in the +conduct and courage of the young men under his command. + + + + +CHAP. XV.--_Goffarius's fight with Brutus._ + + +Goffarius, being informed that the Trojans were in those parts, marched +day and night, till he came within a close view of Brutus's camp; and +then with a stern look and disdainful smile, broke out into these +expressions, "Oh wretched fate! Have these base exiles made a camp also +in my kingdom? Arm, arm, soldiers, and march through their thickest +ranks: we shall soon take these pitiful fellows like sheep, and disperse +them throughout our kingdom for slaves." At these words they prepared +their arms, and advanced in twelve bodies towards the enemy. Brutus, on +the other hand, with his forces drawn up in order, went forth boldly to +meet them, and gave his men directions for their conduct, where they +should assault and where they should be upon the defensive. At the +beginning of the attack, the Trojans had the advantage, and made a rapid +slaughter of the enemy, of whom there fell near two thousand, which so +terrified the rest, that they were on the point of running away. But, as +the victory generally falls to that side which has very much the +superiority in numbers, so the Gauls, being three to one in number, +though overpowered at first, yet at last joining in a great body +together, broke in upon the Trojans, and forced them to retire to their +camp with much slaughter. The victory thus gained, they besieged them in +their camp, with a design not to suffer them to stir out until they +should either surrender themselves prisoners, or be cruelly starved to +death with a long famine. + +In the meantime, Corineus the night following entered into consultation +with Brutus, and proposed to go out that night by by-ways, and conceal +himself in an adjacent wood till break of day; and while Brutus should +sally forth upon the enemy in the morning twilight, he with his company +would surprise them from behind and put them to slaughter. Brutus was +pleased with this stratagem of Corineus, who according to his engagement +got out cunningly with three thousand men, and put himself under the +covert of the woods. As soon as it was day Brutus marshalled his men and +opened the camp to go out to fight. The Gauls meet him and begin the +engagement: many thousands fall on both sides, neither party giving +quarter. There was present a Trojan, named Turonus, the nephew of +Brutus, inferior to none but Corineus in courage and strength of body. +He alone with his sword killed six hundred men, but at last was +unfortunately slain himself by the number of Gauls that rushed upon him. +From him the city of Tours derived its name, because he was buried +there. While both armies were thus warmly engaged, Corineus came upon +them unawares, and fell fiercely upon the rear of the enemy, which put +new courage into his friends on the other side, and made them exert +themselves with increased vigour. The Gauls were astonished at the very +shout of Corineus's men, and thinking their number to be much greater +than it really was, they hastily quitted the field; but the Trojans +pursued them, and killed them in the pursuit, nor did they desist till +they had gained a complete victory. Brutus, though in joy for this great +success, was yet afflicted to observe the number of his forces daily +lessened, while that of the enemy increased more and more. He was in +suspense for some time, whether he had better continue the war or not, +but at last he determined to return to his ships while the greater part +of his followers was yet safe, and hitherto victorious, and to go in +quest of the island which the goddess had told him of. So without +further delay, with the consent of his company, he repaired to the +fleet, and loading it with the riches and spoils he had taken, set sail +with a fair wind towards the promised island, and arrived on the coast +of Totness. + + + + +CHAP. XVI.--_Albion divided between Brutus and Corineus._ + + +The island was then called Albion,[154] and was inhabited by none but a +few giants. Notwithstanding this, the pleasant situation of the places, +the plenty of rivers abounding with fish, and the engaging prospect of +its woods, made Brutus and his company very desirous to fix their +habitation in it. They therefore passed through all the provinces, +forced the giants to fly into the caves of the mountains, and divided +the country among them according to the directions of their commander. +After this they began to till the ground and build houses, so that in a +little time the country looked like a place that had been long +inhabited. At last Brutus called the island after his own name Britain, +and his companions Britons; for by these means he desired to perpetuate +the memory of his name. From whence afterwards the language of the +nation, which at first bore the name of Trojan, or rough Greek, was +called British. But Corineus, in imitation of his leader, called that +part of the island which fell to his share, Corinea, and his people +Corineans, after his name; and though he had his choice of the provinces +before all the rest, yet he preferred this country, which is now called +in Latin Cornubia, either from its being in the shape of a horn (in +Latin Cornu), or from the corruption of the said name.[155] For it was a +diversion to him to encounter the said giants, which were in greater +numbers there than in all the other provinces that fell to the share of +his companions. Among the rest was one detestable monster, named +Goemagot, in stature twelve cubits, and of such prodigious strength that +at one shake he pulled up an oak as if it had been a hazel wand. On a +certain day, when Brutus was holding a solemn festival to the gods, in +the port where they at first landed, this giant with twenty more of his +companions came in upon the Britons, among whom he made a dreadful +slaughter. But the Britons at last assembling together in a body, put +them to the rout, and killed them every one but Goemagot. Brutus had +given orders to have him preserved alive, out of a desire to see a +combat between him and Corineus, who took a great pleasure in such +encounters. Corineus, overjoyed at this, prepared himself, and throwing +aside his arms, challenged him to wrestle with him. At the beginning of +the encounter, Corineus and the giant, standing, front to front, held +each other strongly in their arms, and panted aloud for breath; but +Goemagot presently grasping Corineus with all his might, broke three of +his ribs, two on his right side and one on his left. At which Corineus, +highly enraged, roused up his whole strength, and snatching him upon his +shoulders, ran with him, as fast as the weight would allow him, to the +next shore, and there getting upon the top of a high rock, hurled down +the savage monster into the sea; where falling on the sides of craggy +rocks, he was torn to pieces, and coloured the waves with his blood. The +place where he fell, taking its name from the giant's fall, is called +Lam Goemagot, that is, Goemagot's Leap, to this day.[156] + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 154: The earliest real notice of Albion occurs in a work +attributed to Aristotle [De Mundo, sec. 3], who wrote, before Christ +340, "Beyond the Pillars of Hercules is the ocean which flows round the +earth. In it are two very large islands, called Britannic; these are +Albion and Ierne," &c.] + +[Footnote 155: The etymology of the word Cornwall, as if Cornu-Galliae or +Walliae, is equally imaginary.] + +[Footnote 156: It is now called the Haw, and is near Plymouth.] + + + + +CHAP. XVII.--_The building of new Troy by Brutus, upon the river +Thames._ + + +Brutus, having thus at last set eyes upon his kingdom, formed a design +of building a city, and with this view, travelled through the land to +find out a convenient situation, and coming to the river Thames, he +walked along the shore, and at last pitched upon a place very fit for +his purpose. Here, therefore, he built a city, which he called New Troy; +under which name it continued a long time after, till at last, by the +corruption of the original word, it come to be called Trinovantum. But +afterwards when Lud, the brother of Cassibellaun, who made war against +Julius Caesar, obtained the government of the kingdom, he surrounded it +with stately walls, and towers of admirable workmanship, and ordered it +to be called after his name, Kaer-Lud, that is, the City of Lud.[157] +But this very thing became afterwards the occasion of a great quarrel +between him and his brother Nennius, who took offence at his abolishing +the name of Troy in this country. Of this quarrel Gildas the historian +has given a full account; for which reason I pass it over, for fear of +debasing by my account of it, what so great a writer has so eloquently +related. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 157: This is the city now called London, and it is evident +that the writer wishes it to be supposed that the modern name is derived +from the ancient, as if it were Lud-ton or Lud-don. The first notice of +London found in authentic history occurs in Tacitus, Annal. lib. xiv. c. +33, the second notice in Ptolemy, A.D. 120, lib. i. 15.] + + + + +CHAP. XVIII.--_New Troy being built, and laws made for the government of +it, it is given to the citizens that were to inhabit it._ + + +After Brutus had finished the building of the city, he made choice of +the citizens that were to inhabit it, and prescribed them laws for their +peaceable government. At this time Eli the priest governed in Judea, +and the ark of the covenant was taken by the Philistines. At the same +time, also, the sons of Hector, after the expulsion of the posterity of +Antenor, reigned in Troy; as in Italy did Sylvius AEneas, the son of +AEneas, the uncle of Brutus, and the third king of the Latins.[158] + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 158: From this statement it would follow that the arrival of +Brutus in Britain is to be placed about the year 1100 before Christ.] + + + + +BOOK II. + +CHAP. I.--_After the death of Brutus, his three sons succeed him in the +kingdom._ + + +During these transactions, Brutus had by his wife Ignoge three famous +sons, whose names were Locrin, Albanact, and Kamber. These, after their +father's death, which happened in the twenty-fourth year after his +arrival, buried him in the city which he had built, and then having +divided the kingdom of Britain among them, retired each to his +government. Locrin, the eldest, possessed the middle part of the island, +called afterwards from his name, Loegria. Kamber had that part which +lies beyond the river Severn, now called Wales, but which was for a long +time named Kambria; and hence that people still call themselves in their +British tongue Kambri. Albanact, the younger brother, possessed the +country he called Albania, now Scotland. After they had a long time +reigned in peace together, Humber, king of the Huns, arrived in Albania, +and having killed Albanact in battle, forced his people to fly to Locrin +for protection. + + + + +CHAP. II.--_Locrin, having routed Humber, falls in love with Estrildis._ + + +Locrin, at hearing this news, joined his brother Kamber, and went with +the whole strength of the kingdom to meet the king of the Huns, near the +river now called Humber, where he gave him battle, and put him to the +rout. Humber made towards the river in his flight, and was drowned in +it, on account of which it has since borne his name. Locrin, after the +victory, bestowed the plunder of the enemy upon his own men, reserving +for himself the gold and silver which he found in the ships, together +with three virgins of admirable beauty, whereof one was the daughter of +a king in Germany, whom with the other two Humber had forcibly brought +away with him, after he had ruined their country. Her name was +Estrildis, and her beauty such as was hardly to be matched. No ivory or +new-fallen snow, no lily could exceed the whiteness of her skin. Locrin, +smitten with love, would have gladly married her, at which Corineus was +extremely incensed, on account of the engagement which Locrin had +entered into with him to marry his daughter. + + + + +CHAP. III.--_Corineus resents the affront put upon his daughter._ + + +He went, therefore, to the king, and wielding a battle-axe in his right +hand, vented his rage against him in these words: "Do you thus reward +me, Locrin, for the many wounds which I have suffered under your +father's command in his wars with strange nations, that you must slight +my daughter, and debase yourself to marry a barbarian? While there is +strength in this right hand, that has been destructive to so many giants +upon the Tyrrhenian coasts, I will never put up with this affront." And +repeating this again and again with a loud voice, he shook his +battle-axe as if he was going to strike him, till the friends of both +interposed, and after they had appeased Corineus, obliged Locrin to +perform his agreement. + + + + +CHAP. IV.--_Locrin at last marries Guendoloena, the daughter of +Corineus._ + + +Locrin therefore married Corineus's daughter, named Guendoloena, yet +still retained his love for Estrildis, for whom he made apartments under +ground, in which he entertained her, and caused her to be honourably +attended. For he was resolved at least to carry on a private amour with +her, since he could not live with her openly for fear of Corineus. In +this manner he concealed her, and made frequent visits to her for seven +years together, without the privity of any but his most intimate +domestics; and all under a pretence of performing some secret sacrifices +to his gods, by which he imposed on the credulity of every body. In the +meantime Estrildis became with child, and was delivered of a most +beautiful daughter, whom she named Sabre. Guendoloena was also with +child, and brought forth a son, who was named Maddan, and put under the +care of his grandfather Corineus to be educated. + + + + +CHAP. V.--_Locrin is killed; Estrildis and Sabre are thrown into a +river._ + + +But in process of time, when Corineus was dead, Locrin divorced +Guendoloena, and advanced Estrildis to be queen. Guendoloena, +provoked beyond measure at this, retired into Cornwall, where she +assembled together all the forces of that kingdom, and began to raise +disturbances against Locrin. At last both armies joined battle near the +river Sture, where Locrin was killed by the shot of an arrow. After his +death, Guendoloena took upon her the government of the whole kingdom, +retaining her father's furious spirit. For she commanded Estrildis and +her daughter Sabre to be thrown into the river now called the Severn, +and published an edict through all Britain, that the river should bear +the damsel's name, hoping by this to perpetuate her memory, and by that +the infamy of her husband. So that to this day the river is called in +the British tongue Sabren, which by the corruption of the name is in +another language Sabrina. + + + + +CHAP. VI.--_Guendoloena delivers up the kingdom to Maddan, her son, +after whom succeeds Mempricius._ + + +Guendoloena reigned fifteen years after the death of Locrin, who had +reigned ten, and then advanced her son Maddan (whom she saw now at +maturity) to the throne, contenting herself with the country of Cornwall +for the remainder of her life. At this time Samuel the prophet governed +in Judaea, Sylvius AEneas was yet living, and Homer was esteemed a famous +orator and poet.[159] Maddan, now in possession of the crown, had by his +wife two sons, Mempricius and Malim, and ruled the kingdom in peace and +with care forty years. As soon as he was dead, the two brothers +quarrelled for the kingdom, each being ambitious of the sovereignty of +the whole island. Mempricius, impatient to attain his ends, enters into +treaty with Malim, under colour of making a composition with him, and, +having formed a conspiracy, murdered him in the assembly where their +ambassadors were met. By these means he obtained the dominion of the +whole island, over which he exercised such tyranny, that he left +scarcely a nobleman alive in it, and either by violence or treachery +oppressed every one that he apprehended might be likely to succeed him, +pursuing his hatred to his whole race. He also deserted his own wife, by +whom he had a noble youth named Ebraucus, and addicted himself to +sodomy, preferring unnatural lust to the pleasures of the conjugal +state. At last, in the twentieth year of his reign, while he was +hunting, he retired from his company into a valley, where he was +surrounded by a great multitude of ravenous wolves, and devoured by them +in a horrible manner. Then did Saul reign in Judaea, and Eurystheus in +Lacedaemonia. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 159: It is only necessary to compare such passages as these +with the Grecian or Roman Histories, and we cannot avoid perceiving the +legendary character of Geoffrey of Monmouth's History.] + + + + +CHAP. VII.--_Ebraucus, the successor of Mempricius, conquers the Gauls, +and builds the towns Kaerebrauc, &c._ + + +Mempricius being dead, Ebraucus, his son, a man of great stature and +wonderful strength, took upon him the government of Britain, which he +held forty years. He was the first after Brutus who invaded Gaul with a +fleet, and distressed its provinces by killing their men and laying +waste their cities; and having by these means enriched himself with an +infinite quantity of gold and silver, he returned victorious. After this +he built a city on the other side of the Humber, which, from his own +name, he called Kaerebrauc, that is, the city of Ebraucus,[160] about +the time that David reigned in Judaea, and Sylvius Latinus in Italy; and +that Gad, Nathan, and Asaph prophesied in Israel. He also built the city +of Alclud[161] towards Albani, and the town of mount Agned,[162] called +at this time the Castle of Maidens, or the Mountain of Sorrow. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 160: York seems to be a corruption of Ebrauc. It is first +mentioned by Ptolemy (ii. 3.) A.D. 120.] + +[Footnote 161: Alclud or Alcluith is unknown to the classic writers: it +is first mentioned by Gildas, and is thought to be the modern +Dumbarton.] + +[Footnote 162: Edinburgh.] + + + + +CHAP. VIII.--_Ebraucus's twenty sons go to Germany, and his thirty +daughters to Sylvius Alba, in Italy._ + + +This prince had twenty sons and thirty daughters by twenty wives, and +with great valour governed the kingdom of Britain sixty years. The names +of his sons were, Brutus surnamed Greenshield, Margadud, Sisillius, +Regin, Morivid, Bladud, Lagon, Bodloan, Kincar, Spaden, Gaul, Darden, +Eldad, Ivor, Gangu, Hector, Kerin, Rud, Assarach, Buel. The names of his +daughters were, Gloigni, Ignogni, Oudas, Guenliam, Gaudid, Angarad, +Guendoloe, Tangustel, Gorgon, Medlan, Methahel, Ourar, Malure, Kambreda, +Ragan, Gael, Ecub, Nest, Cheum, Stadud, Gladud, Ebren, Blagan, Aballac, +Angaes, Galaes, (the most celebrated beauty at that time in Britain or +Gaul,) Edra, Anaor, Stadial, Egron. All these daughters their father +sent into Italy to Sylvius Alba, who reigned after Sylvius Latinus, +where they were married among the Trojan nobility, the Latin and Sabine +women refusing to associate with them. But the sons, under the conduct +of their brother Assaracus, departed in a fleet to Germany, and having, +with the assistance of Sylvius Alba, subdued the people there, obtained +that kingdom. + + + + +CHAP. IX.--_After Ebraucus reigns Brutus his son, after him Leil, and +after Leil, Hudibras._ + + +But Brutus, surnamed Greenshield, stayed with his father, whom he +succeeded in the government, and reigned twelve years. After him reigned +Leil, his son, a peaceful and just prince, who, enjoying a prosperous +reign, built in the north of Britain a city, called by his name, +Kaerleil;[163] at the same time that Solomon began to build the temple +of Jerusalem, and the queen of Sheba came to hear his wisdom; at which +time also Sylvius Epitus succeeded his father Alba, in Italy. Leil +reigned twenty-five years, but towards the latter end of his life grew +more remiss in his government, so that his neglect of affairs speedily +occasioned a civil dissension in the kingdom. After him reigned his +son, Hudibras, thirty-nine years, and composed the civil dissension +among his people. He built Kaerlem or Canterbury, Kaerguen or +Winchester, and the town of Mount Paladur, now Shaftesbury. At this +place an eagle spoke, while the wall of the town was being built; and +indeed I should have transmitted the speech to posterity, had I thought +it true, as the rest of the history. At this time reigned Capys, the son +of Epitus; and Haggai, Amos, Joel, and Azariah, were prophets in Israel. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 163: Now Carlisle.] + + + + +CHAP. X.--_Bladud succeeds Hudibras in the kingdom, and practises +magical operations._ + + +Next succeeded Bladud, his son, and reigned twenty years. He built +Kaerbadus, now Bath, and made hot baths in it for the benefit of the +public, which he dedicated to the goddess Minerva; in whose temple he +kept fires that never went out nor consumed to ashes, but as soon as +they began to decay were turned into balls of stone. About this time the +prophet Elias prayed that it might not rain upon earth; and it did not +rain for three years and six months. This prince was a very ingenious +man, and taught necromancy in his kingdom, nor did he leave off pursuing +his magical operations, till he attempted to fly to the upper region of +the air with wings which he had prepared, and fell down upon the temple +of Apollo, in the city of Trinovantum, where he was dashed to pieces. + + + + +CHAP. XI.--_Leir the son of Bladud, having no son, divides his kingdom +among his daughters._ + + +After this unhappy fate of Bladud, Leir,[164] his son was advanced to +the throne, and nobly governed his country sixty years. He built upon +the river Sore a city, called in the British tongue, Kaerleir, in the +Saxon, Leircestre.[165] He was without male issue, but had three +daughters, whose names were Gonorilla, Regau, and Cordeilla, of whom he +was dotingly fond, but especially of his youngest, Cordeilla. When he +began to grow old, he had thoughts of dividing his kingdom among them, +and of bestowing them on such husbands as were fit to be advanced to the +government with them. But to make trial who was worthy to have the best +part of his kingdom, he went to each of them to ask which of them loved +him most. The question being proposed, Gonorilla, the eldest, made +answer, "That she called heaven to witness, she loved him more than her +own soul." The father replied, "Since you have preferred my declining +age before your own life, I will marry you, my dearest daughter, to +whomsoever you shall make choice of, and give with you the third part of +my kingdom." Then Regau, the second daughter, willing, after the example +of her sister, to prevail upon her father's good nature, answered with +an oath, "That she could not otherwise express her thoughts, but that +she loved him above all creatures." The credulous father upon this made +her the same promise that he did to her eldest sister, that is, the +choice of a husband, with the third part of his kingdom. But Cordeilla, +the youngest, understanding how easily he was satisfied with the +flattering expressions of her sisters, was desirous to make trial of his +affection after a different manner. "My father," said she, "is there any +daughter that can love her father more than duty requires? In my +opinion, whoever pretends to it, must disguise her real sentiments under +the veil of flattery. I have always loved you as a father, nor do I yet +depart from my purposed duty; and if you insist to have something more +extorted from me, hear now the greatness of my affection, which I always +bear you, and take this for a short answer to all your questions; look +how much you have, so much is your value, and so much do I love you." +The father, supposing that she spoke this out of the abundance of her +heart, was highly provoked, and immediately replied, "Since you have so +far despised my old age as not to think me worthy the love that your +sisters express for me, you shall have from me the like regard, and +shall be excluded from any share with your sisters in my kingdom. +Notwithstanding, I do not say but that since you are my daughter, I will +marry you to some foreigner, if fortune offers you any such husband; but +will never, I do assure you, make it my business to procure so +honourable a match for you as for your sisters; because, though I have +hitherto loved you more than them, you have in requital thought me less +worthy of your affection than they." And, without further delay, after +consultation with his nobility, he bestowed his two other daughters upon +the dukes of Cornwall and Albania, with half the island at present, but +after his death, the inheritance of the whole monarchy of Britain. + +It happened after this, that Aganippus, king of the Franks, having heard +of the fame of Cordeilla's beauty, forthwith sent his ambassadors to the +king to demand her in marriage. The father, retaining yet his anger +towards her, made answer, "That he was very willing to bestow his +daughter, but without either money or territories; because he had +already given away his kingdom with all his treasure to his eldest +daughters, Gonorilla and Regau." When this was told Aganippus, he, being +very much in love with the lady, sent again to king Leir, to tell him, +"That he had money and territories enough, as he possessed the third +part of Gaul, and desired no more than his daughter only, that he might +have heirs by her." At last the match was concluded; Cordeilla was sent +to Gaul, and married to Aganippus. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 164: King Lear, the hero of Shakespeare's drama.] + +[Footnote 165: Leicester.] + + + + +CHAP. XII.--_Leir, finding the ingratitude of his two eldest daughters, +betakes himself to his youngest, Cordeilla, in Gaul._ + + +A long time after this, when Leir came to be infirm through old age, the +two dukes, on whom he had bestowed Britain with his two daughters, +fostered an insurrection against him, and deprived him of his kingdom, +and of all regal authority, which he had hitherto exercised with great +power and glory. At length, by mutual agreement, Maglaunus, duke of +Albania, one of his sons-in-law, was to allow him a maintenance at his +own house, together with sixty soldiers, who were to be kept for state. +After two years' stay with his son-in-law, his daughter Gonorilla +grudged the number of his men, who began to upbraid the ministers of the +court with their scanty allowance; and, having spoken to her husband +about it, she gave orders that the numbers of her father's followers +should be reduced to thirty, and the rest discharged. The father, +resenting this treatment, left Maglaunus, and went to Henuinus, duke of +Cornwall, to whom he had married his daughter Regau. Here he met with an +honourable reception, but before the year was at an end, a quarrel +happened between the two families, which raised Regau's indignation; so +that she commanded her father to discharge all his attendants but five, +and to be contented with their service. This second affliction was +insupportable to him, and made him return again to his former daughter, +with hopes that the misery of his condition might move in her some +sentiments of filial piety, and that he, with his family, might find a +subsistence with her. But she, not forgetting her resentment, swore by +the gods he should not stay with her, unless he would dismiss his +retinue, and be contented with the attendance of one man; and with +bitter reproaches she told him how ill his desire of vain-glorious pomp +suited his age and poverty. When he found that she was by no means to be +prevailed upon, he was at last forced to comply, and, dismissing the +rest, to take up with one man only. But by this time he began to reflect +more sensibly with himself upon the grandeur from which he had fallen, +and the miserable state to which he was now reduced, and to enter upon +thoughts of going beyond sea to his youngest daughter. Yet he doubted +whether he should be able to move her commiseration, because (as was +related above) he had treated her so unworthily. However, disdaining to +bear any longer such base usage, he took ship for Gaul. In his passage +he observed he had only the third place given him among the princes that +were with him in the ship, at which, with deep sighs and tears, he burst +forth into the following complaint:-- + +"O irreversible decrees of the Fates, that never swerve from your stated +course! why did you ever advance me to an unstable felicity, since the +punishment of lost happiness is greater than the sense of present +misery? The remembrance of the time when vast numbers of men +obsequiously attended me in the taking the cities and wasting the +enemy's countries, more deeply pierces my heart than the view of my +present calamity, which has exposed me to the derision of those who were +formerly prostrate at my feet. Oh! the enmity of fortune! Shall I ever +again see the day when I may be able to reward those according to their +deserts who have forsaken me in my distress? How true was thy answer, +Cordeilla, when I asked thee concerning thy love to me, 'As much as you +have, so much is your value, and so much do I love you.' While I had +anything to give they valued me, being friends, not to me, but to my +gifts: they loved me then, but they loved my gifts much more: when my +gifts ceased, my friends vanished. But with what face shall I presume to +see you, my dearest daughter, since in my anger I married you upon worse +terms than your sisters, who, after all the mighty favours they have +received from me, suffer me to be in banishment and poverty?" + +As he was lamenting his condition in these and the like expressions, he +arrived at Karitia,[166] where his daughter was, and waited before the +city while he sent a messenger to inform her of the misery he was fallen +into, and to desire her relief for a father who suffered both hunger and +nakedness. Cordeilla was startled at the news, and wept bitterly, and +with tears asked how many men her father had with him. The messenger +answered, he had none but one man, who had been his armour-bearer, and +was staying with him without the town. Then she took what money she +thought might be sufficient, and gave it to the messenger, with orders +to carry her father to another city, and there give out that he was +sick, and to provide for him bathing, clothes, and all other +nourishment. She likewise gave orders that he should take into his +service forty men, well clothed and accoutred, and that when all things +were thus prepared he should notify his arrival to king Aganippus and +his daughter. The messenger quickly returning, carried Leir to another +city, and there kept him concealed, till he had done every thing that +Cordeilla had commanded. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 166: Calais.] + + + + +CHAP. XIII.--_He is very honourably received by Cordeilla and the king +of Gaul._ + + +As soon as he was provided with his royal apparel, ornaments, and +retinue, he sent word to Aganippus and his daughter, that he was driven +out of his kingdom of Britain by his sons-in-law, and was come to them +to procure their assistance for recovering his dominions. Upon which +they, attended with their chief ministers of state and the nobility of +the kingdom, went out to meet him, and received him honourably, and gave +into his management the whole power of Gaul, till such time as he should +be restored to his former dignity. + + + + +CHAP. XIV.--_Leir, being restored to the kingdom by the help of his +son-in-law and Cordeilla, dies._ + + +In the meantime Aganippus sent officers over all Gaul to raise an army, +to restore his father-in-law to his kingdom of Britain. Which done, Leir +returned to Britain with his son and daughter and the forces which they +had raised, where he fought with his sons-in-law and routed them. Having +thus reduced the whole kingdom to his power, he died the third year +after. Aganippus also died; and Cordeilla, obtaining the government of +the kingdom, buried her father in a certain vault, which she ordered to +be made for him under the river Sore, in Leicester, and which had been +built originally under the ground to the honour of the god Janus. And +here all the workmen of the city, upon the anniversary solemnity of that +festival, used to begin their yearly labours. + + + + +CHAP. XV.--_Cordeilla, being imprisoned, kills herself. Margan, aspiring +to the whole kingdom, is killed by Cunedagius._ + + +After a peaceful possession of the government for five years, Cordeilla +began to meet with disturbances from the two sons of her sisters, being +both young men of great spirit, whereof one, named Margan, was born to +Maglaunus, and the other, named Cunedagius, to Henuinus. These, after +the death of their fathers, succeeding them in their dukedoms, were +incensed to see Britain subject to a woman, and raised forces in order +to raise a rebellion against the queen; nor would they desist from +hostilities, till, after a general waste of her countries, and several +battles fought, they at last took her and put her in prison, where for +grief at the loss of her kingdom she killed herself. After this they +divided the island between them; of which the part that reaches from the +north side of the Humber to Caithness, fell to Margan; the other part +from the same river westward was Cunedagius's share. At the end of two +years, some restless spirits that took pleasure in the troubles of the +nation, had access to Margan, and inspired him with vain conceits, by +representing to him how mean and disgraceful it was for him not to +govern the whole island, which was his due by right of birth. Stirred up +with these and the like suggestions, he marched with an army through +Cunedagius's country, and began to burn all before him. The war thus +breaking out, he was met by Cunedagius with all his forces, who attacked +Margan, killing no small number of his men, and, putting him to flight, +pursued him from one province to another, till at last he killed him in +a town of Kambria, which since his death has been by the country people +called Margan to this day. After the victory, Cunedagius gained the +monarchy of the whole island, which he governed gloriously for three and +thirty years. At this time flourished the prophets Isaiah and Hosea, and +Rome was built upon the eleventh before the Kalends of May by the two +brothers, Romulus and Remus.[167] + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 167: About the year before Christ, 753.] + + + + +CHAP. XVI.--_The successors of Cunedagius in the kingdom. Ferrex is +killed by his brother Porrex, in a dispute for the government._ + + +At last Cunedagius dying, was succeeded by his son Rivallo, a fortunate +youth, who diligently applied himself to the affairs of the government. +In his time it rained blood three days together, and there fell vast +swarms of flies, followed by a great mortality among the people. After +him succeeded Gurgustius his son; after him Sisillius; after him Jago, +the nephew of Gurgustius; after him Kinmarcus the son of Sisillius; +after him Gorbogudo, who had two sons, Ferrex and Porrex. + +When their father grew old they began to quarrel about the succession; +but Porrex, who was the most ambitious of the two, forms a design of +killing his brother by treachery, which the other discovering, escaped, +and passed over into Gaul. There he procured aid from Suard king of the +Franks, with which he returned and made war upon his brother; coming to +an engagement, Ferrex was killed and all his forces cut to pieces. When +their mother, whose name was Widen, came to be informed of her son's +death, she fell into a great rage, and conceived a mortal hatred against +the survivor. For she had a greater affection for the deceased than for +him, so that nothing less would appease her indignation for his death, +than her revenging it upon her surviving son. She took therefore her +opportunity when he was asleep, fell upon him, and with the assistance +of her women tore him to pieces. From that time a long civil war +oppressed the people, and the island became divided under the power of +five kings, who mutually harassed one another. + + + + +CHAP. XVII.--_Dunwallo Molmutius gains the sceptre of Britain, from whom +came the Molmutine laws._ + + +At length arose a youth of great spirit, named Dunwallo Molmutius, who +was the son of Cloten king of Cornwall, and excelled all the kings of +Britain in valour and gracefulness of person. When his father was dead, +he was no sooner possessed of the government of that country, than he +made war against Ymner king of Loegria, and killed him in battle. +Hereupon Rudaucus king of Kambria, and Staterius king of Albania, had a +meeting, wherein they formed an alliance together, and marched thence +with their armies into Dunwallo's country to destroy all before them. +Dunwallo met them with thirty thousand men, and gave them battle; and +when a great part of the day was spent in the fight, and the victory yet +dubious, he drew off six hundred of his bravest men, and commanded them +to put on the armour of the enemies that were slain, as he himself also +did, throwing aside his own. Thus accoutred he marched up with speed to +the enemy's ranks, as if he was of their party, and approaching the very +place where Rudaucus and Staterius were, commanded his men to fall upon +them. In this assault the two kings were killed and many others with +them. But Dunwallo Molmutius, fearing lest in this disguise his own men +might fall upon him, returned with his companions to put off the enemy's +armour, and take his own again; and then encouraged them to renew the +assault, which they did with great vigour, and in a short time got the +victory, by dispersing and putting to flight the enemy. From hence he +marched into the enemy's countries, destroyed their towns and cities, +and reduced the people under his obedience. When he had made an entire +reduction of the whole island, he prepared for himself a crown of gold, +and restored the kingdom to its ancient state. This prince established +what the Britons call the Molmutine laws, which are famous among the +English to this day. In these, among other things, of which St. Gildas +wrote a long time after, he enacted, that the temples of the gods, as +also cities, should have the privilege of giving sanctuary and +protection to any fugitive or criminal, that should flee to them from +his enemy. He likewise enacted, that the ways leading to those temples +and cities, as also husbandman's ploughs, should be allowed the same +privilege. So that in his day, the murders and cruelties committed by +robbers were prevented, and every body passed safe without any violence +offered him. At last, after a reign of forty years spent in these and +other acts of government, he died, and was buried in the city of +Trinovantum, near the temple of Concord, which he himself built, when he +first established his laws. + + + + +BOOK III. + +CHAP. I.--_Brennius quarrels with Belinus his brother, and in order to +make war against him, marries the daughter of the king of the +Norwegians._ + + +After this a violent quarrel happened between his two sons Belinus and +Brennius, who were both ambitious of succeeding to the kingdom. The +dispute was, which of them should have the honour of wearing the crown. +After a great many sharp conflicts that passed between them, the friends +of both interposed, and brought them to agree on the division of the +kingdom on these terms: that Belinus should enjoy the crown of the +island, with the dominions of Loegria, Kambria, and Cornwall, because, +according to the Trojan constitution, the right of inheritance would +come to him as the elder: and Brennius, as being the younger, should be +subject to his brother, and have for his share Northumberland, which +extended from the river Humber to Caithness. The covenant therefore +being confirmed upon these conditions, they ruled the country for five +years in peace and justice. But such a state of prosperity could not +long stand against the endeavours of faction. For some lying +incendiaries gained access to Brennius and addressed him in this +manner:-- + +"What sluggish spirit has possessed you, that you can bear subjection to +Belinus, to whom by parentage and blood you are equal; besides your +experience in military affairs, which you have gained in several +engagements, when you so often repulsed Cheulphus, general of the +Morini, in his invasions of our country, and drove him out of your +kingdom? Be no longer bound by a treaty which is a reproach to you, but +marry the daughter of Elsingius, king of the Norwegians, that with his +assistance you may recover your lost dignity." The young man, inflamed +with these and the like specious suggestions, hearkened to them, and +went to Norway, where he married the king's daughter, as his flatterers +had advised him. + + + + +CHAP. II.--_Brennius's sea-fight with Guichthlac, king of the Dacians. +Guichthlac and Brennius's wife are driven ashore and taken by Belinus._ + + +In the meantime his brother, informed of this, was violently incensed, +that without his leave he had presumed to act thus against him. +Whereupon he marched into Northumberland, and possessed himself of that +country and the cities in it, which he garrisoned with his own men. +Brennius, upon notice given him of what his brother had done, prepared a +fleet to return to Britain with a great army of Norwegians. But while he +was under sail with a fair wind, he was overtaken by Guichthlac, king of +the Dacians,[168] who had pursued him. This prince had been deeply in +love with the young lady that Brennius had married, and out of mere +grief and vexation for the loss of her, had prepared a fleet to pursue +Brennius with all expedition. In the sea-fight that happened on this +occasion, he had the fortune to take the very ship in which the lady +was, and brought her in among his companions. But during the engagement, +contrary winds arose on a sudden, which brought on a storm, and +dispersed the ships upon different shores: so that the king of the +Dacians, being driven up and down, after a course of five days, arrived +with the lady at Northumberland, under dreadful apprehensions, as not +knowing upon what country this unforeseen casualty had thrown him. When +this came to be known to the country people, they took them and carried +them to Belinus, who was upon the sea-coast, expecting the arrival of +his brother. There were with Guichthlac's ship three others, one of +which had belonged to Brennius's fleet. As soon as they had declared to +the king who they were, he was overjoyed at this happy accident, while +he was endeavouring to revenge himself on his brother. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 168: The Danes.] + + + + +CHAP. III.--_Belinus in a battle routs Brennius, who thereupon flees to +Gaul._ + + +A few days after appeared Brennius, with his fleet again got together, +and arrived in Albania; and having received information of the capture +of his wife and others, and that his brother had seized the kingdom of +Northumberland in his absence, he sent his ambassadors to him, to demand +the restitution of his wife and kingdom; and if he refused them, to +declare that he would destroy the whole island from sea to sea, and kill +his brother whenever he could come to an engagement with him. On the +other hand, Belinus absolutely refused to comply with his demands, and +assembling together the whole power of the island, went into Albania to +give him battle. Brennius, upon advice that he had suffered a repulse, +and that his brother was upon his march against him, advanced to meet +him in a wood called Calaterium, in order to attack him. When they were +arrived on the field of battle, each of them divided his men into +several bodies, and approaching one another, began the fight. A great +part of the day was spent in it, because on both sides the bravest men +were engaged; and much blood was shed by reason of the fury with which +they encountered each other. So great was the slaughter, that the +wounded fell in heaps, like standing corn cut down by reapers. At last +the Britons prevailing, the Norwegians fled with their shattered troops +to their ships, but were pursued by Belinus, and killed without mercy. +Fifteen thousand men fell in the battle, nor were there a thousand of +the rest that escaped unhurt. Brennius with much difficulty securing one +ship, went as fortune drove him to the coasts of Gaul; but the rest that +attended him, were forced to sculk up and down wherever their +misfortunes led them. + + + + +CHAP. IV.--_The king of Dacia, with Brennius's wife, is released out of +prison._ + + +Belinus, after this victory, called a council of his nobility, to advise +with them what he should do with the king of the Dacians, who had sent a +message to him out of prison, that he would submit himself and the +kingdom of Dacia to him, and also pay a yearly tribute, if he might have +leave to depart with his mistress. He offered likewise to confirm this +covenant with an oath, and the giving of hostages. When this proposal +was laid before the nobility, they unanimously gave their assent that +Belinus should grant Guichthlac his petition upon the terms offered. +Accordingly he did grant it, and Guichthlac was released from prison, +and returned with his mistress into Dacia. + + + + +CHAP. V.--_Belinus revives and confirms the Molmutine laws, especially +about the highways._ + + +Belinus now finding no body in the kingdom of Britain able to make head +against him, and being possessed of the sovereignty of the whole island +from sea to sea, confirmed the laws his father had made, and gave +command for a settled execution of justice through his kingdom. But +above all things he ordered that cities, and the roads leading to them, +should enjoy the same privilege of peace that Dunwallo had established. +But there arose a controversy about the roads, because the limits +determining them were unknown. The king, therefore, willing to clear the +law of all ambiguities, summoned all the workmen of the island together, +and commanded them to pave a causeway of stone and mortar, which should +run the whole length of the island, from the sea of Cornwall, to the +shores of Caithness, and lead directly to the cities that lay along that +extent. He commanded another to be made over the breadth of the kingdom, +leading from Menevia, that was situated upon the Demetian Sea, to Hamo's +Port, and to pass through the interjacent cities. Other two he also made +obliquely through the island, for a passage to the rest of the +cities.[169] He then confirmed to them all honours and privileges, and +prescribed a law for the punishment of any injury committed upon them. +But if any one is curious to know all that he decreed concerning them, +let him read the Molmutine laws, which Gildas the historian translated +from British into Latin, and king Alfred into English. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 169: This seems to be a false account of the Roman roads in +Britain.] + + + + +CHAP. VI.--_Brennius, being made duke of the Allobroges, returns to +Britain to fight with his brother._ + + +While Belinus was thus reigning in peace and tranquillity, his brother +Brennius, who (as we said before) was driven upon the coasts of Gaul, +suffered great torments of mind. For it was a great affliction to him to +be banished from his country, and to have no power of returning to +retrieve his loss. Being ignorant what course to take, he went among the +princes of Gaul, accompanied only with twelve men; and when he had +related his misfortune to every one of them, but could procure +assistance from none, he went at last to Seginus, duke of the +Allobroges, from whom he had an honourable reception. During his stay +here, he contracted such an intimacy with the duke, that he became the +greatest favourite in the court. For in all affairs, both of peace and +war, he showed a great capacity, so that this prince loved him with a +paternal affection. He was besides of a graceful aspect, tall and +slender in stature, and expert in hunting and fowling, as became his +princely birth. So great was the friendship between them, that the duke +resolved to give him his only daughter in marriage; and in case he +himself should have no male issue, he appointed him and his daughter to +succeed him in his dukedom of the Allobroges after his death. But if he +should yet have a son, then he promised his assistance to advance him to +the kingdom of Britain. Neither was this the desire of the duke only, +but of all the nobility of his court, with whom he had very much +ingratiated himself. So then without farther delay the marriage was +solemnized, and the princes of the country paid their homage to him, as +the successor to the throne. Scarcely was the year at an end before the +duke died; and then Brennius took his opportunity of engaging those +princes of the country firmly in his interest, whom before he had +obliged with his friendship. And this he did by bestowing generously +upon them the duke's treasure, which had been hoarded up from the times +of his ancestors. But that which the Allobroges most esteemed him for, +was his sumptuous entertainments, and keeping an open house for all. + + + + +CHAP. VII.--_Belinus and Brennius being made friends by the mediation of +their mother, propose to subdue Gaul._ + + +When he had thus gained universal affection, he began to consult with +himself how he might take revenge upon his brother Belinus. And when he +had signified his intentions concerning it to his subjects, they +unanimously concurred with him, and expressed their readiness to attend +him to whatever kingdom he pleased to conduct them. He therefore soon +raised a vast army, and having entered into a treaty with the Gauls for +a free passage through their country into Britain, fitted out a fleet +upon the coast of Neustria, in which he set sail, and with a fair wind +arrived at the island. Upon hearing the rumour of his coming, his +brother Belinus, accompanied with the whole strength of the kingdom, +marched out to engage him. But when the two armies were drawn out in +order of battle, and just ready to begin the attack, Conwenna, their +mother, who was yet living, ran in great haste through the ranks, +impatient to see her son, whom she had not seen for a long time. As +soon, therefore, as she had with trembling steps reached the place where +he stood, she threw her arms about his neck, and in transports kissed +him; then uncovering her bosom, she addressed herself to him, in words +interrupted with sighs, to this effect:-- + +"My son, remember these breasts which gave you suck, and the womb +wherein the Creator of all things formed you, and from whence he brought +you forth into the world, while I endured the greatest anguish. By the +pains then which I suffered for you, I entreat you to hear my request: +pardon your brother, and moderate your anger. You ought not to revenge +yourself upon him who has done you no injury. As for what you complain +of,--that you were banished your country by him,--if you duly consider +the result, in strictness can it be called injustice? He did not banish +you to make your condition worse, but forced you to quit a meaner that +you might attain a higher dignity. At first you enjoyed only a part of a +kingdom, and that in subjection to your brother. As soon as you lost +that, you became his equal, by gaining the kingdom of the Allobroges. +What has he then done, but raised you from a vassal to be a king? +Consider farther, that the difference between you began not through him, +but through yourself, who, with the assistance of the king of Norway, +raised an insurrection against him." + +Moved by these representations of his mother, he obeyed her with a +composed mind, and putting off his helmet of his own accord, went +straight with her to his brother. Belinus, seeing him approach with a +peaceable countenance, threw down his arms, and ran to embrace him; so +that now, without more ado, they again became friends; and disarming +their forces marched with them peaceably together to Trinovantum. And +here, after consultation what enterprise to undertake, they prepared to +conduct their confederate army into the provinces of Gaul, and reduce +that entire country to their subjection. + + + + +CHAP. VIII.--_Belinus and Brennius, after the conquest of Gaul, march +with their army to Rome._ + + +They accordingly passed over into Gaul the year after, and began to lay +waste that country. The news of which spreading through those several +nations, all the petty kings of the Franks entered into a confederacy, +and went out to fight against them. But the victory falling to Belinus +and Brennius, the Franks fled with their broken forces; and the Britons +and Allobroges, elevated with their success, ceased not to pursue them +till they had taken their kings, and reduced them to their power. Then +fortifying the cities which they had taken, in less than a year they +brought the whole kingdom into subjection. At last, after a reduction of +all the provinces, they marched with their whole army towards Rome, and +destroyed the cities and villages as they passed through Italy. + + + + +CHAP. IX.--_The Romans make a covenant with Brennius, but afterwards +break it, for which reason Rome is besieged and taken by Brennius._ + + +In those days the two consuls of Rome were Gabius and Porsena,[170] to +whose care the government of the country was committed. When they saw +that no nation was able to withstand the power of Belinus and Brennius, +they came, with the consent of the senate to them, to desire peace and +amity. They likewise offered large presents of gold and silver, and to +pay a yearly tribute, on condition that they might be suffered to enjoy +their own in peace. The two kings therefore, taking hostages of them, +yielded to their petition, and drew back their forces into Germany. +While they were employing their arms in harassing that people, the +Romans repented of their agreement, and again taking courage, went to +assist the Germans. This step highly enraged the kings against them, who +concerted measures how to carry on a war with both nations. For the +greatness of the Italian army was a terror to them. The result of their +council was, that Belinus with the Britons stayed in Germany, to engage +with the enemy there; while Brennius and his army marched to Rome, to +revenge on the Romans their breach of treaty. As soon as the Italians +perceived their design, they quitted the Germans, and hastened to get +before Brennius, in his march to Rome. Belinus had intelligence of it, +and speedily marched with his army the same night, and possessing +himself of a valley through which the enemy was to pass, lay hid there +in expectation of their coming. The next day the Italians came in full +march to the place; but when they saw the valley glittering with the +enemy's armour, they were struck with confusion, thinking Brennius and +the Galli Senones were there. At this favourable opportunity, Belinus on +a sudden rushed forth, and fell furiously upon them: the Romans on the +other hand, thus taken by surprise, fled the field, since they neither +were armed, nor marched in any order. But Belinus gave them no quarter, +and was only prevented by night coming on, from making a total +destruction of them. With this victory he went straight to Brennius, who +had now besieged Rome three days. Then joining their armies, they +assaulted the city on every side, and endeavoured to level the walls: +and to strike a greater terror into the besieged, erected gibbets before +the gates of the city, and threatened to hang up the hostages whom they +had given, unless they would surrender. But the Romans, nothing moved +by the sufferings of their sons and relations, continued inflexible, and +resolute to defend themselves. They therefore sometimes broke the force +of the enemy's engines, by other engines of their own, sometimes +repulsed them from the walls with showers of darts. This so incensed the +two brothers, that they commanded four and twenty of their noblest +hostages to be hanged in the sight of their parents. The Romans, +however, were only more hardened at the spectacle, and having received a +message from Gabius and Porsena, their consuls, that they would come the +next day to their assistance, they resolved to march out of the city, +and give the enemy battle. Accordingly, just as they were ranging their +troops in order, the consuls appeared with their re-assembled forces, +marching up to the attack, and advancing in a close body, fell on the +Britons and Allobroges by surprise, and being joined by the citizens +that sallied forth, killed no small number. The brothers, in great grief +to see such destruction made of their fellow soldiers, began to rally +their men, and breaking in upon the enemy several times, forced them to +retire. In the end, after the loss of many thousands of brave men on +both sides, the brothers gained the day, and took the city, not however +till Gabius was killed and Porsena taken prisoner. This done, they +divided among their men all the hidden treasure of the city. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 170: The absurdity of describing Porsena king of Etruria, as +one of the Roman consuls, must be apparent to every reader. No less +evident is it that the whole of this fictitious account is founded upon +the known fact that Rome was taken by the Gauls commanded by one +Brennus.] + + + + +CHAP. X.--_Brennius oppresses Italy in a most tyrannical manner. Belinus +returns to Britain._ + + +After this complete victory, Brennius stayed in Italy, where he +exercised unheard-of tyranny over the people. But the rest of his +actions and his death, seeing that they are given in the Roman +histories, I shall here pass over, to avoid prolixity and meddling with +what others have treated of, which is foreign to my design. But Belinus +returned to Britain, which he governed during the remainder of his life +in peace; he repaired the cities that were falling to ruin, and built +many new ones. Among the rest he built one upon the river Uske, near the +sea of the Severn, which was for a long time called Caer-osc, and was +the metropolis of Dimetia;[171] but after the invasion of the Romans it +lost its first name, and was called the City of Legions, from the Roman +legions which used to take up their winter quarters in it. He also made +a gate of wonderful structure in Trinovantum, upon the bank of the +Thames, which the citizens call after his name Billingsgate to this day. +Over it he built a prodigiously large tower, and under it a haven or +quay for ships. He was a strict observer of justice, and re-established +his father's laws everywhere throughout the kingdom. In his days there +was so great an abundance of riches among the people, that no age before +or after is said to have shown the like. At last, when he had finished +his days, his body was burned, and the ashes put up in a golden urn, +which they placed at Trinovantum, with wonderful art, on the top of the +tower above-mentioned. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 171: Newport, the principal town of South Wales.] + + + + +CHAP. XI.--_Gurgiunt Brabtruc, succeeding his father Belinus, reduces +Dacia, which was trying to shake off his yoke._ + + +He was succeeded by Gurgiunt Brabtruc, his son, a sober prudent prince, +who followed the example of his father in all his actions, and was a +lover of peace and justice. When some neighbouring provinces rebelled +against him, inheriting with them the bravery of his father, he +repressed their insolence in several fierce battles, and reduced them to +a perfect subjection. Among many other things it happened, that the king +of the Dacians, who paid tribute in his father's time, refused not only +tribute, but all manner of homage to him. This he seriously resented, +and passed over in a fleet to Dacia, where he harassed the people with a +most cruel war, slew their king, and reduced the country to its former +dependence. + + + + +CHAP. XII.--_Ireland is given to be inhabited by the Barclenses, who had +been banished out of Spain._ + + +At that time, as he was returning home from his conquest through the +Orkney islands, he found thirty ships full of men and women; and upon +his inquiring of them the occasion of their coming thither, their +leader, named Partholoim, approached him in a respectful and submissive +manner, and desired pardon and peace, telling him that he had been +driven out of Spain, and was sailing round those seas in quest of a +habitation. He also desired some small part of Britain to dwell in, that +they might put an end to their tedious wanderings; for it was now a year +and a half since he had been driven from his country, all of which time +he and his company had been out at sea. When Gurgiunt Brabtruc +understood that they came from Spain, and were called Barclenses, he +granted their petition, and sent men with them to Ireland, which was +then wholly uninhabited, and assigned it to them. There they grew up and +increased in number, and have possessed that island to this very day. +Gurgiunt Brabtruc after this ended his days in peace, and was buried in +the City of Legions, which, after his father's death, he ornamented with +buildings and fortified with walls. + + + + +CHAP. XIII.--_Guithelin, reigning after Gurgiunt Brabtruc, the Martian +law is instituted by Martia, a noble woman._ + + +After him Guithelin wore the crown, which he enjoyed all his life, +treating his subjects with mildness and affection. He had for his wife a +noble lady named Martia, accomplished in all kinds of learning. Among +many other admirable productions of her wit, she was the author of what +the Britons call the Martian law. This also among other things king +Alfred translated, and called it in the Saxon tongue, _Pa Marchitle +Lage_. Upon the death of Guithelin, the government of the kingdom +remained in the hands of this queen and her son Sisilius, who was then +but seven years old, and therefore unfit to take the government upon +himself alone. + + + + +CHAP. XIV.--_Guithelin's successors in the kingdom._ + + +For this reason the mother had the sole management of affairs committed +to her, out of a regard to her great sense and judgment. But on her +death, Sisilius took the crown and government. After him reigned Kimarus +his son, to whom succeeded Danius his brother. After his death the crown +came to Morvidus, whom he had by his concubine Tangustela. He would have +been a prince of extraordinary worth, had he not been addicted to +immoderate cruelty, so far that in his anger he spared nobody, if any +weapon were at hand. He was of a graceful aspect, extremely liberal, +and of such vast strength as not to have his match in the whole kingdom. + + + + +CHAP. XV.--_Morvidus, a most cruel tyrant, after the conquest of the +king of the Morini, is devoured by a monster._ + + +In his time a certain king of the Morini[172] arrived with a great force +in Northumberland, and began to destroy the country. But Morvidus, with +all the strength of the kingdom, marched out against him, and fought +him. In this battle he alone did more than the greatest part of his +army, and after the victory, suffered none of the enemy to escape alive. +For he commanded them to be brought to him one after another, that he +might satisfy his cruelty in seeing them killed; and when he grew tired +of this, he gave orders that they should be flayed alive and burned. +During these and other monstrous acts of cruelty, an accident happened +which put a period to his wickedness. There came from the coasts of the +Irish sea, a most cruel monster, that was continually devouring the +people upon the sea-coasts. As soon as he heard of it, he ventured to go +and encounter it alone; when he had in vain spent all his darts upon it, +the monster rushed upon him, and with open jaws swallowed him up like a +small fish. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 172: The people who lived near Boulogne.] + + + + +CHAP. XVI.--_Gorbonian, a most just king of the Britons._ + + +He had five sons, whereof the eldest, Gorbonian, ascended the throne. +There was not in his time a greater lover of justice and equity, or a +more careful ruler of the people. The performance of due worship to the +gods, and doing justice to the common people, were his continual +employments. Through all the cities of Britain, he repaired the temples +of the gods, and built many new ones. In all his days, the island +abounded with riches, more than all the neighbouring countries. For he +gave great encouragement to husbandmen in their tillage, by protecting +them against any injury or oppression of their lords; and the soldiers +he amply rewarded with money, so that no one had occasion to do wrong to +another. Amidst these and many other acts of his innate goodness, he +paid the debt of nature, and was buried at Trinovantum. + + + + +CHAP. XVII.--_Arthgallo is deposed by the Britons, and is succeeded by +Elidure, who restores him again his kingdom._ + + +After him Arthgallo, his brother, was dignified with the crown, and in +all his actions he was the very reverse of his brother. He everywhere +endeavoured to depress the nobility, and advance the baser sort of the +people. He plundered the rich, and by those means amassed vast +treasures. But the nobility, disdaining to bear his tyranny any longer, +made an insurrection against him, and deposed him; and then advanced +Elidure, his brother, who was afterwards surnamed the pious, on account +of his commiseration to Arthgallo in distress. For after five years' +possession of the kingdom, as he happened to be hunting in the wood +Calaterium, he met his brother that had been deposed. For he had +travelled over several kingdoms, to desire assistance for the recovery +of his lost dominions, but had procured none. And being now no longer +able to bear the poverty to which he was reduced, he returned back to +Britain, attended only by ten men, with a design to repair to those who +had been formerly his friends. It was at this time, as he was passing +through the wood, his brother Elidure, who little expected it, got sight +of him, and forgetting all injuries, ran to him, and affectionately +embraced him. Now as he had long lamented his brother's affliction, he +carried him with him to the city Alclud, where he hid him in his +bed-chamber. After this, he feigned himself sick, and sent messengers +over the whole kingdom, to signify to all his prime nobility that they +should come to visit him. Accordingly, when they were all met together +at the city where he lay, he gave orders that they should come into his +chamber one by one, softly, and without noise: his pretence for which +was, that their talk would be a disturbance to his head, should they all +crowd in together. Thus, in obedience to his commands, and without the +least suspicion of any design, they entered his house one after another. +But Elidure had given charge to his servants, who were set ready for the +purpose, to take each of them as they entered, and cut off their heads, +unless they would again submit themselves to Arthgallo his brother. +Thus did he with every one of them apart, and compelled them, through +fear, to be reconciled to Arthgallo. At last the agreement being +ratified, Elidure conducted Arthgallo to York, where he took the crown +from his own head, and put it on that of his brother. From this act of +extraordinary affection to his brother, he obtained the surname of +Pious. Arthgallo after this reigned ten years, and made amends for his +former mal-administration, by pursuing measures of an entirely opposite +tendency, in depressing the baser sort, and advancing men of good birth; +in suffering every one to enjoy his own, and exercising strict justice +towards all men. At last sickness seizing him, he died and was buried in +the city Kaerleir. + + + + +CHAP. XVIII.--_Elidure is imprisoned by Peredure, after whose death he +is a third time advanced to the throne._ + + +Then Elidure was again advanced to the throne, and restored to his +former dignity. But while in his government he followed the example of +his eldest brother Gorbonian, in performing all acts of grace; his two +remaining brothers, Vigenius and Peredure, raised an army, and made war +against him, in which they proved victorious; so that they took him +prisoner, and shut him up in the tower[173] at Trinovantum, where they +placed a guard over him. They then divided the kingdom betwixt them; +that part which is from the river Humber westward falling to Vigenius's +share, and the remainder with all Albania to Peredure's. After seven +years Vigenius died, and so the whole kingdom came to Peredure, who from +that time governed the people with generosity and mildness, so that he +even excelled his other brothers who had preceded him, nor was any +mention now made of Elidure. But irresistible fate at last removed him +suddenly, and so made way for Elidure's release from prison, and +advancement to the throne the third time; who finished the course of his +life in just and virtuous actions, and after death left an example of +piety to his successors. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 173: The tower of London was built or at least repaired and +enlarged by William Rufus. The story of its having been originally +constructed by Julius Caesar is an absurd fiction irreconcilable with the +Commentaries of that general. See William of Malmesbury, p. 341.] + + + + +CHAP. XIX.--_The names of Elidure's thirty-three successors._ + + +Elidure being dead, Gorbonian's son enjoyed the crown, and imitated his +uncle's wise and prudent government. For he abhorred tyranny, and +practised justice and mildness towards the people, nor did he ever +swerve from the rule of equity. After him reigned Margan, the son of +Arthgallo, who, being instructed by the examples of his immediate +predecessors, held the government in peace. To him succeeded Enniaunus, +his brother, who took a contrary course, and in the sixth year of his +reign was deposed, for having preferred a tyrannical to a just and legal +administration. In his room was placed his kinsman Idwallo, the son of +Vigenius, who, being admonished by Enniaunus's ill success, became a +strict observer of justice and equity. To him succeeded Runno, the son +of Peredure, whose successor was Geruntius, the son of Elidure. After +him reigned Catellus, his son; after Catellus, Coillus; after Coillus, +Porrex; after Porrex, Cherin. This prince had three sons, Fulgenius, +Eldadus, and Andragius, who all reigned one after another. Then +succeeded Urianus, the son of Andragius; after whom reigned in order, +Eliud, Cledaucus, Cletonus, Gurgintius, Merianus, Bleduno, Cap, Oenus, +Sisilius, Blegabred. This last prince, in singing and playing upon +musical instruments, excelled all the musicians that had been before +him, so that he seemed worthy of the title of the God of Jesters. After +him reigned Arthmail, his brother; after Arthmail, Eldol; to whom +succeeded in order, Redion, Rederchius, Samuilpenissel, Pir, Capoir, and +Cligueillus the son of Capoir, a man prudent and mild in all his +actions, and who above all things made it his business to exercise true +justice among his people. + + + + +CHAP. XX.--_Heli's three sons; the first of whom, viz. Lud, gives name +to the city of London._ + + +Next to him succeeded his son Heli, who reigned forty years. He had +three sons, Lud, Cassibellaun,[174] and Nennius; of whom Lud, being the +eldest, succeeded to the kingdom after his father's death. He became +famous for the building of cities, and for rebuilding the walls of +Trinovantum, which he also surrounded with innumerable towers. He +likewise commanded the citizens to build houses, and all other kinds of +structures in it, so that no city in all foreign countries to a great +distance round could show more beautiful palaces. He was withal a +warlike man, and very magnificent in his feasts and public +entertainments. And though he had many other cities, yet he loved this +above them all, and resided in it the greater part of the year; for +which reason it was afterwards called Kaerlud, and by the corruption of +the word, Caerlondon; and again by change of languages, in process of +time, London; as also by foreigners who arrived here, and reduced this +country under their subjection, it was called Londres. At last, when he +was dead, his body was buried by the gate which to this time is called +in the British tongue after his name, Parthlud,[175] and in the Saxon, +Ludesgata. He had two sons, Androgeus and Tenuantius, who were incapable +of governing on account of their age: and therefore their uncle +Cassibellaun was preferred to the kingdom in their room. As soon as he +was crowned, he began to display his generosity and magnificence to such +a degree, that his fame reached to distant kingdoms; which was the +reason that the monarchy of the whole kingdom came to be invested in +him, and not in his nephews. Notwithstanding Cassibellaun, from an +impulse of piety, would not suffer them to be without their share in the +kingdom, but assigned a large part of it to them. For he bestowed the +city of Trinovantum, with the dukedom of Kent, on Androgeus; and the +dukedom of Cornwall on Tenuantius. But he himself, as possessing the +crown, had the sovereignty over them, and all the other princes of the +island. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 174: The British name of this prince is probably Caswallon.] + +[Footnote 175: In Latin _Porta Lud_.] + + + + +BOOK IV. + +CHAP. I.--_Julius Caesar invades Britain._ + + +About this time it happened, (as is found in the Roman histories,) that +Julius Caesar, having subdued Gaul, came to the shore of the Ruteni. And +when from thence he had got a prospect of the island of Britain, he +inquired of those about him what country it was, and what people +inhabited it. Then fixing his eyes upon the ocean, as soon as he was +informed of the name of the kingdom and the people, he said:[176] "In +truth we Romans and the Britons have the same origin, since both are +descended from the Trojan race. Our first father, after the destruction +of Troy, was AEneas; theirs, Brutus, whose father was Sylvius, the son of +Ascanius, the son of AEneas. But I am deceived, if they are not very much +degenerated from us, and know nothing of the art of war, since they live +separated by the ocean from the whole world. They may be easily forced +to become our tributaries, and subjects to the Roman state. But before +the Romans offer to invade or assault them, we must send them word that +they pay tribute as other nations do, and submit themselves to the +senate; for fear we should violate the ancient nobility of our father +Priamus, by shedding the blood of our kinsmen." All which he accordingly +took care to signify in writing to Cassibellaun; who in great +indignation returned him an answer in the following letter. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 176: It is ridiculous to suppose that Caesar said any thing of +the kind, for he knew well the slender historical evidence on which the +Trojan story depended.] + + + + +CHAP. II.--_Cassibellaunus's letter to Julius Caesar._ + + +"Cassibellaun, king of the Britons, to Caius Julius Caesar. We cannot but +wonder, Caesar, at the avarice of the Roman people, since their +insatiable thirst for money cannot let us alone, though the dangers of +the ocean have placed us in a manner out of the world; but they must +have the presumption to covet our substance, which we have hitherto +enjoyed in quiet. Neither is this indeed sufficient: we must also +choose subjection and slavery to them, before the enjoyment of our +native liberty. Your demand, therefore, Caesar, is scandalous, since the +same vein of nobility flows from AEneas in both Britons and Romans, and +one and the same chain of consanguinity unites us: which ought to be a +band of firm union and friendship. It was that, which you should have +demanded of us, and not slavery: we have learned to admit of the one, +but never to bear the other. And so much have we been accustomed to +liberty, that we are perfectly ignorant what it is to submit to slavery. +And if even the gods themselves should attempt to deprive us of our +liberty, we would, to the utmost of our power, resist them in defence of +it. Know then, Caesar, that we are ready to fight for that and our +kingdom, if, as you threaten, you shall attempt to invade Britain." + + + + +CHAP. III.--_Caesar is routed by Cassibellaun._ + + +On receiving this answer, Caesar made ready his fleet, and waited for a +fair wind to execute his threats against Cassibellaun. As soon as the +wind stood fair, he hoisted his sails, and arrived with his army at the +mouth of the river Thames. The ships were now just come close to land, +when Cassibellaun with all his forces appeared on his march against +them, and coming to the town of Dorobellum, he consulted with his +nobility how to drive out the enemy. There was present with him Belinus, +general of his army, by whose counsel the whole kingdom was governed. +There were also his two nephews, Androgeus, duke of Trinovantum, and +Tenuantius, duke of Cornwall, together with three inferior kings, +Cridious, king of Albania, Guerthaeth of Venedotia, and Britael of +Dimetia, who, as they had encouraged the rest to fight the enemy, gave +their advice to march directly to Caesar's camp, and drive them out of +the country before they could take any city or town. For if he should +possess himself of any fortified places, they said it would be more +difficult to force him out, because he would then know whither to make a +retreat with his men. To this proposal they all agreed, and advanced +towards the shore where Julius Caesar had pitched his camp. And now both +armies drew out in order of battle, and began the fight, wherein both +bows and swords were employed. Immediately the wounded fell in heaps on +each side, and the ground was drenched with the blood of the slain, as +much as if it had been washed with the sudden return of the tide. While +the armies were thus engaged, it happened that Nennius and Androgeus, +with the citizens of Canterbury and Trinovantum, whom they commanded, +had the fortune to meet with the troop in which Caesar himself was +present. And upon an assault made, the general's cohort was very nearly +routed by the Britons falling upon them in a close body. During this +action, fortune gave Nennius an opportunity of encountering Caesar. +Nennius therefore boldly made up to him, and was in great joy that he +could but give so much as one blow to so great a man. On the other hand, +Caesar being aware of his design, stretched out his shield to receive +him, and with all his might struck him upon the helmet with his drawn +sword, which he lifted up again with an intention to finish his first +blow, and make it mortal; but Nennius carefully prevented him with his +shield, upon which Caesar's sword glancing with great force from the +helmet, became so firmly fastened therein, that when by the intervention +of the troops they could no longer continue the encounter, the general +was not able to draw it out again. Nennius, thus becoming master of +Caesar's sword, threw away his own, and pulling the other out, made haste +to employ it against the enemy. Whomsoever he struck with it, he either +cut off his head, or left him wounded without hopes of recovery. While +he was thus exerting himself, he was met by Labienus, a tribune, whom he +killed in the very beginning of the encounter. At last, after the +greatest part of the day was spent, the Britons poured in so fast, and +made such vigorous efforts, that by the blessing of God they obtained +the victory, and Caesar, with his broken forces, retired to his camp and +fleet. The very same night, as soon as he had got his men together +again, he went on board his fleet, rejoicing that he had the sea for his +camp. And upon his companions dissuading him from continuing the war any +longer, he acquiesced in their advice, and returned back to Gaul. + + + + +CHAP. IV.--_Nennius, the brother of Cassibellaun, being wounded in +battle by Caesar, dies._ + + +Cassibellaun, in joy for this triumph, returned solemn thanks to God; +and calling the companions of his victory together, amply rewarded every +one of them, according as they had distinguished themselves. On the +other hand, he was very much oppressed with grief for his brother +Nennius, who lay mortally wounded, and at the very point of death. For +Caesar had wounded him in the encounter, and the blow which he had given +him proved incurable; so that fifteen days after the battle he died, and +was buried at Trinovantum, by the North Gate. His funeral obsequies were +performed with regal pomp, and Caesar's sword put into the tomb with him, +which he had kept possession of, when struck into his shield in the +combat. The name of the sword was _Crocea Mors_ (Yellow Death), as being +mortal to every body that was wounded with it. + + + + +CHAP. V.--_Caesar's inglorious return to Gaul._ + + +After this flight of Caesar, and his arrival on the Gallic coast, the +Gauls attempted to rebel and throw off his yoke. For they thought he was +so much weakened, that his forces could be no longer a terror to them. +Besides, a general report was spread among them, that Cassibellaun was +now out at sea with a vast fleet to pursue him in his flight; on which +account the Gauls, growing still more bold, began to think of driving +him from their coasts. Caesar, aware of their designs, was not willing to +engage in a doubtful war with a fierce people, but rather chose to go to +all their first nobility with open treasures, and reconcile them with +presents. To the common people he promised liberty, to the dispossessed +the restitution of their estates, and to the slaves their freedom. Thus +he that had insulted them before with the fierceness of a lion, and +plundered them of all, now, with the mildness of a lamb, fawns on them +with submissive abject speeches, and is glad to restore all again. To +these acts of meanness he was forced to condescend till he had pacified +them, and was able to regain his lost power. In the meantime not a day +passed without his reflecting upon his flight, and the victory of the +Britons. + + + + +CHAP. VI.--_Cassibellaun forms a stratagem for sinking Caesar's ships._ + + +After two years were expired, he prepared to cross the sea again, and +revenge himself on Cassibellaun, who having intelligence of his design, +everywhere fortified his cities, repaired the ruined walls, and placed +armed men at all the ports. In the river Thames, on which Caesar intended +to sail up to Trinovantum, he caused iron and leaden stakes, each as +thick as a man's thigh, to be fixed under the surface of the water, that +Caesar's ships might founder. He then assembled all the forces of the +island, and took up his quarters with them near the sea-coasts, in +expectation of the enemy's coming. + + + + +CHAP. VII.--_Caesar a second time vanquished by the Britons._ + + +After he had furnished himself with all necessaries, the Roman general +embarked with a vast army, eager to revenge himself on a people that had +defeated him; in which he undoubtedly would have succeeded, if he could +but have brought his fleet safe to land; but this he was not able to do. +For in sailing up the Thames to Trinovantum, the ships struck against +the stakes, which so endangered them all on a sudden, that many +thousands of the men were drowned, while the ships being pierced sank +into the river. Caesar, upon this, employed all his force to shift his +sails, and hastened to get back again to land. And so those that +remained, after a narrow escape, went on shore with him. Cassibellaun, +who was present upon the bank, with joy observed the disaster of the +drowned, but grieved at the escape of the rest; and upon his giving a +signal to his men, made an attack upon the Romans, who, notwithstanding +the danger they had suffered in the river, when landed, bravely +withstood the Britons; and having no other fence to trust to but their +own courage, they made no small slaughter; but yet suffered a greater +loss themselves, than that which they were able to give the enemy. For +their number was considerably diminished by their loss in the river; +whereas the Britons being hourly increased with new recruits, were three +times their number, and by that advantage defeated them. Caesar, seeing +he could no longer maintain his ground, fled with a small body of men +to his ships, and made the sea his safe retreat; and as the wind stood +fair, he hoisted his sails, and steered to the shore of the Morini. From +thence he repaired to a certain tower, which he had built at a place +called Odnea, before this second expedition into Britain. For he durst +not trust the fickleness of the Gauls, who he feared would fall upon him +a second time, as we have said already they did before, after the first +flight he was forced to make before the Britons. And on that account he +had built this tower for a refuge to himself, that he might be able to +maintain his ground against a rebellious people, if they should make +insurrection against him. + + + + +CHAP. VIII.--_Evelinus kills Hirelglas. Androgeus desires Caesar's +assistance against Cassibellaun._ + + +Cassibellaun, elevated with joy for this second victory, published a +decree, to summon all the nobility of Britain with their wives to +Trinovantum, in order to perform solemn sacrifices to their tutelary +gods who had given them the victory over so great a commander. +Accordingly, they all appeared, and prepared a variety of sacrifices, +for which there was a great slaughter of cattle. At this solemnity they +offered forty thousand cows, and a hundred thousand sheep, and also +fowls of several kinds without number, besides thirty thousand wild +beasts of several kinds. As soon as they had performed these solemn +honours to their gods, they feasted themselves on the remainder, as was +usual at such sacrifices, and spent the rest of the day and night in +various plays and sports. Amidst these diversions, it happened that two +noble youths, whereof one was nephew to the king, the other to duke +Androgeus, wrestled together, and afterwards had a dispute about the +victory. The name of the king's nephew was Hirelglas, the other's +Evelinus. As they were reproaching each other, Evelinus snatched up his +sword and cut off the head of his rival. This sudden disaster put the +whole court into a consternation, upon which the king ordered Evelinus +to be brought before him, that he might be ready to undergo such +punishment as the nobility should determine, and that the death of +Hirelglas might be revenged upon him, if he were unjustly killed. +Androgeus, suspecting the king's intentions, made answer that he had a +court of his own, and that whatever should be alleged against his own +men, ought to be determined there. If, therefore, he was resolved to +demand justice of Evelinus, he might have it at Trinovantum, according +to ancient custom. Cassibellaun, finding he could not attain his ends, +threatened Androgeus to destroy his country with fire and sword, if he +would not comply with his demands. But Androgeus, now incensed, scorned +all compliance with him. On the other hand, Cassibellaun, in a great +rage, hastened to make good his threats, and ravage the country. This +forced Androgeus to make use of daily solicitations to the king, by +means of such as were related to him, or intimate with him, to divert +his rage. But when he found these methods ineffectual, he began in +earnest to consider how to oppose him. At last, when all other hopes +failed, he resolved to request assistance from Caesar, and wrote a letter +to him to this effect:-- + +"Androgeus, duke of Trinovantum, to Caius Julius Caesar, instead of +wishing death as formerly, now wishes health. I repent that ever I acted +against you, when you made war against the king. Had I never been guilty +of such exploits, you would have vanquished Cassibellaun, who is so +swollen with pride since his victory, that he is endeavouring to drive +me out of his coasts, who procured him that triumph. Is this a fit +reward for my services? I have settled him in an inheritance; and he +endeavours to disinherit me. I have a second time restored him to the +kingdom: and he endeavours to destroy me. All this have I done for him +in fighting against you. I call the gods to witness I have not deserved +his anger, unless I can be said to deserve it for refusing to deliver up +my nephew, whom he would have condemned to die unjustly. Of which, that +you may be better able to judge, hear this account of the matter. It +happened that for joy of the victory we performed solemn honours to our +tutelary gods, in which after we had finished our sacrifices, our youth +began to divert themselves with sports. Among the rest our two nephews, +encouraged by the example of the others, entered the lists; and when +mine had got the better, the other without any cause was incensed, and +just going to strike him: but he avoided the blow, and taking him by the +hand that held the sword, strove to wrest it from him. In this struggle +the king's nephew happened to fall upon the sword's point, and died +upon the spot. When the king was informed of it, he commanded me to +deliver up the youth, that he might be punished for murder. I refused do +it; whereupon he invaded my provinces with all his forces, and has given +me very great disturbance; flying, therefore, to your clemency, I desire +your assistance, that by you I may be restored to my dignity, and by me +you may gain possession of Britain. Let no doubts or suspicion of +treachery in this matter detain you. Be influenced by the common motive +of mankind; let past enmities beget a desire of friendship; and after +defeat make you more eager for victory." + + + + +CHAP. IX.--_Cassibellaun, being put to flight, and besieged by Caesar, +desires peace._ + + +Caesar, having read the letter, was advised by his friends not to go into +Britain upon a bare verbal invitation of the duke, unless he would send +such hostages as might be for his security. Without delay, therefore, +Androgeus sent his son Scaeva with thirty young noblemen nearly related +to him. Upon delivery of the hostages, Caesar, relieved from his +suspicion, re-assembled his forces, and with a fair wind arrived at the +port of Rutupi. In the meantime Cassibellaun had begun to besiege +Trinovantum and ravage the country towns; but finding that Caesar was +arrived, he raised the siege and hastened to meet him. As soon as he +entered a valley near Dorobernia,[177] he saw the Roman army preparing +their camp: for Androgeus had conducted them to this place, for the +convenience of making a sudden assault upon the city. The Romans, seeing +the Britons advancing towards them, quickly flew to their arms, and +ranged themselves in several bodies. The Britons also put on their arms, +and placed themselves in their ranks. But Androgeus with five thousand +men lay hid in a wood hard by, to be ready to assist Caesar, and spring +forth on a sudden upon Cassibellaun and his party. Both armies now +approached to begin the fight, some with bows and arrows, some with +swords, so that much blood was shed on both sides, and the wounded fell +down like leaves in autumn. While they were thus engaged, Androgeus +sallied forth from the wood, and fell upon the rear of Cassibellaun's +army, upon which the hopes of the battle entirely depended. And now, +what with the breach which the Romans had made through them just before, +what with the furious irruption of their own countrymen, they were no +longer able to stand their ground, but were obliged with their broken +forces to quit the field. Near the place stood a rocky mountain, on the +top of which was a thick hazel wood. Hither Cassibellaun fled with his +men after he found himself worsted; and having climbed up to the top of +the mountain, bravely defended himself and killed the pursuing enemy. +For the Roman forces with those of Androgeus pursued him to disperse his +flying troops, and climbing up the mountain after them made many +assaults, but all to little purpose; for the rockiness of the mountain +and great height of its top was a defence to the Britons, and the +advantage of higher ground gave them an opportunity of killing great +numbers of the enemy. Caesar hereupon besieged the mountain that whole +night, which had now overtaken them, and shut up all the avenues to it; +intending to reduce the king by famine, since he could not do it by +force of arms. Such was the wonderful valour of the British nation in +those times, that they were able to put the conqueror of the world twice +to flight; and being ready to die for the defence of their country and +liberty, they, even though defeated, withstood him whom the whole world +could not withstand. Hence Lucan in their praise says of Caesar, + + "Territa quaesitis ostendit terga Britannis." + + With pride he sought the Britons, but when found, + Dreaded their force, and fled the hostile ground. + +Two days were now passed, when Cassibellaun having consumed all his +provision, feared famine would oblige him to surrender himself prisoner +to Caesar. For this reason he sent a message to Androgeus to make his +peace with Julius, lest the honour of the nation might suffer by his +being taken prisoner. He likewise represented to him, that he did not +deserve to be pursued to death for the annoyance which he had given him. +As soon as the messengers had told this to Androgeus, he made +answer:--"That prince deserves not to be loved, who in war is mild as a +lamb, but in peace cruel as a lion. Ye gods of heaven and earth! Does my +lord then condescend to entreat me now, whom before he took upon him to +command? Does he desire to be reconciled and make his submission to +Caesar, of whom Caesar himself had before desired peace? He ought +therefore to have considered, that he who was able to drive so great a +commander out of the kingdom, was able also to bring him back again. I +ought not to have been so unjustly treated, who had then done him so +much service, as well as now so much injury. He must be mad who either +injures or reproaches his fellow soldiers by whom he defeats the enemy. +The victory is not the commander's, but theirs who lose their blood in +fighting for him. However, I will procure him peace if I can, for the +injury which he has done me is sufficiently revenged upon him, since he +sues for mercy to me." + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 177: Canterbury] + + + + +CHAP. X.--_Androgeus's speech to Caesar._ + + +Androgeus after this went to Caesar, and after a respectful salutation +addressed him in this manner:--"You have sufficiently revenged yourself +upon Cassibellaun; and now let clemency take place of vengeance. What +more is there to be done than that he make his submission and pay +tribute to the Roman state?" To this Caesar returned him no answer: upon +which Androgeus said again; "My whole engagement with you, Caesar, was +only to reduce Britain under your power, by the submission of +Cassibellaun. Behold! Cassibellaun is now vanquished, and Britain by my +assistance become subject to you. What further service do I owe you? God +forbid that I should suffer my sovereign, who sues to me for peace, and +makes me satisfaction for the injury which he has done me, to be in +prison or in chains. It is no easy matter to put Cassibellaun to death +while I have life; and if you do not comply with my demand, I shall not +be ashamed to give him my assistance." Caesar, alarmed at these menaces +of Androgeus, was forced to comply, and entered into peace with +Cassibellaun, on condition that he should pay a yearly tribute of three +thousand pounds of silver. So then Julius and Cassibellaun from this +time became friends, and made presents to each other. After this, Caesar +wintered in Britain, and the following spring returned into Gaul.[178] +At length he assembled all his forces, and marched towards Rome against +Pompey. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 178: "Caesar's expedition against the Britons was of singular +boldness; for he was the first who proceeded with a fleet to the Western +Ocean, and sailed over the Atlantic Sea, conducting an army to war; and +being desirous of possessing an island, for its size hardly believed in, +and giving occasion for much controversy to various writers, as if a +name and a tale had been invented of a place which never had been nor +was yet in existence, he advanced the dominion of the Romans beyond the +limits of the known world; and having twice sailed over to the island +from the opposite coast of Gaul, and having rather worsted his enemies +in many battles, than advantaged his own soldiers, for there was nothing +worth taking from men who had a bare subsistence and were poor, he +terminated the war not in the way he wished; but taking hostages from +the king, and appointing tributes, he departed from the +island."--PLUTARCH. This is the language of a writer favourable to the +reputation of Caesar, and may teach us how worthless are the old British +or rather Welsh legends in comparison with the classic historians. + +But the classic historians deal sometimes in fables. Witness the +following quotation from Polyaenus: + +"Caesar attempting to pass a large river in Britain, Cassolaulus, king of +the Britons, obstructed him with many horsemen and chariots. Caesar had +in his train a very large elephant, an animal hitherto unseen by the +Britons. Having armed him with scales of iron, and put a large tower +upon him, and placed therein archers and slingers, he ordered them to +enter the stream. The Britons were amazed at beholding a beast till then +unseen, and of an extraordinary nature. As to the horses, what need to +write of them! since even among the Greeks, horses fly on seeing +elephants even without harness, but thus towered and armed, and casting +darts and slinging, they could not endure even to look upon the sight. +The Britons therefore fled with their horses and chariots. Thus the +Romans passed the river without molestation, having terrified the enemy +by a single animal."] + + + + +CHAP. XI.--_Tenuantius is made king of Britain after Cassibellaun._ + + +After seven years had expired, Cassibellaun died and was buried at York. +He was succeeded by Tenuantius, duke of Cornwall, and brother of +Androgeus: for Androgeus was gone to Rome with Caesar. Tenuantius +therefore, now wearing the crown, governed the kingdom with diligence. +He was a warlike man, and a strict observer of justice. After him +Kymbelinus his son was advanced to the throne, being a great soldier, +and brought up by Augustus Caesar. He had contracted so great a +friendship with the Romans, that he freely paid them tribute when he +might have very well refused it. In his days was born our Lord Jesus +Christ, by whose precious blood mankind was redeemed from the devil, +under whom they had been before enslaved. + + + + +CHAP. XII.--_Upon Guiderius's refusing to pay tribute to the Romans, +Claudius Caesar invades Britain._ + + +Kymbelinus, when he had governed Britain ten years, begat two sons, the +elder named Guiderius, the other Arviragus. After his death the +government fell to Guiderius. This prince refused to pay tribute to the +Romans; for which reason Claudius, who was now emperor, marched against +him. He was attended in this expedition by the commander of his army, +who was called in the British tongue, Leuis Hamo, by whose advice the +following war was to be carried on. This man, therefore, arriving at the +city of Portcester, [Portchester,] began to block up the gates with a +wall, and denied the citizens all liberty of passing out. For his design +was either to reduce them to subjection by famine, or kill them without +mercy. + + + + +CHAP. XIII.--_Leuis Hamo, a Roman, by wicked treachery kills Guiderius._ + + +Guiderius, upon the news of Claudius's coming, assembled all the +soldiery of the kingdom, and went to meet the Roman army. In the battle +that ensued, he began the assault with great eagerness, and did more +execution with his own sword than the greater part of his army. Claudius +was now on the point of retreating to his ships, and the Romans very +nearly routed, when the crafty Hamo, throwing aside his own armour, put +on that of the Britons, and as a Briton fought against his own men. Then +he exhorted the Britons to a vigorous assault, promising them a speedy +victory. For he had learned their language and manners, having been +educated among the British hostages at Rome. By these means he +approached by little and little to the king, and seizing a favourable +opportunity, stabbed him while under no apprehension of danger, and then +escaped through the enemy's ranks to return to his men with the news of +his detestable exploit. But Arviragus, his brother, seeing him killed, +forthwith put off his own and put on his brother's habiliments, and, as +if he had been Guiderius himself, encouraged the Britons to stand their +ground. Accordingly, as they knew nothing of the king's disaster, they +made a vigorous resistance, fought courageously, and killed no small +number of the enemy. At last the Romans gave ground, and dividing +themselves into two bodies, basely quitted the field. Caesar with one +part, to secure himself, retired to his ships; but Hamo fled to the +woods, because he had not time to get to the ships. Arviragus, +therefore, thinking that Claudius fled along with him, pursued him with +all speed, and did not leave off harassing him from place to place, till +he overtook him upon a part of the sea-coast, which, from the name of +Hamo, is now called Southampton. There was at the same place a +convenient haven for ships, and some merchant-ships at anchor. And just +as Hamo was attempting to get on board them, Arviragus came upon him +unawares, and forthwith killed him. And ever since that time the haven +has been called Hamo's port. + + + + +CHAP. XIV.--_Arviragus, king of Britain, makes his submission to +Claudius, who with his assistance conquers the Orkney islands._ + + +In the meantime, Claudius, with his remaining forces, assaulted the city +above-mentioned, which was then called Kaerperis, now Portcestre, and +presently levelled the walls, and having reduced the citizens to +subjection, went after Arviragus, who had entered Winchester. Afterwards +he besieged that city, and employed a variety of engines against it. +Arviragus, seeing himself in these straits, called his troops together, +and opened the gates, to march out and give him battle. But just as he +was ready to begin the attack, Claudius, who feared the boldness of the +king and the bravery of the Britons, sent a message to him with a +proposal of peace; choosing rather to reduce them by wisdom and policy, +than run the hazard of a battle. To this purpose he offered a +reconciliation with him, and promised to give him his daughter, if he +would only acknowledge the kingdom of Britain subject to the Roman +state. The nobility hereupon persuaded him to lay aside thoughts of war, +and be content with Claudius's promise; representing to him at the same +time, that it was no disgrace to be subject to the Romans, who enjoyed +the empire of the whole world. By these and many other arguments he was +prevailed upon to hearken to their advice, and make his submission to +Caesar. After which Claudius sent to Rome for his daughter, and then, +with the assistance of Arviragus, reduced the Orkney and the provincial +islands to his power.[179] + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 179: Claudius never was in Orkney; he spent only sixteen days +altogether in Britain. Of certain sacred isles in the neighbourhood of +Britain, Plutarch gives the following account, showing how little the +Greeks knew of Britain eighty years after the reign of Claudius: + +"A short time before Callistratus celebrated the Pythian games, two holy +men from the opposite parts of the habitable earth came to us at +Delphos, Demetrius the grammarian from Britain, returning home to +Tarsus, and Cleombrotus the Lacedaemonian.... But Demetrius said, that +there are many desert islands scattered around Britain, some of which +have the name of being the islands of genii and heroes: that he had been +sent by the emperor, for the sake of describing and viewing them, to +that which lay nearest to the desert isles, and which had but few +inhabitants; all of whom were esteemed by the Britons sacred and +inviolable. Very soon after his arrival there was great turbulence in +the air, and many portentous storms; the winds became tempestuous, and +fiery whirlwinds rushed forth. When these ceased, the islanders said +that the departure of some one of the superior genii had taken place. +For as a light when burning, say they, has nothing disagreeable, but +when extinguished is offensive to many; so likewise lofty spirits afford +an illumination benignant and mild, but their extinction and destruction +frequently, as at the present moment, excite winds and storms, and often +infect the atmosphere with pestilential evils. Moreover, that there was +one island there, wherein Saturn was confined by Briareus in sleep: for +that sleep had been devised for his bonds; and that around him were many +genii as his companions and attendants. + +"Asclepiades asserts, that after their thirtieth year the Ethiopians, +being scorched by the sun, quickly grow old, in consequence of their +bodies being overheated; whereas in Britain they advance to an hundred +and twenty years, in consequence of the coldness of the place and their +retaining within themselves the vital heat: for the bodies of the +Ethiopians are more slender from their being relaxed by the sun, whereas +the inhabitants of the north are thick set in their persons, and on this +account longer lived."] + + + + +CHAP. XV.--_Claudius gives his daughter Genuissa for a wife to +Arviragus, and returns to Rome._ + + +As soon as the winter was over, those that were sent for Claudius's +daughter returned with her, and presented her to her father. The +damsel's name was Genuissa, and so great was her beauty, that it raised +the admiration of all that saw her. After her marriage with the king, +she gained so great an ascendant over his affections, that he in a +manner valued nothing but her alone: insomuch that he was desirous to +have the place honoured where the nuptials were solemnized, and moved +Claudius to build a city upon it, for a monument to posterity of so +great and happy a marriage. Claudius consented to it, and commanded a +city to be built, which after his name is called Kaerglou, that is +Gloucester, to this day, and is situated on the confines of Dimetia and +Loegria, upon the banks of the Severn. But some say that it derived its +name from Duke Gloius, a son that was born to Claudius there, and to +whom, after the death of Arviragus, fell the dukedom of Dimetia. The +city being finished, and the island now enjoying peace, Claudius +returned to Rome, leaving to Arviragus the government of the British +islands. At the same time the apostle Peter founded the Church of +Antioch; and afterwards coming to Rome, was bishop there, and sent Mark, +the evangelist, into Egypt to preach the gospel which he had written. + + + + +CHAP. XVI.--_Arviragus revolting from the Romans, Vespasian is sent into +Britain._ + + +After the departure of Claudius, Arviragus began to show his wisdom and +courage, to rebuild cities and towns, and to exercise so great authority +over his own people, that he became a terror to the kings of remote +countries. But this so elevated him with pride that he despised the +Roman power, disdained any longer subjection to the senate, and assumed +to himself the sole authority in every thing. Upon this news Vespasian +was sent by Claudius to procure a reconciliation with Arviragus, or to +reduce him to the subjection of the Romans. When, therefore, Vespasian +arrived at the haven of Rutupi,[180] Arviragus met him, and prevented +his entering the port. For he brought so great an army along with him, +that the Romans, for fear of his falling upon them, durst not come +ashore. Vespasian upon this withdrew from that port, and shifting his +sails arrived at the shore of Totness. As soon as he was landed, he +marched directly to besiege Kaerpenhuelgoit, now Exeter; and after lying +before it seven days, was overtaken by Arviragus and his army, who gave +him battle. That day great destruction was made in both armies, but +neither got the victory. The next morning, by the mediation of queen +Genuissa, the two leaders were made friends, and sent their men over to +Ireland. As soon as winter was over, Vespasian returned to Rome, but +Arviragus continued still in Britain. Afterwards, when he grew old, he +began to show much respect to the senate, and to govern his kingdom in +peace and tranquillity. He confirmed the old laws of his ancestors, and +enacted some new ones, and made very ample presents to all persons of +merit. So that his fame spread over all Europe, and he was both loved +and feared by the Romans, and became the subject of their discourse more +than any king in his time. Hence Juvenal relates how a certain blind +man, speaking of a turbot that was taken, said:-- + + "Regem aliquem capies, aut de temone Britanno + Decidet Arviragus."[181] + + Arviragus shall from his chariot fall, + Or thee his lord some captive king shall call. + +In war none was more fierce than he, in peace none more mild, none more +pleasing, or in his presents more magnificent. When he had finished his +course of life, he was buried at Gloucester, in a certain temple which +he had built and dedicated to the honour of Claudius.[182] + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 180: Richborough.] + +[Footnote 181: Juven. Sat. iv. 26.] + +[Footnote 182: Although this narrative of the reign of Arviragus is +purely imaginative, yet it is not impossible that Gloucester may have +been a station founded by Claudius, and hence called Claudii Castrum, or +Caer Glan.] + + + + +CHAP. XVII.--_Rodric, leader of the Picts, is vanquished by Marius._ + + +His son Marius, a man of admirable prudence and wisdom, succeeded him in +the kingdom. In his reign a certain king of the Picts, named Rodric, +came from Scythia with a great fleet, and arrived in the north part of +Britain, which is called Albania, and began to ravage that country. +Marius therefore raising an army went in quest of him, and killed him in +battle, and gained the victory; for a monument of which he set up a +stone in the province, which from his name was afterwards called +Westmoreland, where there is an inscription retaining his memory to this +day. He gave the conquered people that came with Rodric liberty to +inhabit that part of Albania which is called Caithness, that had been a +long time desert and uncultivated. And as they had no wives, they +desired to have the daughters and kinswomen of the Britons. But the +Britons refused, disdaining to unite with such a people. Having suffered +a repulse here, they sailed over into Ireland, and married the women of +that country, and by their offspring increased their number. But let +thus much suffice concerning them, since I do not propose to write the +history of this people, or of the Scots, who derived their original from +them and the Irish. Marius, after he had settled the island in perfect +peace, began to love the Roman people, paying the tribute that was +demanded of him; and in imitation of his father's example practised +justice, law, peace, and every thing that was honourable in his kingdom. + + + + +CHAP. XVIII.--_Marius dying, is succeeded by Coillus._ + + +As soon as he had ended his days, his son Coillus took upon him the +government of the kingdom. He had been brought up from his infancy at +Rome, and having been taught the Roman manners, had contracted a most +strict amity with them. He likewise paid them tribute, and declined +making them any opposition, because he saw the whole world subject to +them, and that no town or country was out of the limits of their power. +By paying therefore what was required of him, he enjoyed his kingdom in +peace: and no king ever showed greater respect to his nobility, not only +permitting them to enjoy their own with quiet, but also binding them to +him by his continual bounty and munificence. + + + + +CHAP. XIX.--_Lucius is the first British king that embraces the +Christian faith, together with his people._ + + +Coillus had but one son, named Lucius, who, obtaining the crown after +his father's decease, imitated all his acts of goodness, and seemed to +his people to be no other than Coillus himself revived. As he had made +so good a beginning, he was willing to make a better end: for which +purpose he sent letters to pope Eleutherius, desiring to be instructed +by him in the Christian religion. For the miracles which Christ's +disciples performed in several nations wrought a conviction in his mind; +so that being inflamed with an ardent love of the true faith, he +obtained the accomplishment of his pious request. For that holy pope, +upon receipt of this devout petition, sent to him two most religious +doctors, Faganus and Duvanus, who, after they had preached concerning +the incarnation of the Word of God, administered baptism to him, and +made him a proselyte to the Christian faith. Immediately upon this, +people from all countries, assembling together, followed the king's +example, and being washed in the same holy laver, were made partakers of +the kingdom of heaven. The holy doctors, after they had almost +extinguished paganism over the whole island, dedicated the temples, that +had been founded in honour of many gods, to the one only God and his +saints, and filled them with congregations of Christians. There were +then in Britain eight and twenty flamens, as also three archflamens, to +whose jurisdiction the other judges and enthusiasts were subject. These +also, according to the apostolic command, they delivered from idolatry, +and where they were flamens made them bishops, where archflamens, +archbishops. The seats of the archflamens were at the three noblest +cities, viz. London,[183] York, and the City of Legions, which its old +walls and buildings show to have been situated upon the river Uske in +Glamorganshire. To these three, now purified from superstition, were +made subject twenty-eight bishops, with their dioceses. To the +metropolitan of York were subject Deira and Albania, which the great +river Humber divides from Loegria. To the metropolitan of London were +subject Loegria and Cornwall. These two provinces the Severn divides +from Kambria or Wales, which was subject to the City of Legions. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 183: This fabulous story of the flamens and archflamens, and +of the substitution of bishops and archbishops in their places, led, in +later years, to serious disputes between the bishops of Canterbury, +York, and London.] + + + + +CHAP. XX.--_Faganus and Duvanus give an account at Rome, of what they +had done in Britain._ + + +At last, when they had made an entire reformation here, the two prelates +returned to Rome, and desired the pope to confirm what they had done. As +soon as they had obtained a confirmation, they returned again to +Britain, accompanied with many others, by whose doctrine the British +nation was in a short time strengthened in the faith. Their names and +acts are recorded in a book which Gildas wrote concerning the victory +of Aurelius Ambrosius; and what is delivered in so bright a treatise, +needs not to be repeated here in a meaner style.[184] + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 184: This treatise has not been preserved, and most probably +never was written. The only information which has come down to us about +king Lucius, at all likely to be of an authentic character, is a brief +notice of him in Bede's Ecclesiastical History, p. 10.] + + + + +BOOK V. + +CHAP. I.--_Lucius dies without issue, and is a benefactor to the +churches._ + + +In the meantime, the glorious king Lucius highly rejoiced at the great +progress which the true faith and worship had made in his kingdom, and +permitted the possessions and territories which formerly belonged to the +temples of the gods, to be converted to a better use, and appropriated +to Christian churches. And because a greater honour was due to them than +to the others, he made large additions of lands and manor-houses, and +all kinds of privileges to them. Amidst these and other acts of his +great piety, he departed this life in the city of Gloucester, and was +honourably buried in the cathedral church, in the hundred and +fifty-sixth year after our Lord's incarnation. He had no issue to +succeed him, so that after his decease there arose a dissension among +the Britons, and the Roman power was much weakened. + + + + +CHAP. II.--_Severus, a senator, subdues part of Britain: his war with +Fulgenius._ + + +When this news was brought to Rome, the senate despatched Severus, a +senator, with two legions, to reduce the country to subjection. As soon +as he was arrived, he came to a battle with the Britons, part of whom he +obliged to submit to him, and the other part which he could not subdue +he endeavoured to distress in several cruel engagements, and forced them +to fly beyond Deira into Albania. Notwithstanding which they opposed him +with all their might under the conduct of Fulgenius, and often made +great slaughter both of their own countrymen and of the Romans. For +Fulgenius, brought to his assistance all the people of the islands that +he could find, and so frequently gained the victory. The emperor, not +being able to resist the irruptions which he made, commanded a wall to +be built between Deira and Albania, to hinder his excursions upon them; +they accordingly made one at the common charge from sea to sea, which +for a long time hindered the approach of the enemy. But Fulgenius, when +he was unable to make any longer resistance, made a voyage into Scythia, +to desire the assistance of the Picts towards his restoration. And when +he had got together all the forces of that country, he returned with a +great fleet into Britain, and besieged York. Upon this news being spread +through the country, the greatest part of the Britons deserted Severus, +and went over to Fulgenius. However this did not make Severus desist +from his enterprise: but calling together the Romans, and the rest of +the Britons that adhered to him, he marched to the siege, and fought +with Fulgenius; but the engagement proving very sharp, he was killed +with many of his followers: Fulgenius also was mortally wounded. +Afterwards Severus was buried at York, which city was taken by his +legions.[185] He left two sons, Bassianus and Geta, whereof Geta had a +Roman for his mother, but Bassianus[186] a Briton. Therefore upon the +death of their father the Romans made Geta king, favouring him on +account of his being a Roman by both his parents: but the Britons +rejected him, and advanced Bassianus, as being their countryman by his +mother's side. This proved the occasion of a battle between the two +brothers, in which Geta was killed; and so Bassianus obtained the +sovereignty. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 185: The following is an extract from the true account of the +expedition of Severus into Britain taken from Herodian: + +"[Severus] received letters from the praefect of Britain relating that +the barbarians there were in a state of insurrection, overrunning the +country, driving off booty, and laying every thing waste; so that for +the defence of the island there was need either of greater force, or of +the presence of the emperor himself. Severus heard this with pleasure, +by nature a lover of glory, and anxious, after his victories in the east +and north and his consequent titles, to obtain a trophy from the +Britons: moreover, willing to withdraw his sons from Rome, that they +might grow up in the discipline and sobriety of a military life, far +removed from the blandishments and luxury prevalent in Rome, he orders +an expedition against Britain, although now old and labouring under an +arthritic affection; but as to his mind, he was vigorous beyond any +youth. For the most part he performed the march carried in a litter, nor +did he ever continue long in one place. Having completed the journey +with his sons, and crossed over the sea more quickly than could be +described or expected, he advanced against the Britons, and having drawn +together his soldiers from all sides, and concentrated a vast force, he +prepared for the war. + +"The Britons, much struck with the sudden arrival of the emperor, and +learning that such a mighty force was collected against them, sent +ambassadors, sued for peace, and were willing to excuse their past +transgressions. But Severus, purposely seeking delay that he might not +again return to Rome without his object, and, moreover, desirous to +obtain from Britain a victory and a title, sent away their ambassadors +without effecting their purpose, and prepared all things for the +contest. He more especially endeavoured to render the marshy places +stable by means of causeways, that his soldiers, treading with safety, +might easily pass them, and, having firm footing, fight to advantage. +For many parts of the British country, being constantly flooded by the +tides of the ocean, become marshy. In these the natives are accustomed +to swim and traverse about being immersed as high as their waists: for +going naked as to the greater part of their bodies, they contemn the +mud. Indeed they know not the use of clothing, but encircle their loins +and necks with iron; deeming this an ornament and an evidence of +opulence, in like manner as other barbarians esteem gold. But they +puncture their bodies with pictured forms of every sort of animals; on +which account they wear no clothing, lest they should hide the figures +on their body. They are a most warlike and sanguinary race, carrying +only a small shield and a spear, and a sword girded to their naked +bodies. Of a breast-plate or an helmet they know not the use, esteeming +them an impediment to their progress through the marshes; from the +vapours and exhalations of which the atmosphere in that country always +appears dense. + +"Against such things, therefore, Severus prepared whatever could be +serviceable to the Roman army, but hurtful and detrimental to the +designs of the barbarians. And when every thing appeared to him +sufficiently arranged for the war, leaving his younger son, named Geta, +in that part of the island which was subjugated to the Romans, for the +purpose of administering justice and directing other civil matters of +the government, giving him as assessors the more aged of his friends; +and taking Antoninus with himself, he led the way against the +barbarians. His army having passed beyond the rivers and fortresses +which defended the Roman territory, there were frequent attacks and +skirmishes and retreats on the side of the barbarians. To these, indeed, +flight was an easy matter, and they lay hidden in the thickets and +marshes through their local knowledge; all which things being adverse to +the Romans, served to protract the war."] + +[Footnote 186: Otherwise called Caracalla.] + + + + +CHAP. III.--_Carausius advanced to be king of Britain._ + + +At that time there was in Britain one Carausius, a young man of mean +birth, who, having given proof of his bravery in many engagements, went +to Rome, and solicited the senate for leave to defend with a fleet the +maritime coasts of Britain, from the incursions of barbarians; which if +they would grant him, he promised to do more for the honour and service +of the commonwealth, than by delivering up to them the kingdom of +Britain. The senate, deluded by his specious promises, granted him his +request, and so, with his commission sealed, he returned to Britain. +Then by wicked practices getting a fleet together, he enlisted into his +service a body of the bravest youths, and putting out to sea, sailed +round the whole kingdom, causing very great disturbance among the +people. In the meantime he invaded the adjacent islands, where he +destroyed all before him, countries, cities, and towns, and plundered +the inhabitants of all they had. By this conduct he encouraged all +manner of dissolute fellows to flock to him in hope of plunder, and in a +very short time was attended by an army which no neighbouring prince was +able to oppose. This made him begin to swell with pride, and to propose +to the Britons, that they should make him their king; for which +consideration he promised to kill and banish the Romans, and free the +whole island from the invasions of barbarous nations. Accordingly +obtaining his request, he fell upon Bassianus and killed him, and then +took upon him the government of the kingdom. For Bassianus was betrayed +by the Picts, whom Fulgenius his mother's brother had brought with him +into Britain, and who being corrupted by the promises and presents of +Carausius, instead of assisting Bassianus, deserted him in the very +battle, and fell upon his men; so that the rest were put into a +consternation, and not knowing their friends from their foes, quickly +gave ground, and left the victory to Carausius. Then he, to reward the +Picts for this success, gave them a habitation in Albania, where they +continued afterwards mixed with the Britons. + + + + +CHAP. IV.--_Allectus kills Carausius, but is afterwards himself slain in +flight by Asclepiodotus._ + + +When the news of these proceedings of Carausius arrived at Rome, the +senate commissioned[187] Allectus, with three legions, to kill the +tyrant, and restore the kingdom of Britain to the Roman power. No sooner +was he arrived, than he fought with Carausius, killed him, and took upon +himself the government. After which he miserably oppressed the Britons, +for having deserted the commonwealth, and adhered to Carausius. But the +Britons, not enduring this, advanced Asclepiodotus, duke of Cornwall, to +be their king, and then unanimously marched against Allectus, and +challenged him to battle. He was then at London, celebrating a feast to +his tutelary gods; but being informed of the coming of Asclepiodotus, he +quitted the sacrifice, and went out with all his forces to meet him, and +engaged with him in a sharp fight. But Asclepiodotus had the advantage, +and dispersed and put to flight Allectus's troops, and in the pursuit +killed many thousands, as also king Allectus himself. After this +victory, Livius Gallus, the colleague of Allectus, assembled the rest of +the Romans, shut the gates of the city, and placed his men in the towers +and other fortifications, thinking by these means either to make a stand +against Asclepiodotus, or at least to avoid imminent death. But +Asclepiodotus seeing this laid siege to the city, and sent word to all +the dukes of Britain, that he had killed Allectus with a great number of +his men, and was besieging Gallus and the rest of the Romans in London; +and therefore earnestly entreated them to hasten to his assistance, +representing to them withal, how easy it was to extirpate the whole race +of the Romans out of Britain, provided they would all join their forces +against the besieged. At this summons came the Dimetians, Venedotians, +Deirans, Albanians, and all others of the British race. And as soon as +they appeared before the duke, he commanded vast numbers of engines to +be made, to beat down the walls of the city. Accordingly every one +readily executed his orders with great bravery, and made a violent +assault upon the city, the walls of which were in a very short time +battered down, and a passage made into it. After these preparations, +they began a bloody assault upon the Romans, who, seeing their fellow +soldiers falling before them without intermission, persuaded Gallus to +offer a surrender on the terms of having quarter granted them, and leave +to depart: for they were now all killed except one legion, which still +held out. Gallus consented to the proposal, and accordingly surrendered +himself and his men to Asclepiodotus, who was disposed to give them +quarter; but he was prevented by a body of Venedotians, who rushed upon +them, and the same day cut off all their heads upon a brook within the +city, which from the name of the commander was afterwards called in the +British tongue Nautgallim, and in the Saxon Gallembourne. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 187: Roman history must have been very little known in +England, when such a statement as this could be put forth as true. +Eutropius [ix. 22] says "Carausius, after seven years, was murdered by +his companion Allectus, who after him held the government three years +longer."] + + + + +CHAP. V.--_Asclepiodotus obtains the crown. Diocletian's massacre of the +Christians in Britain._ + + +The Romans being thus defeated, Asclepiodotus,[188] with the consent of +the people, placed the crown upon his own head, and governed the country +in justice and peace ten years, and curbed the insolence and outrages +committed by plunderers and robbers. In his days began the persecution +of the emperor Diocletian; and Christianity, which from the time of king +Lucius had continued fixed and undisturbed, was almost abolished over +the whole island. This was principally owing to Maximianus Herculius, +general of that tyrant's army, by whose command all the churches were +pulled down, and all the copies of the Holy Scriptures that could be +found, were burned in the public markets. The priests also, with the +believers under their care, were put to death, and with emulation +pressed in crowds together for a speedy passage to the joys of heaven, +as their proper dwelling place. God therefore magnified his goodness to +us, forasmuch as he did, in that time of persecution, of his mere grace, +light up the bright lamps of the holy martyrs, to prevent the spreading +of gross darkness over the people of Britain; whose sepulchres and +places of suffering might have been a means of inflaming our minds with +the greatest fervency of divine love, had not the deplorable impiety of +barbarians deprived us of them. Among others of both sexes who continued +firm in the army of Christ, and suffered, were Alban of Verulam, and +Julius and Aaron, both of the City of Legions. Of these, Alban, out of +the fervour of his charity, when his confessor, Amphibalus, was pursued +by the persecutors, and just ready to be apprehended, first hid him in +his house, and then offered himself to die for him; imitating in this +Christ himself, who laid down his life for his sheep. The other two, +after being torn limb from limb, in a manner unheard of, received the +crown of martyrdom, and were elevated up to the gates of the heavenly +Jerusalem. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 188: Asclepiodotus is hardly mentioned in the authentic +history of this period. He was praefectus praetorio under Constantius +Chlorus, who was the general that really recovered Britain from +Allectus.] + + + + +CHAP. VI.--_An insurrection against Asclepiodotus, by Coel, whose +daughter Helena Constantius marries._ + + +In the meantime Coel,[189] duke of Kaercolvin or Colchester, made an +insurrection against king Asclepiodotus, and in a pitched battle killed +him, and took possession of his crown. The senate, hearing this, +rejoiced at the king's death, who had given such disturbance to the +Roman power: and reflecting on the damage which they had sustained by +the loss of this kingdom, they sent Constantius the senator, a man of +prudence and courage, who had reduced Spain under their subjection, and +who was above all the rest industrious to promote the good of the +commonwealth. Coel, having information of his coming, was afraid to +engage him in battle, on account of a report, that no king was able to +stand before him. Therefore, as soon as Constantius was arrived at the +island, Coel sent ambassadors to him with offers of peace and +submission, on condition that he should enjoy the kingdom of Britain, +and pay no more than the usual tribute to the Roman state. Constantius +consented to this proposal, and so, upon their giving hostages, peace +was confirmed between them. The month after Coel was seized with a very +great sickness, of which he died within eight days. After his decease, +Constantius himself was crowned, and married the daughter of Coel, whose +name was Helena. She surpassed all the ladies of the country in beauty, +as she did all others of the time in her skill in music and the liberal +arts. Her father had no other issue to succeed him on the throne; for +which reason he was very careful about her education, that she might be +better qualified to govern the kingdom. Constantius, therefore, having +made her partner of his bed, had a son by her called Constantine.[190] +After eleven years were expired, he died at York, and bestowed the +kingdom upon his son, who, within a few years after he was raised to +this dignity, began to give proofs of heroic virtue, undaunted courage, +and strict observance of justice towards his people. He put a stop to +the depredations of robbers, suppressed the insolence of tyrants, and +endeavoured everywhere to restore peace. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 189: This king seems to be the same as the hero of the old +popular ditty, "Old king Coel was a merry old soul," &c.] + +[Footnote 190: Constantine was born long before Constantius Chlorus went +to Britain. See the Roman Historians.] + + + + +CHAP. VII.--_The Romans desire Constantine's assistance against the +cruelty of Maxentius._ + + +At that time there was a tyrant at Rome, named Maxentius,[191] who made +it his endeavour to confiscate the estates of all the best of the +nobility, and oppressed the commonwealth with his grievous tyranny. +Whilst he, therefore, was proceeding in his cruelty, those that were +banished fled to Constantine in Britain, and were honourably entertained +by him. At last, when a great many such had resorted to him, they +endeavoured to raise in him an abhorrence of the tyrant, and frequently +expostulated with him after this manner:--"How long, Constantine, will +you suffer our distress and banishment? Why do you delay to restore us +to our native country? You are the only person of our nation that can +restore to us what we have lost, by driving out Maxentius. For what +prince is to be compared with the king of Britain, either for brave and +gallant soldiers, or for large treasures? We entreat you to restore us +to our estates, wives, and children, by conducting us with an army to +Rome." + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 191: Maxentius was son of Maximian who abdicated. The skeleton +of this part of the history is taken from the authentic writers: but the +details are entirely fictitious.] + + + + +CHAP. VIII.--_Constantine, having reduced Rome, obtains the empire of +the world. Octavius, duke of the Wisseans, is put to flight by Trahern._ + + +Constantine, moved with these and the like speeches, made an expedition +to Rome, and reduced it under his power, and afterwards obtained the +empire of the whole world. In this expedition he carried along with him +three uncles of Helena, viz. Leolin, Trahern, and Marius, and advanced +them to the degree of senators. In the meantime Octavius, duke of the +Wisseans, rebelled against the Roman proconsuls, to whom the government +of the island had been committed, and having killed them, took +possession of the throne. Constantine, upon information of this, sent +Trahern, the uncle of Helena, with three legions to reduce the island. +Trahern came to shore near the city, which in the British tongue is +called Kaerperis, and having assailed it, took it in two days. This news +spreading over the whole country, king Octavius assembled all the forces +of the land, and went to meet him not far from Winchester, in a field +called in the British tongue Maisuriam, where he engaged with him in +battle, and routed him. Trahern, upon this loss, betook himself with his +broken forces to his ships, and in them made a voyage to Albania, in the +provinces of which he made great destruction. When Octavius received +intelligence of this, he followed him with his forces, and encountered +him in Westmoreland, but fled, having lost the victory. On the other +hand, Trahern, when he found the day was his own, pursued Octavius, nor +ever suffered him to be at rest till he had dispossessed him both of his +cities and crown. Octavius, in great grief for the loss of his kingdom, +went with his fleet to Norway, to obtain assistance from king Gombert. +In the meantime he had given orders to his most intimate adherents to +watch carefully all opportunities of killing Trahern, which accordingly +was not long after done by the magistrate of a certain privileged town, +who had a more than ordinary love for him. For as Trahern was one day +upon a journey from London, he lay hid with a hundred men in the vale of +a wood, through which he was to pass, and there fell upon him unawares, +and killed him in the midst of his men. This news being brought to +Octavius, he returned back to Britain, where he dispersed the Romans, +and recovered the throne. In a short time after this, he arrived to such +greatness and wealth that he feared nobody, and possessed the kingdom +until the reign of Gratian and Valentinian. + + + + +CHAP. IX.--_Maximian is desired for a king of Britain._ + + +At last, in his old age, being willing to settle the government, he +asked his council which of his family they desired to have for their +king after his decease. For he had no son, and only one daughter, to +whom he could leave the crown. Some, therefore, advised him to bestow +his daughter with the kingdom upon some noble Roman, to the end that +they might enjoy a firmer peace. Others were of opinion that Conan +Meriadoc, his nephew, ought to be preferred to the throne, and the +daughter married to some prince of another kingdom with a dowry in +money. While these things were in agitation among them, there came +Caradoc, duke of Cornwall, and gave his advice to invite over +Maximian[192] the senator, and to bestow the lady with the kingdom upon +him, which would be a means of securing to them a lasting peace. For his +father Leolin, the uncle of Constantine, whom we mentioned before, was a +Briton, but by his mother and place of birth he was a Roman, and by both +parents he was descended of royal blood. And there was a sure prospect +of a firm and secure peace under him, on account of the right which he +had to Britain by his descent from the emperors, and also from the +British blood. But the duke of Cornwall, by delivering this advice, +brought upon himself the displeasure of Conan, the king's nephew, who +was very ambitious of succeeding to the kingdom, and put the whole court +into confusion about it. However, Caradoc, being unwilling to recede +from his proposal, sent his son Mauricius to Rome to acquaint Maximian +with what had passed. Mauricius was a person of large and +well-proportioned stature, as well as great courage and boldness, and +could not bear to have his judgment contradicted without a recourse to +arms and duelling. On presenting himself before Maximian, he met with a +reception suitable to his quality, and had the greatest honours paid him +of any that were about him. There happened to be at that time a great +contest between Maximian and the two emperors, Gratian and Valentinian, +on account of his being refused the third part of the empire, which he +demanded. When, therefore, Mauricius saw Maximian ill-treated by the +emperors, he took occasion from thence to address him in this manner: +"Why need you, Maximian, stand in fear of Gratian, when you have so fair +an opportunity of wresting the empire from him? Come with me into +Britain, and you shall take possession of that crown. For king +Octavius, being now grown old and infirm, desires nothing more than to +find some such proper person, to bestow his kingdom and daughter upon. +He has no male issue, and therefore has asked the advice of his +nobility, to whom he should marry his daughter with the kingdom; and +they to his satisfaction have past a decree, that the kingdom and lady +be given to you, and have sent me to acquaint you with it. So that if +you go with me, and accomplish this affair, you may with the treasure +and forces of Britain be able to return back to Rome, drive out the +emperors, and gain the empire to yourself. For in this manner did your +kinsman Constantius, and several others of our kings who raised +themselves to the empire." + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 192: Maximus is the correct name of this usurper.] + + + + +CHAP. X.--_Maximian, coming into Britain, artfully declines fighting +with Conan._ + + +Maximian was pleased with the offer, and took his journey to Britain; +but in his way subdued the cities of the Franks, by which he amassed a +great treasure of gold and silver, and raised men for his service in all +parts. Afterwards he set sail with a fair wind, and arrived at Hamo's +Port; the news of which struck the king with fear and astonishment, who +took this to be a hostile invasion. Whereupon he called to him his +nephew Conan, and commanded him to raise all the forces of the kingdom, +and go to meet the enemy. Conan, having made the necessary preparations, +marched accordingly to Hamo's Port, where Maximian had pitched his +tents; who, upon seeing the approach of so numerous an army, was under +the greatest perplexities what course to take. For as he was attended +with a smaller body of men, and had no hopes of being entertained +peaceably, he dreaded both the number and courage of the enemy. Under +these difficulties he called a council of the oldest men, together with +Mauricius, to ask their advice what was to be done at this critical +juncture. "It is not for us," said Mauricius, "to hazard a battle with +such a numerous and powerful army: neither was the reduction of Britain +by arms the end of our coming. Our business must be to desire peace and +a hospitable treatment, till we can learn the king's mind. Let us say +that we are sent by the emperors upon an embassy to Octavius, and let us +with artful speeches pacify the people." When all had shown themselves +pleased with this advice, he took with him twelve aged men with grey +hairs, eminent beyond the rest for their quality and wisdom, and bearing +olive-branches in their right hands, and went to meet Conan. The +Britons, seeing they were men of a venerable age, and that they bore +olive-branches as a token of peace, rose up before them in a respectful +manner, and opened a way for their free access to their commander. Then +presenting themselves before Conan Meriadoc, they saluted him in the +name of the emperors and the senate, and told him, that Maximian was +sent to Octavius upon an embassy from Gratian and Valentinian. Conan +made answer: "Why is he then attended with so great a multitude? This +does not look like the appearance of ambassadors, but the invasion of +enemies." To which Mauricius replied: "It did not become so great a man +to appear abroad in a mean figure, or without soldiers for his guard; +especially considering, that by reason of the Roman power, and the +actions of his ancestors, he is become obnoxious to many kings. If he +had but a small retinue, he might have been killed by the enemies of the +commonwealth. He is come in peace, and it is peace which he desires. +For, from the time of our arrival, our behaviour has been such as to +give no offence to any body. We have bought necessaries at our own +expenses, as peaceable people do, and have taken nothing from any by +violence." While Conan was in suspense, whether to give them peace, or +begin the battle, Caradoc, duke of Cornwall, with others of the +nobility, came to him, and dissuaded him from proceeding in the war +after this representation; whereupon, though much against his will, he +laid down his arms, and granted them peace. Then he conducted Maximian +to London, where he gave the king an account of the whole proceeding. + + + + +CHAP. XI.--_The kingdom of Britain is bestowed on Maximian._ + + +Caradoc, after this, taking along with him his son Mauricius, commanded +everybody to withdraw from the king's presence, and then addressed him +in these words: "Behold, that which your more faithful and loyal +subjects have long wished for, is now by the good providence of God +brought about. You commanded your nobility to give their advice, how to +dispose of your daughter and kingdom, as being willing to hold the +government no longer on account of your great age. Some, therefore, were +for having the kingdom delivered up to Conan your nephew, and a suitable +match procured for your daughter elsewhere; as fearing the ruin of our +people, if any prince that is a stranger to our language should be set +over us. Others were for granting the kingdom to your daughter and some +nobleman of our own country, who should succeed you after your death. +But the greater number recommended some person descended of the family +of the emperors, on whom you should bestow your daughter and crown. For +they promised themselves a firm and lasting peace, as the consequence of +such a marriage, since they would be under the protection of the Roman +state. See then! God has vouchsafed to bring to you a young man, who is +both a Roman, and also of the royal family of Britain; and to whom, if +you follow my advice, you will not delay to marry your daughter. And +indeed, should you refuse him, what right could you plead to the crown +of Britain against him? For he is the cousin of Constantine, and the +nephew of king Coel, whose daughter Helena possessed the crown by an +undeniable hereditary right." When Caradoc had represented these things +to him, Octavius acquiesced, and with the general consent of his people +bestowed the kingdom and his daughter upon him. Conan Meriadoc, finding +how things went, was beyond expression incensed, and, retiring into +Albania, used all his interest to raise an army, that he might give +disturbance to Maximian. And when he had got a great body of men +together, he passed the Humber, and wasted the provinces on each side of +it. At the news whereof, Maximian hastened to assemble his forces +against him, and then gave him battle, and returned with victory. But +this proved no decisive blow to Conan, who with his re-assembled troops +still continued to ravage the provinces, and provoked Maximian to return +again and renew the war, in which he had various success, being +sometimes victorious, sometimes defeated. At last, after great damages +done on both sides, they were brought by the mediation of friends to a +reconciliation. + + + + +CHAP. XII.--_Maximian overthrows the Armoricans: his speech to Conan._ + + +Five years after this, Maximian, proud of the vast treasures that daily +flowed in upon him, fitted out a great fleet, and assembled together all +the forces in Britain. For this kingdom was now not sufficient for him; +he was ambitious of adding Gaul also to it. With this view he set sail, +and arrived first at the kingdom of Armorica, now called Bretagne, and +began hostilities upon the Gallic people that inhabited it. But the +Gauls, under the command of Imbaltus, met him, and engaged him in +battle, in which the greater part being in danger, they were forced to +fly, and leave Imbaltus with fifteen thousand men killed, all of them +Armoricans. This severe overthrow was matter of the greatest joy to +Maximian, who knew the reduction of that country would be very easy, +after the loss of so many men. Upon this occasion he called Conan aside +from the army, and smiling said:--"See, we have already conquered one of +the best kingdoms in Gaul: we may now have hopes of gaining all the +rest. Let us make haste to take the cities and towns, before the rumour +of their danger spread to the remoter parts of Gaul, and raise all the +people up in arms. For if we can but get possession of this kingdom, I +make no doubt of reducing all Gaul under our power. Be not therefore +concerned that you have yielded up the island of Britain to me, +notwithstanding the hopes you once had of succeeding to it; because +whatever you have lost in it, I will restore to you in this country. For +my design is to advance you to the throne of this kingdom; and this +shall be another Britain, which we will people with our own countrymen, +and drive out the old inhabitants. The land is fruitful in corn, the +rivers abound with fish, the woods afford a beautiful prospect, and the +forests are everywhere pleasant; nor is there in my opinion anywhere a +more delightful country." Upon this, Conan, with a submissive bow, gave +him his thanks, and promised to continue loyal to him as long as he +lived. + + + + +CHAP. XIII.--_Redonum taken by Maximian._ + + +After this they marched with their forces to Redonum,[193] and took it +the same day. For the citizens, hearing of the bravery of the Britons, +and what slaughter they had made, fled away with haste, leaving their +wives and children behind them. And the rest of the cities and towns +soon followed their example; so that there was an easy entrance into +them for the Britons, who wherever they entered killed all they found +left of the male sex, and spared only the women. At last, when they had +wholly extirpated the inhabitants of all those provinces, they +garrisoned the cities and towns with British soldiers, and made +fortifications in several places. The fame of Maximian's exploits +spreading over the rest of the provinces of Gaul, all their dukes and +princes were in a dreadful consternation, and had no other hopes left +but in their prayers to their gods. Maximian, finding that he had struck +terror into them, began to think of still bolder attempts, and by +profusely distributing presents, augmented his army. For all persons +that he knew to be eager for plunder, he enlisted into his service, and +by plentifully bestowing his money and other valuable things among them, +kept them firm to his interest. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 193: Rennes.] + + + + +CHAP. XIV.--_Maximian, after the conquest of Gaul and Germany, makes +Triers the seat of his empire._ + + +By these means he raised such a numerous army, as he thought would be +sufficient for the conquest of all Gaul. Notwithstanding which he +suspended his arms for a time, till he had settled the kingdom which he +had taken, and peopled it with Britons. To this end he published a +decree, for the assembling together of a hundred thousand of the common +people of Britain, who were to come over to settle in the country; +besides thirty thousand soldiers, to defend them from hostile attack. As +soon as the people were arrived according to his orders, he distributed +them through all the countries of Armorica, and made another Britain of +it, and then bestowed it on Conan Meriadoc. But he himself, with the +rest of his fellow soldiers, marched into the further part of Gaul, +which, after many bloody battles, he subdued, as he did also all +Germany, being everywhere victorious. But the seat of his empire he made +at Triers, and fell so furiously upon the two emperors, Gratian and +Valentinian, that he killed the one, and forced the other to flee from +Rome. + + + + +CHAP. XV.--_A fight between the Aquitanians and Conan._ + + +In the meantime, the Gauls and Aquitanians gave disturbance to Conan and +the Armorican Britons, and harassed them with their frequent incursions; +but he as often defeated them, and bravely defended the country +committed to him. After he had entirely vanquished them, he had a mind +to bestow wives on his fellow soldiers, by whom they might have issue to +keep perpetual possession of the country; and to avoid all mixture with +the Gauls, he sent over to the island of Britain for wives for them. In +order to accomplish this, messengers were sent to recommend the +management of this affair to Dianotus, king of Cornwall, who had +succeeded his brother Caradoc in that kingdom. He was a very noble and +powerful prince, and to him Maximian had committed the government, while +he was employed in affairs abroad. He had also a daughter of wonderful +beauty, named Ursula, with whom Conan was most passionately in love. + + + + +CHAP. XVI.--_Guanius and Melga murder eleven thousand virgins. Maximian +is killed at Rome._ + + +Dianotus, upon this message sent him by Conan, was very ready to execute +his orders, and summoned together the daughters of the nobility from all +provinces, to the number of eleven thousand; but of the meaner sort, +sixty thousand; and commanded them all to appear together in the city of +London. He likewise ordered ships to be brought from all shores, for +their transportation to their future husbands. And though in so great a +multitude many were pleased with this order, yet it was displeasing to +the greater part, who had a greater affection for their relations and +native country. Nor, perhaps, were there wanting some who, preferring +virginity to the married state, would have rather lost their lives in +any country, than enjoyed the greatest plenty in wedlock. In short, most +of them had views and wishes different from one another, had they been +left to their own liberty. But now the ships being ready, they went on +board, and sailing down the Thames, made towards the sea. At last, as +they were steering towards the Armorican coast, contrary winds arose and +dispersed the whole fleet. In this storm the greater part of the ships +foundered; but the women that escaped the danger of the sea, were driven +upon strange islands, and by a barbarous people either murdered or made +slaves. For they happened to fall into the hands of the cruel army of +Guanius and Melga, who, by the command of Gratian,[194] were making +terrible destruction in Germany, and the nations on the sea-coast. +Guanius was king of the Huns, and Melga of the Picts, whom Gratian had +engaged in his party, and had sent him into Germany to harass those of +Maximian's party along the sea-coasts. While they were thus exercising +their barbarous rage, they happened to light upon these virgins, who had +been driven on those parts, and were so inflamed with their beauty, that +they courted them to their brutish embraces; which, when the women would +not submit to, the Ambrons fell upon them, and without remorse murdered +the greatest part of them. This done, the two wicked leaders of the +Picts and Huns, Guanius and Melga, being the partizans of Gratian and +Valentinian, when they had learned that the island of Britain was +drained of all its soldiers, made a speedy voyage towards it; and, +taking into their assistance the people of the adjacent islands, arrived +in Albania. Then joining in a body, they invaded the kingdom, which was +left without either government or defence, and made miserable +destruction among the common people. For Maximian, as we have already +related, had carried away with him all the warlike youth that could be +found, and had left behind him only the husbandmen, who had neither +sense nor arms, for the defence of their country. Guanius and Melga, +finding that they were not able to make the least opposition, began to +domineer most insolently, and to lay waste their cities and countries, +as if they had only been pens of sheep. The news of this grievous +calamity, coming to Maximian, he sent away Gratian Municeps,[195] with +two legions, to their assistance; who, as soon as they arrived, fought +with the enemy, and after a most bloody victory over them, forced them +to fly over into Ireland. In the meantime, Maximian was killed at Rome +by Gratian's friends;[196] and the Britons whom he had carried with him +were also slain or dispersed. Those of them that could escape, went to +their countrymen in Armorica, which was now called the other Britain. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 194: That is, Gratian the emperor, and brother of Valentinian, +not Gratian Municeps.] + +[Footnote 195: This Gratian was called Municeps, because he was a +citizen of Britain.] + +[Footnote 196: Maximus was besieged in Aquileia, and slain by +Theodosius, emperor of the East, A.D. 388.] + + + + +BOOK VI. + +CHAP. I.--_Gratian, being advanced to the throne, is killed by the +common people. The Britons desire the Romans to defend them against +Guanius and Melga._ + + +But Gratian Municeps,[197] hearing of the death of Maximian, seized the +crown, and made himself king. After this he exercised such tyranny that +the common people fell upon him in a tumultuous manner, and murdered +him. When this news reached other countries, their former enemies +returned back from Ireland, and bringing with them the Scots, +Norwegians, and Dacians, made dreadful devastations with fire and sword +over the whole kingdom, from sea to sea. Upon this most grievous +calamity and oppression, ambassadors are despatched with letters to +Rome, to beseech, with tears and vows of perpetual subjection, that a +body of men might be sent to revenge their injuries, and drive out the +enemy from them. The ambassadors in a short time prevailed so far, that, +unmindful of past injuries, the Romans granted them one legion, which +was transported in a fleet to their country, and there speedily +encountered the enemy. At last, after the slaughter of a vast multitude +of them, they drove them entirely out of the country, and rescued the +miserable people from their outrageous cruelty. Then they gave orders +for a wall to be built between Albania and Deira, from one sea to the +other, for a terror to the enemy, and safeguard to the country. At that +time Albania was wholly laid waste, by the frequent invasions of +barbarous nations; and whatever enemies made an attempt upon the +country, met with a convenient landing-place there. So that the +inhabitants were diligent in working upon the wall,[198] which they +finished partly at the public, partly upon private charge. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 197: There was also one Marcus at this time, whom the soldiers +in Britain advanced to the sovereignty; but he was soon got rid of.] + +[Footnote 198: It was unnecessary for the Britons to build a wall, +because there was one built for them by Severus 200 years before.] + + + + +CHAP. II.--_Guethelin's speech to the Britons when the Romans left +them._ + + +The Romans, after this, declared to the Britons, that they should not be +able for the future to undergo the fatigue of such laborious +expeditions; and that it was beneath the dignity of the Roman state to +harass so great and brave an army, both by land and sea, against base +and vagabond robbers; but that they ought to apply themselves to the use +of arms, and to fight bravely in defending to the utmost of their power, +their country, riches, wives, children, and, what is dearer than all +these, their liberty and lives. As soon as they had given them this +exhortation, they commanded all the men of the island that were fit for +war, to appear together at London, because the Romans were about to +return home. When, therefore, they were all assembled, Guethelin, the +metropolitan of London, had orders to make a speech to them, which he +did in these words:-- + +"Though I am appointed by the princes here present to speak to you, I +find myself rather ready to burst into tears, than to make an eloquent +oration. It is a most sensible affliction to me to observe the weak and +destitute state into which you are fallen since Maximian drew away with +him all the forces and youth of this kingdom. You that were left were +people wholly inexperienced in war, and occupied with other employments, +as tilling the ground, and several kinds of mechanical trades. So that +when your enemies from foreign countries came upon you, as sheep +wandering without a shepherd, they forced you to quit your folds, till +the Roman power restored you to them again. Must your hopes, therefore, +always depend upon foreign assistance? And will you never use yourselves +to handle arms against a band of robbers, that are by no means stronger +than yourselves, if you are not dispirited by sloth and cowardice? The +Romans are now tired with the continual voyages wherewith they are +harassed to defend you against your enemies: they rather choose to remit +to you the tribute you pay them, than undergo any longer this fatigue by +land and sea. Because you were only the common people at the time when +we had soldiers of our own, do you therefore think that manhood has +quite forsaken you? Are not men in the course of human generation often +the reverse of one another? Is not a ploughman often the father of a +soldier, and a soldier of a ploughman? Does not the same diversity +happen in a mechanic and a soldier? Since then, in this manner, one +produces another, I cannot think it possible for manhood to be lost +among them. As then you are men, behave yourselves like men: call upon +the name of Christ, that he may inspire you with courage to defend your +liberties." + +No sooner had he concluded his speech, than the people raised such a +shout, that one would have thought them on a sudden inspired with +courage from heaven. + + + + +CHAP. III.--_The Britons are again cruelly harassed by Guanius and +Melga._ + + +After this the Romans encouraged the timorous people as much as they +could, and left them patterns of their arms. They likewise commanded +towers, having a prospect towards the sea, to be placed at proper +distances along all the south coast, where their ships were, and from +whence they feared the invasions of the barbarians. But, according to +the proverb, "It is easier to make a hawk of a kite, than a scholar of a +ploughman;" all learning to him is but as a pearl thrown before swine. +Thus, no sooner had the Romans taken their farewell of them, than the +two leaders, Guanius and Melga, issued forth from their ships, in which +they had fled over into Ireland, and with their bands of Scots, Picts, +Norwegians, Dacians, and others, whom they had brought along with them, +seized upon all Albania as far as the very wall. Understanding, +likewise, that the Romans were gone, never to return any more, they now, +in a more insolent manner than before, began their devastations in the +island. Hereupon the country fellows upon the battlements of the walls +sat night and day with quaking hearts, not daring to stir from their +seats, and readier for flight than making the least resistance. In the +meantime the enemies ceased not with their hooks to pull them down +headlong, and dash the wretched herd to pieces upon the ground; who +gained at least this advantage by their speedy death, that they avoided +the sight of that most deplorable calamity, which forthwith threatened +their relations and dearest children. Such was the terrible vengeance of +God for that most wicked madness of Maximian, in draining the kingdom of +all its forces, who, had they been present, would have repulsed any +nation that invaded them; an evident proof of which they gave, by the +vast conquests they made abroad, even in remote countries; and also by +maintaining their own country in peace, while they continued here. But +thus it happens when a country is left to the defence of country clowns. +In short, quitting their high wall and their cities, the country people +were forced again to fly, and to suffer a more fatal dispersion, a more +furious pursuit of the enemy, a more cruel and more general slaughter +than before; and like lambs before wolves, so was that miserable people +torn to pieces by the merciless barbarians. Again, therefore, the +wretched remainder send letters to Agitius, a man of great power among +the Romans, to this effect. "To Agitius,[199] thrice consul, the groans +of the Britons." And after some few other complaints they add: "The sea +drives us to the barbarians, and the barbarians drive us back to the +sea: thus are we tossed to and fro between two kinds of death, being +either drowned or put to the sword." Notwithstanding this most moving +address, they procured no relief, and the ambassadors returning back in +great heaviness, declared to their countrymen the repulse which they had +suffered. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 199: AEtius is the name of this general in the classic +writers.] + + + + +CHAP. IV.--_Guethelin desires succours of Aldroen._ + + +Hereupon, after a consultation together, Guethelin, archbishop of +London, passed over into Lesser Britain, called then Armorica, or +Letavia, to desire assistance of their brethren. At that time Aldroen +reigned there, being the fourth king from Conan, to whom, as has been +already related, Maximian had given that kingdom. This prince, seeing a +prelate of so great dignity arrive, received him with honour, and +inquired after the occasion of his coming. To whom Guethelin:-- + +"Your majesty can be no stranger to the misery which we, your Britons, +have suffered (which may even demand your tears), since the time that +Maximian drained our island of its soldiers, to people the kingdom which +you enjoy, and which God grant you may long enjoy in peace. For against +us the poor remains of the British race, all the people of the adjacent +islands, have risen up, and made an utter devastation in our country, +which then abounded with all kinds of riches; so that the people now are +wholly destitute of all manner of sustenance, but what they can get in +hunting. Nor had we any power or knowledge of military affairs left +among us to encounter the enemy. For the Romans are tired of us, and +have absolutely refused their assistance. So that now, deprived of all +other hope, we come to implore your clemency, that you would furnish us +with forces, and protect a kingdom, which is of right your own, from the +incursions of barbarians. For who but yourself, ought, without your +consent, to wear the crown of Constantine and Maximian, since the right +your ancestors had to it is now devolved upon you? Prepare then your +fleet, and go with me. Behold! I deliver the kingdom of Britain into +your hands." + +To this Aldroen made answer: "There was a time formerly when I would not +have refused to accept of the island of Britain, if it had been offered +me; for I do not think there was anywhere a more fruitful country while +it enjoyed peace and tranquillity. But now, since the calamities that +have befallen it, it is become of less value, and odious both to me and +all other princes. But above all things the power of the Romans was so +destructive to it, that nobody could enjoy any settled state or +authority in it, without loss of liberty, and bearing the yoke of +slavery under them. And who would not prefer the possession of a lesser +country with liberty, to all the riches of that island in servitude? The +kingdom that is now under my subjection I enjoy with honour, and without +paying homage to any superior; so that I prefer it to all other +countries, since I can govern it without being controlled. Nevertheless, +out of respect to the right that my ancestors for many generations have +had to your island, I deliver to you my brother Constantine with two +thousand men, that with the good providence of God, he may free your +country from the inroads of barbarians, and obtain the crown for +himself. For I have a brother called by that name, who is an expert +soldier, and in all other respects an accomplished man. If you please to +accept of him, I will not refuse to send him with you, together with the +said number of men; for indeed a larger number I do not mention to you, +because I am daily threatened with disturbance from the Gauls." He had +scarcely done speaking before the archbishop returned him thanks, and +when Constantine was called in, broke out into these expressions of joy: +"Christ conquers; Christ commands; Christ reigns: behold the king of +desolate Britain! Be Christ only present, and behold our defence, our +hope and joy." In short, the ships being got ready, the men who were +chosen out from all parts of the kingdom, were delivered to Guethelin. + + + + +CHAP. V.--_Constantine, being made king of Britain, leaves three sons._ + + +When they had made all necessary preparations, they embarked, and +arrived at the port of Totness; and then without delay assembled +together the youth that was left in the island, and encountered the +enemy; over whom, by the merit of the holy prelate, they obtained the +victory. After this the Britons, before dispersed, flocked together from +all parts, and in a council held at Silchester, promoted Constantine to +the throne, and there performed the ceremony of his coronation. They +also married him to a lady, descended from a noble Roman family, whom +archbishop Guethelin had educated, and by whom the king had afterwards +three sons, Constans, Aurelius Ambrosius, and Uther Pendragon. Constans, +who was the eldest, he delivered to the church of Amphibalus in +Winchester, that he might there take upon him the monastic order. But +the other two, viz. Aurelius and Uther, he committed to the care of +Guethelin for their education. At last, after ten years were expired, +there came a certain Pict, who had entered in his service, and under +pretence of holding some private discourse with him, in a nursery of +young trees where nobody was present, stabbed him with a dagger. + + + + +CHAP. VI.--_Constans is by Vortigern crowned king of Britain._ + + +Upon the death of Constantine, a dissension arose among the nobility, +about a successor to the throne. Some were for setting up Aurelius +Ambrosius; others Uther Pendragon; others again some other persons of +the royal family. At last, when they could come to no conclusion, +Vortigern, consul of the Gewisseans, who was himself very ambitious of +the crown, went to Constans the monk,[200] and thus addressed himself to +him: "You see your father is dead, and your brothers on account of their +age are incapable of the government; neither do I see any of your family +besides yourself, whom the people ought to promote to the kingdom. If +you will therefore follow my advice, I will, on condition of your +increasing my private estate, dispose the people to favour your +advancement, and free you from that habit, notwithstanding that it is +against the rule of your order." Constans, overjoyed at the proposal, +promised, with an oath, that upon these terms he would grant him +whatever he would desire. Then Vortigern took him, and investing him in +his regal habiliments, conducted him to London, and made him king, +though not with the free consent of the people. Archbishop Guethelin was +then dead, nor was there any other that durst perform the ceremony of +his unction, on account of his having quitted the monastic order. +However, this proved no hindrance to his coronation, for Vortigern +himself performed the ceremony instead of a bishop. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 200: It is true that Constans, the son of Constantine, entered +into the sacerdotal profession, but both he and his father Constantine +were slain in Gaul, which they had made the seat of their empire, to the +entire neglect of Britain.] + + + + +CHAP. VII.--_Vortigern treacherously contrives to get king Constans +assassinated._ + + +Constans, being thus advanced, committed the whole government of the +kingdom to Vortigern, and surrendered himself up so entirely to his +counsels, that he did nothing without his order. His own incapacity for +government obliged him to do this, for he had learned any thing else +rather than state affairs within his cloister. Vortigern became sensible +of this, and therefore began to deliberate with himself what course to +take to obtain the crown, of which he had been before extremely +ambitious. He saw that now was his proper time to gain his end easily, +when the kingdom was wholly intrusted to his management; and Constans, +who bore the title of king, was no more than the shadow of one; for he +was of a soft temper, a bad judge in matters of right, and not in the +least feared, either by his own people, or by the neighbouring states. +And as for his two brothers, Uther Pendragon and Aurelius Ambrosius, +they were only children in their cradles, and therefore incapable of the +government. There was likewise this farther misfortune, that all the +older persons of the nobility were dead, so that Vortigern seemed to be +the only man surviving, that had craft, policy, and experience in +matters of state; and all the rest in a manner children, or raw youths, +who only inherited the honours of their parents and relations that had +been killed in the former wars. Vortigern, finding a concurrence of so +many favourable circumstances, contrived how he might easily and +cunningly depose Constans the monk, and immediately establish himself in +his place. But in order to do this, he waited until he had first well +established his power and interest in several countries. He therefore +petitioned to have the king's treasures, and his fortified cities, in +his own custody; pretending there was a rumour, that the neighbouring +islanders designed an invasion of the kingdom. This being granted him, +he placed his own creatures in those cities, to secure them for himself. +Then having formed a scheme how to execute his treasonable designs, he +went to the king, and represented to him the necessity of augmenting the +number of his domestics, that he might more safely oppose the invasion +of the enemy. "Have not I left all things to your disposal?" said +Constans. "Do what you will as to that, so that they be but faithful to +me." Vortigern replied, "I am informed that the Picts are going to bring +the Dacians and Norwegians in upon us, with a design to give us very +great annoyance. I would therefore advise you, and in my opinion it is +the best course you can take, that you maintain some Picts in your +court, who may do you good service among those of that nation. For if it +is true that they are preparing to begin a rebellion, you may employ +them as spies upon their countrymen in their plots and stratagems, so as +easily to escape them." This was the dark treason of a secret enemy; for +he did not recommend this out of regard to the safety of Constans, but +because he knew the Picts to be a giddy people, and ready for all manner +of wickedness; so that, in a fit of drunkenness or passion, they might +easily be incensed against the king, and make no scruple to assassinate +him. And such an accident, when it should happen, would make an open way +for his accession to the throne, which he so often had in view. Hereupon +he despatched messengers into Scotland, with an invitation to a hundred +Pictish soldiers, whom accordingly he received into the king's +household; and when admitted, he showed them more respect than all the +rest of the domestics, by making them several presents, and allowing +them a luxurious table, insomuch that they looked upon him as the king. +So great was the regard they had for him, that they made songs of him +about the streets, the subject of which was, that Vortigern deserved the +government, deserved the sceptre of Britain; but that Constans was +unworthy of it. This encouraged Vortigern to show them still more +favour, in order the more firmly to engage them in his interest; and +when by these practices he had made them entirely his creatures, he took +an opportunity, when they were drunk, to tell them, that he was going to +retire out of Britain, to see if he could get a better estate; for the +small revenue he had then, he said, would not so much as enable him to +maintain a retinue of fifty men. Then putting on a look of sadness, he +withdrew to his own apartment, and left them drinking in the hall. The +Picts at this sight were in inexpressible sorrow, as thinking what he +had said was true, and murmuring said one to another, "Why do we suffer +this monk to live? Why do not we kill him, that Vortigern may enjoy his +crown? Who is so fit to succeed as he? A man so generous to us is worthy +to rule, and deserves all the honour and dignity that we can bestow upon +him." + + + + +CHAP. VIII.--_Aurelius Ambrosius and Uther Pendragon flee from +Vortigern, and go to Lesser Britain._ + + +After this, breaking into Constans' bed-chamber, they fell upon him and +killed him, and carried his head to Vortigern. At the sight of it, he +put on a mournful countenance, and burst forth into tears, though at the +same time he was almost transported with joy. However, he summoned +together the citizens of London, (for there the fact was committed,) and +commanded all the assassins to be bound, and their heads to be cut off +for this abominable parricide. In the meantime there were some who had a +suspicion, that this piece of villany was wholly the contrivance of +Vortigern, and that the Picts were only his instruments to execute it. +Others again as positively asserted his innocence. At last the matter +being left in doubt, those who had the care of the two brothers, +Aurelius Ambrosius, and Uther Pendragon, fled over with them into Lesser +Britain, for fear of being killed by Vortigern. There they were kindly +received by king Budes, who took care to give them an education suitable +to their royal birth. + + + + +CHAP. IX.--_Vortigern makes himself king of Britain._ + + +Now Vortigern, seeing nobody to rival him in the kingdom, placed the +crown on his own head, and thus gained the pre-eminence over all the +rest of the princes. At last his treason being discovered, the people of +the adjacent islands, whom the Picts had brought into Albania, made +insurrection against him. For the Picts were enraged on account of the +death of their fellow soldiers, who had been slain for the murder of +Constans, and endeavoured to revenge that injury upon him. Vortigern +therefore was daily in great distress, and lost a considerable part of +his army in a war with them. He had likewise no less trouble from +another quarter, for fear of Aurelius Ambrosius, and his brother Uther +Pendragon, who, as we said before, had fled, on his account, into +Lesser Britain. For he heard it rumoured, day after day, that they had +now arrived at man's estate, and had built a vast fleet, with a design +to return back to the kingdom, which was their undoubted right. + + + + +CHAP. X.--_Vortigern takes the Saxons that were new-comers, to his +assistance._ + + +In the meantime there arrived in Kent three brigandines, or long +galleys, full of armed men, under the command of two brothers, Horsa and +Hengist.[201] Vortigern was then at Dorobernia, now Canterbury, which +city he used often to visit; and being informed of the arrival of some +tall strangers in large ships, he ordered that they should be received +peaceably, and conducted into his presence. As soon as they were brought +before him, he cast his eyes upon the two brothers, who excelled all the +rest both in nobility and gracefulness of person; and having taken a +view of the whole company, asked them of what country they were, and +what was the occasion of their coming into his kingdom. To whom Hengist +(whose years and wisdom entitled him to a precedence), in the name of +the rest, made the following answer:-- + +"Most noble king, Saxony, which is one of the countries of Germany, was +the place of our birth; and the occasion of our coming was to offer our +service to you or some other prince. For we were driven out of our +native country, for no other reason, but that the laws of the kingdom +required it. It is customary among us, that when we come to be +overstocked with people, our princes from all the provinces meet +together, and command all the youths of the kingdom to assemble before +them; then casting lots, they make choice of the strongest and ablest of +them, to go into foreign nations, to procure themselves a subsistence, +and free their native country from a superfluous multitude of people. +Our country, therefore, being of late overstocked, our princes met, and +after having cast lots, made choice of the youth which you see in your +presence, and have obliged us to obey the custom which has been +established of old. And us two brothers, Hengist and Horsa, they made +generals over them, out of respect to our ancestors, who enjoyed the +same honour. In obedience, therefore, to the laws so long established, +we put out to sea, and under the good guidance of Mercury have arrived +in your kingdom." + +The king, at the name of Mercury, looking earnestly upon them, asked +them what religion they professed. "We worship," replied Hengist, "our +country's gods, Saturn and Jupiter, and the other deities that govern +the world, but especially Mercury, whom in our language we call Woden, +and to whom our ancestors consecrated the fourth day of the week, still +called after his name Wodensday. Next to him we worship the powerful +goddess, Frea, to whom they also dedicated the sixth day, which after +her name we call Friday." Vortigern replied, "For your credulity, or +rather incredulity, I am much grieved, but I rejoice at your arrival, +which, whether by God's providence or some other agency, happens very +seasonably for me in my present difficulties. For I am oppressed by my +enemies on every side, and if you will engage with me in my wars, I will +entertain you honourably in my kingdom, and bestow upon you lands and +other possessions." The barbarians readily accepted his offer, and the +agreement between them being ratified, they resided at his court. Soon +after this, the Picts, issuing forth from Albania, with a very great +army, began to lay waste the northern parts of the island. When +Vortigern had information of it, he assembled his forces, and went to +meet them beyond the Humber. Upon their engaging, the battle proved very +fierce on both sides, though there was but little occasion for the +Britons to exert themselves, for the Saxons fought so bravely, that the +enemy, formerly so victorious, were speedily put to flight. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 201: It is the generally received opinion that Hengist and +Horsa landed in Britain A.D. 449.] + + + + +CHAP. XI.--_Hengist brings over great numbers of Saxons into Britain, +his crafty petition to Vortigern._ + + +Vortigern, therefore, as he owed the victory to them, increased his +bounty to them, and gave their general, Hengist, large possessions of +land in Lindesia,[202] for the subsistence of himself and his fellow +soldiers. Hereupon Hengist, who was a man of experience and subtilty, +finding how much interest he had with the king, addressed him in this +manner:--"Sir, your enemies give you disturbance from all quarters, and +few of your subjects love you. They all threaten you, and say, they are +going to bring over Aurelius Ambrosius from Armorica, to depose you, and +make him king. If you please, let us send to our country to invite over +some more soldiers, that with our forces increased we may be better able +to oppose them. But there is one thing which I would desire of your +clemency, if I did not fear a refusal." Vortigern made answer, "Send +your messengers to Germany, and invite over whom you please, and you +shall have no refusal from me in whatever you shall desire." Hengist, +with a low bow, returned him thanks, and said, "The possessions which +you have given me in land and houses are very large, but you have not +yet done me that honour which becomes my station and birth, because, +among other things, I should have had some town or city granted me, that +I might be entitled to greater esteem among the nobility of your +kingdom. I ought to have been made a consul or prince, since my +ancestors enjoyed both those dignities." "It is not in my power," +replied Vortigern, "to do you so much honour, because you are strangers +and pagans; neither am I yet so far acquainted with your manners and +customs, as to set you upon a level with my natural born subjects. And, +indeed, if I did esteem you as my subjects, I should not be forward to +do so, because the nobility of my kingdom would strongly dissuade me +from it." "Give your servant," said Hengist, "only so much ground in the +place you have assigned me, as I can encompass with a leathern thong, +for to build a fortress upon, as a place of retreat if occasion should +require. For I will always be faithful to you, as I have been hitherto, +and pursue no other design in the request which I have made." With these +words the king was prevailed upon to grant him his petition; and ordered +him to despatch messengers into Germany, to invite more men over +speedily to his assistance. Hengist immediately executed his orders, and +taking a bull's hide, made one thong out of the whole, with which he +encompassed a rocky place that he had carefully made choice of, and +within that circuit began to build a castle, which, when finished, took +its name from the thong wherewith it had been measured; for it was +afterwards called, in the British tongue, Kaercorrei; in Saxon, +Thancastre, that is, Thong Castle.[203] + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 202: Or Lindsey. See Bede's Eccles. Hist. p. 99, note.] + +[Footnote 203: Now called Caistor, twenty-three miles N.N.E. from +Lincoln.] + + + + +CHAP. XII.--_Vortigern marries Rowen,[204] the daughter of Hengist._ + + +In the meantime, the messengers returned from Germany, with eighteen +ships full of the best soldiers they could get. They also brought along +with them Rowen, the daughter of Hengist, one of the most accomplished +beauties of that age. After their arrival, Hengist invited the king to +his house, to view his new buildings, and the new soldiers that were +come over. The king readily accepted of his invitation, but privately, +and having highly commended the magnificence of the structure, enlisted +the men into his service. Here he was entertained at a royal banquet; +and when that was over, the young lady came out of her chamber bearing a +golden cup full of wine, with which she approached the king, and making +a low courtesy, said to him, "Lauerd[205] king wacht heil!" The king, at +the sight of the lady's face, was on a sudden both surprised and +inflamed with her beauty; and calling to his interpreter, asked him what +she said, and what answer he should make her. "She called you, 'Lord +king,'" said the interpreter, "and offered to drink your health. Your +answer to her must be, 'Drinc heil!'" Vortigern accordingly answered, +"Drinc heil!" and bade her drink; after which he took the cup from her +hand, kissed her, and drank himself. From that time to this, it has been +the custom in Britain, that he who drinks to any one says, "Wacht heil!" +and he that pledges him, answers "Drinc heil!" Vortigern being now drunk +with the variety of liquors, the devil took this opportunity to enter +into his heart, and to make him in love with the damsel, so that he +became suitor to her father for her. It was, I say, by the devil's +entering into his heart, that he, who was a Christian, should fall in +love with a pagan. By this example, Hengist, being a prudent man, +discovered the king's levity, and consulted with his brother Horsa and +the other ancient men present, what to do in relation to the king's +request. They unanimously advised him to give him his daughter, and in +consideration of her to demand the province of Kent. Accordingly the +daughter was without delay delivered to Vortigern, and the province of +Kent to Hengist, without the knowledge of Gorangan, who had the +government of it. The king the same night married the pagan lady, and +became extremely delighted with her; by which he quickly brought upon +himself the hatred of the nobility, and of his own sons. For he had +already three sons, whose names were Vortimer, Catigern, and Pascentius. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 204: More commonly and elegantly called Rowena; Ronwen and +Ronwenna occur in some of the MSS.] + +[Footnote 205: That is, Lord.] + + + + +CHAP. XIII.--_The bishops, Germanus and Lupus, restore the Christian +faith that had been corrupted in Britain. Octa and Ebissa are four times +routed by Vortimer._ + + +At that time came St. Germanus, bishop of Auxerre, and Lupus, bishop of +Troyes, to preach the gospel to the Britons. For the Christian faith had +been corrupted among them, partly by the pagans whom the king had +brought into society with them, partly by the Pelagian heresy, with the +poison whereof they had been a long time infected. But by the preaching +of these holy men, the true faith and worship was again restored, the +many miracles they wrought giving success to their labours. Gildas has +in his elegant treatise given an account of the many miracles God +wrought by them. The king being now, as we have said, possessed of the +lady, Hengist said to him: "As I am your father, I claim the right of +being your counsellor: do not therefore slight my advice, since it is to +my countrymen you must owe the conquest of all your enemies. Let us +invite over my son Octa and his brother Ebissa, who are brave soldiers, +and give them the countries that are in the northern parts of Britain, +by the wall, between Deira and Albania. For they will hinder the inroads +of the barbarians, and so you shall enjoy peace on the other side of the +Humber." Vortigern complied with his request, and ordered them to invite +over whomsoever they knew able to assist him. Immediately upon the +receipt of this message, came Octa, Ebissa, and Cherdich, with three +hundred ships filled with soldiers, who were all kindly received by +Vortigern, and had ample presents made them. For by their assistance he +vanquished his enemies, and in every engagement proved victorious. +Hengist in the meantime continued to invite over more and more ships, +and to augment his numbers daily. Which when the Britons observed, they +were afraid of being betrayed by them, and moved the king to banish them +out of his coasts. For it was contrary to the rule of the gospel that +Christians should hold fellowship, or have any intercourse, with pagans. +Besides which, the number of those that were come over was now so great, +that they were a terror to his subjects; and nobody could now know who +was a pagan, or who a Christian, since pagans married the daughters and +kinswomen of Christians. These things they represented to the king, and +endeavoured to dissuade him from entertaining them, lest they might, by +some treacherous conspiracy, prove an overmatch for the native +inhabitants. But Vortigern, who loved them above all other nations on +account of his wife, was deaf to their advice. For this reason the +Britons quickly desert him, and unanimously set up Vortimer his son for +their king; who at their instigation began to drive out the barbarians, +and to make dreadful incursions upon them. Four battles he fought with +them, and was victorious in all: the first upon the river Dereuent;[206] +the second upon the ford of Epsford, where Horsa and Catigern, another +son of Vortigern, met and, after a sharp encounter, killed each +other;[207] the third upon the sea-shore, where the enemies fled +shamefully to their ships, and betook themselves for refuge to the Isle +of Thanet. But Vortimer besieged them there, and daily distressed them +with his fleet. And when they were no longer able to bear the assaults +of the Britons, they sent king Vortigern, who was present with them in +all those wars, to his son Vortimer, to desire leave to depart, and +return back safe to Germany. And while a conference upon this subject +was being held, they in the meantime went on board their long galleys, +and, leaving their wives and children behind them, returned back to +Germany. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 206: The Dereuent seems to be the Darent, a stream which gives +its name to Dartford.] + +[Footnote 207: The very remarkable monument, called Kit Cotty's house, +is traditionally supposed to mark the grave of Catigern.] + + + + +CHAP. XIV.--_Vortimer's kindness to his soldiers at his death._ + + +Vortimer, after this great success, began to restore his subjects to +their possessions which had been taken from them, and to show them all +marks of his affection and esteem, and at the instance of St. Germanus +to rebuild their churches. But his goodness quickly stirred up the +enmity of the devil against him, who entering into the heart of his +stepmother Rowen, excited her to contrive his death. For this purpose +she consulted with the poisoners, and procured one who was intimate with +him, whom she corrupted with large and numerous presents, to give him a +poisonous draught; so that this brave soldier, as soon as he had taken +it, was seized with a sudden illness, that deprived him of all hopes of +life. Hereupon he forthwith ordered all his men to come to him, and +having shown them how near he was to his end, distributed among them all +the treasure his predecessors had heaped up, and endeavoured to comfort +them in their sorrow and lamentation for him, telling them, he was only +going the way of all flesh. But he exhorted those brave and warlike +young men, who had attended him in all his victories, to persist +courageously in the defence of their country against all hostile +invasion; and with wonderful greatness of mind, commanded a brazen +pyramid to be placed in the port where the Saxons used to land, and his +body when dead to be buried on the top of it, that the sight of his tomb +might frighten back the barbarians to Germany. For he said none of them +would dare approach the country, that should but get a sight of his +tomb. Such was the admirable bravery of this great man, who, as he had +been a terror to them while living, endeavoured to be no less so when +dead. Notwithstanding which, he was no sooner dead, than the Britons had +no regard to his orders, but buried him at London. + + + + +CHAP. XV.--_Hengist, having wickedly murdered the princes of Britain, +keeps Vortigern prisoner._ + + +Vortigern, after the death of his son, was again restored to the +kingdom, and at the request of his wife sent messengers into Germany to +Hengist, with an invitation to return into Britain, but privately, and +with a small retinue, to prevent a quarrel between the barbarians and +his subjects. But Hengist, hearing that Vortimer was dead, raised an +army of no less than three hundred thousand men, and fitting out a fleet +returned with them to Britain. When Vortigern and the nobility heard of +the arrival of so vast a multitude, they were immoderately incensed, +and, after consultation together, resolved to fight them, and drive them +from their coasts. Hengist, being informed of their design by messengers +sent from his daughter, immediately entered into deliberation what +course to pursue against them. After several stratagems had been +considered, he judged it most feasible, to impose upon the nation by +making show of peace. With this view he sent ambassadors to the king, to +declare to him, that he had not brought so great a number of men for the +purpose either of staying with him, or offering any violence to the +country. But the reason why he brought them, was because he thought +Vortimer was yet living, and that he should have occasion for them +against him, in case of an assault. But now since he no longer doubted +of his being dead, he submitted himself and his people to the disposal +of Vortigern; so that he might retain as many of them as he should think +fit, and whomsoever he rejected Hengist would allow to return back +without delay to Germany. And if these terms pleased Vortigern, he +desired him to appoint a time and place for their meeting, and adjusting +matters according to his pleasure. When these things were represented to +the king, he was mightily pleased, as being very unwilling to part with +Hengist; and at last ordered his subjects and the Saxons to meet upon +the kalends of May, which were now very near, at the monastery of +Ambrius,[208] for the settling of the matters above-mentioned. The +appointment being agreed to on both sides, Hengist, with a new design of +villany in his head, ordered his soldiers to carry every one of them a +long dagger under their garments; and while the conference should be +held with the Britons, who would have no suspicion of them, he would +give them this word of command, "Nemet oure Saxas;" at which moment they +were all to be ready to seize boldly every one his next man, and with +his drawn dagger stab him. Accordingly they all met at the time and +place appointed, and began to treat of peace; and when a fit opportunity +offered for executing his villany, Hengist cried out, "Nemet oure +Saxas," and the same instant seized Vortigern, and held him by his +cloak. The Saxons, upon the signal given, drew their daggers, and +falling upon the princes, who little suspected any such design, +assassinated them to the number of four hundred and sixty barons and +consuls; to whose bodies St. Eldad afterwards gave Christian burial, not +far from Kaercaradoc, now Salisbury, in a burying-place near the +monastery of Ambrius, the abbat, who was the founder of it. For they all +came without arms, having no thoughts of anything but treating of peace; +which gave the others a fairer opportunity of exercising their +villainous design against them. But the pagans did not escape unpunished +while they acted this wickedness; a great number of them being killed +during this massacre of their enemies. For the Britons, taking up clubs +and stones from the ground, resolutely defended themselves, and did good +execution upon the traitors. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 208: Ambresbury.] + + + + +CHAP. XVI.--_Eldol's valiant exploit. Hengist forces Vortigern to yield +up the strongest fortifications in Britain, in consideration of his +release._ + + +There was present one Eldol, consul[209] of Gloucester, who, at the +sight of this treachery, took up a stake which he happened to find, and +with that made his defence. Every blow he gave carried death along with +it; and by breaking either the head, arms, shoulders, or legs of a great +many, he struck no small terror into the traitors, nor did he move from +the spot before he had killed with that weapon seventy men. But being no +longer able to stand his ground against such numbers, he made his escape +from them, and retired to his own city. Many fell on both sides, but the +Saxons got the victory; because the Britons, having no suspicion of +treachery, came unarmed, and therefore made a weaker defence. After the +commission of this detestable villany, the Saxons would not kill +Vortigern; but having threatened him with death and bound him, demanded +his cities and fortified places in consideration of their granting him +his life. He, to secure himself, denied them nothing; and when they had +made him confirm his grants with an oath, they released him from his +chains, and then marched first to London, which they took, as they did +afterwards York, Lincoln, and Winchester; wasting the countries through +which they passed, and destroying the people, as wolves do sheep when +left by their shepherds. When Vortigern saw the desolation which they +made, he retired into the parts of Cambria, not knowing what to do +against so barbarous a people. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 209: This term must be considered as equivalent to _comes_, +count, or earl.] + + + + +CHAP. XVII.--_Vortigern, after consultation with magicians, orders a +youth to be brought that never had a father._ + + +At last he had recourse to magicians for their advice, and commanded +them to tell him what course to take. They advised him to build a very +strong tower for his own safety, since he had lost all his other +fortified places. Accordingly he made a progress about the country, to +find out a convenient situation, and came at last to Mount Erir, where +he assembled workmen from several countries, and ordered them to build +the tower. The builders, therefore, began to lay the foundation; but +whatever they did one day the earth swallowed up the next, so as to +leave no appearance of their work. Vortigern being informed of this +again consulted with his magicians concerning the cause of it, who told +him that he must find out a youth that never had a father, and kill him, +and then sprinkle the stones and cement with his blood; for by those +means, they said, he would have a firm foundation. Hereupon messengers +were despatched away over all the provinces, to inquire out such a man. +In their travels they came to a city, called afterwards Kaermerdin, +where they saw some young men, playing before the gate, and went up to +them; but being weary with their journey, they sat down in the ring, to +see if they could meet with what they were in quest of. Towards evening, +there happened on a sudden a quarrel between two of the young men, whose +names were Merlin and Dabutius. In the dispute, Dabutius said to Merlin: +"You fool, do you presume to quarrel with me? Is there any equality in +our birth? I am descended of royal race, both by my father and mother's +side. As for you, nobody knows what you are, for you never had a +father." At that word the messengers looked earnestly upon Merlin, and +asked the by-standers who he was. They told him, it was not known who +was his father; but that his mother was daughter to the king of Dimetia, +and that she lived in St. Peter's church among the nuns of that city. + + + + +CHAP. XVIII.--_Vortigern inquires of Merlin's mother concerning her +conception of him._ + + +Upon this the messengers hastened to the governor of the city, and +ordered him, in the king's name, to send Merlin and his mother to the +king. As soon as the governor understood the occasion of their message, +he readily obeyed the order, and sent them to Vortigern to complete his +design. When they were introduced into the king's presence, he received +the mother in a very respectful manner, on account of her noble birth; +and began to inquire of her by what man she had conceived. "My sovereign +lord," said she, "by the life of your soul and mine, I know nobody that +begot him of me. Only this I know, that as I was once with my companions +in our chambers, there appeared to me a person in the shape of a most +beautiful young man, who often embraced me eagerly in his arms, and +kissed me; and when he had stayed a little time, he suddenly vanished +out of my sight. But many times after this he would talk with me when I +sat alone, without making any visible appearance. When he had a long +time haunted me in this manner, he at last lay with me several times in +the shape of a man, and left me with child. And I do affirm to you, my +sovereign lord, that excepting that young man, I know no body that begot +him of me." The king full of admiration at this account, ordered +Maugantius to be called, that he might satisfy him as to the possibility +of what the woman had related. Maugantius, being introduced, and having +the whole matter repeated to him, said to Vortigern: "In the books of +our philosophers, and in a great many histories, I have found that +several men have had the like original. For, as Apuleius informs us in +his book concerning the Demon of Socrates, between the moon and the +earth inhabit those spirits, which we will call incubuses. These are of +the nature partly of men, and partly of angels, and whenever they please +assume human shapes, and lie with women. Perhaps one of them appeared to +this woman, and begot that young man of her." + + + + +CHAP. XIX.--_Merlin 's speech to the king's magicians, and advice about +the building of the tower._ + + +Merlin in the meantime was attentive to all that had passed, and then +approached the king, and said to him, "For what reason am I and my +mother introduced into your presence?"--"My magicians," answered +Vortigern, "advised me to seek out a man that had no father, with whose +blood my building is to be sprinkled, in order to make it +stand."--"Order your magicians," said Merlin, "to come before me, and I +will convict them of a lie." The king was surprised at his words, and +presently ordered the magicians to come, and sit down before Merlin, who +spoke to them after this manner: "Because you are ignorant what it is +that hinders the foundation of the tower, you have recommended the +shedding of my blood for cement to it, as if that would presently make +it stand. But tell me now, what is there under the foundation? For +something there is that will not suffer it to stand." The magicians at +this began to be afraid, and made him no answer. Then said Merlin, who +was also called Ambrose, "I entreat your majesty would command your +workmen to dig into the ground, and you will find a pond which causes +the foundation to sink." This accordingly was done, and then presently +they found a pond deep under ground, which had made it give way. Merlin +after this went again to the magicians, and said, "Tell me ye false +sycophants, what is there under the pond." But they were silent. Then +said he again to the king, "Command the pond to be drained, and at the +bottom you will see two hollow stones, and in them two dragons asleep." +The king made no scruple of believing him, since he had found true what +he said of the pond, and therefore ordered it to be drained: which done, +he found as Merlin had said; and now was possessed with the greatest +admiration of him. Nor were the rest that were present less amazed at +his wisdom, thinking it to be no less than divine inspiration. + + + + +BOOK VII. + +CONCERNING THE PROPHECIES OF MERLIN. + +CHAP. I.--_Geoffrey of Monmouth's preface to Merlin's prophecy._ + + +I had not got thus far in my history, when the subject of public +discourse happening to be concerning Merlin, I was obliged to publish +his prophecies at the request of my acquaintance, but especially of +Alexander, bishop of Lincoln, a prelate of the greatest piety and +wisdom. There was not any person, either among the clergy or laity, that +was attended with such a train of knights and noblemen, whom his settled +piety and great munificence engaged in his service. Out of a desire, +therefore, to gratify him, I translated these prophecies, and sent them +to him with the following letter. + + + + +CHAP. II.--_Geoffrey's letter to Alexander, bishop of Lincoln._ + + +"The regard which I owe to your great worth, most noble prelate, has +obliged me to undertake the translation of Merlin's prophecies out of +British into Latin, before I had made an end of the history which I had +begun concerning the acts of the British kings. For my design was to +have finished that first, and afterwards to have taken this work in +hand; lest by being engaged on both at once, I should be less capable of +attending with any exactness to either. Notwithstanding, since the +deference which is paid to your penetrating judgment will screen me from +censure, I have employed my rude pen, and in a coarse style present you +with a translation out of a language with which you are unacquainted. At +the same time, I cannot but wonder at your recommending this matter to +one of my low genius, when you might have caused so many men of greater +learning, and a richer vein of intellect, to undertake it; who, with +their sublime strains, would much more agreeably have entertained you. +Besides, without any disparagement to all the philosophers in Britain, I +must take the liberty to say, that you yourself, if the business of your +high station would give you leisure, are capable of furnishing us with +loftier productions of this kind than any man living. However, since it +was your pleasure that Geoffrey of Monmouth should be employed in this +prophecy, he hopes you will favourably accept of his performance, and +vouchsafe to give a finer turn to whatever you shall find unpolished, or +otherwise faulty in it." + + + + +CHAP. III.--_The prophecy of Merlin._ + + +As Vortigern, king of the Britons, was sitting upon the bank of the +drained pond, the two dragons, one of which was white, the other red, +came forth, and, approaching one another, began a terrible fight, and +cast forth fire with their breath. But the white dragon had the +advantage, and made the other fly to the end of the lake. And he, for +grief at his flight, renewed the assault upon his pursuer, and forced +him to retire. After this battle of the dragons, the king commanded +Ambrose Merlin to tell him what it portended. Upon which he, bursting +into tears, delivered what his prophetical spirit suggested to him, as +follows:--[210] + +"Woe to the red dragon, for his banishment hasteneth on. His lurking +holes shall be seized by the white dragon, which signifies the Saxons +whom you invited over; but the red denotes the British nation, which +shall be oppressed by the white. Therefore shall its mountains be +levelled as the valleys, and the rivers of the valleys shall run with +blood. The exercise of religion shall be destroyed, and churches be laid +open to ruin. At last the oppressed shall prevail, and oppose the +cruelty of foreigners. For a boar of Cornwall shall give his assistance, +and trample their necks under his feet. The islands of the ocean shall +be subject to his power, and he shall possess the forests of Gaul. The +house of Romulus shall dread his courage, and his end shall be doubtful. +He shall be celebrated in the mouths of the people; and his exploits +shall be food to those that relate them. Six of his posterity shall sway +the sceptre, but after them shall arise a German worm. He shall be +advanced by a sea-wolf, whom the woods of Africa shall accompany. +Religion shall be again abolished, and there shall be a translation of +the metropolitan sees. The dignity of London shall adorn Dorobernia, and +the seventh pastor of York shall be resorted to in the kingdom of +Armorica. Menevia shall put on the pall of the City of Legions, and a +preacher of Ireland shall be dumb on account of an infant growing in the +womb. It shall rain a shower of blood, and a raging famine shall afflict +mankind. When these things happen, the red one shall be grieved; but +when his fatigue is over, shall grow strong. Then shall misfortunes +hasten upon the white one, and the buildings of his gardens shall be +pulled down. Seven that sway the sceptre shall be killed, one of whom +shall become a saint. The wombs of mothers shall be ripped up, and +infants be abortive. There shall be a most grievous punishment of men, +that the natives may be restored. He that shall do these things shall +put on the brazen man, and upon a brazen horse shall for a long time +guard the gates of London. After this, shall the red dragon return to +his proper manners, and turn his rage upon himself. Therefore shall the +revenge of the Thunderer show itself, for every field shall disappoint +the husbandmen. Mortality shall snatch away the people, and make a +desolation over all countries. The remainder shall quit their native +soil, and make foreign plantations. A blessed king shall prepare a +fleet, and shall be reckoned the twelfth in the court among the saints. +There shall be a miserable desolation of the kingdom, and the floors of +the harvests shall return to the fruitful forests. The white dragon +shall rise again, and invite over a daughter of Germany. Our gardens +shall be again replenished with foreign seed, and the red one shall pine +away at the end of the pond. After that, shall the German worm be +crowned, and the brazen prince buried. He has his bounds assigned him, +which he shall not be able to pass. For a hundred and fifty years he +shall continue in trouble and subjection, but shall bear sway three +hundred. Then shall the north wind rise against him, and shall snatch +away the flowers which the west wind produced. There shall be gilding in +the temples, nor shall the edge of the sword cease. The German dragon +shall hardly get to his holes, because the revenge of his treason shall +overtake him. At last he shall flourish for a little time, but the +decimation of Neustria shall hurt him. For a people in wood and in iron +coats shall come, and revenge upon him his wickedness. They shall +restore the ancient inhabitants to their dwellings, and there shall be +an open destruction of foreigners. The seed of the white dragon shall be +swept out of our gardens, and the remainder of his generation shall be +decimated. They shall bear the yoke of slavery, and wound their mother +with spades and ploughs. After this shall succeed two dragons, whereof +one shall be killed with the sting of envy, but the other shall return +under the shadow of a name. Then shall succeed a lion of justice, at +whose roar the Gallican towers and the island dragons shall tremble. In +those days gold shall be squeezed from the lily and the nettle, and +silver shall flow from the hoofs of bellowing cattle. The frizzled shall +put on various fleeces, and the outward habit denote the inward parts. +The feet of barkers shall be cut off; wild beasts shall enjoy peace; +mankind shall be grieved at their punishment; the form of commerce shall +be divided; the half shall be round. The ravenousness of kites shall be +destroyed, and the teeth of wolves blunted. The lion's whelps shall be +transformed into sea-fishes; and an eagle shall build her nest upon +Mount Aravius. Venedotia shall grow red with the blood of mothers, and +the house of Corineus kill six brethren. The island shall be wet with +night tears; so that all shall be provoked to all things. Woe to thee, +Neustria, because the lion's brain shall be poured upon thee: and he +shall be banished with shattered limbs from his native soil. Posterity +shall endeavour to fly above the highest places; but the favour of new +comers shall be exalted. Piety shall hurt the possessor of things got by +impiety, till he shall have put on his Father: therefore, being armed +with the teeth of a boar, he shall ascend above the tops of mountains, +and the shadow of him that wears a helmet. Albania shall be enraged, +and, assembling her neighbours, shall be employed in shedding blood. +There shall be put into her jaws a bridle that shall be made on the +coast of Armorica. The eagle of the broken covenant shall gild it over, +and rejoice in her third nest. The roaring whelps shall watch, and, +leaving the woods, shall hunt within the walls of cities. They shall +make no small slaughter of those that oppose them, and shall cut off the +tongues of bulls. They shall load the necks of roaring lions with +chains, and restore the times of their ancestors. Then from the first to +the fourth, from the fourth to the third, from the third to the second, +the thumb shall roll in oil. The sixth shall overturn the walls of +Ireland, and change the woods into a plain. He shall reduce several +parts to one, and be crowned with the head of a lion. His beginning +shall lay open to wandering affection, but his end shall carry him up to +the blessed, who are above. For he shall restore the seats of saints in +their countries, and settle pastors in convenient places. Two cities he +shall invest with two palls, and shall bestow virgin-presents upon +virgins. He shall merit by this the favour of the Thunderer, and shall +be placed among the saints. From him shall proceed a lynx penetrating +all things, who shall be bent upon the ruin of his own nation; for, +through him, Neustria shall lose both islands, and be deprived of its +ancient dignity. Then shall the natives return back to the island; for +there shall arise a dissension among foreigners. Also a hoary old man, +sitting upon a snow-white horse, shall turn the course of the river +Periron, and shall measure out a mill upon it with a white rod. +Cadwallader shall call upon Conan, and take Albania into alliance. Then +shall there be a slaughter of foreigners; then shall the rivers run with +blood. Then shall break forth the fountains of Armorica, and they shall +be crowned with the diadem of Brutus. Cambria shall be filled with joy; +and the oaks of Cornwall shall flourish. The island shall be called by +the name of Brutus: and the name given it by foreigners shall be +abolished. From Conan shall proceed a warlike boar, that shall exercise +the sharpness of his tusks within the Gallic woods. For he shall cut +down all the larger oaks, and shall be a defence to the smaller. The +Arabians and Africans shall dread him; for he shall pursue his furious +course to the farther part of Spain. There shall succeed the goat of the +Venereal castle, having golden horns and a silver beard, who shall +breathe such a cloud out of his nostrils, as shall darken the whole +surface of the island. There shall be peace in his time; and corn shall +abound by reason of the fruitfulness of the soil. Women shall become +serpents in their gait, and all their motions shall be full of pride. +The camp of Venus shall be restored; nor shall the arrows of Cupid cease +to wound. The fountain of a river shall be turned into blood; and two +kings shall fight a duel at Stafford for a lioness. Luxury shall +overspread the whole ground; and fornication not cease to debauch +mankind. All these things shall three ages see; till the buried kings +shall be exposed to public view in the city of London. Famine shall +again return; mortality shall return; and the inhabitants shall grieve +for the destruction of their cities. Then shall come the board of +commerce, who shall recall the scattered flocks to the pasture they had +lost. His breast shall be food to the hungry, and his tongue drink to +the thirsty. Out of his mouth shall flow rivers, that shall water the +parched jaws of men. After this shall be produced a tree upon the Tower +of London, which, having no more than three branches, shall overshadow +the surface of the whole island with the breadth of its leaves. Its +adversary, the north wind, shall come upon it, and with its noxious +blast shall snatch away the third branch; but the two remaining ones +shall possess its place, till they shall destroy one another by the +multitude of their leaves; and then shall it obtain the place of those +two, and shall give sustenance to birds of foreign nations. It shall be +esteemed hurtful to native fowls; for they shall not be able to fly +freely for fear of its shadow. There shall succeed the ass of +wickedness, swift against the goldsmiths, but slow against the +ravenousness of wolves. In those days the oaks of the forests shall +burn, and acorns grow upon the branches of teil trees. The Severn sea +shall discharge itself through seven mouths, and the river Uske burn +seven months. Fishes shall die with the heat thereof; and of them shall +be engendered serpents. The baths of Badon shall grow cold, and their +salubrious waters engender death. London shall mourn for the death of +twenty thousand; and the river Thames shall be turned into blood. The +monks in their cowls shall be forced to marry, and their cry shall be +heard upon the mountains of the Alps." + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 210: The prophecy which follows has been commented on by +various writers, who have taken the trouble to point out the events in +English history which answer to the various predictions which it +contains. Such labour seems to be altogether superfluous in the present +day: the prophecy may be allowed to remain as an illustration of the +absurd credulity of former times.] + + + + +CHAP. IV.--_The continuation of the prophecy._ + + +"Three springs shall break forth in the city of Winchester, whose +rivulets shall divide the island into three parts. Whoever shall drink +of the first, shall enjoy long life, and shall never be afflicted with +sickness. He that shall drink of the second, shall die of hunger, and +paleness and horror shall sit in his countenance. He that shall drink of +the third, shall be surprised with sudden death, neither shall his body +be capable of burial. Those that are willing to escape so great a +surfeit, will endeavour to hide it with several coverings, but whatever +bulk shall be laid upon it, shall receive the form of another body. For +earth shall be turned into stones; stones into water; wood into ashes; +ashes into water, if cast over it. Also a damsel shall be sent from the +city of the forest of Canute to administer a cure, who, after she shall +have practised all her arts, shall dry up the noxious fountains only +with her breath. Afterwards, as soon as she shall have refreshed herself +with the wholesome liquor, she shall bear in her right hand the wood of +Caledon, and in her left the forts of the walls of London. Wherever she +shall go, she shall make sulphureous steps, which will smoke with a +double flame. That smoke shall rouse up the city of Ruteni, and shall +make food for the inhabitants of the deep. She shall overflow with +rueful tears, and shall fill the island with her dreadful cry. She shall +be killed by a hart with ten branches, four of which shall bear golden +diadems; but the other six shall be turned into buffalo's horns, whose +hideous sound shall astonish the three islands of Britain. The Daneian +wood shall be stirred up, and breaking forth into a human voice, shall +cry: Come, O Cambria, and join Cornwall to thy side, and say to +Winchester, the earth shall swallow thee up. Translate the seat of thy +pastor to the place where ships come to harbour, and the rest of the +members will follow the head. For the day hasteneth, in which thy +citizens shall perish on account of the guilt of perjury. The whiteness +of wool has been hurtful to thee, and the variety of its tinctures. Woe +to the perjured nation, for whose sake the renowned city shall come to +ruin. The ships shall rejoice at so great an augmentation, and one shall +be made out of two. It shall be rebuilt by Eric, loaden with apples, to +the smell whereof the birds of several woods shall flock together. He +shall add to it a vast palace, and wall it round with six hundred +towers. Therefore shall London envy it, and triply increase her walls. +The river Thames shall encompass it round, and the fame of the work +shall pass beyond the Alps. Eric shall hide his apples within it, and +shall make subterraneous passages. At that time shall the stones speak, +and the sea towards the Gallic coast be contracted into a narrow space. +On each bank shall one man hear another, and the soil of the island +shall be enlarged. The secrets of the deep shall be revealed, and Gaul +shall tremble for fear. After these things shall come forth a hern from +the forest of Calaterium, which shall fly round the island for two years +together. With her nocturnal cry she shall call together the winged +kind, and assemble to her all sorts of fowls. They shall invade the +tillage of husbandmen, and devour all the grain of the harvests. Then +shall follow a famine upon the people, and a grievous mortality upon the +famine. But when this calamity shall be over, a detestable bird shall go +to the valley of Galabes, and shall raise it to be a high mountain. Upon +the top thereof it shall also plant an oak, and build its nest in its +branches. Three eggs shall be produced in the nest, from whence shall +come forth a fox, a wolf, and a bear. The fox shall devour her mother, +and bear the head of an ass. In this monstrous form shall she frighten +her brothers, and make them fly into Neustria. But they shall stir up +the tusky boar, and returning in a fleet shall encounter with the fox; +who at the beginning of the fight shall feign herself dead, and move the +boar to compassion. Then shall the boar approach her carcass, and +standing over her, shall breathe upon her face and eyes. But she, not +forgetting her cunning, shall bite his left foot, and pluck it off from +his body. Then shall she leap upon him, and snatch away his right ear +and tail, and hide herself in the caverns of the mountains. Therefore +shall the deluded boar require the wolf and bear to restore him his +members; who, as soon as they shall enter into the cause, shall promise +two feet of the fox, together with the ear and tail, and of these they +shall make up the members of a hog. With this he shall be satisfied, and +expect the promised restitution. In the meantime shall the fox descend +from the mountains, and change herself into a wolf, and under pretence +of holding a conference with the boar, she shall go to him, and craftily +devour him. After that she shall transform herself into a boar, and +feigning a loss of some members, shall wait for her brothers; but as +soon as they are come, she shall suddenly kill them with her tusks, and +shall be crowned with the head of a lion. In her days shall a serpent be +brought forth, which shall be a destroyer of mankind. With its length it +shall encompass London, and devour all that pass by it. The mountain ox +shall take the head of a wolf, and whiten his teeth in the Severn. He +shall gather to him the flocks of Albania and Cambria, which shall drink +the river Thames dry. The ass shall call the goat with the long beard, +and shall borrow his shape. Therefore shall the mountain ox be incensed, +and having called the wolf, shall become a horned bull against them. In +the exercise of his cruelty he shall devour their flesh and bones, but +shall be burned upon the top of Urian. The ashes of his funeral-pile +shall be turned into swans, that shall swim on dry ground as on a river. +They shall devour fishes in fishes, and swallow up men in men. But when +old age shall come upon them, they shall become sea-wolves, and practise +their frauds in the deep. They shall drown ships, and collect no small +quantity of silver. The Thames shall again flow, and assembling together +the rivers, shall pass beyond the bounds of its channel. It shall cover +the adjacent cities, and overturn the mountains that oppose its course. +Being full of deceit and wickedness, it shall make use of the fountain +Galabes. Hence shall arise factions provoking the Venedotians to war. +The oaks of the forest shall meet together, and encounter the rocks of +the Gewisseans. A raven shall attend with the kites, and devour the +carcasses of the slain. An owl shall build her nest upon the walls of +Gloucester, and in her nest shall be brought forth an ass. The serpent +of Malvernia shall bring him up, and put him upon many fraudulent +practices. Having taken the crown, he shall ascend on high, and frighten +the people of the country with his hideous braying. In his days shall +the Pachaian mountains tremble, and the provinces be deprived of their +woods. For there shall come a worm with a fiery breath, and with the +vapour it sends forth shall burn up the trees. Out of it shall proceed +seven lions deformed with the heads of goats. With the stench of their +nostrils they shall corrupt women, and make wives turn common +prostitutes. The father shall not know his own son, because they shall +grow wanton like brute beasts. Then shall come the giant of wickedness, +and terrify all with the sharpness of his eyes. Against him shall arise +the dragon of Worcester, and shall endeavour to banish him. But in the +engagement the dragon shall be worsted, and oppressed by the wickedness +of the conqueror. For he shall mount upon the dragon, and putting off +his garment shall sit upon him naked. The dragon shall bear him up on +high, and beat his naked rider with his tail erected. Upon this the +giant rousing up his whole strength, shall break his jaws with his +sword. At last the dragon shall fold itself up under its tail, and die +of poison. After him shall succeed the boar of Totness, and oppress the +people with grievous tyranny. Gloucester shall send forth a lion, and +shall disturb him in his cruelty, in several battles. He shall trample +him under his feet, and terrify him with open jaws. At last the lion +shall quarrel with the kingdom, and get upon the backs of the nobility. +A bull shall come into the quarrel, and strike the lion with his right +foot. He shall drive him through all the inns in the kingdom, but shall +break his horns against the walls of Oxford. The fox of Kaerdubalem +shall take revenge on the lion, and destroy him entirely with her teeth. +She shall be encompassed by the adder of Lincoln, who with a horrible +hiss shall give notice of his presence to a multitude of dragons. Then +shall the dragons encounter, and tear one another to pieces. The winged +shall oppress that which wants wings, and fasten its claws into the +poisonous cheeks. Others shall come into the quarrel, and kill one +another. A fifth shall succeed those that are slain, and by various +stratagems shall destroy the rest. He shall get upon the back of one +with his sword, and sever his head from his body. Then throwing off his +garment, he shall get upon another, and put his right and left hand upon +his tail. Thus being naked shall he overcome him, whom when clothed he +was not able to deal with. The rest he shall gall in their flight, and +drive them round the kingdom. Upon this shall come a roaring lion +dreadful for his monstrous cruelty. Fifteen parts shall he reduce to +one, and shall alone possess the people. The giant of the snow-white +colour shall shine, and cause the white people to flourish. Pleasures +shall effeminate the princes, and they shall suddenly be changed into +beasts. Among them shall arise a lion swelled with human gore. Under him +shall a reaper be placed in the standing corn, who, while he is reaping, +shall be oppressed by him. A charioteer of York shall appease them, and +having banished his lord, shall mount upon the chariot which he shall +drive. With his sword unsheathed shall he threaten the East, and fill +the tracks of his wheels with blood. Afterwards he shall become a +sea-fish, who, being roused up with the hissing of a serpent, shall +engender with him. From hence shall be produced three thundering bulls, +who having eaten up their pastures shall be turned into trees. The first +shall carry a whip of vipers, and turn his back upon the next. He shall +endeavour to snatch away the whip, but shall be taken by the last. They +shall turn away their faces from one another, till they have thrown away +the poisoned cup. To him shall succeed a husbandman of Albania, at whose +back shall be a serpent. He shall be employed in ploughing the ground, +that the country may become white with corn. The serpent shall endeavour +to diffuse his poison, in order to blast the harvest. A grievous +mortality shall sweep away the people, and the walls of cities shall be +made desolate. There shall be given for a remedy the city of Claudius, +which shall interpose the nurse of the scourger. For she shall bear a +dose of medicine, and in a short time the island shall be restored. Then +shall two successively sway the sceptre, whom a horned dragon shall +serve. One shall come in armour, and shall ride upon a flying serpent. +He shall sit upon his back with his naked body, and cast his right hand +upon his tail. With his cry shall the seas be moved and he shall strike +terror into the second. The second therefore shall enter into +confederacy with the lion; but a quarrel happening, they shall encounter +one another. They shall distress one another, but the courage of the +beast shall gain the advantage. Then shall come one with a drum, and +appease the rage of the lion. Therefore shall the people of the kingdom +be at peace, and provoke the lion to a dose of physic. In his +established seat he shall adjust the weights, but shall stretch out his +hands into Albania. For which reason the northern provinces shall be +grieved, and open the gates of the temples. The sign-bearing wolf shall +lead his troops, and surround Cornwall with his tail. He shall be +opposed by a soldier in a chariot, who shall transform that people into +a boar. The boar shall therefore ravage the provinces, but shall hide +his head in the depth of Severn. A man shall embrace a lion in wine, and +the dazzling brightness of gold shall blind the eyes of beholders. +Silver shall whiten in the circumference, and torment several wine +presses. Men shall be drunk with wine, and, regardless of heaven, shall +be intent upon the earth. From them shall the stars turn away their +faces, and confound their usual course. Corn will wither at their malign +aspects; and there shall fall no dew from heaven. The roots and branches +will change their places, and the novelty of the thing shall pass for a +miracle. The brightness of the sun shall fade at the amber of Mercury, +and horror shall seize the beholders. Stilbon of Arcadia shall change +his shield; the helmet of Mars shall call Venus. The helmet of Mars +shall make a shadow; and the rage of Mercury pass his bounds. Iron Orion +shall unsheath his sword: the marine Phoebus shall torment the clouds; +Jupiter shall go out of his lawful paths; and Venus forsake her stated +lines. The malignity of the star Saturn shall fall down in rain, and +slay mankind with a crooked sickle. The twelve houses of the star shall +lament the irregular excursions of their guests; and Gemini omit their +usual embraces, and call the urn to the fountains. The scales of Libra +shall hang obliquely, till Aries puts his crooked horns under them. The +tail of Scorpio shall produce lightning, and Cancer quarrel with the +Sun. Virgo shall mount upon the back of Sagittarius, and darken her +virgin flowers. The chariot of the Moon shall disorder the zodiac, and +the Pleiades break forth into weeping. No offices of Janus shall +hereafter return, but his gate being shut shall lie hid in the chinks of +Ariadne. The seas shall rise up in the twinkling of an eye, and the dust +of the ancients shall be restored. The winds shall fight together with a +dreadful blast, and their sound shall reach the stars." + + + + +BOOK VIII. + +CHAP. I.--_Vortigern asks Merlin concerning his own death._ + + +Merlin, by delivering these and many other prophecies, caused in all +that were present an admiration at the ambiguity of his expressions. But +Vortigern above all the rest both admired and applauded the wisdom, and +prophetical spirit of the young man: for that age had produced none +that ever talked in such a manner before him. Being therefore curious to +learn his own fate, he desired the young man to tell him what he knew +concerning that particular. Merlin answered:--"Fly the fire of the sons +of Constantine, if you are able to do it: already are they fitting out +their ships: already are they leaving the Armorican shore: already are +they spreading out their sails to the wind. They will steer towards +Britain: they will invade the Saxon nation: they will subdue that wicked +people; but they will first burn you being shut up in a tower. To your +own ruin did you prove a traitor to their father, and invite the Saxons +into the island. You invited them for your safeguard; but they came for +a punishment to you. Two deaths instantly threaten you; nor is it easy +to determine, which you can best avoid. For on the one hand the Saxons +shall lay waste your country, and endeavour to kill you: on the other +shall arrive the two brothers, Aurelius Ambrosius and Uther Pendragon, +whose business will be to revenge their father's murder upon you. Seek +out some refuge if you can: to-morrow they will be on the shore of +Totness. The faces of the Saxons shall look red with blood, Hengist +shall be killed, and Aurelius Ambrosius shall be crowned. He shall bring +peace to the nation; he shall restore the churches; but shall die of +poison. His brother Uther Pendragon shall succeed him, whose days also +shall be cut short by poison. There shall be present at the commission +of this treason your own issue, whom the boar of Cornwall shall devour." +Accordingly the next day early, arrived Aurelius Ambrosius and his +brother, with ten thousand men. + + + + +CHAP. II.--_Aurelius Ambrosius, being anointed king of Britain, burns +Vortigern besieged in a tower._ + + +As soon as the news of his coming was divulged, the Britons, who had +been dispersed by their great calamities, met together from all parts, +and gaining this new accession of strength from their countrymen, +displayed unusual vigour. Having assembled together the clergy, they +anointed Aurelius king, and paid him the customary homage. And when the +people were urgent to fall upon the Saxons, he dissuaded them from it, +because his desire was to pursue Vortigern first. For the treason +committed against his father so very much affected him, that he thought +nothing done till that was first avenged. In pursuance therefore of this +design, he marched with his army into Cambria, to the town of Genoreu, +whither Vortigern had fled for refuge. That town was in the country of +Hergin, upon the river Gania, in the mountain called Cloarius. As soon +as Ambrosius was arrived there, bearing in his mind the murder of his +father and brother, he spake thus to Eldol, duke of Gloucester. + +"See, most noble duke, whether the walls of this city are able to +protect Vortigern against my sheathing this sword in his bowels. He +deserves to die, and you cannot, I suppose, be ignorant of his desert. +Oh most villainous of men, whose crimes deserve inexpressible tortures! +First he betrayed my father Constantine, who had delivered him and his +country from the inroads of the Picts; afterwards my brother Constans +whom he made king on purpose to destroy him. Again, when by his craft he +had usurped the crown, he introduced pagans among the natives, in order +to abuse those who continued stedfast in their loyalty to me: but by the +good providence of God, he unwarily fell into the snare, which he had +laid for my faithful subjects. For the Saxons, when they found him out +in his wickedness, drove him from the kingdom; for which nobody ought to +be concerned. But this I think matter of just grief, that this odious +people, whom that detestable traitor invited over, has expelled the +nobility, laid waste a fruitful country, destroyed the holy churches, +and almost extinguished Christianity over the whole kingdom. Now, +therefore, my countrymen, show yourselves men; first revenge yourselves +upon him that was the occasion of all these disasters; then let us turn +our arms against our enemies, and free our country from their brutish +tyranny." + +Immediately, therefore, they set their engines to work, and laboured to +beat down the walls. But at last, when all other attempts failed, they +had recourse to fire, which meeting with proper fuel ceased not to rage, +till it had burned down the tower and Vortigern in it. + + + + +CHAP. III.--_The praise of Aurelius's valour. The levity of the Scots +exposed. Forces raised against Hengist._ + + +Hengist, with his Saxons, was struck with terror at this news, for he +dreaded the valour of Aurelius. Such was the bravery and courage this +prince was master of, that while he was in Gaul, there was none that +durst encounter with him. For in all encounters he either dismounted his +adversary, or broke his spear. Besides, he was magnificent in his +presents, constant at his devotions, temperate in all respects, and +above all things hated a lie. A brave soldier on foot, a better on +horseback, and expert in the discipline of an army. Reports of these his +noble accomplishments, while he yet continued in Armorican Britain, were +daily brought over into the island. Therefore, the Saxons, for fear of +him, retired beyond the Humber, and in those parts fortified the cities +and towns; for that country always was a place of refuge to them; their +safety lying in the neighbourhood of Scotland, which used to watch all +opportunities of distressing the nation; for that country being in +itself a frightful place to live in, and wholly uninhabited, had been a +safe retreat for strangers. By its situation it lay open to the Picts, +Scots, Dacians, Norwegians, and others, that came to plunder the island. +Being, therefore, secure of a safe reception in this country, they fled +towards it, that, if there should be occasion, they might retreat into +it as into their own camp. This was good news to Aurelius, and made him +conceive greater hopes of victory. So assembling his people quickly +together, he augmented his army, and made an expeditious march towards +the north. In his passage through the countries, he was grieved to see +the desolation made in them, but especially that the churches were +levelled with the ground; and he promised to rebuild them, if he gained +the victory. + + + + +CHAP. IV.--_Hengist marches with his army against Aurelius, into the +field of Maisbeli._ + + +But Hengist, upon his approach, took courage again, and chose out the +bravest of his men, whom he exhorted to make a gallant defence, and not +be daunted at Aurelius, who, he told them, had but few Armorican Britons +with him, since their number did not exceed ten thousand. And as for +the native Britons, he made no account of them, since they had been so +often defeated by him. He therefore promised them the victory, and that +they should come off safely, considering the superiority of their +number, which amounted to two hundred thousand men in arms. After he had +in this manner animated his men, he advanced with them towards Aurelius, +into a field called Maisbeli, through which Aurelius was to pass. For +his intention was to make a sudden assault by a surprise, and fall upon +the Britons before they were prepared. But Aurelius perceived the +design, and yet did not, on that account, delay going to the field, but +rather pursued his march with more expedition. When he was come within +sight of the enemy, he put his troops in order, commanding three +thousand Armoricans to attend the cavalry, and drew out the rest +together with the islanders into line of battle. The Dimetians he placed +upon the hills, and the Venedotians in the adjacent woods. His reason +for which was, that they might be there ready to fall upon the Saxons, +in case they should flee in that direction. + + + + +CHAP. V.--_A battle between Aurelius and Hengist._ + + +In the meantime, Eldol, duke of Gloucester, went to the king, and said, +"This one day should suffice for all the days of my life, if by good +providence I could but get an opportunity to engage with Hengist; for +one of us should die before we parted. I still retain deeply fixed in my +memory the day appointed for our peaceably treating together, but which +he villainously made use of to assassinate all that were present at the +treaty, except myself only, who stood upon my defence with a stake which +I accidentally found, until I made my escape. That very day proved +fatal, through his treachery, to no less than four hundred and sixty +barons and consuls, who all went unarmed. From that conspiracy God was +pleased to deliver me, by throwing a stake in my way, wherewith I +defended myself and escaped." Thus spoke Eldol. Then Aurelius exhorted +his companions to place all their hope in the Son of God, and to make a +brave assault with one consent upon the enemy, in defence of their +country. Nor was Hengist less busy on the other hand in forming his +troops, and giving them directions how to behave themselves in the +battle; and he walked himself through their several ranks, the more to +spirit them up. At last, both armies, being drawn out in order of +battle, began the attack, which they maintained with great bravery, and +no small loss of blood, both to the Britons and Saxons. Aurelius +animated the Christians, Hengist the pagans; and all the time of the +engagement, Eldol's chief endeavour was to encounter Hengist, but he had +no opportunity for it. For Hengist, when he found that his own men were +routed, and that the Christians, by the especial favour of God, had the +advantage, fled to the town called Kaerconan, now Cunungeburg. Aurelius +pursued him, and either killed or made slaves of all he found in the +way. When Hengist saw that he was pursued by Aurelius, he would not +enter the town, but assembled his troops, and prepared them to stand +another engagement. For he knew the town would not hold out against +Aurelius, and that his whole security now lay in his sword. At last +Aurelius overtook him, and after marshalling his forces, began another +most furious fight. And here the Saxons steadily maintained their +ground, notwithstanding the numbers that fell. On both sides there was a +great slaughter, the groans of the dying causing a greater rage in those +that survived. In short, the Saxons would have gained the day, had not a +detachment of horse from the Armorican Britons come in upon them. For +Aurelius had appointed them the same station which they had in the +former battle; so that, upon their advancing, the Saxons gave ground, +and when once a little dispersed, were not able to rally again. The +Britons, encouraged by this advantage, exerted themselves, and laboured +with all their might to distress the enemy. All the time Aurelius was +fully employed, not only in giving commands, but encouraging his men by +his own example; for with his own hand he killed all that stood in his +way, and pursued those that fled. Nor was Eldol less active in all parts +of the field, running to and fro to assault his adversaries; but still +his main endeavour was to find opportunity of encountering Hengist. + + + + +CHAP. VI.--_Hengist, in a duel with Eldol, is taken by him. The Saxons +are slain by the Britons without mercy._ + + +As there were therefore several movements made by the parties engaged on +each side, an opportunity occurred for their meeting, and briskly +engaging each other. In this encounter of the two greatest champions in +the field, the fire sparkled with the clashing of their arms, and every +stroke in a manner produced both thunder and lightning. For a long time +was the victory in suspense, as it seemed sometimes to favour the one, +sometimes the other. While they were thus hotly engaged, Gorlois, duke +of Cornwall, came up to them with the party he commanded, and did great +execution upon the enemies' troops. At the sight of him, Eldol, assured +of victory, seized on the helmet of Hengist, and by main force dragged +him in among the Britons, and then in transports of joy cried out with a +loud voice, "God has fulfilled my desire! My brave soldiers, down, down, +with your enemies the Ambrons.[211] The victory is now in your hands: +Hengist is defeated, and the day is your own." In the meantime the +Britons failed not to perform every one his part against the pagans, +upon whom they made many vigorous assaults; and though they were obliged +sometimes to give ground, yet their courage did not fail them in making +a good resistance; so that they gave the enemy no respite till they had +vanquished them. The Saxons therefore fled whithersoever their +consternation hurried them, some to the cities, some to the woods upon +the hills, and others to their ships. But Octa, the son of Hengist, made +his retreat with a great body of men to York: and Eosa, his kinsman, to +the city of Alclud, where he had a very large army for his guard. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 211: The meaning of this word is doubtful; it is applied to +the Saxons, probably is descriptive of their fierce and savage +character.] + + + + +CHAP. VII.--_Hengist is beheaded by Eldol._ + + +Aurelius, after this victory, took the city of Conan above-mentioned, +and stayed there three days. During this time he gave orders for the +burial of the slain, for curing the wounded, and for the ease and +refreshment of his forces that were fatigued. Then he called a council +of his principal officers, to deliberate what was to be done with +Hengist. There was present at the assembly Eldad, bishop of Gloucester, +and brother of Eldol, a prelate of very great wisdom and piety. As soon +as he beheld Hengist standing in the king's presence, he demanded +silence, and said, "Though all should be unanimous for setting him at +liberty, yet would I cut him to pieces. The prophet Samuel is my +warrant, who, when he had Agag, king of Amalek, in his power, hewed him +in pieces, saying, As thy sword hath made women childless, so shall thy +mother be childless among women. Do therefore the same to Hengist, who +is a second Agag." Accordingly Eldol took his sword, and drew him out of +the city, and then cut off his head. But Aurelius, who showed moderation +in all his conduct, commanded him to be buried, and a heap of earth to +be raised over his body, according to the custom of the pagans. + + + + +CHAP. VIII.--_Octa, being besieged in York, surrenders himself to the +mercy of Aurelius._ + + +From hence Aurelius conducted his army to York, to besiege Octa, +Hengist's son. When the city was invested, Octa was doubtful whether he +should give him any opposition, and stand a siege against such a +powerful army. After consultation upon it, he went out with his +principal nobility that were present, carrying a chain in his hand, and +sand upon his head, and presented himself to the king with this address: +"My gods are vanquished, and I doubt not that the sovereign power is in +your God, who has compelled so many noble persons to come before you in +this suppliant manner. Be pleased therefore to accept of us, and of this +chain. If you do not think us fit objects of your clemency, we here +present ourselves ready to be fettered, and to undergo whatever +punishment you shall adjudge us to." Aurelius was moved with pity at the +spectacle, and demanded the advice of his council what should be done +with them. After various proposals upon this subject, Eldad the bishop +rose up, and delivered his opinion in these words: "The Gibeonites came +voluntarily to the children of Israel to desire mercy, and they obtained +it. And shall we Christians be worse than the Jews, in refusing them +mercy? It is mercy which they beg, and let them have it. The island of +Britain is large, and in many places uninhabited. Let us make a covenant +with them, and suffer them at least to inhabit the desert places, that +they may be our vassals for ever." The king acquiesced in Eldad's +advice, and suffered them to partake of his clemency. After this Eosa +and the rest that fled, being encouraged by Octa's success, came also, +and were admitted to the same favour. The king therefore granted them +the country bordering upon Scotland, and made a firm covenant with them. + + + + +CHAP. IX.--_Aurelius, having entirely routed the enemies, restores all +things in Britain, especially ecclesiastical affairs, to their ancient +state._ + + +The enemies being now entirely reduced,[212] the king summoned the +consuls and princes of the kingdom together at York, where he gave +orders for the restoration of the churches, which the Saxons had +destroyed. He himself undertook the rebuilding of the metropolitan +church of that city, as also the other cathedral churches in that +province. After fifteen days, when he had settled workmen in several +places, he went to London, which city had not escaped the fury of the +enemy. He beheld with great sorrow the destruction made in it, and +recalled the remainder of the citizens from all parts, and began the +restoration of it. Here he settled the affairs of the whole kingdom, +revived the laws, restored the right heirs to the possessions of their +ancestors; and those estates, whereof the heirs had been lost in the +late grievous calamity, he distributed among his fellow soldiers. In +these important concerns, of restoring the nation to its ancient state, +repairing the churches, re-establishing peace and law, and settling the +administration of justice, was his time wholly employed. From hence he +went to Winchester, to repair the ruins of it, as he did of other +cities; and when the work was finished there, he went, at the instance +of bishop Eldad, to the monastery near Kaercaradoc, now Salisbury, where +the consuls and princes, whom the wicked Hengist had treacherously +murdered, lay buried. At this place was a convent that maintained three +hundred friars, situated on the mountain of Ambrius, who, as is +reported, had been the founder of it. The sight of the place where the +dead lay, made the king, who was of a compassionate temper, shed tears, +and at last enter upon thoughts, what kind of monument to erect upon it. +For he thought something ought to be done to perpetuate the memory of +that piece of ground, which was honoured with the bodies of so many +noble patriots, that died for their country. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 212: The conquest of England was achieved slowly by the +Saxons, yet it was sure and permanent: the assertion in the text is +untrue. There was no expulsion or subjugation of the invaders when they +were once landed.] + + + + +CHAP. X.--_Aurelius is advised by Merlin to remove the Giant's Dance +from the mountain Killaraus._ + + +For this purpose he summoned together several carpenters and masons, and +commanded them to employ the utmost of their art, in contriving some new +structure, for a lasting monument to those great men. But they, in +diffidence of their own skill, refusing to undertake it, Tremounus, +archbishop of the City of Legions, went to the king, and said, "If any +one living is able to execute your commands, Merlin, the prophet of +Vortigern, is the man. In my opinion there is not in all your kingdom a +person of a brighter genius, either in predicting future events, or in +mechanical contrivances. Order him to come to you, and exercise his +skill in the work which you design." Whereupon Aurelius, after he had +asked a great many questions concerning him, despatched several +messengers into the country to find him out, and bring him to him. After +passing through several provinces, they found him in the country of the +Gewisseans, at the fountain of Galabes, which he frequently resorted to. +As soon as they had delivered their message to him, they conducted him +to the king, who received him with joy, and, being curious to hear some +of his wonderful speeches, commanded him to prophesy. Merlin made +answer: "Mysteries of this kind are not to be revealed but when there is +the greatest necessity for it. If I should pretend to utter them for +ostentation or diversion, the spirit that instructs me would be silent, +and would leave me when I should have occasion for it." When he had made +the same refusal to all the rest present, the king would not urge him +any longer about his predictions, but spoke to him concerning the +monument which he designed. "If you are desirous," said Merlin, "to +honour the burying-place of these men with an everlasting monument, send +for the Giant's Dance, which is in Killaraus, a mountain in Ireland. For +there is a structure of stones there, which none of this age could +raise, without a profound knowledge of the mechanical arts. They are +stones of a vast magnitude and wonderful quality; and if they can be +placed here, as they are there, round this spot of ground, they will +stand for ever." + + + + +CHAP. XI.--_Uther Pendragon is appointed with Merlin to bring over the +Giant's Dance._ + + +At these words of Merlin, Aurelius burst into laughter, and said, "How +is it possible to remove such vast stones from so distant a country, as +if Britain was not furnished with stones fit for the work?" Merlin +replied, "I entreat your majesty to forbear vain laughter; for what I +say is without vanity. They are mystical stones, and of a medicinal +virtue. The giants of old brought them from the farthest coast of +Africa, and placed them in Ireland, while they inhabited that country. +Their design in this was to make baths in them, when they should be +taken with any illness. For their method was to wash the stones, and put +their sick into the water, which infallibly cured them. With the like +success they cured wounds also, adding only the application of some +herbs. There is not a stone there which has not some healing virtue." +When the Britons heard this, they resolved to send for the stones, and +to make war upon the people of Ireland if they should offer to detain +them. And to accomplish this business, they made choice of Uther +Pendragon, who was to be attended with fifteen thousand men. They chose +also Merlin himself, by whose direction the whole affair was to be +managed. A fleet being therefore got ready, they set sail, and with a +fair wind arrived in Ireland. + + + + +CHAP. XII.--_Gillomanius being routed by Uther, the Britons bring over +the Giant's dance into Britain._ + + +At that time Gillomanius, a youth of wonderful valour, reigned in +Ireland; who, upon the news of the arrival of the Britons in his +kingdom, levied a vast army, and marched out against them. And when he +had learned the occasion of their coming, he smiled, and said to those +about him, "No wonder a cowardly race of people were able to make so +great a devastation in the island of Britain, when the Britons are such +brutes and fools. Was ever the like folly heard of? What are the stones +of Ireland better than those of Britain, that our kingdom must be put to +this disturbance for them? To arms, soldiers, and defend your country; +while I have life they shall not take from us the least stone of the +Giant's Dance." Uther, seeing them prepared for a battle, attacked them; +nor was it long ere the Britons had the advantage, who, having dispersed +and killed the Irish, forced Gillomanius to flee. After the victory they +went to the mountain Killaraus, and arrived at the structure of stones, +the sight of which filled them both with joy and admiration. And while +they were all standing round them, Merlin came up to them and said, "Now +try your forces, young men, and see whether strength or art can do the +most towards taking down these stones." At this word they all set to +their engines with one accord, and attempted the removing of the Giant's +Dance. Some prepared cables, others small ropes, others ladders for the +work, but all to no purpose. Merlin laughed at their vain efforts, and +then began his own contrivances. When he had placed in order the engines +that were necessary, he took down the stones with an incredible +facility, and gave directions for carrying them to the ships, and +placing them therein. This done, they with joy set sail again, to return +to Britain; where they arrived with a fair gale, and repaired to the +burying-place with the stones. When Aurelius had notice of it, he sent +messengers to all parts of Britain, to summon the clergy and people +together to the mount of Ambrius, in order to celebrate with joy and +honour the erection of the monument. Upon this summons appeared the +bishops, abbats, and people of all other orders and qualities; and upon +the day and place appointed for their general meeting, Aurelius placed +the crown upon his head, and with royal pomp celebrated the feast of +Pentecost, the solemnity whereof he continued the three following days. +In the meantime, all places of honour that were vacant, he bestowed upon +his domestics as rewards for their good services. At that time the two +metropolitan sees of York and Legions were vacant; and with the general +consent of the people, whom he was willing to please in this choice, he +granted York to Sanxo, a man of great quality, and much celebrated for +his piety; and the City of Legions to Dubricius, whom divine providence +had pointed out as a most useful pastor in that place. As soon as he +had settled these and other affairs in the kingdom, he ordered Merlin to +set up the stones brought over from Ireland, about the sepulchre; which +he accordingly did, and placed them in the same manner as they had been +in the mountain Killaraus, and thereby gave a manifest proof of the +prevalence of art above strength.[213] + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 213: This is the venerable monument of antiquity, now called +Stonehenge, of the origin of which we know no more than we know of the +solid framework of the globe itself. It was certainly erected by a +people who lived long before the beginning of authentic history.] + + + + +CHAP. XIII.--_Pascentius brings in the Saxons against the Britons._ + + +At the same time Pascentius, the son of Vortigern, who had fled over +into Germany, was levying all the forces of that kingdom against +Aurelius Ambrosius, with a design to revenge his father's death; and +promised his men an immense treasure of gold and silver, if with their +assistance he could succeed in reducing Britain under his power. When he +had at last corrupted all the youth of the country with his large +promises, he prepared a vast fleet, and arrived in the northern parts of +the island, upon which he began to make great devastations. The king, on +the other hand, hearing this news, assembled his army, and marching +against them challenged the enraged enemy to a battle; the challenge was +accepted, and by the blessing of God the enemy was defeated and put to +flight. + + + + +CHAP. XIV.--_Pascentius, assisted by the king of Ireland, again invades +Britain. Aurelius dies by the treachery of Eopa, a Saxon._ + + +Pascentius, after this flight, durst not return to Germany, but shifting +his sails, went over to Gillomanius, in Ireland, by whom he was well +received. And when he had given him an account of his misfortune, +Gillomanius, in pity to him, promised him his assistance, and at the +same time vented his complaint of the injuries done him by Uther, the +brother of Aurelius, when he came for the Giant's Dance. At last, +entering into confederacy together, they made ready their fleet, in +which they embarked, and arrived at the city of Menevia. This news +caused Uther Pendragon to levy his forces, and march into Cambria to +fight them. For his brother Aurelius then lay sick at Winchester, and +was not able to go himself. When Pascentius, Gillomanius, and the Saxons +heard of it, they highly rejoiced, flattering themselves, that his +sickness would facilitate to them the conquest of Britain. While this +occurrence was the subject of the people's discourse, one of the Saxons, +named Eopa, came to Pascentius, and said, "What reward will you give the +man that shall kill Aurelius Ambrosius for you?" To whom Pascentius +answered, "O that I could find a man of such resolution! I would give +him a thousand pounds of silver, and my friendship for life; and if by +good fortune I can but gain the crown, I promise upon oath to make him a +centurion." To this Eopa replied, "I have learned the British language, +and know the manners of the people, and have skill in physic. If, +therefore, you will perform this promise, I will pretend to be a +Christian and a Briton, and when, as a physician, I shall be admitted +into the king's presence, I will make him a potion that shall despatch +him. And to gain the readier access to him, I will put on the appearance +of a devout and learned monk." Upon this offer, Pascentius entered into +covenant with him, and confirmed what he had promised with an oath. +Eopa, therefore, shaved his beard and head, and in the habit of a monk +hastened to Winchester, loaded with vessels full of medical +preparations. As soon as he arrived there, he offered his service to +those that attended about the king, and was graciously received by them; +for to them nobody was now more acceptable than a physician. Being +introduced into the king's presence, he promised to restore him to his +health, if he would but take his potions. Upon which he had his orders +forthwith to prepare one of them, into which when he had secretly +conveyed a poisonous mixture, he gave it the king. As soon as Aurelius +had drunk it up, the wicked Ambron ordered him presently to cover +himself close up, and fall asleep, that the detestable potion might the +better operate. The king readily obeyed his prescriptions, and in hopes +of his speedy recovery fell asleep. But the poison quickly diffused +itself through all the pores and veins of his body, so that the sleep +ended in death. In the meantime the wicked traitor, having cunningly +withdrawn himself first from one and then from another, was no longer +to be found in the court. During these transactions at Winchester, there +appeared a star of wonderful magnitude and brightness, darting forth a +ray, at the end of which was a globe of fire in form of a dragon, out of +whose mouth issued forth two rays; one of which seemed to stretch out +itself beyond the extent of Gaul, the other towards the Irish Sea, and +ended in seven lesser rays. + + + + +CHAP. XV.--_A comet presignifies the reign of Uther._ + + +At the appearance of this star, a general fear and amazement seized the +people; and even Uther, the king's brother, who was then upon his march +with his army into Cambria, being not a little terrified at it, was very +curious to know of the learned men, what it portended. Among others, he +ordered Merlin to be called, who also attended in this expedition to +give his advice in the management of the war; and who, being now +presented before him, was commanded to discover to him the signification +of the star. At this he burst out into tears, and with a loud voice +cried out, "O irreparable loss! O distressed people of Britain! Alas! +the illustrious prince is departed! The renowned king of the Britons, +Aurelius Ambrosius, is dead! whose death will prove fatal to us all, +unless God be our helper. Make haste, therefore, most noble Uther, make +haste to engage the enemy: the victory will be yours, and you shall be +king of all Britain. For the star, and the fiery dragon under it, +signifies yourself, and the ray extending towards the Gallic coast, +portends that you shall have a most potent son, to whose power all those +kingdoms shall be subject over which the ray reaches. But the other ray +signifies a daughter, whose sons and grandsons shall successively enjoy +the kingdom of Britain." + + + + +CHAP. XVI.--_Pascentius and Gillomanius are killed in battle._ + + +Uther, though he doubted of the truth of what Merlin had declared, +pursued his march against the enemy, for he was now come within half a +day's march of Menevia. When Gillomanius, Pascentius, and the Saxons +were informed of his approach, they went out to give him battle. As soon +as they were come within sight of each other, both armies began to form +themselves into several bodies, and then advanced to a close attack, in +which both sides suffered a loss of men, as usually happens in such +engagements. At last, towards the close of the day, the advantage was on +Uther's side, and the death of Gillomanius and Pascentius made a way for +complete victory. So that the barbarians, being put to flight, hastened +to their ships, but were slain by their pursuers. Thus, by the favour of +Christ, the general had triumphant success, and then with all possible +expedition, after so great a fatigue, returned back to Winchester: for +he had now been informed, by messengers that arrived, of the king's sad +fate, and of his burial by the bishops of the country, near the convent +of Ambrius, within the Giant's Dance, which in his lifetime he had +commanded to be made. For upon hearing the news of his death, the +bishops, abbats, and all the clergy of that province, had met together +at Winchester, to solemnize his funeral. And because in his lifetime he +had given orders for his being buried in the sepulchre which he had +prepared, they therefore carried his corpse thither, and performed his +exsequies with royal magnificence. + + + + +CHAP. XVII.--_Uther Pendragon is made king of Britain._ + + +But Uther his brother, having assembled the clergy of the kingdom, took +the crown, and by universal consent was advanced to the kingdom. And +remembering the explanation which Merlin had made of the star +above-mentioned, he commanded two dragons to be made of gold, in +likeness of the dragon which he had seen at the ray of the star. As soon +as they were finished, which was done with wonderful nicety of +workmanship, he made a present of one to the cathedral church of +Winchester, but reserved the other for himself, to be carried along with +him to his wars. From this time, therefore, he was called Uther +Pendragon, which in the British tongue signifies the dragon's head; the +occasion of this appellation being Merlin's predicting, from the +appearance of a dragon, that he should be king. + + + + +CHAP. XVIII.--_Octa and Eosa are taken in battle._ + + +In the meantime Octa the son of Hengist, and his kinsman Eosa, seeing +they were no longer bound by the treaty which they had made with +Aurelius Ambrosius, began to raise disturbances against the king, and +infest his countries. For they were now joining with the Saxons whom +Pascentius had brought over, and sending messengers into Germany for the +rest. Being therefore attended with a vast army, he invaded the northern +provinces, and in an outrageous manner destroyed all the cities and +fortified places, from Albania to York. At last, as he was beginning the +siege of that city, Uther Pendragon came upon him with the whole power +of the kingdom, and gave him battle. The Saxons behaved with great +gallantry, and, having sustained the assaults of the Britons, forced +them to fly; and upon this advantage pursued them with slaughter to the +mountain Damen, which was as long as they could do it with daylight. The +mountain was high, and had a hazel-wood upon the top of it, and about +the middle broken and cavernous rocks, which were a harbour to wild +beasts. The Britons made up to it, and stayed there all night among the +rocks and hazel-bushes. But as it began to draw towards day, Uther +commanded the consuls and princes to be called together, that he might +consult with them in what manner to assault the enemy. Whereupon they +forthwith appeared before the king, who commanded them to give their +advice; and Gorlois, duke of Cornwall, had orders to deliver his opinion +first, out of regard to his years and great experience. "There is no +occasion," said he, "for ceremonies or speeches, while we see that it is +still night: but there is for boldness and courage, if you desire any +longer enjoyment of your life and liberty. The pagans are very numerous, +and eager to fight, and we much inferior to them in number; so that if +we stay till daybreak, we cannot, in my opinion, attack them to +advantage. Come on, therefore, while we have the favour of the night, +let us go down in a close body, and surprise them in their camp with a +sudden assault. There can be no doubt of success, if with one consent we +fall upon them boldly, while they think themselves secure, and have no +expectation of our coming in such a manner." The king and all that were +present, were pleased with his advice, and pursued it. For as soon as +they were armed and placed in their ranks, they made towards the +enemies' camp, designing a general assault. But upon approaching to it, +they were discovered by the watch, who with sound of trumpet awaked +their companions. The enemies being hereupon put into confusion and +astonishment, part of them hastened towards the sea, and part ran up and +down whithersoever their fear or precipitation drove them. The Britons, +finding their coming discovered, hastened their march, and keeping still +close together in their ranks, assailed the camp; into which when they +had found an entrance, they ran with their drawn swords upon the enemy; +who in this sudden surprise made but a faint defence against their +vigorous and regular attack; and pursuing this blow with great eagerness +they destroyed some thousands of the pagans, took Octa and Eosa +prisoners, and entirely dispersed the Saxons. + + + + +CHAP. XIX.--_Uther, falling in love with Igerna, enjoys her by the +assistance of Merlin's magical operations._ + + +After this victory Uther repaired to the city of Alclud, where he +settled the affairs of that province, and restored peace everywhere. He +also made a progress round all the countries of the Scots, and tamed the +fierceness of that rebellious people, by such a strict administration of +justice, as none of his predecessors had exercised before: so that in +his time offenders were everywhere under great terror, since they were +sure of being punished without mercy. At last, when he had established +peace in the northern provinces, he went to London, and commanded Octa +and Eosa to be kept in prison there. The Easter following he ordered all +the nobility of the kingdom to meet at that city, in order to celebrate +that great festival; in honour of which he designed to wear his crown. +The summons was everywhere obeyed, and there was a great concourse from +all cities to celebrate the day. So the king observed the festival with +great solemnity, as he had designed, and very joyfully entertained his +nobility, of whom there was a very great muster, with their wives and +daughters, suitably to the magnificence of the banquet prepared for +them. And having been received with joy by the king, they also expressed +the same in their deportment before him. Among the rest was present +Gorlois, duke of Cornwall, with his wife Igerna, the greatest beauty in +all Britain. No sooner had the king cast his eyes upon her among the +rest of the ladies, than he fell passionately in love with her, and +little regarding the rest, made her the subject of all his thoughts. +She was the only lady that he continually served with fresh dishes, and +to whom he sent golden cups by his confidants; on her he bestowed all +his smiles, and to her addressed all his discourse. The husband, +discovering this, fell into a great rage, and retired from the court +without taking leave: nor was there any body that could stop him, while +he was under fear of losing the chief object of his delight. Uther, +therefore, in great wrath commanded him to return back to court, to make +him satisfaction for this affront. But Gorlois refused to obey; upon +which the king was highly incensed, and swore he would destroy his +country, if he did not speedily compound for his offence. Accordingly, +without delay, while their anger was hot against each other, the king +got together a great army, and marched into Cornwall, the cities and +towns whereof he set on fire. But Gorlois durst not engage with him, on +account of the inferiority of his numbers; and thought it a wiser course +to fortify his towns, till he could get succour from Ireland. And as he +was under more concern for his wife than himself, he put her into the +town of Tintagel,[214] upon the sea-shore, which he looked upon as a +place of great safety. But he himself entered the castle of Dimilioc, to +prevent their being both at once involved in the same danger, if any +should happen. The king, informed of this, went to the town where +Gorlois was, which he besieged, and shut up all the avenues to it. A +whole week was now past, when, retaining in mind his love to Igerna, he +said to one of his confidants, named Ulfin de Ricaradoch: "My passion +for Igerna is such, that I can neither have ease of mind, nor health of +body, till I obtain her: and if you cannot assist me with your advice +how to accomplish my desire, the inward torments I endure will kill +me."--"Who can advise you in this matter," said Ulfin, "when no force +will enable us to have access to her in the town of Tintagel? For it is +situated upon the sea, and on every side surrounded by it; and there is +but one entrance into it, and that through a straight rock, which three +men shall be able to defend against the whole power of the kingdom. +Notwithstanding, if the prophet Merlin would in earnest set about this +attempt, I am of opinion, you might with his advice obtain your wishes." +The king readily believed what he was so well inclined to, and ordered +Merlin, who was also come to the siege, to be called. Merlin, therefore, +being introduced into the king's presence, was commanded to give his +advice, how the king might accomplish his desire with respect to Igerna. +And he, finding the great anguish of the king, was moved by such +excessive love, and said, "To accomplish your desire, you must make use +of such arts as have not been heard of in your time. I know how, by the +force of my medicines, to give you the exact likeness of Gorlois, so +that in all respects you shall seem to be no other than himself. If you +will therefore obey my prescriptions, I will metamorphose you into the +true semblance of Gorlois and Ulfin into Jordan of Tintagel, his +familiar friend; and I myself, being transformed into another shape, +will make the third in the adventure; and in this disguise you may go +safely to the town where Igerna is, and have admittance to her." The +king complied with the proposal, and acted with great caution in this +affair; and when he had committed the care of the siege to his intimate +friends, underwent the medical applications of Merlin, by whom he was +transformed into the likeness of Gorlois; as was Ulfin also into Jordan, +and Merlin himself into Bricel; so that nobody could see any remains now +of their former likeness. They then set forward on their way to +Tintagel, at which they arrived in the evening twilight, and forthwith +signified to the porter, that the consul was come; upon which the gates +were opened, and the men let in. For what room could there be for +suspicion, when Gorlois himself seemed to be there present? The king +therefore stayed that night with Igerna, and had the full enjoyment of +her, for she was deceived with the false disguise which he had put on, +and the artful and amorous discourses wherewith he entertained her. He +told her he had left his own place besieged, purely to provide for the +safety of her dear self, and the town she was in; so that believing all +that he said, she refused him nothing which he desired. The same night +therefore she conceived of the most renowned Arthur, whose heroic and +wonderful actions have justly rendered his name famous to posterity. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 214: The ruins of this castle denote that it must have been a +place of great strength.] + + + + +CHAP. XX.--_Gorlois being killed, Uther marries Igerna._ + + +In the meantime, as soon as the king's absence was discovered at the +siege, his army unadvisedly made an assault upon the walls, and provoked +the besieged count to a battle; who himself also, acting as +inconsiderately as they, sallied forth with his men, thinking with such +a small handful to oppose a powerful army; but happened to be killed in +the very first brunt of the fight, and had all his men routed. The town +also was taken; but all the riches of it were not shared equally among +the besiegers, but every one greedily took what he could get, according +as fortune or his own strength favoured him. After this bold attempt, +came messengers to Igerna, with the news both of the duke's death, and +of the event of the siege. But when they saw the king in the likeness of +the consul, sitting close by her, they were struck with shame and +astonishment at his safe arrival there, whom they had left dead at the +siege; for they were wholly ignorant of the miracles which Merlin had +wrought with his medicines. The king therefore smiled at the news, and +embracing the countess, said to her: "Your own eyes may convince you +that I am not dead, but alive. But notwithstanding, the destruction of +the town, and the slaughter of my men, is what very much grieves me; so +that there is reason to fear the king's coming upon us, and taking us in +this place. To prevent which, I will go out to meet him, and make my +peace with him, for fear of a worse disaster." Accordingly, as soon as +he was out of the town, he went to his army, and having put off the +disguise of Gorlois, was now Uther Pendragon again. When he had a full +relation made to him how matters had succeeded, he was sorry for the +death of Gorlois, but rejoiced that Igerna was now at liberty to marry +again. Then he returned to the town of Tintagel, which he took, and in +it, what he impatiently wished for, Igerna herself. After this they +continued to live together with much affection for each other, and had a +son and daughter, whose names were Arthur and Anne. + + + + +CHAP. XXI.--_Octa and Eosa renew the war. Lot, a consul, marries the +king's daughter._ + + +In process of time the king was taken ill of a lingering distemper; and +meanwhile the keepers of the prison, wherein Octa and Eosa (as we +related before) led a weary life, had fled over with them into Germany, +and occasioned great fear over the kingdom. For there was a report of +their great levies in Germany, and the vast fleet which they had +prepared for their return to destroy the island: which the event +verified. For they returned in a great fleet, and with a prodigious +number of men, and invaded the parts of Albania, where they destroyed +both cities and inhabitants with fire and sword. Wherefore, in order to +repulse the enemies, the command of the British army was committed to +Lot of Londonesia, who was a consul, and a most valiant knight, and +grown up to maturity both of years and wisdom. Out of respect to his +eminent merits, the king had given him his daughter Anne, and entrusted +him with the care of the kingdom, during his illness. In his expedition +against the enemies he had various success, being often repulsed by +them, and forced to retreat to the cities; but he oftener routed and +dispersed them, and compelled them to flee sometimes into the woods, +sometimes to their ships. So that in a war attended with so many turns +of fortune, it was hard to know which side had the better. The greatest +injury to the Britons was their own pride, in disdaining to obey the +consul's commands; for which reason all their efforts against the enemy +were less vigorous and successful. + + + + +CHAP. XXII.--_Uther, being ill, is carried in a horse-litter against the +enemy._ + + +The island being by this conduct now almost laid waste, the king, having +information of the matter, fell into a greater rage than his weakness +could bear, and commanded all his nobility to come before him, that he +might reprove them severely for their pride and cowardice. And as soon +as they were all entered into his presence, he sharply rebuked them in +menacing language, and swore he himself would lead them against the +enemy. For this purpose he ordered a horse-litter to be made, in which +he designed to be carried, for his infirmity would not suffer him to use +any other sort of vehicle; and he charged them to be all ready to march +against the enemy on the first opportunity. So, without delay, the +horse-litter and all his attendants were got ready, and the day arrived +which had been appointed for their march. + + + + +CHAP. XXIII.--_Octa and Eosa, with a great number of their men, are +killed._ + + +The king, therefore, being put into his vehicle, they marched directly +to Verulam, where the Saxons were grievously oppressing the people. When +Octa and Eosa had intelligence that the Britons were come, and that the +king was brought in a horse-litter, they disdained to fight with him, +saying, it would be a shame for such brave men to fight with one that +was half dead. For which reason they retired into the city, and, as it +were in contempt of any danger from the enemy, left their gates wide +open. But Uther, upon information of this, instantly commanded his men +to lay siege to the city, and assault the walls on all sides; which +orders they strictly executed; and were just entering the breaches which +they had made in the walls, and ready to begin a general assault, when +the Saxons, seeing the advantages which the Britons had gained, and +being forced to abate somewhat of their haughty pride, condescended so +far as to put themselves into a posture of defence. They therefore +mounted the walls, from whence they poured down showers of arrows, and +repulsed the Britons. On both sides the contest continued till night +released them from the fatigue of their arms, which was what many of the +Britons desired, though the greater part of them were for having the +matter quickly decided with the enemy. The Saxons, on the other hand, +finding how prejudicial their own pride had been to them, and that the +advantage was on the side of the Britons, resolved to make a sally at +break of day, and try their fortune with the enemy in the open field; +which accordingly was done. For no sooner was it daylight, than they +marched out with this design, all in their proper ranks. The Britons, +seeing them, divided their men into several bodies, and advancing +towards them, began the attack first, their part being to assault, while +the others were only upon the defensive. However, much blood was shed on +both sides, and the greatest part of the day spent in the fight, when at +last, Octa and Eosa being killed, the Saxons turned their backs, and +left the Britons a complete victory. The king at this was in such an +ecstasy of joy, that whereas before he could hardly raise up himself +without the help of others, he now without any difficulty sat upright in +his horse-litter of himself, as if he was on a sudden restored to +health; and said with a laughing and merry countenance, "These Ambrons +called me the half-dead king, because my sickness obliged me to lie on a +horse-litter; and indeed so I was. Yet victory to me half dead, is +better than to be safe and sound and vanquished. For to die with honour, +is preferable to living with disgrace." + + + + +CHAP. XXIV.--_Uther, upon drinking spring water that was treacherously +poisoned by the Saxons, dies._ + + +The Saxons, notwithstanding this defeat, persisted still in their +malice, and entering the northern provinces, without respite infested +the people there. Uther's purpose was to have pursued them; but his +princes dissuaded him from it because his illness had increased since +the victory. This gave new courage to the enemy, who left nothing +unattempted to make conquest of the kingdom. And now they have recourse +to their former treacherous practices, and contrive how to compass the +king's death by secret villainy. And because they could have no access +to him otherwise, they resolved to take him off by poison; in which they +succeeded. For while he was lying ill at Verulam, they sent away some +spies in a poor habit, to learn the state of the court; and when they +had thoroughly informed themselves of the posture of affairs, they found +out an expedient by which they might best accomplish their villainy. For +there was near the court a spring of very clear water, which the king +used to drink of, when his distemper had made all other liquors nauseous +to him. This the detestable conspirators made use of to destroy him, by +so poisoning the whole mass of water which sprang up, that the next time +the king drank of it, he was seized with sudden death, as were also a +hundred other persons after him, till the villainy was discovered, and a +heap of earth thrown over the well. As soon as the king's death was +divulged, the bishops and clergy of the kingdom assembled, and carried +his body to the convent of Ambrius, where they buried it with regal +solemnity, close by Aurelius Ambrosius, within the Giant's Dance. + + + + +BOOK IX. + +CHAP. I.--_Arthur succeeds Uther his father in the kingdom of Britain, +and besieges Colgrin._ + + +Uther Pendragon being dead, the nobility from several provinces +assembled together at Silchester, and proposed to Dubricius, archbishop +of Legions, that he should consecrate Arthur, Uther's son, to be their +king. For they were now in great straits, because, upon hearing of the +king's death, the Saxons had invited over their countrymen from Germany, +and, under the command of Colgrin, were attempting to exterminate the +whole British race. They had also entirely subdued all that part of the +island which extends from the Humber to the sea of Caithness. Dubricius, +therefore, grieving for the calamities of his country, in conjunction +with the other bishops, set the crown upon Arthur's head. Arthur was +then fifteen years old, but a youth of such unparalleled courage and +generosity, joined with that sweetness of temper and innate goodness, as +gained him universal love. When his coronation was over, he, according +to usual custom, showed his bounty and munificence to the people. And +such a number of soldiers flocked to him upon it, that his treasury was +not able to answer that vast expense. But such a spirit of generosity, +joined with valour, can never long want means to support itself. Arthur, +therefore, the better to keep up his munificence, resolved to make use +of his courage, and to fall upon the Saxons, that he might enrich his +followers with their wealth. To this he was also moved by the justice of +the cause, since the entire monarchy of Britain belonged to him by +hereditary right. Hereupon assembling the youth under his command, he +marched to York, of which, when Colgrin had intelligence, he met him +with a very great army, composed of Saxons, Scots, and Picts, by the +river Duglas; where a battle happened, with the loss of the greater part +of both armies. Notwithstanding, the victory fell to Arthur, who pursued +Colgrin to York, and there besieged him. Baldulph, upon the news of his +brother's flight, went towards the siege with a body of six thousand +men, to his relief; for at the time of the battle he was upon the +sea-coast, waiting the arrival of duke Cheldric with succours from +Germany. And being now no more than ten miles distant from the city, his +purpose was to make a speedy march in the night-time, and fall upon the +enemy by way of surprise. But Arthur, having intelligence of his design, +sent a detachment of six hundred horse, and three thousand foot, under +the command of Cador, duke of Cornwall, to meet him the same night. +Cador, therefore, falling into the same road along which the enemy was +passing, made a sudden assault upon them, and entirely defeated the +Saxons, and put them to flight. Baldulph was excessively grieved at this +disappointment in the relief which he intended for his brother, and +began to think of some other stratagem to gain access to him; in which +if he could but succeed, he thought they might concert measures together +for their safety. And since he had no other way for it, he shaved his +head and beard, and put on the habit of a jester with a harp, and in +this disguise walked up and down in the camp, playing upon his +instrument as if he had been a harper. He thus passed unsuspected, and +by a little and little went up to the walls of the city, where he was at +last discovered by the besieged, who thereupon drew him up with cords, +and conducted him to his brother. At this unexpected, though much +desired meeting, they spent some time in joyfully embracing each other, +and then began to consider various stratagems for their delivery. At +last, just as they were considering their case desperate, the +ambassadors returned from Germany, and brought with them to Albania a +fleet of six hundred sail, laden with brave soldiers, under the command +of Cheldric. Upon this news, Arthur was dissuaded by his council from +continuing the siege any longer, for fear of hazarding a battle with so +powerful and numerous an army. + + + + +CHAP. II.--_Hoel sends fifteen thousand men to Arthur's assistance._ + + +Arthur complied with their advice, and made his retreat to London, where +he called an assembly of all the clergy and nobility of the kingdom, to +ask their advice, what course to take against the formidable power of +the pagans. After some deliberation, it was agreed that ambassadors +should be despatched into Armorica, to king Hoel, to represent to him +the calamitous state of Britain. Hoel was the son of Arthur's sister by +Dubricius, king of the Armorican Britons; so that, upon advice of the +disturbances his uncle was threatened with, he ordered his fleet to be +got ready, and, having assembled fifteen thousand men, he arrived with +the first fair wind at Hamo's Port,[215] and was received with all +suitable honour by Arthur, and most affectionately embraced by him. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 215: Southampton.] + + + + +CHAP. III.--_Arthur makes the Saxons his tributaries._ + + +After a few days they went to relieve the city Kaerlindcoit, that was +besieged by the pagans; which being situated upon a mountain, between +two rivers in the province of Lindisia, is called by another name +Lindocolinum.[216] As soon as they arrived there with all their forces, +they fought with the Saxons, and made a grievous slaughter of them, to +the number of six thousand; part of whom were drowned in the rivers, +part fell by the hands of the Britons. The rest in a great consternation +quitted the siege and fled, but were closely pursued by Arthur, till +they came to the wood of Celidon, where they endeavoured to form +themselves into a body again, and make a stand. And here they again +joined battle with the Britons, and made a brave defence, whilst the +trees that were in the place secured them against the enemies' arrows. +Arthur, seeing this, commanded the trees that were in that part of the +wood to be cut down, and the trunks to be placed quite round them, so as +to hinder their getting out; resolving to keep them pent up here till he +could reduce them by famine. He then commanded his troops to besiege the +wood, and continued three days in that place. The Saxons, having now no +provisions to sustain them, and being just ready to starve with hunger, +begged for leave to go out; in consideration whereof they offered to +leave all their gold and silver behind them, and return back to Germany +with nothing but their empty ships. They promised also that they would +pay him tribute from Germany, and leave hostages with him. Arthur, after +consultation, about it, granted their petition; allowing them only leave +to depart, and retaining all their treasures, as also hostages for +payment of the tribute. But as they were under sail on their return +home, they repented of their bargain, and tacked about again towards +Britain, and went on shore at Totness. No sooner were they landed, than +they made an utter devastation of the country as far as the Severn sea, +and put all the peasants to the sword. From thence they pursued their +furious march to the town of Bath, and laid siege to it. When the king +had intelligence of it, he was beyond measure surprised at their +proceedings, and immediately gave orders for the execution of the +hostages. And desisting from an attempt which he had entered upon to +reduce the Scots and Picts, he marched with the utmost expedition to +raise the siege; but laboured under very great difficulties, because he +had left his nephew Hoel sick at Alclud. At length, having entered the +province of Somerset, and beheld how the siege was carried on, he +addressed himself to his followers in these words: "Since these impious +and detestable Saxons have disdained to keep faith with me, I, to keep +faith with God, will endeavour to revenge the blood of my countrymen +this day upon them. To arms, soldiers, to arms, and courageously fall +upon the perfidious wretches, over whom we shall, with Christ assisting +us, undoubtedly obtain the victory." + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 216: Lincoln.] + + + + +CHAP. IV.--_Dubricius's speech against the treacherous Saxons. Arthur +with his own hand kills four hundred and seventy Saxons in one battle. +Colgrin and Baldulph are killed in the same._ + + +When he had done speaking, St. Dubricius, archbishop of Legions, going +to the top of a hill, cried out with a loud voice, "You that have the +honour to profess the Christian faith, keep fixed in your minds the love +which you owe to your country and fellow subjects, whose sufferings by +the treachery of the pagans will be an everlasting reproach to you, if +you do not courageously defend them. It is your country which you fight +for, and for which you should, when required, voluntarily suffer death; +for that itself is victory and the cure of the soul. For he that shall +die for his brethren, offers himself a living sacrifice to God, and has +Christ for his example, who condescended to lay down his life for his +brethren. If therefore any of you shall be killed in this war, that +death itself, which is suffered in so glorious a cause, shall be to him +for penance and absolution of all his sins." At these words, all of +them, encouraged with the benediction of the holy prelate, instantly +armed themselves, and prepared to obey his orders. Also Arthur himself, +having put on a coat of mail suitable to the grandeur of so powerful a +king, placed a golden helmet upon his head, on which was engraven the +figure of a dragon; and on his shoulders his shield called Priwen; upon +which the picture of the blessed Mary, mother of God, was painted, in +order to put him frequently in mind of her. Then girding on his +Caliburn, which was an excellent sword made in the isle of Avallon, he +graced his right hand with his lance, named Ron, which was hard, broad, +and fit for slaughter. After this, having placed his men in order, he +boldly attacked the Saxons, who were drawn out in the shape of a wedge, +as their manner was. And they, notwithstanding that the Britons fought +with great eagerness, made a noble defence all that day; but at length, +towards sunsetting, climbed up the next mountain, which served them for +a camp: for they desired no larger extent of ground, since they confided +very much in their numbers. The next morning Arthur, with his army, went +up the mountain, but lost many of his men in the ascent, by the +advantage which the Saxons had in their station on the top, from whence +they could pour down upon him with much greater speed, than he was able +to advance against them. Notwithstanding, after a very hard struggle, +the Britons gained the summit of the hill, and quickly came to a close +engagement with the enemy, who again gave them a warm reception, and +made a vigorous defence. In this manner was a great part of that day +also spent; whereupon Arthur, provoked to see the little advantage he +had yet gained, and that victory still continued in suspense, drew out +his Caliburn, and, calling upon the name of the blessed Virgin, rushed +forward with great fury into the thickest of the enemy's ranks; of whom +(such was the merit of his prayers) not one escaped alive that felt the +fury of his sword; neither did he give over the fury of his assault +until he had, with his Caliburn alone, killed four hundred and seventy +men. The Britons, seeing this, followed their leader in great +multitudes, and made slaughter on all sides; so that Colgrin, and +Baldulph his brother, and many thousands more, fell before them. But +Cheldric, in this imminent danger of his men, betook himself to flight. + + + + +CHAP. V.--_The Saxons, after their leader Cheldric was killed, are all +compelled by Cador to surrender._ + + +The victory being thus gained, the king commanded Cador, duke of +Cornwall, to pursue them, while he himself should hasten his march into +Albania: from whence he had advice that the Scots and Picts were +besieging Alclud, in which, as we said before, Hoel lay sick. Therefore +he hastened to his assistance, for fear he might fall into the hands of +the barbarians. In the meantime the duke of Cornwall, who had the +command of ten thousand men, would not as yet pursue the Saxons in their +flight, but speedily made himself master of their ships, to hinder their +getting on board, and manned them with his best soldiers, who were to +beat back the pagans in case they should flee thither: after this he +hastily pursued the enemy, according to Arthur's command, and allowed no +quarter to those he could overtake. So that they whose behaviour before +was so cruel and insolent, now with timorous hearts fled for shelter, +sometimes to the coverts of the woods, sometimes to mountains and caves, +to prolong a wretched life. At last, when none of these places could +afford them a safe retreat, they entered the Isle of Thanet with their +broken forces; but neither did they there get free from the duke of +Cornwall's pursuit, for he still continued slaughtering them, and gave +them no respite till he had killed Cheldric, and taken hostages for the +surrender of the rest. + + + + +CHAP. VI.--_Arthur grants a pardon to the Scots and Picts, besieged at +the Lake Lumond._ + + +Having therefore settled peace here, he directed his march to Alclud, +which Arthur had relieved from the oppression of barbarians, and from +thence conducted his army to Mureif, where the Scots and Picts were +besieged; after three several battles with the king and his nephew, they +had fled as far as this province, and entering upon the lake Lumond, +sought for refuge in the islands that are upon it. This lake contains +sixty islands, and receives sixty rivers into it which empty themselves +into the sea by no more than one mouth. There is also an equal number of +rocks in these islands, as also of eagles' nests in those rocks, which +flocked together there every year, and, by the loud and general noise +which they now made, foreboded some remarkable event that should happen +to the kingdom. To these islands, therefore, had the enemy fled, +thinking the lake would serve them instead of a fortification; but it +proved of little advantage to them. For Arthur, having got together a +fleet, sailed round the rivers, and besieged the enemy fifteen days +together, by which they were so straitened with hunger, that they died +by thousands. While he was harassing them in this manner Guillamurius, +king of Ireland, came up in a fleet with a very great army of +barbarians, in order to relieve the besieged. This obliged Arthur to +raise the siege, and turn his arms against the Irish, whom he slew +without mercy, and compelled the rest to return back to their country. +After this victory, he proceeded in his first attempt, which was to +extirpate the whole race of the Scots and Picts, and treated them with +an unparalleled severity. And as he allowed quarter to none, the bishops +of that miserable country, with all the inferior clergy, met together, +and bearing the reliques of the saints and other consecrated things of +the church before them, barefooted, came to implore the king's mercy for +their people. As soon as they were admitted into his presence, they fell +down upon their knees, and humbly besought him to have pity on their +distressed country, since the sufferings which he had already made it +undergo were sufficient; nor was there any necessity to cut off the +small remainder to a man; and that he would allow them the enjoyment of +a small part of the country, since they were willing to bear the yoke +which he should impose upon them. The king was moved at the manner of +their delivering this petition, and could not forbear expressing his +clemency to them with tears; and at the request of those holy men, +granted them pardon. + + + + +CHAP. VII.--_Arthur relates the wonderful nature of some ponds._ + + +This affair being concluded, Hoel had the curiosity to view the +situation of the lake, and wondered to find the number of the rivers, +islands, rocks, and eagles' nests, so exactly correspond: and while he +was reflecting upon it as something that appeared miraculous, Arthur +came to him, and told him of another pond in the same province, which +was yet more wonderful. For not far from thence was one whose length and +breadth were each twenty feet, and depth five feet. But whether its +square figure was natural or artificial, the wonder of it was, there +were four different sorts of fishes in the four several corners of it, +none of which were ever found in any other part of the pond but their +own. He told him likewise of another pond in Wales, near the Severn, +called by the country people Linligwan, into which when the sea flows, +it receives it in the manner of a gulf, but so as to swallow up the +tide, and never be filled, or have its banks covered by it. But at the +ebbing of the sea, it throws out the waters which it had swallowed, as +high as a mountain, and at last dashes and covers the banks with them. +In the meantime, if all the people of that country should stand near +with their faces towards it, and happened to have their clothes +sprinkled with the dashing of the waves, they would hardly, if at all, +escape being swallowed up by the pond. But with their backs towards it, +they need not fear being dashed, though they stood upon the very banks. + + + + +CHAP. VIII.--_Arthur restores York to its ancient beauty, especially as +to its churches._ + + +The king, after his general pardon granted to the Scots, went to York to +celebrate the feast of Christ's nativity, which was now at hand. On +entering the city, he beheld with grief the desolation of the churches; +for upon the expulsion of the holy Archbishop Sanxo, and of all the +clergy there, the temples which were half burned down, had no longer +divine service performed in them: so much had the impious rage of the +pagans prevailed. After this, in an assembly of the clergy and people, +he appointed Pyramus his chaplain metropolitan of that see. The churches +that lay level with the ground, he rebuilt, and (which was their chief +ornament) saw them filled with assemblies of devout persons of both +sexes. Also the nobility that were driven out by the disturbances of the +Saxons, he restored to their country. + + + + +CHAP. IX.--_Arthur honours Augusel with the sceptre of the Scots; Urian +with that of Mureif; and Lot with the consulship of Londonesia._ + + +There were there three brothers of royal blood, viz. Lot, Urian, and +Augusel, who, before the Saxons had prevailed, held the government of +those parts. Being willing therefore to bestow on these, as he did on +others, the rights of their ancestors, he restored to Augusel the +sovereignty over the Scots; his brother Urian he honoured with the +sceptre of Mureif; and Lot, who in time of Aurelius Ambrosius had +married his sister, by whom he had two sons, Walgan and Modred, he +re-established in the consulship of Londonesia, and the other provinces +belonging to him. At length, when the whole country was reduced by him +to its ancient state, he took to wife Guanhumara, descended from a noble +family of Romans, who was educated under duke Cador, and in beauty +surpassed all the women of the island. + + + + +CHAP. X.--_Arthur adds to his government Ireland, Iceland, Gothland, and +the Orkneys._ + + +The next summer he fitted out a fleet, and made an expedition into +Ireland, which he was desirous to reduce. Upon landing there, he was met +by king Guillamurius before mentioned, with a vast number of men, who +came with a design to fight him; but at the very beginning of the +battle, those naked and unarmed people were miserably routed, and fled +to such places as lay open to them for shelter. Guillamurius also in a +short time was taken prisoner, and forced to submit; as were also all +the other princes of the country after the king's example, being under +great consternation at what had happened. After an entire conquest of +Ireland, he made a voyage with his fleet to Iceland, which he also +subdued. And now a rumour spreading over the rest of the islands, that +no country was able to withstand him, Doldavius, king of Gothland, and +Gunfasius, king of the Orkneys, came voluntarily, and made their +submission, on a promise of paying tribute. Then, as soon as winter was +over, he returned back to Britain, where having established the kingdom, +he resided in it for twelve years together in peace. + + + + +CHAP. XI.--_Arthur subdues Norway, Dacia, Aquitaine, and Gaul._ + + +After this, having invited over to him all persons whatsoever that were +famous for valour in foreign nations, he began to augment the number of +his domestics, and introduced such politeness into his court, as people +of the remotest countries thought worthy of their imitation. So that +there was not a nobleman who thought himself of any consideration, +unless his clothes and arms were made in the same fashion as those of +Arthur's knights. At length the fame of his munificence and valour +spreading over the whole world, he became a terror to the kings of other +countries, who grievously feared the loss of their dominions, if he +should make any attempt upon them. Being much perplexed with these +anxious cares, they repaired their cities and towers, and built towns in +convenient places, the better to fortify themselves against any +enterprise of Arthur, when occasion should require. Arthur, being +informed of what they were doing, was delighted to find how much they +stood in awe of him, and formed a design for the conquest of all Europe. +Then having prepared his fleet, he first attempted Norway, that he might +procure the crown of it for Lot, his sister's husband. This Lot was the +nephew of Sichelin, king of the Norwegians, who being then dead, had +appointed him his successor in the kingdom. But the Norwegians, +disdaining to receive him, had advanced one Riculf to the sovereignty, +and having fortified their cities, thought they were able to oppose +Arthur. Walgan, the son of Lot, was then a youth twelve years old, and +was recommended by his uncle to the service of pope Supplicius, from +whom he received arms. But to return to the history: as soon as Arthur +arrived on the coast of Norway, king Riculf, attended with the whole +power of that kingdom, met him, and gave him battle, in which, after a +great loss of blood on both sides, the Britons at length had the +advantage, and making a vigorous charge, killed Riculf and many others +with him. Having thus defeated them, they set the cities on fire, +dispersed the country people, and pursued the victory till they had +reduced all Norway, as also Dacia, under the dominion of Arthur. After +the conquest of these countries, and establishment of Lot upon the +throne of Norway, Arthur made a voyage to Gaul, and dividing his army +into several bodies, began to lay waste that country on all sides. The +province of Gaul was then committed to Flollo, a Roman tribune, who held +the government of it under the emperor Leo. Upon intelligence of +Arthur's coming, he raised all the forces that were under his command, +and made war against him, but without success. For Arthur was attended +with the youth of all the islands that he had subdued; for which reason +he was reported to have such an army as was thought invincible. And even +the greater part of the Gallic army, encouraged by his bounty, came over +to his service. Therefore Flollo, seeing the disadvantages he lay under, +left his camp, and fled with a small number to Paris. There having +recruited his army, he fortified the city, and resolved to stand another +engagement with Arthur. But while he was thinking of strengthening +himself with auxiliary forces in the neighbouring countries, Arthur came +upon him unawares, and besieged him in the city. When a month had +passed, Flollo, with grief observing his people perish with hunger, sent +a message to Arthur, that they two alone should decide the conquest for +the kingdom in a duel: for being a person of great stature, boldness and +courage, he gave this challenge in confidence of success. Arthur was +extremely pleased at Flollo's proposal, and sent him word back again, +that he would give him the meeting which he desired. A treaty, +therefore, being on both sides agreed to, they met together in the +island without the city, where the people waited to see the event. They +were both gracefully armed, and mounted on admirably swift horses; and +it was hard to tell which gave greater hopes of victory. When they had +presented themselves against each other with their lances aloft, they +put spurs to their horses, and began a fierce encounter. But Arthur, who +handled his lance more warily, struck it into the upper part of Flollo's +breast, and avoiding his enemy's weapon, laid him prostrate upon the +ground, and was just going to despatch him with his drawn sword, when +Flollo, starting up on a sudden, met him with his lance couched, +wherewith he mortally stabbed the breast of Arthur's horse, and caused +both him and his rider to fall. The Britons, when they saw their king +lying on the ground, fearing he was killed, could hardly be restrained +from breach of covenant, and falling with one consent upon the Gauls +But just as they were upon rushing into the lists, Arthur hastily got +up, and guarding himself with his shield, advanced with speed against +Flollo. And now they renewed the assault with great rage, eagerly bent +upon one another's destruction. At length Flollo, watching his +advantage, gave Arthur a blow upon the forehead, which might have proved +mortal, had he not blunted the edge of his weapon against the helmet. +When Arthur saw his coat of mail and shield red with blood, he was +inflamed with still greater rage, and lifting up his Caliburn with his +utmost strength struck it through the helmet into Flollo's head, and +made a terrible gash. With this wound Flollo fell down, tearing the +ground with his spurs, and expired. As soon as this news was spread +through the army, the citizens ran together, and opening the gates, +surrendered the city to Arthur. After the victory, he divided his army +into two parts; one of which he committed to the conduct of Hoel, whom +he ordered to march against Guitard, commander of the Pictavians; while +he with the other part should endeavour to reduce the other provinces. +Hoel upon this entered Aquitaine, possessed himself of the cities of +that country, and after distressing Guitard in several battles, forced +him to surrender. He also destroyed Gascony with fire and sword, and +subdued the princes of it. At the end of nine years, in which time all +the parts of Gaul were entirely reduced, Arthur returned back to Paris, +where he kept his court, and calling an assembly of the clergy and +people, established peace and the just administration of the laws in +that kingdom. Then he bestowed Neustria, now called Normandy, upon +Bedver, his butler; the province of Andegavia upon Caius, his sewer; and +several other provinces upon his great men that attended him. Thus +having settled the peace of the cities and countries there, he returned +back in the beginning of spring to Britain.[217] + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 217: It is wonderful that the contents of this book should +ever have passed for authentic history; our ancestors of the eleventh, +twelfth, and thirteenth centuries must have been singularly ignorant of +every thing concerning the latter ages of the Roman empire, and the +formation of the modern kingdoms of France and Germany, &c., if they +could believe that king Arthur ever held his court in Paris.] + + + + +CHAP. XII.--_Arthur summons a great many kings, princes, archbishops, +&c. to a solemn assembly at the City of Legions._ + + +Upon the approach of the feast of Pentecost, Arthur, the better to +demonstrate his joy after such triumphant success, and for the more +solemn observation of that festival, and reconciling the minds of the +princes that were now subject to him, resolved, during that season, to +hold a magnificent court, to place the crown upon his head, and to +invite all the kings and dukes under his subjection, to the solemnity. +And when he had communicated his design to his familiar friends, he +pitched upon the City of Legions as a proper place for his purpose. For +besides its great wealth above the other cities, its situation, which +was in Glamorganshire upon the river Uske, near the Severn sea, was most +pleasant, and fit for so great a solemnity. For on one side it was +washed by that noble river, so that the kings and princes from the +countries beyond the seas might have the convenience of sailing up to +it. On the other side, the beauty of the meadows and groves, and +magnificence of the royal palaces with lofty gilded roofs that adorned +it, made it even rival the grandeur of Rome. It was also famous for two +churches; whereof one was built in honour of the martyr Julius, and +adorned with a choir of virgins, who had devoted themselves wholly to +the service of God; but the other, which was founded in memory of St. +Aaron, his companion, and maintained a convent of canons, was the third +metropolitan church of Britain. Besides, there was a college of two +hundred philosophers, who, being learned in astronomy and the other +arts, were diligent in observing the courses of the stars, and gave +Arthur true predictions of the events that would happen at that time. In +this place, therefore, which afforded such delights, were preparations +made for the ensuing festival. Ambassadors were then sent into several +kingdoms, to invite to court the princes both of Gaul and all the +adjacent islands. Accordingly there came Augusel, king of Albania, now +Scotland; Urian, king of Mureif; Cadwallo Lewirh, king of the +Venedotians, now called the North Wales men; Sater, king of the +Demetians, or South Wales men; Cador, king of Cornwall; also the +archbishops of the three metropolitan sees, London, York, and Dubricius +of the City of Legions. This prelate, who was primate of Britain, and +legate of the apostolical see, was so eminent for his piety, that he +could cure any sick person by his prayers. There came also the consuls +of the principal cities, viz. Morvid, consul of Gloucester; Mauron, of +Worcester; Anaraut, of Salisbury; Arthgal, of Cargueit or Warguit; +Jugein, of Legecester; Cursalen, of Kaicester; Kinmare, duke of +Dorobernia; Galluc, of Salisbury; Urgennius, of Bath; Jonathal, of +Dorchester; Boso, of Ridoc, that is, Oxford. Besides the consuls, came +the following worthies of no less dignity: Danaut, Map papo; Cheneus, +Map coil; Peredur, Mab eridur; Guiful, Map Nogoit; Regin, Map claut; +Eddelein, Map cledauc; Kincar, Mab bagan; Kimmare; Gorboroniam, Map +goit; Clofaut, Rupmaneton; Kimbelim, Map trunat; Cathleus, Map catel; +Kinlich, Map neton; and many others too tedious to enumerate. From the +adjacent islands came Guillamurius, king of Ireland; Malvasius, king of +Iceland; Doldavius, king of Gothland; Gunfasius, king of the Orkneys; +Lot, king of Norway; Aschillius, king of the Dacians. From the parts +beyond the seas, came Holdin, king of Ruteni; Leodegarius, consul of +Bolonia; Bedver, the butler, duke of Normandy; Borellus, of Cenomania; +Caius, the sewer, duke of Andegavia; Guitard, of Pictavia; also the +twelve peers of Gaul, whom Guerinus Carnotensis brought along with him: +Hoel, duke of the Armorican Britons, and his nobility, who came with +such a train of mules, horses, and rich furniture, as it is difficult to +describe. Besides these, there remained no prince of any consideration +on this side of Spain, who came not upon this invitation. And no wonder, +when Arthur's munificence, which was celebrated over the whole world, +made him beloved by all people. + + + + +CHAP. XIII.--_A description of the royal pomp at the coronation of +Arthur._ + + +When all were assembled together in the city, upon the day of the +solemnity, the archbishops were conducted to the palace, in order to +place the crown upon the king's head. Therefore Dubricius, inasmuch as +the court was kept in his diocese, made himself ready to celebrate the +office, and undertook the ordering of whatever related to it. As soon +as the king was invested with his royal habiliments, he was conducted in +great pomp to the metropolitan church, supported on each side by two +archbishops, and having four kings, viz. of Albania, Cornwall, Demetia, +and Venedotia, whose right it was, bearing four golden swords before +him. He was also attended with a concert of all sorts of music, which +made most excellent harmony. On another part was the queen, dressed out +in her richest ornaments, conducted by the archbishops and bishops to +the Temple of Virgins; the four queens also of the kings last mentioned, +bearing before her four white doves according to ancient custom; and +after her there followed a retinue of women, making all imaginable +demonstrations of joy. When the whole procession was ended, so +transporting was the harmony of the musical instruments and voices, +whereof there was a vast variety in both churches, that the knights who +attended were in doubt which to prefer, and therefore crowded from the +one to the other by turns, and were far from being tired with the +solemnity, though the whole day had been spent in it. At last, when +divine service was over at both churches, the king and queen put off +their crowns, and putting on their lighter ornaments, went to the +banquet; he to one palace with the men, and she to another with the +women. For the Britons still observed the ancient custom of Troy, by +which the men and women used to celebrate their festivals apart. When +they had all taken their seats according to precedence, Caius the sewer, +in rich robes of ermine, with a thousand young noblemen, all in like +manner clothed with ermine, served up the dishes. From another part, +Bedver the butler was followed with the same number of attendants, in +various habits, who waited with all kinds of cups and drinking vessels. +In the queen's palace were innumerable waiters, dressed with variety of +ornaments, all performing their respective offices; which if I should +describe particularly, I should draw out the history to a tedious +length. For at that time Britain had arrived at such a pitch of +grandeur, that in abundance of riches, luxury of ornaments, and +politeness of inhabitants, it far surpassed all other kingdoms. The +knights in it that were famous for feats of chivalry, wore their clothes +and arms all of the same colour and fashion: and the women also no less +celebrated for their wit, wore all the same kind of apparel; and +esteemed none worthy of their love, but such as had given a proof of +their valour in three several battles. Thus was the valour of the men an +encouragement for the women's chastity, and the love of the women a spur +to the soldier's bravery. + + + + +CHAP. XIV.--_After a variety of sports at the coronation, Arthur amply +rewards his servants._ + + +As soon as the banquets were over, they went into the fields without the +city, to divert themselves with various sports. The military men +composed a kind of diversion in imitation of a fight on horseback; and +the ladies, placed on the top of the walls as spectators, in a sportive +manner darted their amorous glances at the courtiers, the more to +encourage them. Others spent the remainder of the day in other +diversions, such as shooting with bows and arrows, tossing the pike, +casting of heavy stones and rocks, playing at dice and the like, and all +these inoffensively and without quarrelling. Whoever gained the victory +in any of these sports, was rewarded with a rich prize by Arthur. In +this manner were the first three days spent; and on the fourth, all who, +upon account of their titles, bore any kind of office at this solemnity, +were called together to receive honours and preferments in reward of +their services, and to fill up the vacancies in the governments of +cities and castles, archbishoprics, bishoprics, abbeys, and other posts +of honour. + + + + +CHAP. XV.--_A letter from Lucius Tiberius, general of the Romans, to +Arthur being read, they consult about an answer to it._ + + +But St. Dubricius, from a pious desire of leading a hermit's life, made +a voluntary resignation of his archiepiscopal dignity; and in his room +was consecrated David, the king's uncle, whose life was a perfect +example of that goodness which by his doctrine he taught. In place of +St. Samson, archbishop of Dole, was appointed, with the consent of Hoel, +king of the Armorican Britons, Chelianus, [Kilian] a priest of Llandaff, +a person highly recommended for his good life and character. The +bishopric of Silchester was conferred upon Mauganius, that of +Winchester upon Diwanius, and that of Alclud upon Eledanius. While he +was disposing of these preferments upon them, it happened that twelve +men of an advanced age, and venerable aspect, and bearing olive branches +in their right hands, for a token that they were come upon an embassy, +appeared before the king, moving towards him with a slow pace, and +speaking with a soft voice; and after their compliments paid, presented +him with a letter from Lucius Tiberius, in these words:-- + +"Lucius, procurator of the commonwealth, to Arthur, king of Britain, +according to his desert. The insolence of your tyranny is what fills me +with the highest admiration, and the injuries you have done to Rome +still increase my wonder. But it is provoking to reflect, that you are +grown so much above yourself, as wilfully to avoid seeing this: nor do +you consider what it is to have offended by unjust deeds a senate, to +whom you cannot be ignorant the whole world owes vassalage. For the +tribute of Britain, which the senate had enjoined you to pay, and which +used to be paid to the Roman emperors successively from the time of +Julius Caesar, you have had the presumption to withhold, in contempt of +their imperial authority. You have seized upon the province of the +Allobroges, and all the islands of the ocean, whose kings, while the +Roman power prevailed in those parts, paid tribute to our ancestors. And +because the senate have decreed to demand justice of you for such +repeated injuries, I command you to appear at Rome before the middle of +August the next year, there to make satisfaction to your masters, and +undergo such sentence as they shall in justice pass upon you. Which if +you refuse to do, I shall come to you, and endeavour to recover with my +sword, what you in your madness have robbed us of." + +As soon as the letter was read in the presence of the kings and consuls, +Arthur withdrew with them into the Giant's Tower, which was at the +entrance of the palace, to think what answer was fit to be returned to +such an insolent message. As they were going up the stairs, Cador, duke +of Cornwall, who was a man of a merry disposition, said to the king in a +jocose manner: "I have been till now under fear, lest the easy life +which the Britons lead, by enjoying a long peace, might make them +cowards, and extinguish the fame of their gallantry, by which they have +raised their name above all other nations. For where the exercise of +arms is wanting, and the pleasures of women, dice, and other diversions +take place, no doubt, what remains of virtue, honour, courage, and +thirst of praise, will be tainted with the rust of idleness. For now +almost five years have passed, since we have been abandoned to these +delights, and have had no exercise of war. Therefore, to deliver us from +sloth, God has stirred up this spirit of the Romans, to restore our +military virtues to their ancient state." In this manner did he +entertain them with discourse, till they were come to their seats, on +which when they were all placed, Arthur spoke to them after this manner. + + + + +CHAP. XVI.--_Arthur, holding a council with the kings, desires every one +of them to deliver their opinions._ + + +"My companions both in good and bad fortune, whose abilities both in +counsel and war I have hitherto experienced; the present exigence of +affairs, after the message which we have received, requires your careful +deliberation and prudent resolutions; for whatever is wisely concerted, +is easily executed. Therefore we shall be the better able to bear the +annoyance which Lucius threatens to give us, if we unanimously apply +ourselves to consider how to overcome it. In my opinion we have no great +reason to fear him, when we reflect upon the unjust pretence on which he +demands tribute of us. He says he has a right to it, because it was paid +to Julius Caesar, and his successors, who invaded Britain with an army at +the invitation of the ancient Britons, when they were quarrelling among +themselves, and by force reduced the country under their power, when +weakened by civil dissension. And because they gained it in this manner, +they had the injustice to take tribute of it. For that can never be +possessed justly, which is gained by force and violence. So that he has +no reasonable grounds to pretend we are of right his tributaries. But +since he has the presumption to make an unjust demand of us, we have +certainly as good reason to demand of him tribute from Rome; let the +longer sword therefore determine the right between us. For if Rome has +decreed that tribute ought to be paid to it from Britain, on account of +its having been formerly under the yoke of Julius Caesar, and other Roman +emperors; I for the same reason now decree, that Rome ought to pay +tribute to me, because my predecessors formerly held the government of +it. For Belinus, that glorious king of the Britons, with the assistance +of his brother Brennus, duke of the Allobroges, after they had hanged up +twenty noble Romans in the middle of the market-place, took their city, +and kept possession of it a long time. Likewise Constantine, the son of +Helena, and Maximian [Maximus], who were both my kinsmen, and both wore +the crown of Britain, gained the imperial throne of Rome. Do not you, +therefore, think that we ought to demand tribute of the Romans? As for +Gaul and the adjacent islands of the ocean, we have no occasion to +return them any answer, since they did not defend them, when we +attempted to free them from their power." As soon as he had done +speaking to this effect, Hoel, king of the Armorican Britons, who had +the precedence of the rest, made answer in these words. + + + + +CHAP. XVII.--_The opinion of Hoel, king of Armorica, concerning a war +with the Romans._ + + +"After the most profound deliberation that any of us shall be able to +make, I think better advice cannot be given, than what your majesty in +your great wisdom and policy now offers. Your speech, which is no less +wise than eloquent, has superseded all consultation on our part; and +nothing remains for us to do, but to admire and gratefully acknowledge +your majesty's firmness of mind, and depth of policy, to which we owe +such excellent advice. For if upon this motive you are pleased to make +an expedition to Rome, I doubt not but it will be crowned with glorious +success; since it will be undertaken for the defence of our liberties, +and to demand justly of our enemies, what they have unjustly demanded of +us. For that person who would rob another, deserves to lose his own by +him against whom the attempt is made. And, therefore, since the Romans +threatened us with this injury, it will undoubtedly turn to their own +loss, if we can have but an opportunity of engaging with them. This is +what the Britons universally desire; this is what we have promised us in +the Sibylline prophecies, which expressly declare, that the Roman empire +shall be obtained by three persons, natives of Britain. The oracle is +fulfilled in two of them, since it is manifest (as your majesty +observed) that those two celebrated princes, Belinus and Constantine, +governed the Roman empire: and now you are the third to whom this +supreme dignity is promised. Make haste, therefore, to receive what God +makes no delay to give you; to subdue those who are ready to receive +your yoke; and to advance us all, who for your advancement will spare +neither limbs nor life. And that you may accomplish this, I myself will +attend you in person with ten thousand men." + + + + +CHAP. XVIII.--_The opinion of Augusel._ + + +When Hoel concluded his speech, Augusel, king of Albania, declared his +good affection to the cause after this manner. "I am not able to express +the joy that has transported me, since my lord has declared to us his +designs. For we seem to have done nothing by all our past wars with so +many and potent princes, if the Romans and Germans be suffered to enjoy +peace, and we do not severely revenge on them the grievous oppressions +which they formerly brought upon this country. But now, since we are at +liberty to encounter them, I am overwhelmed with joy and eagerness of +desire, to see a battle with them, when the blood of those cruel +oppressors will be no less acceptable to me than a spring of water is to +one who is parched with thirst. If I shall but live to see that day, how +sweet will be the wounds which I shall then either receive or give? Nay, +how sweet will be even death itself, when suffered in revenging the +injuries done to our ancestors, in defending our liberties, and in +promoting the glory of our king! Let us then begin with these poltroons, +and spoil them of all their trophies, by making an entire conquest of +them. And I for my share will add to the army two thousand horse, +besides foot." + + + + +CHAP. XIX.--_They unanimously agree upon a war with the Romans._ + + +To the same effect spoke all the rest, and promised each of them their +full quota of forces; so that besides those promised by the duke of +Armorica, the number of men from the island of Britain alone was sixty +thousand, all completely armed. But the kings of the other islands, as +they had not been accustomed to any cavalry, promised their quota of +infantry; and, from the six provincial islands, viz. Ireland, Iceland, +Gothland, the Orkneys, Norway, and Dacia, were reckoned a hundred and +twenty thousand. From the duchies of Gaul, that is, of the Ruteni, the +Portunians, the Estrusians, the Cenomanni, the Andegavians, and +Pictavians, were eighty thousand. From the twelve consulships of those +who came along with Guerinus Carnotensis, twelve hundred. All together +made up a hundred and eighty-three thousand two hundred, besides foot +which did not easily fall under number. + + + + +CHAP. XX.--_Arthur prepares for a war, and refuses to pay tribute to the +Romans._ + + +King Arthur, seeing all unanimously ready for his service, ordered them +to return back to their countries with speed, and get ready the forces +which they had promised, and to hasten to the general rendezvous upon +the kalends of August, at the mouth of the river Barba, that from thence +they might advance with them to the borders of the Allobroges, to meet +the Romans. Then he sent word to the emperors by their ambassadors; that +as to paying them tribute, he would in no wise obey their commands; and +that the journey he was about to make to Rome, was not to stand the +award of their sentence, but to demand of them what they had judicially +decreed to demand of him. With this answer the ambassadors departed; and +at the same time also departed all the kings and noblemen, to perform +with all expedition the orders that had been given them. + + + + +BOOK X. + +CHAP. I.--_Lucius Tiberius calls together the eastern kings against the +Britons._ + + +Lucius Tiberius, on receiving this answer, by order of the senate +published a decree, for the eastern kings to come with their forces, and +assist in the conquest of Britain. In obedience to which there came in +a very short time, Epistrophius, king of the Grecians; Mustensar, king +of the Africans; Alifantinam, king of Spain; Hirtacius, king of the +Parthians; Boccus, of the Medes; Sertorius, of Libya; Teucer, king of +Phrygia; Serses, king of the Itureans; Pandrasus, king of Egypt; +Micipsa, king of Babylon; Polytetes, duke of Bithynia; Teucer, duke of +Phrygia; Evander, of Syria; AEthion, of Boeotia; Hippolytus, of Crete, +with the generals and nobility under them. Of the senatorian order also +came, Lucius Catellus, Marius Lepidus, Caius Metellus Cotta, Quintus +Milvius Catulus, Quintus Carutius, and as many others as made up the +number of forty thousand one hundred and sixty.[218] + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 218: It is almost unnecessary to inform the reader that not +one of these kings ever existed; and yet this caution may be of use, so +prone are men to indulge the bias of the imagination at the expense of +historic truth.] + + + + +CHAP. II.--_Arthur commits to his nephew Modred the government of +Britain. His dream at Hamo's Port._ + + +After the necessary dispositions were made, upon the kalends of August, +they began their march towards Britain, which when Arthur had +intelligence of, he committed the government of the kingdom to his +nephew Modred, and queen Guanhumara, and marched with his army to Hamo's +Port, where the wind stood fair for him. But while he, surrounded with +all his numerous fleet, was sailing joyfully with a brisk gale, it +happened that about midnight he fell into a very sound sleep, and in a +dream saw a bear flying in the air, at the noise of which all the shores +trembled; also a terrible dragon flying from the west, which enlightened +the country with the brightness of its eyes. When these two met, they +began a dreadful fight; but the dragon with its fiery breath burned the +bear which often assaulted him, and threw him down scorched to the +ground. Arthur upon this awaking, related his dream to those that stood +about him, who took upon them to interpret it, and told him that the +dragon signified himself, but the bear, some giant that should encounter +with him; and that the fight portended the duel that would be between +them, and the dragon's victory the same that would happen to himself. +But Arthur conjectured it portended something else, and that the vision +was applicable to himself and the emperor. As soon as the morning after +this night's sail appeared, they found themselves arrived at the mouth +of the river Barba. And there they pitched their tents, to wait the +arrival of the kings of the islands and the generals of the other +provinces. + + + + +CHAP. III.--_Arthur kills a Spanish giant who had stolen away Helena, +the niece of Hoel._ + + +In the meantime Arthur had news brought him, that a giant of monstrous +size was come from the shores of Spain, and had forcibly taken away +Helena, the niece of duke Hoel, from her guard, and fled with her to the +top of that which is now called Michael's Mount;[219] and that the +soldiers of the country who pursued him were able to do nothing against +him. For whether they attacked him by sea or land, he either overturned +their ships with vast rocks, or killed them with several sorts of darts, +besides many of them that he took and devoured half alive. The next +night, therefore, at the second hour, Arthur, taking along with him +Caius the sewer, and Bedver the butler, went out privately from the +camp, and hastened towards the mountain. For being a man of undaunted +courage, he did not care to lead his army against such monsters; both +because he could in this manner animate his men by his own example, and +also because he was alone sufficient to deal with them. As soon as they +came near the mountain, they saw a fire burning upon the top of it, and +another on a lesser mountain, that was not far from it. And being in +doubt upon which of them the giant dwelt, they sent away Bedver to know +the certainty of the matter. So he, finding a boat, sailed over in it +first to the lesser mountain, to which he could in no other way have +access, because it was situated in the sea. When he had begun to climb +up to the top of it, he was at first frightened with a dismal howling +cry of a woman from above, and imagined the monster to be there: but +quickly rousing up his courage, he drew his sword, and having reached +the top, found nothing but the fire which he had before seen at a +distance. He discovered also a grave newly made, and an old woman +weeping and howling by it, who at the sight of him instantly cried out +in words interrupted with sighs, "O, unhappy man, what misfortune brings +you to this place? O the inexpressible tortures of death that you must +suffer! I pity you, I pity you, because the detestable monster will this +night destroy the flower of your youth. For that most wicked and odious +giant, who brought the duke's niece, whom I have just now buried here, +and me, her nurse, along with her into this mountain, will come and +immediately murder you in a most cruel manner. O deplorable fate! This +most illustrious princess, sinking under the fear her tender heart +conceived, while the foul monster would have embraced her, fainted away +and expired. And when he could not satiate his brutish lust upon her, +who was the very soul, joy, and happiness of my life, being enraged at +the disappointment of his bestial desire, he forcibly committed a rape +upon me, who (let God and my old age witness) abhorred his embraces. +Fly, dear sir, fly, for fear he may come, as he usually does, to lie +with me, and finding you here most barbarously butcher you." Bedver, +moved at what she said, as much as it is possible for human nature to +be, endeavoured with kind words to assuage her grief, and to comfort her +with the promise of speedy help: and then returned back to Arthur, and +gave him an account of what he had met with. Arthur very much lamented +the damsel's sad fate, and ordered his companions to leave him to deal +with him alone; unless there was an absolute necessity, and then they +were to come in boldly to his assistance. From hence they went directly +to the next mountain, leaving their horses with their armour-bearers, +and ascended to the top, Arthur leading the way. The deformed savage was +then by the fire, with his face besmeared with the clotted blood of +swine, part of which he already devoured, and was roasting the remainder +upon spits by the fire. But at the sight of them, whose appearance was a +surprise to him, he hastened to his club, which two strong men could +hardly lift from the ground. Upon this the king drew his sword, and +guarding himself with his shield, ran with all his speed to prevent his +getting it. But the other, who was not ignorant of his design, had by +this time snatched it up, and gave the king such a terrible blow upon +his shield, that he made the shores ring with the noise, and perfectly +stunned the king's ears with it. Arthur, fired with rage at this, lifted +up his sword, and gave him a wound in the forehead, which was not indeed +mortal, but yet such as made the blood gush out over his face and eyes, +and so blinded him; for he had partly warded off the stroke from his +forehead with his club, and prevented its being fatal. However, his loss +of sight, by reason of the blood flowing over his eyes, made him exert +himself with greater fury, and like an enraged boar against a +hunting-spear, so did he rush in against Arthur's sword, and grasping +him about the waist, forced him down upon his knees. But Arthur, nothing +daunted, slipped out of his hands, and so exerted himself with his +sword, that he gave the giant no respite till he had struck it up to the +very back through his skull. At this the hideous monster raised a +dreadful roar, and like an oak torn up from the roots by the winds, so +did he make the ground resound with his fall. Arthur, bursting out into +a fit of laughter at the sight, commanded Bedver to cut off his head, +and give it to one of the armour-bearers, who was to carry it to the +camp, and there expose it to public view, but with orders for the +spectators of this combat to keep silence. He told them he had found +none of so great strength, since he killed the giant Ritho, who had +challenged him to fight, upon the mountain Aravius. This giant had made +himself furs of the beards of kings he had killed, and had sent word to +Arthur carefully to cut off his beard and send it to him; and then, out +of respect to his pre-eminence over other kings, his beard should have +the honour of the principal place. But if he refused to do it, he +challenged him to a duel, with this offer, that the conqueror should +have the furs, and also the beard of the vanquished for a trophy of his +victory. In his conflict, therefore, Arthur proved victorious, and took +the beard and spoils of the giant: and, as he said before, had met with +none that could be compared to him for strength, till his last +engagement. After this victory, they returned at the second watch of the +night to the camp with the head; to see which there was a great +concourse of people, all extolling this wonderful exploit of Arthur, by +which he had freed the country from a most destructive and voracious +monster. But Hoel, in great grief for the loss of his niece, commanded a +mausoleum to be built over her body in the mountain where she was +buried, which, taking the damsel's name, is called Helena's Tomb to this +day. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 219: This most romantic and interesting rock is crowned by a +singularly quaint structure, half monastic and half castellated. It must +have been a place of great strength before the invention of powder, and +contains some curious rooms, a dungeon and other remains of feudality.] + + + + +CHAP. IV. _Arthur's ambassadors to Lucius Tiberius deliver Pelreius +Cotta, whom they took prisoner to Arthur._ + + +As soon as all the forces were arrived which Arthur expected, he marched +from thence to Augustodunum, where he supposed the general was. But when +he came to the river Alba, he had intelligence brought him of his having +encamped not far off, and that he was come with so vast an army, that he +would not be able to withstand it. However, this did not deter him from +pursuing his enterprise; but he pitched his camp upon the bank of the +river, to facilitate the bringing up of his forces, and to secure his +retreat, if there should be occasion; and sent Boso the consul of +Oxford, and Guerinus Carnotensis, with his nephew Walgan, to Lucius +Tiberius, requiring him either to retire from the coasts of Gaul, or +come the next day, that they might try their right to that country with +their swords. The retinue of young courtiers that attended Walgan, +highly rejoicing at this opportunity, were urgent with him to find some +occasion for a quarrel in the commander's camp, that so they might +engage the Romans. Accordingly they went to Lucius, and commanded him to +retire out of Gaul, or hazard a battle the next day. But while he was +answering them, that he was not come to retire, but to govern the +country, there was present Caius Quintilianus, his nephew, who said, +"That the Britons were better at boasting and threatening, than they +were at fighting." Walgan immediately took fire at this, and ran upon +him with his drawn sword, wherewith he cut off his head, and then +retreated speedily with his companions to their horses. The Romans, both +horse and foot, pursued to revenge the loss of their countryman upon the +ambassadors, who fled with great precipitation. But Guerinus +Carnotensis, just as one of them was come up to him, rallied on a +sudden, and with his lance struck at once through his armour and the +very middle of his body, and laid him prostrate on the ground. The sight +of this noble exploit raised the emulation of Boso of Oxford, who, +wheeling about his horse, struck his lance into the throat of the first +man he met with, and dismounted him mortally wounded. In the meantime, +Marcellus Mutius, with great eagerness to revenge Quintilian's death, +was just upon the back of Walgan, and laid hold of him; which the other +quickly obliged him to quit, by cleaving both his helmet and head to the +breast with his sword. He also bade him, when he arrived at the infernal +regions, tell the man he had killed in the camp, "That in this manner +the Britons showed their boasting and threatening." Then having +re-assembled his men, he encouraged them to despatch every one his +pursuer in the same manner as he had done; which accordingly they did +not fail to accomplish. Notwithstanding, the Romans continued their +pursuit with lances and swords, wherewith they annoyed the others, +though without slaughter or taking any prisoners. But as they came near +a certain wood, a party of six thousand Britons, who seeing the flight +of the consuls, had hid themselves, to be in readiness for their +assistance, sallied forth, and putting spurs to their horses, rent the +air with their loud shouts, and being well fenced with their shields, +assaulted the Romans suddenly, and forced them to fly. And now it was +the Britons' turn to pursue, which they did with better success, for +they dismounted, killed, or took several of the enemy. Petreius, the +senator, upon this news, hastened to the assistance of his countrymen +with ten thousand men, and compelled the Britons to retreat to the wood +from whence they had sallied forth; though not without loss of his own +men. For the Britons, being well acquainted with the ground, in their +flight killed a great number of their pursuers. The Britons thus giving +ground, Hider, with another reinforcement of five thousand men, advanced +with speed to sustain them; so that they again faced those, upon whom +they had turned their backs, and renewed the assault with great vigour. +The Romans also stood their ground, and continued the fight with various +success. The great fault of the Britons was, that though they had been +very eager to begin the fight, yet when begun they were less careful of +the hazard they ran. Whereas the Romans were under better discipline, +and had the advantage of a prudent commander, Petreius Cotta, to tell +them where to advance, and where to give ground, and by these means did +great injury to the enemy. When Boso observed this, he drew off from +the rest a large party of those whom he knew to be the stoutest men, and +spoke to them after this manner: "Since we have begun this fight without +Arthur's knowledge, we must take care that we be not defeated in the +enterprise. For, if we should, we shall both very much endanger our men, +and incur the king's high displeasure. Rouse up your courage, and follow +me through the Roman squadrons, that with the favour of good fortune we +may either kill or take Petreius prisoner." With this they put spurs to +their horses, and piercing through the enemies' thickest ranks, reached +the place where Petreius was giving his commands. Boso hastily ran in +upon him, and grasping him about the neck, fell with him to the ground, +as he had intended. The Romans hereupon ran to his delivery, as did the +Britons to Boso's assistance; which occasioned on both sides great +slaughter, noise, and confusion, while one party strove to rescue their +leader, and the other to keep him prisoner. So that this proved the +sharpest part of the whole fight, and wherein their spears, swords, and +arrows had the fullest employment. At length, the Britons, joining in a +close body, and sustaining patiently the assaults of the Romans, retired +to the main body of their army with Petreius: which they had no sooner +done, than they again attacked them, being now deprived of their leader, +very much weakened, dispirited, and just beginning to flee. They, +therefore, eagerly pursued, beat down, and killed several of them, and +as soon as they had plundered them, pursued the rest: but they took the +greatest number of them prisoners, being desirous to present them to the +king. When they had at last sufficiently harassed them, they returned +with their plunder and prisoners to the camp; where they gave an account +of what had happened, and presented Petreius Cotta with the other +prisoners before Arthur, with great joy for the victory. Arthur +congratulated them upon it, and promised them advancement to greater +honours, for behaving themselves so gallantly when he was absent from +them. Then he gave his command to some of his men, to conduct the +prisoners the next day to Paris, and deliver them to be kept in custody +there till further orders. The party that were to undertake this charge, +he ordered to be conducted by Cador, Bedver, and the two consuls, +Borellus and Richerius, with their servants, till they should be out of +all fear of disturbance from the Romans. + + + + +CHAP. V.--_The Romans attack the Britons with a very great force, but +are put to flight by them._ + + +But the Romans, happening to get intelligence of their design, at the +command of their general chose out fifteen thousand men, who that night +were to get before the others in their march, and rescue their fellow +soldiers out of their hands. They were to be commanded by Vulteius +Catellus and Quintus Carutius, senators, as also Evander, king of Syria, +and Sertorius, king of Libya. Accordingly they began their march that +very night, and possessed themselves of a place convenient for lying in +ambuscade, through which they supposed the others would pass. In the +morning the Britons set forward along the same road with their +prisoners, and were now approaching the place in perfect ignorance of +the cunning stratagem of the enemy. No sooner had they entered it, than +the Romans, to their great surprise, sprang forth and fell furiously +upon them. Notwithstanding, the Britons, at length recovering from their +consternation, assembled together, and prepared for a bold opposition, +by appointing a party to guard the prisoners, and drawing out the rest +in order of battle against the enemy. Richerius and Bedver had the +command of the party that were set over the prisoners; but Cador, duke +of Cornwall, and Borellus headed the others. But all the Romans had made +their sally without being placed in any order, and cared not to form +themselves, that they might lose no time in the slaughter of the +Britons, whom they saw busied in marshalling their troops, and preparing +only for their defence. By this conduct the Britons were extremely +weakened, and would have shamefully lost their prisoners, had not good +fortune rendered them assistance. For Guitard, commander of the +Pictavians, happened to get information of the designed stratagem, and +was come up with three thousand men, by the help of which they at last +got the advantage, and paid back the slaughter upon their insolent +assailants. Nevertheless, the loss which they sustained at the beginning +of this action was very considerable. For they lost Borellus, the +famous consul of the Cenomanni, in an encounter with Evander, king of +Syria, who stuck his lance into his throat; besides four noblemen, viz. +Hirelgas Deperirus, Mauricius Cadorcanensis, Aliduc of Tintagel, and +Hider his son, than whom braver men were hardly to be found. But yet +neither did this loss dispirit the Britons, but rather made them more +resolute to keep the prisoners, and kill the enemy. The Romans, now +finding themselves unable to maintain the fight any longer, suddenly +quitted the field, and made towards their camp; but were pursued with +slaughter by the Britons, who also took many of them, and allowed them +no respite till they had killed Vulteius Catellus and Evander, king of +Syria, and wholly dispersed the rest. After which they sent away their +former prisoners to Paris, whither they were to conduct them, and +returned back with those newly taken to the king; to whom they gave +great hopes of a complete conquest of their enemies, since very few of +the great number that came against them had met with any success. + + + + +CHAP. VI.--_Lucius Tiberius goes to Lengriae. Arthur, designing to +vanquish him, by a stratagem possesses himself of the valley of Suesia._ + + +These repeated disasters wrought no small disturbance in the mind of +Lucius Tiberius, and made him hesitate whether to bring it to a general +battle with Arthur, or to retire into Augustodunum, and stay till the +emperor Leo with his forces could come to his assistance. At length, +giving way to his fears, he entered Lengriae with his army, intending to +reach the other city the night following. Arthur, finding this, and +being desirous to get before him in his march, left the city on the left +hand, and the same night entered a certain valley called Suesia, through +which Lucius was to pass. There he divided his men into several bodies, +commanding one legion, over which Morvid, consul of Gloucester, was +appointed general, to wait close by, that he might retreat to them if +there should be occasion, and from thence rally his broken forces for a +second battle. The rest he divided into seven parts, in each of which he +placed five thousand five hundred and fifty-five men, all completely +armed. He also appointed different stations to his horse and foot, and +gave command that just as the foot should advance to the attack, the +horse, keeping close together in their ranks, should at the same moment +march up obliquely, and endeavour to put the enemy into disorder. The +companies of foot were, after the British manner, drawn out into a +square, with a right and left wing, under the command of Augusel, king +of Albania, and Cador, duke of Cornwall; the one presiding over the +right wing, the other over the left. Over another party were placed the +two famous consuls, Guerinus of Chartres and Boso of Richiden, called in +the Saxon tongue Oxineford; over a third were Aschillius, king of the +Dacians, and Lot, king of the Norwegians; the fourth being commanded by +Hoel, duke of the Armoricans, and Walgan, the king's nephew. After these +were four other parties placed in the rear; the first commanded by Caius +the sewer, and Bedver the butler; the second by Holdin, duke of the +Ruteni, and Guitard of the Pictavians; the third by Vigenis of +Legecester, Jonathal of Dorchester, and Cursalem of Caicester; the +fourth by Urbgennius of Bath. Behind all these, Arthur, for himself and +the legion that was to attend near him, made choice of a place, where he +set up a golden dragon for a standard, whither the wounded or fatigued +might in case of necessity retreat, as into their camp. The legion that +was with him consisted of six thousand six hundred and sixty-six men. + + + + +CHAP. VII.--_Arthur's exhortation to his soldiers._ + + +After he had thus placed them all in their stations, he made the +following speech to his soldiers:--"My brave countrymen, who have made +Britain the mistress of thirty kingdoms, I congratulate you upon your +late noble exploit, which to me is a proof that your valour is so far +from being impaired, that it is rather increased. Though you have been +five years without exercise, wherein the softening pleasures of an easy +life had a greater share of your time than the use of arms; yet all this +has not made you degenerate from your natural bravery, which you have +shown in forcing the Romans to flee. The pride of their leaders has +animated them to attempt the invasion of your liberties. They have tried +you in battle, with numbers superior to yours, and have not been able +to stand before you; but have basely withdrawn themselves into that +city, from which they are now ready to march out, and to pass through +this valley in their way to Augustodunum; so that you may have an +opportunity of falling upon them unawares like a flock of sheep. +Certainly they expected to find in you the cowardice of the Eastern +nations, when they thought to make your country tributary, and you their +slaves. What, have they never heard of your wars, with the Dacians, +Norwegians, and princes of the Gauls, whom you reduced under my power, +and freed from their shameful yoke? We, then, that have had success in a +greater war, need not doubt of it in a less, if we do but endeavour with +the same spirit to vanquish these poltroons. You shall want no rewards +of honour, if as faithful soldiers you do but strictly obey my commands. +For as soon as we have routed them, we will march straight to Rome, and +take it; and then all the gold, silver, palaces, towers, towns, cities, +and other riches of the vanquished shall be yours." He had hardly done +speaking before they all with one voice declared, that they were ready +to suffer death, rather than quit the field while he had life. + + + + +CHAP. VIII.--_Lucius Tiberius, discovering Arthur's design, in a speech +animates his followers to fight._ + + +But Lucius Tiberius, discovering the designs that were formed against +him, would not flee, as he had at first intended, but taking new +courage, resolved to march to the same valley against them; and calling +together his principal commanders, spoke to them in these +words:--"Venerable fathers, to whose empire both the Eastern and Western +kingdoms owe obedience, remember the virtues of your ancestors, who were +not afraid to shed their blood, when the vanquishing of the enemies of +the commonwealth required it; but to leave an example of their courage +and military virtues to their posterity, behaved themselves in all +battles with that contempt of death, as if God had given them some +security against it. By this conduct they often triumphed, and by +triumphing escaped death. Such was the reward of their virtue from +Divine Providence, which overrules all events. The increase of the +commonwealth, and of their own valour was owing to this; and all those +virtues that usually adorn the great, as integrity, honour, and +munificence, flourishing a long time in them, raised them and their +posterity to the empire of the whole world. Let their noble examples +animate you: rouse up the spirit of the ancient Romans, and be not +afraid to march out against our enemies that are lying in ambush before +us in the valley, but boldly with your swords demand of them your just +rights. Do not think that I retired into this city for fear of engaging +with them; but I thought that, as their pursuit of us was rash and +foolish, so we might hence on a sudden intercept them in it, and by +dividing their main body make a great slaughter of them. But now, since +they have altered the measures which we supposed they had taken, let us +also alter ours. Let us go in quest of them and bravely fall upon them; +or if they shall happen to have the advantage in the beginning of the +battle, let us only stand our ground during the fury of their first +assault, and the victory will undoubtedly be ours; for in many battles +this manner of conduct has been attended with victory." As soon as he +had made an end of speaking these and other things, they all declared +their assent, promised with an oath to stand by him, and hastened to arm +themselves. Which when they had done, they marched out of Lengriae to the +valley where Arthur had drawn out his forces in order of battle. Then +they also began to marshal their army, which they divided into twelve +companies, and according to the Roman manner of battle, drew out each +company into the form of a wedge, consisting of six thousand six hundred +and sixty-six men. Each company also had its respective leaders, who +were to give direction when to advance, or when to be upon the +defensive. One of them was headed by Lucius Catellus the senator, and +Alifantinam, king of Spain; another by Hirtacius, king of the Parthians, +and Marius Lepidus, a senator; a third by Boccus, king of the Medes, and +Caius Metellus, a senator; a fourth by Sertorius, king of Libya, and +Quintus Milvius, a senator. These four companies were placed in the +front of the army. In the rear of these were four others, whereof one +was commanded by Serses, king of the Itureans; another by Pandrasus, +king of Egypt; a third by Polytetes, duke of Bithynia; a fourth by +Teucer, duke of Phrygia. And again behind all these four others, +whereof the commanders were Quintus Carucius, a senator, Laelius +Ostiensis, Sulpitius Subuculus, and Mauricius Sylvanus. As for the +general himself, he was sometimes in one place, sometimes another, to +encourage and direct as there should be occasion. For a standard he +ordered a golden eagle to be firmly set up in the centre, for his men to +repair to whenever they should happen to be separated from their +company. + + + + +CHAP. IX.--_A battle between Arthur and Lucius Tiberius._ + + +And now the Britons and Romans stood presenting their arms at one +another; when forthwith at the sound of the trumpets, the company that +was headed by the king of Spain and Lucius Catellus, boldly rushed +forward against that which the king of Scotland and duke of Cornwall +led, but were not able to make the least breach in their firm ranks. So +that while these stood their ground, up came Guerinus and Boso with a +body of horse upon their full speed, broke through the party that began +the assault, and met with another which the king of the Parthians was +leading up against Aschillius, king of Dacia. After this first onset, +there followed a general engagement of both armies with great violence, +and several breaches were made on each side. The shouts, the slaughter, +the quantity of blood spilled, and the agonies of the dying, made a +dreadful scene of horror. At first, the Britons sustained a great loss, +by having Bedver the butler killed, and Caius the sewer mortally +wounded. For, as Bedver met Boccus, king of the Medes, he fell dead by a +stab of his lance amidst the enemies' troops. And Caius, in endeavouring +to revenge his death, was surrounded by the Median troops, and there +received a mortal wound, yet as a brave soldier he opened himself a way +with the wing which he led, killed and dispersed the Medes, and would +have made a safe retreat with all his men, had he not met the king of +Libya with the forces under him, who put his whole company into +disorder; yet not so great, but that he was still able to get off with a +few, and flee with Bedver's corps to the golden dragon. The Neustrians +grievously lamented at the sight of their leader's mangled body; and so +did the Andegavians, when they beheld their consul wounded. But there +was now no room for complaints, for the furious and bloody shocks of +both armies made it necessary to provide for their own defence. +Therefore Hirelgas, the nephew of Bedver, being extremely enraged at his +death, called up to him three hundred men, and like a wild boar amongst +a pack of dogs, broke through the enemies' ranks with his horse, making +towards the place where he had seen the standard of the king of the +Medes; little regarding what might befall him, if he could but revenge +the loss of his uncle. At length he reached the place, killed the king, +brought off his body to his companions, and laid it by that of his +uncle, where he mangled it in the same manner. Then calling with a loud +voice to his countrymen, he animated their troops, and vehemently +pressed them to exert themselves to the utmost, now that their spirits +were raised, and the enemy disheartened; and especially as they had the +advantage of them in being placed in better order, and so might the more +grievously annoy them. Encouraged with this exhortation, they began a +general assault upon the enemy, which was attended with a terrible +slaughter on both sides. For on the part of the Romans, besides many +others, fell Alifantinam, king of Spain, Micipsa of Babylon, as also +Quintus Milvius and Marius Lepidus, senators. On the part of the +Britons, Holdin, king of the Ruteni, Leodegarius of Bolonia, and three +consuls of Britain, Cursalem of Caicester, Galluc of Salisbury, and +Urbgennius of Bath. So that the troops which they commanded, being +extremely weakened, retreated till they came to the army of the +Armorican Britons, commanded by Hoel and Walgan. But these, being +inflamed at the retreat of their friends, encouraged them to stand their +ground, and caused them with the help of their own forces to put their +pursuers to flight. While they continued this pursuit, they beat down +and killed several of them, and gave them no respite, till they came to +the general's troop; who, seeing the distress of his companions, +hastened to their assistance. + + + + +CHAP. X.--_Hoel and Walgan signalize their valour in the fight._ + + +And now in this latter encounter the Britons were worsted, with the loss +of Kimarcoc, consul of Trigeria, and two thousand with him; besides +three famous noblemen, Richomarcus, Bloccovius, and Jagivius of Bodloan, +who, had they but enjoyed the dignity of princes, would have been +celebrated for their valour through all succeeding ages. For, during +this assault which they made in conjunction with Hoel and Walgan, there +was not an enemy within their reach that could escape the fury of their +sword or lance. But upon their falling in among Lucius's party, they +were surrounded by them, and suffered the same fate with the consul and +the other men. The loss of these men made those matchless heroes, Hoel +and Walgan, much more eager to assault the general's ranks, and to try +on all sides where to make the greatest impression. But Walgan, whose +valour was never to be foiled, endeavoured to gain access to Lucius +himself, that he might encounter him, and with this view beat down and +killed all that stood in his way. And Hoel, not inferior to him, did no +less service in another part, by spiriting up his men, and giving and +receiving blows among the enemy with the same undaunted courage. It was +hard to determine, which of them was the stoutest soldier. + + + + +CHAP. XI.--_Lucius Tiberius being killed, the Britons obtain the +victory._ + + +But Walgan, by forcing his way through the enemy's troops, as we said +before, found at last (what he had wished for) access to the general, +and immediately encountered him. Lucius, being then in the flower of his +youth, and a person of great courage and vigour, desired nothing more +than to engage with such a one as might put his strength to its full +trial. Putting himself, therefore, into a posture of defence, he +received Walgan with joy, and was not a little proud to try his courage +with one of whom he had heard such great things. The fight continued +between them a long time, with great force of blows, and no less +dexterity in warding them off, each being resolved upon the other's +destruction. During this sharp conflict between them, the Romans, on a +sudden, recovering their courage, made an assault upon the Armoricans, +and having relieved their general, repulsed Hoel and Walgan, with their +troops, till they found themselves unawares met by Arthur and the forces +under him. For he, hearing of the slaughter that was a little before +made of his men, had speedily advanced with his legion, and drawing out +his Caliburn, spoke to them, with a loud voice, after this manner: "What +are you doing, soldiers? Will you suffer these effeminate wretches to +escape? Let not one of them get off alive. Remember the force of your +arms, that have reduced thirty kingdoms under my subjection. Remember +your ancestors, whom the Romans, when at the height of their power, made +tributary. Remember your liberties, which these pitiful fellows, that +are much your inferiors, attempt to deprive you of. Let none of them +escape alive. What are you doing?" With these expostulations, he rushed +upon the enemy, made terrible havoc among them, and not a man did he +meet but at one blow he laid either him or his horse dead upon the +ground. They, therefore, in astonishment fled from him, as a flock of +sheep from a fierce lion, whom raging hunger provokes to devour whatever +happens to come near him. Their arms were no manner of protection to +them against the force with which this valiant prince wielded his +Caliburn. Two kings, Sertorius of Libya, and Polytetes of Bithynia, +unfortunately felt its fury, and had their heads cut off by it. The +Britons, when they saw the king performing such wonders, took courage +again. With one consent they assaulted the Romans, kept close together +in their ranks, and while they assailed the foot in one part, +endeavoured to beat down and pierce through the horse in another. +Notwithstanding, the Romans made a brave defence, and at the instigation +of Lucius laboured to pay back their slaughter upon the Britons. The +eagerness and force that were now shown on both sides were as great as +if it was the beginning of the battle. Arthur continued to do great +execution with his own hand, and encouraged the Britons to maintain the +fight; as Lucius Tiberius did the Romans, and made them perform many +memorable exploits. He himself, in the meantime, was very active in +going from place to place, and suffered none to escape with life that +happened to come within the reach of his sword or lance. The slaughter +that was now made on both sides was very dreadful, and the turns of +fortune various, sometimes the Britons prevailing, sometimes the Romans. +At last, while this sharp dispute continued Morvid, consul of Gloucester +with his legion, which, as we said before, was placed between the +hills, came up with speed upon the rear of the enemy, and to their great +surprise assaulted, broke through, and dispersed them with great +slaughter. This last and decisive blow proved fatal to many thousands of +Romans, and even to the general Lucius himself, who was killed among the +crowds with a lance by an unknown hand. But the Britons, by long +maintaining the fight, at last with great difficulty gained the victory. + + + + +CHAP. XII.--_Part of the Romans flee; the rest, of their own accord, +surrender themselves for slaves._ + + +The Romans, being now, therefore, dispersed, betook themselves through +fear, some to the by-ways and woods, some to the cities and towns, and +all other places, where they could be most safe; but were either killed +or taken and plundered by the Britons who pursued: so that great part of +them voluntarily and shamefully held forth their hands, to receive their +chains, in order to prolong for a while a wretched life. In all which +the justice of Divine Providence was very visible; considering how +unjustly the ancestors of the Britons were formerly invaded and harassed +by those of the Romans; and that these stood only in defence of that +liberty, which the others would have deprived them of; and refused the +tribute, which the others had no right to demand. + + + + +CHAP. XIII.--_The bodies of the slain are decently buried, each in their +respective countries._ + + +Arthur, after he had completed his victory, gave orders for separating +the bodies of his nobility from those of the enemy, and preparing a +pompous funeral for them; and that, when ready, they should be carried +to the abbeys of their respective countries, there to be honourably +buried. But Bedver the butler was, with great lamentation of the +Neustrians, carried to his own city Bajocae, which Bedver the first, his +great grandfather, had built. There he was, with great solemnity, laid +close by the wall, in a burying-place on the south side of the city. But +Cheudo was carried, grievously wounded to Camus, a town which he had +himself built, where in a short time he died of his wounds, and was +buried, as became a duke of Andegavia, in a convent of hermits, which +was in a wood not far from the town. Also Holdin, duke of Ruteni, was +carried to Flanders, and buried in his own city Terivana. The other +consuls and noblemen were conveyed to the neighbouring abbeys, according +to Arthur's orders. Out of his great clemency, also, he ordered the +country people to take care of the burial of the enemy, and to carry the +body of Lucius to the senate, and tell them, that was the only tribute +which Britain ought to pay them. After this he stayed in those parts +till the next winter was over, and employed his time in reducing the +cities of the Allobroges. But at the beginning of the following summer, +as he was on his march towards Rome, and was beginning to pass the Alps, +he had news brought him that his nephew Modred, to whose care he had +entrusted Britain, had by tyrannical and treasonable practices set the +crown upon his own head; and that queen Guanhumara, in violation of her +first marriage, had wickedly married him. + + + + +BOOK XI. + +CHAP. I.--_Modred makes a great slaughter of Arthur's men, but is +beaten, and flees to Winchester._ + + +Of the matter now to be treated of, most noble consul, Geoffrey of +Monmouth shall be silent; but will, nevertheless, though in a mean +style, briefly relate what he found in the British book above-mentioned, +and heard from that most learned historian, Walter, archdeacon of +Oxford, concerning the wars which this renowned king, upon his return to +Britain after this victory, waged against his nephew. As soon, +therefore, as the report, of this flagrant wickedness reached him, he +immediately desisted from his enterprise against Leo, king of the +Romans; and having sent away Hoel, duke of the Armoricans, with the army +of Gaul, to restore peace in those parts, returned back with speed to +Britain, attended only by the kings of the islands, and their armies. +But the wicked traitor, Modred, had sent Cheldric, the Saxon leader, +into Germany, there to raise all the forces he could find, and return +with all speed: and in consideration of this service, had promised him +all that part of the island, which reaches from the Humber to Scotland, +and whatever Hengist and Horsa had possessed of Kent in the time of +Vortigern. So that he, in obedience to his commands, had arrived with +eight hundred ships filled with pagan soldiers, and had entered into +covenant to obey the traitor as his sovereign; who had also drawn to his +assistance the Scots, Picts, Irish, and all others whom he knew to be +enemies to his uncle. His whole army, taking pagans and Christians +together, amounted to eighty thousand men; with the help of whom he met +Arthur just after his landing at the port of Rutupi, and joining battle +with him, made a very great slaughter of his men. For the same day fell +Augusel, king of Albania, and Walgan, the king's nephew, with +innumerable others. Augusel was succeeded in his kingdom by Eventus, his +brother Urian's son, who afterwards performed many famous exploits in +those wars. After they had at last, with much difficulty, got ashore, +they paid back the slaughter, and put Modred and his army to flight. +For, by long practice in war, they had learned an excellent way of +ordering their forces; which was so managed, that while their foot were +employed either in an assault or upon the defensive, the horse would +come in at full speed obliquely, break through the enemy's ranks, and so +force them to flee. Nevertheless, this perjured usurper got his forces +together again, and the night following entered Winchester. As soon as +queen Guanhumara heard this, she immediately, despairing of success, +fled from York to the City of Legions, where she resolved to lead a +chaste life among the nuns in the church of Julius the Martyr, and +entered herself one of their order. + + + + +CHAP. II.--_Modred, after being twice besieged and routed, is killed. +Arthur, being wounded, gives up the kingdom to Constantine._ + + +But Arthur, whose anger was now much more inflamed, upon the loss of so +many hundreds of his fellow soldiers, after he had buried his slain, +went on the third day to the city, and there besieged the traitor, who, +notwithstanding, was unwilling to desist from his enterprise, but used +all methods to encourage his adherents, and marching out with his troops +prepared to fight his uncle. In the battle that followed hereupon, great +numbers lost their lives on both sides; but at last Modred's army +suffered most, so that he was forced to quit the field shamefully. From +hence he made a precipitate flight, and, without taking any care for the +burial of his slain, marched in haste towards Cornwall. Arthur, being +inwardly grieved that he should so often escape, forthwith pursued him +into that country as far as the river Cambula, where the other was +expecting his coming. And Modred, as he was the boldest of men, and +always the quickest at making an attack, immediately placed his troops +in order, resolving either to conquer or to die, rather than continue +his flight any longer. He had yet remaining with him sixty thousand men, +out of whom he composed three bodies, which contained each of them six +thousand six hundred and sixty-six men: but all the rest he joined in +one body; and having assigned to each of the other parties their +leaders, he took the command of this upon himself. After he had made +this disposition of his forces, he endeavoured to animate them, and +promised them the estates of their enemies if they came off with +victory. Arthur, on the other side, also marshalled his army, which he +divided into nine square companies, with a right and left wing; and +having appointed to each of them their commanders, exhorted them to make +a total rout of those robbers and perjured villains, who, being brought +over into the island from foreign countries at the instance of the +arch-traitor, were attempting to rob them of all their honours. He +likewise told them that a mixed army composed of barbarous people of so +many different countries, and who were all raw soldiers and +inexperienced in war, would never be able to stand against such brave +veteran troops as they were, provided they did their duty. After this +encouragement given by each general to his fellow soldiers, the battle +on a sudden began with great fury; wherein it would be both grievous and +tedious to relate the slaughter, the cruel havoc, and the excess of fury +that was to be seen on both sides. In this manner they spent a good part +of the day, till Arthur at last made a push with his company, consisting +of six thousand six hundred and sixty-six men, against that in which he +knew Modred was; and having opened a way with their swords, they pierced +quite through it, and made a grievous slaughter. For in this assault +fell the wicked traitor himself, and many thousands with him. But +notwithstanding the loss of him, the rest did not flee, but running +together from all parts of the field maintained their ground with +undaunted courage. The fight now grew more furious than ever, and proved +fatal to almost all the commanders and their forces. For on Modred's +side fell Cheldric, Elasius, Egbrict, and Bunignus, Saxons; Gillapatric, +Gillamor, Gistafel, and Gillarius, Irish; also the Scots and Picts, with +almost all their leaders: on Arthur's side, Olbrict, king of Norway; +Aschillius, king of Dacia; Cador Limenic Cassibellaun, with many +thousands of others, as well Britons as foreigners, that he had brought +with him. And even the renowned king Arthur himself was mortally +wounded; and being carried thence to the isle of Avallon to be cured of +his wounds, he gave up the crown of Britain to his kinsman Constantine, +the son of Cador, duke of Cornwall, in the five hundred and forty-second +year of our Lord's incarnation.[220] + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 220: The mention of Constantine brings Geoffrey's work into +connection with that of Gildas: the reader may perhaps from this point +detect some slight degree of verisimilitude in this otherwise fictitious +narrative.] + + + + +CHAP. III.--_Constantine meets with disturbances from the Saxons and +Modred's sons._ + + +Upon Constantine's advancement to the throne, the Saxons, with the two +sons of Modred, made insurrection against him, though without success; +for after many battles they fled, one to London, the other to +Winchester, and possessed themselves of those places. Then died Saint +Daniel, the pious prelate of the church of Bangor; and Theon, bishop of +Gloucester, was elected archbishop of London. At the same time also died +David, the pious archbishop of Legions, at the city of Menevia, in his +own abbey; which he loved above all the other monasteries of his +diocese, because Saint Patrick, who had prophetically foretold his +birth, was the founder of it. For during his residence there among his +friars, he was taken with a sudden illness, of which he died, and, at +the command of Malgo, king of the Venedotians, was buried in that +church. He was succeeded in the metropolitan see by Cynoc, bishop of the +church of Llan-Patern, who was thus promoted to a higher dignity. + + + + +CHAP. IV.--_Constantine, having murdered the two sons of Modred, is +himself killed by Conan._ + + +But Constantine pursued the Saxons, and reduced them under his yoke. He +also took the two sons of Modred; and one of them, who had fled for +sanctuary to the church of St. Amphibalus, in Winchester, he murdered +before the altar. The other had hidden himself in a convent of friars at +London, but at last was found out by him, brought before the altar, and +there put to death. Three years after this, he himself, by the vengeance +of God pursuing him, was killed by Conan, and buried close by Uther +Pendragon within the structure of stones, which was set up with +wonderful art not far from Salisbury, and called in the English tongue, +Stonehenge. + + + + +CHAP. V.--_Aurelius Conan reigns after Constantine._ + + +After him succeeded Aurelius Conan, his nephew, a youth of wonderful +valour; who, as he gained the monarchy of the whole island, would have +been worthy the crown of it, had he not delighted in civil war. He +raised disturbances against his uncle, who ought to have reigned after +Constantine, and cast him into prison; and then killing his two sons, +obtained the kingdom, but died in the second year of his reign. + + + + +CHAP. VI.--_Wortiporius, being declared king, conquers the Saxons._ + + +After Conan succeeded Wortiporius, against whom the Saxons made +insurrection, and brought over their countrymen from Germany in a very +great fleet. But he gave them battle and came off with victory, so that +he obtained the monarchy of the whole kingdom, and governed the people +carefully and peacefully four years. + + + + +CHAP. VII.--_Malgo, king of Britain, and a most graceful person, addicts +himself to sodomy._ + + +After him succeeded Malgo, one of the handsomest of men in Britain, a +great scourge of tyrants, and a man of great strength, extraordinary +munificence, and matchless valour, but addicted very much to the +detestable vice of sodomy, by which he made himself abominable to God. +He also possessed the whole island, to which, after a cruel war, he +added the six provincial islands, viz. Ireland, Iceland, Gothland, the +Orkneys, Norway, and Dacia. + + + + +CHAP. VIII.--_Britain, in the flame of a civil war under king Careticus, +is miserably wasted by the Saxons and Africans._ + + +After Malgo succeeded Careticus, a lover of civil war, and hateful to +God and to the Britons. The Saxons, discovering his fickle disposition, +went to Ireland for Gormund, king of the Africans, who had arrived there +with a very great fleet, and had subdued that country. From thence, at +their traitorous instigation, he sailed over into Britain, which the +perfidious Saxons in one part, in another the Britons by their continual +wars among themselves were wholly laying waste. Entering therefore into +alliance with the Saxons, he made war upon king Careticus, and after +several battles fought, drove him from city to city, till at length he +forced him to Cirencester, and there besieged him. Here Isembard, the +nephew of Lewis, king of the Franks, came and made a league of amity +with him, and out of respect to him renounced the Christian faith, on +condition that he would assist him to gain the kingdom of Gaul from his +uncle, by whom, he said, he was forcibly and unjustly expelled out of +it. At last, after taking and burning the city, he had another fight +with Careticus, and made him flee beyond the Severn into Wales. He then +made an utter devastation of the country, set fire to the adjacent +cities, and continued these outrages until he had almost burned up the +whole surface of the island from the one sea to the other; so that the +tillage was everywhere destroyed, and a general destruction made of the +husbandmen and clergy, with fire and sword. This terrible calamity +caused the rest to flee whithersoever they had any hopes of safety. + + + + +CHAP. IX.--_The author upbraids the Britons._ + + +"Why foolish nation! oppressed with the weight of your abominable +wickedness, why did you, in your insatiable thirst after civil wars, so +weaken yourself by domestic confusions, that whereas formerly you +brought distant kingdoms under your yoke, now, like a good vineyard +degenerated and turned to bitterness, you cannot defend your country, +your wives, and children, against your enemies? Go on, go on in your +civil dissensions, little understanding the saying in the Gospel, 'Every +kingdom divided against itself shall be brought to desolation, and a +house divided against itself shall fall.' Since then your kingdom was +divided against itself; since the rage of civil discord, and the fumes +of envy, have darkened your minds, since your pride would not suffer you +to pay obedience to one king; you see, therefore, your country made +desolate by impious pagans, and your houses falling one upon another; +which shall be the cause of lasting sorrow to your posterity. For the +barbarous lionesses shall see their whelps enjoying the towns, cities, +and other possessions of your children; from which they shall be +miserably expelled, and hardly if ever recover their former flourishing +state." + + + + +CHAP. X.--_Loegria is again inhabited by the Saxons. The Britons, with +their bishops, retire into Cornwall and Wales._ + + +But to return to the history; when the inhuman tyrant, with many +thousands of his Africans, had made a devastation almost over the whole +island, he yielded up the greater part of it, called Loegria, to the +Saxons, whose villainy had been the occasion of his arrival. Therefore +the remainder of the Britons retired into the western parts of the +kingdom, that is, Cornwall and Wales; from whence they continually made +frequent and fierce irruptions upon the enemy. The three archbishops, +viz. the archbishop of Legions, Theon of London, and Thadiocus of York, +when they beheld all the churches in their jurisdiction lying level with +the ground, fled with all the clergy that remained after so great a +destruction, to the coverts of the woods in Wales, carrying with them +the relics of the saints, for fear the sacred bones of so many holy men +of old might be destroyed by the barbarians, if they should leave them +in that imminent danger, and themselves instantly suffer martyrdom. Many +more went over in a great fleet into Armorican Britain; so that the +whole church of the two provinces, Loegria and Northumberland, had its +convents destroyed. But these things I shall relate elsewhere, when I +translate the book concerning their banishment. + + + + +CHAP. XI.--_The Britons lose their kingdom._ + + +For a long time after this the Britons were dispossessed of the crown of +the kingdom, and the monarchy of the island, and made no endeavours to +recover their ancient dignity; but even that part of the country which +yet remained to them, being subject not to one king, but three tyrants, +was often wasted by civil wars. But neither did the Saxons yet obtain +the crown, but were also subject to three kings, who harassed sometimes +one another, sometimes the Britons. + + + + +CHAP. XII.--_Augustine, being sent by pope Gregory into Britain, +preaches the gospel to the Angles._ + + +In the meantime Augustine was sent by pope Saint Gregory into Britain, +to preach the word of God to the Angles, who, being blinded with pagan +superstition, had entirely extinguished Christianity in that part of the +island which they possessed. But among the Britons, the Christian faith +still flourished, and never failed among them from the time of pope +Eleutherius, when it was first planted here. But when Augustine came, he +found in their province seven bishoprics and an archbishopric, all +filled with most devout prelates, and a great number of abbeys; by which +the flock of Christ was still kept in good order. Among the rest, there +was in the city of Bangor a most noble church, in which it is reported +there was so great a number of monks, that when the monastery was +divided into seven parts, having each their priors over them, not one of +them had less than three hundred monks, who all lived by the labour of +their own hands. The name of their abbat was Dinooth, a man admirably +skilled in the liberal arts; who, when Augustine required the subjection +of the British bishops, and would have persuaded them to undertake the +work of the gospel with him among the Angles, answered him with several +arguments, that they owed no subjection to him, neither would they +preach to their enemies; since they had their own archbishop, and +because the Saxon nation persisted in depriving them of their country. +For this reason they esteemed them their mortal enemies, reckoned their +faith and religion as nothing, and would no more communicate with the +Angles than with dogs. + + + + +CHAP. XIII.--_Ethelfrid kills a great number of the British monks, but +is at last routed by the Britons._ + + +Therefore Ethelbert, king of Kent, when he saw that the Britons +disdained subjection to Augustine, and despised his preaching, was +highly provoked, and stirred up Ethelfrid, king of the Northumbrians, +and the other petty kings of the Saxons, to raise a great army, and +march to the city of Bangor, to destroy the abbat Dinooth, and the rest +of the clergy who held them in contempt. At his instigation, therefore, +they assembled a prodigious army, and in their march to the province of +the Britons, came to Legecester, where Brocmail, consul of the city, was +awaiting their coming. To the same city were come innumerable monks and +hermits from several provinces of the Britons, but especially from the +city of Bangor, to pray for the safety of their people. Whereupon +Ethelfrid, king of the Northumbrians, collecting all his forces, joined +battle with Brocmail, who, having a less army to withstand him, at last +quitted the city and fled, though not without having made a great +slaughter of the enemy. But Ethelfrid, when he had taken the city, and +understood upon what occasion the monks were come thither, commanded his +men to turn their arms first against them; and so two hundred of them +were honoured with the crown of martyrdom, and admitted into the kingdom +of heaven that same day. From thence this Saxon tyrant proceeded on his +march to Bangor; but upon the news of his outrageous madness, the +leaders of the Britons, viz. Blederic, duke of Cornwall, Margadud, king +of the Demetians, and Cadwan, of the Venedotians, came from all parts to +meet him, and joining battle with him, wounded him, and forced him to +flee; and killed of his army to the number of ten thousand and sixty-six +men. On the Britons' side fell Blederic, duke of Cornwall, who was their +commander in those wars. + + + + +BOOK XII. + +CHAP. I.--_Cadwan acquires by treaty all Britain on this side of the +Humber, and Ethelfrid the rest._ + + +After this all the princes of the Britons met together at the city of +Legecester, and consented to make Cadwan their king, that under his +command they might pursue Ethelfrid beyond the Humber. Accordingly, as +soon as he was crowned, they flocked together from all parts, and passed +the Humber; of which when Ethelfrid received intelligence, he entered +into a confederacy with all the Saxon kings, and went to meet Cadwan. At +last, as they were forming their troops for a battle, their friends +came, and made peace between them on these terms: that Cadwan should +enjoy that part of Britain which lies on this side of the Humber, and +Ethelfrid that which is beyond it. As soon as they had confirmed this +agreement with an oath made to their hostages, there commenced such a +friendship between them, that they had all things common. In the +meantime it happened, that Ethelfrid banished his own wife and married +another, and bore so great a hatred to her that was banished, that he +would not suffer her to live in the kingdom of Northumberland. Whereupon +she, being with child, went to king Cadwan, that by his mediation she +might be restored to her husband. But when Ethelfrid could by no means +be brought to consent to it, she continued to live with Cadwan, till she +was delivered of the son which she had conceived. A short time after her +delivery, Cadwan also had a son born to him by the queen, his wife. Then +were the two boys brought up together in a manner suitable to their +royal birth, one of which was called Cadwalla, the other Edwin. When +they were nearly arrived at men's estate, their parents sent them to +Salomon, king of the Armorican Britons, that in his court they might +learn the discipline of war, and other princely qualifications. This +prince, therefore, received them graciously, and admitted them to an +intimacy with him; so that there was none of their age in the whole +court, that had a free access, or more familiarly discoursed with the +king than they. At last he himself was an eye-witness of their exploits +against the enemy, in which they very much signalized their valour. + + + + +CHAP. II.--_Cadwalla breaks the covenant he had made with Edwin._ + + +In process of time, when their parents were dead, they returned to +Britain, where they took upon them the government of the kingdom, and +began to form the same friendship as their fathers. Two years after +this, Edwin asked leave of Cadwalla to wear a crown, and to celebrate +the same solemnities, as had been used of old in Northumberland. And +when they had begun a treaty upon this subject by the river Duglas, that +the matter might be adjusted according to the advice of their wise +counsellors, it happened that Cadwalla was lying on the other side of +the river in the lap of a certain nephew of his, whose name was Brian. +While ambassadors were negotiating between them, Brian wept, and shed +tears so plentifully, that the king's face and beard were wet with them. +The king, imagining that it rained, lifted up his face, and seeing the +young man in tears, asked him the occasion of such sudden grief. "Good +reason," said he, "have I to weep continually, as well as the whole +British nation, which has groaned under the oppression of barbarians +ever since the time of Malgo, and has not yet got a prince, to restore +it to its ancient flourishing state. And even the little honour that it +had left, is lessened by your indulgence; since the Saxons, who are only +strangers, and always traitors to our country, must now be permitted to +wear the same crown as you do. For when once they shall attain to regal +dignity, it will be a great addition to their glory in the country from +whence they came; and they will the sooner invite over their countrymen, +for the utter extirpation of our race. For they have been always +accustomed to treachery, and never to keep faith with any; which I think +should be a reason for our keeping them under, and not for exalting +them. When king Vortigern first retained them in his service, they made +a show of living peaceably, and fighting for our country, till they had +an opportunity of practising their wickedness; and then they returned +evil for good, betrayed him, and made a cruel massacre of the people of +the kingdom. Afterwards they betrayed Aurelius Ambrosius, to whom, even +after the most tremendous oaths of fidelity, at a banquet with him they +gave a draught of poison. They also betrayed Arthur, when, setting aside +the covenant by which they were bound, they joined with his nephew +Modred, and fought against him. Lastly, they broke faith with king +Careticus, and brought upon him Gormund, king of the Africans, by whose +disturbances our people were robbed of their country, and the king +disgracefully driven out." + + + + +CHAP. III.--_A quarrel between Cadwalla and Edwin._ + + +At the mention of these things, Cadwalla repented of entering into this +treaty, and sent word to Edwin that he could by no means induce his +counsellors to consent to his petition. For they alleged that it was +contrary to law and the ancient establishment, that an island, which has +always had no more than one crown, should be now under subjection to two +crowned heads. This message incensed Edwin, and made him break off the +conference, and retire into Northumberland, saying, he would be crowned +without Cadwalla's leave. When Cadwalla was told this, he declared to +him by his ambassadors that he would cut off his crowned head, if he +presumed to wear a crown within the kingdom of Britain. + + + + +CHAP. IV.--_Cadwalla is vanquished by Edwin, and driven out of the +kingdom._ + + +This proved the occasion of a war between them, in which, after several +engagements between their men, they at last met together themselves +beyond the Humber, and had a battle, wherein Cadwalla lost many +thousands of his followers, and was put to flight.[221] From hence he +marched with precipitation through Albania, and went over to Ireland. +But Edwin, after this victory, led his army through the provinces of the +Britons, and burning the cities before him, grievously afflicted the +citizens and country people. During this exercise of his cruelty, +Cadwalla never ceased endeavouring to return back to his country in a +fleet, but without success; because to whatever port he steered, Edwin +met him with his forces, and hindered his landing. For there was come +to him from Spain a very skilful soothsayer, named Pellitus, who, by +the flight of birds and the courses of the stars, foretold all the +disasters that would happen. By these means Edwin, getting knowledge of +Cadwalla's return, prepared to meet him, and shattered his ships so that +he drowned his men, and beat him off from all his ports. Cadwalla, not +knowing what course to take, was almost in despair of ever returning. At +last it came into his head to go to Salomon, king of the Armorican +Britons, and desire his assistance and advice, to enable him to return +to his kingdom. And so, as he was steering towards Armorica, a strong +tempest rose on a sudden, which dispersed the ships of his companions, +and in a short time left no two of them together. The pilot of the +king's ship was seized immediately with so great a fear, that quitting +the stern, he left the vessel to the disposal of fortune; so that all +that night it was tossed up and down in great danger by the raging +waves. The next morning they arrived at a certain island called +Garnareia, where with great difficulty they got ashore. Cadwalla was +forthwith seized with such grief for the loss of his companions, that +for three days and nights together he refused to eat, but lay sick upon +his bed. The fourth day he was taken with a very great longing for some +venison, and causing Brian to be called, made him acquainted with it. +Whereupon Brian took his bow and quiver, and went through the island, +that if he could light on any wild beast, he might make booty of it. And +when he had walked over the whole island without finding what he was in +quest of, he was extremely concerned that he could not gratify his +master's desire; and was afraid his sickness would prove mortal if his +longing were not satisfied. He, therefore, fell upon a new device, and +cut a piece of flesh out of his own thigh, which he roasted upon a spit, +and carried to the king for venison. The king, thinking it to be real +venison, began to eat of it to his great refreshment, admiring the +sweetness of it, which he fancied exceeded any flesh he ever had tasted +before. At last, when he had fully satisfied his appetite, he became +more cheerful, and in three days was perfectly well again. Then the wind +standing fair, he got ready his ship, and hoisting sails they pursued +their voyage, and arrived at the city Kidaleta. From thence they went to +king Salomon, by whom they were received kindly and with all suitable +respect; and as soon as he had learned the occasion of their coming, he +made them a promise of assistance, and spoke to them as follows. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 221: See Malmesbury's Hist. of the Kings, p. 46.] + + + + +CHAP. V.--_The speech of Salomon, king of Armorica, to Cadwalla._ + + +"It is a grief to us, noble youths, that the country of your ancestors +is oppressed by a barbarous nation, and that you are ignominiously +driven out of it. But since other men are able to defend their kingdoms, +it is a wonder your people should lose so fruitful an island, and not be +able to withstand the nation of the Angles, whom our countrymen hold in +contempt. While the people of this country lived together with yours in +Britain, they bore sway over all the provincial kingdoms, and never +could be subdued by any nation but the Romans. Neither did the Romans do +this by their own power, as I have been lately informed, but by a +dissension among the nobility of the island. And even the Romans, though +they held it under their subjection for a time, yet upon the loss and +slaughter of their rulers, were driven out with disgrace. But after the +Britons came into this province under the conduct of Maximian and Conan, +those that remained never had the happiness afterwards of holding an +uninterrupted possession of the crown. For though many of their princes +maintained the ancient dignity of their ancestors, yet their weak heirs +that succeeded, though more in number, entirely lost it, upon the +invasion of their enemies. Therefore I am grieved for the weakness of +your people, since we are of the same race with you, and the name of +Britons is common to you, and to the nation that bravely defends their +country, which you see at war with all its neighbours." + + + + +CHAP. VI.--_Cadwalla's answer to Salomon._ + + +When he had concluded his speech, Cadwalla, who was a little put to the +blush, answered him after this manner: "Royal sir, whose descent is from +a race of kings, I give you many thanks for your promise of assisting me +to recover my kingdom. But what you say is a wonder, that my people have +not maintained the dignity of their ancestors, since the time that the +Britons came to these provinces, I am far from thinking to be such. For +the noblest men of the whole kingdom followed those leaders, and there +remained only the baser sort to enjoy their honours; who being raised to +a high quality, on a sudden were puffed up above their station; and +growing wanton with riches gave themselves up to commit such fornication +as is not so much as named among the Gentiles; and (as Gildas the +historian testifies) were not only guilty of this vice, but of all the +enormities that are incident to human nature. And what chiefly +prevailed, to the entire overthrow of all goodness, was the hatred of +truth with its assertors, the love of a lie with the inventors of it, +the embracing of evil for good, the veneration of wickedness for grace, +the receiving of Satan for an angel of light. Kings were anointed, not +for the sake of God, but such as were more cruel than the rest; and were +soon after murdered by their anointers, without examination, having +chosen others yet more cruel in their room. But if any of them showed +any mildness, or seemed a favourer of truth, against him, as the +subverter of Britain, were all their malice and their weapons bent. In +short, things pleasing to God or displeasing, with them had the same +weight, even if the worse were not the weightier. Therefore were all +affairs managed contrary to public safety, as if the true physician of +all had left them destitute of cure. And thus was every thing done +without discretion, and that not only by secular men, but by the Lord's +flock and its pastors. Therefore it is not to be wondered, that such a +degenerate race, so odious to God for their vices, lost a country which +they had so heinously corrupted. For God was willing to execute his +vengeance upon them, by suffering a foreign people to come upon them, +and drive them out of their possessions. Notwithstanding it would be a +worthy act, if God would permit it, to restore our subjects to their +ancient dignity, to prevent the reproach that may be thrown upon our +race, that we were weak rulers, who did not exert ourselves in our own +defence. And I do the more freely ask your assistance, as you are of the +same blood with us. For the great Malgo, who was the fourth king of +Britain after Arthur, had two sons, named Enniaunus and Runo. Enniaunus +begot Belin; Belin, Jago; Jago, Cadwan, who was my father. Runo, who, +after his brother's death, was driven out by the Saxons, came to this +province and bestowed his daughter on duke Hoel, the son of that great +Hoel who shared with Arthur in his conquests. Of her was born Alan; of +Alan, Hoel your father, who while he lived was a terror to all Gaul." + + + + +CHAP. VII.--_Brian kills Edwin's magician._ + + +In the meantime, while he was spending the winter with Salomon, they +entered into a resolution, that Brian should pass over into Britain, and +take some method to kill Edwin's magician, lest he might by his usual +art inform him of Cadwalla's coming. And when with this design he had +arrived at Hamo's Port, he took upon him the habit of a poor man, and +made himself a staff of iron sharp at the end, with which he might kill +the magician if he should happen to meet with him. From thence he went +to York, where Edwin then resided; and having entered that city joined +himself to the poor people that waited for alms before the king's gate. +But as he was going to and fro, it happened that his sister came out of +the hall, with a basin in her hand, to fetch water for the queen. She +had been taken by Edwin at the city of Worcester, when after Cadwalla's +flight he was acting his hostilities upon the provinces of the Britons. +As she was therefore passing by Brian, he immediately knew her, and, +breaking forth into tears, called to her with a low voice; at which the +damsel turning her face, was in doubt at first who it could be, but upon +a nearer approach discovered it to be her brother, and was near falling +into a swoon, for fear that he might by some unlucky accident be known +and taken by the enemy. She therefore refrained from saluting him, or +entering into familiar discourse with him, but told him, as if she was +talking upon some other subject, the state of the court, and showed him +the magician, that he was inquiring for, who was at that very time +walking among the poor people, while the alms were being distributed +among them. Brian, as soon as he had taken knowledge of the man, ordered +his sister to steal out privately from her apartment the night +following, and come to him near an old church without the city, where he +would conceal himself in expectation of her. Then dismissing her, he +thrust himself in among the crowd of poor people, in that part where +Pellitus was placing them. And the same moment he got access to him, he +lifted up his staff, and at once gave him a stab under the breast which +killed him. This done, he threw away his staff, and passed among the +rest undistinguished and unsuspected by any of the by-standers, and by +good providence got to the place of concealment which he had appointed. +His sister, when night came on, endeavoured all she could to get out, +but was not able; because Edwin, being terrified at the killing of +Pellitus, had set a strict watch about the court, who, making a narrow +search, refused to let her go out. When Brian found this, he retired +from that place, and went to Exeter, where he called together the +Britons, and told them what he had done. Afterwards having despatched +away messengers to Cadwalla, he fortified that city, and sent word to +all the British nobility, that they should bravely defend their cities +and towns, and joyfully expect Cadwalla's coming to their relief in a +short time with auxiliary forces from Salomon. Upon the spreading of +this news over the whole island, Penda, king of the Mercians, with a +very great army of Saxons, came to Exeter, and besieged Brian. + + + + +CHAP. VIII.--_Cadwalla takes Penda, and routs his army._ + + +In the meantime Cadwalla arrived with ten thousand men, whom king +Salomon had delivered to him; and with them he marched straight to the +siege against king Penda. But, as he was going, he divided his forces +into four parts, and then made no delay to advance and join battle with +the enemy, wherein Penda was forthwith taken, and his army routed. For, +finding no other way for his own safety, he surrendered himself to +Cadwalla, and gave hostages, with a promise that he would assist him +against the Saxons. Cadwalla, after this success against him, summoned +together his nobility, that had been a long time in a decaying state, +and marched to Northumberland against Edwin, and made continual +devastations in that country. When Edwin was informed of it, he +assembled all the petty kings of the Angles, and meeting the Britons in +a field called Heathfield,[222] presently gave them battle, but was +killed, and almost all the people with him, together with Osfrid, his +son, and Godbold, king of the Orkneys, who had come to their assistance. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 222: See Bede's Eccles. Hist. p. 106.] + + + + +CHAP. IX.--_Cadwalla kills Osric and Aidan in fight._ + + +Having thus obtained the victory, Cadwalla marched through the provinces +of the Angles, and committed such outrages upon the Saxons, that he +neither spared age nor sex; for his resolution being to extirpate the +whole race out of Britain, all that he found he put to extreme tortures. +After this he had a battle with Osric, Edwin's successor, and killed him +together with his two nephews, who ought to have reigned after him. He +also killed Aidan, king of the Scots, who came to their assistance. + + + + +CHAP. X.--_Oswald routs Penda in fight, but is killed by Cadwalla coming +in upon him._ + + +Their deaths made room for Oswald to succeed to the kingdom of +Northumberland; but Cadwalla drove him, with the rest that had given him +disturbance, to the very wall which the emperor Severus had formerly +built between Britain and Scotland. Afterwards he sent Penda, king of +the Mercians, and the greatest part of his army, to the same place, to +give him battle. But Oswald, as he was besieged one night by Penda, in +the place called Heavenfield, that is, the Heavenly Field,[223] set up +there our Lord's cross, and commanded his men to speak with a very loud +voice these words: "Let us all kneel down, and pray the Almighty, living +and true God, to defend us from the proud army of the king of Britain, +and his wicked leader Penda. For he knows how justly we wage this war +for the safety of our people." They all therefore did as he commanded +them, and advanced at break of day against the enemy, and by their faith +gained the victory. Cadwalla, upon hearing this news, being inflamed +with rage, assembled his army, and went in pursuit of the holy king +Oswald; and in a battle which he had with him at a place called Burne, +Penda broke in upon him and killed him. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 223: See Bede's Eccles. Hist. p. 110.] + + + + +CHAP. XI.--_Oswy submits to Cadwalla. Penda desires leave of Cadwalla to +make war against him._ + + +Oswald, with many thousands of his men, being killed, his brother Oswy +succeeded him in the kingdom of Northumberland,[224] and by making +large presents of gold and silver to Cadwalla, who was now possessed of +the government of all Britain, made his peace and submission to him. +Upon this Alfrid, his brother, and Ethelwald,[225] his brother's son, +began an insurrection; but, not being able to hold out against him, they +fled to Penda, king of the Mercians, desiring him to assemble his army +and pass the Humber with them, that he might deprive Oswy of his +kingdom. But Penda, fearing to break the peace, which Cadwalla had +settled through the kingdom of Britain, deferred beginning any +disturbance without his leave, till he could some way work him up, +either to make war himself upon Oswy, or allow him the liberty of doing +it. At a certain Pentecost therefore, when Cadwalla was celebrating that +festival at London, and for the greater solemnity wore the crown of +Britain, all the kings of the Angles, excepting only Oswy, being +present, as also all the dukes of the Britons; Penda went to the king, +and inquired of him the reason, why Oswy alone was wanting, when all the +princes of the Saxons were present. Cadwalla answered, that his sickness +was the cause of it; to which the other replied, that he had sent over +to Germany for more Saxons, to revenge the death of his brother Oswald +upon them both. He told him further, that he had broken the peace of the +kingdom, as being the sole author of the war and dissension among them; +since Ethelfrid, king of Northumberland, and Ethelwald, his brother's +son, had been by him harassed with a war, and driven out of their own +country. He also desired leave, either to kill him, or banish him the +kingdom. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 224: Or Bernicia, see Bede, p. 131.] + +[Footnote 225: Who reigned over the Deiri.] + + + + +CHAP. XII.--_Cadwalla is advised to suffer Penda to make an insurrection +against Oswy._ + + +This matter caused the king to enter upon much deliberation, and hold a +private consultation with his intimate friends, what course to take. +Among the rest that offered their proposals, Margadud, king of the +Dimetians, spoke as follows:--"Royal sir, since you have proposed to +expel the race of the Angles from the coasts of Britain, why do you +alter your resolution, and suffer them to continue in peace among us? At +least you should permit them to fall out among themselves, and let our +country owe its deliverance to their own civil broils. No faith is to be +kept with one that is treacherous, and is continually laying snares for +him to whom he owes fidelity. Such have the Saxons always been to our +nation, from the very first time of their coming among us. What faith +ought we to keep with them? Let Penda immediately have leave to go +against Oswy, that by this civil dissension and destruction of one +another, our island may get rid of them." + + + + +CHAP. XIII.--_Penda is killed by Oswy. Cadwalla dies._ + + +By these and other words to the same effect, Cadwalla was prevailed upon +to grant the permission desired. And Penda, having assembled a vast +army, went to the Humber, and laying waste that country, began a fierce +war upon the king. Oswy was at last reduced to such extremity, that he +was forced to promise him innumerable royal ornaments, and other +presents more than one would believe, if he would desist from ruining +his country, and return home without committing any more hostilities. +But when the other could by no entreaties be prevailed upon to do it, +the king, in hopes of divine assistance, though he had a less army, +however, gave him battle near the River Winwid, and having killed Penda +and thirty other commanders, gained the victory. Penda's son Wulfred, by +a grant from Cadwalla, succeeded to the kingdom, and joining with Eafa +and Eadbert, two leaders of the Mercians, rebelled against Oswy; but at +last, by Cadwalla's command, made peace with him. At length, after +forty-eight years were expired, that most noble and potent king of the +Britons, Cadwalla, being grown infirm with age and sickness, departed +this life upon the fifteenth before the kalends of December. The Britons +embalmed his body, and placed it with wonderful art in a brazen statue, +which was cast according to the measure of his stature. This statue they +set up with complete armour, on an admirable and beautiful brazen horse, +over the western gate of London, for a monument of the above-mentioned +victory, and for a terror to the Saxons. They also built under it a +church in honour of St. Martin, in which divine ceremonies are +celebrated for him and the others who departed in the faith. + + + + +CHAP. XIV.--_Cadwallader succeeds Cadwalla._ + + +He was succeeded in the kingdom by Cadwallader,[226] his son, whom Bede +calls the youth Elidwalda. At first he maintained the government with +peace and honour; but after twelve years' enjoyment of the crown, he +fell into a fit of sickness, and a civil war broke out among the +Britons. His mother was Penda's sister, by the same father but a +different mother, descended from the noble race of the Gewisseans. For +Cadwalla, after his reconciliation with her brother, made her the +partner of his bed, and had Cadwallader by her. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 226: Probably the same as Caedwalla, king of Wessex, noticed by +Bede and the Saxon Chronicle, although the British and Saxon authorities +differ in their genealogical statements.] + + + + +CHAP. XV.--_The Britons are compelled, by pestilence and famine, to +leave Britain. Cadwallader's lamentation._ + + +During his sickness, the Britons, (as we said before,) quarrelling among +themselves, made a wicked destruction of a rich country; and this again +was attended with another misfortune. For this besotted people was +punished with a grievous and memorable famine; so that every province +was destitute of all sustenance, except what could be taken in hunting. +After the famine followed a terrible pestilence, which in a short time +destroyed such multitudes of people, that the living were not sufficient +to bury the dead. Those of them that remained, flying their country in +whole troops together, went to the countries beyond the sea, and while +they were under sail, they with a mournful howling voice sang, "Thou +hast given us, O God, like sheep appointed for meat, and hast scattered +us among the heathen." Also Cadwallader himself, in his voyage, with his +miserable fleet to Armorica, made this addition to the lamentation, "Woe +to us sinners, for our grievous impieties, wherewith we have not ceased +to provoke God, while we had space for repentance. Therefore the revenge +of his power lies heavy upon us, and drives us out of our native soil, +which neither the Romans of old, nor the Scots or Picts afterwards, nor +yet the treacherous Saxons with all their craft, were able to do. But in +vain have we recovered our country so often from them; since it was not +the will of God that we should perpetually hold the government of it. +He who is the true Judge, when he saw we were by no means to be +reclaimed from our wickedness, and that no human power could expel our +race, was willing to chastise our folly himself; and has turned his +anger against us, by which we are driven out in crowds from our native +country. Return, therefore, ye Romans; return, Scots and Picts; return, +Ambrons and Saxons: behold, Britain lies open to you, being by the wrath +of God made desolate, which you were never able to do. It is not your +valour that expels us; but the power of the supreme King, whom we have +never ceased to provoke." + + + + +CHAP. XVI.--_Cadwallader with his people goes to Alan. The Saxons seize +all Britain._ + + +With these dolorous complaints he arrived at the Armorican coast, and +went with his whole company to king Alan, the nephew of Salomon by whom +he was honourably received. So that Britain, being now destitute of its +ancient inhabitants, excepting a few in Wales that escaped the general +mortality, became a frightful place even to the Britons themselves for +eleven years after. Neither was it at the same time more favourable to +the Saxons, who died in it without intermission. Notwithstanding the +remainder of them, after this raging plague was ceased, according to +their old custom sent word over to their countrymen, that the island of +Britain was now freed of its native inhabitants, and lay open to them, +if they would come over and inhabit it. As soon as they had received +this information, that odious people, gathering together an innumerable +multitude of men and women, arrived in Northumberland, and inhabited the +provinces that lay desolate from Albania to Cornwall. For there was now +nobody to hinder them, excepting the poor remains of the Britons, who +continued together in the thickets of the woods in Wales. From that time +the power of the Britons ceased in the island, and the Angles began +their reign. + + + + +CHAP. XVII.--_Cadwallader is by the voice of an angel deterred from +returning to Britain._ + + +After some time, when the people had recovered strength, Cadwallader, +being mindful of his kingdom, which was now free from the contagion of +the pestilence, desired assistance of Alan towards the recovery of his +dominions. The king granted his request; but as he was getting ready a +fleet, he was commanded by the loud voice of an angel to desist from his +enterprise. For God was not willing that the Britons should reign any +longer in the island, before the time came of which Merlin prophetically +foretold Arthur. It also commanded him to go to Rome to pope Sergius, +where, after doing penance, he should be enrolled among the saints. It +told him withal, that the Britons, by the merit of their faith, should +again recover the island, when the time decreed for it was come. But +this would not be accomplished before they should be possessed of his +reliques, and transport them from Rome into Britain. At the same time +also the reliques of the other saints should be found, which had been +hidden on account of the invasion of pagans; and then at last would they +recover their lost kingdom. When the holy prince had received the +heavenly message, he went straight to king Alan, and gave him an account +of what had been told him. + + + + +CHAP. XVIII.--_Cadwallader goes to Rome and dies._ + + +Then Alan had recourse to several books, as the prophecies of the eagle +that prophesied at Shaftesbury, and the verses of Sibyl and Merlin; and +made diligent search in them, to see whether the revelation made to +Cadwallader agreed with those written oracles. And when he could find +nothing contradictory to it, he admonished Cadwallader to submit to the +divine dispensation, and laying aside the thoughts of Britain, perform +what the angelical voice had commanded him. But he urged him to send his +son Ivor and his nephew Ini over into the island, to govern the +remainder of the Britons; lest a nation, descended of so ancient a race, +should lose their liberty by the incursions of barbarians. Then +Cadwallader, renouncing worldly cares for the sake of God and his +everlasting kingdom, went to Rome, and was confirmed by pope Sergius: +and being seized with a sudden illness, was, upon the twelfth before the +kalends of May, in the six hundred and eighty-ninth year of our Lord's +incarnation freed from the corruption of the flesh, and admitted into +the glories of the heavenly kingdom. + + + + +CHAP. XIX.--_The two Britons, Ivor and Ini, in vain attack the nation of +the Angles. Athelstan the first king of the Angles._ + + +As soon as Ivor and Ini had got together their ships, they with all the +forces they could raise, arrived in the island, and for forty-nine years +together fiercely attacked the nation of the Angles, but to little +purpose. For the above-mentioned mortality and famine, together with the +inveterate spirit of faction that was among them, had made this proud +people so much degenerate, that they were not able to gain any advantage +of the enemy. And being now also overrun with barbarism, they were no +longer called Britons, but Gualenses, Welshmen; a word derived either +from Gualo their leader, or Guales their queen, or from their barbarism. +But the Saxons managed affairs with more prudence, maintained peace and +concord among themselves, tilled their grounds, rebuilt their cities and +towns, and so throwing off the dominion of the Britons, bore sway over +all Loegria, under their leader Athelstan, who first wore a crown +amongst them. But the Welshmen, being very much degenerated from the +nobility of the Britons, never after recovered the monarchy of the +island; on the contrary, by quarrels among themselves, and wars with the +Saxons, their country was a perpetual scene of misery and slaughter. + + + + +CHAP. XX.--_Geoffrey of Monmouth's conclusion._ + + +But as for the kings that have succeeded among them in Wales, since that +time, I leave the history of them to Caradoc of Lancarvan, my +contemporary; as I do also the kings of the Saxons to William of +Malmesbury, and Henry of Huntingdon. But I advise them to be silent +concerning the kings of the Britons,[227] since they have not that book +written in the British tongue, which Walter, archdeacon of Oxford, +brought out of Brittany, and which being a true history, published in +honour of those princes, I have thus taken care to translate. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 227: This advice might be thought judicious, if we could be +persuaded of the authenticity of Geoffrey's cherished discovery, but +there are lamentable defects, of a grave character, attending upon this +British volume. + +1. It was first made known six hundred years after the events which it +relates. + +2. No MS. copy is now in existence, nor any record of its ever having +been multiplied by transcription. + +3. It relates stories utterly at variance with acknowledged history. + +4. It abounds in miraculous stories, which, like leaven, ferment and +corrupt the whole mass. + +5. It labours under great suspicion from the mendacious character of the +people, whose credit it was written to support. + +With these remarks we leave the work to the consideration of the reader, +who may compare it, if he likes, with the Chronicles of Gildas and +Nennius, which form the next portions of this volume.] + + + + +THE + +WORKS OF GILDAS, + +SURNAMED + +"SAPIENS," OR THE WISE. + + +THE + +WORKS OF GILDAS, + +SURNAMED + +"SAPIENS," OR THE WISE. + +I. THE PREFACE. + + +Sec. 1. Whatever in this my epistle I may write in my humble but +well-meaning manner, rather by way of lamentation than for display, let +no one suppose that it springs from contempt of others, or that I +foolishly esteem myself as better than they;--for, alas! the subject of +my complaint is the general destruction of every thing that is good, and +the general growth of evil throughout the land;--but that I would +condole with my country in her distress and rejoice to see her revive +therefrom: for it is my present purpose to relate the deeds of an +indolent and slothful race, rather than the exploits of those who have +been valiant in the field.[228] I have kept silence, I confess, with +much mental anguish, compunction of feeling and contrition of heart, +whilst I revolved all these things within myself; and, as God the +searcher of the reins is witness, for the space of even ten years or +more, [[229] my inexperience, as at present also, and my unworthiness +preventing me from taking upon myself the character of a censor. But I +read how the illustrious lawgiver, for one word's doubting, was not +allowed to enter the desired land; that the sons of the high-priest, for +placing strange fire upon God's altar, were cut off by a speedy death; +that God's people, for breaking the law of God, save two only, were +slain by wild beasts, by fire and sword in the deserts of Arabia, though +God had so loved them that he had made a way for them through the Red +Sea, had fed them with bread from heaven, and water from the rock, and +by the lifting up of a hand merely had made their armies invincible; and +then, when they had crossed the Jordan and entered the unknown land, and +the walls of the city had fallen down flat at the sound only of a +trumpet, the taking of a cloak and a little gold from the accursed +things caused the deaths of many: and again the breach of their treaty +with the Gibeonites, though that treaty had been obtained by fraud, +brought destruction upon many; and I took warning from the sins of the +people which called down upon them the reprehensions of the prophets and +also of Jeremiah, with his fourfold Lamentations written in alphabetic +order. I saw moreover in my own time, as that prophet also had +complained, that the city had sat down lone and widowed, which before +was full of people; that the queen of nations and the princess of +provinces (_i.e._ the church), had been made tributary; that the gold +was obscured, and the most excellent colour (which is the brightness of +God's word) changed; that the sons of Sion (_i.e._ of holy mother +church), once famous and clothed in the finest gold, grovelled in dung; +and what added intolerably to the weight of grief of that illustrious +man, and to mine, though but an abject whilst he had thus mourned them +in their happy and prosperous condition, "Her Nazarites were fairer than +snow, more ruddy than old ivory, more beautiful than the sapphire." +These and many other passages in the ancient Scriptures I regarded as a +kind of mirror of human life, and I turned also to the New, wherein I +read more clearly what perhaps to me before was dark, for the darkness +fled, and truth shed her steady light--I read therein that the Lord had +said, "I came not but to the lost sheep of the house of Israel;" and on +the other hand, "But the children of this kingdom shall be cast out into +outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth:" and +again, "It is not good to take the children's meat and to give it to +dogs:" also, "Woe to you, scribes and pharisees, hypocrites!" I heard +how "many shall come from the east and the west, and shall sit down with +Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven:" and on the +contrary, "I will then say to them, 'Depart from me, ye workers of +iniquity!'" I read, "Blessed are the barren, and the teats which have +not given suck;" and on the contrary, "Those, who were ready, entered +with him to the wedding; afterwards came the other virgins also, saying +'Lord, Lord, open to us:' to whom it was answered, 'I do not know you.'" +I heard, forsooth, "Whoever shall believe and be baptized, shall be +saved, but whoever shall not believe shall be damned." I read in the +words of the apostle that the branch of the wild olive was grafted upon +the good olive, but should nevertheless be cut off from the communion of +the root of its fatness, if it did not hold itself in fear, but +entertained lofty thoughts. I knew the mercy of the Lord, but I also +feared his judgment: I praised his grace, but I feared the rendering to +every man according to his works: perceiving the sheep of the same fold +to be different, I deservedly commended Peter for his entire confession +of Christ, but called Judas most wretched, for his love of covetousness: +I thought Stephen most glorious on account of the palm of martyrdom, but +Nicholas wretched for his mark of unclean heresy: I read assuredly, +"They had all things common:" but likewise also, as it is written, "Why +have ye conspired to tempt the Spirit of God?" I saw, on the other hand, +how much security had grown upon the men of our time, as if there were +nothing to cause them fear. These things, therefore, and many more which +for brevity's sake we have determined to omit, I revolved again and +again in my amazed mind with compunction in my heart, and I thought to +myself, "If God's peculiar people, chosen from all the people of the +world, the royal seed, and holy nation, to whom he had said, 'My +first-begotten Israel,' its priests, prophets, and kings, throughout so +many ages, his servant and apostle, and the members of his primitive +church, were not spared when they deviated from the right path, what +will he do to the darkness of this our age, in which, besides all the +huge and heinous sins, which it has in common with all the wicked of the +world committed, is found an innate, indelible, and irremediable load +of folly and inconstancy?" "What, wretched man (I say to myself) is it +given to you, as if you were an illustrious and learned teacher, to +oppose the force of so violent a torrent, and keep the charge committed +to you against such a series of inveterate crimes which has spread far +and wide, without interruption, for so many years? Hold thy peace: to do +otherwise, is to tell the foot to see, and the hand to speak. Britain +has rulers, and she has watchmen: why dost thou incline thyself thus +uselessly to prate?" She has such, I say, not too many, perhaps, but +surely not too few: but, because they are bent down and pressed beneath +so heavy a burden, they have not time allowed them to take breath. My +senses, therefore, as if feeling a portion of my debt and obligation, +preoccupied themselves with such objections, and with others yet more +strong. They struggled, as I said, no short time, in a fearful strait, +whilst I read, "There is a time for speaking, and a time for keeping +silence." At length, the creditor's side prevailed and bore off the +victory: if (said he) thou art not bold enough to be marked with the +comely mark of golden liberty among the prophetic creatures, who enjoy +the rank as reasoning beings next to the angels, refuse not the +inspiration of the understanding ass, to that day dumb, which would not +carry forward the tiara'd magician who was going to curse God's people, +but in the narrow pass of the vineyard crushed his loosened foot, and +thereby felt the lash; and though he was, with his ungrateful and +furious hand, against right justice, beating her innocent sides, she +pointed out to him the heavenly messenger holding the naked sword, and +standing in his way, though he had not seen him.] + +Wherefore in zeal for the house of God and for his holy law, constrained +either by the reasonings of my own thoughts, or by the pious entreaties +of my brethren, I now discharge the debt so long exacted of me; humble, +indeed, in style, but faithful, as I think, and friendly to all Christ's +youthful soldiers, but severe and insupportable to foolish apostates; +the former of whom, if I am not deceived, will receive the same with +tears flowing from God's love; but the others with sorrow, such as is +extorted from the indignation and pusillanimity of a convicted +conscience. + +Sec. 2. I will, therefore, if God be willing, endeavour to say a few words +about the situation of Britain, her disobedience and subjection, her +rebellion, second subjection and dreadful slavery--of her religion, +persecution, holy martyrs, heresies of different kinds--of her tyrants, +her two hostile and ravaging nations--of her first devastation, her +defence, her second devastation and second taking vengeance--of her +third devastation, of her famine, and the letters to Agitius[230]--of +her victory and her crimes--of the sudden rumour of enemies--of her +famous pestilence--of her counsels--of her last enemy, far more cruel +than the first--of the subversion of her cities, and of the remnant that +escaped; and finally, of the peace which, by the will of God, has been +granted her in these our times. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 228: Notwithstanding this remark of Gildas, the Britons must +have shown great bravery and resolution in their battles against the +Saxons, or they would not have resisted their encroachments so long. +When Gildas was writing, a hundred years had elapsed, and the Britons +still possessed a large portion of their native country.] + +[Footnote 229: All that follows, enclosed within brackets, up to page +298, is omitted in some copies.] + +[Footnote 230: Or AEtius, see page 307.] + + + + +II. THE HISTORY. + + +Sec. 3. The island of Britain, situated on almost the utmost border of the +earth, towards the south and west, and poised in the divine balance, as +it is said, which supports the whole world, stretches out from the +south-west towards the north pole, and is eight hundred miles long and +two hundred broad,[231] except where the headlands of sundry +promontories stretch farther into the sea. It is surrounded by the +ocean, which forms winding bays, and is strongly defended by this ample, +and, if I may so call it, impassable barrier, save on the south side, +where the narrow sea affords a passage to Belgic Gaul. It is enriched by +the mouths of two noble rivers, the Thames and the Severn, as it were +two arms, by which foreign luxuries were of old imported, and by other +streams of less importance. It is famous for eight and twenty cities, +and is embellished by certain castles, with walls, towers, well barred +gates, and houses with threatening battlements built on high, and +provided with all requisite instruments of defence. Its plains are +spacious, its hills are pleasantly situated, adapted for superior +tillage, and its mountains are admirably calculated for the alternate +pasturage of cattle, where flowers of various colours, trodden by the +feet of man, give it the appearance of a lovely picture. It is decked, +like a man's chosen bride, with divers jewels, with lucid fountains and +abundant brooks wandering over the snow white sands; with transparent +rivers, flowing in gentle murmurs, and offering a sweet pledge of +slumber[232] to those who recline upon their banks, whilst it is +irrigated by abundant lakes, which pour forth cool torrents of +refreshing water. + +Sec. 4. This island, stiff-necked and stubborn-minded, from the time of its +being first inhabited, ungratefully rebels, sometimes against God, +sometimes against her own citizens, and frequently, also, against +foreign kings and their subjects. For what can there either be, or be +committed, more disgraceful or more unrighteous in human affairs, than +to refuse to show fear to God or affection to one's own countrymen, and +(without detriment to one's faith) to refuse due honour to those of +higher dignity, to cast off all regard to reason, human and divine, and, +in contempt of heaven and earth, to be guided by one's own sensual +inventions? I shall, therefore, omit those ancient errors common to all +the nations of the earth, in which, before Christ came in the flesh, all +mankind were bound; nor shall I enumerate those diabolical idols of my +country, which almost surpassed in number those of Egypt, and of which +we still see some mouldering away within or without the deserted +temples, with stiff and deformed features as was customary. Nor will I +call out upon the mountains, fountains, or hills, or upon the rivers, +which now are subservient to the use of men, but once were an +abomination and destruction to them, and to which the blind people paid +divine honour. I shall also pass over the bygone times of our cruel +tyrants, whose notoriety was spread over to far distant countries; so +that Porphyry, that dog who in the east was always so fierce against the +church, in his mad and vain style added this also, that "Britain is a +land fertile in tyrants."[233] I will only endeavour to relate the +evils which Britain suffered in the times of the Roman emperors, and +also those which she caused to distant states; but so far as lies in my +power, I shall not follow the writings and records of my own country, +which (if there ever were any of them) have been consumed in the fires +of the enemy, or have accompanied my exiled countrymen into distant +lands, but be guided by the relations of foreign writers, which, being +broken and interrupted in many places, are therefore by no means clear. + +Sec. 5. For when the rulers of Rome had obtained the empire of the world, +subdued all the neighbouring nations and islands towards the east, and +strengthened their renown by the first peace which they made with the +Parthians, who border on India, there was a general cessation from war +throughout the whole world; the fierce flame which they kindled could +not be extinguished or checked by the Western Ocean, but passing beyond +the sea, imposed submission upon our island without resistance, and +entirely reduced to obedience its unwarlike but faithless people, not so +much by fire and sword and warlike engines, like other nations, but +threats alone, and menaces of judgments frowning on their countenance, +whilst terror penetrated to their hearts. + +Sec. 6. When afterwards they returned to Rome, for want of pay, as is said, +and had no suspicion of an approaching rebellion, that deceitful lioness +(Boadicea) put to death the rulers who had been left among them, to +unfold more fully and to confirm the enterprises of the Romans. When the +report of these things reached the senate, and they with a speedy army +made haste to take vengeance on the crafty foxes,[234] as they called +them, there was no bold navy on the sea to fight bravely for the +country; by land there was no marshalled army, no right wing of battle, +nor other preparation for resistance; but their backs were their shields +against their vanquishers, and they presented their necks to their +swords, whilst chill terror ran through every limb, and they stretched +out their hands to be bound, like women; so that it has become a proverb +far and wide, that the Britons are neither brave in war nor faithful in +time of peace. + +Sec. 7. The Romans, therefore, having slain many of the rebels, and +reserved others for slaves, that the land might not be entirely reduced +to desolation, left the island, destitute as it was of wine and oil, and +returned to Italy, leaving behind them taskmasters, to scourge the +shoulders of the natives, to reduce their necks to the yoke, and their +soil to the vassalage of a Roman province; to chastise the crafty race, +not with warlike weapons, but with rods, and if necessary to gird upon +their sides the naked sword, so that it was no longer thought to be +Britain, but a Roman island; and all their money, whether of copper, +gold, or silver, was stamped with Caesar's image. + +Sec. 8. Meanwhile these islands, stiff with cold and frost, and in a +distant region of the world, remote from the visible sun, received the +beams of light, that is, the holy precepts of Christ, the true Sun, +showing to the whole world his splendour, not only from the temporal +firmament, but from the height of heaven, which surpasses every thing +temporal, at the latter part, as we know, of the reign of Tiberius +Caesar, by whom his religion was propagated without impediment, and death +threatened to those who interfered with its professors. + +Sec. 9. These rays of light were received with lukewarm minds by the +inhabitants, but they nevertheless took root among some of them in a +greater or less degree, until the nine years' persecution of the tyrant +Diocletian, when the churches throughout the whole world were +overthrown, all the copies of the Holy Scriptures which could be found +burned in the streets, and the chosen pastors of God's flock butchered, +together with their innocent sheep, in order that not a vestige, if +possible, might remain in some provinces of Christ's religion. What +disgraceful flights then took place--what slaughter and death inflicted +by way of punishment in divers shapes,--what dreadful apostacies from +religion; and on the contrary, what glorious crowns of martyrdom then +were won,--what raving fury was displayed by the persecutors, and +patience on the part of the suffering saints, ecclesiastical history +informs us; for the whole church were crowding in a body, to leave +behind them the dark things of this world, and to make the best of their +way to the happy mansions of heaven, as if to their proper home. + +Sec. 10. God, therefore, who wishes all men to be saved, and who calls +sinners no less than those who think themselves righteous, magnified his +mercy towards us, and, as we know, during the above-named persecution, +that Britain might not totally be enveloped in the dark shades of night, +he, of his own free gift, kindled up among us bright luminaries of holy +martyrs, whose places of burial and of martyrdom, had they not for our +manifold crimes been interfered with and destroyed by the barbarians, +would have still kindled in the minds of the beholders no small fire of +divine charity. Such were St. Alban of Verulam, Aaron and Julius, +citizens of Carlisle,[235] and the rest, of both sexes, who in different +places stood their ground in the Christian contest. + +Sec. 11. The first of these martyrs, St. Alban, for charity's sake saved +another confessor who was pursued by his persecutors, and was on the +point of being seized, by hiding him in his house, and then by changing +clothes with him, imitating in this the example of Christ, who laid down +his life for his sheep, and exposing himself in the other's clothes to +be pursued in his stead. So pleasing to God was this conduct, that +between his confession and martyrdom, he was honoured with the +performance of wonderful miracles in presence of the impious blasphemers +who were carrying the Roman standards, and like the Israelites of old, +who trod dry-foot an unfrequented path whilst the ark of the covenant +stood some time on the sands in the midst of Jordan; so also the martyr, +with a thousand others, opened a path across the noble river Thames, +whose waters stood abrupt like precipices on either side; and seeing +this, the first of his executors was stricken with awe, and from a wolf +became a lamb; so that he thirsted for martyrdom, and boldly underwent +that for which he thirsted. The other holy martyrs were tormented with +divers sufferings, and their limbs were racked in such unheard of ways, +that they, without delay, erected the trophies of their glorious +martyrdom even in the gates of the city of Jerusalem. For those who +survived, hid themselves in woods and deserts, and secret caves, waiting +until God, who is the righteous judge of all, should reward their +persecutors with judgment, and themselves with protection of their +lives. + +Sec. 12. In less than ten years, therefore, of the above-named persecution, +and when these bloody decrees began to fail in consequence of the death +of their authors, all Christ's young disciples, after so long and wintry +a night, begin to behold the genial light of heaven. They rebuild the +churches, which had been levelled to the ground; they found, erect, and +finish churches to the holy martyrs, and everywhere show their ensigns +as token of their victory; festivals are celebrated and sacraments +received with clean hearts and lips, and all the church's sons rejoice +as it were in the fostering bosom of a mother. For this holy union +remained between Christ their head and the members of his church, until +the Arian treason, fatal as a serpent, and vomiting its poison from +beyond the sea, caused deadly dissension between brothers inhabiting the +same house, and thus, as if a road were made across the sea, like wild +beasts of all descriptions, and darting the poison of every heresy from +their jaws, they inflicted dreadful wounds upon their country, which is +ever desirous to hear something new, and remains constant long to +nothing. + +Sec. 13. At length also, new races of tyrants sprang up, in terrific +numbers, and the island, still bearing its Roman name, but casting off +her institutes and laws, sent forth among the Gauls that bitter scion of +her own planting Maximus, with a great number of followers, and the +ensigns of royalty, which he bore without decency and without lawful +right, but in a tyrannical manner, and amid the disturbances of the +seditious soldiery. He, by cunning arts rather than by valour, attaching +to his rule, by perjury and falsehood, all the neighbouring towns and +provinces, against the Roman state, extended one of his wings to Spain, +the other to Italy, fixed the seat of his unholy government at Treves, +and so furiously pushed his rebellion against his lawful emperors that +he drove one of them out of Rome, and caused the other to terminate his +most holy life. Trusting to these successful attempts, he not long after +lost his accursed head before the walls of Aquileia, whereas he had +before cut off the crowned heads of almost all the world. + +Sec. 14. After this, Britain is left deprived of all her soldiery and armed +bands, of her cruel governors, and of the flower of her youth, who went +with Maximus, but never again returned; and utterly ignorant as she was +of the art of war, groaned in amazement for many years under the cruelty +of two foreign nations--the Scots from the north-west, and the Picts +from the north. + +Sec. 15. The Britons, impatient at the assaults of the Scots and Picts, +their hostilities and dreadful oppressions, send ambassadors to Rome +with letters, entreating in piteous terms the assistance of an armed +band to protect them, and offering loyal and ready submission to the +authority of Rome, if they only would expel their invading foes. A +legion is immediately sent, forgetting their past rebellion, and +provided sufficiently with arms. When they had crossed over the sea and +landed, they came at once to close conflict with their cruel enemies, +and slew great numbers of them. All of them were driven beyond the +borders, and the humiliated natives rescued from the bloody slavery +which awaited them. By the advice of their protectors, they now built a +wall across the island from one sea to the other, which being manned +with a proper force, might be a terror to the foes whom it was intended +to repel, and a protection to their friends whom it covered. But this +wall, being made of turf instead of stone, was of no use to that foolish +people, who had no head to guide them. + +Sec. 16. The Roman legion had no sooner returned home in joy and triumph, +than their former foes, like hungry and ravening wolves, rushing with +greedy jaws upon the fold which is left without a shepherd, and wafted +both by the strength of oarsmen and the blowing wind, break through the +boundaries, and spread slaughter on every side, and like mowers cutting +down the ripe corn, they cut up, tread under foot, and overrun the whole +country. + +Sec. 17. And now again they send suppliant ambassadors, with their garments +rent and their heads covered with ashes, imploring assistance from the +Romans, and like timorous chickens, crowding under the protecting wings +of their parents, that their wretched country might not altogether be +destroyed, and that the Roman name, which now was but an empty sound to +fill the ear, might not become a reproach even to distant nations. Upon +this, the Romans, moved with compassion, as far as human nature can be, +at the relations of such horrors, send forward, like eagles in their +flight, their unexpected bands of cavalry by land and mariners by sea, +and planting their terrible swords upon the shoulders of their enemies, +they mow them down like leaves which fall at the destined period; and as +a mountain-torrent swelled with numerous streams, and bursting its banks +with roaring noise, with foaming crest and yeasty wave rising to the +stars, by whose eddying currents our eyes are as it were dazzled, does +with one of its billows overwhelm every obstacle in its way, so did our +illustrious defenders vigorously drive our enemies' band beyond the sea, +if any could so escape them; for it was beyond those same seas that they +transported, year after year, the plunder which they had gained, no one +daring to resist them. + +Sec. 18. The Romans, therefore, left the country, giving notice that they +could no longer be harassed by such laborious expeditions, nor suffer +the Roman standards, with so large and brave an army, to be worn out by +sea and land by fighting against these unwarlike, plundering vagabonds; +but that the islanders, inuring themselves to warlike weapons, and +bravely fighting, should valiantly protect their country, their +property, wives and children, and, what is dearer than these, their +liberty and lives; that they should not suffer their hands to be tied +behind their backs by a nation which, unless they were enervated by +idleness and sloth, was not more powerful than themselves, but that they +should arm those hands with buckler, sword, and spear, ready for the +field of battle; and, because they thought this also of advantage to the +people they were about to leave, they, with the help of the miserable +natives, built a wall different from the former, by public and private +contributions, and of the same structure as walls generally, extending +in a straight line from sea to sea, between some cities, which, from +fear of their enemies, had there by chance been built. They then give +energetic counsel to the timorous natives, and leave them patterns by +which to manufacture arms. Moreover, on the south coast where their +vessels lay, as there was some apprehension lest the barbarians might +land, they erected towers at stated intervals, commanding a prospect of +the sea; and then left the island never to return. + +Sec. 19. No sooner were they gone, than the Picts and Scots, like worms +which in the heat of mid-day come forth from their holes, hastily land +again from their canoes, in which they had been carried beyond the +Cichican[236] valley, differing one from another in manners, but +inspired with the same avidity for blood, and all more eager to shroud +their villainous faces in bushy hair than to cover with decent clothing +those parts of their body which required it. Moreover, having heard of +the departure of our friends, and their resolution never to return, they +seized with greater boldness than before on all the country towards the +extreme north as far as the wall. To oppose them there was placed on the +heights a garrison equally slow to fight and ill adapted to run away, a +useless and panic-struck company, who slumbered away days and nights on +their unprofitable watch. Meanwhile the hooked weapons of their enemies +were not idle, and our wretched countrymen were dragged from the wall +and dashed against the ground. Such premature death, however, painful as +it was, saved them from seeing the miserable sufferings of their +brothers and children. But why should I say more? They left their +cities, abandoned the protection of the wall, and dispersed themselves +in flight more desperately than before. The enemy, on the other hand, +pursued them with more unrelenting cruelty than before, and butchered +our countrymen like sheep, so that their habitations were like those of +savage beasts; for they turned their arms upon each other, and for the +sake of a little sustenance, imbrued their hands in the blood of their +fellow countrymen. Thus foreign calamities were augmented by domestic +feuds; so that the whole country was entirely destitute of provisions, +save such as could be procured in the chase. + +Sec. 20. Again, therefore, the wretched remnant, sending to AEtius, a +powerful Roman citizen, address him as follows:--"To AEtius,[237] now +consul for the third time: the groans of the Britons." And again a +little further, thus:--"The barbarians drive us to the sea: the sea +throws us back on the barbarians: thus two modes of death await us, we +are either slain or drowned." The Romans, however, could not assist +them, and in the meantime the discomfited people, wandering in the +woods, began to feel the effects of a severe famine, which compelled +many of them without delay to yield themselves up to their cruel +persecutors, to obtain subsistence: others of them, however, lying hid +in mountains, caves, and woods, continually sallied out from thence to +renew the war. And then it was, for the first time, that they overthrew +their enemies, who had for so many years been living in their country; +for their trust was not in man, but in God; according to the maxim of +Philo, "We must have divine assistance, when that of man fails." The +boldness of the enemy was for a while checked, but not the wickedness of +our countrymen: the enemy left our people, but the people did not leave +their sins. + +Sec. 21. For it has always been a custom with our nation, as it is at +present, to be impotent in repelling foreign foes, but bold and +invincible in raising civil war, and bearing the burdens of their +offences: they are impotent, I say, in following the standard of peace +and truth, but bold in wickedness and falsehood. The audacious invaders +therefore return to their winter quarters, determined before long again +to return and plunder. And then, too, the Picts for the first time +seated themselves at the extremity of the island, where they afterwards +continued, occasionally plundering and wasting the country. During these +truces, the wounds of the distressed people are healed, but another +sore, still more venomous, broke out. No sooner were the ravages of the +enemy checked, than the island was deluged with a most extraordinary +plenty of all things, greater than was before known, and with it grew up +every kind of luxury and licentiousness. It grew with so firm a root, +that one might truly say of it, "Such fornication is heard of among you, +as never was known the like among the Gentiles." But besides this vice, +there arose also every other, to which human nature is liable, and in +particular that hatred of truth, together with her supporters, which +still at present destroys every thing good in the island; the love of +falsehood, together with its inventors, the reception of crime in the +place of virtue, the respect shown to wickedness rather than goodness, +the love of darkness instead of the sun, the admission of Satan as an +angel of light. Kings were anointed, not according to God's ordinance, +but such as showed themselves more cruel than the rest; and soon after, +they were put to death by those who had elected them, without any +inquiry into their merits, but because others still more cruel were +chosen to succeed them. If any one of these was of a milder nature than +the rest, or in any way more regardful of the truth, he was looked upon +as the ruiner of the country, every body cast a dart at him, and they +valued things alike whether pleasing or displeasing to God, unless it so +happened that what displeased him was pleasing to themselves. So that +the words of the prophet, addressed to the people of old, might well be +applied to our own countrymen: "Children without a law, have ye left God +and provoked to anger the holy one of Israel?[238] Why will ye still +inquire, adding iniquity? Every head is languid and every heart is sad; +from the sole of the foot to the crown, there is no health in him." And +thus they did all things contrary to their salvation, as if no remedy +could be applied to the world by the true Physician of all men. And not +only the laity did so, but our Lord's own flock and its shepherds, who +ought to have been an example to the people, slumbered away their time +in drunkenness, as if they had been dipped in wine; whilst the swellings +of pride, the jar of strife, the griping talons of envy, and the +confused estimate of right and wrong, got such entire possession of +them, that there seemed to be poured out (and the same still continueth) +contempt upon princes, and to be made by their vanities to wander astray +and not in the way. + +Sec. 22. Meanwhile, God being willing to purify his family who were +infected by so deep a stain of woe, and at the hearing only of their +calamities to amend them; a vague rumour suddenly as if on wings reaches +the ears of all, that their inveterate foes were rapidly approaching to +destroy the whole country, and to take possession of it, as of old, +from one end to the other. But yet they derived no advantage from this +intelligence; for, like frantic beasts, taking the bit of reason between +their teeth, they abandoned the safe and narrow road, and rushed forward +upon the broad downward path of vice, which leads to death. Whilst, +therefore, as Solomon says, the stubborn servant is not cured by words, +the fool is scourged and feels it not: a pestilential disease mortally +affected the foolish people, which, without the sword, cut off so large +a number of persons, that the living were not able to bury them. But +even this was no warning to them, that in them also might be fulfilled +the words of Isaiah the prophet, "And God hath called his people to +lamentation, to baldness, and to the girdle of sackcloth; behold they +begin to kill calves, and to slay rams, to eat, to drink, and to say, +'We will eat and drink, for to-morrow we shall die.'" For the time was +approaching, when all their iniquities, as formerly those of the +Amorrhaeans, should be fulfilled. For a council was called to settle what +was best and most expedient to be done, in order to repel such frequent +and fatal irruptions and plunderings of the above named nations. + +Sec. 23. Then all the councillors, together with that proud tyrant +Gurthrigern [Vortigern], the British king, were so blinded, that, as a +protection to their country, they sealed its doom by inviting in among +them (like wolves into the sheepfold), the fierce and impious Saxons, a +race hateful both to God and men, to repel the invasions of the northern +nations. Nothing was ever so pernicious to our country, nothing was ever +so unlucky. What palpable darkness must have enveloped their +minds--darkness desperate and cruel! Those very people whom, when +absent, they dreaded more than death itself, were invited to reside, as +one may say, under the selfsame roof. Foolish are the princes, as it is +said, of Thafneos, giving counsel to unwise Pharaoh. A multitude of +whelps came forth from the lair of this barbaric lioness, in three +cyuls, as they call them, that is, in three ships of war, with their +sails wafted by the wind and with omens and prophecies favourable, for +it was foretold by a certain soothsayer among them, that they should +occupy the country to which they were sailing three hundred years, and +half of that time, a hundred and fifty years, should plunder and +despoil the same. They first landed on the eastern side of the island, +by the invitation of the unlucky king, and there fixed their sharp +talons, apparently to fight in favour of the island, but alas! more +truly against it. Their mother-land, finding her first brood thus +successful, sends forth a larger company of her wolfish offspring, which +sailing over, join themselves to their bastard-born comrades. From that +time the germ of iniquity and the root of contention planted their +poison amongst us, as we deserved, and shot forth into leaves and +branches. The barbarians being thus introduced as soldiers into the +island, to encounter, as they falsely said, any dangers in defence of +their hospitable entertainers, obtain an allowance of provisions, which, +for some time being plentifully bestowed, stopped their doggish mouths. +Yet they complain that their monthly supplies are not furnished in +sufficient abundance, and they industriously aggravate each occasion of +quarrel, saying that unless more liberality is shown them, they will +break the treaty and plunder the whole island. In a short time, they +follow up their threats with deeds. + +Sec. 24. For the fire of vengeance, justly kindled by former crimes, spread +from sea to sea, fed by the hands of our foes in the east, and did not +cease, until, destroying the neighbouring towns and lands, it reached +the other side of the island, and dipped its red and savage tongue in +the western ocean. In these assaults, therefore, not unlike that of the +Assyrian upon Judea, was fulfilled in our case what the prophet +describes in words of lamentation: "They have burned with fire the +sanctuary; they have polluted on earth the tabernacle of thy name." And +again, "O God, the gentiles have come into thine inheritance; thy holy +temple have they defiled," &c. So that all the columns were levelled +with the ground by the frequent strokes of the battering-ram, all the +husbandmen routed, together with their bishops, priests, and people, +whilst the sword gleamed, and the flames crackled around them on every +side. Lamentable to behold, in the midst of the streets lay the tops of +lofty towers, tumbled to the ground, stones of high walls, holy altars, +fragments of human bodies, covered with livid clots of coagulated blood, +looking as if they had been squeezed together in a press;[239] and with +no chance of being buried, save in the ruins of the houses, or in the +ravening bellies of wild beasts and birds; with reverence be it spoken +for their blessed souls, if, indeed, there were many found who were +carried, at that time, into the high heaven by the holy angels. So +entirely had the vintage, once so fine, degenerated and become bitter, +that, in the words of the prophet, there was hardly a grape or ear of +corn to be seen where the husbandman had turned his back. + +Sec. 25. Some, therefore, of the miserable remnant, being taken in the +mountains, were murdered in great numbers; others, constrained by +famine, came and yielded themselves to be slaves for ever to their foes, +running the risk of being instantly slain, which truly was the greatest +favour that could be offered them: some others passed beyond the seas +with loud lamentations instead of the voice of exhortation. "Thou hast +given us as sheep to be slaughtered, and among the Gentiles hast thou +dispersed us." Others, committing the safeguard of their lives, which +were in continual jeopardy, to the mountains, precipices, thickly wooded +forests, and to the rocks of the seas (albeit with trembling hearts), +remained still in their country. But in the meanwhile, an opportunity +happening, when these most cruel robbers were returned home, the poor +remnants of our nation (to whom flocked from divers places round about +our miserable countrymen as fast as bees to their hives, for fear of an +ensuing storm), being strengthened by God, calling upon him with all +their hearts, as the poet says,-- + + "With their unnumbered vows they burden heaven," + +that they might not be brought to utter destruction, took arms under the +conduct of Ambrosius Aurelianus, a modest man, who of all the Roman +nation was then alone in the confusion of this troubled period by chance +left alive. His parents, who for their merit were adorned with the +purple, had been slain in these same broils, and now his progeny in +these our days, although shamefully degenerated from the worthiness of +their ancestors, provoke to battle their cruel conquerors, and by the +goodness of our Lord obtain the victory. + +Sec. 26. After this, sometimes our countrymen, sometimes the enemy, won the +field, to the end that our Lord might in this land try after his +accustomed manner these his Israelites, whether they loved him or not, +until the year of the siege of Bath-hill, when took place also the last +almost, though not the least slaughter of our cruel foes, which was (as +I am sure) forty-four years and one month after the landing of the +Saxons, and also the time of my own nativity. And yet neither to this +day are the cities of our country inhabited as before, but being +forsaken and overthrown, still lie desolate; our foreign wars having +ceased, but our civil troubles still remaining. For as well the +remembrance of such a terrible desolation of the island, as also of the +unexpected recovery of the same, remained in the minds of those who were +eye-witnesses of the wonderful events of both, and in regard thereof, +kings, public magistrates, and private persons, with priests and +clergymen, did all and every one of them live orderly according to their +several vocations. But when these had departed out of this world, and a +new race succeeded, who were ignorant of this troublesome time, and had +only experience of the present prosperity, all the laws of truth and +justice were so shaken and subverted, that not so much as a vestige or +remembrance of these virtues remained among the above-named orders of +men, except among a very few who, compared with the great multitude +which were daily rushing headlong down to hell, are accounted so small a +number, that our reverend mother, the church, scarcely beholds them, her +only true children, reposing in her bosom; whose worthy lives, being a +pattern to all men, and beloved of God, inasmuch as by their holy +prayers, as by certain pillars and most profitable supporters, our +infirmity is sustained up, that it may not utterly be broken down, I +would have no one suppose I intended to reprove, if forced by the +increasing multitude of offences, I have freely, aye, with anguish, not +so much declared as bewailed the wickedness of those who are become +servants, not only to their bellies, but also to the devil rather than +to Christ, who is our blessed God, world without end. + +For why shall their countrymen conceal what foreign nations round about +now not only know, but also continually are casting in their teeth? + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 231: The description of Britain is given in very nearly the +same terms, by Orosius, Bede, and others, but the numbers, denoting the +length and breadth and other dimensions, are different in almost every +MS. copy.] + +[Footnote 232: "Soporem" in some MSS., "saporem" in others; it is +difficult from the turgidity and superabundance of the style to +determine which is the best meaning.] + +[Footnote 233: Gildas here confuses the modern idea of a tyrant with +that of an usurper. The latter is the sense in which Britain was said to +be fertile in tyrants, viz. in usurpers of the imperial dignity.] + +[Footnote 234: The Britons who fought under Boadicea were anything but +"crafty foxes." "Bold lions" is a much more appropriate appellation; +they would also have been victorious if they had had half the military +advantages of the Romans.] + +[Footnote 235: Or Caerleon. See Bede's Eccles. Hist. p. 15, note] + +[Footnote 236: The meaning of this expression is not known. O'Connor +thinks it is the Irish Sea.] + +[Footnote 237: Or _Ayitius_, according to another reading.] + +[Footnote 238: Isa. i. 4, 5. In most of these quotations there is great +verbal variation from the authorised version: the author probably quoted +from memory, if not from the Latin version.] + +[Footnote 239: These are the words of the old translation; the original +is obscure, and perhaps corrupt.] + + + + +III. THE EPISTLE. + + +Sec. 27. Britain has kings, but they are tyrants; she has judges, but +unrighteous ones; generally engaged in plunder and rapine, but always +preying on the innocent; whenever they exert themselves to avenge or +protect, it is sure to be in favour of robbers and criminals; they have +an abundance of wives, yet are they addicted to fornication and +adultery; they are ever ready to take oaths, and as often perjure +themselves; they make a vow and almost immediately act falsely; they +make war, but their wars are against their countrymen, and are unjust +ones; they rigorously prosecute thieves throughout their country, but +those who sit at table with them are robbers, and they not only cherish +but reward them; they give alms plentifully, but in contrast to this is +a whole pile of crimes which they have committed; they sit on the seat +of justice, but rarely seek for the rule of right judgment; they despise +the innocent and the humble, but seize every occasion of exalting to the +utmost the bloody-minded; the proud, murderers, the combined and +adulterers, enemies of God, who ought to be utterly destroyed and their +names forgotten. + +They have many prisoners in their gaols, loaded with chains, but this is +done in treachery rather than in just punishment for crimes; and when +they have stood before the altar, swearing by the name of God, they go +away and think no more of the holy altar than if it were a mere heap of +dirty stones. + +Sec. 28. Of this horrid abomination, Constantine,[240] the tyrannical whelp +of the unclean lioness of Damnonia,[241] is not ignorant. + +This same year, after taking a dreadful oath (whereby he bound himself +first before God, by a solemn protestation, and then called all the +saints, and Mother of God, to witness, that he would not contrive any +deceit against his countrymen), he nevertheless, in the habit of a holy +abbat amid the sacred altars, did with sword and javelin, as if with +teeth, wound and tear, even in the bosoms of their temporal mother, and +of the church their spiritual mother, two royal youths, with their two +attendants, whose arms, although not cased in armour, were yet boldly +used, and, stretched out towards God and his altar, will hang up at the +gates of thy city, O Christ, the venerable ensigns of their faith and +patience; and when he had done it, the cloaks, red with coagulated +blood, did touch the place of the heavenly sacrifice. And not one worthy +act could he boast of previous to this cruel deed; for many years before +he had stained himself with the abomination of many adulteries, having +put away his wife contrary to the command of Christ, the teacher of the +world, who hath said: "What God hath joined together, let not man +separate," and again: "Husbands, love your wives." For he had planted in +the ground of his heart (an unfruitful soil for any good seed) a bitter +scion of incredulity and folly, taken from the vine of Sodom, which +being watered with his vulgar and domestic impieties, like poisonous +showers, and afterwards audaciously springing up to the offence of God, +brought forth into the world the sin of horrible murder and sacrilege; +and not yet discharged from the entangling nets of his former offences, +he added new wickedness to the former. + +Sec. 29. Go to now, I reprove thee as present, whom I know as yet to be in +this life extant. Why standest thou astonished, O thou butcher of thine +own soul? Why dost thou wilfully kindle against thyself the eternal +fires of hell? Why dost thou, in place of enemies, desperately stab +thyself with thine own sword, with thine own javelin? Cannot those same +poisonous cups of offences yet satisfy thy stomach? Look back (I beseech +thee) and come to Christ (for thou labourest, and art pressed down to +the earth with this huge burden), and he himself, as he said, will give +thee rest. Come to him who wisheth not the death of a sinner, but that +he should be rather converted and live. Unloose (according to the +prophet) the bands of thy neck O thou son of Sion. Return (I pray +thee), although from the far remote regions of sins, unto the most holy +Father, who, for his son that will despise the filthy food of swine, and +fear a death of cruel famine, and so come back to him again, hath with +great joy been accustomed to kill his fatted calf, and bring forth for +the wanderer, the first robe and royal ring, and then taking as it were +a taste of the heavenly hope, thou shalt perceive how sweet our Lord is. +For if thou dost contemn these, be thou assured, thou shalt almost +instantly be tossed and tormented in the inevitable and dark floods of +endless fire. + +Sec. 30. What dost thou also, thou lion's whelp (as the prophet saith), +Aurelius Conanus?[242] Art not thou as the former (if not far more foul) +to thy utter destruction, swallowed up in the filthiness of horrible +murders, fornications, and adulteries, as by an overwhelming flood of +the sea? Hast not thou by hating, as a deadly serpent, the peace of thy +country, and thirsting unjustly after civil wars and frequent spoil, +shut the gates of heavenly peace and repose against thine own soul? +Being now left alone as a withering tree in the midst of a field, +remember (I beseech thee) the vain and idle fancies of thy parents and +brethren, together with the untimely death that befell them in the prime +of their youth; and shalt thou, for thy religious deserts, be reserved +out of all thy family to live a hundred years, or to attain to the age +of a Methusalem? No, surely, but unless (as the psalmist saith) thou +shalt be speedily converted unto our Lord, that King will shortly +brandish his sword against thee, who hath said by his prophet, "I will +kill, and I will cause to live; I will strike, and I will heal; and +there is no one who can deliver out of my hand." Be thou therefore +shaken out of thy filthy dust, and with all thy heart converted to Him +who hath created thee, that "when his wrath shall shortly burn out, thou +mayst be blessed by fixing thy hopes on him." But if otherwise, eternal +pains will be heaped up for thee, where thou shalt be ever tormented and +never consumed in the cruel jaws of hell. + +Sec. 31. Thou also, who like to the spotted leopard, art diverse in manners +and in mischief, whose head now is growing grey, who art seated on a +throne full of deceits, and from the bottom even to the top art stained +with murder and adulteries, thou naughty son of a good king, like +Manasses sprung from Ezechiah, Vortipore, thou foolish tyrant of the +Demetians,[243] why art thou so stiff? What! do not such violent gulfs +of sin (which thou dost swallow up like pleasant wine, nay rather which +swallow thee up), as yet satisfy thee, especially since the end of thy +life is daily now approaching? Why dost thou heavily clog thy miserable +soul with the sin of lust, which is fouler than any other, by putting +away thy wife, and after her honourable death, by the base practices of +thy shameless daughter? Waste not (I beseech thee) the residue of thy +life in offending God, because as yet an acceptable time and day of +salvation shines on the faces of the penitent, wherein thou mayest take +care that thy flight may not be in the winter, or on the sabbath day. +"Turn away (according to the psalmist) from evil, and do good, seek +peace and ensue it," because the eyes of our Lord will be cast upon +thee, when thou doest righteousness, and his ears will be then open unto +thy prayers, and he will not destroy thy memory out of the land of the +living; thou shalt cry, and he will hear thee, and out of thy +tribulations deliver thee; for Christ doth never despise a heart that is +contrite and humbled with fear of him. Otherwise, the worm of thy +torture shall not die, and the fire of thy burning shall never be +extinguished. + +Sec. 32. And thou too, Cuneglasse,[244] why art thou fallen into the filth +of thy former naughtiness, yea, since the very first spring of thy +tender youth, thou bear, thou rider and ruler of many, and guider of the +chariot which is the receptacle of the bear, thou contemner of God, and +vilifier of his order, thou tawny butcher, as in the Latin tongue thy +name signifies. Why dost thou raise so great a war as well against men +as also against God himself, against men, yea, thy own countrymen, with +thy deadly weapons, and against God with thine infinite offences? Why, +besides thine other innumerable backslidings, having thrown out of doors +thy wife, dost thou, in the lust, or rather stupidity of thy mind, +against the apostle's express prohibition, denouncing that no +adulterers can be partakers of the kingdom of heaven, esteem her +detestable sister, who had vowed unto God the everlasting continency, as +the very flower (in the language of the poet) of the celestial nymphs? +Why dost thou provoke with thy frequent injuries the lamentations and +sighs of saints, by thy means corporally afflicted, which will in time +to come, like a fierce lioness, break thy bones in pieces? Desist, I +beseech thee (as the prophet saith) from wrath, and leave off thy deadly +fury, which thou breathest out against heaven and earth, against God and +his flock, and which in time will be thy own torment; rather with +altered mind obtain the prayers of those who possess a power of binding +over this world, when in this world they bind the guilty, and of loosing +when they loose the penitent. Be not (as the apostle saith) proudly +wise, nor hope thou in the uncertainty of riches, but in God who giveth +thee many things abundantly, and by the amendment of thy manners +purchase unto thyself a good foundation for hereafter, and seek to enter +into that real and true state of existence which will be not transitory +but everlasting. Otherwise, thou shalt know and see, yea, in this very +world, how bad and bitter a thing it is for thee to leave the Lord thy +God, and not have his fear before thine eyes, and in the next, how thou +shalt be burned in the foul encompassing flames of endless fire, nor yet +by any manner of means shalt ever die. For the souls of the sinful are +as eternal in perpetual fire, as the souls of the just in perpetual joy +and gladness. + +Sec. 33. And likewise, O thou dragon of the island, who hast deprived many +tyrants, as well of their kingdoms as of their lives, and though the +last-mentioned in my writing, the first in mischief, exceeding many in +power, and also in malice, more liberal than others in giving, more +licentious in sinning, strong in arms, but stronger in working thine own +soul's destruction, Maglocune,[245] why art thou (as if soaked in the +wine of the Sodomitical grape) foolishly rolling in that black pool of +thine offences? Why dost thou wilfully heap like a mountain, upon thy +kingly shoulders, such a load of sins? Why dost thou show thyself unto +the King of kings (who hath made thee as well in kingdom as in stature +of body higher than almost all the other chiefs of Britain) not better +likewise in virtues than the rest; but on the contrary for thy sins much +worse? Listen then awhile and hear patiently the following enumeration +of thy deeds, wherein I will not touch any domestic and light offences +(if yet any of them are light) but only those open ones which are spread +far and wide in the knowledge of all men. Didst not thou, in the very +beginning of thy youth, terribly oppress with sword, spear, and fire, +the king thine uncle, together with his courageous bands of soldiers, +whose countenances in battle were not unlike those of young lions? Not +regarding the words of the prophet, who says, "The blood-thirsty and +deceitful men shall not live out half their days;" and even if the +sequel of thy sins were not such as ensued, yet what retribution couldst +thou expect for this offence only at the hands of the just Judge, who +hath said by his prophet: "Woe be to thee who spoilest, and shalt not +thou thyself be spoiled? and thou who killest, shalt not thyself be +killed? and when thou shalt make an end of thy spoiling, then shalt thou +thyself fall." + +Sec. 34. But when the imagination of thy violent rule had succeeded +according to thy wishes, and thou wast urged by a desire to return into +the right way, night and day the consciousness of thy crimes afflicted +thee, whilst thou didst ruminate on the Lord's ritual and the ordinances +of the monks, and then publish to the world and vow thyself before God a +monk with no intention to be unfaithful, as thou didst say, having burst +through those toils in which such great beasts as thyself were used to +become entangled, whether it were love of rule, of gold, or silver, or, +what is stronger still, the fancies of thy own heart. And didst thou +not, as a dove which cleaves the yielding air with its pinions, and by +its rapid turns escapes the furious hawk, safely return to the cells +where the saints repose, as a most certain place of refuge? Oh how great +a joy should it have been to our mother church, if the enemy of all +mankind had not lamentably pulled thee, as it were, out of her bosom! Oh +what an abundant flame of heavenly hope would have been kindled in the +hearts of desperate sinners, hadst thou remained in thy blessed estate! +Oh what great rewards in the kingdom of Christ would have been laid up +for thy soul against the day of judgment, if that crafty wolf had not +caught thee, who of a wolf wast now become a lamb (not much against +thine own will) out of the fold of our Lord, and made thee of a lamb, a +wolf like unto himself, again? Oh how great a joy would the preservation +of thy salvation have been to God the Father of all saints, had not the +devil, the father of all castaways, as an eagle of monstrous wings and +claws, carried thee captive away against all right and reason, to the +unhappy band of his children? And to be short, thy conversion to +righteousness gave as great joy to heaven and earth, as now thy +detestable return, like a dog to his vomit, breedeth grief and +lamentation: which being done, "the members which should have been +busily employed, as the armour of justice for the Lord, are now become +the armour of iniquity for sin and the devil;" for now thou dost not +listen to the praises of God sweetly sounded forth by the pleasant +voices of Christ's soldiers, nor the instruments of ecclesiastical +melody, but thy own praises (which are nothing) rung out after the +fashion of the giddy rout of Bacchus by the mouths of thy villainous +followers, accompanied with lies and malice, to the utter destruction of +the neighbours; so that the vessel prepared for the service of God, is +now turned to a vessel of dirt, and what was once reputed worthy of +heavenly honour, is now cast as it deserves into the bottomless pit of +hell. + +Sec. 35. Yet neither is thy sensual mind (which is overcome by the excess +of thy follies) at all checked in its course with committing so many +sins, but hot and prone (like a young colt that coveteth every pleasant +pasture) runneth headlong forward, with irrecoverable fury, through the +intended fields of crime, continually increasing the number of its +transgressions. For the former marriage of thy first wife (although +after thy violated vow of religion she was not lawfully thine, but only +by right of the time she was with thee), was now despised by thee, and +another woman, the wife of a man then living, and he no stranger, but +thy own brother's son, enjoyed thy affections. Upon which occasion that +stiff neck of thine (already laden with sins) is now burdened with two +monstrous murders, the one of thy aforesaid nephew, the other, of her +who once was thy wedded wife: and thou art now from low to lower, and +from bad to worse, bowed, bent, and sunk down into the lowest depth of +sacrilege. Afterwards, also didst thou publicly marry the widow by +whose deceit and suggestion such a heavy weight of offences was +undergone, and take her, lawfully, as the flattering tongues of thy +parasites with false words pronounced it, but as we say, most wickedly, +to be thine own in wedlock. And therefore what holy man is there, who, +moved with the narration of such a history, would not presently break +out into weeping and lamentations? What priest (whose heart lieth open +unto God) would not instantly, upon hearing this, exclaim with anguish +in the language of the prophet: "Who shall give water to my head, and to +my eyes a fountain of tears, and I will day and night bewail those of my +people, who are slaughtered." For full little (alas!) hast thou with +thine ears listened to that reprehension of the prophet speaking in this +wise: "Woe be unto you, O wicked men, who have left the law of the most +holy God, and if ye shall be born, your portion shall be to malediction, +and if ye die, to malediction shall be your portion, all things that are +from the earth, to the earth shall be converted again, so shall the +wicked from malediction pass to perdition:" if they return not unto our +Lord, listening to this admonition: "Son, thou hast offended; add no +further offence thereunto, but rather pray for the forgiveness of the +former." And again, "Be not slow to be converted unto our Lord, neither +put off the same from day to day, for his wrath doth come suddenly." +Because, as the Scripture saith, "When the king heareth the unjust word, +all under his dominion become wicked." And, the just king (according to +the prophet) raiseth up his region. But warnings truly are not wanting +to thee, since thou hast had for thy instructor the most eloquent master +of almost all Britain. Take heed, thereof, lest that which Solomon +noteth, befall thee, which is, "Even as he who stirreth up a sleeping +man out of his heavy sleep, so is that person who declareth wisdom unto +a fool, for in the end of his speech will he say, What hast thou first +spoken? Wash thine heart (as it is written) from malice, O Jerusalem, +that thou mayest be saved." Despise not (I beseech thee) the unspeakable +mercy of God, calling by his prophet the wicked in this way from their +offences: "I will on a sudden speak to the nation, and to the kingdom, +that I may root out, and disperse, and destroy, and overthrow." As for +the sinner he doth in this wise exhort him vehemently to repent. "And +if the same people shall repent from their offence, I will also repent +of the evil which I have said that I would do unto them." And again, +"Who will give them such an heart, that they may hear me, and keep my +commandments, and that it may be well with them all the days of their +lives." And also in the Canticle of Deuteronomy, "A people without +counsel and prudence, I wish they would be wise, and understand, and +foresee the last of all, how one pursueth a thousand and two put to +flight ten thousand." And again, our Lord in the gospel, "Come unto me, +all ye who do labour and are burdened, and I will make you rest. Take my +yoke upon you, and learn of me, because I am meek and humble of heart, +and ye shall find repose for your souls." For if thou turn a deaf ear to +these admonitions, contemn the prophets, and despise Christ, and make no +account of us, humble though we be, so long as with sincere piety and +purity of mind we bear in mind that saying of the prophet, that we may +not be found, "Dumb dogs, not able to bark;" (however I for my part may +not be of that singular fortitude, in the spirit and virtue of our Lord, +as to declare, "To the house of Jacob their sins, and the house of +Israel their offences;") and so long as we shall remember that of +Solomon, "He who says that the wicked are just, shall be accursed among +the people, and odious to nations, for they who reprove them shall have +better hopes." And again, "Respect, not with reverence thy neighbour in +his ruin, nor forbear to speak in time of salvation." And as long also +as we forget not this, "Root out those who are led to death, and forbear +not to redeem them who are murdered;" because, as the same prophet says, +"Riches shall not profit in the day of wrath, but justice delivereth +from death." And, "If the just indeed be hardly saved, where shall the +wicked and sinner appear?" If, as I said, thou scorn us, who obey these +texts, the dark flood of hell shall without doubt eternally drown thee +in that deadly whirlpool, and those terrible streams of fire that shall +ever torment and never consume thee, and then shall the confession of +thy pains and sorrow for thy sins be altogether too late and +unprofitable to one, who now in this accepted time and day of salvation +deferreth his conversion to a more righteous way of life. + +Sec. 37. And here, indeed, if not before, was this lamentable history of +the miseries of our time to have been brought to a conclusion, that I +might no further discourse of the deeds of men; but that I may not be +thought timid or weary, whereby I might the less carefully avoid that +saying of Isaiah, "Woe be to them who call good evil, and evil good, +placing darkness for light, and light for darkness, bitter for sweet, +and sweet for bitter, who seeing see not, and hearing hear not, whose +hearts are overshadowed with a thick and black cloud of vices;" I will +briefly set down the threatenings which are denounced against these five +aforesaid lascivious horses, the frantic followers of Pharaoh, through +whom his army is wilfully urged forward to their utter destruction in +the Red Sea, and also against such others, by the sacred oracles, with +whose holy testimonies the frame of this our little work is, as it were, +roofed in, that it may not be subject to the showers of the envious, +which otherwise would be poured thereon. Let, therefore, God's holy +prophets, who are to mortal men the mouth of God, and the organ of the +Holy Ghost, forbidding evils, and favouring goodness, answer for us as +well now as formerly, against the stubborn and proud princes of this our +age, that they may not say we menace them with such threats, and such +great terrors of our own invention only, and with rash and over-zealous +meddling. For to no wise man is it doubtful how far more grievous the +sins of this our time are than those of the primitive age, when the +apostle said, "Any one transgressing the law, being convicted by two or +three witnesses, shall die, how much worse punishment think ye then that +he deserveth, who shall trample under his foot the Son of God?" + +Sec. 38. And first of all appears before us, Samuel, by God's commandment, +the establisher of a lawful kingdom, dedicated to God before his birth, +undoubtedly known by marvellous signs, to be a true prophet unto all the +people, from Dan even to Beersheba, out of whose mouth the Holy Ghost +thundereth to all the potentates of the world, denouncing Saul the first +king of the Hebrews, only because he did not accomplish some matters +commanded him of our Lord, in these words which follow: "Thou hast done +foolishly, neither yet hast thou kept the commandments of our Lord thy +God, that he hath given thee in charge; which if thou hadst not +committed, even now had our Lord prepared thy reign over Israel for +ever, but thy kingdom shall no farther arise." And what did he commit, +whether it were adultery or murder, like to the offences of the present +time? No, truly, but broke in part one of God's commandments, for, as +one of our writers says, "The question is not of the quality of the sin, +but of the violating of the precept." Also when he endeavoured to answer +(as he thought) the objections of Samuel, and after the fashion of men +wisely to make excuses for his offence in this manner: "Yea, I have +obeyed the voice of our Lord, and walked in the way through which he +hath sent me;" with this rebuke was he corrected by him: "What! will our +Lord have burnt offerings or oblations, and not rather that the voice of +our Lord should be obeyed? Obedience is better than oblations, and to +hearken unto him, better than to offer the fat of rams. For as it is the +sin of soothsaying to resist, so is it the offence of idolatry not to +obey; in regard, therefore, that thou hast cast away the word of our +Lord, he hath also cast thee away that thou be not king." And a little +after, "Our Lord hath this day rent the kingdom of Israel from thee, and +delivered it up to thy neighbour, a man better than thyself. The +Triumpher of Israel truly will not spare, and will not be bowed with +repentance, neither yet is he a man that he should repent;" that is to +say, upon the stony hearts of the wicked: wherein it is to be noted how +he saith, that to be disobedient unto God is the sin of idolatry. Let +not, therefore, our wicked transgressors (while they do not openly +sacrifice to the gods of the Gentiles) flatter themselves that they are +not idolaters, whilst they tread like swine the most precious pearls of +Christ under their feet. + +Sec. 39. But although this one example as an invincible affirmation might +abundantly suffice to correct the wicked; yet, that by the mouths of +many witnesses all the offences of Britain may be proved, let us pass to +the rest. What happened to David for numbering his people, when the +prophet Gad spake unto him in this sort? Thus saith our Lord: "The +choice of three things is offered thee, choose which thou wilt, that I +may execute it upon thee. Shall there befall thee a famine for seven +years, or shalt thou flee three months before thine enemies, and they +pursue thee, or shall there be three days' pestilence in thy land?" For +being brought into great straits by this condition, and willing rather +to fall into the hands of God who is merciful, than into those of men, +he was humbled with the slaughter of seventy thousand of his subjects, +and unless with the affection of an apostolic charity, he had desired to +die himself for his countrymen, that the plague might not further +consume them, saying, "I am he that has offended, I the shepherd have +dealt unjustly: but these sheep, what have they sinned? Let thy hand, I +beseech thee, be turned against me, and against the house of my father;" +he would have atoned for the unadvised pride of his heart with his own +death. For what does the scripture afterwards declare of his son? "And +Solomon wrought that which was not pleasing before our Lord, and he did +not fill up the measure of his good deeds by following the Lord like his +father David. And our Lord said unto him, Because thou hast thus behaved +thyself, and not observed my covenant and precepts, which I have +commanded thee, breaking it asunder; I will divide thy kingdom, and give +the same unto thy servant." + +Sec. 40. Hear now likewise what fell upon the two sacrilegious kings of +Israel (even such as ours are), Jeroboam and Baasha, unto whom the +sentence and doom of our Lord is by the prophet in this way directed: +"For what cause have I exalted thee a prince over Israel, in regard that +they have provoked me by their vanities. Behold I will stir up after +Baasha and after his house, and I will give over his house as the house +of Jeroboam the son of Nebat. Whoso of his blood shall die in the city, +the dogs shall eat him, and the dead carcass of him that dieth in the +field shall the fowls of the air eat." What doth he also threaten unto +that wicked king of Israel, a worthy companion of the former, by whose +collusion and his wife's deceit, innocent Naboth was for his father's +vineyard put to death, when the holy mouth of Elias, yea, the selfsame +mouth that was instructed with the fiery speech of our Lord, thus spake +unto him: "Hast thou killed and also taken possession, and after this +wilt thou yet add more? Thus saith our Lord, in this very place, wherein +the dogs have licked the blood of Naboth, they shall lick up thy blood +also." Which fell out afterwards in that very sort, as we have certain +proof. But lest perchance (as befell Ahab also) the lying spirit, which +pronounceth vain things in the mouths of your prophets may seduce you, +hearken to the words of the prophet Micaiah: "Behold God hath suffered +the spirit of lying to possess the mouths of all thy prophets that do +here remain, and our Lord hath pronounced evil against thee." For even +now it is certain that there are some teachers inspired with a contrary +spirit, preaching and affirming rather what is pleasing, however +depraved, than what is true: whose words are softer than oil, and the +same are darts, who say, peace, peace, and there shall be no peace to +them, who persevere in their sins, as says the prophet in another place +also, "It is not for the wicked to rejoice, saith our Lord." + +Sec. 41. Azarias, also, the son of Obed, spoke unto Asa, who returned from +the slaughter of the army of ten hundred thousand Ethiopians, saying, +"Our Lord is with you while you remain with him, and if you will seek +him out, he will be found by you, and if you will leave him, he will +leave you also." For if Jehosaphat for only assisting a wicked king, was +thus reproved by the prophet Jehu, the son of Ananias, saying, "If thou +givest aid to a sinner, or lovest them whom our Lord doth hate, the +wrath of God doth therefore hang over thee," what shall become of them +who are fettered in the snares of their own offences? whose sin we must +of necessity hate, if not their souls, if we wish to fight in the army +of the Lord, according to the words of the Psalmist, "Hate ye evil, who +love our Lord." What was said to Jehoram, the son of the above-named +Jehosaphat, that most horrible murderer (who being himself a bastard, +slew his noble brethren, that he might possess the throne in their +place), by the prophet Elias, who was the chariot and charioteer of +Israel? "Thus speaketh the Lord God of thy father David. Because thou +hast not walked in the way of thy father Jehosaphat, and in the ways of +Asa the king of Judah, but hast walked in the ways of the kings of +Israel, and in adultery according to the behaviour of the house of Ahab, +and hast moreover killed thy brethren, the sons of Jehosaphat, men far +better than thyself, behold, our Lord shall strike thee and thy children +with a mighty plague." And a little afterwards, "And thou shalt be very +sick of a disease of thy belly, until thy entrails shall, together with +the malady itself, from day to day, come forth out of thee." And listen +also what the prophet Zachariah, the son of Jehoiades, menaced to Joash, +the king of Israel, when he abandoned our Lord even as ye now do, and +the prophet spoke in this manner to the people: "Thus saith our Lord, +Why do ye transgress the commandments of our Lord and do not prosper? +Because ye have left our Lord, he will also leave you." + +Sec. 42. What shall I mention of Isaiah, the first and chief of the +prophets, who beginneth his prophecy, or rather vision, in this way: +"Hear, O ye heavens, and O thou earth conceive in thine ears, because +our Lord hath spoken, I have nourished children, and exalted them, but +they themselves have despised me. The ox hath known his owner, and the +ass his master's crib, but Israel hath not known me, and my people hath +not understood." And a little further with threatenings answerable to so +great a folly, he saith, "The daughter of Sion shall be utterly left as +a tabernacle in the vineyard, and as a hovel in the cucumber garden, and +a city that is sacked." And especially, convening and accusing the +princes, he saith, "Hear the word of our Lord, O ye princes of Sodom, +perceive ye the law of our Lord, O ye people of Gomorrah." Wherein it is +to be noted, that unjust kings are termed the princes of Sodom, for our +Lord, forbidding sacrifices and gifts to be offered to him by such +persons, and seeing that we greedily receive those offerings which in +all nations are displeasing unto God, and to our own destruction suffer +them not to be bestowed on the poor and needy, speak thus to them who, +laden with riches, are likewise given to offend on this head: "Offer no +more your sacrifice in vain, your incense is abomination unto me." And +again he denounceth them thus: "And when ye shall stretch out your +hands, I will turn away mine eyes from you, and when ye shall multiply +your prayers, I will not hear." And he declareth wherefore he does this, +saying, "Your hands are full of blood." And likewise showing how he may +be appeased, he says, "Be ye washed, be ye clean, take away the evil of +your thoughts from mine eyes: cease to do evil, learn to do well: seek +for judgment, succour the oppressed, do justice to the pupil or orphan." +And then assuming as it were the part of a reconciling mediator, he +adds, "Though your sins shall be as scarlet, they shall be made white +as snow: though they shall be as red as the little worm,[246] they shall +be as white as wool. If ye shall be willing to hear me, ye shall feed on +the good things of the land; but if ye will not, but provoke me unto +wrath, the sword shall devour you." + +Sec. 43. Receive ye the true and public avoucher, witnessing, without any +falsehood or flattery, the reward of your good and evil, not like the +soothing humble lips of your parasites, which whisper poisons into your +ears. And also directing his sentence against ravenous judges, he saith +thus: "Thy princes are unfaithful, companions of thieves, all love +gifts, hunt after rewards: they do no justice to the orphan, the widow's +cause entereth not unto them. For thus saith our Lord God of hosts, the +strong one of Israel, Alas, I will take consolation upon my foes, and be +revenged upon mine enemies; and the heinous sinners shall be broken to +powder, and offenders together with them, and all who have left our +Lord, shall be consumed." And afterwards, "The eyes of the lofty man +shall be brought low, and the height of men hath bowed down." And again, +"Woe be to the wicked, evil befall him, for he shall be rewarded +according to his handy-work." And a little after, "Woe be unto you who +arise early to follow drunkenness, and to drink even to the very +evening, that ye may fume with wine. The harp, and the lyre, and the +tabor, and the pipe, and wine are in your banquets, and the work of our +Lord ye respect not, neither yet consider ye the works of his hands. +Therefore is my people led captive away, because they have not had +knowledge, and their nobles have perished with famine, and their +multitude hath withered away with thirst. Therefore hath hell enlarged +and dilated his spirit, and without measure opened his mouth, and his +strong ones, and his people, and his lofty and glorious ones, shall +descend down unto him." And afterwards, "Woe be unto you who are mighty +for the drinking of wine, and strong men for the procuring of +drunkenness, who justify the wicked for rewards, and deprive the just +man of his justice. For this cause even as the tongue of the fire +devoureth the stubble, and as the heat of the flame burneth up, so shall +their root be as the ashes, and their branch shall rise up as the dust. +For they have cast away the law of our Lord of hosts, and despised the +speech of the holy one of Israel. In all these the fury of our Lord is +not turned away, but as yet his hand is stretched out." + +Sec. 44. And further on, speaking of the day of judgment and the +unspeakable fears of sinners, he says, "Howl ye, because the day of our +Lord is near at hand (if so near at that time, what shall it now be +thought to be?) for destruction shall proceed from God. For this shall +all hands be dissolved, and every man's heart shall wither away, and be +bruised; tortures and dolours shall hold them, as a woman in labour so +shall they be grieved, every man shall at his neighbour stand +astonished, burned faces shall be their countenances. Behold, the day of +our Lord shall come, fierce and full of indignation, and of wrath, and +fury, to turn the earth into a desert, and break her sinners in small +pieces from off her; because the stars of heaven and the brightness of +them, shall not unfold their light, the sun in his rising shall be +covered over with darkness, and the moon shall not shine in her season; +and I will visit upon the evils of the world, and against the wicked, +their own iniquity, and I will make the pride of the unfaithful to +cease, and the arrogancy of the strong, I will bring low." And again, +"Behold our Lord will disperse the earth, and he will strip her naked, +and afflict her face, and scatter her inhabitants; and as the people, so +shall be the priest; and as the slave, so shall be his lord; as the +handmaid, so shall be her lady; as the purchaser, so shall be the +seller; as the usurer, so shall be he that borroweth; as he who +demandeth, so shall he be that oweth. With dispersing shall the earth be +scattered, and with sacking shall she be spoiled. For our Lord hath +spoken this word. The earth hath bewailed, and hath flitted away; the +world hath run to nothing, she is weakened by her inhabitants, because +they have transgressed laws, changed right, brought to ruin the eternal +truce. For this shall malediction devour the earth." + +Sec. 45. And afterwards, "They shall lament all of them who now in heart +rejoice, the delight of the timbrels hath ceased, the sound of the +gladsome shall be silent, the sweetness of the harp shall be hushed, +they shall not with singing drink their wine, bitter shall be the potion +to the drinkers thereof. The city of vanity is wasted, every house is +shut up, no man entering in; an outcry shall be in the streets over the +wine, all gladness is forsaken, the joy of the land is transferred, +solitariness is left in the town, and calamity shall oppress the gates, +because these things shall be in the midst of the land, and in the midst +of the people." And a little further, "Swerving from the truth, they +have wandered out of the right way, with the straggling of transgressors +have they gone astray. Fear and intrapping falls, and a snare upon thee +who art the inhabitant of the earth. And it shall come to pass: whoso +shall flee from the voice of the fear, shall tumble down into the +intrapping pit; and whoso shall deliver himself out of the downfall, +shall be caught in the entangling snare: because the flood-gates from +aloft shall be opened, and the foundations of the earth shall be shaken. +With bruising shall the earth be broken, with commotion shall she be +moved, with tossing shall she be shaken like a drunken man, and she +shall be taken away as if she were a pavilion of one night's pitching, +and her iniquities shall hang heavy upon her, and she shall fall down, +and shall not attempt to rise again. And it shall be, that our Lord in +the same day shall look on the warfare of heaven on high, and on the +kings of the earth, who are upon the earth, and they shall be gathered +together in the bundle of one burden into the lake, and shall there be +shut up in prison, and after many days shall they be visited. And the +moon shall blush, and the sun be confounded, when our Lord of hosts +shall reign in Mount Sion and in Jerusalem, and be glorified in the +sight of his seniors." + +Sec. 46. And after a while, giving a reason why he threateneth in that +sort, he says thus: "Behold the hand of our Lord is not shortened that +he cannot save, neither is his ear made heavy that he may not hear. But +your iniquities have divided between you and your God, and your offences +have hid his face from you, that he might not hear. For your hands are +defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity: your lips have +spoken lying, and your tongue uttereth iniquity. There is none who +calleth on justice, neither is there he who judgeth truly, but they +trust in nothing, and speak vanities, and have conceived grief, and +brought forth iniquity." And a little after, "Their works are +unprofitable, and the work of iniquity is in their hands; their feet +run into evil, and make haste that they may shed the innocent blood; +their thoughts are unprofitable thoughts, spoil and confusion are in +their ways, and the way of peace they have not known, and in their steps +there is no judgment, their paths are made crooked unto them, every one +who treadeth in them is ignorant of peace; in this respect in judgment +removed far off from you, and justice taketh no hold on you." And after +a few words, "And judgment hath been turned back, and justice hath stood +afar off, because truth hath fallen down in the streets, and equity +could not enter in; and truth is turned into oblivion, and whoso hath +departed from evil, hath lain open to spoil. And our Lord hath seen, and +it was not pleasing in his eyes, because there is not judgment." + +Sec. 47. And thus far may it suffice among many, to have recited a few +sentences out of the prophet Isaiah. + +But now with diligent ears hearken unto him, who was foreknown before he +was formed in the belly, sanctified before he came out of the womb, and +appointed a prophet in all nations: I mean Jeremiah, and hear what he +hath pronounced of foolish people and cruel kings, beginning his +prophecy in his mild and gentle manner. + +"And the word of God was spoken unto me, saying, Go and cry in the ears +of Jerusalem, and thou shalt pronounce, Hear the word of our Lord, thou +house of Jacob, and all ye kindred of the house of Israel: Thus saith +our Lord; What iniquity have your fathers found in me, who have been far +removed from me, and walked after vanity, and are become vain, and have +not said, Where is he who made us go up out of the land of Egypt?" And +after a few words, "From the beginning of thine age thou hast broken my +yoke, violated my bands, and said, I will not serve, I have planted thee +my chosen vine, all true seed. How art thou therefore converted into +naughtiness? O strange vine! If thou shalt wash thee with nitre, and +multiply unto thee the herb borith, thou art spotted in my sight with +thine iniquity, saith our Lord." And afterwards, "Why will ye contend +with me in judgment? Ye have all forsaken me, saith our Lord, in vain +have I corrected your children, they have not received discipline. Hear +ye the word of our Lord. Am I made a solitariness unto Israel, or a +late bearing land! why therefore hath my people said, we have departed, +we will come no more unto thee? Doth the virgin forget her ornament, or +the spouse her gorget? my people truly hath forgotten me for innumerable +days. Because my people are foolish, they have not known me, they are +unwise and mad children. They are wise to do evil, but to do well they +have been ignorant." + +Sec. 48. Then the prophet speaketh in his own person saying, "O Lord thine +eyes do respect faith, thou hast stricken them, and they have not +sorrowed, thou hast broken them and they have refused to receive +discipline, they have made their faces harder than the rock, and will +not return." And also our Lord: "Declare ye this same to the house of +Jacob, and make it to be heard in Judah, saying, Hear, ye foolish people +who have no heart, who having eyes see not, and ears hear not. Will ye +not therefore dread me, saith our Lord, and will ye not conceive grief +from my countenance, who have placed the sand as the bound of the sea, +an eternal commandment which she shall not break, and her waves shall be +moved, and they cannot, and her surge shall swell, and yet not pass the +same? But to this people is framed an incredulous and an exasperating +heart, they have retired and gone their ways, and not in their heart +said, Let us fear our Lord God." And again, "Because there are found +among my people wicked ones, framing wiles to entangle as if they were +fowlers, setting snares and gins to catch men: as a net that is full of +birds, so are their houses filled with deceits. Therefore are they +magnified and enriched, they are become gross and fat, and have +neglected my speeches most vilely, the orphans' cause they have not +decided, and the justice of the poor they have not adjudged. What! shall +I not visit these men, saith our Lord? or shall not my soul be revenged +upon such a nation?" + +Sec. 49. But God forbid that ever should happen unto you, that which +followeth, "Thou shalt speak all these words unto them, and they shall +not hear thee; and thou shalt call them, and they shall not answer thee; +and thou shalt say unto them, This is the nation that hath not heard the +voice of their Lord God, nor yet received discipline, faith hath +perished, and been taken away from out of their mouth." And after some +few speeches, "Whoso falleth doth he not arise again, and whoso is +turned away, shall he not return again? why therefore is this people in +Jerusalem, with a contentious aversion alienated? they have apprehended +lying, and they will not come back again. I have been attentive, and +hearkened diligently, no man speaketh what is good. There is none who +repenteth of his sin, saying, What have I done? All are turned unto +their own course, like a horse passing with violence to battle. The kite +in the sky hath known her time, the turtle, and swallow, and stork have +kept the season of their coming, but my people hath not known the +judgment of God." And the prophet, being smitten with fear at so +wonderful a blindness, and unspeakable drunkenness of the sacrilegious, +and lamenting them who did not lament themselves (even according to the +present behaviour of these our unfortunate tyrants), beseecheth of our +Lord, that an augmentation of tears might be granted him, speaking in +this manner, "I am contrite upon the contrition of the daughter of my +people, astonishment hath possessed me: is there no balm in Gilead, or +is there no physician there? Why therefore is not the wound of the +daughter of my people healed? Who shall give water unto my head, and to +mine eyes a fountain of tears, and I will day and night bewail the +slaughtered of my people? who will grant me in the wilderness the inn of +passengers? and I will utterly leave my people, and depart from them; +because they are all of them adulterers, a root of offenders, and they +have bent their tongue as the bow of lying, and not of truth, they are +comforted in the earth, because they have passed from evil to evil, and +not known me, saith our Lord." And again: "And our Lord hath said, +Because they have forsaken my law, which I have given them, and not +heard my voice, nor walked thereafter, and have wandered away after the +wickedness of their own heart, in that respect our Lord of hosts, the +God of Israel, saith these words, Behold I will feed this people with +wormwood, and give them to drink the water of gall." And a little after +(speaking in the person of God), "See therefore thou do not pray for +this people, nor assume thou for them praise and prayer, because I will +not hear in the time of their outcry unto me, and of their affliction." + +Sec. 50. What then shall now our miserable governors do, these few who +found out the narrow way and left the large, were by God forbidden to +pour out their prayers for such as persevered in their evils, and so +highly provoked his wrath, against whom on the contrary side when they +returned with all their hearts unto God (his divine Majesty being +unwilling that the soul of man should perish, but calling back the +castaway that he should not utterly be destroyed) the same prophets +could not procure the heavenly revenge, because Jonas, when he desired +the like most earnestly against the Ninevites, could not obtain it. But +in the meanwhile omitting our own words, let us rather hear what the +prophetic trumpet soundeth in our ears speaking thus: "If thou shalt say +in thy heart, Why have these evils befallen? For the multitude of thine +iniquities. If the Ethiopian can change his skin, or the leopard his +sundry spots, ye may also do well when ye have learned evil," ever +supposing that ye will not. And afterwards: "These words doth our Lord +say to this people, who have loved to move their feet, and have not +rested, and not pleased our Lord, Now shall he remember their +iniquities, and visit their offences; and our Lord said unto me, Pray +thou not for this people to work their good, when they fast, I will not +hear their prayers; and if they offer burnt sacrifices and oblations, I +will not receive them." And again, "And our Lord said unto me, If Moses +and Samuel shall stand before me, my soul is not bent to this people, +cast them out away from my face, and let them depart." And after a few +words: "Who shall have pity on thee Jerusalem, or who shall be sorrowful +for thee, or who shall pray for thy peace? Thou hast left me (saith our +Lord) and gone away backward, and I will stretch forth my hand over +thee, and kill thee." And somewhat after: "Thus saith our Lord, Behold I +imagine a thought against you, let every man return from his evil +course, and make straight your ways and endeavours, who said, we +despair, we will go after our own thoughts, and every one of us will do +the naughtiness of his evil heart. Thus therefore saith our Lord, Ask +the Gentiles, who hath heard such horrible matters, which the virgin +Israel hath too often committed? Shall there fail from the rock of the +field, the snow of Libanus? or can the waters be drawn dry that gush out +cold and flowing? because my people hath forgotten me." And somewhat +also after this propounding unto them an election, he speaking saith, +"Thus saith our Lord, Do ye judgment and justice, and deliver him who by +power is oppressed out of the hand of the malicious accuser; and for the +stranger, and orphan, and widow, do not provoke their sorrow, neither +yet work ye unjustly the grief of others, nor shed ye forth the innocent +blood. For if indeed ye shall accomplish this word, there shall enter in +through the gates of this house, kings of the lineage of David, sitting +upon his throne. But if ye will not hearken unto these words, by myself +I have sworn (saith our Lord) that this house shall be turned into a +desert." And again (for he spoke of a wicked king), "As I live (saith +our Lord) if so be that Jechonias shall be a ring on my right hand, I +will pluck him away, and give him over into the hands of them who seek +his life." + +Sec. 51. Moreover, holy Abraham crieth out, saying, "Woe be unto them who +build a city in blood, and prepare a town in iniquities, saying, Are not +these things from our almighty Lord? and many people have failed in +fire, and many nations have been diminished." And thus complaining, he +begins his prophecy: "How long, O Lord, shall I call, and thou wilt not +hear? Shall I cry out unto thee, to what end hast thou given me labours +and griefs, to behold misery and impiety?" And on the other side, "And +judgment was sat upon, and the judge hath taken in regard hereof, the +law is rent in pieces, and judgment is not brought fully to his +conclusion, because the wicked through power treadeth the just under +foot. In this respect hath passed forth perverse judgment." + +Sec. 52. And mark ye also what blessed Hosea the prophet says of princes: +"For that they have transgressed my covenant, and ordained against my +law, and exclaimed, we have known thee, because thou art against Israel. +They have persecuted good, as if it were evil. They have reigned for +themselves and not by me; they have held a principality, neither yet +have they acknowledged me." + +Sec. 53. And hear ye likewise the holy prophet Amos, in this sort +threatening: "In three heinous offences of the sons of Judah, and in +four I will not convert them, for that they have cast away the law of +our Lord, and not kept his commandments, but their vanities have +seduced them. And I will send fire upon Judah, and it shall eat the +foundations of Jerusalem. Thus saith our Lord; In three grievous sins of +Israel, and in four I will not convert them, for that they have sold the +just for money, and the poor man for shoes, which they tread upon the +dust of the earth, and with buffets they did beat the heads of the poor, +and have eschewed the way of the humble." And after a few words, "Seek +our Lord and ye shall live, that the house of Joseph may not shine as +fire, and the flame devour it, and he shall not be, that can extinguish +it. The house of Israel hath hated him who rebuketh in the gates, and +abhorred the upright word." Which Amos, being forbidden to prophesy in +Israel, without any fawning flattery, saith in answer, "I was not a +prophet, nor yet the son of a prophet, but a goatherd; I was plucking +sycamores and our Lord took me from my herd, and our Lord said unto me, +Go thy way and prophesy against my people of Israel: and now hear thou +the word of our Lord (for he directed his speech unto the king), thou +sayest, do not prophesy against Israel, and thou shalt not assemble +troops against the house of Jacob. For which cause our Lord saith thus, +thy wife in the city shall play the harlot, and thy sons and daughters +shall die by the sword, and thy ground be measured by the cord, and thou +in a polluted land shalt end thy life, but for Israel, she shall be led +from his own country a captive." And afterwards, "Hear therefore these +words, ye who do outrageously afflict the poor, and practise your mighty +power against the needy of the earth, who say, when shall the month pass +over that we may purchase, and the sabbaths that we may open the +treasuries." And within a few words after, "Our Lord doth swear against +the pride of Jacob, if he shall in contempt forget your actions, and if +in these the earth shall not be disturbed, and every inhabitant thereof +fall to lamentation, and the final end as a flood ascend, and I will +turn your festival days into wailing, and cast haircloth on the loins of +every one, and on the head of every man baldness, and make him as the +mourning of one over beloved, and those who are with him as the day of +his sorrow." And again, "In the sword shall die all the sinners of my +people, who say, evils shall not approach, nor yet shall light upon +us." + +Sec. 54. And listen ye, likewise, what holy Michah the prophet hath spoken, +saying, "Hearken, ye tribes. And what shall adorn the city? Shall not +fire? and the house of the wicked hoarding up unjust treasures, and with +injury unrighteousness? If the wrongful dealer shall be justified in the +balance, and deceitful weights in the scales, by which they have heaped +up their riches in ungodliness." + +Sec. 55. And hear also what threats the famous prophet Zephaniah thundereth +out: saith he, "The great day of our Lord is near; it is at hand, and +very swiftly approacheth. The voice of the day of our Lord is appointed +to be bitter and mighty, that day, a day of wrath, a day of tribulation +and necessity, a day of clouds and mist, a day of the trumpet and +outcry, a day of misery and extermination, a day of darkness and dimness +upon the strong cities and high corners. And I will bring men to +tribulation, and they shall go as if they were blind, because they have +offended our Lord, and I will pour out their blood as dust, and their +flesh as the dung of oxen, and their silver and gold shall not be able +to deliver them in the day of the wrath of our Lord. And in the fire of +his zeal shall the whole earth be consumed, when the Lord shall +accomplish his absolute end, and bring solitariness upon all the +inhabitants of the earth. Come together and be joined in one, thou +nation without discipline, before ye be made as the fading flower, +before the wrath of our Lord falleth upon ye." + +Sec. 56. And give ear also unto that which the prophet Haggai speaketh: +"Thus saith our Lord, I will once move the heaven, and earth, and sea, +and dry land, and I will drive away the thrones of kings, and root out +the power of the kings of the Gentiles, and I will chase away the +chariots of those who mount upon them." + +Sec. 57. Now also behold what Zacharias the son of Addo, that chosen +prophet, said, beginning his prophecy in this manner: "Return to me, and +I will return unto you, saith our Lord, and be not like your fathers, to +whom the former prophets have imputed, saying, Thus saith our almighty +Lord, Turn away from your ways, and they have not marked whereby they +might obediently hear me." And afterwards, "And the angel asked me, what +dost thou see? And I said, I see a flying scythe, which containeth in +length twenty cubits. The malediction which hath proceeded upon the face +of the whole earth; because every one of her thieves shall be punished +even to the death, and I will throw him away, saith our almighty Lord, +and he shall enter into the house of fury, and into the house of +swearing falsehood in my name." + +Sec. 58. Holy Malachy the prophet also saith, "Behold, the day of our Lord +shall come, inflamed as a furnace, and all proud men, and all workers of +iniquity shall be as stubble, and the approaching day of the Lord of +hosts shall set them on fire, which shall not leave a root nor a bud of +them." + +Sec. 59. And hearken ye also what holy Job debateth of the beginning and +end of the ungodly, saying, "For what purpose do the wicked live, and +have grown old dishonestly, and their issue hath been according to their +own desire, and their sons before their faces, and their houses are +fruitful, and no fear nor yet the scourge of our Lord is upon them. +Their cow hath not been abortive, their great with young hath brought +forth her young ones and not missed, but remaineth as an eternal breed; +and their children rejoice, and taking the psaltery and harp, have +finished their days in felicity and fallen peaceably asleep down into +hell." Doth God, therefore, not behold the works of the wicked? Not so, +truly, "But the candle of the ungodly shall be extinguished, and +destruction shall fall upon them, and pains as of one in childbirth, +shall withhold them from wrath; and they shall be as chaff before the +wind, and as the dust which the whirlwind hath carried away. Let all +goodness fail his children; let his eyes behold his own slaughter, nor +yet by our Lord let him be redeemed." And a little after, he saith of +the same men, "Who have ravenously taken the flock with the shepherd, +and driven away the beast of the orphans, and engaged the ox of the +widow, and deceiving, have declined from the way of necessity. They have +reaped other men's fields before the time; the poor have laboured in the +vineyards of the mighty without hire and meat, they have made many to +sleep naked without garments; of the covering of their life they have +bereaved them." And somewhat afterwards, when he had thoroughly +understood their works, he delivered them over to darkness. "Let, +therefore, his portion be accursed from the earth; let his plantings +bring forth witherings; let him for this be rewarded according to his +dealings; let every wicked man like the unsound wood be broken in +pieces. For arising in his wrath hath he overthrown the impotent. +Wherefore truly shall he have no trust of his life; when he shall begin +to grow diseased, let him not hope for health, but fall into +languishing. For his pride hath been the hurt of many, and he is become +decayed and rotten, as the mallows in the scorching heat, or as the ear +of corn when it falleth off from its stubble." And afterwards, "If his +children shall be many, they shall be turned to the slaughter, and if he +gather together silver as if it were earth, and likewise purify his gold +as if it were dirt, all these same shall the just obtain." + +Sec. 60. Hear ye moreover what blessed Esdras, that cyclopaedia of the +divine law, threateneth in his discourse. "Thus saith our Lord God: My +right hand shall not be sparing upon sinners, neither shall the sword +cease over them who spill the innocent blood on the earth. Fire shall +proceed from out of my wrath, and devour the foundations of the earth, +and sinners as if they were inflamed straw. Woe be unto them who offend, +and observe not my commandments, saith our Lord, I will not forbear +them. Depart from me ye apostatizing children, and do not pollute my +sanctuary. God doth know who offend against him, and he will therefore +deliver them over to death and to slaughter. For now have many evils +passed over the round compass of the earth. A sword of fire is sent out +against you, and who is he that shall restrain it? shall any man repulse +a lion that hungereth in the wood? or shall any one quench out the fire +when the straw is burning? our Lord God will send out evils, and who is +he that shall repress them? and fire will pass forth from out of his +wrath, and who shall extinguish it? it shall brandishing shine, and who +will not fear it? it shall thunder, and who will not shake with dread? +God will threaten all, and who will not be terrified? before his face +the earth doth tremble, and the foundations of the sea shake from the +depths." + +Sec. 61. And mark ye also what Ezechiel the renowned prophet, and admirable +beholder of the four evangelical creatures, speaketh of wicked +offenders, unto whom pitifully lamenting beforehand the scourge that +hung over Israel, our Lord doth say, "Too far hath the iniquity of the +house of Israel and Judah prevailed, because the earth is filled with +iniquity and uncleanness. Behold I am, mine eyes shall not spare, nor +will I take pity." And afterwards, "Because the earth is replenished +with people, and the city fraughted with iniquity, I will also turn away +the force of their power, and their holy things shall be polluted, +prayer shall approach and sue for peace, and it shall not be obtained." +And somewhat after, "The word of our Lord, quoth he, was spoken unto me, +saying, Thou son of man, the land that shall so far sin against me as to +commit an offence, I will stretch forth my hand upon her, and break in +pieces her foundation of bread, and send upon her famine, and take away +mankind and cattle from her; and if these three men, Noah, Daniel, and +Job, be in the midst of her, they shall not deliver her, but they in +their justice shall be saved, saith our Lord. If so be that also I shall +bring in evil beasts upon the land and punish her, she likewise shall be +turned to destruction, and there shall not be one who shall have free +passage from the face of the beasts, and although these three men are in +the midst of her, as I live, saith our Lord, their sons and daughters +shall not be preserved, but they alone shall be saved, and as for the +land it shall fall to confusion." And again, "The son shall not receive +the unrighteousness of the father, neither the father the son's +unrighteousness. The justice of the just shall be upon himself. And the +unjust man, if he turneth him away from all the iniquities which he hath +done, and keepeth all my commandments, and doth justice and abundance of +mercy, he shall live in life and shall not die. All his sins, whatsoever +he hath committed, shall have no further being; he shall live the life +in his own justice which he hath performed. Do I with my will +voluntarily wish the death of the unrighteous, saith our Lord, rather +than that he should return from his evil way and live? But when the just +shall turn himself away from his justice, and do iniquity, according to +all the iniquities which the unrighteous hath committed, all the just +actions (which he hath done) shall remain no further in memory. In his +offence wherein he hath fallen, and in his sins in which he hath +transgressed, he shall die." And, within some words afterwards: "And +all nations shall understand, that the house of Israel are led captive +away for their offences, because they have forsaken me. And I have +turned my face from them, and yielded them over into the hands of their +enemies, and all have perished by the sword; according unto their +unclean sins, and after their iniquities have I dealt with them, and +turned my face away from them." + +Sec. 62. This which I have spoken may suffice concerning the threats of the +holy prophets: only I have thought it necessary to intermingle in this +little work of mine, not only these menaces, but also a few words +borrowed out of the wisdom of Solomon, to declare unto kings matters of +exhortation or instruction, that they may not say I am willing to load +the shoulders of men with heavy and insupportable burdens of words, but +not so much as once with mine own finger (that is, with speech of +consolation) to move the same. Let us therefore hear what the prophet +hath spoken to rule us. "Love justice," saith he, "ye that judge the +earth." This testimony alone (if it were with a full and perfect heart +observed) would abundantly suffice to reform the governors of our +country. For if they had loved justice, they would also love God, who is +in a sort the fountain and original of all justice. "Serve our Lord in +goodness, and seek him in simplicity of heart." Alas! who shall live (as +a certain one before us hath said) when such things are done by our +countrymen, if perchance they may be any where accomplished? "Because he +is found of those who do not tempt him, he appeareth truly to them who +have faith in him." For these men without respect do tempt God, whose +commandments with stubborn despite they contemn, neither yet do they +keep to him their faith, unto whose oracles be they pleasing, or +somewhat severe, they turn their backs and not their faces. "For +perverse thoughts do separate from God," and this in the tyrants of our +time very plainly appeareth. But why doth our meanness intermeddle in +this so manifest a determination? Let therefore him who alone is true +(as we have said) speak for us, I mean the Holy Ghost, of whom it is now +pronounced, "The Holy Ghost verily will avoid the counterfeiting of +discipline." And again, "Because the Spirit of God hath filled the globe +of the earth." And afterwards (showing with an evident judgment the end +of the evil and righteous) he saith, "How is the hope of the wicked as +the down that is blown away with the wind, and as the smoke that with +the blast is dispersed, and as the slender froth that with a storm is +scattered, and as the memory of a guest who is a passenger of one day. +But the just shall live for ever, and with God remaineth their reward, +and their cogitation is with the Highest. Therefore shall they receive +the kingdom of glory, and the crown of beauty from the hand of our Lord. +Because with his right hand he will protect them, and with his holy arm +defend them." For very far unlike in quality are the just and ungodly, +as our Lord verily hath spoken, saying, "Them who honour me I will +honour, and whoso despise me shall be of no estimation." + +Sec. 63. But let us pass over to the rest: "Hearken, (saith he) all ye +kings, and understand ye; learn, ye judges of the bounds of the earth, +listen with your ears who keep multitudes in awe, and please yourselves +in the troops of nations. Because power is given unto you from God, and +puissance from the highest, who will examine your actions, and sift your +thoughts. For that when ye were ministers of his kingdom, ye have not +judged uprightly, nor kept the law of justice, nor yet walked according +to his will. It shall dreadfully and suddenly appear unto you, that a +most severe judgment shall be given on them who govern. For to the +meaner is mercy granted, but the mighty shall mightily sustain torments. +For he shall have no respect of persons, who is the ruler of all, nor +yet shall he reverence the greatness of any one, because he himself hath +made both small and great, and care alike he hath of all; but for the +stronger is at hand a stronger affliction. Unto you therefore, O kings, +are these my speeches, that you may learn wisdom, and not fall away from +her. For whoso observeth what things are just shall be justified, and +whoso learneth what things are holy, shall be sanctified." + +Sec. 64. Hitherto have we discoursed no less by the oracles of the +prophets, than by her own speeches with the kings of our country, being +willing they should know what the prophet hath spoken, saying, "As from +the face of a serpent, so fly thou from sins: if thou shalt approach +unto them they will catch thee, their teeth are the teeth of a lion, +such as kill the souls of men." And again, "How mighty is the mercy of +our Lord, and his forgiveness to such as turn unto him." And if we have +not in us such apostolical zeal, that we may say, "I did verily desire +to be anathematized by Christ for my brethren," notwithstanding that we +may from the bottom of our hearts speak that prophetic saying, "Alas! +that the soul perisheth." And again, "Let us search out our ways, and +seek and return unto our Lord: let us lift our hearts together with our +hands to God in heaven." And also that of the apostle, "We covet that +every one of you should be in the bowels of Christ." + +Sec. 65. And how willingly, as one tossed on the waves of the sea, and now +arrived in a desired haven, would I in this place make an end (shame +forbidding me further to proceed), did I not behold such great masses of +evil deeds done against God by bishops or other priests, or clerks, yea +some of our own order, whom as witnesses myself must of necessity first +of all stone (according unto the law) with the hard blows of words, lest +I should be otherwise reproved for partiality towards persons, and then +afterwards the people (if as yet they keep their decrees) must pursue +with their whole powers the same execution upon them, not to their +corporal death, but to the death of their vices and their eternal life +with God. Yet, as I before said, I crave pardon of them, whose lives I +not only praise, but also prefer before all earthly treasure, and of the +which, if it may be, yet before my death I desire and thirst to be a +partaker: and so having both my sides defended with the double shields +of saints, and by those means invincibly strengthened to sustain all +that arise against me, arming moreover my head in place of a helmet with +the help of our Lord, and being most assuredly protected with the sundry +aids of the prophets, I will boldly proceed notwithstanding the stones +of worldly rioters fly never so fast about me. + +Sec. 66. Britain hath priests, but they are unwise; very many that +minister, but many of them impudent; clerks she hath, but certain of +them are deceitful raveners; pastors (as they are called) but rather +wolves prepared for the slaughter of souls (for they provide not for the +good of the common people, but covet rather the gluttony of their own +bellies), possessing the houses of the church, but obtaining them for +filthy lucre's sake; instructing the laity, but showing withal most +depraved examples, vices, and evil manners; seldom sacrificing, and +seldom with clean hearts, standing at the altars; not correcting the +commonality for their offences, while they commit the same sins +themselves; despising the commandments of Christ, and being careful with +their whole hearts to fulfil their own lustful desires, some of them +usurping with unclean feet the seat of the apostle Peter; but for the +demerit of their covetousness falling down into the pestilent chair of +the traitor Judas; detracting often, and seldom speaking truly; hating +verity as an open enemy, and favouring falsehoods, as their most beloved +brethren; looking on the just, the poor, and the impotent, with stern +countenances, as if they were detested serpents, and reverencing the +sinful rich men without any respect of shame, as if they were heavenly +angels, preaching with their outward lips that alms are to be disbursed +upon the needy, but of themselves not bestowing one halfpenny; +concealing the horrible sins of the people, and amplifying injuries +offered unto themselves, as if they were done against our Saviour +Christ; expelling out of their houses their religious mother, perhaps, +or sisters, and familiarly and indecently entertaining strange women, as +if it were for some more secret office, or rather, to speak truly, +though fondly (and yet not fondly to me, but to such as commit these +matters), debasing themselves unto such bad creatures; and after all +these seeking rather ambitiously for ecclesiastical dignities, than for +the kingdom of heaven; and defending after a tyrannical fashion their +achieved preferments, nor even labouring with lawful manners, to adorn +the same; negligent and dull to listen to the precepts of the holy +saints (if ever they did so much as once hear that which full often they +ought to hear), but diligent and attentive to the plays and foolish +fables of secular men, as if they were the very ways to life, which +indeed are but the passages to death; being hoarse, after the fashion of +bulls, with the abundance of fatness, and miserably prompt to all +unlawful actions; bearing their countenances arrogantly aloft, and +having nevertheless their inward senses, with tormenting and gnawing +consciences; depressed down to the bottom or rather to the bottomless +pit; glad at the gaining of one penny, and at the loss of the like value +sad; slothful and dumb in the apostolical decrees (be it for ignorance +or rather the burden of their offences), and stopping also the mouths of +the learned, but singularly experienced in the deceitful shifts of +worldly affairs; and many of this sort and wicked conversation, +violently intruding themselves into the preferments of the church; yea, +rather buying the same at a high rate, than being any way drawn +thereunto, and moreover as unworthy wretches, wallowing, after the +fashion of swine, in their old and unhappy puddle of intolerable +wickedness, after they have attained unto the seat of the priesthood or +episcopal dignity (who neither have been installed, or resident on the +same), for usurping only the name of priesthood, they have not received +the orders or apostolical pre-eminence; but how can they who are not as +yet fully instructed in faith, nor have done penance for their sins, be +any way supposed meet and convenient to ascend unto any ecclesiastical +degree (that I may not speak of the highest) which none but holy and +perfect men, and followers of the apostles, and, to use the words of the +teacher of the Gentiles, persons free from reprehension, can lawfully +and without the foul offence of sacrilege undertake. + +Sec. 67. For what is so wicked and so sinful as after the example of Simon +Magus (even if with other faults he had not been defiled before), for +any man with earthly price to purchase the office of a bishop or priest, +which with holiness and righteous life alone ought lawfully to be +obtained; but herein they do more wilfully and desperately err, in that +they buy their deceitful and unprofitable ecclesiastical degrees, not of +the apostles or their successors, but of tyrannical princes, and their +father the devil; yea, rather they raise this as a certain roof and +covering of all offences, over the frame of their former serious life, +that being protected under the shadow thereof, no man should lightly +hereafter lay to their charge their old or new wickedness; and hereupon +they build their desires of covetousness and gluttony, for that being +now the rulers of many they may more freely make havoc at their +pleasure. For if truly any such offer of purchasing ecclesiastical +promotions were made by these impudent sinners (I will not say with St. +Peter), but to any holy priest, or godly king, they would no doubt +receive the same answer which their father Simon Magus had from the +mouth of the apostle Peter, saying: "Thy money be with thee unto thy +perdition." But, alas! perhaps they who order and advance these +ambitious aspirers, yea, they who rather throw them under foot, and for +a blessing give them a cursing, whilst of sinners they make them not +penitents (which were more consonant to reason), but sacrilegious and +desperate offenders, and in a sort install Judas, that traitor to his +Master, in the chair of Peter, and Nicholas, the author of that foul +heresy, in the seat of St. Stephen the martyr, it may be at first +obtained their own priesthood by the same means, and therefore do not +greatly dislike in their children, but rather respect the course, that +they their fathers did before follow. And also, if finding resistance, +in obtaining their dioceses at home, and some who severely renounce this +chaffering of church-livings, they cannot there attain to such a +precious pearl, then it doth not so much loath as delight them (after +they have carefully sent their messengers beforehand) to cross the seas, +and travel over most large countries, that so, in the end, yea even with +the sale of their whole substance, they may win and compass such a pomp, +and such an incomparable glory, or to speak more truly, such a dirty and +base deceit and illusion. And afterwards with great show and magnificent +ostentation, or rather madness, returning back to their own native soil, +they grow from stoutness to stateliness, and from being used to level +their looks to the tops of the mountains, they now lift up their drowsy +eyes into the air, even to the highest clouds, and as Novatus, that foul +hog, and persecutor of our Lord's precious jewel, did once at Rome, so +do these intrude themselves again into their own country, as creatures +of a new mould, or rather as instruments of the devil, being even ready +in this state and fashion to stretch out violently their hands (not so +worthy of the holy altars as of the avenging flames of hell) upon +Christ's most holy sacrifices. + +Sec. 68. What do you therefore, O unhappy people! expect from such belly +beasts? (as the apostle calleth them). Shall your manners be amended by +these, who not only do not apply their minds to any goodness, but +according to the upbraiding of the prophet, labour also to deal +wickedly? Shall ye be illuminated with such eyes as are only with +greediness cast on those things that lead headlong to vices (that is to +say), to the gates of hell? Nay truly, if according to the saying of our +Saviour, ye flee not these most ravenous wolves like those of Arabia, or +avoid them as Lot, who ran most speedily from the fiery shower of Sodom +up to the mountains, then, being blind and led by the blind, ye will +both together tumble down into the infernal ditch. + +Sec. 69. But some man perchance will objecting say, that all bishops or all +priests (according to our former exception), are not so wickedly given, +because they are not defiled with the infamy of schism, pride, or +unclean life, which neither we ourselves will deny, but albeit we know +them to be chaste, and virtuous, yet will we briefly answer. + +What did it profit the high-priest Hely, that he alone did not violate +the commandments of our Lord, in taking flesh with forks out of the +pots, before the fat was offered unto God, while he was punished with +the same revenge of death wherewith his sons were? What one, I beseech +you, of them, whose manners we have before sufficiently declared, hath +been martyred like Abel, from malicious jealousy of his more acceptable +sacrifice, which with the heavenly fire ascended up into the skies, +since they fear the reproach even of an ordinary word? Which of them +"hath hated the counsel of the malicious, and not sat with the ungodly," +so that of him as a prophet, the same might be verified which was said +of Enoch, "Enoch walked with God and was not to be found" in the vanity +(forsooth) of the whole world, as then leaving our Lord, and beginning +to halt after idolatry? Which of them, like Noah in the time of the +deluge, hath not admitted into the ark of salvation (which is the +present church) any adversary unto God, that it may be most apparent +that none but innocents or singular penitents, ought to remain in the +house of our Lord? Who is he that offering sacrifice like Melchisedeck, +hath only blessed the conquerors, and them who with the number of three +hundred (which was in the sacrament of the Trinity) delivering the just +man, have overthrown the deadly armies of the five kings, together with +their vanquishing troops, and not coveted the goods of others? Which of +them hath like Abraham, at the commandment of God freely offered his own +son on the altar to be slain, that he might accomplish a precept of +Christ, agreeable to this saying, Thy right eye, if it cause thee to +offend, ought to be pulled out; and another of the prophet, That he is +accursed who withholdeth his sword from shedding blood? Who is he that +like Joseph, hath rooted out of his heart the remembrance of an offered +injury? Who is he that like Moses, speaking with our Lord in the +mountain, and not there terrified with the sounding trumpets, hath in a +figurative sense presented unto the incredulous people the two tables, +and his horned face which they could not endure to see, but trembled to +behold? Which of them, praying for the offences of the people, has from +the very bottom of his heart cried out, like unto him, saying: "O Lord +this people hath committed a grievous sin, which if thou wilt forgive +them, forgive it; otherwise blot me guilty out of thy book?" + +Sec. 70. Which of them, inflamed with the admirable zeal of God, hath +courageously risen to punish fornication, curing without delay by the +present medicine of penance, the affection of filthy lust, lest the fire +of the wrath of God should otherwise consume the people, as Phineas the +priest did, that by these means justice for ever might be reputed unto +him? Which of them hath in moral understanding imitated Joshua, the son +of Nun, either for the utter rooting forth, even to the slaughter of the +last and least of all, the seven nations out of the land of promise, or +for the establishing of spiritual Israel in their places? Which of them +hath showed unto the people of God their final bounds beyond Jordan that +it might be known what was suited to every tribe, in such sort as the +aforenamed Phineas and Jesus have wisely divided the land? Who is he +that to overthrow the innumerable thousands of Gentiles, adversaries to +the chosen people of God, hath, as another Jephtha, for a votive and +propitiatory sacrifice, slain his own daughter (by which is to be +understood his own proper will), imitating also therein the apostle, +saying, "Not seeking what is profitable to me, but to many, that they +may be saved;" which daughter of his met the conquerors with drums and +dances, by which are to be understood the lustful desires of the flesh? +Which of them, that he might disorder, put to flight, and overthrow the +camps of the proud Gentiles, by the number of three hundred, (being, as +we before said, the mystery of the blessed Trinity,) and with his men +holding in their hands those noble sounding trumpets, (which are +prophetical and apostolical senses, according as our Lord said to the +prophet, "Exalt thy voice as a trumpet;" and the psalmist of the +apostles, "Their sound hath passed throughout the whole earth,") and +bearing all those famous flagons shining in the night with that most +glittering fiery light, (which are to be interpreted the bodies of +saints joined to good works, and burning with the flame of the Holy +Ghost, yea having, as the apostle writes, "This treasure in earthen +vessels,") hath after hewing down the idolatrous grave (by which is +morally meant dark and foul desire) marched on like Gideon, with an +assured faith in the evident sign of the fleece, which to the Jews was +void of the heavenly moisture, but to the Gentiles made wet with the dew +of the Holy Ghost? + +Sec. 71. Who is he among them that (earnestly wishing to die to this world, +and live to Christ) hath, as another Sampson, utterly cut off such +innumerable luxurious banqueters of the Gentile, while they praised +their gods, (by which is meant, while the senses of men extolled these +earthly riches, according to the apostle speaking thus: "And +covetousness, which is idolatry"), shaking with the power of both his +arms the two pillars (by which are to be understood the wicked pleasures +of the soul and body), by which the house of all worldly wickedness is +in a sort compacted and underpropped? Which of them, like Samuel, with +prayers and the burnt sacrifice of a sucking lamb, hath driven away the +fear of the Philistines, raised unexpected thunderclaps, and showering +clouds, established without flattery a king, deposed him when he +displeased God, and anointed another his better in his place and +kingdom; and when he shall give to the people his last farewell, shall +appear like Samuel in this sort, saying, "Behold, I am ready, speak ye +before our Lord and his anointed, whether I ever took away the ox or ass +of any man, if I have falsely accused any one, if I have oppressed +anybody, if I have received a bribe from the hands of any?" Unto whom it +was answered by the people, "Thou hast not wrongfully charged us, nor +oppressed us, nor taken anything from the hands of any." Which of them, +like the famous prophet Elias, who consumed with heavenly fire the +hundred proud men, and preserved the fifty that humbled themselves; and +afterwards denounced without flattery or dissimulation, the impending +death of the unjust king (that sought not the counsel of God by his +prophets, but of the idol Accaron), hath utterly overthrown all the +prophets of Baal (by which are meant the worldly senses ever bent, as we +have already said, to envy and avarice), with the lightning sword (which +is the word of God)? And as the same Elias, moved with the zeal of God, +after taking away the showers of rain from the land of the wicked, who +were now shut up with famine in a strong prison, as it were of penury, +for three years and six months, being himself ready to die for thirst in +the desert, hath, complaining, said, "They have murdered, O Lord, thy +prophets, and undermined thine altars, and I alone am left, and they +seek my life?" + +Sec. 72. Which of them, like Elisha, hath punished his dearly beloved +disciple, if not with an everlasting leprosy, yet at least by abandoning +him, if burdened too much with the weight of worldly covetousness for +those very gifts which his master before (although very earnestly +entreated thereto) had despised to receive? And which of these among us +hath like him revealed unto his servant, (who despaired of life, and on +a sudden trembled at the warlike army of the enemies that besieged the +city wherein he was), through the fervency of his prayers poured out +unto God, those spiritual visions, so that he might behold a mountain +replenished with a heavenly assisting army, of warlike chariots and +horsemen, shining with fiery countenances, and that he might also +believe that he was stronger to save, than the foe to hurt? And which of +them, like the above-named Elisha, with the touch of his body, being +dead to the world, but living unto God, shall raise up another, whose +fate had been different from his, namely, death to God, but life to his +vices, so that instantly revived, he may yield humble thanks to Christ +for his unexpected recovery from the hellish torments of his mortal +crimes? Which of them hath his lips purified and made clean with the +fiery coals earned by the tongues of the cherubim, from off the altar, +(that his sins may be wiped away with the humility of confession), as it +is written of Esaias, by whose effectual prayers, together with the aid +of the godly king Ezechias, a hundred fourscore and five thousand of the +Assyrian army, through the stroke of one angel, without the least print +of any appearing wound, were overthrown and slain? Which of them, like +blessed Jeremiah, for accomplishing the commandments of God,--for +denouncing the threats thundered out from heaven, and for preaching the +truth even to such as would not hear the same, hath suffered loathsome +stinking prisons as momentary deaths? And to be brief, what one of them +(as the teacher of the Gentiles said) hath endured like the holy +prophets to wander in mountains, in dens, and caves of the earth, to be +stoned, to be sawn in sunder, and assailed with all kinds of death, for +the name of our Lord? + +Sec. 73. But why do we dwell in examples of the Old Testament as if there +were none in the New? Let, therefore, those, who suppose they can, +without any labour at all, under the naked pretence of the name of +priesthood, enter this strait and narrow passage of Christian religion, +hearken unto me while I recite and gather into one a few of the chiefest +flowers out of the large and pleasant meadow of the saintly soldiers of +the New Testament. Which of you (who rather sleep than lawfully sit in +the chair of the priesthood), being cast out of the council of the +wicked, hath, after the stripes of sundry rods, like the holy apostles, +from the bottom of his heart, given thanks to the blessed Trinity that +he was found worthy to suffer disgrace for Christ's true deity? What +one, for the undoubted testimony of God, having his brains dashed out +with the fuller's club, hath, like James the first, a bishop of the New +Testament, suffered corporal death? Which of you, like James the brother +of John, has by the unjust prince been beheaded? Who, like the first +deacon and martyr of the gospel, (having but this only accusation, that +he saw God, whom the wicked could not behold), has by ungodly hands been +stoned to death? What one of you, like the worthy keeper of the keys of +the heavenly kingdom, has been nailed to the cross with his feet upward, +in reverence for Christ, whom, no less in his death than in his life, he +endeavoured to honour, and hath so breathed his last? Which of you, for +the confession of the true word of Christ, hath, like the vessel of +election, and chosen teacher of the Gentiles, after suffering +imprisonment and shipwreck, after the terrible scourges of whips, the +continual dangers of seas, of thieves, of Gentiles, of Jews, and of +false apostles, after the labours of famine, fasting, and watching, +after incessant care over all the churches, after his trouble for such +as scandalized, after his infirmity for the weak, after his wonderful +travels over almost the whole world in preaching the gospel of Christ, +lost his head at last by the stroke of the descending sword? + +Sec. 74. Which of you, like the holy martyr Ignatius, bishop of the city of +Antioch, hath after his miraculous actions in Christ, for testimony of +him been torn by the jaws of lions, as he was once at Rome? whose words, +as he was led to his passion, when you shall hear (if ever your +countenances were overcome with blushing), you will not only, in +comparison of him, esteem yourselves no priests, but not so much even as +the meanest Christians; for in the epistle which he sent to the church +of Rome, he writeth thus: "From Syria even unto Rome, I fight with +beasts, by land and sea, being bound and chained unto ten leopards, I +mean the soldiers appointed for my custody, who for our benefit bestowed +upon them become more cruel; but I am the better instructed by their +wickedness, neither yet am I in this justified; oh! when shall those +beasts come the workers of my salvation, which are for me prepared? when +shall they be let loose at me? when shall it be lawful for my carcass to +enjoy them? whom I do most earnestly wish to be eagerly enraged against +me, and truly I will incite them to devour me; moreover, I will humbly +pray, lest perchance they should dread to touch my body (as in some +others they have before done), yea also, if they hesitate, I will offer +violence, I will force myself upon them. Pardon me, I beseech you, I +know what is commodious for me, even now I begin to be the disciple of +Christ; let all envy, whether of human affection or spiritual wickedness +cease, that I may endeavour to obtain Christ Jesus; let fires, let +crosses, let cruelty of beasts, let breaking of bones, and rending of +limbs, with all the pains of the whole body, and all the torments +devised by the art of the devil, be together poured out on me alone, so +that I may merit to attain unto Christ Jesus." Why do you behold these +things with the sleepy eyes of your souls? why do you hearken unto them +with the deaf ears of your senses? Shake off, I beseech you, the dark +and black mist of slothfulness from your hearts, that so you may see +the glorious light of truth and humility. A Christian, and he not mean, +but a perfect one, and a priest not base, but one of the highest, a +martyr of no ordinary sort, but one of the chiefest, saith: "Now I begin +to be the disciple of Christ." And you, like the same Lucifer, who was +thrown down out of heaven, are puffed up with words, and not with power, +and after a sort do chew under the tooth, and make pretence in your +actions, as the author of this your wickedness hath thus expressed: "I +will mount up into the heavens, and be like unto the Highest." And +again: "I have digged and drunk water, and dried up with the steps of my +feet all the rivers of the banks." You would more rightly have imitated +him and hearkened unto his words, who is without doubt the most true +example of all goodness and humility, saying by his prophet, "I am +verily a worm and not a man, the reproach of men, and the outcast of the +people." Oh unspeakable matter! that he called himself "the reproach of +men," when he washed away the reproaches of the whole world. And again +in the gospel; "I am not able to do any thing of myself," when at the +same time he was co-eternal with the Father, coequal with the Holy +Ghost, and consubstantial with both, and created, not by the help of +another, but by his own almighty power, the heaven and earth, with all +their inestimable ornaments; and ye nevertheless have arrogantly lifted +up your voices, notwithstanding the prophet saith, "Why do earth and +ashes swell with pride?" + +Sec. 75. But let us return unto our subject. Which of you, I say, like +Polycarp, the famous bishop of the church of Smyrna, that witness of +Christ, hath courteously entertained as guests at his table, those who +violently drew him out to be burned? and when for the charity which he +did bear unto Christ, he was brought to the stake, said, "He who gave me +grace to endure the torment of the fire, will likewise grant me without +fastening of nails to bear the flames with patience." And now passing +over in this my discourse the mighty armies of saints, I will yet touch +on one only, for example's sake, Basil the bishop of Caesaria, who when +he was thus by the unrighteous prince threatened that, unless he would +on the next day be as the rest, defiled in the dirty dunghill of the +Arian heresy, he should be put to death, answered, as it is reported, +"I will be to-morrow the same as to-day, and for thee, I do not wish +thee to change thy determination." And again, "Would that I had some +worthy reward to bestow on him that would discharge Basil from the bands +of this breathing bellows." Which one of you doth endeavour to daunt the +menaces of tyrants, by inviolably keeping the rule of the apostolical +speech, which in all times and ages hath been observed by all holy +priests, to suppress the suggestion of men when they sought to draw them +into wickedness, saying in this manner; "It behoveth us to obey God +rather than men." + +Sec. 76. Wherefore after our accustomed manner, taking refuge in the mercy +of our Lord, and in the sentences of his holy prophets, that they on our +behalf may now level the darts of their oracles at imperfect pastors (as +before at tyrants), so that thereby they may receive compunction and be +amended, let us see what manner of threats our Lord doth by his prophets +utter against slothful and dishonest priests, and such as do not, both +by examples and words, rightly instruct the people. For even Eli, the +priest in Shilo, because he did not severely proceed, with a zeal worthy +of God, in punishing his sons, when they contemned our Lord, but, as a +man overswayed with a fatherly affection, too mildly and remissly +admonished them, was sentenced with this judgment by the prophet +speaking unto him: "Thus saith our Lord; I have manifestly showed myself +unto the house of thy father, when they were the servants of Pharaoh in +Egypt, and have chosen the house of thy father out of all the tribes of +Israel, for a priesthood unto me." And a little after, "Why hast thou +looked upon mine incense, and upon my sacrifice, with a dishonest eye? +and hast honoured thy children more than me, that thou mightest bless +them from the beginning in all sacrifices in my presence? And now so +saith our Lord: Because whoever honoureth me I will honour him again; +and whoso maketh no account of me shall be brought to nothing. Behold +the days shall come, and I will destroy thy name, and the seed of thy +father's house. And let this be to thee the sign, which shall fall upon +thy two sons, Hophni and Phineas, in one day shall they both die by the +sword of men." If thus therefore they shall suffer, who correct them +that are under their charge, with words only and not with condign +punishment, what shall become of those who by offending exhort you, and +draw others unto wickedness? + +Sec. 77. It is apparent also what befell unto the true prophet, who was sent +from Judah to prophesy in Bethel, and forbidden to taste any meat in +that place, after the sign which he foretold was fulfilled, and after he +had restored to the wicked king his withered hand again, being deceived +by another prophet, as he was termed, and so make to take but a little +bread and water, his host speaking in this sort unto him: "Thus saith +our Lord God: Because thou hast been disobedient to the mouth of our +Lord, and hast not observed the precept which the Lord thy God hath +commanded, and hast returned, and eaten bread, and drunk water in this +place, in which I have charged thee that thou shouldest neither eat +bread nor drink water, thy body shall not be buried in the sepulchre of +thy forefathers. And so (saith the scripture) it came to pass, that +after he had eaten bread and drunk water, he made ready his ass, and +departed, and a lion found him in the way and slew him." + +Sec. 78. Hear ye also the holy prophet Isaias, how he speaketh of priests on +this wise. "Woe be to the ungodly, may evil befall him; for the reward +of his hands shall light upon him. Her own exactors have spoiled my +people, and women have borne sway over her. O my people, they who term +thee blessed, themselves deceive thee, and destroy the way of thy +footsteps. Our Lord standeth to judge, and standeth to judge the people. +Our Lord will come unto judgment with the elders of the people and her +princes. Ye have consumed my vine, the spoil of the poor is in your +house. Why do ye break in pieces my people, and grind the faces of the +poor? saith our Lord of hosts." And also; "Woe be unto them who compose +ungodly laws, and in their writing have written injustice, that they may +oppress the poor in judgment, and work violence to the cause of the +lowly of my people, that widows may be their prey, and they make spoil +of the orphans; what will ye do in the day of visitation and calamity +approaching from afar off?" And afterwards: "But these also in regard of +wine have been ignorant, and in respect of drunkenness have wandered +astray; the priests have not understood, because of drunkenness, and +have been swallowed up in wine, they have erred in drunkenness, they +have not known him who seeth, they have been ignorant of judgment. For +all tables are filled with the vomit of their uncleanness, in so much as +there is not any free place to be found." + +Sec. 79. "Hear therefore the word of our Lord, O ye deceivers, who bear +authority over my people that is in Jerusalem. For ye have said, We have +entered into a truce with death, and with hell we have made a covenant. +The overflowing scourge when it shall pass forth shall not fall upon us, +because we have placed falsehood for our hope, and by lying we have been +defended." And somewhat after: "And hail shall overthrow the hope of +lying, together with the defence. Waters shall overflow, and your truce +with death shall be destroyed, and your covenant with hell shall not +continue, when the overflowing scourge shall pass forth; ye shall also +be trodden under foot, whensoever it shall pass along through you, it +shall sweep you away withal." And again: "And our Lord hath said: +Because this people approacheth with their mouth, and with their lips +glorify me, but their heart is far from me; behold, therefore, I will +cause this people to wonder by a great and stupendous miracle. For +wisdom shall decay and fall away from her wise men, and the +understanding of her sages shall be concealed. Woe be unto you that are +profound in heart, to conceal counsel from our Lord, whose works are in +darkness, and they say, who seeth us? And who hath known us? for this +thought of yours is perverse." And afterwards: "Thus saith our Lord, +Heaven is my seat, and the earth my footstool. What is this house that +ye will erect unto me, and what place shall be found for my +resting-place? all these things hath my hand made, and these universally +have been all created, saith our Lord. On whom truly shall I cast mine +eye, but on the humble poor man, and the contrite in spirit, and him +that dreadeth my speeches? he that sacrificeth an ox, is as he that +killeth a man; he that slaughtereth a beast for sacrifice, is like him +who beateth out the brains of a dog; he that offereth an oblation, is as +he that offereth the blood of a hog; he that is mindful of frankincense, +is as he that honoureth an idol: of all these things have they made +choice in their ways, and in their abominations hath their soul been +delighted." + +Sec. 80. Hear also what Jeremy, that virgin prophet, speaketh unto the +unwise pastors in this sort: "Thus saith our Lord, What iniquity have +your fathers found in me, because they have removed themselves far off +from me, and walked after vanity, and are become vain?" And again: "And +entering in, ye have defiled my land, and made mine inheritance +abomination. The priests have not said, Where is our Lord? and the +rulers of the law have not known me, and the pastors have dealt +treacherously against me. Wherefore I will as yet contend in judgment +with you, saith our Lord, and debate the matter with your children." And +a little afterwards: "Astonishment and wonders have been wrought in the +land. Prophets did preach lying, and priests did applaud with their +hands, and my people have loved such matters. What therefore shall be +done in her last and final ends? To whom shall I speak and make +protestation that he may hear me? Behold their ears are uncircumcised, +and they cannot hear. Behold the word of our Lord is uttered unto them +for their reproach, and they receive it not: because I will stretch out +my hand upon the inhabitants of the earth, saith our Lord. For why, from +the lesser even unto the greater, all study avarice, and from the +prophet even unto the priest, all work deceit, and they cured the +contrition of the daughter of my people, with ignominy, saying, Peace, +peace, and peace there shall not be. Confounded they are, who have +wrought abomination: but they are not with confusion confounded, and +have not understood how to be ashamed. Wherefore they shall fall among +those who are falling, in the time of their visitation shall they rush +headlong down together, saith our Lord." And again: "All these princes +of the declining sort, walking fraudulently, being brass and iron, are +universally corrupted, the blowing bellows have failed in the fire, the +finer of metals in vain hath melted, their malicious acts are not +consumed, call them refuse and reprobate silver, because our Lord hath +thrown them away." And after a few words: "I am, I am, I have seen, +saith our Lord. Go your ways to my place in Shilo, where my name hath +inhabited from the beginning, and behold what I have done thereunto for +the malice of my people Israel. And now because ye have wrought all +these works, saith our Lord, and I have spoken unto you, arising in the +morning, and talking, and yet ye have not heard me, and I have called +you, and yet ye have not answered, I will so deal towards this house, +wherein my name is now called upon, and wherein ye have confidence, and +to this place which I have given unto you, and to your fathers, as I +have done to Shilo, and I will cast you away from my countenance." + +Sec. 81. And again: "My children have departed from me, and have no +abiding, and there is none who any more pitcheth my tent, and advanceth +my pavilion: for the pastors have dealt fondly and not sought out our +Lord. Wherefore they have not understood, and their flock hath been +dispersed." And a little after: "What is the matter that my beloved hath +in my houses committed many offences? shall the holy flesh take away thy +maliciousness from thee, wherein thou hast glorified? our Lord shall +call thy name a plentiful, fair, fruitful, goodly olive; at the sound of +the speech a mighty fire hath been inflamed in her, and her orchards +have been quite consumed therewith." And again: "Come ye to me, and be +ye gathered together, all ye beasts of the earth, make haste to devour. +Many pastors have thrown down my vine, they have trampled my part under +foot, they have given over my portion which was well worthy to be +desired, into a desert of solitariness." And again he speaketh: "Thus +saith our Lord unto this people, which have loved to move their feet, +and not rested, nor yet pleased our Lord; now shall he remember their +iniquities and visit their offences. Prophets say unto them, Ye shall +not see the sword, and there shall be no famine among you, but our Lord +shall give true peace unto you in this place. And our Lord hath said +unto me, The prophets do falsely foretell in my name; I have not sent +them, nor laid my commandment on them; they prophesy unto you a lying +vision, and divination together with deceitfulness, and the seducement +of their own hearts. And therefore thus saith our Lord: In sword and +famine shall those prophets be consumed; and the people to whom they +have prophesied shall by means of the famine and sword be cast out into +the streets of Jerusalem, and there shall be none to bury them." + +Sec. 82. And moreover: "Woe be to the pastors who destroy and rend in +pieces the flock of my pasture, saith our Lord. Thus, therefore, saith +our Lord God of Israel, unto the pastors who guide my people, Ye have +dispersed my flock, and cast them forth, and not visited them. Behold I +will visit upon you the malice of your endeavours, saith our Lord. For +the prophet and the priest are both defiled, and in my house have I +found their evil, saith our Lord, and therefore shall their way be as a +slippery place in the dark, for they shall be thrust forward, and fall +down together therein, for I will bring evils upon them, the year of +their visitation, saith our Lord. And in the prophets of Samaria I have +seen foolishness, and they did prophesy in Baal, and deceived my people +Israel, and in the prophets of Jerusalem, have I seen the like +resemblance, adultery, and the way of lying, and they have comforted the +hands of the vilest offenders, that every man may not be converted from +his malice: they have been all made to me as Sodom, and the inhabitants +thereof as those of Gomorrah. Thus, therefore, saith our Lord to the +prophets: Behold, I will give them wormwood for their food, and gall for +their drink. For there hath passed from the prophet of Jerusalem +pollution over the whole earth. Thus saith our Lord of hosts, Listen not +to the words of prophets, who prophesy unto you, and deceive you, for +they speak the vision of their own heart, and not from the mouth of our +Lord. For they say unto those who blaspheme me, Our Lord hath spoken, +peace shall be unto you; and to all that walk in the wickedness of their +own hearts, they have said, evil shall not fall upon them. For who was +present in the counsel of our Lord, and hath seen and heard his speech, +who hath considered of his word, and hearkened thereunto? Behold, the +whirlwind of the indignation of our Lord passeth out, and a tempest +breaking forth, shall fall upon the heads of the wicked; the fury of our +Lord shall not return, until the time that he worketh, and until he +fulfilleth the cogitation of his heart. In the last days of all shall ye +understand his counsel." + +Sec. 83. And little also do ye conceive and put in execution that which the +holy prophet Joel hath likewise spoken in admonishment of slothful +priests, and lamentation of the people's suffering for their iniquities, +saying: "Awake, ye who are drunk, from your wine, and weep and bewail ye +all, who have drunk wine even to drunkenness, because joy and delight +are taken away from your mouths. Mourn, ye priests, who serve the +altar, because the fields have been made miserable. Let the earth mourn, +because corn hath become miserable, and wine been dried up, oil +diminished, and husbandmen withered away. Lament ye possessions, in +regard of wheat and barley, because the vintage hath perished out of the +field, the vine withered up, the figs diminished; the pomegranates, and +palm, and apple, and all trees of the field are withered away, in +respect that the children of men have confounded their joy." All which +things are spiritually to be understood by you, that your souls may not +wither away with so pestilent a famine, for want of the word of God. And +again, "Weep out ye priests, who serve our Lord, saying, Spare, O Lord, +thy people, and give not over thine inheritance unto reproach, and let +not nations hold dominion over them, that Gentiles may not say, Where is +their God?" And yet ye yield not your ears unto these sayings, but admit +of all matters by which the indignation of God's fury is more vehemently +inflamed. + +Sec. 84. With diligence also attend ye what holy Hosea the prophet hath +spoken unto priests of your behaviour. "Hear these words, O ye priests, +and let the house of Israel, together with the king's house, mark them; +fasten ye them in your ears, for unto you pertaineth judgment, because +ye are made an entangling snare to the espying watch, and as a net +stretched over the toils which the followers of hunting have framed." + +Sec. 85. To you also may this kind of alienation from our Lord be meant by +the prophet Amos, saying, "I have hated and rejected your festival days, +and I will not receive the savour in your solemn assemblies, because +albeit ye offer your burnt sacrifices and hosts, I will not accept them, +and I will not cast mine eye on the vows of your declaration. Take away +from me the sound of your songs, and the psalm of your organs I will not +hear." For the famine of the evangelical meat consuming, in your +abundance of victuals, the very bowels of your souls, rageth violently +within you, according as the aforesaid prophet hath foretold, saying, +"Behold, the days shall come, saith our Lord, and I will send out a +famine upon the earth; not the famine of bread, nor the thirst of water, +but a famine in hearing the word of God, and the waters shall be moved +from sea to sea, and they shall run over from the north even unto the +east, seeking the word of our Lord, and shall not find it." + +Sec. 86. Let holy Micah also pierce your ears, who like a heavenly trumpet +soundeth loudly forth against the deceitful princes of the people, +saying, "Hearken now ye princes of the house of Jacob, Is it not for you +to know judgment, who hate goodness, and seek after mischief, who pluck +their skins from off men, and their flesh from their bones? Even as they +have eaten the flesh of my people, and flayed their skins from them, +broken their bones to pieces, and hewed them small as meat to the pot, +they shall cry to God, and he will not hear them, and in that season +turn his face away from them, even as they before have wickedly behaved +themselves in their inventions. Thus speaketh our Lord of the prophets +who seduce my people, who bite with their teeth, and preach against them +peace, and if a man giveth nothing to stop their mouths, they raise and +sanctify a war upon him. Night shall therefore be unto you in place of a +vision, and darkness unto you in lieu of divination, and the sun shall +set upon your prophets, and the day shall wax dark upon them, and seeing +dreams they shall be confounded, and the diviners shall be derided, and +they shall speak ill against all men, because there shall not be any one +that will hear them, but that I myself shall do mine uttermost and +strongest endeavour in the spirit of our Lord, in judgment and in power, +that I may declare unto the house of Jacob their impieties, and to +Israel their offences. Hearken, therefore, unto these words, ye captains +of the house of Jacob, and ye remnants of the house of Israel, who abhor +judgment, and overthrow all righteousness, who build up Sion in blood, +and Jerusalem in iniquities: her rulers did judge for rewards, and her +priests answered for hire, and her prophets did for money divine, and +rested on our Lord, saying, And is not the Lord among us? Evils shall +not fall upon us. For your cause, therefore, shall Sion be ploughed up +as a field, and Jerusalem as the watch-house of a garden, and the +mountain of the house as the place of a woody wilderness." And after +some words ensuing: "Woe is me for that I am become as he that gathereth +stubble in the harvest, and a cluster of grapes in the vintage, when the +principal branch is not left to be eaten. Woe is me that a soul hath +perished through earthly actions, the reverence of sinners ariseth even +with reverence from the earth, and he appeareth not that shall use +correction among men. All contend in judgment for blood, and every one +with tribulation afflicteth his neighbour, for mischief he prepareth his +hands." + +Sec. 87. Listen ye likewise how the famous prophet Zephaniah debated also +in times past, concerning your revellers (for he spake of Jerusalem, +which is spiritually to be understood the church or the soul), saying, +"O the city that was beautiful and set at liberty, the confiding dove +hath not hearkened to the voice, nor yet entertained discipline, she +hath not trusted in our Lord, and to her God she hath not approached." +And he showeth the reason why, "Her princes have been like unto roaring +lions, her judges as wolves of Arabia did not leave towards the morning, +her prophets carrying the spirit of a contemptuous despising man; her +priests did profane what was holy, and dealt wickedly in the law, but +our Lord is upright in the midst of his people, and in the morning he +will not do injustice, in the morning will he give his judgment." + +Sec. 88. But hear ye also blessed Zachariah the prophet, in the word of +God, admonishing you: "For thus saith our Almighty Lord, Judge ye +righteous judgment, and work ye every one towards his brother mercy and +pity, and hurt ye not through your power the widow, or orphan, or +stranger, or poor man, and let not any man remember in his heart the +malice of his brother; and they have been stubborn not to observe these, +and have yielded their backs to foolishness, and made heavy their ears +that they might not hearken, and framed their hearts not to be persuaded +that they might not listen to my law and words, which our Almighty Lord +hath sent in his Spirit, through the hands of his former prophets, and +mighty wrath hath been raised by our Almighty Lord." And again; "Because +they who have spoken, have spoken molestations, and diviners have +uttered false visions and deceitful dreams, and given vain consolations; +in respect hereof they are made as dry as sheep, and are afflicted +because no health was to be found; my wrath is heaped upon the +shepherds, and upon the lambs will I visit." And within a few words +after: "The voice of lamenting pastors, because their greatness is +become miserable. The voice of roaring lions, because the fall of Jordan +is become miserable: thus saith our Almighty Lord: They who possessed +have murdered, and yet hath it not repented them, and they who sold +them, have said, Our Lord is blessed and we have been enriched, and +their pastors have suffered nothing concerning them. For which I will +now bear no sparing hand over the inhabitants of the earth, saith our +Lord." + +Sec. 89. Hear ye moreover what the holy prophet Malachi denounceth unto +you, saying: "Ye priests who despise my name, and have said: Wherein do +we despise thy name? in offering on mine altar polluted bread: and ye +have said, Wherein have we polluted it? In that ye have said: The table +of our Lord is as nothing, and have despised such things as have been +placed thereon; because if ye bring what is blind for an offering, is it +not evil? If ye set and apply what is lame or languishing, is it not +evil? Offer therefore the same unto thy governor, if he will receive it, +if he will accept of thy person, saith our Almighty Lord. And now do ye +humbly pray before the countenance of your God, and earnestly beseech +him (for in your hands have these things been committed) if happily he +will accept of your persons." And again: "And out of your ravenous theft +ye have brought in the lame and languishing, and brought it in as an +offering. Shall I receive the same at your hands, saith our Lord? +Accursed is the deceitful man who hath in his flock one of the male +kind, and yet making his vow offereth the feeble unto our Lord, because +I am a mighty king, saith our Lord of hosts, and my name is terrible +among the Gentiles. And now unto you appertaineth this commandment, O ye +priests, if ye will not hear, and resolve in your hearts to yield glory +unto my name, saith our Lord of hosts, I will send upon you poverty, and +accurse your blessings, because ye have not settled these things on your +hearts. Behold I will stretch out my arm over ye, and disperse upon your +countenances the dung of your solemnities." But that ye may in the +meantime, with more zeal prepare your organs and instruments of +mischief, to be converted into goodness, hearken ye (if there remain +ever so little disposition to listen in your hearts) what he speaketh of +a holy priest, saying "My covenant of life and peace was with him (for +historically he did speak of Levi and Moses): I gave fear unto him, and +he was timorous of me, he dreaded before the countenance of my name; the +law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips; +he walked with me in peace and equity, and turned many away from +unrighteousness. For the lips of the priest shall keep knowledge, and +from out of his mouth they shall require the law, because he is the +Angel of our Lord of hosts." And now again he changeth his style, and +ceaseth not to rebuke and reprove the unrighteous, saying: "Ye have +departed from the way, and scandalized many in the law, and made void my +covenant with Levi, saith our Lord of hosts. In regard whereof I have +also given you over as contemptible and abject among my people, +according as ye have not observed my ways, and accepted countenance of +men in the law. What, is there not one Father of us all? What, hath not +one God created us? Why therefore doth every one despise his brother?" +And again, "Behold our Lord of hosts will come, and who can conceive the +day of his coming, and who shall endure to stand to behold him? For he +shall pass forth as a burning fire, and as the fuller's herb, and shall +sit melting and trying silver, and ye shall purge the sons of Levi, and +cleanse them as gold and as silver." And somewhat afterwards: "Your +words have grown strong against me, saith our Lord, and ye have spoken +thus: He is vain who serveth God, and what profit because we have kept +his commandments, and walked sorrowfully before our Lord of hosts. We +shall therefore now call the arrogant blessed, for because they are +erected and builded up, while they work iniquity, they have tempted God, +and are made safe." + +Sec. 90. But hear ye also what Ezechiel the prophet hath spoken, saying, +"Woe upon woe shall come, and messenger upon messenger shall be, and the +vision shall be sought for of the prophet, and the law shall perish from +the priests, and counsel from the elders." And again: "Thus saith our +Lord: In respect that your speeches are lying, and your divinations +vain. For this cause, behold, I will come unto you, saith our Lord; I +will stretch out my hand on your prophets, who see lies, and them who +speak vain things; in the discipline of my people they shall not be, and +in the Scripture of the house of Israel, they shall not be written, and +into the land of Israel they shall not enter, and ye shall know that I +am the Lord, because they have seduced my people, saying, The peace of +our Lord, and there is not the peace of our Lord. Here have they built +the wall; and they anointed it, and it shall fall." And within some +words afterwards: "Woe be unto these who fashion pillows, apt for every +elbow of the hand, and make veils upon every head of all ages to the +subversion of souls, and the souls of my people are subverted, and they +possess their souls, and contaminated me unto my people for a handful of +barley, and a piece of bread to the slaughter of the souls, whom it +behoved not to die, and to the delivery of the souls, that were not fit +to live, while ye talk unto my people that listeneth after vain +speeches." And afterwards: "Say, thou son of man, thou art earth which +is not watered with rain, neither yet hath rain fallen upon thee in the +day of wrath, in which thy princes were in the midst of thee as roaring +lions, ravening on their prey, devouring souls in their potent might, +and receiving rewards, and thy widows were multiplied in the midst of +thee, and her priests have despised my law, and defiled my holy things. +Between holy and polluted, they did not distinguish, and divided not +equally between the unclean and clean, and from my sabbaths they veiled +their eyes, and in the midst of them they defiled." + +Sec. 91. And again: "And I sought among them a man of upright conversation, +and one who should altogether stand before my face, to prevent the times +that might fall upon the earth, that I should not in the end utterly +destroy it, and I found him not. And I poured out upon it, the whole +design of my mind, in the fire of my wrath for the consuming of them: I +repaid their ways on their heads, saith our Lord." And somewhat after: +"And the word of our Lord was spoken unto me, saying: O son of man, +speak to the children of my people, and they shalt say unto them: The +land whereupon I shall bring my sword, and the people of the land shall +take some one man among them, and ordain him to be a watchman over them, +and he shall espy the sword coming upon the land, and sound with his +trumpet, and signify unto the people, whoso truly shall then hear the +sound of the trumpet, and yet hearing shall not beware: and the sword +shall come and catch him, his blood shall light upon his own head, +because when he heard the sound of the trumpet, he was not watchful, his +blood shall be upon him, and this man, for that he hath preserved his +own soul, hath delivered himself. But the watchman if he shall see the +sword coming, and not give notice with his trumpet, and the people shall +not be aware, and the sword coming shall take away a soul from among +them, both the soul itself is caught a captive for her iniquities, and I +will also require her blood at the hand of the watchman. And thou, O son +of man, I have appointed thee a watchman over the house of Israel, and +if thou shalt hear the word from out of my mouth, when I shall say to a +sinner, Thou shalt die the death, and yet wilt not speak whereby the +wicked may return from his way: both the unjust himself shall die in his +iniquity, and truly I will require his blood also at thy hands. But if +thou shalt forewarn the wicked of his way, that he may avoid the same, +and he nevertheless will not withdraw himself from his course, this man +shall die in his impiety, and thou hast preserved thine own soul." + +Sec. 92. And so let these few among a multitude of prophetical testimonies +suffice, by which the pride or sloth of our stubborn priests may be +repelled, to the end they may not suppose that we act rather of our own +invention, but by the authority of the laws, and saints, denounce such +threats against them. And now let us also behold what the trumpet of the +gospel, sounding to the whole world, speaketh likewise to disordered +priests; for as we have often said, this our discourse tendeth not to +treat of them, who obtain lawfully the apostolical seat, and such as +rightly and skilfully understand how to dispose of their spiritual food +(in time convenient) unto their fellow servants, if yet at this time +there remain any great number of these in this our country; but we only +talk of ignorant and unexpert shepherds, who leave their flock, and feed +on vain matters, and have not the words of a learned pastor. And +therefore it is an evident token that he is not a lawful pastor, yea not +an ordinary Christian, who rejecteth and denieth these sayings, which +are not so much ours (who of ourselves are very little worth), as the +decrees of the Old and New Testament, even as one of ours right well +doth say, "We do exceedingly desire that the enemies of the church +should also, without any manner of truce be our adversaries: and that +the friends and defenders thereof should not only be accounted our +confederates, but also our fathers and governors." For let every one, +with true examination, call his own conscience unto account, and so +shall he easily find, whether according to true reason he possesseth his +priestly chair or no. Let us see, I say, what the Saviour and Creator of +the world hath spoken. "Ye are," saith he, "the salt of the earth; if +that the salt vanisheth away, wherein shall it be salted? it prevaileth +to no purpose any farther, but that it be cast out of doors, and +trampled under the feet of men." + +Sec. 93. This only testimony might abundantly suffice to confute all such +as are impudent; but that it may be yet, by the words of Christ, more +evidently proved with what intolerable bonds of crimes these false +priests entangle and oppress themselves, some other sayings are also to +be adjoined; for it followeth: "Ye are the light of the world. A city +placed on a mountain cannot be hid: neither do they light a candle, and +put it under a bushel, but upon a candlestick, that it may shine unto +all who are in the house." What priest therefore of this fashion and +time, who is so possessed with the blindness of ignorance, doth, as the +light of a most bright candle, shine with the lamp of learning and good +works, in any house, to all that sit in the darksome night? What one is +so accounted a safe public and conspicuous refuge, to all the children +universally of the church, that he may be to his countrymen a defensible +and strong city, situated on the top of a high mountain? Moreover, which +one of them can accomplish one day together, that which followeth: "Let +your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and +glorify your Father who is in heaven:" since rather a certain most +obscure cloud of theirs, and the black night of offences, hang over the +island, in such a manner, that they all turn almost away from the +righteous course, and make them to wander astray through unpassable and +cumbersome paths of wickedness, and so their heavenly Father is not only +by their works not magnified, but also by the same intolerably +blasphemed. These testimonies of holy scripture, which are either +already cited, or hereafter to be intermixed in this epistle, I would +gladly wish to interpret in some historical or moral sense, as far as +my meanness would allow. + +Sec. 94. But for fear lest this our little work should be immeasurably +tedious unto those who despise, loathe, and disdain, not so much our +speeches as God's sayings, I have already alleged, and mean hereafter to +affirm these sentences plainly without any circumstance. And to proceed, +within a few words after: "For whoever shall break one of the least of +these commandments, and so instruct men, shall be called the least in +the kingdom of heaven." And again: "Judge ye not that ye may not be +judged; for in what judgment ye shall judge, ye shall be judged." And +which one, I pray you, of your company will regard this same that +followeth: "But why dost thou see," saith he, "the mote in thy brother's +eye, and considerest not the beam in thine own eye? or how dost thou say +to thy brother, suffer me to cast the mote out of thine eye, and behold +the beam remaineth still in thine own eye?" Or this which follows: "Do +not give what is holy to dogs, neither yet shall ye cast your pearls +before swine, lest perchance they tread them under their feet, and turn +again and rend you," which hath often befallen you. And, admonishing the +people, that they should not by deceitful doctors, such as ye, be +seduced, he saith: "Keep yourselves carefully from false prophets, who +come unto you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves: by +their fruit shall ye know them. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs +of thistles? So every good tree beareth good fruit, and the evil, evil +fruit." And somewhat afterward: "Not every one who saith unto me, Lord, +Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but whoso doeth the will +of my Father that is in heaven, he shall enter into the kingdom of +heaven." + +Sec. 95. And what shall then become of you, who, as the prophet hath said, +believe God only with your lips, and do not adhere to him with your +hearts? And how do ye fulfil that which followeth: "Behold I send you +forth as sheep in the midst of wolves?" Whereas you act quite +contrariwise, and proceed as wolves against a flock of sheep: or the +other following sentence: "Be ye wise as serpents and simple as doves?" +since ye are only wise to bite others with your deadly mouths, and not, +with the interposition of your whole body, to defend your head, which +is Christ, whom with all the endeavours of your evil actions you tread +under foot; neither yet have ye the simplicity of doves, but the +resemblance rather of the black crow, which taking her flight out of the +ark, that is, the church of God, and finding the carrion of earthly +pleasures, did never with a pure return back thither again. But let us +look on the rest. "Fear not," saith he, "them who kill the body, but are +not able to slay the soul; but fear him who can overthrow both soul and +body in hell." Revolve in your minds which of these ye have performed? +And what one of you is not wounded in the very secrets of his heart, by +this testimony following, which our Saviour uttereth unto his apostles, +of evil prelates, saying, "Do ye suffer them, the blind leaders of the +blind, but if the blind be a guide to the blind, both shall fall into +the ditch?" But the people doubtless whom ye have governed, or rather +beguiled, have just occasion to listen hereunto. + +Sec. 96. Mark ye also the words of our Lord speaking unto his apostles, and +to the people, which words likewise (as I hear) ye yourselves are not +ashamed to pronounce often in public: "Upon the chair of Moses have the +scribes and pharisees sat, observe ye therefore and accomplish all that +they shall speak unto you, but do not according to their works. For they +only speak, but of themselves do nothing." It is truly to priests a +dangerous and superfluous doctrine, which is overclouded with sinful +actions. "Woe be unto you, hypocrites, who shut up the kingdom of heaven +before men, and neither yourselves enter in, nor yet suffer those that +would to enter in." For ye shall with horrible pains be tormented, not +only in respect of your great offences, which ye heap up for punishment +in the world to come, but also in regard of those who daily perish +through your bad example, whose blood in the day of judgment shall be +required at your hands. + +Yield ye also diligent attention unto the misery, which the parable +setteth before your eyes, that is spoken of the servant, who saith in +his heart, "My Lord delayeth his coming," and upon this occasion, +perchance, "hath begun to strike his fellow servants, eating and +drinking with drunkards. The Lord of the same servant, therefore, saith +he, will come on a day when he doth not expect him, and in an hour +whereof he is ignorant, and will divide him, away from his holy priests, +and will place his portion with the hypocrites (that is, with them who +under the pretence of priesthood do conceal much iniquity), affirming +that there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth;" such as they have +not experienced in this present life, either for the daily ruin of the +children of our holy mother church, or for the desire of the kingdom of +heaven. + +Sec. 97. But let us see what Paul, the true scholar of Christ, and master +of the Gentiles, who is a mirror of every ecclesiastical doctor, "Even +as I am the disciple of Christ," speaketh about a work of such +importance in his first epistle on this wise: "Because when they have +known God, they have not magnified him as God, or given thanks unto him; +but vanished in their own cogitations, and their foolish heart is +blinded; affirming themselves to be wise, they are made fools." Although +this seemeth to be spoken unto the Gentiles, look into it +notwithstanding, because it may conveniently be applied to the priests +and people of this age. And after a few words, "Who have changed," saith +he, "the truth of God into lying, and have reverenced and served the +creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed for ever; therefore +hath God given them over unto passions of ignominy." And again, "And +even as they have not approved themselves to have God in their +knowledge, so God hath yielded them up to a reprobate sense, that they +may do such things as are not convenient, being replenished with all +iniquity, malice, uncleanness of life, fornication, covetousness, +naughtiness, full of envy, murder (i.e. of the souls of the people), +contention, deceit, wickedness, backbiters, detractors, hateful to God, +spiteful, proud, puffed up, devisers of mischief, disobedient to their +parents, senseless, disordered, without mercy, without affection, who, +when they had known the justice of God, understood not that they who +commit such things, are worthy of death." + +Sec. 98. And now what one of the aforesaid sort hath indeed been void of +all these? And if he were, yet perhaps he may be caught in the sense of +the ensuing sentence, wherein he saith: "Not only those who do these +things, but those also who consent unto them," for none of them truly +are free from this wickedness. And afterwards, "But thou, according to +thy hardness and impenitent heart, dost lay up for thyself wrath, +against the day of wrath, and revelation of the just judgment of God, +who will yield unto every one according unto his works." And again, "For +there is no acceptation of persons with God. For whosoever have offended +without the law, shall also without the law perish; whosoever have +offended in the law, shall by the law be judged. For the hearers of the +law shall not with God be accounted just, but the doers of the law shall +be justified." How severe a sentence shall they therefore sustain, who +not only leave undone what they ought to accomplish, and forbear not +what they are forbidden, but also flee away from the very hearing of the +word of God, as from a serpent, though lightly sounding in their ears. + +Sec. 99. But let us pass over to that which followeth to this effect: "What +shall we therefore say, shall we continue still in sin that grace may +abound? God forbid, for we who are dead to sin, how shall we again live +in the same?" And somewhat afterwards, "Who shall separate us," saith +he, "from the love of Christ, tribulation, or distress, or persecution, +or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or the sword?" What one, I pray you, +of all you, shall with such an affection be possessed in the inward +secret of his heart, since ye do not only labour for achieving of piety, +but also endure many things for the working of impiety, and offending of +Christ? Or who hath respected this that followeth? "The night hath +passed, and the day approached. Let us therefore cast off the works of +darkness, and put on the armour of light, even as in the day: let us +honestly walk, not in banqueting, and drunkenness, not in couches, and +wantonness, not in contention, and emulation; but put ye on our Lord +Jesus Christ, and make no care to bestow your flesh in concupiscences." + +Sec. 100. And again, in the first Epistle to the Corinthians, he saith: "As +a wise workmaster have I laid the foundation, another buildeth +thereupon, but let every man consider how he buildeth thereon. For no +other man can lay any other foundation besides that which is laid, even +Christ Jesus. But if any man buildeth upon this, gold, and silver, +precious stones, hay, wood, stubble, every one's work shall be +manifest; for the day of our Lord shall declare the same, because it +shall be revealed in fire, and the fire shall prove what every man's +work is. If any man's work shall remain, all by the fire shall be +adjudged. Whoso shall build thereupon, shall receive reward. If any +man's work shall burn, he shall suffer detriment. Know ye not that ye +are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? But +if any man violate the temple of God, God will destroy him." And again, +"If any man seemeth to be wise among you in this world, let him be made +a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is +foolishness with God." And within a few words afterwards, "Your glorying +is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven corrupteth the whole mass? +Purge ye, therefore, the old leaven that ye may be a new sprinkling." +How shall the old leaven, which is sin, be purged away, that from day to +day with your uttermost endeavours is increased? And yet again, "I have +written unto you in mine epistle, that ye be not intermingled with +fornicators, not truly the fornicators of this world, or the avaricious, +ravenous, or idolatrous, otherwise ye ought to depart out of this world. +But now have I written unto you, that ye be not intermingled, if any one +is named a brother, and be a fornicator, or avaricious, or an idolator, +or a slanderer, or a drunkard, or ravenous, with such an one ye should +not so much as eat." But a felon condemneth not his fellow thief for +stealing, or other open robbery, whom he rather liketh, defendeth, and +loveth, as a companion of his offence. + +Sec. 101. Also in his second epistle unto the Corinthians; "Having +therefore," saith he, "this administration, according as we have +obtained mercy, let us not fail, but let us cast away the secrets of +shame, not walking in subtility, nor yet corrupting the word of God," +(that is, by evil example and flattery.) And in that which followeth, he +thus discourseth of wicked teachers, saying: "For such false apostles +are deceitful workmen, transfiguring themselves into the apostles of +Christ. And no wonder: for Satan himself transfigureth himself into an +angel of light. It is not much therefore if his ministers are +transfigured as ministers of justice, whose end will be according unto +their works." + +Sec. 102. Hear likewise what he speaketh unto the Ephesians; and consider +if ye find not your consciences attainted as culpable of this that +followeth? where he denounceth thus: "I say and testify this in our +Lord, that ye do not as now walk like the Gentiles in the vanity of +their own sense, having their understanding obscured with darkness, +alienated from the way of God, through ignorance, which remaineth in +them in regard of the blindness of their heart, who despairing, have +yielded themselves over to uncleanness of life, for the working of all +filthiness and avarice." And which of ye hath willingly fulfilled that +which next ensueth? "Therefore be ye not made unwise, but understanding +what is the will of God, and be ye not drunk with wine, wherein there is +riotousness, but be ye fulfilled with the Holy Ghost." + +Sec. 103. Or that which he saith to the Thessalonians. "For neither have we +been with you at any time in the speech of flattery, as yourselves do +know; neither upon occasion of avarice, neither seeking to be glorified +by men, neither by you, nor any others, when we might be honoured, as +other apostles of Christ. But we have been made as little ones in the +midst of you; or even as the nurse cherisheth her small tender children, +so desiring you, we would very gladly deliver unto you, not only the +gospel, but also our very lives." If in all things ye retained this +affection of the apostle, then might ye be likewise assured, that ye +lawfully possessed his chair. Or how have ye observed this that +followeth? "Ye know," saith he, "what precepts I have delivered unto +you. This is the will of our Lord, your sanctification, that ye abstain +from fornication; and that every one of you know how to possess his own +vessel, in honour and sanctification, not in the passion of desire, like +the Gentiles who are ignorant of God; and that none of you do encroach +upon or circumvent his brother in his business, because our Lord is the +revenger of all these. For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but +unto sanctification. Therefore whoso despiseth these, doth not despise +man, but God." What one also among you hath advisedly and warily kept +this that ensueth: "Mortify therefore your members which are upon the +earth, fornication, uncleanness of life, lust, and evil concupiscence, +for which the wrath of God hath come upon the children of diffidence?" +Ye perceive therefore upon what offences the wrath of God doth chiefly +arise. + +Sec. 104. In which respect hear likewise what the same holy apostle, with a +prophetical spirit, foretelleth of you, and such as yourselves, writing +plainly in this sort to Timothy: "For know you this, that in the last +days there shall be dangerous times at hand. For men shall be +self-lovers, covetous, puffed up, proud, blasphemous, disobedient to +their parents, ungrateful, wicked, without affection, incontinent, +unmeek, without benignity, betrayers, froward, lofty, rather lovers of +sensual pleasures, than of God, having a show of piety, but renouncing +the virtue thereof." Avoid thou these men, even as the prophet saith: "I +have hated the congregation of the malicious, and with the wicked I will +not sit." And a little after, he uttereth that (which in our age we +behold to increase), saying: "Ever learning, and never attaining unto +the knowledge of truth; for even as Jannes and Mambres resisted Moses, +so do these also withstand the truth: men corrupted in mind, reprobate +against faith, but they shall prosper no further; for their folly shall +be manifest unto all, as theirs likewise was." + +Sec. 105. And evidently doth he also declare how priests in their office +ought to behave themselves, writing thus to Titus: "Show thyself an +example of good works, in learning, in integrity, in gravity, having thy +word sound without offence, that he who standeth on the adverse part may +be afraid, having no evil to speak of us." And moreover he saith unto +Timothy, "Labour thou as a good soldier of Christ Jesus; no man fighting +in God's quarrel entangleth himself in worldly business, that he may +please him unto whom he hath approved himself; for whoso striveth in the +lists for the mastery, receiveth not the crown, unless he hath lawfully +contended." This is his exhortation to the good. Other matter also which +the same epistles contain, is a threatening advertisement to the wicked +(such as yourselves, in the judgment of all understanding persons, +appear to be). "If any one," saith he, "teacheth otherwise, and doth not +peaceably assent to the sound sayings of our Lord Jesus Christ, and that +doctrine which is according to piety, he is proud, having no knowledge, +but languishing about questions, and contentions of words, out of which +do spring envies, debates, blasphemies, evil suspicions, conflicts of +men corrupted in mind, who are deprived of truth, esteeming commodity to +be piety." + +Sec. 106. But why in using these testimonies, here and there dispersed, are +we any longer, as it were, tossed up and down in the silly boat of our +simple understanding, on the waves of sundry interpretations? We have +now therefore at length thought it necessary to have recourse to those +lessons,[247] which are gathered out of Holy Scriptures, to the end that +they should not only be rehearsed, but also be assenting and assisting +unto the benediction, wherewith the hands of priests, and others of +inferior sacred orders, are first consecrated, and that thereby they may +continually be warned never, by degenerating from their priestly +dignity, to digress from the commandments, which are faithfully +contained in the same; so as it may be plain and apparent unto all, that +everlasting torments are reserved for them, and that they are not +priests, or the servants of God, who do not with their utmost power +follow and fulfil the instructions and precepts. Wherefore let us hear +what the prince of the apostles, Saint Peter, hath signified about this +so weighty a matter, saying: "Blessed be God, and the Father of our Lord +Jesus Christ, who through his mercy hath regenerated us into the hope of +eternal life, by the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ from the +dead, into an inheritance which can never corrupt, never wither, neither +be defiled, preserved in heaven for you, who are kept in the virtue of +God;" why then do ye fondly violate such an inheritance, which is not as +an earthly one, transitory, but immortal and eternal? And somewhat +afterwards: "For which cause be ye girded in the loins of your mind, +sober, perfectly hoping in that grace which is offered to you in the +revelation of Jesus Christ:" examine ye now the depths of your hearts, +whether ye be sober and do perfectly preserve the grace of priesthood, +which shall be duly discussed and decided in the revelation of our Lord. +And again he saith: "As children of the benediction, not configuring +yourselves to those former desires of your ignorance; but according unto +him who hath called you holy, be ye also holy in all conversation. For +which cause it is written, Be ye holy, because I am holy." Which one of +you, I pray, hath with his whole mind so pursued sanctity, that he hath +earnestly hastened, as much as in him lay, to fulfil the same? But let +us behold what in the second lesson of the same apostle is contained: +"My dearest," saith he, "sanctify your souls for the obedience of faith, +through the Spirit, in charity, in brotherhood, loving one another out +of a true heart perpetually, as born again not of corruptible seed, but +of incorruptible, through the word of God, living and remaining for +ever." + +Sec. 107. These are truly the commandments of the apostle; and read in the +day of your ordination, to the end ye should inviolably observe the +same, but they are not fulfilled by you in discretion and judgment, nay +not so much as duly considered or understood. And afterwards: "Laying +therefore aside all malice, and all deceits, and dissemblings, envy, and +detractions, as infants newly born, reasonable and without guile covet +ye milk, that ye may thereby grow to salvation, because our Lord is +sweet." Consider ye also in your minds, if these sayings which have +sounded in your deaf ears have not often likewise been trodden by you +under foot: and again: "Ye truly are the chosen lineage, the royal +priesthood, the holy nation, the people for adoption, that ye may +declare his virtues who hath called you out of darkness into his +marvellous light." But truly by you are not only the virtues of God not +declared and made more glorious, but also through your wicked examples +are they (by such as have not perfect belief) despised. Ye have +perchance at the same time likewise heard, what is read in the lesson of +the Acts, on this wise: "Peter arising in the midst of the disciples +said: Men and brethren, it is expedient that the Scripture be fulfilled, +which the Holy Ghost hath by the mouth of David foretold of Judas." And +a little after: "This man therefore purchased a field, of the reward of +iniquity." This have ye heard with a careless or rather blockish heart, +as though the reading thereof nothing at all appertained unto +yourselves. What one of you (I pray you) doth not seek the field of the +reward of iniquity? For Judas robbed and pillaged the purse, and ye +spoil and waste the sacred gifts and treasures of the church, together +with the souls of her children. He went to the Jews to make a market of +God, ye pass to the tyrants, and their father the devil, that ye may +despise Christ. _He_ set to sale the Saviour of the world for thirty +pence, and _you_ do so even for one poor halfpenny. + +Sec. 108. What need many words? The example of Matthias is apparently laid +before you for your confusion, who was chosen into his place, not by his +own proper will, but by the election of the holy apostles, or rather the +judgment of Christ, whereat ye being blinded, do not perceive how far ye +run astray from his merits, while ye fall wilfully and headlong into the +manners and affection of Judas the traitor. It is therefore manifest +that he who wittingly from his heart termeth you priests, is not himself +a true and worthy Christian. And now I will assuredly speak what I +think: this reprehension might have been framed after a milder fashion, +but what availeth it to touch only with the hand, or dress with gentle +ointment, that wound which with imposthumation or stinking corruption is +now grown so horrible, that it requireth the searing iron, or the +ordinary help of the fire, if happily by any means it may be cured, the +diseased in the meanwhile not seeking a medicine, and the physician much +erring from a rightful remedy? O ye enemies of God, and not priests! O +ye traders of wickedness, and not bishops! O ye betrayers, and not +successors of the holy apostles! O ye adversaries, and not servants of +Christ! Ye have certainly heard at the least, the sound of the words, +which are in the second lesson taken out of the apostle Saint Paul, +although ye have no way observed the admonitions and virtue of them, but +even as statues (that neither see nor hear) stood that day at the altar, +while both then, and continually since he hath thundered in your ears, +saying: "Brethren, it is a faithful speech, and worthy of all +acceptance." He called it faithful and worthy, but ye have despised it +as unfaithful and unworthy. "If any man desireth a bishopric, he +desireth a good work." Ye do mightily covet a bishopric in respect of +avarice, but not for spiritual convenience and for the good work which +is suitable to the place, ye want it. "It behoveth therefore such a one +to be free from all cause of reprehension." At this saying we have more +need to shed tears than utter words; for it is as much as if the apostle +had said, he ought to be of all others most free from occasion of +rebuke. "The husband of one wife," which is likewise so condemned among +us, as if that word had never proceeded from him; "Sober, wise;" yea, +which of ye hath once desired to have these virtues engrafted in him, +"using hospitality." For this, if perchance it hath been found among +you, yet being nevertheless rather done to purchase the favour of the +people, than to accomplish the commandment, it is of no avail, our Lord +and Saviour saying thus: "Verily, I say unto you, they have received +their reward." Moreover, "A man adorned, not given to wine; no fighter, +but modest; not contentious, not covetous:" O lamentable change! O +horrible contempt of the heavenly commandments! And do ye not +continually use the force of your words and actions, for the +overthrowing or rather overwhelming of these, for whose defence and +confirmation, if need had required, ye ought to have suffered pains, +yea, and to have lost your very lives. + +Sec. 109. But let us see what followeth: "Well governing," saith he, "his +house, having his children subjected with all chastity." Imperfect +therefore is the chastity of the parents, if the children be not also +endued with the same. But how shall it be, where neither the father, nor +the son, depraved by the example of his evil parent, is found to be +chaste? "But if any one knoweth not how to rule over his own house, how +shall he employ his care over the church of God?" These are the words, +that with apparent effects, should be made good and approved. "Deacons +in like manner, that they should be chaste, not doubled tongued, not +overgiven to much wine, not followers of filthy gain, having the mystery +of faith in a preconscience, and let these also be first approved, and +so let them administer, having no offence." And now trembling truly to +make any longer stay on these matters, I can for a conclusion affirm one +thing certainly, which is, that all these are changed into contrary +actions, in so much that clerks (which not without grief of heart, I +here confess,) are shameless and deceitful in their speeches, given to +drinking, covetous of filthy lucre, having faith (or to say more truly) +unfaithfulness in an impure conscience, ministering not upon probation +of their good works, but upon foreknowledge of their evil actions, and +being thus defiled with innumerable offences, they are notwithstanding +admitted unto the holy office; ye have likewise heard on the same day +(wherein ye should with far more right and reason have been drawn to +prison or punishment, than preferred unto priesthood) when our Lord +demanded whom his disciples supposed him to be, how Peter answered, +"Thou art Christ, the Son of the living God;" and our Lord in respect of +such his confession, said unto him: "Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jonas, +because flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father +who is in heaven." Peter therefore, instructed by God the Father, did +rightly confess Christ; but ye being taught by the devil your father, +do, with your lewd actions, wickedly deny our Saviour. It is said to the +true priest, "Thou art Peter, and upon this rock will I build my +church:" but ye resembled "the foolish man, who hath builded his house +upon the sand." And verily it is to be noted, that God joineth not in +the workmanship with the unwise, when they build their house upon the +deceitful uncertainty of the sands, according unto that saying: "They +have made kings unto themselves, and not by me." Similarly that (which +followeth) soundeth in like sort, speaking thus: "And the gates of hell +(whereby infernal sins are to be understood) shall not prevail." But of +your frail and deadly frame, mark what is pronounced: "The floods came, +and the winds blew, and dashed upon that house and it fell, and great +was the ruin thereof." To Peter and his successors, our Lord doth say, +"And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven." But unto +you, "I know you not, depart from me all ye workers of iniquity," that +being separated with the goats of the left hand, ye may together with +them go into eternal fire. It is also promised unto every good priest, +"Whatsoever thou shalt loose upon earth, shall be likewise loosed in +heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind upon earth, shall be in like sort +bound in heaven." But how shall ye loose any thing, that it may be +loosed also in heaven, since yourselves for your sins are severed from +heaven, and hampered in the bands of your own heinous offences, as +Solomon saith, "With the cords of his sins, every one is tied?" And with +what reason shall ye bind any thing on this earth, that above this world +may be likewise bound, unless it be your only selves, who, entangled in +your iniquities, are so detained on this earth, that ye cannot ascend +into heaven, but without your conversion unto our Lord in this life, +will fall down into the miserable prison of hell? + +Sec. 110. Neither yet let any priest flatter himself upon the knowledge of +the particular cleanness of his own body, since their souls (over whom +he hath government) shall in the day of judgment be required at his +hands as the murderer of them, if any through his ignorance, sloth, or +fawning adulation, have perished, because the stroke of death is not +less terrible, that is given by a good man, than that which is inflicted +by an evil person; otherwise would the apostle never have said that +which he left unto his successors, as a fatherly legacy, "I am clear and +clean from the blood of all: for I have not forborne to declare unto you +all the counsel of God." Being therefore mightily drunken with the use +and custom of sins, and extremely overwhelmed with the waves (as it +were) of increasing offences, seek ye now forthwith the uttermost +endeavours of your minds (after this your shipwreck), that one plank of +repentance which is left, whereby ye may escape and swim to the land of +the living, that from you may be turned away the wrath of our Lord, who +saith, "I will not the death of a sinner: but that he may be converted +and live." And may the same Almighty God, of all consolation and mercy, +preserve his few good pastors from all evil, and (the common enemy being +overcome) make them free inhabitants of the heavenly city of Jerusalem, +which is the congregation of all saints; grant this, O Father, Son, and +Holy Ghost, to whom be honour and glory, world without end. Amen. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 240: Probably Cystennyn of the Bards. Constantine is a name +often occurring in the British royal families. The Constantine of Gildas +is supposed to have been king of Cornwall, who abdicated his throne, and +afterwards preached the gospel to the Picts and Scots. Some account of +him will be found in the Aberdeen Breviary, in the Acta Sanctorum, +March, vol. ii. p. 64, and in Whitaker's Cathedral of Cornwall, i. 325.] + +[Footnote 241: The present counties of Devon and Cornwall.] + +[Footnote 242: King of Powisland, which for some time formed a distinct +kingdom.] + +[Footnote 243: Inhabitants of the counties of Cardigan, Pembroke, and +Carmarthen.] + +[Footnote 244: His dominions were north of Cambria, between the Severn +and the Western Sea.] + +[Footnote 245: Probably Maelgwn Gwynedd, king of North Wales.] + +[Footnote 246: Vermilion, the English version, seems derived from +_vermes_, a worm.] + +[Footnote 247: Gildas, in this and the following section, evidently +alludes to the Ordination Ritual of the Ancient British Church.] + + + + +NENNIUS'S + +HISTORY OF THE BRITONS. + + + + +NENNIUS'S + +HISTORY OF THE BRITONS. + +I.--THE PROLOGUE. + + +Sec. 1. Nennius, the lowly minister and servant of the servants of God, by +the grace of God, disciple of St. Elbotus,[248] to all the followers of +truth sendeth health. + +Be it known to your charity, that being dull in intellect and rude of +speech, I have presumed to deliver these things in the Latin tongue, not +trusting to my own learning, which is little or none at all, but partly +from traditions of our ancestors, partly from writings and monuments of +the ancient inhabitants of Britain, partly from the annals of the +Romans, and the chronicles of the sacred fathers, Isidore, Hieronymus, +Prosper, Eusebius, and from the histories of the Scots and Saxons, +although our enemies, not following my own inclinations, but, to the +best of my ability, obeying the commands of my seniors; I have lispingly +put together this history from various sources, and have endeavoured, +from shame, to deliver down to posterity the few remaining ears of corn +about past transactions, that they might not be trodden under foot, +seeing that an ample crop has been snatched away already by the hostile +reapers of foreign nations. For many things have been in my way, and I, +to this day, have hardly been able to understand, even superficially, as +was necessary, the sayings of other men; much less was I able in my own +strength, but like a barbarian, have I murdered and defiled the language +of others. But I bore about with me an inward wound, and I was +indignant, that the name of my own people, formerly famous and +distinguished, should sink into oblivion, and like smoke be dissipated. +But since, however, I had rather myself be the historian of the Britons +than nobody, although so many are to be found who might much more +satisfactorily discharge the labour thus imposed on me; I humbly entreat +my readers, whose ears I may offend by the inelegance of my words, that +they will fulfil the wish of my seniors, and grant me the easy task of +listening with candour to my history. For zealous efforts very often +fail: but bold enthusiasm, were it in its power, would not suffer me to +fail. May, therefore, candour be shown where the inelegance of my words +is insufficient, and may the truth of this history, which my rustic +tongue has ventured, as a kind of plough, to trace out in furrows, lose +none of its influence from that cause, in the ears of my hearers. For it +is better to drink a wholesome draught of truth from a humble vessel, +than poison mixed with honey from a golden goblet. + +Sec. 2. And do not be loath, diligent reader, to winnow my chaff, and lay +up the wheat in the storehouse of your memory: for truth regards not who +is the speaker, nor in what manner it is spoken, but that the thing be +true; and she does not despise the jewel which she has rescued from the +mud, but she adds it to her former treasures. + +For I yield to those who are greater and more eloquent than myself, who, +kindled with generous ardour, have endeavoured by Roman eloquence to +smooth the jarring elements of their tongue, if they have left unshaken +any pillar of history which I wished to see remain. This history +therefore has been compiled from a wish to benefit my inferiors, not +from envy of those who are superior to me, in the 858th year of our +Lord's incarnation, and in the 24th year of Mervin, king of the Britons, +and I hope that the prayers of my betters will be offered up for me in +recompence of my labour. But this is sufficient by way of preface. I +shall obediently accomplish the rest to the utmost of my power. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 248: Or Elvod, bishop of Bangor, A.D. 755, who first adopted +in the Cambrian church the new cycle for regulating Easter.] + + + + +II.--THE APOLOGY OF NENNIUS. + + +Here begins the apology of Nennius, the historiographer of the Britons, +of the race of the Britons. + +Sec. 3. I, Nennius, disciple of St. Elbotus, have endeavoured to write some +extracts which the dulness of the British nation had cast away, because +teachers had no knowledge, nor gave any information in their books about +this island of Britain. But I have got together all that I could find +as well from the annals of the Romans as from the chronicles of the +sacred fathers, Hieronymus, Eusebius, Isidorus, Prosper, and from the +annals of the Scots and Saxons, and from our ancient traditions. Many +teachers and scribes have attempted to write this, but somehow or other +have abandoned it from its difficulty, either on account of frequent +deaths, or the often recurring calamities of war. I pray that every +reader who shall read this book, may pardon me, for having attempted, +like a chattering jay, or like some weak witness, to write these things, +after they had failed. I yield to him who knows more of these things +than I do. + + + + +III.--THE HISTORY. + + +Sec. 4, 5. From Adam to the flood, are two thousand and forty-two years. +From the flood to Abraham, nine hundred and forty-two. From Abraham to +Moses, six hundred.[249] From Moses to Solomon, and the first building +of the temple, four hundred and forty-eight. From Solomon to the +rebuilding of the temple, which was under Darius, king of the Persians, +six hundred and twelve years are computed. From Darius to the ministry +of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the fifteenth year of the emperor +Tiberius, are five hundred and forty-eight years. So that from Adam to +the ministry of Christ and the fifteenth year of the emperor Tiberius, +are five thousand two hundred and twenty-eight years. From the passion +of Christ are completed nine hundred and forty-six; from his +incarnation, nine hundred and seventy-six: being the fifth year of +Edmund, king of the Angles. + +Sec. 6. The first age of the world is from Adam to Noah; the second from +Noah to Abraham; the third from Abraham to David; the fourth from David +to Daniel; the fifth to John the Baptist; the sixth from John to the +judgment, when our Lord Jesus Christ will come to judge the living and +the dead, and the world by fire. + +The first Julius. The second Claudius. The third Severus. The fourth +Carinus. The fifth Constantius. The sixth Maximus. The seventh +Maximianus. The eighth another Severus AEquantius. The ninth +Constantius.[250] + +Here beginneth the history of the Britons, edited by Mark the anchorite, +a holy bishop of that people. + +Sec. 7. The island of Britain derives its name from Brutus, a Roman consul. +Taken from the south-west point it inclines a little towards the west, +and to its northern extremity measures eight hundred miles, and is in +breadth two hundred. It contains thirty-three cities,[251] viz. + + 1. Cair ebrauc (_York_). + 2. Cair ceint (_Canterbury_). + 3. Cair gurcoc (_Anglesey?_) + 4. Cair guorthegern.[252] + 5. Cair custeint (_Carnarvon_). + 6. Cair guoranegon (_Worcester_). + 7. Cair segeint (_Silchester_). + 8. Cair guin truis (_Norwich_, or _Winwick_). + 9. Cair merdin (_Caermarthen_). + 10. Cair peris (_Porchester_). + 11. Cair lion (_Caerleon-upon-Usk_). + 12. Cair mencipit (_Verulam_). + 13. Cair caratauc (_Catterick_). + 14. Cair ceri (_Cirencester_). + 15. Cair gloui (_Gloucester_). + 18. Cair luilid (_Carlisle_). + 17. Cair grant (_Grantchester_, now _Cambridge_). + 18. Cair daun (_Doncaster_), or Cair dauri (_Dorchester_). + 19. Cair britoc (_Bristol_). + 20. Cair meguaid (_Meivod_). + 21. Cair mauiguid (_Manchester_). + 22. Cair ligion (_Chester_). + 23. Cair guent (_Winchester_, or _Caerwent_, in _Monmouthshire_). + 24. Cair collon (_Colchester_, or _St. Colon, Cornwall_). + 25. Cair londein (_London_). + 26. Cair guorcon (_Worren_, or _Woran_, in _Pembrokeshire_). + 27. Cair lerion (_Leicester_). + 28. Cair draithou (_Drayton_). + 29. Cair pensavelcoit (_Pevensey_, in _Sussex_). + 30. Cair teim (_Teyn-Grace_, in _Devonshire_). + 31. Cair Urnahc (_Wroxeter_, in _Shropshire_). + 32. Cair colemion (_Oarnalet_, in _Somersetshire_). + 33. Cair loit coit (_Lincoln_). + +These are the names of the ancient cities of the island of Britain. It +has also a vast many promontories, and castles innumerable, built of +brick and stone. Its inhabitants consist of four different people; the +Scots, the Picts, the Saxons, and the ancient Britons. + +Sec. 8. Three considerable islands belong to it; one, on the south, +opposite the Armorican shore, called Wight;[253] another between Ireland +and Britain, called Eubonia or Man; and another directly north, beyond +the Picts, named Orkney; and hence it was anciently a proverbial +expression, in reference to its kings and rulers, "He reigned over +Britain and its three islands." + +Sec. 9. It is fertilized by several rivers, which traverse it in all +directions, to the east and west, to the south and north; but there are +two pre-eminently distinguished among the rest, the Thames and the +Severn, which formerly, like the two arms of Britain, bore the ships +employed in the conveyance of the riches acquired by commerce. The +Britons were once very populous, and exercised extensive dominion from +sea to sea. + +Sec. 10.[254] Respecting the period when this island became inhabited +subsequently to the flood, I have seen two distinct relations. According +to the annals of the Roman history, the Britons deduce their origin both +from the Greeks and Romans. On the side of the mother, from Lavinia, the +daughter of Latinus, king of Italy, and of the race of Silvanus, the son +of Inachus, the son of Dardanus; who was the son of Saturn, king of the +Greeks, and who, having possessed himself of a part of Asia, built the +city of Troy. Dardanus was the father of Troius, who was the father of +Priam and Anchises; Anchises was the father of AEneas, who was the father +of Ascanius and Silvius; and this Silvius was the son of AEneas and +Lavinia, the daughter of the king of Italy. From the sons of AEneas and +Lavinia descended Romulus and Remus, who were the sons of the holy queen +Rhea, and the founders of Rome. Brutus was consul when he conquered +Spain, and reduced that country to a Roman province. He afterwards +subdued the island of Britain, whose inhabitants were the descendants of +the Romans, from Silvius Posthumus. He was called _Posthumus_ because he +was born after the death of AEneas his father; and his mother Lavinia +concealed herself during her pregnancy; he was called _Silvius_, because +he was born in a wood. Hence the Roman kings were called Silvan, and the +Britons who sprang from him; but they were called Britons from Brutus, +and rose from the family of Brutus. + +AEneas, after the Trojan war, arrived with his son in Italy; and having +vanquished Turnus, married Lavinia, the daughter of king Latinus, who +was the son of Faunas, the son of Picus, the son of Saturn. After the +death of Latinus, AEneas obtained the kingdom of the Romans, and Lavinia +brought forth a son, who was named Silvius. Ascanius founded Alba, and +afterwards married. And Lavinia bore to AEneas a son, named Silvius; but +Ascanius[255] married a wife, who conceived and became pregnant. And +AEneas, having been informed that his daughter-in-law was pregnant, +ordered his son to send his magician to examine his wife, whether the +child conceived were male or female. The magician came and examined the +wife and pronounced it to be a son, who should become the most valiant +among the Italians, and the most beloved of all men.[256] In consequence +of this prediction, the magician was put to death by Ascanius; but it +happened that the mother of the child dying at its birth, he was named +Brutus; and after a certain interval, agreeably to what the magician had +foretold, whilst he was playing with some others he shot his father with +an arrow, not intentionally but by accident.[257] He was, for this +cause, expelled from Italy, and came to the islands of the Tyrrhene sea, +when he was exiled on account of the death of Turnus, slain by AEneas. He +then went among the Gauls, and built the city of the Turones, called +Turnis.[258] At length he came to this island, named from him Britannia, +dwelt there, and filled it with his own descendants, and it has been +inhabited from that time to the present period. + +Sec. 11. AEneas reigned over the Latins three years; Ascanius thirty-three +years; after whom Silvius reigned twelve years, and Posthumus +thirty-nine[259] years: the latter, from whom the kings of Alba are +called Silvan, was brother to Brutus, who governed Britain at the time +Eli the high-priest judged Israel, and when the ark of the covenant was +taken by a foreign people. But Posthumus his brother reigned among the +Latins. + +Sec. 12. After an interval of not less than eight hundred years, came the +Picts, and occupied the Orkney Islands: whence they laid waste many +regions, and seized those on the left hand side of Britain, where they +still remain, keeping possession of a third part of Britain to this +day.[260] + +Sec. 13. Long after this, the Scots arrived in Ireland from Spain. The +first that came was Partholomus,[261] with a thousand men and women; +these increased to four thousand; but a mortality coming suddenly upon +them, they all perished in one week. The second was Nimech, the son of +...,[262] who, according to report, after having been at sea a year and +a half, and having his ships shattered, arrived at a port in Ireland, +and continuing there several years, returned at length with his +followers to Spain. After these came three sons of a Spanish soldier +with thirty ships, each of which contained thirty wives; and having +remained there during the space of a year, there appeared to them, in +the middle of the sea, a tower of glass, the summit of which seemed +covered with men, to whom they often spoke, but received no answer. At +length they determined to besiege the tower; and after a year's +preparation, advanced towards it, with the whole number of their ships, +and all the women, one ship only excepted, which had been wrecked, and +in which were thirty men, and as many women; but when all had +disembarked on the shore which surrounded the tower, the sea opened and +swallowed them up. Ireland, however, was peopled, to the present period, +from the family remaining in the vessel which was wrecked. Afterwards, +others came from Spain, and possessed themselves of various parts of +Britain. + +Sec. 14. Last of all came one Hoctor,[263] who continued there, and whose +descendants remain there to this day. Istoreth, the son of Istorinus, +with his followers, held Dalrieta; Buile had the island Eubonia, and +other adjacent places. The sons of Liethali[264] obtained the country of +the Dimetae, where is a city called Menavia,[265] and the province Guiher +and Cetgueli,[266] which they held till they were expelled from every +part of Britain, by Cunedda and his sons. + +Sec. 15. According to the most learned among the Scots, if any one desires +to learn what I am now going to state, Ireland was a desert, and +uninhabited, when the children of Israel crossed the Red Sea, in which, +as we read in the Book of the Law, the Egyptians who followed them were +drowned. At that period, there lived among this people, with a numerous +family, a Scythian of noble birth, who had been banished from his +country, and did not go to pursue the people of God. The Egyptians who +were left, seeing the destruction of the great men of their nation, and +fearing lest he should possess himself of their territory, took counsel +together, and expelled him. Thus reduced, he wandered forty-two years in +Africa, and arrived, with his family, at the altars of the Philistines, +by the Lake of Osiers. Then passing between Rusicada and the hilly +country of Syria, they travelled by the river Malva through Mauritania +as far as the Pillars of Hercules; and crossing the Tyrrhene Sea, landed +in Spain, where they continued many years, having greatly increased and +multiplied. Thence, a thousand and two years after the Egyptians were +lost in the Red Sea, they passed into Ireland, and the district of +Dalrieta.[267] At that period, Brutus, who first exercised the consular +office, reigned over the Romans; and the state, which before was +governed by regal power, was afterwards ruled, during four hundred and +forty-seven years, by consuls, tribunes of the people, and dictators. + +The Britons came to Britain in the third age of the world; and in the +fourth, the Scots took possession of Ireland. + +The Britons who, suspecting no hostilities, were unprovided with the +means of defence, were unanimously and incessantly attacked, both by the +Scots from the west, and by the Picts from the north. A long interval +after this, the Romans obtained the empire of the world. + +Sec. 16. From the first arrival of the Saxons into Britain, to the fourth +year of king Mermenus are computed four hundred and twenty-eight years; +from the nativity of our Lord to the coming of St. Patrick among the +Scots, four hundred and five years; from the death of St. Patrick to +that of St. Bridget, forty years; and from the birth of Columcille[268] +to the death of St. Bridget four years.[269] + +Sec. 17. I have learned another account of this Brutus from the ancient +books of our ancestors.[270] After the deluge, the three sons of Noah +severally occupied three different parts of the earth: Shem extended his +borders into Asia, Ham into Africa, and Japheth into Europe. + +The first man that dwelt in Europe was Alanus, with his three sons, +Hisicion, Armenon, and Neugio. Hisicion had four sons, Francus, Romanus, +Alamanus, and Brutus. Armenon had five sons, Gothus, Valagothus, +Cibidus, Burgundus, and Longobardus. Neugio had three sons, Vandalus, +Saxo, and Boganus. From Hisicion arose four nations--the Franks, the +Latins, the Germans, and Britons: from Armenon, the Gothi, Valagothi, +Cibidi, Burgundi, and Longobardi: from Neugio, the Bogari, Vandali, +Saxones, and Tarinegi. The whole of Europe was subdivided into these +tribes. + +Alanus is said to have been the son of Fethuir;[271] Fethuir the son of +Ogomuin, who was the son of Thoi; Thoi was the son of Boibus, Boibus of +Semion, Semion of Mair, Mair of Ecthactus, Ecthactus of Aurthack, +Aurthack of Ethec, Ethec of Ooth, Ooth of Aber, Aber of Ra, Ra of Esraa, +Esraa of Hisrau, Hisrau of Bath, Bath of Jobath, Jobath of Joham, Joham +of Japheth, Japheth of Noah, Noah of Lamech, Lamech of Mathusalem, +Mathusalem of Enoch, Enoch of Jared, Jared of Malalehel, Malalehel of +Cainan, Cainan of Enos, Enos of Seth, Seth of Adam, and Adam was formed +by the living God. We have obtained this information respecting the +original inhabitants of Britain from ancient tradition. + +Sec. 18. The Britons were thus called from Brutus: Brutus was the son of +Hisicion, Hisicion was the son of Alanus, Alanus was the son of Rhea +Silvia, Rhea Silvia was the daughter of Numa Pompilius, Numa was the son +of Ascanius, Ascanius of Eneas, Eneas of Anchises, Anchises of Troius, +Troius of Dardanus, Dardanus of Flisa, Flisa of Juuin, Juuin of +Japheth; but Japheth had seven sons; from the first, named Gomer, +descended the Galli; from the second, Magog, the Scythi and Gothi; from +the third, Madian, the Medi; from the fourth, Juuan, the Greeks; from +the fifth, Tubal, arose the Hebrei, Hispani, and Itali; from the sixth, +Mosoch, sprung the Cappadoces; and from the seventh, named Tiras, +descended the Thraces: these are the sons of Japheth, the son of Noah, +the son of Lamech. + +Sec. 19.[272] The Romans having obtained the dominion of the world, sent +legates or deputies to the Britons to demand of them hostages and +tribute, which they received from all other countries and islands; but +they, fierce, disdainful, and haughty, treated the legation with +contempt. + +Then Julius Caesar, the first who had acquired absolute power at Rome, +highly incensed against the Britons, sailed with sixty vessels to the +mouth of the Thames, where they suffered shipwreck whilst he fought +against Dolobellus,[273] (the proconsul of the British king, who was +called Belinus,[274] and who was the son of Minocannus who governed all +the islands of the Tyrrhene Sea), and thus Julius Caesar returned home +without victory, having had his soldiers slain, and his ships shattered. + +Sec. 20. But after three years he again appeared with a large army, and +three hundred ships, at the mouth of the Thames, where he renewed +hostilities. In this attempt many of his soldiers and horses were +killed; for the same consul had placed iron pikes in the shallow part of +the river, and this having been effected with so much skill and secrecy +as to escape the notice of the Roman soldiers, did them considerable +injury; thus Caesar was once more compelled to return without peace or +victory. The Romans were, therefore, a third time sent against the +Britons; and under the command of Julius, defeated them near a place +called Trinovantum [London], forty-seven years before the birth of +Christ, and five thousand two hundred and twelve years from the +creation. + +Julius was the first exercising supreme power over the Romans who +invaded Britain: in honour of him the Romans decreed the fifth month to +be called after his name. He was assassinated in the Curia, in the ides +of March, and Octavius Augustus succeeded to the empire of the world. He +was the only emperor who received tribute from the Britons, according to +the following verse of Virgil: + + "Purpurea intexti tollunt aulaea Britanni." + +Sec. 21. The second after him, who came into Britain, was the emperor +Claudius, who reigned forty-seven years after the birth of Christ. He +carried with him war and devastation; and, though not without loss of +men, he at length conquered Britain. He next sailed to the Orkneys, +which he likewise conquered, and afterwards rendered tributary. No +tribute was in his time received from the Britons; but it was paid to +British emperors. He reigned thirteen years and eight months. His +monument is to be seen at Moguntia (among the Lombards), where he died +in his way to Rome. + +Sec. 22. After the birth of Christ, one hundred and sixty-seven years, king +Lucius, with all the chiefs of the British people, received baptism, in +consequence of a legation sent by the Roman emperors and pope +Evaristus.[275] + +Sec. 23. Severus was the third emperor who passed the sea to Britain, +where, to protect the provinces recovered from barbaric incursions, he +ordered a wall and a rampart to be made between the Britons, the Scots, +and the Picts, extending across the island from sea to sea, in length +one hundred and thirty-three[276] miles: and it is called in the British +language, Gwal.[277] Moreover, he ordered it to be made between the +Britons, and the Picts and Scots; for the Scots from the west, and the +Picts from the north, unanimously made war against the Britons; but were +at peace among themselves. Not long after Severus dies in Britain. + +Sec. 24. The fourth was the emperor and tyrant, Carausius, who, incensed at +the murder of Severus, passed into Britain, and attended by the leaders +of the Roman people, severely avenged upon the chiefs and rulers of the +Britons, the cause of Severus.[278] + +Sec. 25. The fifth was Constantius the father of Constantine the Great. He +died in Britain; his sepulchre, as it appears by the inscription on his +tomb, is still seen near the city named Cair segont (near Carnarvon). +Upon the pavement of the above-mentioned city he sowed three seeds of +gold, silver, and brass, that no poor person might ever be found in it. +It is also called Minmanton.[279] + +Sec. 26. Maximianus[280] was the sixth emperor that ruled in Britain. It +was in his time that consuls[281] began, and that the appellation of +Caesar was discontinued: at this period also, St. Martin became +celebrated for his virtues and miracles, and held a conversation with +him. + +Sec. 27. The seventh emperor was Maximus. He withdrew from Britain with all +his military force, slew Gratian, the king of the Romans, and obtained +the sovereignty of all Europe. Unwilling to send back his warlike +companions to their wives, children, and possessions in Britain, he +conferred upon them numerous districts from the lake on the summit of +Mons Jovis, to the city called Cant Guic, and to the western Tumulus, +that is, to Cruc Occident.[282] These are the Armoric Britons, and they +remain there to the present day. In consequence of their absence, +Britain being overcome by foreign nations, the lawful heirs were cast +out, till God interposed with his assistance. We are informed by the +tradition of our ancestors that _seven_ emperors went into Britain, +though the Romans affirm there were _nine_. + +The eighth was another Severus, who lived occasionally in Britain, and +sometimes at Rome, where he died. + +The ninth was Constantius who reigned sixteen years in Britain, and, +according to report, was treacherously murdered in the seventeenth year +of his reign. + +Sec. 28. Thus, agreeably to the account given by the Britons, the Romans +governed them four hundred and nine years. + +After this, the Britons despised the authority of the Romans, equally +refusing to pay them tribute, or to receive their kings; nor durst the +Romans any longer attempt the government of a country, the natives of +which massacred their deputies. + +Sec. 29. We must now return to the tyrant Maximus. Gratian, with his +brother Valentinian, reigned seven years. Ambrose, bishop of Milan, was +then eminent for his skill in the dogmata of the Catholics. +Valentinianus and Theodosius reigned eight years. At that time a synod +was held at Constantinople, attended by three hundred and fifty of the +fathers, and in which all heresies were condemned. Jerome, the presbyter +of Bethlehem, was then universally celebrated. Whilst Gratian exercised +supreme dominion over the world, Maximus, in a sedition of the soldiers, +was saluted emperor in Britain, and soon after crossed the sea to Gaul. +At Paris, by the treachery of Mellobaudes, his master of the horse, +Gratian was defeated, and fleeing to Lyons, was taken and put to death; +Maximus afterwards associated his son Victor in the government. + +Martin, distinguished for his great virtues, was at this period bishop +of Tours. After a considerable space of time, Maximus was divested of +royal power by the consuls Valentinianus and Theodosius, and sentenced +to be beheaded at the third milestone from Aquileia: in the same year +also his son Victor was killed in Gaul by Arbogastes, five thousand six +hundred and ninety years from the creation of the world. + +Sec. 30. Thrice were the Roman deputies put to death by the Britons, and +yet these, when harassed by the incursions of the barbarous nations, +viz. of the Scots and Picts, earnestly solicited the aid of the Romans. +To give effect to their entreaties, ambassadors were sent, who made +their entrance with impressions of deep sorrow, having their heads +covered with dust, and carrying rich presents to expiate the murder of +the deputies. They were favourably received by the consuls, and swore +submission to the Roman yoke, with whatever severity it might be +imposed. + +The Romans, therefore, came with a powerful army to the assistance of +the Britons; and having appointed over them a ruler, and settled the +government, returned to Rome: and this took place alternately during the +space of three hundred and forty-eight years. The Britons, however, from +the oppression of the empire, again massacred the Roman deputies, and +again petitioned for succour. Once more the Romans undertook the +government of the Britons, and assisted them in repelling their +neighbours; and, after having exhausted the country of its gold, silver, +brass, honey, and costly vestments, and having besides received rich +gifts, they returned in great triumph to Rome. + +Sec. 31. After the above-said war between the Britons and Romans, the +assassination of their rulers, and the victory of Maximus, who slew +Gratian, and the termination of the Roman power in Britain, they were in +alarm forty years. + +Vortigern then reigned in Britain. In his time, the natives had cause of +dread, not only from the inroads of the Scots and Picts, but also from +the Romans, and their apprehensions of Ambrosius.[283] + +In the meantime, three vessels, exiled from Germany, arrived in Britain. +They were commanded by Horsa and Hengist, brothers, and sons of +Wihtgils. Wihtgils was the son of Witta; Witta of Wecta; Wecta of Woden; +Woden of Frithowald; Frithowald of Frithuwulf; Frithuwulf of Finn; Finn +of Godwulf; Godwulf of Geat, who, as they say, was the son of a god, +not[284] of the omnipotent God and our Lord Jesus Christ (who before +the beginning of the world, was with the Father and the Holy Spirit, +co-eternal and of the same substance, and who, in compassion to human +nature, disdained not to assume the form of a servant), but the +offspring of one of their idols, and whom, blinded by some demon, they +worshipped according to the custom of the heathen. Vortigern received +them as friends, and delivered up to them the island which is in their +language called Thanet, and, by the Britons, Ruym.[285] Gratianus +AEquantius at that time reigned in Rome. The Saxons were received by +Vortigern, four hundred and forty-seven years after the passion of +Christ, and,[286] according to the tradition of our ancestors, from the +period of their first arrival in Britain, to the first year of the reign +of king Edmund, five hundred and forty-two years; and to that in which +we now write, which is the fifth of his reign, five hundred and +forty-seven years. + +Sec. 32. At that time St. Germanus, distinguished for his numerous virtues, +came to preach in Britain: by his ministry many were saved; but many +likewise died unconverted. Of the various miracles which God enabled him +to perform, I shall here mention only a few: I shall first advert to +that concerning an iniquitous and tyrannical king, named Benlli.[287] +The holy man, informed of his wicked conduct, hastened to visit him, for +the purpose of remonstrating with him. When the man of God, with his +attendants, arrived at the gate of the city, they were respectfully +received by the keeper of it, who came out and saluted them. Him they +commissioned to communicate their intention to the king, who returned a +harsh answer, declaring, with an oath, that although they remained there +a year, they should not enter the city. While waiting for an answer, the +evening came on, and they knew not where to go. At length, came one of +the king's servants, who bowing himself before the man of God, announced +the words of the tyrant, inviting them, at the same time, to his own +house, to which they went, and were kindly received. It happened, +however, that he had no cattle, except one cow and a calf, the latter of +which, urged by generous hospitality to his guests, he killed, dressed, +and set before them. But holy St. Germanus ordered his companions not to +break a bone of the calf; and, the next morning, it was found alive +uninjured, and standing by its mother. + +Sec. 33. Early the same day, they again went to the gate of the city, to +solicit audience of the wicked king; and, whilst engaged in fervent +prayer they were waiting for admission, a man, covered with sweat, came +out, and prostrated himself before them. Then St. Germanus, addressing +him, said, "Dost thou believe in the Holy Trinity?" To which the man +having replied, "I do believe," he baptized, and kissed him, saying, "Go +in peace; within this hour thou shalt die: the angels of God are waiting +for thee in the air; with them thou shalt ascend to that God in whom +thou hast believed." He, overjoyed, entered the city, and being met by +the prefect, was seized, bound, and conducted before the tyrant, who +having passed sentence upon him, he was immediately put to death; for it +was a law of this wicked king, that whoever was not at his labour before +sun-rising should be beheaded in the citadel. In the meantime, St. +Germanus, with his attendants, waited the whole day before the gate, +without obtaining admission to the tyrant. + +Sec. 34. The man above-mentioned, however, remained with them. "Take care," +said St. Germanus to him, "that none of your friends remain this night +within these walls." Upon this he hastily entered the city, brought out +his nine sons, and with them retired to the house where he had exercised +such generous hospitality. Here St. Germanus ordered them to continue, +fasting; and when the gates were shut, "Watch," said he, "and whatever +shall happen in the citadel, turn not thither your eyes; but pray +without ceasing, and invoke the protection of the true God." And, +behold, early in the night, fire fell from heaven, and burned the city, +together with all those who were with the tyrant, so that not one +escaped; and that citadel has never been rebuilt even to this day. + +Sec. 35. The following day, the hospitable man who had been converted by +the preaching of St. Germanus, was baptized, with his sons, and all the +inhabitants of that part of the country; and St. Germanus blessed him, +saying, "a king shall not be wanting of thy seed for ever." The name of +this person is Catel Drunluc:[288] "from henceforward thou shalt be a +king all the days of thy life." Thus was fulfilled the prophecy of the +Psalmist: "He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the +needy out of the dunghill." And agreeably to the prediction of St. +Germanus, from a servant he became a king: all his sons were kings, and +from their offspring the whole country of Powys has been governed to +this day. + +Sec. 36. After the Saxons had continued some time in the island of Thanet, +Vortigern promised to supply them with clothing and provision, on +condition they would engage to fight against the enemies of his country. +But the barbarians having greatly increased in number, the Britons +became incapable of fulfilling their engagement; and when the Saxons, +according to the promise they had received, claimed a supply of +provisions and clothing, the Britons replied, "Your number is increased; +your assistance is now unnecessary; you may, therefore, return home, for +we can no longer support you;" and hereupon they began to devise means +of breaking the peace between them. + +Sec. 37. But Hengist, in whom united craft and penetration, perceiving he +had to act with an ignorant king, and a fluctuating people, incapable of +opposing much resistance, replied to Vortigern, "We are, indeed, few in +number; but, if you will give us leave, we will send to our country for +an additional number of forces, with whom we will fight for you and your +subjects." Vortigern assenting to this proposal, messengers were +despatched to Scythia, where selecting a number of warlike troops, they +returned with sixteen vessels, bringing with them the beautiful daughter +of Hengist. And now the Saxon chief prepared an entertainment, to which +he invited the king, his officers, and Ceretic, his interpreter, having +previously enjoined his daughter to serve them so profusely with wine +and ale, that they might soon become intoxicated. This plan succeeded; +and Vortigern, at the instigation of the devil, and enamoured with the +beauty of the damsel, demanded her, through the medium of his +interpreter, of the father, promising to give for her whatever he should +ask. Then Hengist, who had already consulted with the elders who +attended him of the Oghgul[289] race, demanded for his daughter the +province, called in English, Centland, in British, Ceint, (Kent.) This +cession was made without the knowledge of the king, Guoyrancgonus,[290] +who then reigned in Kent, and who experienced no inconsiderable share of +grief, from seeing his kingdom thus clandestinely, fraudulently, and +imprudently resigned to foreigners. Thus the maid was delivered up to +the king, who slept with her, and loved her exceedingly. + +Sec. 38. Hengist, after this, said to Vortigern, "I will be to you both a +father and an adviser; despise not my counsels, and you shall have no +reason to fear being conquered by any man or any nation whatever; for +the people of my country are strong, warlike, and robust: if you +approve, I will send for my son and his brother, both valiant men, who +at my invitation will fight against the Scots, and you can give them the +countries in the north, near the wall called _Gual_."[291] The +incautious sovereign having assented to this, Octa and Ebusa arrived +with forty ships. In these they sailed round the country of the Picts, +laid waste the Orkneys, and took possession of many regions, even to the +Pictish confines.[292] + +But Hengist continued, by degrees, sending for ships from his own +country, so that some islands whence they came were left without +inhabitants; and whilst his people were increasing in power and number, +they came to the above-named province of Kent. + +Sec. 39. In the meantime, Vortigern, as if desirous of adding to the evils +he had already occasioned, married his own daughter, by whom he had a +son. When this was made known to St. Germanus, he came, with all the +British clergy, to reprove him: and whilst a numerous assembly of the +ecclesiastics and laity were in consultation, the weak king ordered his +daughter to appear before them, and in the presence of all to present +her son to St. Germanus, and declare that he was the father of the +child. The immodest[293] woman obeyed; and St. Germanus, taking the +child, said, "I will be a father to you, my son; nor will I dismiss you +till a razor, scissors, and comb, are given to me, and it is allowed you +to give them to your carnal father." The child obeyed St. Germanus, and, +going to his father Vortigern, said to him, "Thou art my father; shave +and cut the hair of my head." The king blushed, and was silent; and, +without replying to the child, arose in great anger, and fled from the +presence of St. Germanus, execrated and condemned by the whole synod. + +Sec. 40. But soon after, calling together his twelve wise men, to consult +what was to be done, they said to him, "Retire to the remote boundaries +of your kingdom; there build and fortify a city[294] to defend yourself, +for the people you have received are treacherous; they are seeking to +subdue you by stratagem, and, even during your life, to seize upon all +the countries subject to your power, how much more will they attempt, +after your death!" The king, pleased with this advice, departed with his +wise men, and travelled through many parts of his territories, in search +of a place convenient for the purpose of building a citadel. Having, to +no purpose, travelled far and wide, they came at length to a province +called Guenet;[295] and having surveyed the mountains of Heremus,[296] +they discovered, on the summit of one of them, a situation, adapted to +the construction of a citadel. Upon this, the wise men said to the king, +"Build here a city; for, in this place, it will ever be secure against +the barbarians." Then the king sent for artificers, carpenters, +stone-masons, and collected all the materials requisite to building; but +the whole of these disappeared in one night, so that nothing remained +of what had been provided for the constructing of the citadel. Materials +were, therefore, from all parts, procured a second and third time, and +again vanished as before, leaving and rendering every effort +ineffectual. Vortigern inquired of his wise men the cause of this +opposition to his undertaking, and of so much useless expense of labour? +They replied, "You must find a child born without a father, put him to +death, and sprinkle with his blood the ground on which the citadel is to +be built, or you will never accomplish your purpose." + +Sec. 41. In consequence of this reply, the king sent messengers throughout +Britain, in search of a child born without a father. After having +inquired in all the provinces, they came to the field of AElecti,[297] in +the district of Glevesing,[298] where a party of boys were playing at +ball. And two of them quarrelling, one said to the other, "O boy without +a father, no good will ever happen to you." Upon this, the messengers +diligently inquired of the mother and the other boys, whether he had had +a father? Which his mother denied, saying, "In what manner he was +conceived I know not, for I have never had intercourse with any man;" +and then she solemnly affirmed that he had no mortal father. The boy +was, therefore, led away, and conducted before Vortigern the king. + +Sec. 42. A meeting took place the next day for the purpose of putting him +to death. Then the boy said to the king, "Why have your servants brought +me hither?" "That you may be put to death," replied the king, "and that +the ground on which my citadel is to stand, may be sprinkled with your +blood, without which I shall be unable to build it." "Who," said the +boy, "instructed you to do this?" "My wise men," answered the king. +"Order them hither," returned the boy; this being complied with, he thus +questioned them: "By what means was it revealed to you that this citadel +could not be built, unless the spot were previously sprinkled with my +blood? Speak without disguise, and declare who discovered me to you;" +then turning to the king, "I will soon," said he, "unfold to you every +thing; but I desire to question your wise men, and wish them to disclose +to you what is hidden under this pavement:" they acknowledging their +ignorance, "there is," said he, "a pool; come and dig:" they did so, and +found the pool. "Now," continued he, "tell me what is in it;" but they +were ashamed, and made no reply. "I," said the boy, "can discover it to +you: there are two vases in the pool;" they examined, and found it so: +continuing his questions, "What is in the vases?" they were silent: +"there is a tent in them," said the boy; "separate them, and you shall +find it so;" this being done by the king's command, there was found in +them a folded tent. The boy, going on with his questions, asked the wise +men what was in it? But they not knowing what to reply, "There are," +said he, "two serpents, one white and the other red; unfold the tent;" +they obeyed, and two sleeping serpents were discovered; "consider +attentively," said the boy, "what they are doing." The serpents began to +struggle with each other; and the white one, raising himself up, threw +down the other into the middle of the tent, and sometimes drove him to +the edge of it; and this was repeated thrice. At length the red one, +apparently the weaker of the two, recovering his strength, expelled the +white one from the tent; and the latter being pursued through the pool +by the red one, disappeared. Then the boy, asking the wise men what was +signified by this wonderful omen, and they expressing their ignorance, +he said to the king, "I will now unfold to you the meaning of this +mystery. The pool is the emblem of this world, and the tent that of your +kingdom: the two serpents are two dragons; the red serpent is your +dragon, but the white serpent is the dragon of the people who occupy +several provinces and districts of Britain, even almost from sea to sea: +at length, however, our people shall rise and drive away the Saxon race +from beyond the sea, whence they originally came; but do you depart from +this place, where you are not permitted to erect a citadel; I, to whom +fate has allotted this mansion, shall remain here; whilst to you it is +incumbent to seek other provinces, where you may build a fortress." +"What is your name?" asked the king; "I am called Ambrose (in British +Embresguletic)," returned the boy; and in answer to the king's question, +"What is your origin?" he replied, "A Roman consul was my father." + +Then the king assigned him that city, with all the western provinces of +Britain; and departing with his wise men to the sinistral district, he +arrived in the region named Gueneri, where he built a city which, +according to his name, was called Cair Guorthegirn.[299] + +Sec. 43. At length Vortimer, the son of Vortigern, valiantly fought against +Hengist, Horsa, and his people; drove them to the isle of Thanet, and +thrice enclosed them within it, and beset them on the western side. + +The Saxons now despatched deputies to Germany to solicit large +reinforcements, and an additional number of ships: having obtained +these, they fought against the kings and princes of Britain, and +sometimes extended their boundaries by victory, and sometimes were +conquered and driven back. + +Sec. 44. Four times did Vortimer valorously encounter the enemy;[300] the +first has been mentioned, the second was upon the river Darent, the +third at the Ford, in their language called Epsford, though in ours Set +thirgabail,[301] there Horsa fell, and Catigern, the son of Vortigern; +the fourth battle he fought, was near the stone[302] on the shore of the +Gallic sea, where the Saxons being defeated, fled to their ships. + +After a short interval Vortimer died; before his decease, anxious for +the future prosperity of his country, he charged his friends to inter +his body at the entrance of the Saxon port, viz. upon the rock where the +Saxons first landed; "for though," said he, "they may inhabit other +parts of Britain, yet if you follow my commands, they will never remain +in this island." They imprudently disobeyed this last injunction, and +neglected to bury him where he had appointed.[303] + +Sec. 45. After this the barbarians became firmly incorporated, and were +assisted by foreign pagans; for Vortigern was their friend, on account +of the daughter[304] of Hengist, whom he so much loved, that no one +durst fight against him--in the meantime they soothed the imprudent +king, and whilst practising every appearance of fondness, were plotting +with his enemies. And let him that reads understand, that the Saxons +were victorious, and ruled Britain, not from their superior prowess, but +on account of the great sins of the Britons: God so permitting it. + +For what wise man will resist the wholesome counsel of God? The Almighty +is the King of kings, and the Lord of lords, ruling and judging every +one, according to his own pleasure. + +After the death of Vortimer, Hengist being strengthened by new +accessions, collected his ships, and calling his leaders together, +consulted by what stratagem they might overcome Vortigern and his army; +with insidious intention they sent messengers to the king, with offers +of peace and perpetual friendship; unsuspicious of treachery, the +monarch, after advising with his elders, accepted the proposals. + +Sec. 46. Hengist, under pretence of ratifying the treaty, prepared an +entertainment, to which he invited the king, the nobles, and military +officers, in number about three hundred; speciously concealing his +wicked intention, he ordered three hundred Saxons to conceal each a +knife under his feet, and to mix with the Britons; "and when," said he, +"they are sufficiently inebriated, &c. cry out, 'Nimed eure Saxes,' then +let each draw his knife, and kill his man; but spare the king, on +account of his marriage with my daughter, for it is better that he +should be ransomed than killed."[305] + +The king with his company, appeared at the feast; and mixing with the +Saxons, who, whilst they spoke peace with their tongues, cherished +treachery in their hearts, each man was placed next his enemy. + +After they had eaten and drunk, and were much intoxicated, Hengist +suddenly vociferated, "Nimed eure Saxes!" and instantly his adherents +drew their knives, and rushing upon the Britons, each slew him that sat +next to him, and there was slain three hundred of the nobles of +Vortigern. The king being a captive, purchased his redemption, by +delivering up the three provinces of East, South, and Middle Sex, +besides other districts at the option of his betrayers. + +Sec. 47. St. Germanus admonished Vortigern to turn to the true God, and +abstain from all unlawful intercourse with his daughter; but the unhappy +wretch fled for refuge to the province Guorthegirnaim,[306] so called +from his own name, where he concealed himself with his wives: but St. +Germanus followed him with all the British clergy, and upon a rock +prayed for his sins during forty days and forty nights. + +The blessed man was unanimously chosen commander against the Saxons. And +then, not by the clang of trumpets, but by praying, singing hallelujah, +and by the cries of the army to God, the enemies were routed, and driven +even to the sea.[307] + +Again Vortigern ignominiously flew from St. Germanus to the kingdom of +the Dimetae, where, on the river Towy,[308] he built a castle, which he +named Cair Guorthergirn. The saint, as usual, followed him there, and +with his clergy fasted and prayed to the Lord three days, and as many +nights. On the third night, at the third hour, fire fell suddenly from +heaven, and totally burned the castle. Vortigern, the daughter of +Hengist, his other wives, and all the inhabitants, both men and women, +miserably perished: such was the end of this unhappy king, as we find +written in the life of St. Germanus. + +Sec. 48. Others assure us, that being hated by all the people of Britain, +for having received the Saxons, and being publicly charged by St. +Germanus and the clergy in the sight of God, he betook himself to +flight; and, that deserted and a wanderer, he sought a place of refuge, +till broken hearted, he made an ignominious end. + +Some accounts state, that the earth opened and swallowed him up, on the +night his castle was burned; as no remains were discovered the following +morning, either of him, or of those who were burned with him. + +He had three sons: the eldest was Vortimer, who, as we have seen, fought +four times against the Saxons, and put them to flight; the second +Categirn, who was slain in the same battle with Horsa; the third was +Pascent, who reigned in the two provinces Builth and Guorthegirnaim,[309] +after the death of his father. These were granted him by Ambrosius, who +was the great king among the kings of Britain. The fourth was Faustus, +born of an incestuous marriage with his daughter, who was brought up and +educated by St. Germanus. He built a large monastery on the banks of the +river Renis, called after his name, and which remains to the present +period.[310] + +Sec. 49. This is the genealogy of Vortigern, which goes back to +Fernvail,[311] who reigned in the kingdom of Guorthegirnaim,[312] and +was the son of Teudor; Teudor was the son of Pascent; Pascent of +Guoidcant; Guoidcant of Moriud; Moriud of Eltat; Eltat of Eldoc; Eldoc +of Paul; Paul of Meuprit; Meuprit of Braciat; Braciat of Pascent; +Pascent of Guorthegirn; Guorthegirn of Guortheneu; Guortheneu of +Guitaul; Guitaul of Guitolion; Guitolion of Gloui. Bonus, Paul, Mauron, +Guotelin, were four brothers, who built Gloiuda, a great city upon the +banks of the river Severn, and in British is called Cair Gloui, in +Saxon, Gloucester. Enough has been said of Vortigern. + +Sec. 50. St. Germanus, after his death, returned into his own country. +[313] At that time, the Saxons greatly increased in Britain, both in +strength and numbers. And Octa, after the death of his father Hengist, +came from the sinistral part of the island to the kingdom of Kent, and +from him have proceeded all the kings of that province, to the present +period. + +Then it was, that the magnanimous Arthur, with all the kings and +military force of Britain, fought against the Saxons. And though there +were many more noble than himself, yet he was twelve times chosen their +commander, and was as often conqueror. The first battle in which he was +engaged, was at the mouth of the river Gleni.[314] The second, third, +fourth, and fifth, were on another river, by the Britons called +Duglas,[315] in the region Linuis. The sixth, on the river Bassas.[316] +The seventh in the wood Celidon, which the Britons call Cat Coit +Celidon.[317] The eighth was near Gurnion castle,[318] where Arthur bore +the image of the Holy Virgin,[319] mother of God, upon his shoulders, +and through the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the holy Mary, put +the Saxons to flight, and pursued them the whole day with great +slaughter.[320] The ninth was at the City of Legion,[321] which is +called Cair Lion. The tenth was on the banks of the river Trat +Treuroit.[322] The eleventh was on the mountain Breguoin, which we call +Cat Bregion.[323] The twelfth was a most severe contest, when Arthur +penetrated to the hill of Badon.[324] In this engagement, nine hundred +and forty fell by his hand alone, no one but the Lord affording him +assistance. In all these engagements the Britons were successful. For no +strength can avail against the will of the Almighty. + +The more the Saxons were vanquished, the more they sought for new +supplies of Saxons from Germany; so that kings, commanders, and military +bands were invited over from almost every province. And this practice +they continued till the reign of Ida, who was the son of Eoppa, he, of +the Saxon race, was the first king in Bernicia, and in Cair Ebrauc +(York). + +When Gratian AEquantius was consul at Rome, because then the whole world +was governed by the Roman consuls, the Saxons were received by Vortigern +in the year of our Lord four hundred and forty-seven, and to the year in +which we now write, five hundred and forty-seven. And whosoever shall +read herein may receive instruction, the Lord Jesus Christ affording +assistance, who, co-eternal with the Father and the Holy Ghost, lives +and reigns for ever and ever. Amen. + +In those days Saint Patrick was a captive among the Scots. His master's +name was Milcho, to whom he was a swineherd for seven years. When he had +attained the age of seventeen he gave him his liberty. By the divine +impulse, he applied himself to reading of the Scriptures, and afterwards +went to Rome; where, replenished with the Holy Spirit, he continued a +great while, studying the sacred mysteries of those writings. During his +continuance there, Palladius, the first bishop, was sent by pope +Celestine to convert the Scots [the Irish]. But tempests and signs from +God prevented his landing, for no one can arrive in any country, except +it be allowed from above; altering therefore his course from Ireland, he +came to Britain and died in the land of the Picts.[325] + +Sec. 51. The death of Palladius being known, the Roman patricians, +Theodosius and Valentinian, then reigning, pope Celestine sent Patrick +to convert the Scots to the faith of the Holy Trinity; Victor, the angel +of God, accompanying, admonishing, and assisting him, and also the +bishop Germanus. + +Germanus then sent the ancient Segerus with him as a venerable and +praiseworthy bishop, to king Amatheus,[326] who lived near, and who had +prescience of what was to happen; he was consecrated bishop in the reign +of that king by the holy pontiff,[327] assuming the name of Patrick, +having hitherto been known by that of Maun; Auxilius, Isserninus, and +other brothers were ordained with him to inferior degrees. + +Sec. 52. Having distributed benedictions, and perfected all in the name of +the Holy Trinity, he embarked on the sea which is between the Gauls and +the Britons; and after a quick passage arrived in Britain, where he +preached for some time. Every necessary preparation being made, and the +angel giving him warning, he came to the Irish Sea. And having filled +the ship with foreign gifts and spiritual treasures, by the permission +of God he arrived in Ireland, where he baptized and preached. + +Sec. 53. From the beginning of the world, to the fifth year of king +Logiore, when the Irish were baptized, and faith in the unity of the +individual Trinity was published to them, are five thousand three +hundred and thirty years. + +Sec. 54. Saint Patrick taught the gospel in foreign nations for the space +of forty years. Endued with apostolical powers, he gave sight to the +blind, cleansed the lepers, gave hearing to the deaf, cast out devils, +raised nine from the dead, redeemed many captives of both sexes at his +own charge, and set them free in the name of the Holy Trinity. He taught +the servants of God, and he wrote three hundred and sixty-five canonical +and other books relating to the catholic faith. He founded as many +churches, and consecrated the same number of bishops, strengthening +them with the Holy Ghost. He ordained three thousand presbyters; and +converted and baptized twelve thousand persons in the province of +Connaught. And, in one day baptized seven kings, who were the seven sons +of Amalgaid.[328] He continued fasting forty days and nights, on the +summit of the mountain Eli, that is Cruachan-Aichle;[329] and preferred +three petitions to God for the Irish, that had embraced the faith. The +Scots say, the first was, that he would receive every repenting sinner, +even at the latest extremity of life; the second, that they should never +be exterminated by barbarians; and the third, that as Ireland[330] will +be overflowed with water, seven years before the coming of our Lord to +judge the quick and the dead, the crimes of the people might be washed +away through his intercession, and their souls purified at the last day. +He gave the people his benediction from the upper part of the mountain, +and going up higher, that he might pray for them; and that if it pleased +God, he might see the effects of his labours, there appeared to him an +innumerable flock of birds of many colours, signifying the number of +holy persons of both sexes of the Irish nation, who should come to him +as their apostle at the day of judgment, to be presented before the +tribunal of Christ. After a life spent in the active exertion of good to +mankind, St. Patrick, in a healthy old age, passed from this world to +the Lord, and changing this life for a better, with the saints and elect +of God he rejoices for evermore. + +Sec. 55. Saint Patrick resembled Moses in four particulars. The angel spoke +to him in the burning bush. He fasted forty days and forty nights upon +the mountain. He attained the period of one hundred and twenty years. No +one knows his sepulchre, nor where he was buried; sixteen[331] years he +was in captivity. In his twenty-fifth year, he was consecrated bishop by +Saint Matheus,[332] and he was eighty-five years the apostle of the +Irish. It might be profitable to treat more at large of the life of +this saint, but it is now time to conclude this epitome of his +labours.[333] + +[Here endeth the life of the holy bishop, Saint Patrick.] + +(_After this, the MSS. give us Sec. 56, the legend of king Arthur, which in +this edition occurs in Sec. 50._) + + +GENEALOGY OF THE KINGS OF BERNICIA[334] + +Sec. 57. Woden begat Beldeg, who begat Beornec, who begat Gethbrond, who +begat Aluson, who begat Ingwi, who begat Edibrith, who begat Esa, who +begat Eoppa, who begat Ida. But Ida had twelve sons, Adda, Belric, +Theodric, Ethelric, Theodhere, Osmer, and one queen, Bearnoch, Ealric. +Ethelric begat Ethelfrid: the same is AEdlfred Flesaur. For he also had +seven sons, Eanfrid, Oswald, Oswin, Oswy, Oswudu, Oslac, Offa. Oswy +begat Alfrid, Elfwin, and Egfrid. Egfrid is he who made war against his +cousin Brudei, king of the Picts, and he fell therein with all the +strength of his army, and the Picts with their king gained the victory; +and the Saxons never again reduced the Picts so as to exact tribute from +them. Since the time of this war it is called Gueithlin Garan. + +But Oswy had two wives, Riemmelth, the daughter of Royth, son of Rum; +and Eanfled, the daughter of Edwin, son of Alla. + + +THE GENEALOGY OF THE KINGS OF KENT. + +Sec. 58. Hengist begat Octa, who begat Ossa, who begat Eormenric, who begat +Ethelbert, who begat Eadbald, who begat Ercombert, who begat Egbert. + + +THE ORIGIN OF THE KINGS OF EAST-ANGLIA. + +Sec. 59. Woden begat Casser, who begat Titinon, who begat Trigil, who begat +Rodmunt, who begat Rippa, who begat Guillem Guercha,[335] who was the +first king of the East Angles. Guercha begat Uffa, who begat Tytillus, +who begat Eni, who begat Edric, who begat Aldwulf, who begat Elric. + + +THE GENEALOGY OF THE MERCIANS. + +Sec. 60. Woden begat Guedolgeat, who begat Gueagon, who begat Guithleg, who +begat Guerdmund, who begat Ossa, who begat Ongen, who begat Eamer, who +begat Pubba.[336] This Pubba had twelve sons, of whom two are better +known to me than the others, that is Penda and Eawa. Eadlit is the son +of Pantha, Penda, son of Pubba, Ealbald, son of Alguing, son of Eawa, +son of Penda, son of Pubba. Egfert, son of Offa, son of Thingferth, son +of Enwulf, son of Ossulf, son of Eawa, son of Pubba. + + +THE KINGS OF THE DEIRI. + +Sec. 61. Woden begat Beldeg, Brond begat Siggar, who begat Sibald, who +begat Zegulf, who begat Soemil, who first separated[337] Deur from +Berneich (_Deira from Bernicia_.) Soemil begat Sguerthing, who begat +Giulglis, who begat Ulfrea, who begat Iffi, who begat Ulli, Edwin, +Osfrid, and Eanfrid. There were two sons of Edwin, who fell with him in +battle at Meicen,[338] and the kingdom was never renewed in his family, +because not one of his race escaped from that war; but all were slain +with him by the army of Catguollaunus,[339] king of the Guenedota. Oswy +begat Egfrid, the same is Ailguin, who begat Oslach, who begat Alhun, +who begat Adlsing, who begat Echun, who begat Oslaph. Ida begat Eadric, +who begat Ecgulf, who begat Leodwald, who begat Eata, the same is +Glinmaur, who begat Eadbert and Egbert, who was the first bishop of +their nation. + +Ida, the son of Eoppa, possessed countries on the left-hand side of +Britain, _i.e._ of the Humbrian sea, and reigned twelve years, and +united[340] Dynguayth Guarth-Berneich. + +Sec. 62. Then Dutigirn at that time fought bravely against the nation of +the Angles. At that time, Talhaiarn Cataguen[341] was famed for poetry, +and Neirin, and Taliesin and Bluchbard, and Cian, who is called Guenith +Guaut, were all famous at the same time in British poetry. + +The great king, Mailcun,[342] reigned among the Britons, _i.e._ in the +district of Guenedota, because his great-great-grandfather, Cunedda, +with his twelve sons, had come before from the left-hand part, _i.e._ +from the country which is called Manau Gustodin, one hundred and +forty-six years before Mailcun reigned, and expelled the Scots with much +slaughter from those countries, and they never returned again to inhabit +them. + +Sec. 63. Adda, son of Ida, reigned eight years; Ethelric, son of Adda, +reigned four years. Theodoric, son of Ida, reigned seven years. +Freothwulf reigned six years. In whose time the kingdom of Kent, by the +mission of Gregory, received baptism. Hussa reigned seven years. Against +him fought four kings, Urien, and Ryderthen, and Guallauc, and Morcant. +Theodoric fought bravely, together with his sons, against that Urien. +But at that time sometimes the enemy and sometimes our countrymen were +defeated, and he shut them up three days and three nights in the island +of Metcaut; and whilst he was on an expedition he was murdered, at the +instance of Morcant, out of envy, because he possessed so much +superiority over all the kings in military science. Eadfered Flesaurs +reigned twelve years in Bernicia, and twelve others in Deira, and gave +to his wife Bebba, the town of Dynguoaroy, which from her is called +Bebbanburgh.[343] + +Edwin, son of Alla, reigned seventeen years, seized on Elmete, and +expelled Cerdic, its king. Eanfled, his daughter, received baptism, on +the twelfth day after Pentecost, with all her followers, both men and +women. The following Easter Edwin himself received baptism, and twelve +thousand of his subjects with him. If any one wishes to know who +baptized them, it was Rum Map Urbgen:[344] he was engaged forty days in +baptizing all classes of the Saxons, and by his preaching many believed +on Christ. + +Sec. 64. Oswald son of Ethelfrid, reigned nine years; the same is Oswald +Llauiguin;[345] he slew Catgublaun (Cadwalla),[346] king of +Guenedot,[347] in the battle of Catscaul,[348] with much loss to his own +army. Oswy, son of Ethelfrid, reigned twenty-eight years and six months. +During his reign, there was a dreadful mortality among his subjects, +when Catgualart (Cadwallader) was king among the Britons, succeeding his +father, and he himself died amongst the rest.[349] He slew Penda in the +field of Gai, and now took place the slaughter of Gai Campi, and the +kings of the Britons, who went out with Penda on the expedition as far +as the city of Judeu, were slain. + +Sec. 65. Then Oswy restored all the wealth, which was with him in the city, +to Penda; who distributed it among the kings of the Britons, that is, +Atbert Judeu. But Catgabail alone, king of Guenedot, rising up in the +night, escaped, together with his army, wherefore he was called +Catgabail Catguommed. Egfrid, son of Oswy, reigned nine years. In his +time the holy bishop Cuthbert died in the island of Medcaut.[350] It was +he who made war against the Picts, and was by them slain. + +Penda, son of Pybba, reigned ten years; he first separated the kingdom +of Mercia from that of the North-men, and slew by treachery Anna, king +of the East Anglians, and St. Oswald, king of the North-men. He fought +the battle of Cocboy,[351] in which fell Eawa, son of Pybba, his +brother, king of the Mercians, and Oswald, king of the North-men, and he +gained the victory by diabolical agency. He was not baptized, and never +believed in God. + +Sec. 66. From the beginning of the world to Constantinus and Rufus, are +found to be five thousand six hundred and fifty-eight years. + +Also from the two consuls, Rufus and Rubelius, to the consul Stilicho, +are three hundred and seventy-three years. + +Also from Stilicho to Valentinian, son of Placida, and the reign of +Vortigern, are twenty-eight years. + +And from the reign of Vortigern to the quarrel between Guitolinus and +Ambrosius, are twelve years, which is Guoloppum, that is +Catgwaloph.[352] Vortigern reigned in Britain when Theodosius and +Valentinian were consuls, and in the fourth year of his reign the Saxons +came to Britain, in the consulship of Felix and Taurus, in the four +hundredth year from the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ. + +From the year in which the Saxons came into Britain, and were received +by Vortigern, to the time of Decius and Valerian, are sixty-nine years. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 249: And forty, according to Stevenson's new edition. The rest +of this chronology is much contracted in several of the manuscripts, and +hardly two of them contain it exactly the same.] + +[Footnote 250: This list of the Roman emperors who visited Britain, is +omitted in many of the MSS.] + +[Footnote 251: V.R. Twenty-eight, twenty-one.] + +[Footnote 252: Site unknown. See note at sec. 42, p. 404.] + +[Footnote 253: Inis-gueith, or Gueith.] + +[Footnote 254: The whole of this, as far as the end of the paragraph, is +omitted in several MSS.] + +[Footnote 255: Other MSS. Silvius.] + +[Footnote 256: V.R. Who should slay his father and mother, and be hated +by all mankind.] + +[Footnote 257: V.R. He displayed such superiority among his +play-fellows, that they seemed to consider him as their chief.] + +[Footnote 258: Tours.] + +[Footnote 259: V.R. Thirty-seven.] + +[Footnote 260: See Bede's Eccles. Hist. pp. 5, 6, note.] + +[Footnote 261: V.R. Partholomaeus, or Bartholomaeus.] + +[Footnote 262: A blank is here in the MS. Agnomen is found in some of +the others.] + +[Footnote 263: V.R. Damhoctor, Clamhoctor, and Elamhoctor.] + +[Footnote 264: V.R. Liethan, Bethan, Vethan.] + +[Footnote 265: St. David's.] + +[Footnote 266: Guiher, probably the Welsh district Gower. Cetgueli is +Caer Kidwelly, in Carmarthenshire.] + +[Footnote 267: North-western part of Antrim in Ulster.] + +[Footnote 268: V.R. Columba.] + +[Footnote 269: Some MSS. add, the beginning of the calculation is 23 +cycles of 19 years from the incarnation of our Lord to the arrival of +St. Patrick in Ireland, and they make 438 years. And from the arrival of +St. Patrick to the cycle of 19 years in which we live are 22 cycles, +which make 421 years.] + +[Footnote 270: This proves the tradition of Brutus to be older than +Geoffrey or Tyssilio, unless these notices of Brutus have been +interpolated in the original work of Nennius.] + +[Footnote 271: This genealogy is different in almost all the MSS.] + +[Footnote 272: Some MSS. add, I will now return to the point from which +I made this digression.] + +[Footnote 273: There is here some corruption or defect in the original. +See Geoffrey of Monmouth, p. 139 of this volume.] + +[Footnote 274: V.R. Cassibelanus.] + +[Footnote 275: V.R. Eucharistus. A marginal note in the Arundel MS. +adds, "He is wrong, because the first year of Evaristus was A.D. 79, +whereas the first year of Eleutherius, whom he ought to have named, was +A.D. 161." Usher says, that in one MS. of Nennius he found the name of +Eleutherius. See Bede's Eccles. Hist. p. 10.] + +[Footnote 276: V.R. Thirty-two.] + +[Footnote 277: Or, the Wall. One MS. here adds, "The above-mentioned +Severus constructed it of rude workmanship in length 132 miles; i.e. +from Penguaul, which village is called in Scottish Cenail, in English +Peneltun, to the mouth of the river Cluth and Cairpentaloch, where this +wall terminates; but it was of no avail. The emperor Carausius +afterwards rebuilt it, and fortified it with seven castles between the +two mouths: he built also a round house of polished stones on the banks +of the river Carun [Carron]: he likewise erected a triumphal arch, on +which he inscribed his own name in memory of his victory."] + +[Footnote 278: This passage is corrupt, the meaning is briefly given in +the translation.] + +[Footnote 279: V.R. Mirmantum, Mirmantun, Minmanton, Minimantone. The +_Segontium_ of Antoninus, situated on a small river named Seiont, near +Carnarvon.] + +[Footnote 280: This is an inaccuracy of Nennius; Maximus and Maximianus +were one and the same person; or rather no such person as Maximianus +ever reigned in Britain.] + +[Footnote 281: Geoffrey of Monmouth gives the title of consul to several +British generals who lived after this time. It is not unlikely that the +town, name, and dignity, still lingered in the province after the Romans +were gone, particularly as the cities of Britain maintained for a time a +species of independence.] + +[Footnote 282: This district, in modern language, extended from the +great St. Bernard in Piedmont to Cantavic in Picardy, and from Picardy +to the western coast of France.] + +[Footnote 283: These words relate evidently to some cause of dispute +between the Romans, Ambrosius, and Vortigern. Vortigern is said to have +been sovereign of the Dimetae, and Ambrosius son to the king of the +Dumnonii. The latter was half a Roman by descent, and naturally +supported the Roman interest: the former was entirely a Briton, and as +naturally seconded by the original Britons. See Whitaker's Manchester, +b. ii. c. 2.] + +[Footnote 284: V.R. not the God of gods, the Amen, the Lord of Hosts, +but one of their idols which they worshipped.] + +[Footnote 285: Sometimes called Ruoichin, Ruith-in, or "river island," +separated from the rest of Kent and the mainland of Britain by the +estuary of the Wantsum, which, though now a small brook, was formerly +navigable for large vessels, and in Bede's time was three stadia broad, +and fordable only at two places. See Bede's Eccles. Hist. p. 37, +_note_.] + +[Footnote 286: The rest of this sentence is omitted in some of the MSS.] + +[Footnote 287: King of Powys. V.R. Benli in the district of Ial (in +Derbyshire); in the district of Dalrieta; Belinus; Beluni; and Benty.] + +[Footnote 288: Or Cadell Deyrnllug, prince of the Vale Royal and the +upper part of Powys.] + +[Footnote 289: V.R. Who had come with him from the island of Oghgul, +Oehgul (or Tingle), Angul. According to Gunn, a small island in the +duchy of Sleswick in Denmark, now called _Angel_, of which Flensburg is +the metropolis. Hence the origin of the _Angles_.] + +[Footnote 290: V.R. Gnoiram cono, Goiranegono, Guoiracgono. Malmesbury, +Gorongi; Camden, Guorong, supposed to mean governor, or viceroy.] + +[Footnote 291: Antoninus's wall.] + +[Footnote 292: Some MSS. add, "beyond the Frenesic, Fresicum (_or_ +Fresic) sea," i.e. which is between us and the Scotch. The sea between +Scotland and Ireland. Camden translates it "beyond the Frith;" Langhorne +says, "Solway Frith."] + +[Footnote 293: V.R. "Immodest" is omitted in some MSS.] + +[Footnote 294: V.R. You shall find a fortified city in which you may +defend yourself.] + +[Footnote 295: V.R. Guined, Guoienet, Guenez, North Wales.] + +[Footnote 296: V.R. Heremi, Heriri, or Eryri, signifying eagle rocks, +the mountains of Snowdon, in Carnarvonshire. The spot alluded to is +supposed to be Dinas Emrys, or the fortress of Ambrosius.] + +[Footnote 297: V.R. Elleti, Electi, Gleti. Supposed to be Bassalig in +Monmouthshire.] + +[Footnote 298: The district between the Usk and Rumney, in +Monmouthshire.] + +[Footnote 299: An ancient scholiast adds, "He then built Guasmoric, near +Lugubalia [Carlisle], a city which in English is called Palmecaster." +Some difference of opinion exists among antiquaries respecting the site +of Vortigern's castle or city. Usher places it at _Gwent_, +Monmouthshire, which name, he says, was taken from Caer-Went, near +Chepstow. This appears to agree with Geoffrey's account, in page 208 of +this volume. See Usher's Britan. Eccles. cap. v. p. 23. According to +others, supposed to be the city from the ruins of which arose the castle +of Gurthrenion, in Radnorshire, Camden's Britannia, p. 479. Whitaker, +however, says that Cair Guorthegirn was the Maridunum of the Romans, and +the present Caermarthen. (Hist. of Manchester, book ii. c. 1.) See also +Nennius, sec. 47.] + +[Footnote 300: Some MSS. here add, "This Vortimer, the son of Vortigern, +in a synod held at Guartherniaun, after the wicked king, on account of +the incest committed with his daughter, fled from the face of Germanus +and the British clergy, would not consent to his father's wickedness; +but returning to St. Germanus, and falling down at his feet, he sued for +pardon; and in atonement for the calumny brought upon Germanus by his +father and sister, gave him the land, in which the forementioned bishop +had endured such abuse, to be his own for ever. Whence, in memory of St. +Germanus, it received the name of Guarenniaun (Guartherniaun, +Gurthrenion, Gwarth Ennian) which signifies, _a calumny justly +retorted_, since, when he thought to reproach the bishop, he covered +himself with reproach."] + +[Footnote 301: According to Langhorne (p. 13), Epsford was afterwards +called, in the British tongue, _Saessenaeg habail_, or 'the slaughter of +the Saxons.' See also the note at page 188 of this volume.] + +[Footnote 302: V.R. "The stone of Titulus," thought to be Stone in Kent, +or Larger-stone in Suffolk.] + +[Footnote 303: Rapin says he was buried at Lincoln; Geoffrey, at London, +see p. 189.] + +[Footnote 304: V.R. Of his wife, and no one was able manfully to drive +them off because they had occupied Britain not from their own valour, +but by God's permission.] + +[Footnote 305: The VV. RR. of this section are too numerous to be +inserted.] + +[Footnote 306: A district of Radnorshire, forming the present hundred of +Rhaindr.] + +[Footnote 307: V.R. This paragraph is omitted in the MSS.] + +[Footnote 308: The Tobias of Ptolemy.] + +[Footnote 309: In the northern part of the present counties of Radnor +and Brecknock.] + +[Footnote 310: V.R. The MSS. add, 'and he had one daughter, who was the +mother of St. Faustus.'] + +[Footnote 311: Fernvail, or Farinmail, appears to have been king of +Gwent or Monmouth.] + +[Footnote 312: V.R. 'Two provinces, Builth and Guorthegirnaim.'] + +[Footnote 313: V.R. All this to the word 'Amen,' in other MSS. is placed +after the legend of St. Patrick.] + +[Footnote 314: Supposed by some to be the Glem, in Lincolnshire; but +most probably the Glen, in the northern part of Northumberland.] + +[Footnote 315: Or Dubglas. The little river Dunglas, which formed the +southern boundary of Lothian. Whitaker says, the river Duglas, in +Lancashire, near Wigan.] + +[Footnote 316: Not a river, but an isolated rock in the Frith of Forth, +near the town of North Berwick, called "The Bass." Some think it is the +river Lusas, in Hampshire.] + +[Footnote 317: The Caledonian forest; or the forest of Englewood, +extending from Penrith to Carlisle.] + +[Footnote 318: Variously supposed to be in Cornwall, or Binchester in +Durham, but most probably the Roman station of Garionenum, near +Yarmouth, in Norfolk.] + +[Footnote 319: V.R. The image of the cross of Christ, and of the +perpetual Virgin St. Mary.] + +[Footnote 320: V.R. For Arthur proceeded to Jerusalem, and there made a +cross to the size of the Saviour's cross, and there it was consecrated, +and for three successive days he fasted, watched, and prayed, before the +Lord's cross, that the Lord would give him the victory, by this sign, +over the heathen; which also took place, and he took with him the image +of St. Mary, the fragments of which are still preserved in great +veneration at Wedale, in English Wodale, in Latin _Vallis-doloris_. +Wodale is a village in the province of Lodonesia, but now of the +jurisdiction of the bishop of St. Andrew's, of Scotland, six miles on +the west of that heretofore noble and eminent monastery of Meilros.] + +[Footnote 321: Exeter.] + +[Footnote 322: Or Ribroit, the Brue, in Somersetshire; or the Ribble, in +Lancashire.] + +[Footnote 323: Or Agned Cathregonion, Cadbury, in Somersetshire; or +Edinburgh.] + +[Footnote 324: Bath.] + +[Footnote 325: At Fordun, in the district of Mearns, in +Scotland.--_Usher._] + +[Footnote 326: V.R. Germanus "sent the elder Segerus with him to a +wonderful man, the holy bishop Amathearex." Another MS. "Sent the elder +Segerus, a bishop, with him to Amatheorex."] + +[Footnote 327: V.R. "Received the episcopal degree from the holy bishop +Amatheorex." Another MS. "Received the episcopal degree from Matheorex +and the holy bishop."] + +[Footnote 328: King of Connaught.] + +[Footnote 329: A mountain in the west of Connaught, county of Mayo, now +called Croagh-Patrick.] + +[Footnote 330: V.R. that no Irishman may be alive on the day of +judgment, because they will be destroyed seven years before in honour of +St. Patrick.] + +[Footnote 331: V.R. Fifteen.] + +[Footnote 332: V.R. By the holy bishop Amatheus.] + +[Footnote 333: Here ends the Vatican MS. collated by Mr. Gunn.] + +[Footnote 334: These titles are not part of the original work, but added +in the MSS. by a later hand.] + +[Footnote 335: Guercha is a distortion of the name of Uffa or +Wuffa, arising in the first instance from the pronunciation of the +British writer; and, in the next place, from the error of the +transcriber.--_Palgrave._] + +[Footnote 336: Or Wibba.] + +[Footnote 337: V.R. Conquered.] + +[Footnote 338: Hatfield, in the West Riding of Yorkshire. See Bede's +Eccles. Hist. p. 106.] + +[Footnote 339: Cadwalla, king of the Western Britons.] + +[Footnote 340: V.R. United the castle, i.e. Dinguerin and Gurdbernech, +which two countries were in one country, i.e. Deurabernech; Anglice +Deira and Bernicia. Another MS. Built Dinguayth Guarth Berneich.] + +[Footnote 341: Talhaiarn was a descendant of Coel Godebog, and chaplain +to Ambrosius.] + +[Footnote 342: Better known as Maelgwn.] + +[Footnote 343: Bambrough. See Bede, iii. 6, and Sax. Chron. A.D. 547.] + +[Footnote 344: See Bede's Eccles. Hist. p. 96. From the share which +Paulinus had in the conversion of the Northumbrian king, it has been +inferred that he actually baptized him; but Nennius expressly states, +that the holy sacrament was administered by Rhun, the son of Urien. The +Welsh name of Paulinus is Pawl Hen, or Polin Esgob.] + +[Footnote 345: Llauiguin, means the "fair," or the "bounteous hand."] + +[Footnote 346: This name has been variously written; Bede spells it +_Caedualla_ (Cadwalla); Nennius, _Catgublaun_; the Saxon Chronicle, +_Ceadwalla_; and the Welsh writers, _Cadwallon_ and _Katwallawn_: and +though the identity of the person may be clearly proved, it is necessary +to observe these particulars to distinguish him from _Cadwaladr_, and +from another _Caedualla_ or _Caedwalla_, a king of the West Saxons; all +of whom, as they lived within a short time of each other, have been +frequently confounded together.--_Rees's Welsh Saints._] + +[Footnote 347: Gwynedd, North Wales.] + +[Footnote 348: Bede says at Denis's-brook. Eccles Hist. p. 109.] + +[Footnote 349: The British chronicles assert that Cadwallader died at +Rome, whilst Nennius would lead us to conclude that he perished in the +pestilence at home. See Geoffrey, p. 288.] + +[Footnote 350: The isle of Farne.] + +[Footnote 351: Maserfield. See Bede's Eccles. Hist. p. 123.] + +[Footnote 352: In Carmarthenshire. Perhaps the town now called +Kidwelly.] + + + + +THE + +SPURIOUS CHRONICLE + +OF + +RICHARD OF CIRENCESTER. + + +[_An eighteenth century forgery._] + + +[_SPURIOUS._] + + + + +RICHARD OF CIRENCESTER + +ON THE + +ANCIENT STATE OF BRITAIN. + +BOOK I. + +CHAPTER I. + + +1. The shore of Gaul would be the boundary of the world, did not the +island[353] of Britain claim from its magnitude almost the appellation +of another world; for if measured to the Caledonian promontory[354] it +extends more than eight hundred miles in length.[355] + +2. Britain was first called by the ancients Albion,[356] from its +_white_ cliffs; and afterwards in the language of the natives, Britain. +Hence all the islands hereafter described were denominated British.[357] + +3. Britain is situated between the north and west,[358] opposite to, +though at some distance from, Germany, Gaul, and Spain, the most +considerable parts of Europe, and is bounded by the Atlantic Ocean. + +4. On the south of Britain lies Belgic Gaul, from which coast passengers +usually sail to the Rhutupian port.[359] This place is distant from +Gessoriacum,[360] a town of the Morini, the port most frequented by the +Britons, fifty miles, or according to others, four hundred and fifty +stadia. From thence may be seen the country of the Britons whom Virgil +in his Eclogues describes as separated from the whole world,-- + + "--penitus toto divisos orbe Britannos." + +5. By Agrippa, an ancient geographer, its breadth is estimated at three +hundred miles; but with more truth by Bede at two hundred, exclusive of +the promontories.[361] If their sinuosities be taken into the +computation, its circuit will be three thousand six hundred miles. +Marcian, a Greek author, agrees with me in stating it at +MDI[OO]LXXV.[362] + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 353: The early Greeks and Romans doubted whether Britain was +an island, or part of the continent. This uncertainty gave rise to a +controversy which was not settled till the time of the propraetor Julius +Agricola.--_Tac. Vit. Agric. c._ 38. _Dio. Cass. Hist. Rom. lib._ 39.] + +[Footnote 354: Dunnet Head.] + +[Footnote 355: Richard gives too great an extent to our island, which, +according to the most accurate observations, stretches only from lat. +49 deg. 48', the most southern point, to Dunnet Head, which is in lat. 58 deg. +40' or scarcely 540 geographical miles.] + +[Footnote 356: Various explanations have been given of the names of +Albion and Britain, applied to our island. Some derive Albion from the +white rocks which bound the coast; some from Albion, a son of Neptune, +who is represented as its first discoverer and cultivator; others have +likewise derived the name Britain from the Phoenician or Hebrew +_Baratanac_, signifying the land of tin. It was also called by the +natives, _Hyperborea_, _Atlantica_, _Cassiteris_, _Romana_, and _Thule_. + +According to the British Triads, "the three names given to the isle of +Britain, from the beginning, were: before it was inhabited, the name of +_Clas Merddyn_ (or the green spot defended by water); after it was +inhabited, _Y Vel Ynys_ (the honey island); and, after it was brought +under one government by Prydain, son of Aedd, it was called _Ynys +Prydain_ (or the isle of Britain)." + +In some old writings it is also termed, _Yr Ynys Wen_, (or the white +island.)] + +[Footnote 357: This part is taken from Pliny, who enumerates the British +isles in the following order:--Orcades, 40; Acmodae, 7; Haebudes, 30. +Between Britain and Ireland, Mona, Menapia, Ricnea, Vectis, Silimnus, +Andros; beneath, Siambis and Axuntos: on the opposite side, towards the +German Sea, the Glessariae, called Electrides by the later Greek writers, +from the amber found there: and last of all, Thule. + +He refers to others mentioned by different authors, viz., Mictis, +Scandia, Dumnia, Bergos, and Nerigos.] + +[Footnote 358: That is, from Rome. Richard, in copying the Roman +writers, adopted their expressions in regard to the relative positions +of places.] + +[Footnote 359: Richborough, Kent.] + +[Footnote 360: Boulogne.] + +[Footnote 361: Richard errs in supposing the estimation of Bede more +accurate than that of Agrippa.] + +[Footnote 362: The numerals are here so incorrect that it is difficult +to discover what number was meant by Richard. Marcian observes that the +circuit of our island is not more than 28,604 stadia, or 3575 miles, nor +less than 20,526, or 2576 miles. Hence Bertram is led to prefer the +greater number.] + + + + +CHAP. II. + + +1. Albion, called by Chrysostom Great Britain, is, according to Caesar, +of a triangular shape, resembling Sicily. One of the sides lies opposite +to Celtic Gaul. One angle of this side, which is the Cantian +promontory,[363] is situated to the east; the other, the Ocrinian +promontory,[364] in the country of the Damnonii, faces the south and the +province of Tarraconensis in Spain. This side is about five hundred +miles in length. + +2. Another side stretches towards Ireland and the west, the length of +which, according to the opinion of the ancients, is seven hundred miles. + +3. The third side is situated to the north, and is opposite to no land +except a few islands;[365] but the angle of this side chiefly trends +towards Germania Magna.[366] The length from the Novantian +Chersonesus,[367] through the country of the Taixali, to the Cantian +promontory,[368] is estimated at eight hundred miles. Thus all +erroneously compute the circuit of the island to be two thousand miles; +for from the Cantian promontory to Ocrinum,[369] the distance is four +hundred miles; from thence to Novantum, a thousand; and from thence to +the Cantian promontory, two thousand two hundred. The circumference of +the whole island is therefore three thousand six hundred miles.[370] + +4. Livy and Fabius Rusticus compare the form of Britain to an oblong +shield or battle-axe; and as, according to Tacitus, it bears that figure +on the side of Caledonia, the comparison was extended to the whole +island, though the bold promontories at its further extremity give it +the shape of a wedge. But Caesar and Pomponius Mela assert that its form +is triangular. + +5. If credit may be given to the celebrated geographer Ptolemy and his +contemporary writers, the island resembles an inverted Z,[371] but +according to the maps the comparison is not exact. The triangular shape, +however, seems to belong to England alone.[372] + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 363: North Foreland.] + +[Footnote 364: Lizard Point.] + +[Footnote 365: The Orkney and Shetland isles.] + +[Footnote 366: Under this name the ancients comprised not only Germany +proper but Denmark, Norway, &c.] + +[Footnote 367: Rens of Galloway.] + +[Footnote 368: North Foreland.] + +[Footnote 369: Lizard Point.] + +[Footnote 370: Bertram has endeavoured to reconcile the various and +discordant calculations given by different ancient authors of the +circuit of our island. On such vague principles as these estimations are +made, it would be almost impossible, even now, for two persons to +produce the same result.] + +[Footnote 371: Ptolemy's expression is obscure; but he was evidently led +to this supposition by the notion that Caledonia or Scotland trended to +the east, as appears from his latitudes and longitudes. This form, +therefore, he not unaptly compares to the inverted Z. It would be a +trespass on the patience of the reader to attempt to reconcile what is +irreconcilable.] + +[Footnote 372: These words are chiefly taken from Tacitus. The obscurity +of the expression and the absurdity of the comparison, will sufficiently +show the ignorance of those ancients whose works have reached the +present time, in regard to our island.--_Tacit. Vit. Agricolae, sec. +10._] + + + + +CHAP. III. + + +1. The original inhabitants of Britain, whether indigenous or foreign, +are, like those of most other countries, unknown. The Jews alone, and by +their means the contiguous nations, have the happiness of tracing their +descent since the creation of the world from undoubted documents. + +2. From the difference of personal appearance different conjectures have +been drawn. The red hair and large limbs of the Caledonians proclaim +their German origin; the painted faces and curled locks of the Silures, +and their situation opposite to Spain, corroborate the assertion of +Tacitus, that the ancient Iberians passed over and occupied this country +and Ireland. Those who live nearest the Gauls resemble them, either from +the strength of the original stock, or from the effects which the same +positions of the heavens produce on the human body. + +3. If I were inclined to indulge a conjecture, I might here mention that +the Veneti[373] in their commercial expeditions first introduced +inhabitants and religion into this country. Writers are not wanting, who +assert that Hercules came hither and established a sovereignty. But it +is needless to dwell on such remote antiquities and idle tales.[374] + +4. On the whole, however, it is probable that the Gauls occupied the +contiguous regions. According to Tacitus, their sacred rites and +superstitions may be traced; nor is the language very different; and +lastly, the tradition of the druids, with the names of the states which +still retain the same appellations as the people sprung from the cities +of Gaul, who came hither and began to cultivate the country.[375] + +5. According to Caesar, the country was extremely populous, and contained +numerous buildings, not dissimilar to those of the Gauls. It was rich in +cattle. + +6. The inhabitants of the southern part were the most civilized, and in +their customs differed little from the Gauls. Those of the more distant +parts did not raise corn; but lived on fruits and flesh. They were +ignorant of the use of wool and garments, although in severe weather +they covered themselves with the skins of sheep or deer. They were +accustomed to bathe in the rivers. + +7. All the Britons formerly stained their bodies of a blue colour, which +according to Caesar gave them a more terrible appearance in battle. They +wore their hair long, and shaved all parts of the body except the head +and the upper lip. + +8. Ten or twelve Britons had their wives in common; and this custom +particularly prevailed among brethren, and between fathers and sons; but +the children were considered as belonging to him who had first taken the +virgin to wife. The mothers suckled their own children, and did not +employ maids and nurses. + +9. According to Caesar also they used brass money, and iron rings of a +certain weight instead of coin.[376] + +10. The Britons deemed it unlawful to eat hares,[377] fowls, or geese; +but they kept those animals for pleasure. + +11. They had pearls, bits made of ivory, bracelets, vessels of amber and +glass, agates, and, what surpasses all, great abundance of tin. + +12. They navigated in barks, the keels and ribs of which were formed of +light materials; the other parts were made of wicker and covered with +the hides of oxen.[378] During their voyages, as Solinus asserts, they +abstain from food.[379] + +13. Britain produces people and kings of people, as Pomponius Mela +writes in his third book; but they are all uncivilized, and in +proportion as they are more distant from the continent, are more +ignorant of riches; their wealth consisting chiefly in cattle and land. +They are addicted to litigation and war, and frequently attack each +other, from a desire of command, and of enlarging their possessions. It +is customary indeed for the Britons to wage war under the guidance of +women, and not to regard the difference of sex in the distribution of +power. + +14. The Britons not only fought on foot and on horseback, but in +chariots drawn by two horses, and armed in the Gallic manner. Those +chariots, to the axle-trees of which scythes were fixed, were called +_covini_, or wains. + +15. Caesar relates that they employed cavalry in their wars, which before +the coming of the Romans were almost perpetual. All were skilled in war; +each in proportion to his family and wealth supported a number of +retainers, and this was the only species of honour with which they were +acquainted.[380] + +16. The principal strength of the Britons was in their infantry, who +fought with darts, large swords, and short targets. According to +Tacitus, their swords were blunt at the point. + +17. Caesar in his fourth book thus describes their mode of fighting in +that species of chariots called _essedae_.[381] At first they drove +through the army in all directions, hurling their darts; and by the +terror of the horses, and the noise of the wheels, generally threw the +ranks of the enemy into disorder. When they had penetrated between the +troops of cavalry, they leaped from their chariots and waged unequal war +on foot. Meanwhile the chariots were drawn up at a distance from the +battle, and placed in such a position, that if pressed by the enemy, the +warriors could effect a retreat to their own army. They thus displayed +the rapid evolutions of cavalry, and the firmness of infantry, and were +so expert by exercise, as to hold up the horses in steep descents, to +check and turn them suddenly at full speed, to run along the pole, stand +on the yoke, and then spring into the chariot. + +18. The mode of fighting on horseback threatened equal danger to those +who gave way, or those who pursued. They never engaged in close lines, +but in scattered bodies, and with great intervals; they had their +appointed stations, and relieved each other by turns; and fresh +combatants succeeded those who were fatigued. The cavalry also used +darts. + +19. It is not easy to determine the form of government in Britain +previous to the coming of the Romans. It is however certain that before +their times there was no vestige of a monarchy, but rather of a +democracy, unless perhaps it may seem to have resembled an +aristocracy.[382] The authority of the Druids in affairs of the greatest +moment was considerable. Some chiefs are commemorated in their ancient +records, yet these appear to have possessed no permanent power; but to +have been created, like the Roman dictators, in times of imminent +danger. Nor are instances wanting among them, as among other brave +nations, when they chose even the leader of their adversaries to conduct +their armies. He, therefore, who before was their enemy, afterwards +fought on their side. + +20. The Britons exceeded in stature both the Gauls and the Romans. +Strabo affirms that he saw at Rome some British youths, who were +considerably taller than the Romans. + +21. The more wealthy inhabitants of South Britain were accustomed to +ornament the middle finger of the left hand with a gold ring; but a gold +collar[383] round the neck was the distinguishing mark of eminence. +Those of the northern regions, who were the indigenous inhabitants of +the island from time immemorial, were almost wholly ignorant of the use +of clothes, and surrounded their waists and necks, as Herodian reports, +with iron rings, which they considered as ornaments and proofs of +wealth. They carried a narrow shield, fitter for use than ornament, and +a lance, with a sword pendant from their naked and painted bodies. They +rejected or despised the breast-plate and helmet, because such armour +impeded their passage through the marshes. + +22. Among other particulars, this custom prevailed in Britain. They +stopped travellers and merchants, and compelled them to relate what they +had heard, or knew, worthy of notice. The common people usually +surrounded foreign merchants in the towns, and obliged them to tell from +whence they came, and what curious things they had observed. On such +vague reports they often rashly acted, and thus were generally deceived; +for many answered them agreeably to their desires with fictitious +stories.[384] + +23. Their interments were magnificent; and all things which they prized +during life, even arms and animals, were thrown into the funeral pile. A +heap of earth and turf formed the sepulchre.[385] + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 373: The Veneti, a tribe seated on the coast of Armorica or +Bretagne, distinguished for their maritime power, and with whom Caesar +waged war. Their territory according to his description, was part of +Celtic Gaul, and the present Vannes was their capital.] + +[Footnote 374: To these conjectures relative to the original +inhabitants, and subsequent colonists of Britain, it may not be +uninteresting to add the accounts preserved in the Welsh Triads. + +The historical Triads record that the first colonists of Britain were +_Cymry_, who originally came from _Defrobani Gwlad Yr Hav_, the summer +land, or Tauric Chersonesus. There they have left many traces of their +name preserved by ancient authors, among which we may instance the +Cimmerian Bosphorus. + +Subsequent colonists arrived from the neighbouring continent at various +times. The _Loegrwys_ (Loegrians) from Gascogne; the _Brython_ from +_Lydaw_ (Britanny), who were descendants from the original stock of the +_Cymry_. Two descents are also mentioned in Albin, or North Britain; one +called the tribe of _Celyddon_, the other the primitive _Gwyddelians_. +Another descent is said to have been made in the south, in _Ynys-Wyth_, +or the Isle of Wight, by the men of _Galedin_ (the Belgae), when their +native country was inundated. Another colony called the _Corani_ came +from the country of the _Pwyl_ (Poland), and settled on the sea coast, +about the river Humber. A descent in Albin, or North Britain, of a +colony of _Gwyddelian Ficti_ [Irish Picts], who are described as coming +from the sea of _Loclyn_ (the Baltic); and a partial settlement of the +men of _Loclyn_ (Scandinavians), who were expelled after remaining for +three generations. The arrival of the Romans and Saxons is also +mentioned, as well as some partial settlements of Gwyddelians from +Ireland.] + +[Footnote 375: We discover a few cities in Gaul, bearing nearly the same +appellations as those of Britain; and in both countries we find the +Atrebates, the Morini, the AEdui, the Senones, the Menapii, and the +Rhemi.] + +[Footnote 376: The natives of China and Japan follow a similar custom in +regard to gold and silver, which are not coined, but pass according to +weight.] + +[Footnote 377: It seems that they considered the appearance of a hare a +fortunate omen; for the Roman historians observe that Boadicea, after +haranguing her troops, let loose a hare which she had concealed in her +garments.] + +[Footnote 378: This species of boat is still used on the Welsh rivers, +and is called a coricle in English, and _cwch_ in Welsh. It is so light +that a man may carry one on his back.] + +[Footnote 379: Richard has mistaken the sense of Solinus, who, in +describing the passage from Great Britain to Ireland, observes that from +its shortness they abstained from food. "Navigantes escis abstinent, pro +freti latitudine." C. 25.] + +[Footnote 380: In all periods the Britons seem to have been divided into +numerous petty communities or states, headed by chiefs, who are here +dignified with the title of kings. From the jealousies and weakness +attending such a state of society, the island first became a prey to the +Romans, and afterwards to the Saxons; and when the Britons were confined +to the mountains of Wales, the same causes hastened the annexation of +their country to England.] + +[Footnote 381: In the early ages chariots were universally used in war. +In the Scriptures they are frequently mentioned as forming the principal +strength of an army; and the mode of fighting in chariots among the +Greeks and Trojans, according to the description of Homer, was exactly +similar to that of the Britons. The steeds of his heroes were + + "Practised alike to stop, to turn, to chase, + To dare the shock, or urge the rapid race." + +His warriors sometimes drive through the ranks of the enemy, sometimes +fight from their chariots, and sometimes alight and maintain the combat +on foot, while their chariots retire to the rear. + + "This counsel pleased, the godlike Hector sprung + Swift from his seat; his clanging armour rung. + The chief's example follow'd by his train, + Each quits his car and issues on the plain; + By orders strict the charioteers enjoin'd + Compel the coursers to their ranks behind." + +The Britons, however, appear to have devised an improvement in this mode +of warfare, which was unknown to the Greeks. Their chariots seem to have +been of two kinds, the _covini_ or wains, heavy and armed with scythes, +to break the thickest order of the enemy; and the _essedae_, a lighter +kind, adapted probably to situations and circumstances in which the +_covini_ could not act, and occasionally performing the duties of +cavalry. The _essedae_, with the cavalry, were pushed forward to oppose +the first landing of Caesar; and Cassivellaunus afterwards left 4000 +_essedae_ as a corps of observation to watch his movements.--_Caesar. +Comment. lib._ 5, sec. 15.] + +[Footnote 382: The government of the ancient Britons may be denominated +patriarchal. Each community was governed by its elders; and every +individual who could not prove his kindred to some community, through +nine descents, and the same number of collateral affinities, was not +considered as a freeman. Beyond this degree of kindred, they were formed +into new communities. The elders of the different communities were +subordinate to the elders of the tribes. But in times of public danger, +as is recorded in the Triads, some chief of distinguished abilities was +entrusted with the supreme authority over the tribes or communities, who +united in common defence--Such were Caswallon (Cassivellaunus), Caradwg +(Caractacus), and Owain, son of Macsen.] + +[Footnote 383: This _torques_, chain, or rather wreath, is frequently +alluded to by the early British bards. + + "Yet in the battle of Arderydd I wore the _golden torques_" + _Merddin Avellanaw._ + + "Four and twenty sons I have had + Wearing the _golden wreath_, leaders of armies." + _Llywarch Hen._ + + "Of all who went to Cattraeth, wearing the _golden torc or wreath_." + _Aneurin._ + +The same bard states that in the battle of Cattraeth were three hundred +and sixty who wore the _golden torques_. + +We give a description of one of these ornaments found near the castle of +Harlech, in Merionethshire, in 1692. "It is a wreathed bar of gold, or +perhaps three or four rods jointly twisted, about four feet long, but +naturally bending only one way, in the form of a hatband. It is hooked +at both ends. It is of a round form, about an inch in circumference, and +weighs eight ounces."--_Gibson's Camden_, p. 658. + +Another mark of dignity was a string of amber beads worn round the head. +To this Aneurin alludes-- + + "With wreaths of _amber_ twined round his temples." + +These beads have been frequently found in tumuli, particularly in those +on Salisbury Plain.--See _Turner's Vindication of the Welsh +Bards.--Owen's Elegies of Llywarch Hen_.] + +[Footnote 384: This is Caesar's account of a Gallic custom; but it is +applied, not without reason, to the Britons, and indeed is equally +applicable to all uncivilized people.] + +[Footnote 385: As the classic authors have left us no description of the +modes of interment among the Britons, Richard was induced, by the +conformity of their manners and customs to those of the Gauls, to adopt +the words used by Caesar in his account of the Gallic funerals. +Unfortunately the remains of the British bards afford little assistance +in supplying this deficiency. It appears, however, that the Britons +raised tumuli over their dead, and continued the practice till after the +introduction of Christianity; and that their other modes of interment +were the _carned_, or heap of stones; the _cistvaen_, or stone chest; +and perhaps the _cromlec_, or hanging stone. From a curious fragment +commemorating the graves of the British warriors, which is printed in +the first volume of the Welch Archaeology, we learn further, that they +buried their dead on the top of hills and lofty cliffs, on declivities, +in heaths and secluded valleys, on the banks and near the fords of +rivers, and on the sea-shore "where the ninth wave breaks." Allusions +are also made to corresponding stones raised on these graves; and it is +said, "the _long_ graves in Gwanas, no one knows to whom they belong nor +what is their history." + +As the modes of interment among all early nations were in many respects +similar, there is perhaps no part of our national antiquities which has +given scope to so much conjecture as this. The reader who is desirous of +more particular information relative to this subject, may at least find +amusement in consulting the works of Stukeley, Douglas's _Nenia +Britannica_, the _Archaeologia_, and various accounts scattered in +different periodical publications.] + + + + +CHAP. IV. + + +1. All the Britons, like the Gauls, were much addicted to superstitious +ceremonies; and those who laboured under severe disorders, or were +exposed to the dangers of war, either offered human victims, or made a +vow to perform such a sacrifice. + +2. The druids were employed in the performance of these cruel rites; and +they believed that the gods could not be appeased unless the life of a +man was ransomed with human blood. Hence arose the public institution of +such sacrifices; and those who had been surprised in theft, robbery, or +any other delinquency, were considered as the most acceptable victims. +But when criminals could not be obtained, even the innocent were put to +death, that the gods might be appeased. + +3. The sacred ceremonies could not be performed except in the presence +of the druids; and on them devolved the office of providing for the +public as well as private rites. They were the guardians of religion and +the interpreters of mysteries; and being skilled in medicine, were +consulted for the preservation or restoration of health. + +4. Among their gods, the principal object of their worship was +Mercury.[386] Next to him they adored justice (under the name of +Astarte), then Apollo, and Mars (who was called Vitucadrus), Jupiter, +Minerva, Hercules, Victory (called Andate), Diana, Cybele, and Pluto. Of +these deities they held the same opinions as other nations. + +5. The Britons, like the Gauls, endeavoured to derive their origin from +Dis or Pluto, boasting of this ancient tradition of the druids. For this +reason they divided time, not by the number of days, but of nights, and +thus distinguished the commencement of the month, and the time of their +birth. This custom agrees with the ancient mode of computation adopted +in Genesis, chapter i.[387] + +6. The druids, being held in high veneration, were greatly followed by +the young men for the sake of their instructions. They decided almost +all public and private controversies, and determined disputes relative +to inheritance or the boundaries of lands. They decreed rewards and +punishments, and enforced their decisions by an exclusion from the +sacrifices. This exclusion was deemed the severest punishment; because +the interdicted, being deemed impious and wicked, were shunned as if +contagious; justice was refused to their supplications, and they were +allowed no marks of honour.[388] + +7. Over the druids presided a chief, vested with supreme authority. At +his death he was succeeded by the next in dignity; but if there were +several of equal rank, the contest was decided by the suffrages of their +body; and sometimes they even contended in arms for this honour.[389] + +8. The druids went not to war, paid no tribute like the rest of the +people, were exempted from military duties, and enjoyed immunities in +all things. From these high privileges many either voluntarily entered +into their order, or were placed in it by friends or parents. + +9. They learned a number of verses, which were the only kind of +memorials or annals in use among them.[390] Some persons accordingly +remained twenty years under their instruction, which they did not deem +it lawful to commit to writing, though on other subjects they employed +the Greek alphabet. "This custom," to use the words of Julius Caesar, +"seems to have been adopted for two reasons: first, not to expose their +doctrines to the common people; and, secondly, lest their scholars, +trusting to letters, should be less anxious to remember their precepts; +for such assistance commonly diminishes application, and weakens the +memory." + +10. In the first place they circulated the doctrine that souls do not +die, but migrate into other bodies.[391] By this principle they hoped +men would be more powerfully actuated to virtue, and delivered from the +fear of death. They likewise instructed students in the knowledge of the +heavenly bodies, in geography, the nature of things, and the power of +the gods.[392] + +11. Their admiration of the mistletoe must not be omitted. The druids +esteemed nothing more sacred than the mistletoe, and the tree on which +it grew, if an oak. They particularly delighted in groves of oaks,[393] +and performed no sacred rite without branches of that tree, and hence +seems to be derived their name of druids, [Greek: Druides]. Whatever +grew on an oak was considered as sent from heaven, and as a sign that +the tree was chosen by God himself. The mistletoe was difficult to be +found, and when discovered was gathered with religious ceremonies, +particularly at the sixth day of the moon (from which period they dated +their months and years, and their cycle of thirty years,) because the +moon was supposed to possess extraordinary powers when she had not +completed her second quarter. The mistletoe was called in their language +_all heal_.[394] The sacrifice and the feast being duly prepared under +the tree, they led thither two white bulls, whose horns were then bound +for the first time.[395] The priest, clothed in a white vestment, +ascending the tree, cut off the mistletoe with a golden bill, and +received it in a white cloth. They then slew the victims, invoking the +favour of the Deity on their offering. They conceived that the mistletoe +cured sterility in animals; and considered it as a specific against all +poisons. So great was the superstition generally prevailing among +nations with respect to frivolous objects. + +13. At a certain time of the year the druids retired to a consecrated +grove in the island of Mona, whither all persons among whom +controversies had arisen, repaired for the decision of their disputes. + +14. Besides the druids, there were among the Gauls and Britons poets, +called bards,[396] who sang in heroic measures the deeds of the gods and +heroes, accompanied with the sweet notes of the lyre. + +15. Concerning the druids and bards, I shall conclude this chapter in +the words of Lucan:-- + + "You too, ye bards! whom sacred raptures fire. + To chant your heroes to your country's lyre; + Who consecrate, in your immortal strain, + Brave patriot souls, in righteous battle slain, + Securely now the tuneful task renew, + And noblest themes in deathless songs pursue. + The druids now, while arms are heard no more, + Old mysteries and barbarous rites restore, + A tribe who singular religion love, + And haunt the lonely coverts of the grove. + To these, and these of all mankind alone, + The gods are sure revealed or sure unknown. + If dying mortals' doom they sing aright, + No ghosts descend to dwell in dreadful night; + No parting souls to grisly Pluto go, + Nor seek the dreary silent shades below; + But forth they fly immortal in their kind, + And other bodies in new worlds they find; + Thus life for ever runs its endless race, + And like a line death but divides the space, + A stop which can but for a moment last, + A point between the future and the past. + Thrice happy they beneath their northern skies, + Who that worst fear--the fear of death--despise + Hence they no cares for this frail being feel, + But rush undaunted on the pointed steel; + Provoke approaching fate, and bravely scorn + To spare that life which must so soon return." + _Rowe's Lucan_, book i. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 386: This passage has puzzled the British antiquaries, because +it militates against the grand principle of the druidic theology, and +because, as they assert, no traces of the Greek or Roman deities are +found among the early Britons. Possibly some of the British tribes might +have brought this mode of worship from Gaul; but more probably the +assertion was derived from the misconception of the ancient authors +themselves, who gave the names of their own deities to the objects of +adoration distinguished by similar attributes in other countries. The +account is borrowed from Caesar's description of the Gauls, lib. vi. Sec. +15.] + +[Footnote 387: "And the _evening_ and the morning were the first day," +&c. ver. 5. We also still say a se'n_night_, a fortnight.] + +[Footnote 388: Like the excommunication of the catholic church.] + +[Footnote 389: Such a custom would contravene the principles of the +druidic or bardic system, which prohibited them from using arms. The +remark seems to have been extended to a general application by Richard, +from a single instance recorded by Caesar, of a druidic election in Gaul +thus decided.] + +[Footnote 390: According to the opinion of the Welsh antiquaries, the +system of druidical knowledge forms the basis of the Triads. If this be +the case, it must be confessed that the bards possessed a profound +knowledge of human nature, uncommon critical sagacity, and a perfect +acquaintance with the harmony of language and the properties of metre. +For example, the subjects of the poetical Triads are, + + The Welsh language. + Fancy and invention. + The design of poetry. + Nature of just thinking. + Rules of arrangement. + Rules of description. + Variety of matter and invention. + Rules of composition; comprising the laws of + verse, rhyme, stanzas, consonancy or alliteration, + and accent. + +We quote a few of these Triads to show their nature and structure. + +The three qualifications of poetry;--endowment of genius, judgment from +experience, and happiness of mind. + +The three foundations of judgment;--bold design, frequent practice, and +frequent mistakes. + +The three foundations of learning;--seeing much, suffering much, and +studying much. + +The three foundations of happiness;--a suffering with contentment, a +hope that it will come, and a belief that it will be. + +The three foundations of thought;--perspicuity, amplitude, and justness. + +The three canons of perspicuity;--the word that is necessary, the +quantity that is necessary, and the manner that is necessary. + +The three canons of amplitude;--appropriate thought, variety of thought, +and requisite thought.] + +[Footnote 391: According to the Triads, the theology of the bards was +pure monotheism. They taught also the transmigration of souls; believing +that the soul passed by death through all the gradations of animal life, +from Anoom, the bottomless abyss, or lowest degree of animation, up to +the highest degree of spiritual existence next to the Supreme Being. +Human nature was considered as the middle point of this scale. As this +was a state of liberty, in which the soul could attach itself to either +good or evil; if evil predominated, it was after death obliged to +retrace its former transmigrations from a point in the animal creation +equal to its turpitude, and it again and again became man till it was +attached to good. Above humanity, though it might again animate the body +of man, it was incapable of relapse; but continued progressively rising +to a degree of goodness and happiness, inferior only to the Deity. + +It is remarkable that many singular points of coincidence have been +discovered in comparing the religious system of the Hindoos with that of +the ancient Britons; and in the languages of these two people some +striking similarities occur in those proverbs and forms of expression +which are derived from national customs and religious ceremonies.] + +[Footnote 392: This account of the druids, like some of the preceding +paragraphs, is borrowed from Caesar's description of the Gauls.] + +[Footnote 393: Gen. xxi. 33.] + +[Footnote 394: The worship and religious ceremonies of the druids have +formed the subject of many and voluminous dissertations; and the +mistletoe, from its connection with their sacred rites, is a plant that +has always been interesting to antiquaries. In a letter recently +received by the editor from the learned and scientific Professor of +Botany, Dr. Daubeny, of Magdalen College, Oxford, that gentleman +observes, that though the mistletoe is occasionally found on the oak in +Britain, yet this occurs so rarely that it is difficult to suppose the +druids could have got a supply for their purposes from such a source. + +"There is a plant nearly allied to the mistletoe, the Loranthus +Europaeus, which grows freely on the oak, when it occurs; but +unfortunately the most western locality known is the garden of +Schoenbrunn near Vienna, but out of the limits, I believe, within which +the druidical worship existed: it is very uncommon in Hungary. + +"This circumstance has given rise to an hypothesis, which I may repeat +without attaching to it any very great importance, namely, that the +Loranthus is the mistletoe of the druids, and that when the druidical +worship was exterminated, this plant, as being introduced into their +rites, was extirpated from all those parts of Europe, where the druids +were known." + +The oak among the ancient Britons was peculiarly sacred as the place of +worship, and consequently branches of this tree were used to adorn the +altar, and garlands of its leaves to decorate the priest or druid; and +the mistletoe, being so seldom found on the oak, was considered so great +and desirable an appendage, that no solemn festival was held without it. +It has been observed by naturalists that the blossom of the mistletoe +falls within a few days of the summer solstice, and the berry within a +few days of the winter solstice. These incidents therefore marked the +return of two of the usual seasons for holding the bardic conventions +and festivals. When the sacrifice was over, the berries of this plant +were taken by the ovate, the physician of the tribe, and converted to +medical purposes. That these berries possessed medicinal virtues can +hardly be doubted. The following passage respecting this sacred plant +occurs in Bacon:--"Mistletoe groweth chiefly upon crab trees, apple +trees, sometimes upon hazels, and rarely upon oaks; the mistletoe +whereof is counted very medicinal. It is ever green, winter and summer, +and beareth a white glistening berry: and it is a plant utterly +differing from the plant on which it groweth." + +Sir John Colbach published a Dissertation on the efficacy of the +mistletoe in 1720; but in medicine, as in fashion, what is deemed of +high value in one age is discontinued in the next, and thought nothing +of. Such is the fate of the mistletoe in the present day as to any +medicinal use that is made of it.] + +[Footnote 395: As the plough was fastened to the horns of the beasts, +this expression signifies that the animal had never been employed in +labour. + +The doctrine of the druids is said to have been first invented in +Britain, and from thence carried into Gaul; on which account Pliny says +(in his thirtieth book), "But why should I commemorate these things with +regard to an art which has passed over the sea, and reached the bounds +of nature? Britain even at this time celebrates it with so many +wonderful ceremonies, that she seems to have taught it to the Persians." +Julius Caesar affirms the same in his Commentaries: "And now those +persons who wish to acquire a more extensive knowledge of such things, +repair to Britain for information." + +It is a singular coincidence of circumstances that bulls perfectly white +were sacrificed by the Egyptians to Apis. When such an animal was found +unblemished, and without a single black hair, the priest tied a fillet +about his horns, and sealed it with the signet of his ring; it being a +capital crime to sacrifice one of these animals except it was thus +marked.--_Herodotus._] + +[Footnote 396: According to the Welsh antiquaries, these distinctions +are erroneous. The druidical, or rather bardic, system consisted of +three classes: the bard proper, whose province was philosophy and +poetry; the druid, or minister of religion; and the ovate, or mechanic +and artist. For a curious account of the bardic system and institutions +the reader is referred to the Introduction to Owen's Translations of the +Elegies of Llywarch Hen.] + + + + +CHAP. V. + + +1. This island is rich in corn and wood, is well adapted for the +maintenance of flocks and cattle, and in some places produces vines. It +also abounds with marine and land birds, and contains copious springs, +and numerous rivers, stored with fish, and plentifully supplied with +salmon and eels. + +2. Sea-cows or seals,[397] and dolphins are caught, and whales, of which +mention is made by the satirist: + + "Quanto delphinis balaena Britannica major." + +3. There are besides several sorts of shell-fish, among which are +muscles, containing pearls often of the best kind, and of every colour: +that is, red, purple, violet, green (_prasini_), but principally white, +as we find in the venerable Bede's Ecclesiastical History. + +4. Shells[398] are still more abundant, from which is prepared a scarlet +dye of the most beautiful hue, which never fades from the effect of the +sun or rain, but becomes finer as it grows older. + +5. In Britain are salt and warm springs, from which are formed hot +baths, suited to all ages, with distinct places for the two sexes.[399] + +6. White lead is found in the midland regions, and iron in the maritime, +but in small quantities gold and silver are also produced, but brass is +imported. Jet of the purest quality abounds; it is of a shining black, +and highly inflammable.[400] When burned, it drives away serpents, and +when warmed by friction attracts bodies, like amber. + +7. Britain being situated almost under the north pole, the nights are +so light in summer, that it is often doubtful whether the evening or +morning twilight prevails; because the sun, in returning to the east, +does not long remain below the horizon. Hence, also, according to +Cleomenes, the longest day in summer, and the longest night in winter, +when the sun declines towards the south, is eighteen hours; and the +shortest night in summer, and day in winter, is six hours. In the same +manner as in Armenia, Macedon, Italy, and the regions under the same +parallel, the longest day is fifteen, and the shortest nine hours. + +8. But I have given a sufficient account of Britain and the Britons in +general. I shall now descend to particulars; and in the succeeding +pages, shall describe the state and revolutions of the different nations +who inhabited this island, the cities which ennobled it, with other +particulars, and their condition under the Roman dominion. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 397: We do not find that Pennant mentions, among the +amphibious animals, the _Vituli Marini_, by which Richard probably meant +seals.] + +[Footnote 398: Richard calls these shells _Cochleae_, or snails, though +he probably alludes to the species styled by naturalists _Murea_, which +contained the famous Tyrian purple, so much valued by the ancients. Yet, +whatever our island may have formerly produced, we discern no traces in +later ages, of any testaceous animal yielding a purple or scarlet dye.] + +[Footnote 399: Richard here doubtless principally alludes to Bath, the +Aquae Solis of the ancients.] + +[Footnote 400: This substance appears to have been wrought into +ornaments for the person. In the barrows, jet beads of a long elliptical +form were found, together with others of amber, and a coarse blue +glass.] + + + + +CHAP. VI. + + +1. Britain, according to the most accurate and authentic accounts of the +ancients, was divided into seven parts, six of which were at different +times subjected to the Roman empire, and the seventh held by the +uncivilized Caledonians. + +2. These divisions were called Britannia Prima, Secunda, Flavia, Maxima, +Valentia, and Vespasiana, which last did not long remain under the power +of the Romans. Britannia Prima is separated by the river Thamesis from +Flavia, and by the sea[401] from Britannia Secunda. Flavia begins from +the German Ocean, is bounded by the Thamesis,[402] by the Sabrina,[403] +on the side of the Silures and Ordovices, and trends towards the north +and the region of the Brigantes.[404] Maxima, beginning at the extreme +boundary of Flavia, reaches to the wall,[405] which traverses the whole +island, and faces the north. Valentia occupies the whole space between +this wall and that built by the emperor Antoninus Pius, from the +estuary of the Bdora[406] to that of the Clydda.[407] Vespasiana +stretches from the estuary of the Bdora to the city of Alcluith,[408] +from whence a line drawn to the mouth of the Varar[409] shows the +boundary. Britannia Secunda faces the Irish Sea to the north and west. +But sufficient notice has now been taken of the provinces. + +3. Before we proceed to a more minute description, let us touch upon the +form of government. In remote times all Britain was divided among petty +princes and states, some of whom are said to have existed after the +country was occupied by the Romans; though, under the Roman domination, +they retained scarcely the shadow of regal authority. A legate being +appointed by the emperor over the conquered countries, Britain became a +proconsular province. This form of government continued several ages, +although in the meantime the island underwent many divisions, first into +the Upper and Lower districts, and then, as we have before shown, into +seven parts. It afterwards became the imperial residence of Carausius +and those whom he admitted to a share of his power. Constantine the +Great, the glory and defence of Christianity, is supposed to have raised +Maxima and Valentia to consular provinces, and Prima, Secunda, and +Flavia, to praesidials. But over the whole island was appointed a +deputy-governor, under the authority of the praetorian prefect of Gaul. +Besides whom, an ancient volume, written about that period, mentions a +person of great dignity, by the title of _comes_, or count of the +Britons, another as count of the Saxon coast, and a third as leader or +duke of Britain; with many others, who, although possessed of great +offices, must be passed over in silence, for want of certain +information.[410] + +4. I now commence my long journey, to examine minutely the whole island +and its particular parts, and shall follow the footsteps of the best +authors. I begin with the extreme part of the first province, whose +coasts are opposite Gaul. This province contains three celebrated and +powerful states, namely, Cantium, Belgium, and Damnonium, each of which +in particular I shall carefully examine. + +First of Cantium. + +5. Cantium,[411] situated at the extremity of Britannia Prima, was +inhabited by the Cantii, and contains the cities of Durobrobis[412] and +Cantiopolis,[413] which was the metropolis, and the burial-place of St. +Augustine, the apostle of the English; Dubrae,[414] Lemanus,[415] and +Regulbium[416] garrisoned by the Romans; also their primary station +Rhutupis,[417] which was colonized and became the metropolis, and where +a haven was formed capable of containing the Roman fleet which commanded +the North Sea. This city was of such celebrity that it gave the name of +Rhutupine to the neighbouring shores; which Lucan, + + "Aut vaga quum Thetis Rhutupinaque littora fervent." + +From hence oysters of a large size and superior flavour were sent to +Rome, as Juvenal observes, + + "Circaeis nata forent, an + Lucrinum ad saxum, RHUTUPINOVE edita fundo + Ostrea, callebat primo deprendere morsu." + +It was the station of the second Augustan legion, under the count of the +Saxon coast, a person of high distinction. + +6. The kingdom of Cantium is watered by many rivers. The principal are +Madus[418], Sturius,[419] Dubris,[420] and Lemanus,[421] which last +separates the Cantii from the Bibroci. + +7. Among the three principal promontories of Britain, that which derives +its name from Cantium[422] is most distinguished. There the ocean, being +confined in an angle, according to the tradition of the ancients, +gradually forced its way, and formed the strait which renders Britain an +island. + +8. The vast forest called by some the Anderidan, and by others the +Caledonian, stretches from Cantium a hundred and fifty miles, through +the countries of the Bibroci and the Segontiaci, to the confines of the +Hedui. It is thus mentioned by the poet Lucan:-- + + "Unde Caledoniis fallit turbata Britannos." + +9. The Bibroci[423] were situated next to the Cantii, and, as some +imagine, were subject to them. They were also called Rhemi, and are not +unknown in record. They inhabited Bibrocum,[424] Regentium,[425] and +Noviomagus,[426] which was their metropolis. The Romans held +Anderida.[427] + +10. On their confines, and bordering on the Thames, dwelt the +Atrebates,[428] whose primary city was Calleba.[429] + +11. Below them, nearer the river Kunetius,[430] lived the +Segontiaci,[431] whose chief city was Vindonum.[432] + +12. Below, towards the ocean, and bordering on the Bibroci, lived the +Belgae,[433] whose chief cities were Clausentum,[434] now called +Southampton; Portus Magnus;[435] Venta,[436] a noble city situated upon +the river Antona. Sorbiodunum[437] was garrisoned by the Romans. All the +Belgae are Allobroges, or foreigners, and derived their origin from the +Belgae and Celts. The latter, not many ages before the arrival of Caesar, +quitted their native country, Gaul, which was conquered by the Romans +and Germans, and passed over to this island: the former, after crossing +the Rhine, and occupying the conquered country, likewise sent out +colonies, of which Caesar has spoken more at large.[438] + +13. All the regions south of the Thamesis[439] were, according to +ancient records, occupied by the warlike nations of the Senones. These +people, under the guidance of their renowned king Brennus, penetrated +through Gaul, forced a passage over the Alps, hitherto deemed +impracticable, and would have razed proud Rome, had not the fates, which +seemed like to carry the republic in their bosom, till it reached its +destined height of glory, averted the threatened calamity. By the cackle +of a goose Manlius was warned of the danger, and hurled the barbarians +from the capitol, in their midnight attack. The same protecting +influence afterwards sent Camillus to his assistance, who, by assailing +them in the rear, quenched the conflagration which they had kindled, in +Senonic blood, and preserved the city from impending destruction. In +consequence of this vast expedition, the land of the Senones,[440] being +left without inhabitants, and full of spoils, was occupied by the +above-mentioned Belgae. + +14. Near the Sabrina and below the Thamesis lived the Hedui,[441] whose +principal cities were Ischalis[442] and Avalonia.[443] The baths,[444] +which were also called Aquae Solis, were made the seat of a colony, and +became the perpetual residence of the Romans who possessed this part of +Britain. This was a celebrated city, situated upon the river Abona, +remarkable for its hot springs, which were formed into baths at a great +expense. Apollo and Minerva[445] were the tutelary deities, in whose +temples the perpetual fire never fell into ashes, but as it wasted away +turned into globes of stone. + +15. Below the Hedui are situated the Durotriges, who are sometimes +called Morini. Their metropolis was Durinum,[446] and their territory +extended to the promontory Vindelia.[447] In their country the land is +gradually contracted, and seems to form an immense arm which repels the +waves of the ocean. + +16. In this arm was the region of the Cimbri,[448] whose country was +divided from that of the Hedui by the river Uxella.[449] It is not +ascertained whether the Cimbri gave to Wales its modern name, or +whether their origin is more remote. Their chief cities were +Termolus[450] and Artavia.[451] From hence, according to the ancients, +are seen the pillars of Hercules, and the island Herculea[452] not far +distant. From the Uxella a chain of mountains called Ocrinum extends to +the promontory known by the same name. + +17. Beyond the Cimbri the Carnabii inhabited the extreme angle of the +island,[453] from whom this district probably obtained its present name +of Carnubia (Cornwall). Their chief cities were Musidum[454] and +Halangium.[455] But as the Romans never frequented these almost desert +and uncultivated parts of Britain, their cities seem to have been of +little consequence, and were therefore neglected by historians; though +geographers mention the promontories Bolerium and Antivestaeum.[456] + +18. Near the above-mentioned people on the sea-coast towards the south, +and bordering on the Belgae Allobroges, lived the Damnonii, the most +powerful people of those parts; on which account Ptolemy assigns to them +all the country extending into the sea like an arm.[457] Their cities +were Uxella,[458] Tamara,[459] Voluba,[460] Cenia,[461] and Isca,[462] +the mother of all, situated upon the Isca. Their chief rivers were the +Isca,[463] Durius,[464] Tamarus,[465] and Cenius.[466] Their coasts are +distinguished by three promontories, which will be hereafter mentioned. +This region was much frequented by the Phoenician, Grecian, and Gallic +merchants, for the metals with which it abounded, particularly for its +tin. Proofs of this may be drawn from the names of the above-mentioned +promontories, namely Hellenis,[467] Ocrinum,[468] and [Greek: Kriou +metopon][469] as well as the numerous appellations of cities, which show +a Grecian or Phoenician derivation. + +19. Beyond this arm are the isles called Sygdiles,[470] which are also +denominated Oestromenides and Cassiterides. + +20. It is affirmed that the emperor Vespasian fought thirty battles with +the united forces of the Damnonii and Belgae. The ten different tribes +who inhabited the south banks of the Thames and Severn being gradually +subdued, their country was formed into the province of Britannia Prima, +so called because it was the first fruit of victory obtained by the +Romans. + +21. Next in order is Britannia Secunda, which is divided from Britannia +Prima by the countries already mentioned, and from the Flavian province +by the Sabrina[471] and the Deva;[472] and the remaining parts are +bounded by the internal sea. This was the renowned region of the +Silures,[473] inhabited by three powerful tribes. Among these were +particularly distinguished the Silures Proper, whom the turbid estuary +of the Severn divides from the country we have just described. These +people, according to Solinus, still retain their ancient manners, have +neither markets nor money, but barter their commodities, regarding +rather utility than price. They worship the gods, and both men and women +are supposed to foretell future events. 22. The chief cities of the +Silures were, Sariconium,[474] Magna,[475] Gobanium,[476] and Venta[477] +their capital. A Roman colony possessed the city built on the Isca,[478] +and called after that name, for many years the station of the second or +Augustan legion, until it was transferred to the Valentian province, and +Rhutupis.[479] This was the primary station of the Romans in Britannia +Secunda. + +23. The country of the Silures was long powerful, particularly under +Caractacus, who during nine years withstood the Roman arms, and +frequently triumphed over them, until he was defeated by Ostorius, as he +was preparing to attack the Romans. Caractacus, however, escaped from +the battle, and in applying for assistance to the neighbouring +chieftains was delivered up to the Romans, by the artifices of a Roman +matron, Cartismandua, who had married Venutius, chief of Brigantia. +After this defeat the Silures bravely defended their country till it was +overrun by Veranius, and being finally conquered by Frontinus, it was +reduced into a Roman province under the name of Britannia Secunda. + +24. Two other tribes were subject to the Silures. First the Ordovices, +who inhabited the north towards the isle of Mona;[480] and secondly the +Dimetiae, who occupied the west, where the promontory Octorupium[481] is +situated, and from whence is a passage of thirty miles[482] to Ireland. +The cities of the Dimetiae were Menapia[483] and Maridunum[484] the +metropolis. The Romans seized upon Lovantium[485] as their station. +Beyond these, and the borders of the Silures, were the Ordovices, whose +cities were Mediolanum[486] and Brannogenium.[487] The Sabrina, which +rises in their mountains, is justly reckoned one of the three largest +rivers of Britain, the Thamesis (Thames) and the Tavus (Tay) being the +other two. The name of the Ordovices is first distinguished in history +on account of the revenge which they took for the captivity of their +renowned chief. Hence they continually harassed the Roman army, and +would have succeeded in annihilating their power, had not Agricola +turned hither his victorious arms, subdued the whole nation, and put the +greater part to the sword. + +25. The territory situated north of the Ordovices, and washed by the +ocean, was formerly under their dominion. These parts were certainly +inhabited by the Cangiani, whose chief city was Segontium,[488] near the +Cangian promontory,[489] on the Minevian shore, opposite Mona,[490] an +island long distinguished as the residence of the druids. This island +contained many towns, though it was scarcely sixty miles in circuit; +and, as Pliny asserts, is distant from the colony of Camalodunum two +hundred miles. The rivers of the Cangiani were Tosibus,[491] called also +Canovius, and the Deva,[492] which was their boundary. In this region is +the stupendous mountain Eriri.[493] Ordovicia, together with the regions +of the Cangiani and Carnabii, unless report deceives me, constituted a +province called Genania, under the reign of the emperors subsequent to +Trajan. + +26. I now proceed to the Flavian province; but for want of authentic +documents, am unable to ascertain whether it derived its name from +Flavia Julia Helena, mother of Constantine the Great, who was born in +these parts, or from the Flavian family. + +27. Towards the river Deva were situated, in the first place, the +Carnabii.[494] Their principal places were Benonae,[495] Etocetum,[496] +and Banchorium,[497] the last the most celebrated monastery in the whole +island, which being overthrown in the dispute with Augustine was never +afterwards restored; and the mother of the rest, Uriconium,[498] +esteemed one of the largest cities in Britain. In the extreme angle of +this country, near the Deva, was the Roman colony Deva,[499] the work of +the twentieth legion, which was called Victrix, and was formerly the +defence of the region. This place is supposed to be what is now termed +West Chester. + +28. Below these people stretched the kingdom, or rather the republic, of +the Cassii, called by Ptolemy Catieuchlani, which arose from the union +of two nations. Those nearest the Sabrina were called the Dobuni, or, +according to the annals of Dio, the Boduni.[500] In their country the +Thames rises, and, proceeding through the territories of the Hedui, +Atrebates, Cassii, Bibroci, Trinobantes, and Cantii, after a long +course flows into the German Ocean. The cities of the Dobuni were +Salinae,[501] Branogena,[502] on the left of the Sabrina [Severn], +Alauna,[503] and the most venerable of all, Corinium,[504] a famous city +supposed to have been built by Vespasian. But Glevum,[505] situated in +the extreme part of the kingdom, towards the territory of the Silures, +was occupied by a Roman colony, which, according to the writers of those +times, was introduced by Claudius Caesar. Adjoining to these were the +Cassii, whose chief cities were Forum Dianae[506] and Verulamium.[507] +But when the last was raised by the Romans to the municipal rank, it +obtained the pre-eminence over the other cities. St. Alban the martyr +was here born. This city was involved in the ruin of Camalodunum[508] +and Londinium,[509] in the insurrection of Bonduica, which is related by +Tacitus. The Cassii were conspicuous above the other nations of the +island; and Caesar in his second invasion had the severest conflicts with +their renowned chief Cassibellinus, to whom many people were tributary; +and was repulsed by the Cassii in league with the Silures; to which +Lucan alludes:--"_Territa quaesitis ostendit terga Britannis._" But on +the coming of Claudius, they, with the neighbouring people, were +subdued, and their country reduced to a Roman province, first called +Caesariensis, and afterwards Flavia. + +29. Near the Cassii, where the river Thamesis approaches the ocean, was +the region of the Trinobantes,[510] who not only entered into alliance +with the Romans, but resigned to them Londinium their metropolis, and +Camalodunum situated near the sea, for the purpose of establishing +colonies. In this city was supposed to be born Flavia Julia Helena, the +pious wife of Constantine Chlorus and mother of Constantine the Great, +who was descended from the blood of the British kings. It was the chief +colony of the Romans in Britain, and distinguished by a temple of +Claudius, an image of Victory, with many ornaments.[511] But Londinium +was and ever will be a city of great eminence. It was first named +Trinovantum, then Londinium, afterwards Augusta, and now again Londona. +According to the chronicles it is more ancient than Rome. It is situated +upon the banks of the Thamesis, and is the great emporium of many +nations trading by land or sea. This city was surrounded with a wall by +the empress Helena, the discoverer of the Holy Cross; and, if reliance +may be placed on tradition, which is not always erroneous, was called +Augusta, as Britain was distinguished by the name of the Roman Island. + +30. The boundary of this people towards the north was the river +Surius,[512] beyond which lived the Iceni, a famous people divided into +two tribes. The first of these, the Cenomanni, dwelt to the north +towards the Trinobantes and Cassii, and bordered on the ocean towards +the east. Their cities were Durnomagus,[513] and their metropolis +Venta.[514] Camboricum[515] was a Roman colony. A tongue of land +stretching into the sea towards the east was called Flavia Extrema.[516] +Their most remarkable rivers are the Garion,[517] the Surius,[518] and +the Aufona[519] which falls into the bay of Metaris.[520] Beyond the +Aufona, bordering on the Carnabii, Brigantes, and the ocean, lived the +Coitani,[521] in a tract of country overspread with woods, which, like +all the woods of Britain, was called Caledonia.[522] This is mentioned +by the historian Florus.[523] The chief city of the Coitani was +Ragae.[524] Besides this was Lindum,[525] a Roman colony, on the eastern +extremity of the province. The river Trivona[526] divides the whole +country into two parts. The nation of the Iceni, being of a warlike +character, neglected husbandry as well as the civil arts; they +voluntarily joined the Romans; but, revolting, and exciting others to +follow their example, were first subdued by Ostorius. A few years +afterwards, Praesutagus their king, at his decease, made Caesar and his +descendants his heirs. But the Romans, abusing the friendship of these +people and giving themselves up to every species of debauchery, excited +their resentment, and the Iceni with their allies, under the warlike +Bonduica, widow of Praesutagus, destroyed their colonies, and massacred +eighty thousand Roman citizens. They were afterwards reduced by the +legate Suetonius, a man highly esteemed for prudence. + +31. On the northern part of this region is the river Abus,[527] which +falls into the ocean, and was one of the boundaries of the province +Maxima, as Seteja[528] was the other. This province was also called the +kingdom of Brigantia, because it comprehended the region of that name +inhabited by three nations. At the eastern point,[529] where the +promontories of Oxellum[530] and of the Brigantes[531] stretch into the +sea, lived the Parisii, whose cities were Petuaria[532] and Portus +Felix.[533] + +32. Above, but on the side of the Parisii, are the proper +Brigantes,[534] a numerous people who once gave law to the whole +province. Their towns were Epiacum,[535] Vinovium,[536] Cambodunum,[537] +Cataracton,[538] Galacum,[539] Olicana,[540] and the chief city +Isurium.[541] Eboracum,[542] on the Urus,[543] was the metropolis, first +a colony of the Romans, called Sexta, from being the station of the +sixth legion, termed the Victorious, and afterwards distinguished by the +presence of many emperors, and raised to the privileges of a municipal +city. + +33. This province is divided into two equal parts by a chain of +mountains called the Pennine Alps, which rising on the confines of the +Iceni and Carnabii, near the river Trivona,[544] extend towards the +north in a continued series of fifty miles. + +34. The people to the west of this chain[545] are the Voluntii and +Sistuntii, who are united in a close confederacy.[546] Their cities are +Rerigonium,[547] Coccium,[548] and Lugubalium.[549] The two last were +occupied by Roman garrisons. + +35. The northern frontier of this province was protected by a wall[550] +of stupendous magnitude built by the Romans across the Isthmus, eighty +miles in length, twelve feet high and (_nine_) thick, strengthened with +towers. + +36. We collect from history, that these people were first attacked by +the emperor Claudius, then overrun by the legate Ostorius, and finally +defeated by Cerealis. By their voluntary submission to Agricola they +obtained peace. The actions and unheard-of perfidy of their queen have +disgraced their name in history. These people were descended from those +powerful nations, who in search of new habitations quitted their +country, which was situated between the Danube, the Alps, and the +Rhone.[551] Some of them afterwards emigrated into Ireland, as appears +from authentic documents. + +37. Further north were situated those powerful nations, who in former +times were known under the name of Maeatae, and from whom that fratricide +Bassianus,[552] after the death of his father, basely purchased peace. +They possessed Ottadinia towards the east, Gadenia, Selgovia, Novantia, +and further north Damnia. + +38. Nearest the wall dwelt the Gadeni,[553] whose metropolis was +Curia.[554] The Ottadini[555] were situated nearer the sea. Their chief +city was Bremenium,[556] and their rivers Tueda,[557] Alauna,[558] and +the two Tinas,[559] which ran within the wall. + +39. The Selgovae[560] inhabited the country to the west. Their cities +were Corbantorigum,[561] Uxellum,[562] and Trimontium,[563] which, +according to ancient documents, was a long time occupied by a Roman +garrison. The principal rivers of this region were Novius,[564] +Deva,[565] and partly the Ituna.[566] + +40. The Novantes[567] dwell beyond the Deva, in the extreme part of the +island, near the sea, and opposite Ireland. In their country was the +famous Novantum Chersonesus,[568] distant twenty-eight miles from +Ireland, and esteemed by the ancients the most northern promontory of +Britain,[569] though without sufficient reason. Their metropolis was +Lucophibia, or Casae Candidae;[570] their rivers Abrasuanus,[571] +Jena,[572] and Deva,[573] which was the boundary towards the east. + +41. The Damnii[574] dwelt to the north of the Novantes, the Selgovae, and +the Gadeni, and were separated from them by the chain of the Uxellan +mountains.[575] They were a very powerful people, but lost a +considerable portion of their territory when the wall was built, being +subdued and spoiled by the Caledonians. Besides which, a Roman garrison +occupied Vanduarium[576] to defend the wall. + +42. In this part, Britain, as if again delighted with the embraces of +the sea, becomes narrower than elsewhere, in consequence of the rapid +influx of the two estuaries, Bodotria and Clotta.[577] Agricola first +secured this isthmus with fortifications, and the emperor Antoninus[578] +erected another wall celebrated in history, which extended nearly five +and thirty miles, in order to check the incursions of the barbarians. It +was repaired, and strengthened with eleven towers, by the general AEtius. +These regions probably constituted that province, which, being recovered +by the victorious arms of the Romans under Theodosius, was supposed to +have been named Valentia, in honour of the family from whom the reigning +emperor was descended. + +43. Beyond the wall lay the province Vespasiana. This is the Caledonian +region so much coveted by the Romans, and so bravely defended by the +natives, facts which the Roman historians, generally too silent in +regard to such things, have amply detailed. In these districts may be +seen the river Tavus,[579] which appears to separate the country into +two parts. There are also found the steep and horrid Grampian hills, +which divide the province. In this region was fought that famous battle +between Agricola and Galgacus, which was so decisive in favour of the +Romans.[580] The magnitude of the works at this day displays the power +of the Romans, and the ancient mode of castrametation; for, in the place +where the battle was fought, certain persons of our order, who passed +that way, affirmed that they saw immense camps, and other proofs which +corroborated the relation of Tacitus. + +44. The nations which were subject to the Romans shall now follow in +their order. Beyond the Isthmus, as far as the Tavus, lived the +Horestii.[581] Their cities, which before the building of the wall +belonged to the Damnii, were Alauna,[582] Lindum,[583] and +Victoria,[584] the last not less glorious in reality than in name. It +was built by Agricola on the Tavus, twenty miles above its mouth. + +45. Above these, beyond the Tavus, which formed the boundary, lived the +Vecturones or Venricones,[585] whose chief city was Orrea,[586] and +their rivers AEsica[587] and Tina.[588] + +46. The Taixali[589] inhabited the coast beyond the boundaries of the +Vecturones. Their principal city was Devana,[590] and their rivers the +Deva[591] and Ituna.[592] A part of the Grampian hills, which extends +like a promontory into the sea, as it were to meet Germany, borrows its +name from them.[593] + +47. To the west of these, beyond the Grampian hills, lived the +Vacomagi,[594] who possessed an extensive tract of country. Their +cities were Tuessis,[595] Tamea,[596] and Banatia.[597] Ptoroton,[598] +situated at the mouth of the Varar,[599] on the coast, was at the same +time a Roman station, and the chief city of the province. The most +remarkable rivers of this region, after the Varar, which formed the +boundary, were the Tuessis[600] and Celnius.[601] + +48. Within the Vacomagi, and the Tavus, lived the Damnii Albani,[602] a +people little known, being wholly secluded among lakes and mountains. + +49. Lower down, to the banks of the Clotta, inhabited the +Attacotti,[603] a people once formidable to all Britain. In this part is +situated the great lake formerly called Lyncalidor,[604] at the mouth +of which the city of Alcluith[605] was built by the Romans, and not long +afterwards received its name from Theodosius, who recovered that +province from the barbarians. These people deserved high praise for +having sustained the attacks of the enemy after the subjugation of the +neighbouring provinces. + +50. This province was named Vespasiana, in honour of the Flavian family, +to which the emperor Domitian owed his origin, and under whom it was +conquered. If I am not mistaken, it was called under the later emperors +Thule, which Claudian mentions in these lines: + + "Incaluit Pictorum sanguine Thule, + Scotorum cumulos flevit glacialis Hierne." + +But this country was so short a time under the power of the Romans, that +posterity cannot ascertain its appellations or subjugation. We have now +examined in a cursory manner the state of Britain under the Romans; we +shall next as briefly treat of the country of the Caledonians. + + +CONCERNING CALEDONIA. + +51. Although all the parts of Britain lying beyond the Isthmus may be +termed Caledonia, yet the proper Caledonians dwelt beyond the Varar, +from which a line drawn accurately points out the boundary of the Roman +empire in Britain. The hithermost part of the island was at different +times in their possession, and the remainder, as we have related, was +occupied by barbarous Britons. The ancient documents of history afford +some information thus far; but beyond the Varar the light is extinct, +and we are enveloped in darkness.[606] Although we know that the Romans +erected altars there to mark the limits of their empire, and that +Ulysses, tossed by a violent tempest, here fulfilled his vows; yet the +thick woods and a continued chain of rugged mountains forbid all further +research. We must therefore be satisfied with the following information, +gleaned from the wandering merchants of the Britons, which we leave for +the use of posterity. + +52. The Caledonians,[607] properly so called, inhabited the country to +the westward of the Varar, and part of their territory was covered by +the extensive forest called the Caledonian wood. + +53. Less considerable people dwelt near the coast. Of these the +Cantae[608] were situated beyond the Varar, and the above-mentioned +altars, to the river Loxa,[609] and in their territory was the +promontory Penoxullum.[610] + +54. Next in order is the river Abona,[611] and the inhabitants near it, +the Logi.[612] Then the river Ila,[613] near which lived the +Carnabii,[614] the most remote of the Britons. These people being +subdued by the propraetor Ostorius, and impatiently bearing the Roman +yoke, joined the Cantae, as tradition relates, and, crossing the sea, +here fixed their residence. Britain in these parts branches out into +many promontories, the chief of which, the extremity of Caledonia, was +called by the ancients Vinvedrum, and afterwards Verubium.[615] + +55. After these people were placed the Catini,[616] and the Mertae[617] +further inland near the Logi. In these regions was the promontory of the +Orcades,[618] contiguous to which are the islands of that name. Beyond +this part flowed the Nabaeus,[619] which bounded the territory of the +Carnabii. + +56. In the lower part of this region were situated the Carnonacae,[620] +in whose territories was the promontory Ebudum,[621] beyond which the +ocean forms a large bay, formerly called Volsas.[622] The lower coast of +this bay was inhabited by the Cerones;[623] and beyond the Itys,[624] +the territory of the Creones extended as far as the Longus.[625] The +promontory stretching from thence, and washed by the ocean and the bay +Lelanus,[626] is named after the inhabitants the Epidii.[627] + +57. I cannot repass the Varar without expressing my wonder that the +Romans, in other respects so much distinguished for judgment and +investigation, should have entertained the absurd notion, that the +remainder of Britain exceeded in length and breadth the regions which +they had subdued and occupied. There is, however, sufficient evidence +that such was their opinion; for whoever attentively considers their +insatiable desire of rule, and reflects on the labour employed in the +erection of those stupendous works which excite the wonder of the world, +in order to exclude an enemy scarcely worthy of their notice or +resentment, must in this respect, as in all others, adore the +providence of the Divine Being, to whom all kingdoms are subject, and +perpetual glory is due, now and for ever. Amen! + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 401: Rather by the estuary of the Severn.] + +[Footnote 402: Thames.] + +[Footnote 403: Severn.] + +[Footnote 404: Here some word is evidently omitted in the original. We +would supply it by comparing this description with that of Britannia +Secunda in the second section, and read "_Sabrina et Deva_," &c., by the +Severn and the Dee from the Silures and Ordovices.] + +[Footnote 405: The wall or vallum erected by Severus between the Solway +Frith and the mouth of the Tyne.] + +[Footnote 406: Bodora and Bodotria, Frith of Forth.] + +[Footnote 407: Clotta. Clyde.] + +[Footnote 408: Dumbarton.] + +[Footnote 409: Murray Frith.] + +[Footnote 410: These remarks seem to have been drawn from the _Notitia +Imperii_, and consequently refer to a late period of the empire.] + +[Footnote 411: Cantium contained the present county of Kent, as far as +the Rother, except a small district in which Holwood Hill is situated, +and which belonged to the Rhemi.] + +[Footnote 412: Rochester.] + +[Footnote 413: Canterbury.] + +[Footnote 414: Dover.] + +[Footnote 415: Situated on the Lymne.] + +[Footnote 416: Reculver.] + +[Footnote 417: Richborough.] + +[Footnote 418: The Medway.] + +[Footnote 419: The Stour.] + +[Footnote 420: A rivulet at Dover.] + +[Footnote 421: The Rother.] + +[Footnote 422: The North Foreland.] + +[Footnote 423: The Bibroci, Rhemi, or Regni, inhabited part of Hants, +and of Berks, Sussex, Surrey, and a small portion of Kent.] + +[Footnote 424: Uncertain. Stukeley calls it Bibrox, Bibrax, or the +Bibracte of the Itinerary.] + +[Footnote 425: Chichester.] + +[Footnote 426: Holwood Hill.] + +[Footnote 427: Pevensey.] + +[Footnote 428: Part of Hants, and Berks.] + +[Footnote 429: Silchester. For the proofs that this place was the site +of Calleva see the Commentary on the Itinerary.] + +[Footnote 430: Kennet.] + +[Footnote 431: Part of Hants, and Berks.] + +[Footnote 432: Probably Egbury Camp.] + +[Footnote 433: The Belgae occupied those parts of Hants and Wilts not +held by the Segontiaci.] + +[Footnote 434: This is an error: the ancient Clausentum was at Bittern, +on the Itchin, opposite Northam.] + +[Footnote 435: Portchester.] + +[Footnote 436: Winchester.] + +[Footnote 437: Old Sarum.] + +[Footnote 438: This passage as printed in the original is very obscure; +but the meaning is supplied by Caesar, from whom it is taken, and a +subsequent page where Richard mentions the same fact.--_Vide the +Chronology in_ b. ii. c. i. sect. 9.] + +[Footnote 439: Thames.] + +[Footnote 440: There was a tribe of Celts called Senones seated on the +banks of the Seine as late as the time of Caesar, and this was one of the +tribes who marched with Brennus against Rome. But we cannot discover +from whence Richard drew his information that these Senones originally +emigrated from Britain, leaving their country to be occupied by the +Belgae.] + +[Footnote 441: Nearly all Somersetshire.] + +[Footnote 442: Ilchester.] + +[Footnote 443: Glastonbury.] + +[Footnote 444: Bath.] + +[Footnote 445: This is drawn from Solinus, who speaks of Britain in +general. We know not on what authority it was applied by Richard to +Bath.] + +[Footnote 446: Maiden Castle, near Dorchester.] + +[Footnote 447: Isle of Portland.] + +[Footnote 448: Part of Somerset and Devon.] + +[Footnote 449: The Parret.] + +[Footnote 450: Uncertain,--probably in Devonshire.] + +[Footnote 451: Ibid.] + +[Footnote 452: Lundy Island.] + +[Footnote 453: Part of Cornwall.] + +[Footnote 454: Near Stratton.] + +[Footnote 455: Carnbre.] + +[Footnote 456: Land's End, and Lizard Point.] + +[Footnote 457: Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, and part of Somerset.] + +[Footnote 458: Probably near Bridgewater.] + +[Footnote 459: On the Tamar.] + +[Footnote 460: On the Fowey.] + +[Footnote 461: On the Fal.] + +[Footnote 462: Exeter.] + +[Footnote 463: Ex.] + +[Footnote 464: The Dart.] + +[Footnote 465: Tamar.] + +[Footnote 466: The Fal.] + +[Footnote 467: Probably Berry Head.] + +[Footnote 468: Lizard Point.] + +[Footnote 469: Ram Head.] + +[Footnote 470: Scilly Isles.] + +[Footnote 471: Severn.] + +[Footnote 472: Dee.] + +[Footnote 473: The Silures, with their two dependent tribes, the Dimetiae +and the Ordovices, possessed all the country to the west of the Severn +and the Dee, together with the island of Anglesey. + +"Of these territories the Dimetiae had the counties of Pembroke, +Cardigan, and Caermarthen; while the Silures possessed all the rest of +South Wales, as well as such parts of England as lay to the west of the +Severn and to the South of the Teme: while the Ordovices occupied all +North Wales, as well as all the country to the North of the Teme, and to +the West of the Severn and the Dee, except a small tract to the West of +Bangor and Penmorvay, which together with the isle of Anglesey belonged +to their subordinate clan the Cangani."] + +[Footnote 474: Rose or Berry Hill, in Weston.] + +[Footnote 475: Kentchester.] + +[Footnote 476: Abergavenny.] + +[Footnote 477: Caerwent.] + +[Footnote 478: Caerleon on Usk.] + +[Footnote 479: Richborough in Kent.] + +[Footnote 480: Anglesey.] + +[Footnote 481: St. David's Head.] + +[Footnote 482: XXX milliarium.] + +[Footnote 483: St. David's.] + +[Footnote 484: Caermarthen.] + +[Footnote 485: Llanio Issau on the Teivi.] + +[Footnote 486: On the bank of the Tanat.] + +[Footnote 487: Near Lentwardine.] + +[Footnote 488: Caer Segont.] + +[Footnote 489: Brach y Pwyl Point.] + +[Footnote 490: Anglesey.] + +[Footnote 491: The Conway.] + +[Footnote 492: Dee.] + +[Footnote 493: Snowdon.] + +[Footnote 494: The territory of the Carnabii was bounded on the north by +the Mersey, west by the Severn, east by part of the Watling Street, and +to the south by Staffordshire.] + +[Footnote 495: Benonis; High Cross.] + +[Footnote 496: Wall.] + +[Footnote 497: Banchor.] + +[Footnote 498: Wroxeter.] + +[Footnote 499: Chester.] + +[Footnote 500: The _Dobuni_ were bounded on the west by the Severn, on +the south by the Thames, on the east by the Charwell, and on the north +by the Carnabii. + +The _Cassii_, bounded on the south by the Thames, on the west by the +Dobuni, on the east by the Trent, and on the north by the Iceni.] + +[Footnote 501: Droitwich.] + +[Footnote 502: Near Lentwardine.] + +[Footnote 503: Alcester.] + +[Footnote 504: Cirencester in Gloucestershire.] + +[Footnote 505: Gloucester.] + +[Footnote 506: Dunstable.] + +[Footnote 507: Old St. Albans.] + +[Footnote 508: Colchester.] + +[Footnote 509: London.] + +[Footnote 510: It stretched from the Thames to the Stour on the north, +and on the west to the Brent and the Ouse.] + +[Footnote 511: This temple with its ornaments is mentioned in Tacitus.] + +[Footnote 512: Sturius, the Stour.] + +[Footnote 513: Castor near Chesterton.] + +[Footnote 514: Castor near Norwich.] + +[Footnote 515: Cambridge.] + +[Footnote 516: Part of the Suffolk Coast.] + +[Footnote 517: The Yar.] + +[Footnote 518: The Stour.] + +[Footnote 519: The Nen.] + +[Footnote 520: Boston Deep.] + +[Footnote 521: In the map given by Bertram these people are called the +Coritani. They seem to have inhabited Lincoln, Leicester, and +Nottingham.] + +[Footnote 522: Calyddon means coverts or thickets.] + +[Footnote 523: B. iii. ch. 10, where, speaking of Caesar, he says, +"Caledonias sequutus in sylvas."] + +[Footnote 524: Leicester.] + +[Footnote 525: Lincoln.] + +[Footnote 526: Trent.] + +[Footnote 527: The Humber.] + +[Footnote 528: The Mersey.] + +[Footnote 529: Part of the East Riding of York.] + +[Footnote 530: Spurn Head.] + +[Footnote 531: Flamborough Head.] + +[Footnote 532: Broughton on Humber.] + +[Footnote 533: Near Bridlington Bay.] + +[Footnote 534: Their territory stretched from the bounds of the Parisii +northward to the Tine, and from the Humber and Don to the mountains of +Lancashire, Westmoreland and Cumberland.] + +[Footnote 535: Lanchester.] + +[Footnote 536: Binchester.] + +[Footnote 537: Slack.] + +[Footnote 538: Catteric.] + +[Footnote 539: Galgacum, uncertain.] + +[Footnote 540: Ilkley.] + +[Footnote 541: Aldborough.] + +[Footnote 542: York.] + +[Footnote 543: Probably from the Ure, which receives the name of Ouse +above York, on its junction with the Nid.] + +[Footnote 544: Trent.] + +[Footnote 545: To the Voluntii belonged the western part of Lancashire; +and to the Sistuntii, the west of Westmoreland and Cumberland as far as +the wall.] + +[Footnote 546: Hence, in Sec. 31, they are called one people.] + +[Footnote 547: Ribchester.] + +[Footnote 548: Blackrode.] + +[Footnote 549: Carlisle.] + +[Footnote 550: The wall of Severus. The exact site of the barrier +erected by Severus against the northern tribes, has furnished matter of +dispute to many of our antiquaries. The researches of others, +particularly Horsley, have, however, set this question at rest. From +their information, joined to the scanty evidence of history, it has been +proved that three walls or ramparts were erected by the Romans at +different times, to secure the northern frontier of their dominions in +Britain. + +The first was a rampart of earth, from the Solway Frith to the Tine, +raised by Hadrian about the year 120; but its form and construction have +not been satisfactorily ascertained. It was, however, evidently nothing +more than a line intended to obstruct the passage of an enemy between +the stations which constituted the real defences of the frontier. + +The second was raised by Lollius Urbicus under the reign of Antoninus +Pius, about 140, between the Friths of Forth and Clyde. This was +likewise of earth, though perhaps faced with stone, and, like that of +Hadrian, seems to have been intended as a line connecting the chain of +stations, which formed a new barrier on the advance of the Roman arms. +In the course of both these was a military road communicating from +station to station. + +The last and most important is that begun by Severus, after his +expedition against the Caledonians, about 208. It runs nearly over the +same ground as that of Hadrian; but is a complete and well combined +system of fortification. From an examination of its remains it appears +to have been built of stone, fifteen feet high and nine thick. It had +parapet and ditch, a military road, and was defended by eighteen greater +stations placed at intervals of three to six miles; eighty-three castles +at intervals of six to eight furlongs, and, as it is imagined, a +considerable number of turrets placed at shorter distances. + +Either from superior sagacity or superior information, Richard clearly +distinguishes these three walls, which so much puzzled later writers, +though it must be confessed that in other places he has suffered himself +to be led into some errors in regard to their situation, and the persons +by whom they were erected.--See b. ii. ch. 1, sect. 22, 27, 36, 37; ch. +2, sect. 17, 23. For a detailed account of these works the reader is +referred to _Horsley's Britannia Romana_; _Warburton's Account of the +Roman Wall_; _Hutchinson's Northumberland_; _Roy's Military +Antiquities_; _Hutton's Account of the Roman Wall_.] + +[Footnote 551: These were the Helvetii, whose emigration is mentioned in +_Caes. Comm. de Bell. Gal. lib._ i. We have not discovered from what +authority Richard draws his account of their emigration to Ireland.] + +[Footnote 552: Caracalla.] + +[Footnote 553: The Gadeni appear to have occupied the midland parts from +the wall probably as far as the Forth.] + +[Footnote 554: Uncertain.] + +[Footnote 555: The Ottadini stretched along the eastern coast, from the +wall as far as the Frith of Forth, and were bounded on the west by the +Gadeni.] + +[Footnote 556: Ribchester.] + +[Footnote 557: Tweed.] + +[Footnote 558: The Coquet.] + +[Footnote 559: The North and South Tine.] + +[Footnote 560: The Selgovae appear to have occupied all the shire of +Dumfries, and part of Kirkudbright.] + +[Footnote 561: Drumlanrig, or Kirkudbright.] + +[Footnote 562: Uncertain.] + +[Footnote 563: Birrenswork Hill.] + +[Footnote 564: Nith.] + +[Footnote 565: The Dee.] + +[Footnote 566: The Eden.] + +[Footnote 567: The Novantes held the south-western district of Scotland, +from the Dee to the Mull of Galloway; that is, the west of Kirkudbright +and Wigtown, and part of the Carrick division of Ayr.] + +[Footnote 568: Rens of Galloway. It is not, however, more than eighteen +miles from the nearest part of Ireland.] + +[Footnote 569: By an error in the geographical or astronomical +observations preserved by Ptolemy, the latitudes north of this point +appear to have been mistaken for the longitudes, and consequently this +part of Britain is thrown to the east.] + +[Footnote 570: Wigtown, _Horsley_. Whithern, _Stukeley_, _Roy_.] + +[Footnote 571: The Luce.] + +[Footnote 572: Cree, _Roy_.] + +[Footnote 573: Dee.] + +[Footnote 574: The Lothers.] + +[Footnote 575: Paisley, or Renfrew, _Roy_.] + +[Footnote 576: Friths of Forth and Clyde.] + +[Footnote 577: These people inhabited the principal part of what are +called the Lowlands. Their territories beyond the Isthmus evidently +stretched as far as the Grampians, consisting of great part of Ayr, all +Renfrew and Lanark, a considerable part of Stirling, and perhaps +Linlithgow.] + +[Footnote 578: See page 448.] + +[Footnote 579: Tay.] + +[Footnote 580: It may perhaps appear superfluous to refer the antiquary +to Roy's masterly Commentary on the campaigns of Agricola in this part +of Britain; but it will scarcely be deemed so to observe, that we see +few instances in which military and local knowledge are so well applied +to the elucidation of antiquities.] + +[Footnote 581: The Horestii occupied Clackmannan and Kinross, and part +of Perth as far as the Tay. To them belonged likewise all the country +stretching from the Grampians to Loch Lomond.] + +[Footnote 582: Uncertain.] + +[Footnote 583: Ardoch.] + +[Footnote 584: Dealgin Ross.] + +[Footnote 585: The Vecturones occupied the eastern part of Perth, +Forfar, Kincardin, and part of Aberdeen.] + +[Footnote 586: Bertha, or Old Perth.] + +[Footnote 587: South Esk.] + +[Footnote 588: Tine.] + +[Footnote 589: The Taixali held the eastern coast of Aberdeen, +apparently as far as Kinnaird Head.] + +[Footnote 590: Probably Old Aberdeen.] + +[Footnote 591: Dee.] + +[Footnote 592: Ithan.] + +[Footnote 593: Kinnaird Head.] + +[Footnote 594: The Vacomagi were spread over an extensive region west of +the Taixali and north of the Grampians, comprising a considerable part +of Aberdeen, all Banff, Murray, Elgin, and Nairn, with the north-east of +Inverness.] + +[Footnote 595: On the Spey.] + +[Footnote 596: Brae Mar Castle.] + +[Footnote 597: Uncertain, but near the Ness; perhaps Inverness or +Bonness.] + +[Footnote 598: Burgh Head.] + +[Footnote 599: Murray Frith.] + +[Footnote 600: Spey.] + +[Footnote 601: Dovern.] + +[Footnote 602: The Damnii Albani may have been a remnant of the Damnii, +who, after the erection of the wall, being cut off from the rest of +their tribe, were gradually circumscribed by the neighbouring people, to +Braidalbane, and a small part of the west of Perth and east of Argyle.] + +[Footnote 603: The Attacotti occupied a considerable part of Argyle, as +far as Lochfyn.] + +[Footnote 604: Loch Lomond.] + +[Footnote 605: Dumbarton. It was afterwards called Theodosia.] + +[Footnote 606: It must be confessed that the information preserved by +Richard, in regard to this remote part of our island, is extremely +obscure, and that his descriptions will only assist us in guessing at +the situation of the different tribes. Perhaps this can scarcely be +deemed extraordinary, when we consider how imperfectly the interior of +this country is known even at present.] + +[Footnote 607: The country of the proper Caledonians was the central +part of Inverness and Ross.] + +[Footnote 608: The Cantae seem to have held Cromarty and East Ross.] + +[Footnote 609: Frith of Cromartie, _Stukeley_. Loth R. _Roy._] + +[Footnote 610: Tarbet Ness, _Stukeley_. Ord Head, Caithness, _Roy_.] + +[Footnote 611: Frith of Dornoch, _Stukeley_.] + +[Footnote 612: The Logi seem to have held the south-east of +Strathnavern, and north-east of Sutherland.] + +[Footnote 613: All, _Stukeley_. Shiel, _Roy_.] + +[Footnote 614: The Carnabii inhabited part of Caithness, the north of +Ross, and central part of Sutherland.] + +[Footnote 615: Ness or Noss Head, _Stukeley_.] + +[Footnote 616: The Catini held part of Caithness and the east of +Sutherland.] + +[Footnote 617: The Mertae held the country comprised between the Catini +and Carnabii.] + +[Footnote 618: Dunnet Head, _Stukeley_. Duncansby Head, _Roy_.] + +[Footnote 619: Navern.] + +[Footnote 620: The Carnonacae seem to have held the detached portion of +Cromarty, situated near Loch Broom, and a small part on the border of +Sutherland.] + +[Footnote 621: Cape Wrath.] + +[Footnote 622: Loch Broom.] + +[Footnote 623: The Cerones held the north-west part of Ross;--the +Creones south-west of Ross and Inverness, and a part of Argyle.] + +[Footnote 624: Shiel, _Roy_.] + +[Footnote 625: Loch Loch, _Stukeley_. Linnhe Loch, _Roy_.] + +[Footnote 626: Lochfyn.] + +[Footnote 627: The Epidii probably occupied the Western part of Argyle, +as far as the Mull of Cantyr, and were bounded on one side by the sea +and on the other by Lochfyn.] + + + + +CHAP. VII. + + +The different parts of Britain having been cursorily examined according +to my original design, it seems necessary, before I proceed to a +description of the islands, to attend to a doubt suggested by a certain +person.[628] "Where," asks he, "are the vestiges of those cities and +names which you commemorate? There are none." This question may be +answered by another: Where are now the Assyrians, Parthians, Sarmatians, +Celtiberians? None will be bold enough to deny the existence of those +nations. Are there not also at this time many countries and cities +bearing the same names as they did two or three thousand years ago? +Judea, Italy, Gaul, Britain, are as clearly known now as in former +times; Londinium is still styled in the common language, with a slight +change of sound, London. The negligence and inattention of our ancestors +in omitting to collect and preserve such documents as might have been +serviceable in this particular, are not deserving of heavy censure, for +scarcely any but those in holy orders employed themselves in writing +books, and such even esteemed it inconsistent with their sacred office +to engage in such profane labours. I rather think I may without danger, +and without offence, transmit to posterity that information which I have +drawn from a careful examination and accurate scrutiny of ancient +records concerning the state of this kingdom in former periods. The good +abbat, indeed, had nearly inspired me with other sentiments, by thus +seeming to address me: Are you ignorant how short a time is allotted us +in this world; that the greatest exertions cannot exempt us from the +appellation of unprofitable servants; and that all our studies should be +directed to the purpose of being useful to others? Of what service are +these things, but to delude the world with unmeaning trifles? To these +remarks I answer with propriety. Is then every honest gratification +forbidden? Do not such narratives exhibit proofs of Divine Providence? +Does it not hence appear, that an evangelical sermon concerning the +death and merits of Christ enlightened and subdued a world overrun with +Gentile superstitions? To the reply, that such things are properly +treated of in systems of chronology, I rejoin: Nor is it too much to +know that our ancestors were not, as some assert, Autochthones, sprung +from the earth; but that God opened the book of nature to display his +omnipotence, such as it is described in the writings of Moses. When the +abbat answered, that works which were intended merely to acquire +reputation for their authors from posterity, should be committed to the +flames, I confess with gratitude that I repented of this undertaking. +The remainder of the work is therefore only a chronological abridgment, +which I present to the reader, whom I commend to the goodness and +protection of God; and at the same time request, that he will pray for +me to our holy Father, who is merciful and inclined to forgiveness. + +The following Itinerary is collected from certain fragments left by a +Roman general. The order is changed in some instances, according to +Ptolemy and others, and it is hoped, with improvement. + + * * * * * + +Among the Britons were formerly ninety-two cities, of which thirty-three +were more celebrated and conspicuous. Two municipal,[629] +Verolamium;[630] and Eboracum.[631] Nine colonial;[632] namely, +Londinium[633] _Augusta_, Camalodunum[634] _Geminae Martiae_, +Rhutupis,[635] ***** Thermae[636] _Aquae Solis_, Isca[637] _Secunda_, +Deva[638] Getica, Glevum[639] _Claudia_, Lindum,[640] **** +Camboricum[641]. **** Ten cities under the Latian law:[642] namely, +Durnomagus,[643] Cataracton,[644] Cambodunum,[645] Coccium,[646] +Lugubalia,[647] Ptoroton,[648] Victoria,[649] Theodosia,[650] +Corinum,[651] Sorbiodunum.[652] Twelve stipendiary[653] and of lesser +consequence; Venta Silurum,[654] Venta Belgarum,[655] Venta +Icenorum,[656] Segontium,[657] Maridunum,[658] Ragae,[659] +Cantiopolis,[660] Durinum,[661] Isca,[662] Bremenium,[663] +Vindonum,[664] and Durobrivae.[665] But let no one lightly imagine that +the Romans had not many others besides those above-mentioned. I have +only commemorated the more celebrated. For who can doubt that they who, +as conquerors of the world, were at liberty to choose, did not select +places fitted for their purposes? They for the most part took up their +abode in fortresses which they constructed for themselves. + +(The Itinerary, which follows here in the original Latin, being a dry +list of names, is omitted. See the Appendix, No. I.) + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 628: These remarks prove how much Richard rose superior to the +prejudices of his age and his profession. From the tone which he +assumes, it is however, evident that he found it advisable to yield to +the remonstrances of his superior.] + +[Footnote 629: Municipia were towns whose inhabitants possessed in +general all the rights of Roman citizens, except those which could not +be enjoyed without an actual residence at Rome. They followed their own +laws and customs, and had the option of adopting or rejecting those of +Rome.--_Rosini Antiq. Rom._ b. x. c. 23.] + +[Footnote 630: St. Alban's.] + +[Footnote 631: York.] + +[Footnote 632: There were different kinds of colonies, each entitled to +different rights and privileges; but we have no criterion to ascertain +the rank occupied by those in Britain.] + +[Footnote 633: London.] + +[Footnote 634: Colchester.] + +[Footnote 635: Richborough in Kent.] + +[Footnote 636: Bath.] + +[Footnote 637: Caerleon.] + +[Footnote 638: Chester.] + +[Footnote 639: Gloucester.] + +[Footnote 640: Lincoln.] + +[Footnote 641: Cambridge.] + +[Footnote 642: The Latian law consisted of the privileges granted to the +ancient inhabitants of Latium. These are not distinctly known; but +appear principally to have been the right of following their own laws, +an exemption from the edicts of the Roman praetor, and the option of +adopting the laws and customs of Rome.--_Rosini._] + +[Footnote 643: Castor on Nen.] + +[Footnote 644: Catteric.] + +[Footnote 645: Slack.] + +[Footnote 646: Blackrode.] + +[Footnote 647: Carlisle.] + +[Footnote 648: Burgh Head, Elgin, Scotland.] + +[Footnote 649: Dealgin Ross.] + +[Footnote 650: Dumbarton.] + +[Footnote 651: Cirencester, Gloc.] + +[Footnote 652: Old Sarum.] + +[Footnote 653: The stipendiary were those who paid their taxes in money, +in contradistinction from those who gave a certain portion of the +produce of the soil, and were called Vectigales.--_Rosini._] + +[Footnote 654: Caerwent, Monmouth.] + +[Footnote 655: Winchester.] + +[Footnote 656: Castor, near Norwich.] + +[Footnote 657: Caer Segont.] + +[Footnote 658: Caermarthen.] + +[Footnote 659: Leicester.] + +[Footnote 660: Canterbury.] + +[Footnote 661: Dorchester.] + +[Footnote 662: Exeter.] + +[Footnote 663: Riechester, Northumberland.] + +[Footnote 664: Possibly Egbury camp, Hants.] + +[Footnote 665: Rochester.] + + + + +CHAP. VIII. + + +1. Having now finished our survey of Albion, we shall describe the +neighbouring country, Hibernia or Ireland, with the same brevity. + +2. Hibernia is situated more westerly than any other country except +England; but as it does not extend so far north, so it stretches +further than England towards the south, and the Spanish province of +Tarraconensis, from which it is separated by the ocean.[666] + +3. The sea which flows between Britain and Hibernia is subject to +storms, and according to Solinus, is navigable only during a few days in +summer. Midway between the two countries is the island called +Monoeda,[667] but now Manavia. + +4. According to Bede, Hibernia is preferable to Britain, on account of +its situation, salubrity, and serene air, insomuch that snow seldom +remains more than three days, nor is it usual to make hay for the +winter, or build stalls for cattle. + +5. No reptile is found there, nor does it maintain a viper or serpent; +for serpents frequently carried from England have died on approaching +the shore. Indeed almost all things in the island are antidotes to +poison. We have seen an infusion of scraped pieces of bark brought from +Hibernia, given to persons bitten by serpents, which immediately +deprived the poison of its force, and abated the swelling. + +6. This island, according to the venerable Bede, is rich in milk and +honey; nor is it without vines. It abounds with fish and birds, and +affords deer and goats for the chase. + +7. The inhabitants, says Mela, are more than other nations uncivilized +and without virtue, and those who have a little knowledge are wholly +destitute of piety. Solinus calls them an inhospitable and warlike +people. The conquerors, after drinking the blood of the slain, daub +their faces with the remainder. They know no distinction between right +and wrong. When a woman brings forth a son, she places its first food on +the point of her husband's sword, and, introducing it into the mouth of +the infant, wishes according to the custom of the country, that he may +die amidst arms and in battle. Those who are fond of ornaments adorn the +hilts of their swords with the teeth of marine animals, which they +polish to a degree of whiteness equal to ivory; for the principal glory +of a man consists in the splendour of his arms. + +8. Agrippa states the length of Hibernia to be six hundred miles, and +the breadth three hundred. It was formerly inhabited by twenty tribes, +of whom (_fourteen_[668]) lived on the coast. + +9. This is the true country of the Scots, who emigrating from hence +added a third nation to the Britons and Picts in Albion. But I cannot +agree with Bede, who affirms that the Scots were foreigners. For, +according to the testimony of other authors, I conceive they derived +their origin from Britain, situated at no considerable distance, passed +over from thence, and obtained a settlement in this island. It is +certain that the Damnii, Voluntii, Brigantes, Cangi, and other nations, +were descended from the Britons, and passed over thither after +Divitiacus, or Claudius, or Ostorius, or other victorious generals had +invaded their original countries. Lastly, the ancient language which +resembles the old British and Gallic tongues, affords another argument, +as is well known to persons skilled in both languages.[669] + +10. The Deucaledonian Ocean washes the northern side of Hibernia; the +Vergivian and Internal the eastern, the Cantabric the south, as the +great British or Atlantic Ocean does the western. According to this +order, we shall give a description of the island and the most remarkable +places. + +11. The Rhobogdii occupied the coast of the island next to the +Deucaledonian Sea. Their metropolis was Rhobogdium. In the eastern part +of their territories was situated the promontory of the same name; in +the Western the Promontorium Boreum, or Northern Promontory. Their +rivers were the Banna, Darabouna, Argitta, and Vidua; and towards the +south, mountains separated them from the Scotti. + +12. On the coast between the northern and Venicnian Promontory, and as +far as the mouth of the Rhebeus, dwelt the Venicnii. To them the +contiguous islands owe their name. Their capital was Rheba. The Nagnatae +dwelt below the Rhebeus as far as the Libnius, and their celebrated +metropolis was called after them. The Auterii lived in a recess of the +bay of Ausoba, towards the south, and their chief city was named after +them. The Concangii occupied the lower part of the same region, near the +southern confines of which flowed the river Senus, a noble river, on +which was situated their chief city Macobicum. Hibernia in this part +being contracted, terminates in a narrow point. The Velatorii inhabited +the country near the southern promontory by the river Senus; their +metropolis was Regia, and their river Durius. The Lucani were situated +where the river Ibernus flows into the ocean. + +13. The southern side of the island stretched from the Promontorium +Austriacum, or Southern Promontory, to the Sacred Promontory. Here lived +the Ibernii, whose metropolis was Rhufina. Next was the river Dobona, +and the people called Vodiae, whose promontory of the same name lies +opposite to the Promontorium Antivestaeum in England, at about the +distance of one hundred and forty-five miles. Not far from thence is the +river Dabrona, the boundary of the Brigantes, who have also the river +Briga for their limit, and whose chief city is called Brigantia. + +14. The part of this island which reaches from the Sacred Promontory as +far as Rhobogdium is called the Eastern. The Menapii, inhabiting the +Sacred Promontory, had their chief city upon the river Modona called by +the same name. From this part to Menapia[670] in Dimetia, the distance, +according to Pliny, is thirty miles. One of these countries, but which +is uncertain, gave birth to Carausius. Beyond these people the Cauci had +their metropolis Dunum [Down]; and the river Oboca washed their +boundaries. Both these nations were undoubtedly of Teutonic origin; but +it is not known at what precise time their ancestors first passed over, +though most probably a little while before Caesar's arrival in Britain. + +15. Beyond these were the Eblanae, whose chief city was Mediolanum, upon +the river Loebius. More to the north was Lebarum, the city of the +Voluntii, whose rivers were Vinderus and Buvinda. The Damnii occupied +the part of the island lying above these people, and contiguous to the +Rhobogdii. Their chief city was Dunum [Down], where St. Patrick, St. +Columba, and St. Bridget are supposed to be buried in one tomb. + +16. It remains now to give some account of those people who lived in the +interior parts. The Coriondii bordered upon the Cauci and Menapii, above +the Brigantes; the Scotti possessed the remaining part of the island, +which from them took the name of Scotia. Among many of their cities, the +remembrance of two only has reached our times: the one Rheba, on the +lake and river Rhebeus; the other Ibernia, situated at the east side of +the river Senus. + +17. I cannot omit mentioning in this place that the Damnii, Voluntii, +Brigantes, and Cangiani were all nations of British origin, who being +either molested by neighbouring enemies, or unable to pay the heavy +tribute exacted of them, gradually passed over into this country in +search of new settlements. With respect to the Menapii, Cauci, and some +other people, it has been before remarked that many things occur which +cannot safely be relied upon. Tacitus relates that Hibernia was more +frequented by foreigners than Albion. But in that case, the ancients +would undoubtedly have left us a more ample and credible account of this +island. While I am writing a description of Hibernia, it seems right to +add, that it was reduced under the Roman power, not by arms, but by +fear: and moreover, that Ptolemy, in his second map of Europe, and other +celebrated geographers, have erred in placing it at too great a distance +from Britain, and from the northern part of the province Secunda, as +appears from their books and maps. + +18. North of Hibernia are the Hebudes, five[671] in number, the +inhabitants of which know not the use of corn, but live on fish and +milk. They are all, according to Solinus, subject to one chief, for they +are only divided from each other by narrow straits. The chief possessed +no peculiar property but was maintained by general contribution: he was +bound by certain laws; and lest avarice should seduce him from equity, +he learned justice from poverty, having no house nor property, and being +maintained at the public expense. He had no wife; but took by turns any +woman for whom he felt an inclination, and hence had neither a wish nor +hope for children. Some persons have written concerning these Hebudes, +that during winter darkness continues for the space of thirty days? but +Caesar upon diligent inquiry found this assertion untrue, and only +discovered by certain water-measures of time that the nights were +shorter here than in Gaul. + +19. The Orcades, according to some accounts, are distant from the +Hebudes seven days and nights' sail; but this is erroneous. They are +thirty in number, and contiguous to each other. They were uninhabited, +without wood, and abounded with reeds: several were formed only of sand +and rocks, as may be collected from Solinus and others. + +20. Thule, the last of the British isles, is placed by Mela opposite +to[672] the coast of the Belgae. It has been celebrated in Greek and +Roman verse. Thus the Mantuan Homer says,-- + + "Et tibi serviat ultima Thule." + +Here are no nights during the solstice when the sun passes the sign of +Cancer; and on the other hand, in the winter there are no days, as Pliny +asserts. These circumstances are supposed to happen for six whole +months. The inhabitants, as Solinus affirms, in the beginning of the +spring live among their cattle upon herbs, then upon milk, and lay up +fruits against the winter. They have their women in common without +marriages. Thule, according to the same author, abounds in fruits. At +the distance of a day's sail from Thule the sea is difficult to pass +through, and frozen; it is by some called Cronium. From Thule to +Caledonia is two days' sail. + +21. The isle of Thanatos[673] is bounded by a narrow channel, and +separated from the continent of Britain by a small estuary called the +Wantsum.[674] It is rich in pasture and corn. According to Isiodorus, +its soil is not only salubrious to itself, but to others, for no snakes +live in it, and the earth being carried to a distance destroys them. It +is not far distant from Rhutupis.[675] + +22. The isle of Vecta,[676] conquered by Vespasian, is thirty miles in +length, on the side next to the Belgae, from east to west, and twelve +from north to south. In the eastern part it is six miles, in the western +three, from the above-mentioned southern shore of Britain. + +23. Besides the isles just specified, there were VII Acmodae,[677] +Ricnea,[677A] Silimnus,[677B] Andros,[677C] Sigdiles,[677D] XL +Vindilios,[677E] Sarna,[678] Caesarea,[679] and Cassiterides.[680] + +24. The island Sena, opposite the Ossismican[681] coast, is according to +Mela famous for the oracle of the Gallic deity, of whom the priestesses, +sanctified by perpetual virginity, are said to have been nine in number. +The Gauls call them Senae, and suppose them gifted with singular powers; +that they raise the winds and the seas with incantations, change +themselves into what animals they please, and cure disorders which in +other places yield to no remedy; that they have the knowledge of future +events, and prophesy. They are not favourable except to mariners, and +only to such as go thither for the purpose of consulting them. + +25. The rest of the isles of smaller size and consequence which lie +round Albion will be better perceived and known by the inspection of the +annexed map[682] than from any description. Here, therefore, we stop, +and anxiously commend our labours to the favour and judgment of the +benevolent reader. + +The first book of the geographical Commentary on the situation of +Britain, and those stations which the Romans erected in that island, is +happily finished, through the assistance of God, by the hand of Richard, +servant of Christ and monk of Westminster. Thanks be to God! + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 666: As we have neither the assistance of an Itinerary to +guide us in our researches, nor a local knowledge of Ireland, we have +not attempted to specify the situation of the ancient states and cities +in that island.] + +[Footnote 667: Man.] + +[Footnote 668: In the original is an error in the numerals, the number +afterwards specified is fourteen.] + +[Footnote 669: Nearly one-third of the words in the Irish tongue are the +same as the modern Welsh, and many idioms and modes of speech are common +to both languages.] + +[Footnote 670: St. David's.] + +[Footnote 671: The Hebudes amount to more than five. From hence it may +perhaps be inferred that the Roman fleet in their voyage of discovery +did not reach these seas, though they coasted the northern part of +Scotland, for the Orcades are rightly numbered.] + +[Footnote 672: Littori apposita, Richard. From the sense in which this +phrase is generally used in geography, it might be rendered _under the +same meridian_.] + +[Footnote 673: Thanet.] + +[Footnote 674: See Bede's Eccles. Hist. p. 37, note.] + +[Footnote 675: Richborough.] + +[Footnote 676: Wight.] + +[Footnotes 677-677E: No geographer has hitherto attempted to ascertain +the modern names of these islands.] + +[Footnote 678: Guernsey.] + +[Footnote 679: Jersey.] + +[Footnote 680: Scilly Isles.] + +[Footnote 681: From a tribe of the Veneti called Ossismii, who inhabited +part of Bretagne.] + +[Footnote 682: The map being no longer of any use, has been omitted in +this edition.] + + + + +BOOK II. + +PREFACE. + + +We have thought proper to add as a supplement to the description of +ancient Britain in the same summary manner--I. An epitome of chronology +from the creation to the sack of Rome by the Goths: II. A short account +of the Roman emperors, and governors, who presided over this country: +III. Some persons will perhaps say that this kind of work is not +absolutely necessary either for divine worship or greater things. But +let them know that leisure hours may be dedicated to the study of the +antiquities of our country without any derogation from the sacred +character. Yet if censorious people envy us such pleasures at leisure +hours, hastening to the end and almost arrived at the goal, we here +check our steps. + + + + +CHAP. I. + + +IV. In the beginning, the Almighty Creator made this world, inhabited by +us and other creatures, out of nothing, in the space of six days. + +V. In the year of the world 1656, the Creator, to punish the increasing +wickedness of mankind, sent a flood upon the earth, which, overwhelming +the whole world, destroyed every living creature except those which had +entered the ark, and whose progeny replenished the new world with +colonies of living beings. + +VI. 3000. About this time some persons affirm that Britain was +cultivated and first inhabited, when it was visited by the Greek and +Phoenician merchants. Nor are those wanting who believe that London +was shortly after built by a king called Bryto. + +VII. 3228. The brothers Romulus and Remus laid the foundation of Rome, +which in time became the common terror of all nations. + +VIII. 3600. The Senones, having emigrated from Britain, passed through +Gaul, with the intent to invade Italy and attack Rome. + +IX. 3650. The Belgae entered this country, and the Celta occupied the +region deserted by the Senones. Divitiacus king of the AEdui soon +afterwards passed over with an army and subdued great part of this +kingdom. About this time the Britons who were expelled by the Belgae +emigrated to Ireland, formed a settlement, and were thenceforward called +Scoti. + +X. 3943. Cassibelinus waged war with the maritime states.[683] + +XI. 3946. Caesar overcame the Germans, Gauls, and also the Britons, to +whom, before this time, even the name of the Romans was unknown. The +conqueror, having received hostages, rendered the people tributary. + +XII. 3947. At length coming a second time into this country, upon the +invitation, as he pretended, of the Trinobantes, he waged war with +Cassibelinus king of the Cassii. Suetonius, however, asserts, with +greater probability, that he was allured by the costly pearls of +Britain. + +XIII. 4044. The emperor Claudius passed over to Britain, and in the +space of six months, almost without effusion of blood, reduced a great +part of the island, which he ordered to be called Caesariensis. + +XIV. 4045. Vespasian, at that time in a private station, being sent by +the emperor Claudius with the second legion into this country, attacked +the Belgae and Damnonii, and having fought thirty-two battles and taken +twenty cities, reduced them under the Roman power, together with the +Isle of Wight. + +XV. 4047. The Romans occupied Thermae and Glebon. + +XVI. 4050. Ostorius the Roman general, after a war of nine years, +overcame Caractacus king of the Silures, great part of Britain was +reduced into a province, and the colony of Camalodunum founded. + +XVII. 4052. Certain cities of the Belgae were yielded by the Romans to +Cogibundus, that he might form a kingdom. About this time the Cangi and +Brigantes went over and settled in Ireland. + +XVIII. 4061. The emperor Nero, having no courage for military +enterprises, nearly lost Britain; for under him its two greatest cities +were taken and destroyed. Bonduica, in order to revenge the injury +offered to her by the Romans, rose in arms, burned the Roman colonies of +London, Camalodunum, and the municipal town Verulamium, and slew more +than eighty thousand Roman citizens. She was at length overcome by +Suetonius, who amply avenged the loss, by slaughtering an equal number +of her subjects. + +XIX. 4073. Cerealis conquered the Brigantes. + +XX. 4076. Frontinus punished the Ordovices. + +XXI. 4080. Agricola after a severe engagement subdued Galgacus king of +the Caledonians. He ordered all the island to be examined by a fleet, +and having sailed round its coasts, added the Orcades to the Roman +empire. + +XXII. 4120. The emperor Hadrian himself came into the island, and +separated one part of it from the other by an immense wall. + +XXIII. 4140. Urbicus being sent hither by Antoninus Pius, distinguished +himself by his victories. + +XXIV. 4150. Aurelius Antoninus also obtained victories over some of the +Britons. + +XXV. 4160. Britain was enlightened by the introduction of Christianity, +during the reign of Lucius, who first submitted himself to the cross of +Christ. + +XXVI. 4170. The Romans were driven from the Vespasian province. About +this time it is supposed that king Reuda came with his people, the +Picts, from the islands into Britain. + +XXVII. 4207. The emperor Severus, passing over into Britain, repaired +the wall built by the Romans, which had been ruined, and died not long +after, by the visitation of God, at York. + +XXVIII. 4211. Bassianus (Caracalla) obtained a venal peace from the +Maeatae. + +XXIX. 4220. During these times the Roman armies confined themselves +within the wall, and all the island enjoyed a profound peace. + +XXX. 4290. Carausius, having assumed the purple, seized upon Britain; +but ten years afterwards it was recovered by Asclepiodotus. + +XXXI. 4304. A cruel and inveterate persecution, in which within the +space of a month seventeen thousand martyrs suffered in the cause of +Christ. This persecution spread over the sea, and the Britons, Alban, +Aaron, and Julius, with great numbers of men and women, were condemned +to a happy death. + +XXXII. 4306. Constantius, a man of the greatest humanity, having +conquered Allectus, died at Eboracum in the sixteenth year of his +reign. + +XXXIII. 4307. Constantine, afterwards called the Great, son of +Constantius by Helena, a British woman, was created emperor in Britain; +and Ireland voluntarily became tributary to him. + +XXXIV. 4320. The Scoti entered Britain under the conduct of the king +Fergusius, and here fixed their residence. + +XXXV. Theodosius slew Maximus the tyrant three miles from Aquileia. +Maximus having nearly drained Britain of all its warlike youth, who +followed the footsteps of his tyranny over Gaul, the fierce transmarine +nations of the Scots from the south, and the Picts from the north, +perceiving the island without soldiers and defenceless, oppressed it and +laid it waste during a long series of years. + +XXXVI. 4396. The Britons indignantly submitting to the attacks of the +Scots and Picts, sent to Rome, made an offer of submission, and +requested assistance against their enemies. A legion being accordingly +despatched to their assistance, slew a great multitude of the +barbarians, and drove the remainder beyond the confines of Britain. The +legion, upon its departure homewards, advised its allies to construct a +wall between the two estuaries, to restrain the enemy. A wall was +accordingly made in an unskilful manner, with a greater proportion of +turf than stone, which was of no advantage; for on the departure of the +Romans the former enemies returned in ships, slew, trampled on, and +devoured all things before them like a ripened harvest. + +XXXVII. 4400. Assistance being again entreated, the Romans came, and +with the aid of the Britons drove the enemy beyond sea, and built a wall +from sea to sea, not as before with earth, but with solid stone, between +the fortresses erected in that part to curb the enemy. On the southern +coast, where an invasion of the Saxons was apprehended, he erected watch +towers. This was the work of Stilicho, as appears from Claudian. + +XXXVIII. 4411. Rome, the seat of the fourth and greatest of the +monarchies, was seized by the Goths, as Daniel prophesied, in the year +one thousand one hundred and sixty-four after its foundation. + +From this time ceased the Roman empire in Britain, four hundred and +sixty-five years after the arrival of Julius Caesar. + +XXXIX. 4446. The Roman legion retiring from Britain, and refusing to +return, the Scots and Picts ravaged all the island from the north as far +as the wall, the guards of which being slain, taken prisoners, or driven +away, and the wall itself broken through, the predatory enemy then +poured into the country. An epistle was sent filled with tears and +sorrows to Fl. AEtius, thrice consul, in the twenty-third year of +Theodosius, begging the assistance of the Roman power, but without +effect. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 683: Probably from Caesar, though the precise date seems to be +fixed without authority.--_Caes. de Bell. Gall. lib._ v., Sec. 9.] + + + + +CHAP. II. + + +1. Having followed truth as far as possible, if any thing should occur +not strictly consistent with it, I request it may not be imputed to me +as a fault. Confining myself closely to the rules and laws of history, I +have collected all the accounts of other persons which I found most +accurate and deserving of credit. The reader must not expect any thing +beyond an enumeration of those emperors and Roman governors who had +authority over this island. With an account of these I shall close my +book. + +2. Julius Caesar the dictator was the first of the Romans who invaded +Britain with an army, during the reign of Cassibelinus; but, although he +defeated the inhabitants in one battle, and occupied the coast, as +Tacitus observes, he rather seems to have shown the way to his +successors than to have given them possession. + +3. In a short time the civil wars succeeding, the arms of the chiefs +were turned against the republic. Britain was also long neglected by the +advice of Augustus and the command of Tiberius. It is certain that +Caligula intended to enter Britain; but his quick temper and proneness +to change, or the unsuccessful attempts against the Germans, prevented +him. + +4. Claudius, however, carried war into Britain which no Roman emperor +since Julius Caesar had reached, and, having transported his legions and +allies without danger or bloodshed, in a few days reduced a part of the +island. He afterwards sent over Vespasian, at that time in a private +station, who fought two and thirty battles with the enemy, and added to +the Roman empire two very powerful nations, with their kings, twenty +cities, and the isle of Vecta, contiguous to Britain. He overcame the +remainder by means of Cneas Sentius and Aulus Plautius. For these +exploits he obtained a great triumph. + +5. To him succeeded Ostorius Scapula, a man famous in war, who reduced +the nearest part of Britain into a province, and added the colony of the +veterans, Camalodunum. Certain cities were delivered up to the chief +Cogibundus, who, according to Tacitus, remained faithful till the +accession of Trajan to the empire. + +6. Avitus Didius Gallus kept possession of what his predecessors had +acquired, a few posts only being removed further into the interior, in +order to obtain the credit of extending his dominion. + +7. Didius Verannius, who succeeded, died within a year. + +8. Suetonius Paulinus continued prosperous for two years. The tribes +being reduced and garrisons established, he attacked the isle of Mona, +because it gave succour to the rebellious and afforded opportunities for +invasion. For the absence of the governor removing all fear, the Britons +began to recover courage, and rose in arms under the conduct of +Bonduica, a woman of royal descent. Having reduced the troops scattered +in the garrisons, they attacked the colony[684] itself, as the seat of +slavery, and in the height of rage and victory, exercised every species +of savage barbarity. Had not Paulinus, on receiving the intelligence, +luckily hastened to crush the revolt, Britain must have been lost. But +the fortune of one battle restored it to its former submission. Many of +the natives, from the consciousness of their defection, and fear of the +governor, continued under arms. + +9. Suetonius, in other respects an illustrious man, but arrogant to the +vanquished and prompt to avenge his own injuries, being likely to +exercise severity, he was replaced by Petronius Turpilianus, who was +more merciful, a stranger to the offences of the enemy, and therefore +more likely to be softened by their repentance. Having settled the +disturbances, he gave up the province to Trebellius Maximus. + +10. Trebellius, being of a slothful disposition and unused to war, +retained the province by gentleness. The barbarous Britons ceasing to be +ignorant of luxury, and the termination of civil wars, gave him an +excuse for inactivity. But discord called forth his exertions; for the +soldiery, when released from military labours, grew wanton from too much +rest. Trebellius, having evaded the rage of the army by flight, was +shortly allowed to resume the command, the licentiousness of the +soldiery becoming as it were a composition for the safety of the +general. This sedition ended without bloodshed. + +11. Nor did Vectius Bolanus, although the civil wars still continued, +harass Britain by restoring discipline. There was the same inactivity +towards the enemy, and the same insubordination in the garrisons; but +Bolanus, being a good man and not disliked, acquired affection instead +of authority. + +12. But when, with the rest of the world, Vespasian had recovered +Britain, we see distinguished generals, famous armies, and the enemy +dispirited: Petilius Cerealis immediately excited terror by attacking +the state of the Brigantes, which was esteemed the most populous of the +province. Many battles were fought, some of which were bloody, and a +great part of the Brigantian territory was either conquered or invaded. + +13. But although Cerealis had diminished the care and fame of his +successor, the burden was sustained by Julius Frontinus, a man of high +courage. Overcoming at once the spirit of the enemy and the difficulties +of the country, he subjugated the warlike and powerful nation of the +Silures. + +14. To him succeeded Agricola, who not only maintained the peace of the +province; but for seven years carried on war against the Caledonians and +their warlike king Galgacus. He thus added to the Roman empire nations +hitherto unknown. + +15. But Domitian, envying the superior glory of Agricola, recalled him, +and sent his lieutenant Lucullus into Britain, because he had suffered +lances of a new form to be named _Luculleas_ after him. + +16. His successor was Trebellius, under whom the two provinces, namely, +Vespasiana and Maeata, were wrested from the Roman government; for the +Romans gave themselves up to luxury. + +17. About this time the emperor Hadrian visiting this island, erected a +wall justly wonderful, and left Julius Severus his deputy in Britain. + +18. From this time nothing worthy of attention is related, until +Antoninus Pius carried on so many wars by his generals. He conquered the +Britons by means of Lollius Urbicus, the propraetor, and Saturninus, +prefect of the fleet, and, the barbarians being driven back, another +wall was built. He recovered the province afterwards called Valentia. + +19. Pius dying, Aurelius Antoninus gained many victories over the +Britons and Germans. + +20. On the death of Antoninus, when the Romans deemed their acquisitions +insufficient, they suffered a great defeat under Marcellus. + +21. To him succeeded Pertinax, who conducted himself as an able general. + +22. The next was Clodius Albinus, who contended with Severus for the +sceptre and purple. + +23. After these, the first who enjoyed the title of lieutenant was +Virius Lupus: he did not perform many splendid actions; for his glory +was intercepted by the unconquerable Severus, who, having rapidly put +the enemy to flight, repaired the wall of Hadrian, now become ruinous, +and restored it to its former perfection. Had he lived, he intended to +extirpate the very name of the barbarians; but he died by the visitation +of God, among the Brigantes, in the city of Eboracum. + +24. Alexander succeeded, who gained some victories in the East, and died +at Edessa. + +25. His successors were the lieutenants Lucilianus, M. Furius, N. +Philippus *********, who, if we except the preservation of the +boundaries, performed hardly any thing worthy of notice. + +26. Afterwards ***** + + +_The rest is wanting._ + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 684: Camalodunum.] + + + + +APPENDIX.--No. I. + +COMMENTARY ON THE ITINERARY. + + +No people are so barbarous as to be totally destitute of the means of +internal communication; and in proportion as they become more civilized +and have more intercourse with other nations, these means are augmented +and facilitated. By the early accounts of the Britons it appears that +they maintained a considerable foreign commerce, that they had formed +towns or large communities, and used chariots for warlike, and +undoubtedly for civil purposes. Hence it is evident that their internal +communications must have been free and numerous. We need not therefore +be surprised, if, after the lapse of so many centuries, marks of such +British roads appear even at present to a careful observer, differing in +many respects from the roads subsequently made by the Romans, and +traversing the island in every direction. + +These ancient ways may be distinguished from those made by the Romans by +unequivocal marks. + +I. They are not raised nor paved, nor always straight; but often wind +along the tops or sides of the chains of hills which lie in their +course. + +II. They do not lead to Roman towns, or notice such towns, except when +placed on the sites of British fortresses. + +III. They are attended by tumuli like those of the Romans; but usually +throw out branches, which, after running parallel for some miles, are +reunited to the original stem. + +When the Romans obtained a footing in this island, they directed all +their operations, according to their practice, by military principles. +They civilized indeed as they conquered, but conquest was their +principal object. Hence, as each tribe was successively subdued, they +fortified such primary posts as were best adapted to support their +future operations, established secondary posts to secure their +communications, and connected the whole by military ways. From local +circumstances, and the principles of war, their primary posts were +either at or near the sites of the British towns, or on the principal +rivers. If therefore the British towns and trackways were suited to +their purposes, they adopted them; if not, they constructed others. But +both their towns and roads differed materially from those of the +original inhabitants. The Romans in their towns or fortresses followed +the system of their own castrametation, in like manner as in modern +warfare the construction of permanent and temporary works is guided by +the same general principles. These towns are of a regular figure, +bounded by lines as straight as the shape of the ground will permit, +generally square or oblong, and consisting commonly in a single wall and +ditch, unless in positions peculiarly dangerous, or where local +circumstances rendered additional defences necessary. On the contrary +the British towns, which were occupied by the Romans, although +irregularly shaped, still partake of their original figure. + +Specimens of the first kind, or perfect Roman towns, may be seen in +Colchester, Winchester, Caerleon, Caerwent, Castor near Norwich, and +all the military stations bordering on the wall of Severus. Of the +latter, in Bath, Silchester, Kentchester, Canterbury, and other places. + +Similar marks of difference between the original British trackways and +the Roman roads appear in the Foss, and the Iknield Street;--the latter, +during the greater part of its course, keeping along the chain of hills +which lay in its way, not leading decidedly to Roman towns, throwing out +parallel branches, attended always with tumuli, still bearing its +British name, and appearing from its direction to have been made for +commercial purposes. + +On the other hand the adopted roads, but more especially those made by +the Romans themselves, are distinguished by peculiar marks. Posts or +towns are placed on them at nearly regular distances, seldom exceeding +twenty miles, the length of a single march, and also at the point where +two roads intersect each other, or where several roads diverge. These +roads are elevated with surprising labour to the height of ten feet, and +sometimes even more, instances of which may be seen on the heath near +Woodyates Inn in Dorsetshire, near Old Sarum on the side of Ford, in +Chute Park, Wilts, between Ancaster and Lincoln, and still more +remarkably on Bramham Moor, near Tadcaster in Yorkshire. They were +formed of materials often brought from a considerable distance, such as +chalk, pebbles, or gravel; and the most considerable are paved with +stones, which are visible to this day. Tumuli also, which seem to have +been the direction-posts of antiquity, attended their course, and occur +in almost every instance where a road descends a hill, approaches a +station, or throws off a branch. Another peculiarity of the Roman ways +is their straight direction, from which they seldom deviate, except to +avoid a rapid ascent or descent, to throw off another road, or to +approach a station, which, from the circumstances before mentioned, had +been fixed out of the general line. Of this there is a curious instance +where the Foss, in approaching Cirencester from the north, meets the +Akeman Street, bearing to the same point from the north-east, and +evidently bends out of its course to join and enter the station with it. + +Of many of the Roman roads, not only in England, but in the greater part +of the Roman empire, an account has been preserved under the name of the +Itinerary of Antoninus, which specifies the towns or stations on each +road, and shows the distances between them. This record was long +supposed to be a public directory or guide for the march of soldiers; +but if this were the case, it is extremely confused and imperfect. It +often omits in one _Iter_ or journey towns which are directly in its +course, and yet specifies them in another, as may be seen in the first, +second, sixth, and eighth Iters. It traces the same road more than once, +and passes unnoticed some of the most remarkable roads in the island, +namely a great part of the Foss, and the whole of the _Via Devana_ (a +road from Colchester to Chester.) Hence this Itinerary has been more +justly considered as the heads of a journal formed by some traveller or +officer, who visited the different parts of the empire from business or +duty; and, as Mr. Reynolds conjectures with great appearance of +probability, in the suite of the emperor Adrian. In this light it may be +considered as copious, and the advantages which it has afforded to the +antiquary will be gratefully and universally acknowledged. Still, +however, from the incoherence which appears in that part relating to our +island, and from the mutilated copies which have been found, there is +reason to imagine that the whole of this interesting record has not +escaped the ravages of time. + +Such an itinerary, but varying in many respects from that of Antonine, +is one of the most important parts of the work now presented to the +reader. + +In fixing the sites of the towns specified in these Itineraries, our +antiquaries have assumed the most unjustifiable latitude. The mere +resemblance of a name was considered as a reason sufficient to outweigh +all others; even the great Camden suffered himself to be misled by this +resemblance, in fixing Ariconium at Kentchester, Camalodunum at Maldon, +Bennavenna at Bensford, Pons AElii at Pont Eland, and Ad-Pontem at +Paunton. The explanation of the names to suit the supposed situation has +been another fruitful source of error; not only British and Latin, but +Saxon, Greek, and even Hebrew, have been exhausted to discover +significant appellations; and where one language was not sufficient, +half a word has been borrowed from one language and half from another to +support a favourite hypothesis.[685] The commentary now presented to the +reader is founded on the following principles. + +I. The vestiges of roads actually existing are taken as much as possible +for guides; and the extremes or direction of each Iter, ascertained from +two or more undoubted stations, or other unequivocal proofs. + +II. In general, no place is regarded as the site of a Roman station, +unless fixed Roman remains, such as buildings, baths, &c. are found at +or near it; and unless it is situated on or near the line of a Roman +road. + +III. An exception has, however, been sometimes unavoidably made to this +rule. After the Romans had established their power, and completed their +system of internal communication, they undoubtedly lessened the number +of their garrisons, to avoid either too great a division of their force, +or to reduce that part of it which was necessarily stationary. Hence we +have sometimes considered the direction of the road, and the general +distance, as sufficient data for determining a station or stations, +either when they were situated between two considerable fortified +points, or when covered by others on every side; because it is probable +such posts were merely temporary, and were dilapidated or demolished, +even before the decline of the Roman power. + +IV. In assigning a specific Roman name to a place, it has not been +deemed sufficient that fixed antiquities or other equivalent evidence +prove a town to have existed on the spot, unless the order of the names, +and the distances marked in the Itinerary, justify the appellation. + +V. Where the line of the Roman road is tolerably perfect, no station is +sought far from it, except where the excess of the Itinerary over the +real distance, or accurate measurement, affords sufficient authority for +the deviation. + +VI. The numbers which determine the distances being written in Roman +numerals, which gave great latitude for error[686] and substitutions, +recourse has been had to this rule. + +Where the road still exists, the whole intermediate space between two +stations already determined, has been examined to discover what places, +from their relative distance, from their site, or the antiquities found +in them, have the fairest claim to be considered as Roman posts; and to +such places the names have been affixed according to the evidence +afforded in the Itinerary. + +After this development of the principles on which we have proceeded in +our examination, it is necessary to add a few observations on the Roman +mile, the standard of measurement used in compiling the Itineraries; +because many difficulties in determining the stations arise from our +uncertainty respecting its real length. It may indeed appear easy to +ascertain this point, by a careful measurement of the space between two +military columns, still existing on any known Roman road. But in Britain +such an experiment has been hitherto impracticable; for the columns in +our island have been so universally defaced or removed, that, far from +two existing on the same road, only one has been found[687] whose +original station is known with any degree of certainty. In France and +Italy many of these columns still exist, and Danville has adduced three +instances in Languedoc, in which the distances between them accurately +measured amounted in one to 756, in another to 753, and in a third to +752 toises and two feet. The average 754 toises and two feet, seems to +determine the length of the Roman mile with sufficient precision; and +the result is confirmed by a comparison with the Roman foot, still +preserved in the capitol; for the exact length of the miles between the +military columns on the Appian way, in the neighbourhood of Rome, as +measured by Bianchini, was 5010 of these Roman feet, which reduced to +toises is 756 toises four feet and a half. From these results Danville +estimates the Roman mile at 755 toises, or 1593 yards[688] English +measure. + +Unfortunately this mensuration does not lessen the difficulties of the +English antiquary; for the distance between any two of our known +stations, if measured by this standard, disagrees in almost every +instance with the numbers of the Itineraries. Different conjectures have +been advanced to solve this difficulty. One, supported by the +respectable authority of Horsley, is, that the Romans measured only the +horizontal distance, without regarding the inequalities of the surface; +or that the space between station and station was ascertained from maps +accurately constructed. This idea receives some support from a fact +acknowledged by every British antiquary, namely, that the Itinerary +miles bear a regular proportion to the English miles on plains, but fall +short of them in hilly grounds. Another opinion is, that the Itinerary +miles were not measured by an invariable standard, but in the distant +provinces were derived from the common measures of the country. In +support of this conjecture a supposed coincidence between the computed +and measured miles, noticed by Horsley and others, has been adduced; but +if this were the case, there would not be so exact a conformity between +the miles of France and Italy as appears in the instance before +mentioned. + +To remove, however, as many causes of error as possible, considerable +pains have been taken to correct the numbers, by a comparison of all the +earliest and most authentic copies of the Itinerary. These are: The +Itinerary of Talbot, published in Leland's works. That of Camden. Two +copies by Harrison, published first in Hollingshed, and republished by +Burton. That of Gale. That of Surita, who collated five copies, four of +which he thus designates:--1. Bibliothecae Regiae ad D. Laurent. +vetustisa. Codex Ovetensis AEra I[OO]CCCCXX descriptus. 2. Bibliothecae +Blandiniae pervetustus codex a CCCC. circiter annis transcriptus. 3. +Bibliothecae Neapolitanorum Regum qui post cardinalis de Ursinis fuit +anno M.CCCCXXVII. exscriptus. 4. Christophori Longolii exemplar ab H. +Stephano. Parisiis editum, anno M.I[O]XII. + +As the Roman posts and roads were in a great degree connected with, or +derived from, the British towns and trackways, we proceed to trace first +the course of the British roads which still exist, and to specify the +towns whose sites are known, premising that of the ninety-two capital +towns of the Britons commemorated by historians, the names of only +eighty-eight have been preserved. + +The British ways were,-- + +1. The WATLING STREET, or Irish road, in two branches, northern and +southern. + +2. The IKNIELD STREET, or road of the Iceni, the inhabitants of the +eastern coast. + +3. The RYKNIELD STREET, leading through the country of the Upper Iceni +or Coritani. + +4. The ERMYN STREET, leading from the coast of Sussex to the south-east +part of Scotland. + +5. The AKEMAN STREET, or intermediate road between the Iknield and +Ryknield Street. + +6. The UPPER SALT-WAY, leading from the salt-mines at Droitwich to the +coast of Lincolnshire. + +7. The LOWER SALT-WAY, leading from the same mines to the south eastern +coast. + +8. A road which appears to have skirted the western coast, as the Ermyn +Street did the eastern. + +Besides these, there is reason to conjecture from several detached +pieces, that another road followed the shores round the island. + + +WATLING STREET. + +The south-eastern branch of the Watling Street proceeded from +Richborough on the coast of Kent, to Canterbury; and from thence, nearly +in the line of the present turnpike, towards Rochester. It left that +city to the right, passed the Medway by a ford, and ran almost straight, +through lord Darnley's park, to Southfleet. It bent to the left to avoid +the marshes near London, continued along a road now lost to Holwood +Hill, the capital of the Rhemi, and then followed the course of the +present road to London.--Having crossed the Thames, it ran by Edgeware +to Verulam; and from thence, with the present great Irish road, through +Dunstable and Towcester to Weedon. Hence, instead of bending to the +left, with the present turnpike, it proceeded straight by Dovebridge, +High Cross, Fazeley, Wall, and Wellington, to Wroxeter. It then passed +the Severn, and continued by Rowton, Pen y Pont, and Bala, to Tommen y +Mawr, where it divided into two branches. One ran by Beth Gellert to +Caernarvon and Anglesea, the other by Dolwyddelan, through the mountains +to the banks of the Menai, where it joined the north-eastern branch +(which will be presently described), and ended at Holy Head, the great +port of the Irish. + +In its course are the British towns _Rhutupis_, Richborough, +_Durovernum_, Canterbury, _Durobrivae_, Rochester, _Noviomagus_, Holwood +Hill, _Trinobantum_, London, _Verolamium_, St. Alban's, _Durocobrivae_, +Dunstable, _Uriconium_, Wroxeter, _Mediolanum_ on the banks of the +Tanad, _Segontium_, Caer Segont, and possibly a town, of which the name +is lost, at Holy Head. + +The north-western branch of the Watling Street, coming from the interior +of Scotland by Cramond and Jedburgh, enters England at Chew Green, and +continues by Riechester to Corbridge. There, crossing the Tyne, it ran +through Ebchester, Lanchester, and Binchester, and passed the Tees by a +ford near Pierce Bridge. Hence it went by Catteric, Newton, Masham, and +Kirby Malside to Ilkley, and near Halifax to Manchester. Over the moors +between these two last places it is called the Devil's Causeway. From +Manchester, where it passed the Mersey, it proceeded by Street, +Northwich, Chester, Caerhun, and over the mountains to Aber, where it +fell into the south-western branch, in its course to Holy Head. + +On it were the British towns, _Bremenium_, Riechester, _Epiacum_, +Lanchester, _Vinovium_, Binchester, _Cutaractonis_, Catterick, +_Olicana_, Ilkley, and _Deva_, Chester. + + +THE IKNIELD STREET, + +Or road of the Iceni, proceeds from the coast near Great Yarmouth. +Passing through Taesborough, it runs by Icklingham and Newmarket, and, +skirting the chain of hills which stretches through Cambridgeshire, +Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, and Oxfordshire, continues by Bournbridge +to Icoldon and Royston (where it intersects the Ermyn Street). Thence it +proceeds by Baldock, over Wilbury Hill, to Dunstable (where it crosses +the Watling Street), Tring, Wendover, Elsborough, near Risborough +Chinor, Watlington, Woodcote, and Goring, and, passing the Thames at +Streetly, throws off a collateral branch, which will be noticed under +the name of the RIDGEWAY. From hence it proceeded, as Stukeley imagined, +by Aldworth, Newbury Street, Ashmansworth, Tangley, and Tidworth, to Old +Sarum. Thence by the two Stratfords, across Vernditch Chase, Woodyates +Inn, the Gussages, Badbury, Shapwick, Shitterton, Maiden Castle, +Eggardon, Bridport, Axminster, Honiton, Exeter, Totness, &c., to the +Land's End. + +The collateral branch called the RIDGEWAY, ran from Streetly along the +hills, by Cuckhamsley Hill, Whitehorse Hill, and Ashbury, towards Abury, +from whence its course is unknown. Possibly it ran towards Glastonbury. +From Elworthy barrows, above Taunton, it passes south-westerley into +Devonshire, and from Stretton in Cornwall, it kept along the ridge of +hills to Redruth and the Land's End. + +The British towns on this way were _Ad Taum_, Taesborough, the ancient +capital of the Iceni Magni, _Durocobrivae_, Dunstable, _Sorbiodunum_, Old +Sarum, _Durinum_, probably Maiden Castle, _Isca_, Exeter, _Tamara_, a +post on the Tamar, _Voluba_ on the Fowey, and _Cenia_ on the Fal. + +On the Ridgeway, possibly _Avalonia_, Glastonbury, _Termolus_, by some +supposed to be Molland in Devon, _Artavia_, ... _Musidum_, near +Stratton, and _Halangium_, Carnbre. + + +RYKNIELD STREET, + +Or street of the upper Iceni, said to begin at the mouth of the Tyne, +ran by Chester le Street to Binchester, where it joined the Watling +Street, and continued with it to Catterick. Then, bearing more easterly, +it ran with the present great northern road to within two miles of +Borough Bridge, where it left the turnpike to the right, and crossed the +Eure to Aldborough. From thence it went by Coptgrave, Ribston, +Spofforth, through Stokeld Park, to Thorner, Medley, Foleby, Bolton, +Graesborough, Holme, Great Brook near Tretown, Chesterfield, Alfreton, +Little Chester, Egginton, to Burton, and Wall (where it crossed the +Watling Street). Thence through Sutton Colefield, to Birmingham, King's +Norton, Alchester, Bitford, Sedgebarrow, Tewkesbury, Glocester, Lidney, +Chepstow, and probably by Abergavenny, Brecon, Landilo, and Caermarthen +to St. David's. + +It passed the British towns of _Vinovium_, Binchester, _Cataracton_, +Catterick, _Isurium_, Aldborough, _Etocetum_, Wall, _Alauna_, Alcester, +_Glevum_, Glocester, _Maridunum_, Caermarthen, and _Menapia_, St. +David's. + + +THE ERMYN STREET + +Came from the eastern side of Scotland, and, crossing the Tweed west of +Berwick, ran near Wooler, Hedgely, Brumpton, Brinkburn, Netherwittern, +Hartburn, and Rial, to Corbridge, where it joined the North Watling +Street. Passing with that Way the two great rivers the Tyne and the +Tees, it continued to Catterick, where it divided into two branches. + +The western branch went with the Ryknield Street as far as Aldborough, +and then, leaving that way to the right, proceeded by Little Ousebourn, +to Helensford, over Bramham Heath, to Aberford, Castleford, Houghton, +Stapleton, Adwick, Doncaster, Bawtry, and probably by Tuxford, +Southwell, and over the Trent to Thorp (where it passed the Foss), +Staunton, and Stainby, where it joined the + +Eastern branch. This branch ran from Catterick by North Allerton, +Thirsk, Easingwold, Stamford Bridge, Market Weighton, and South Cave, +and, crossing the Humber, continued by Wintringham, Lincoln, and +Ancaster, to near Witham, when it was reunited with the western branch +above-mentioned. Both continued to Brig Casterton, near Stamford, +Chesterton, Stilton, Godmanchester, Royston (where it crossed the +Icknield Street), Buntingford, Puckeridge, Ware Park, west of Roxbourn, +Cheshunt, Enfield, Wood Green, and London. Here it again divided into +two branches. The more westerly went by Dorking, Coldharbour, Stone +Street, and Pulborough to Chichester; while the easterly was continued +by Bromley, Holwood Hill, Tunbridge Wells, Wadhurst, Mayfield, and +Eastbourn, to Pevensey. + +On it were the British towns _Vinovium_, Binchester, _Cataractonis_, +Catterick, _Isurium_, Aldborough, _Lindum_, Lincoln, _Durnomagus_, +Castor near Peterborough, _Trinovantum_, London, _Regentium_ or +_Regnum_, Chichester, _Noviomagus_, Holwood Hill, and _Anderida Portus_, +Pevensey. + + +AKEMAN STREET + +Appears to have passed from the eastern side of the island, probably by +Bedford, Newport Pagnel, Stony Stratford, and Buckingham (or as others +think by Fenny Stratford and Winsborough), to Alcester. It then ran by +Kirklington, Woodstock, Stonefield Astall and Coln St. Alwin's, to +Cirencester, Rodmarton, Cherrington, Bagspath, and Symonds' Hall. From +thence it is said to be continued by Cromehall to Aust, where, passing +the Severn, it probably ran through Caerwent, Caerleon, and along the +coast by Caerdiff, Neath, Lwghor, to Caermarthen, and the Irish port at +St. David's. + +The British towns were _Corinum_, Cirencester, _Venta Silurum_, +Caerwent, _Isca_, Caerleon, _Maridunum_, Caermarthen, and _Menapia_, St. +David's. + + +THE UPPER SALT-WAY, + +Which appears to have been the communication between the sea coast of +Lincolnshire and the Salt-mines at Droitwich. It is first known as +leading from the neighbourhood of Stainsfield, towards Paunton and +Denton, and then running not far from Saltby and Croxton, is continued +straight by Warmby and Grimston, to Sedgehill on the Foss. Here it +appears to bear towards Barrow on the Soar, and crossing Charnwood +Forest, is again seen at Stretton on the borders of Warwickshire, from +whence it is easily traced to Birmingham and over the Lickey to +Droitwich. + +British town _Salinae_, Droitwich. + +The SECOND SALT-WAY is little known, although the parts here described +have been actually traced. It came from Droitwich, crossed +Worcestershire under the name of the SALT-WAY, appears to have passed +the Avon, somewhere below Evesham, tended towards the chain of hills +above Sudeley Castle, where it is still visible, attended by _tumuli_ as +it runs by Hawling. Thence it proceeds to Northleach, where it crossed +the Foss, in its way to Coln St. Aldwin's, on the Akeman Street, and led +to the sea coast of Hampshire. + +_Venta Belgarum_, Winchester, and _Portus Magnus_, Porchester, or +_Clausentum_, Bittern near Southampton--were probably situated in its +course. + +In many places are vestiges of a continued road skirting the western +side of the island, in the same manner as the Ermyn Street did the +eastern, of which parts were never adopted by the Romans. There is great +reason to suppose it British, because it connects many of the British +towns. It appears to have commenced on the coast of Devon, perhaps not +far from the mouth of the Ex, and to have gone by Exeter, Taunton, +Bridgewater, Bristol, Glocester, Kidderminster, Claverley, Weston, High +Offley, Betley, Middlewich, Northwich, Warrington, Preston, Lancaster. +Here probably dividing into two branches, one ran by Kendal, Penrith, +and Carlisle, to the extreme parts of the island, while the other +passed, by Kirby Lonsdale and Orton, to Kirby Thure, from whence it +continued under the name of the MAIDEN-WAY, by the Wall and Bewcastle +into the interior parts of Scotland. On this Street were _Isca_, Exeter, +_Uxella_, possibly near Bridgewater, _Glevum_, Gloucester, +_Brannogenium_, Worcester, _Salinae_, Droitwich, _Coccium_, Blackrode, and +_Luguballium_, Carlisle. + +Besides these, and the separate communications between the different +towns, there is reason to imagine that a general road ran round the +whole coast of the island, parts of which have been observed near the +southern coast of Dorsetshire, particularly from Abbotsbury to the isle +of Purbeck; likewise in Hampshire, along Portsdown Hill; and from Old +Winchester through Sussex, on the tops of the hills between Midhurst and +Chichester, to Arundel and Brighthelmstone. Also in Essex from Maldon to +Colchester, and in Suffolk by Stretford, Ipswich, Stretford, and +Blythburgh, to the banks of the Yar. In Lincolnshire are two branches, +one running clearly from Tattersal, by Horncastle, Ludford, Strinton, +Caistor, and Somerby, and a second nearer to the coast from Lowth +towards Brocklesby, and both tending to the passage of the Humber, not +far from Barton. Also along the principal part of the coast through +Yorkshire, Durham, and Northumberland. On the western side of the island +it appears to have passed on the hills which skirt the northern coast of +Devonshire and Somersetshire, and possibly might be traced through Wales +and towards Scotland. + + * * * * * + +As the original text of so important a document as Richard's Itinerary +is essential to the thorough comprehension of its meaning, it is here +subjoined: it follows after the end of Chapter VII. + + +DIAPHRAGMATA. + +ITER I. Rhutupia is prima in Britannia insula civitas versus Galliam +apud Cantios sita a Gessoriago Bonnoniae portu, unde commodissimus in +supradictam insulam transitus obtingit, CCCCL. stadia, vel ut alii +volunt XLVI. mille passuum remota: ab eadem civitate ducta est via +Guethelinga dicta, usque in Segontium per m.p. CCCXXIIII. plus minus +sic:--Cantiopoli, quae et Duroverno, m.p. X. Durosevo XII. Duroprovis +XXV. deinde m.p. XXVII. transis Thamesin intrasque provinciam Flaviam et +civitatem Londinium (Augustam), Sulo Mago m.p. VIIII. Verolamio +municipio XII. unde fuit Amphibalus et Albanus Martyres. Foro Dianae XII. +Magio Vinio XII. Lactorodo XII. Isanta Varia XII. Tripontio XII. Benonis +VIIII. Hic bisecatur via, alterutrumque ejus brachium Lindum usque, +alterum versus Viriconium protenditur, sic: Manduessuedo m.p. XII. +Etoceto XIII. Pennocrucio XII. Uxaconia XII. Virioconio XI. Banchorio +XXVI. Deva Colonia X. Fines Flaviae et Secundae, Varis m.p. XXX. Conovio +XX. Seguntio XXIIII. + +ITER II. A Seguntio Virioconium usque, m.p. LXXIII. sic:--Heriri monte +m.p. XXV. Mediolano XXV. Rutunio XII. Virioconio XI. + +ITER III. A Londinio Lindum coloniam usque, sic: Durosito m.p. XII. +Caesaro Mago XVI. Canonio XV. Camaloduno colonia VIIII. ibi erat templum +Claudii, arx triumphalis, et imago Victoriae deae. Ad Sturium amnem m.p. +VI. et finibus Trinobantum Cenimannos advenis, Cambretonio m.p. XV. Sito +Mago XXII. Venta Cenom. XXIII.... Camborico colonia XX. Durali ponte XX. +Durno Mago XX. Isinnis XX. Lindo XX. + +ITER IV. A Lindo ad Vallum usque, sic:--Argolico m.p. XIIII. Dano XX. +Ibi intras Maximam Caesariensem, Legotio m.p. XVI. Eboraco municip. olim +colonia sexta m.p. XXI. Isurio XVI. Cattaractoni XXIIII. ad Tisam X. +Vinovio XII. Epiaco XVIIII. ad Murum VIIII. trans Murum intras +Valentiam. Alauna amne m.p. XXV. Tueda flumine XXX. ad Vallum.... + +ITER V. A limite Praeturiam usque, sic:--Curia m.p.... ad Fines m.p.... +Bremenio m.p.... Corstoplio XX. Vindomora VIIII. Vindovio XVIIII. +Cattaractoni XXII. Eboraco XL. Derventione VII. Delgovicia XIII. +Praeturio XXV. + +ITER VI. Ab Eboraco Devam usque, sic:--Calcaria m.p. VIIII. Camboduno +XXII. Mancunio XVIII. Finibus Maximae et Flaviae m.p. XVIII. Condate +XVIII. Deva XVIII. + +ITER VII. A Portu Sistuntiorum Eboracum usque, sic:--Rerigonio m.p. +XXIII. ad Alpes Peninos VIII. Alicana X. Isurio XVIII. Eboraco XVI. + +ITER VIII. Ab Eboraco Luguvalium usque, sic:--Cattaractoni m.p. XL. +Lataris XVI. Vataris XVI. Brocavonacis XVIII. Vorreda XVIII. Luguballia +XVIII. + +ITER VIIII. A Luguballio Ptorotonim usque, sic:--Trimontio m.p.... +Gadanica m.p.... Corio m.p.... ad Vallum m.p.... Incipit Vespasiana. +Alauna m.p. XII. Lindo VIIII. Victoria VIIII. ad Hiernam VIIII. Orrea +XIIII. ad Tavum XVIIII. ad AEsicam XXIII. ad Tinam VIII. Devana XXIII. ad +Itunam XXIIII. ad Montem Grampium m.p.... ad Selinam m.p.... Tuessis +XVIIII. Ptorotone m.p.... + +ITER X. Ab ultima Ptorotone per medium insulae Isca Damnonorum usque, +sic:--Varis m.p. VIII. ad Tuessim XVIII. Tamea XXVIIII.... m.p. XXI. in +Medio VIIII. Orrea VIIII. Victoria XVIII. ad Vallum XXXII. Luguballia +LXXX. Brocavonacis XXII. ad Alaunam m.p.... Coccio m.p.... Mancunio +XVIII. Condate XXIII. Mediolano XVIII. Etoceto m.p.... Salinis m.p.... +Glebon colonia m.p.... Corino XIIII. Aquas Solis m.p.... ad Aquas XVIII. +ad Uxellam amnem m.p.... Isca m.p.... + +ITER XI. Ab Aquis per Viam Juliam Menapiam usque, sic:--ad Abonam m.p. +VI. ad Sabrinam VI. unde trajectu intras in Britanniam Secundam et +stationem Trajectum m.p. III. Venta Silurum VIII. Isca colonia VIIII. +unde fuit Aaron Martyr. Tibia amne m.p. VIII. Bovio XX. Nido XV. Leucaro +XV. ad Vigesimum XX. ad Menapiam XVIIII. Ab hac urbe per XXX. m.p. +navigas in Hyberniam. + +ITER XII. Ab Aquis Londinium usque, sic:--Verlucione m.p. XV. Cunetione +XX. Spinis XV. Calleba Attrebatum XV. Bibracte XX. Londinio XX. + +ITER XIII. Ab Isca Uriconium usque, sic:--Bultro m.p. VIII. Gobannio +XII. Magna XXIII. Branogenio XXIII. Urioconio XXVII. + +ITER XIIII. Ab Isca per Glebon Lindum usque, sic:--Ballio m.p. VIII. +Blestio XII. Sariconio XI. Glebon colonia XV. ad Antonam XV. Alauna +XV.... Vennonis XII. Ratiscorion XII. Venromento XII. Margiduno XII. ad +Pontem XII. Croco colana Lindum XII. + +ITER XV. A Londinio per Clausentum in Londinium, sic:--Caleba m.p. +XLIIII. Vindomi XV. Venta Belgarum XXI. ad Lapidem VI. Clausento IIII. +Portu Magno X. Regno X. ad Decimum X. Anderida portu m.p.... ad Lemanum +m.p. XXV. Lemaniano portu X. Dubris X. Rhutupis colonia X. Regulbio X. +Contiopoli X. Durelevo XVIII. Mado XII. Vagnaca XVIII. Novio Mago XVIII. +Londinio XV. + +ITER XVI. A Londinio Ceniam usque, sic:--Venta Belgarum m.p. XC. Brige +XI. Sorbioduno VIII. Ventageladia XII. Durnovaria VIIII. Moriduno +XXXIII. Isca Damnon. XV.... Durio amne m.p.... Tamara m.p.... Voluba +m.p.... Cenia m.p.... + +ITER XVII. Ab Anderida [Eboracum] usque, sic:--Sylva Anderida m.p.... +Noviomago m.p.... Londinio m.p. XV. ad Fines m.p.... Durolisponte +m.p.... Durnomago m.p. XXX. Corisennis XXX. Lindo XXX. in Medio XV. ad +Abum XV. unde transis in Maximam, ad Petuariam m.p. VI. dein le Eboraco, +ut supra, m.p. XLVI. + +ITER XVIII. Ab Eboraco, per medium insulae Clausentum usque, +sic:--Legiolio m.p. XXI. ad Fines XVIII.... m.p. XVI.... m.p. XVI. ... +Derventione m.p. XVI. ad Trivonam XII. Etoceto XII. Manduessuedo XVI. +Benonnis XII. Tripontio XI. Isannavaria XII. Brinavis XII. AElia castra +XVI. Dorocina XV. Tamesi VI. Vindomi XV. Clausento XLVI. + +Plurima insuper habebant Romani in Britanniis castella, suis quaeque +muris, turribus, portis, et repagulis munita. + + +_Finis Itinerariorum._ + +Quod hactenus auribus, in hoc capite percipitur pene oculis intuentibus: +nam huic adjuncta est mappa Britanniae artificialiter depicta, quae omnia +loca cet. evidenter exprimit, ut ex ea cunctarum regionum incolas +dignoscere detur. + + * * * * * + +ANCIENT AND MODERN NAMES OF THE STATIONS IN RICHARD OF CIRENCESTER'S +ITINERARY. + +[From the London Edition, 8vo. 1809.] + + ITER I. | SITES OF THE STATIONS. + | + (1) A Rhutupi ducta est | From Richborough to Caer. + "_Via Guethelinga_" | + dicta, usque in Segontium, per m.p. | Segont, by the Watling + CCCXXIIII. plus minus, sic:-- | Street. + |_Corrected_| + |_numbers._ | + (2) Cantiopoli quae et | | + Duroverno X | XI | Canterbury. + (3) Durosevo XII | XII | Stone Chaple, in Ospringe. + (4) Daroprovis XXV | XVI | Rochester. + Deinde m.p. XXVII | XXVII | + transis Thamesin | | + intrasque provinciam | | + Flaviam et civitatem | | + (5) Londinium Augustam | | London. + (6) Sulo Mago VIIII | XII | On the site of Mr. + | | Napier's house at + | | Brockley Hill. + (7) Verolamio Municipio | | + XII | VIIII | Verulam. + Unde fuit Amphibalus | | + et Albanus, martyres. | | + (8) Foro Dianae XII | XII | Dunstable. + (9) Magio Vinio XII | XII | Old Fields, South of Fenny + | | Stratford. + (10) Lactorodo XII | XVI | Berry Mount, in Towcester. + (11) Isanta Varia XII | XII | Burnt Walls near Daventry. + (12) Tripontio XII | XII | Near Lilbourne. + (13) Benonis VIII | VIIII | High Cross. + Hic bisecatur Via; | | + alterutrumque ejus | | + brachium Lindum | | + usque, alterum versus | | + Viriconium protenditur, | | + sic:-- | | + (14) Manduessuedo XII | XII | Manceter. + (15) Etoceto XIII | XVI | Wall. + (16) Pennocrucio XII | XII | On the Penk. + (17) Uxaconia XII | XII | Red Hill, near Okenyate. + (18) Virioconio XI | XI | Wroxeter. + (19) Banchorio XXVI | XXVI | Probably Banchor. + (20) Deva Colonia X | XV | Chester. + Fines Flaviae et Secundae | | + (21) Varis XXX | XXVII | Banks of the Clwydd near + | | Bodfari. + (22) Conovio XX | XX | Caer Hun. + (23) Segontio XXIIII | XIIII | Caer Segont, near + | | Caernarvon. + +The first Iter having run uniformly on the traces of the British road +called Watling Street (except the small distance from Southfleet to +London), and the road remaining tolerably perfect, there can be little +difficulty in fixing the several stations, or indeed in correcting the +sometimes corrupted numbers of the Itinerary. It begins at Richborough, +and, although at present obscure from the improved cultivation of the +country, may be easily traced to Canterbury, from whence it went in the +direction of the present turnpike to Rochester, leaving the intermediate +station at Stone Chaple, in Ospringe, a little to the left hand. At +Rochester it passed the Medway, considerably above the present bridge, +and instead of running to the right with the modern turnpike, it went as +straight as the nature of the ground would permit, by Cobham Park, and +Shinglewell, to Barkfields, in Southfleet (the station _Vagniacis_ in +Antonine,) then to Swanscombe Parkwood, through which it passed, and +rejoined the Dover road between the fifteenth and sixteenth milestone, +near Dartford Brent. Hence it went by Shooter's Hill over the Thames to +London; and then as before mentioned, by the site of Mr. Napier's house +at Brockley Hill, Verulam, Dunstable, Fenny Stratford, Towcester, Burnt +Walls,[689] near Lilbourne, High Cross, Manceter, Wall, Okenyate, to +Wroxeter. Here, quitting the south-west branch of the Watling Street, it +bore to the right by Uffington, Broughton, Overley, Hammer, and Sarn +Bridge to Banchor; and from thence ran clearly by Stockach and Aldford, +over the Dee to Chester. + +The Roman road here joining the North-east Watling Street, before +mentioned, continued with it to Bodfari, and crossing Denbighshire, went +over the Conway to Caer Hun; and is supposed to have run as straight as +the country would permit, to Caer Segont, about half a mile south of +Caernarvon. + + * * * * * + + ITER II. | SITES OF THE STATIONS. + | + (23) A Segontio Virioconium usque, | From Caer Segont to Wroxeter. + m.p. LXXIII. sic:-- | + | + |_Corrected_| + |_numbers._ | + (24) Heriri Monte XXV | XXV | Tommen y Mur, in Maentrwg. + (25) Mediolano XXV | XVII | On the bank of the Tanad. + (26) Rutunio XII | XVI | Rowton. + (18) Virioconio XI | XI | Wroxeter. + +This Iter runs on a branch of the South-east Watling Street, from Caer +Segont, nearly in the direction of the present road to Tommen y Mur, an +undoubted station in the parish of Maentrwg, by the common name of Sarn +Helen, or the "paved way of the Legion." From hence it is continued to +Bala; and on the banks of the Tanad, not far from the point where it is +intersected by the Roman road from Caersws to Chester, was probably the +lost town of _Mediolanum_. From _Mediolanum_ the road runs under the +north end of the Brythen, straight, although obscurely, to Rowton, and +from thence over the Severn to Wroxeter. + + * * * * * + + ITER III. | SITES OF THE STATIONS. + | + (5) A Londinio Lindum coloniam usque, | From London to Lincoln. + sic:-- | + |_Corrected_| + |_numbers._ | + (27) Durosito XII | XII | Near Rumford. + (28) Caesaro Mago XVI | XVI | Near Chelmsford. + (29) Canonio XV | XV | On the east of Kelvedon. + (30) Camaloduno Colonia | | + VIIII | VIIII | Colchester. + Ibi erat templum | | + Claudii, arx | | + triumphalis, et imago| | + Victoriae deae. | | + (31) Ad Sturium amnem VI | VI | Banks of the Stour. + Et finibus Trinobantum| | + Cenimannos advenis | | + (32) Cambretonio XV | | + (33) Sito Mago XXII | | + (34) Venta Cenom XXIII | | Castor, near Norwich. + .....[690].......... | | + (35) Camborico Colonia XX | | North side of the Cam, + | | Cambridge. + (36) Duraliponte[691] XX | XV | Godmanchester. + (37) Durno Mago[692] XX | XX | Castor. + | | Durobrivis was Chesterton + | | on the Nen, near it. + (38) Isinis[693] XX | XXV | Ancaster. + (39) Lindo[694] XX | XXI | Lincoln. + +As it is fifty-one measured miles from London to Colchester, and as it +is probable that the stone from whence the Roman miles were measured was +at least one mile west of Whitechapel church, we cannot allow any +material deviation from the course of the present road, except in the +neighbourhood of the capital, where the Roman road, instead of passing +through Mile End, went much straighter over the Lee at Old Ford, and +fell again into the course of the present turnpike at Stratford. The +Itinerary allowing only fifty-two miles between London and Colchester, +and the fifth Iter of Antonine agreeing with this of Richard, by stating +twenty-eight as the distance between London and _Caesaromagus_, we may +implicitly adopt the distances here given, and fix the intermediate +stations near Rumford, Chelmsford, and Kelvedon. From Colchester the +road ran to the Stour, where probably stood the Mansio _ad Ansam_. From +hence to Castor, near Norwich, (the _Venta Icenorum_,) the stations and +course of the road are unknown. Some commentators have supposed it ran +westerly, by Brettenham and Thetford; others by Ipswich, Stowmarket, and +Scole Inn; and others have carried it more easterly, by Ipswich and +Blythburgh, or Dunwich, to the capital of the Iceni. In favour of the +first, there is merely the supposed resemblance of the name of +Brettenham to _Cambretonium_; of the second, traces of a Roman way, +called the Pye Road; and of the third, a British track-way, and another +Roman road, called the Stone Street. But the distances suit none of +these sites, and no Roman remains have any where been found, between the +Stour and Castor, sufficient to justify an alteration of the numerals. + +_Icianis_ may have been Icklingham; and _Camboricum_ was most probably +at Cambridge, from whence there is a Roman road discoverable to Lincoln. +To the first station, Godmanchester, this Iter goes on the great +communication between Colchester and Chester, which for the sake of +distinction may be called the _Via Devana_; and from Godmanchester to +Lincoln, on the eastern branch of the Ermyn Street, which was adopted by +the Romans. Twenty miles from Godmanchester, we find the great station +of Chesterton, on one side of the Nen, and Castor on the other; which +probably gave rise to the two names of _Durobrivae_, and _Durnomagus_, +the Roman and British towns severally noticed by Antonine and Richard. +About twenty-five miles further, in the course of the road which cannot +be mistaken, we find Ancaster, the _Isinnis_, _Corisennis_, or +_Causennis_ of the Itineraries, from whence twenty-one additional miles +bring us to Lincoln. + + ITER IV. | SITES OF THE STATIONS. + | + (39) A Lindo ad Vallum usque, sic: | From Lincoln to the Wall. + |_Corrected_| + |_Numbers._ | + (40) Argolico XIIII | XIIII | Littleborough. + (41) Dano XX | XXI | Doncaster. + Ibi intras Max | | + Caesariensem | | + (42) Legotio[695] m.p. XVI | XVI | Castleford. + (43) Eburaco Municip. olim | | + Colonia Sexta[696] XXI | XXI | York. + (44) Isurio XVI | XVII | Aldborough. + (45) Cattaractoni[697] XXIIII | XXIIII | Catterick. + (46) Ad Tisam X | XII | Pierce Bridge. + (47) Vinovio XII | X | Binchester. + (48) Epiaco XVIII} | XIIII | Lanchester. + (49) Ad Muram VIIII} | VIIII | Halton Chester on the Wall. + trans Murum intras | | + Valentiam | | + (50) Alauna amne XXV | XXV | Banks of the Coquet. + (51) Tueda flumine XXX | XXXV | Banks of the Tweed. + (52) Ad Vallum | | The Wall. + +The fourth Iter left Lincoln with the Eastern Ermyn Street, which ran to +the Humber; and, after continuing on it about five miles, turned +suddenly to the left, pursuing its course in a straight line to the +Trent, which it passed immediately opposite to the station of +Littleborough. The Roman road may be traced from hence to Austerfield +and Doncaster, where it fell in with the Western Ermyn Street, and is +visible all the way by Castleford, Aberford, and Tadcaster, to York. In +this Iter, the station of Tadcaster is passed unnoticed, as in the +former the station of Brig Casterton, near Stamford. + +From York the Iter is continued along the left bank of the Ouse, till it +crossed the river to Aldborough. From hence rejoining the Western Ermyn +Street, it passed the Eure, and ran straight through Catterick to the +Tees, which it crossed at Piercebridge. It continued by the Royal Oak, +St. Andrew Aukland, and the Bishop's Park, to Binchester, where, after +fording the Were, it went with the North Watling Street to Lanchester; +and, without noticing either Ebchester or Corbridge, over the Tyne to +Halton Chester on the Wall. Here separating from the North Watling +Street, it ran with the Ermyn Street, now known in Northumberland by the +name of the Devil's Causeway, to the bank of the Coquet and the Tweed, +and entering Scotland on the East, was continued to the wall of +Antonine. + + ITER V. | SITES OF THE STATIONS + | + (52) A limite Praeturiam usque, sic:-- | To Flamborough Head. + |_Corrected_| + |_Numbers._ | + (53) Curia[698] | | + (54) Ad fines | | Chew Green. + (55) Bremenio | VII | Riechester. + (56) Corstoplio XX | XXV | Corbridge. + (57) Vindomora VIIII | VIIII | Corbridge. + (47) Vindovio[699] XVIIII | XVIIII | Binchester. + (45) Cattaractoni XXII | XXII | Catterick. + (43) Eboraco XL | XL | York. + (58) Derventione VII | VII | On the Derwent, near Stamford + | | Bridge. + (59) Delgovicia [700]XIII | | + (60) Praeturio [701]XXV | XXXVIII | Near Flamborough Head. + +In regard to the part of the country traversed by this Iter, there +appears to have been so little connection between the work of our author +and the map which accompanies it, that we can rely little on the latter +either to assist or correct us. This Iter is made to begin from _Curia_, +a town probably on the confines of some petty kingdom, and to pass to +the first certain post of _Bremenium_, or Riechester. Now, on referring +to the map, _Curia_, the principal town of the Gadeni, so far from lying +on the road which leads to _Bremenium_, the capital of the Ottadini, is +considerably to the westward of its course. From this disagreement, +commentators have suspected a mistake of the transcriber, and imagine +that _Curia_ is intended for _Corium_. It is certain, at least, that +this Iter, running on the east side of the island, on the track of the +Northern Watling Street, enters Northumberland at Chew Green, goes from +thence to Riechester (leaving unnoticed the station at Risingham), and +runs with it to Corbridge, Ebchester, Binchester, Catterick, and York. + +From York to Flamborough Head, a Roman road may still be traced; and as +the distance agrees with the Itinerary, and there must have been a Roman +post on or near that headland, we should think it more probable that +this was the site of _Praeturium_,[D] although we have not yet discovered +the remains of any post on the Derwent, or the intermediate station of +_Delgovicia_. So many Roman roads from different quarters point towards +Stamford bridge, that there is no doubt the station of _Derventio_ was +near it. + + ITER VI. | SITES OF THE STATIONS. + | + (43) Ab Eboraco Devam usque, sic:-- | From York to Chester. + | _Corrected_ | + | _Numbers._ | + (61) Calcaria m.p. VIIII | VIIII | Tadcaster. + (62) Camboduno XXII | XXXII | Slack. + (63) Mancunio[A] XVIII | XXIII | Manchester. + (64) Finibus Maximae et | | + Flaviae XVIII | VI | Stretford on Mersey. + (65) Condate[702] XVIII | XXIII | Kinderton. + (20) Deva XVIII | XVIII | Chester. + +Such appears to be the incorrectness of the numerals attached to this +Iter, as well as to the corresponding Iter of Antonine, that, although +four of the six stations are well known, and a fifth can scarcely be +mistaken, yet, we can in no other way obviate the difficulty than by +supposing a station omitted, or by altering the numerals, none of which, +except the first, agree with the distances between the vestiges of the +different stations and their supposed sites; for example, in the first +part between York and Manchester, where the Itinerary gives only 49 +miles, the nearest road through Heathersfield amounts to 65. + +As the only great and undoubted Roman station between Tadcaster and +Manchester is at Slack (for the camps at Kirklees, and Castleshaw, are +only temporary posts), it will perhaps be justifiable to fix this point +as the site of _Cambodunum_; to suppose ten miles omitted in this stage; +and in the next to conjecture that, by a common error in copying the +Roman numerals, XVIII. has been substituted for XXIII. the exact +distance from Slack to Manchester. + +As the Mersey was undoubtedly the boundary on the West between the Roman +provinces of Maxima and Flavia, and as the Roman road still existing +crossed it at Stretford, we fix the next point there, and change the +number XVII. to VI. The two next stations of _Condate_ and _Deva_, the +numerals (with a slight alteration) permit us to fix at Kinderton and +Chester. It is worthy of remark, that with these alterations the sum +total of the numerals remains nearly the same. + + ITER VII. | SITES OF THE STATIONS. + | + (66) A Portu Sistuntiorum Eboracum | From Freckleton to York. + usque, sic:-- | + | _Corrected_ | + | _Numbers._ | + (67) Rerigonio XXIII | XIII | Ribchester. + (68) Ad Alpes Peninos VIII | XXIII | Burrens in Broughton. + (69) Alicana X | X | Ilkley. + (44) Isurio[703] XVIII | XVIII | Aldborough. + (43) Eboraco XVI | XVII | York. + +This Iter runs from Freckleton on the Ribble to Ribchester, and then +over the mountains to Broughton, Ilkley, Aldborough and York. As the +Roman road is tolerably perfect all the way to Aldborough, and the +vestiges of the stations are undoubted, we are justified in the +alteration of the first two numbers, as by this alteration they will +correspond with the present distances and the situations of the posts. + + * * * * * + + ITER VIII. | SITES OF THE STATIONS. + | + (43) Ab Eboraco Luguvalium usque, sic:-- | From York to Carlisle. + | _Corrected_ | + | _Numbers._ | + (45) Cattaractoni XL | XL | Catterick. + (70) Lataris [704]XVI | XVIII | Bowes. + (71) Vataris [705]XVI | XIIII | Brough. + (72) Brocavonacis[706]XVIII | XIII | Kirby Thur. + (Brovonacis) | | + (73) Vorreda XVIII | XIIII | Plumpton Wall. + (74) Lugubalia [707]XVIII | XIII | Carlisle. + +The road from York to Catterick has been traced before, and the Roman +way from thence to Carlisle ran nearly in the direction of the present +turnpike. The only doubt which occurs, therefore, in this Iter, is +whether, from a similarity of sound, the transcriber of Richard has not +erroneously written Brocavonacis for Brovonacis, which are two +neighbouring posts in this direction, the first Brougham, and the second +Kirby Thur. As the conjecture is not improbable, the corrected distance +is given from the latter. + +It is worthy of observation that in this Iter four successive V's have +been added by mistake of the transcriber, as is the case in regard to +the X's omitted in the third Iter. + + * * * * * + + ITER IX. | SITES OF THE STATIONS. + | + (74) A Luguballio Ptorotonim | From Carlisle to Burgh Head. + usque, sic:-- | + |_Corrected_| + |_Numbers._ | + (75) Trimontio m.p. | | Birrenswork Hill. + (76) Gadanica | | + (77) Corio | | + (52) Ad Vallum | | Camelon. + Incipit Vespasiana | | + (78) Alauna XII | XIII | Kier + (79) Lindo VIIII | VIIII | Ardoch. + (80) Victoria VIIII | VIIII | Dealgin Ross. + (81) Ad Hiernam VIIII | VIIII | Strageth. + (82) Orrea XIIII | XIIII | On the Tay above Perth. + (83) Ad Tavum XVIIII | XVIIII | Near Invergowrie. + (84) Ad AEsicam XXIII | XXIII | Brechin on South Esk. + (85) Ad Tinam VIII | VIII | Fordun. + (86) Devana XXIII | XXIII | Norman Dikes near Pete Culter. + (87) Ad Itunam XXIIII | XXVI | Glenmailin on the Ithan. + (88) Ad Montem Grampium | XIII | Near Knock Hill. + (89) Ad Selinam | X | On the Cullen near Deskford. + (90) Tuessis XVIIII | XVII | On the Spey near Bellie. + (91) Ptorotone | XVII | Burgh Head. + +Innumerable difficulties occur on every side in endeavouring to explain +this Iter. There is great reason to believe that the _Trimontium_ of +this Iter was Birrenswork Hill, and that the road ran from thence along +the western side of the island as it is traced in the map of Richard. +Camelon is allowed by all antiquaries to be the _Ad Vallum_: but it is +impossible to draw the line between these two points; for although +General Roy has mentioned a road from Carlisle on the eastern side of +the Eildon Hills, and another on the western beyond Cleghorn to Castle +Cary, there is little authority for the existence of either. Lynekirk +has every appearance of a station, lay within the territories of the +Gadeni, and would suit the situation assigned to _Gadanica_, but no road +has hitherto been discovered leading to or from it. If the western +trended at Biggar as much to the east, as that part which remains in the +direction of Glasgow does to the west, it would have passed Borthwich +Castle or the Gore, which Roy supposes was the _Corium_. Admitting the +identity of this station would clear up the whole of this Iter to the +Wall. There is no doubt that the sites of _Lindum_, _Victoria_, and _Ad +Hiernam_ were at Ardoch, Dealgin Ross, and Strageth. + +Notwithstanding the difficulties which occur in tracing this Iter from +Carlisle to the Wall, yet from thence to the Tay the direction of the +road, and the situation of the stations as fixed by General Roy agree so +perfectly with the Itinerary, as to leave no doubt that he has +ascertained their real position. But although he discovered a road north +of the Tay, yet, as he found no vestiges of stations, Mr. Chalmers seems +to have been more successful in fixing the posts between that river and +_Ptoroton_. + +It does not appear that the road was ever completed: however, from +_Orrea_ on the Tay, a little above Perth, he observes, that the +communication ran through the passage of the Sidlaw Hills, and along the +Carse of Gowrie to the north end of the estuary of the Tay near Dundee; +two miles west of which place, and half a mile north of Invergowrie, are +the remains of a Roman camp about two hundred yards square, fortified +with a high rampart and spacious ditch. Here he places _Ad Tavum_. +Proceeding hence north-easterly through the natural opening of the +country, and passing in the way the camp at Harefaulds, at the distance +of twenty-three miles is Brechin on the South Esk, the station _Ad +AEsicam_, exactly in the line laid down in Richard's map, and at the +distance given in the Itinerary. Continuing from the South Esk in a +north-north-easterly direction, at the distance of five miles and a +half, we reach the North Esk, the supposed _Ad Tinam_. We pass that +river at King's Ford, and proceeding up the valley of Lutherwater, at +the distance of eight miles and a half find Fordun, where there are the +remains of two Roman camps. From thence proceeding seventeen miles, to +the well known camp at Raedikes, and continuing in a northerly direction +six miles beyond, is the rectangular camp on the Dee at Peter Culter, +called Norman Dikes, the _Devana_ of the Iter. This point is exactly +thirty-one miles from Brechin on the South Esk, agrees with the +aggregate distances in the Itinerary _Ad Tinam_ VIII, and _Ad Devanam_ +XXIII, and corresponds with the track delineated on Richard's map. + +The obvious openings through this rugged country point out the way by +which the Romans must have penetrated northerly by the right of Achlea +Fiddy and Kinmundy, to Kintore on the Don. They followed the Strath to +the ford where the high road has always passed to Inverurie, and +proceeded north-north-west through the moorlands, to the sources of the +Ithan, and the camp at Glenmailin, the _Ituna_ of Richard, a distance of +twenty-six miles. From thence proceeding northward, across the Doverna +at Achengoul, where are still considerable remains of military works; +and at the distance of thirteen miles, we reach the high ground north of +Foggy lone, at the east side of Knock Hill, the _Mons Grampius_ of the +Iter. + +Hence the road runs to _Ad Selinam_, which is supposed to be on the +Cullen, near the old Tower of Deskford, at the distance of ten miles. +Following the course of the river, and the coast of the Murray Frith, +seventeen miles, we arrive at the Roman post of _Tuessis_, on the high +bank of the Spey, below the church of Bellie. Seventeen miles further is +Burgh Head, the _Ptorotone_ of Richard. + + * * * * * + + ITER X. | SITES OF THE STATIONS. + | + (91) Ab ultima Ptorotone per mediam | From Burgh Head through + insulae Isca Damnonorum usque, sic:-- | the middle of the island + | to Exeter. + | _Corrected_ | + | _Numbers._ | + (92) Varis[708] m.p. VIII | | Fores VIIII + (93) Ad Tuessim XVIII | Names and | Cromdall on Spey XX + (94) Tamea XXVIIII | Numerals from | Braemar Castle XXX + (95) --------- XXI | General Roy. | Barra Castle on Ila XXX + (96) In Medio VIIII | | Inchstuthill XII + (82) Orrea VIIII | | Bertha on Tay VIIII + (80) Victoria XVIII | | Dealgin Ross XXIIII + (52) Ad Vallum[709] XXXII | | Camelon XXXII + (74) Luguballia LXXX | | Carlisle CXVIIII + (97) Brocavonacis XXII | XXII | Brougham. + (98) Ad Alaunam ... | XXXXVII | Lancaster. + (99) Coccio ... | XXXVI | Blackrode. + (63) Mancunio XVIII | XVIII | Manchester. + (65) Condate XXIII | XXIII | Kinderton. + (100) Mediolano XVIII | XVI | Chesterton. + (15) Etoceto ... | XXXV | Wall. + --------- | | ----------- + (101) Salinis m.p. ... | XXII | Droitwich. + --------- | | ----------- + (102) Glebon Colon. m.p. | XXXIIII | Gloucester. + (103) Corino XIIII | XVIII | Cirencester. + (104) Aquas Solis m.p. ... | XXX | Bath. + (105) Ad Aquas XVIII | XX | Probably Wells. + (106) Ad Uxellam amnem m.p.| XXI | Probably Bridgewater. + (107) Isca m.p. ... | XXXXV | Exeter. + +The first part of this Iter is taken from General Roy; and as we have +none of the intermediate stations between Carlisle and the Wall, every +commentator may choose what route he pleases, although none will +coincide with the distances of the Itinerary. From Carlisle, if we place +any reliance on the numbers, the next station, _Brocavonavis_, can only +be fixed at Brougham. Thence the road to the banks of the Lune, as well +as the station on it, is uncertain; for, whether we choose Overborough +or Lancaster, we know of no road to direct us; and the only reason for +preferring the latter is the supposed site of the next station, +_Coccium_, at Blackrode, and the course of the road through Lancaster, +tending more immediately to that point, than the road through +Overborough. The two next stations, _Mancunium_ and _Condate_, as well +as the connecting line of road, are well known. From Kinderton, although +there is a Roman way pointing to Chesterton in Staffordshire, the +_Mediolanum_ of this Iter, and the site of _Etocetum_ is undoubtedly +Wall, yet we speak with hesitation of the line of communication betwixt +them; though we presume it ran through Newcastle, Stone, and Ridgeley. +From Wall, which is on the Watling Street, the Iter continues along the +Ryknield Street, through Sutton Colfield Park, to Birmingham. There +falling in with the first Salt-Way, it proceeds to Droitwich, and is +continued by the Western Road, through Worcester to Gloucester. Here, +turning nearly at a right angle, it passes by the well known Roman road +over Birdlip Hill to Cirencester; and trending to the right, proceeds by +the Foss to _Aquae Solis_ or Bath. Quitting the Foss, and still bearing +to the right, it continues along the lower road to Wells, and from +thence to _Uxella_, which was probably at Bridgewater. From the banks of +the Parret it ran in the track of the British Way, and the present +turnpike by Taunton, Wellington, and Collumpton, to Exeter. + + * * * * * + + ITER XI. | SITES OF THE STATIONS. + | + (104) Ab Aquis, per Viam Juliam, | From Bath by the Julian + Menapiam usque, sic:-- | Way to St. David's. + |_Corrected_| + |_Numbers._ | + (108) Ad Abonam m.p. VI | VI}| Bitton + (109) Ad Sabrinam VI | VIIII}| + Unde Trajectu[710] intras | | Sea Mills. + in Britanniam Secundam | | + (110) Et Stationem | | + Trajectum[711] III | III | Severn Side. + (111) Venta Silurum[712] VIII | VIIII | Caerwent. + (112) Isca Colonia VIIII | VIIII | Caerleon. + Unde fuit Aaron Martyr. | | + (113) Tibia Amne[713] VIII | XV | Banks of the Tanf, + | | possibly Caireu or + | | Caerdiff. + (114) Bovio XX | XX | In Evenny Park. + (115) Nido XV | XX | Near Neath. + (116) Leucaro XV | X | Perhaps Lwghor. + (Muridunum omit. XX) | XX | Caermarthen. + (117) Ad Vigesimum XX | XX | Castel Flemish.[714] + (118) Ad Menapiam XVIIII | XVIII | Near St. David's. + Ab hac urbe per m.p. | | + XXX | | + Navigas in Hyberniam. | | + +As the course of the Roman road connecting the stations of this Iter is +still discernible, we do not hesitate in correcting the imperfections of +Richard by the corresponding Iter of Antonine. At Bitton, six miles from +Bath, we find marks of a post attended with _tumuli_, which whether +called _Abone_ or _Trajectus_[715] is of little importance, because, +like the next, Sea Mills, it will suit either appellation, from its +position on the Avon, and commanding a passage over that river. From +Bitton the Roman way ran nearly in the direction of the present +turnpike, north of the river as far as St. George's church; thence it +proceeded straight near St. Paul's; ascended the Downs behind Mr. +Daubeney's house to the direction-post, from whence it crossed Durdham +Down, and skirted Mrs. Jackson's park wall to Sea Mills, a great +maritime post at the confluence of the Trim and the Avon. It continued +by Lord De Clifford's house straight to the Severn, crossed that river, +and passed by Caldecot Castle through Caerwent and Caerleon to the bank +of the Taaf and Evenny Park, which last place Roman remains lead us to +conjecture was the site of _Bovium_. At Neath we have also little +hesitation in fixing the site of _Nidus_, because a road from the _Gaer_ +near _Brecon_ evidently leads to the same spot. + +The remainder of this Iter is obscure. _Leucaro_ has been fixed at +Lwghor, principally from the resemblance of the name. From thence the +road may have run to Caermarthen (_Maridunum_), which appears to have +been omitted; and was probably continued as straight as the country +would permit to Castel Flemish and St. David's, where we would place the +stations _Vigesimum_ and _Menapia_.[716] + + * * * * * + + ITER XII. | SITES OF THE STATIONS. + (104) Ab Aquis Londinium usque, | + sic:-- | + |_Corrected_| + |_Numbers._ | + (119) Verlucione m.p. XV | XV | Highfield, near Sandy Lane. + (120) Cunetione XX | XV | Folly farm, E. of Marlborough. + (121) Spinis XV | XX | Spene. + (122) Calleva Atrebatum | | + XV | | Silchester. + (123) Bibracte XX}| XXXXIIII | London. + (5) Londinio XX}| | + +As the traces of a Roman road from Bath towards Marlborough are still +visible, we have only to examine in what points of its course remains +have been found sufficient to justify us in determining the sites of the +different stations. Accordingly, at fifteen miles from Bath we have +Highfield, in Sandy Lane, near Heddington; and at fifteen more Folly +Farm, near Marlborough. From hence twenty miles bring us to Spene; and +although at this place few remains have been discovered, yet the +direction of another Roman road, from Cirencester to the same point, +sufficiently proves the existence of a station. Of the site of _Calleva_ +at Silchester[717] there can be little doubt; although the course of +the road from Spene is uncertain. The road from Silchester, still known +by the name of the Devil's Causeway, as it runs over Bagshot Heath, as +well as evident traces of it between Staines and London, still exist; +but the intermediate station of _Bibracte_ is doubtful. If the numbers +in this Iter be correct, we cannot deviate from the straight line, and +this post must be placed near the hill at Egham, or the head of the +Virginia Water. + + * * * * * + + ITER XIII. | SITES OF THE STATIONS. + | + (112) Ab Isca Uriconium usque, sic:-- | From Caerleon to Wroxeter. + |_Corrected_| + |_Numbers._ | + (124) Bultro m.p. VIII | VIII | Usk. + (125) Gobannio XII | XII | Abergavenny. + (126) Magna XXIII | XXIII | Kentchester. + (127) Branogeni XXIII | XXIII | Lentwardine. + (18) Urioconio XXVII | XXVII | Wroxeter. + +The beginning of this Iter cannot be traced, notwithstanding two out of +the three stations are well known; and we have little doubt that +_Baltrum_ or _Burrium_ was at Usk (though no Roman remains have been +found there), because the distance given from Caerleon to _Gobannium_ or +Abergavenny will not admit of any deviation from the straight line. From +Abergavenny, after passing the Munnow, the Roman road still exists, +particularly near Madley, pointing to Kentchester, and from thence may +be traced by the next post of Lentwardine on the Teme, to Wroxeter. + + * * * * * + + ITER XIV. | SITES OF THE STATIONS. + | + (112) Ab Isca, per Glebon, Lindum, usque,| From Caerleon, by + sic:-- | Gloucester, to Lincoln. + | _Corrected_| + | _Numbers._ | + (124) Ballio[718] m.p. VIII | | Usk. + (128) Blestio XII | XIII | Monmouth. + (129) Sariconio XI | XII | Rose or Berry Hill in + | | Weston. + (102) Glebon Colonia XV | XV | Gloucester. + (130) Ad Antonam XV | XX | On the Avon. + (131) Alauna XV | XV | Alcester on the Aln. + (121) ------ ... | XVIIII | Camp at Chesterton on the + | | Foss, near Harwood's + | | house. + (13) Vennonis XII | XXI | High Cross. + (133) Ratiscorion XII | XII | Leicester. + (134) Venromento XII | XII | Willoughby. + (135) Margiduno XII | XII | East Bridgeford. + (136) Ad Pontem XII | VII | Near Thorpe turnpike. + (137) Crococolana | VII | Brough. + (39) Lindum XII | XII | Lincoln. + +This Iter ran, like the former, from Caerleon to Usk, where bending to +the right it traversed the country to Monmouth. From hence, although we +cannot trace the exact line of the road, yet we have no doubt that it +crossed the Wye to the next station at Berry Hill, in Weston, under +Penyard; and continued nearly in a direct line to Gloucester. As the +author has only left the name of a river for the next station, it must +be placed in such a situation on the Avon as to admit the distance of +fifteen miles from the next station of Alcester, which was the site of +_Alauna_. This would carry it to the westward of Evesham. From Alcester, +likewise, till we reach the Foss, we have neither a road nor distance, +nor even the name of a station. For this reason we deem ourselves +justified in considering the undoubted Roman camp at Chesterton on the +Foss, as the post omitted by our author, and from thence we proceed on +that known military way to the certain stations of High Cross, +Leicester, Willoughby, Bridgeford, Brough, and Lincoln. + + * * * * * + + ITER XV. | SITES OF THE STATIONS. + | + (5) A Londinio, per Clausentum, in | From London through Bittern, + Londinium usque, sic:-- | again to London. + |_Corrected_| + |_Numbers._ | + (122) Caleba m.p. XLIIII | XLIIII | Silchester. + (138) Vindomi XV | XV | Near St. Mary Bourne. + (139) Venta Belgarum XXI | XXI | Winchester. + (140) Ad Lapidem VI | VI | Stoneham. + (141) Clausento IIII | IIII | Bittern, near Southampton. + (142) Portu Magno X | XV | Portchester. + (143) Regno X | XV | Chichester. + (144) Ad Decimum X | X | On the Arun. + (145) Anderida Portu ... | [719]XLV | Pevensey. + (146) Ad Lemanum XXV | XXV | On the Rother. + (147) Lemaniano Portu X | XX | Lymne. + (148) Dubris X | X | Dover. + (1) Rhutupis Colonia X | XV | Richborough. + (149) Regulbio X | VIIII | Reculver. + (2) Contiopoli X | X | Canterbury. + (3) Durelevo XVIII | XII | Stone Chaple in Ospringe. + (150) Mado XII | XVIII | On the bank of the Medway. + (151) Vagnaca XVIII | VIIII | Barkfields in Southfleet. + (152) Novio Mago XVIII | XV | Holwood Hill. + (5) Londinio XV | XV | London. + +This Iter leads from London to the south-west part of Hampshire, and +from thence, skirting the Sussex and Kentish coasts, back to the +capital. + +At the first step the author gives forty-four miles as the distance +between London and Silchester, instead of forty, as in the twelfth Iter; +hence we may deviate a little in settling the site of _Bibracte_ or _Ad +Pontes_. Of the next station we can merely offer a conjecture. As the +country of the Atrebates and their capital, _Calleva_ or Silchester, is +by our author described as lying near the Thames, in distinction from +that of the Segontiaci,[720] whose capital, _Vindomis_, was further +distant from that river, and nearer the Kennet, one point only appears +to suit the distances, which bears the proper relation to the +neighbouring stations, and at the same time falls at the intersection of +two known Roman roads. This is in the neighbourhood of St. Mary Bourne, +and affords reason for considering Egbury Camp, or some spot near it, as +the capital of the Segontiaci. For by following the Roman road called +the Portway from Silchester, at the distance of fifteen miles is the +rivulet near St. Mary Bourne, and not far from it, the point where the +Portway is intersected by the Roman road from Winchester to Cirencester; +and proceeding along this last we have another distance of twenty-one +miles to Winchester. The road from Winchester by Otterbourne to +Stoneham, and thence by the Green Lane to Bittern, is well known, and +the distance sufficiently exact. But from thence, although traces of the +road are occasionally discoverable on Ridgway, and to the north of +Bursledon Hill, pointing towards Fareham and Portchester, yet the latter +part is almost totally unknown or lost. From Portchester it ran in the +track of the present turnpike to Chichester; and over the Arun not far +from Arundel; and then along the coast to Pevensey, the banks of the +Rother, Lymne, Dover, Richborough, Reculver, and Canterbury. There +falling into the track of the first Iter, it went along the Watling +Street to the bank of the Medway, and passing that river, proceeded by +Barkfields in Southfleet, a station omitted before, across the country +with the ancient Watling Street, (by a road now unknown[721]), to +Holwood Hill, the capital of the Regni, and from thence to London. + + * * * * * + + ITER XVI. | SITES OF THE STATIONS. + | + (5) A Londinio Ceniam usque, sic:-- | From London to the Fal. + |_Corrected_| + |_Numbers._ | + (139) Venta Belgarum | | + m.p. XC | LXXX | Winchester. + (153) Brige XI | XI | Near Broughton. + (154) Sorbioduno VIII | VIIII | Old Sarum. + (155) Ventageladia XII | XV | Gussage Cow Down. + ----------- | | + (156) Durnovaria VIIII | XXX | Dorchester. + (157) Moriduno XXXIII | XXX | Seaton. + ----------- | | + (107) Isca Damnon XV | XXVIII | Exeter. + ----------- | | + (158) Durio Amno ... | XXIII | On the Dart. + (159) Tamara ... | XXVI | On the Tamar. + ----------- | | + (160) Voluba ... | XXVIII | On the Fowey. + ----------- | | + (161) Ceni ... | XX | On the Fal. + +The exact route from London to Winchester not being defined, we may +suppose that it ran, as before, through Silchester, and from thence by +St. Mary Bourne, as in the 15th Iter. From Winchester, as the road still +exists leading to Old Sarum, the distance of eleven miles will probably +give the site of _Brige_, although the station itself is not known; and +the nine following will lead us to Old Sarum. Pursuing the course of the +road, which may be still traced quite to Dorchester, remains found on +Gussage Cow Down point out the site of _Ventageladia_; and the +disagreement between the Itinerary and real distance from thence to +Dorchester justifies us in supposing that some intermediate post has +been omitted. The site of _Moridunum_ is doubtful; some thinking it to +be Eggerdon, or the Hill of the Morini, with which the distance of nine +miles would not disagree; while others, with more reason, prefer Seaton, +the great port of the West, because the Foss leads from Ilchester +directly to it. Intermediate stations have evidently been lost between +this place and Exeter, as has also been the case between that place and +the Dart, the Tamar, the Fowey and the Fal. From Honiton the road is +visible pointing to Exeter, as well as from Exeter to Totness, and +according to the ingenious Borlase, even to Lostwithiel. + + * * * * * + + ITER XVII. | SITES OF THE STATIONS. + | + Ab Anderida [Eboracum] usque, sic:-- | From East bourne to York. + |_Corrected_| + |_Numbers._ | + (162) Sylva Anderida | | + m.p. ... | | East Bourne. + (152) Novio Mago | XXXX | Holwood Hill. + (5) Londinio XV | XV | London. + (163) Ad Fines[722] | XXVIII | Brougham. + (36) Durolisponte[723] | XXX | Godmanchester. + (37) Durnomago XXX | XX | Castor, on the left bank + | | of the Nen. + (38) Corisennis XXX | XXV | Ancaster. + (39) Lindo XXX | XXI | Lincoln. + (164) In Medio XV | XV | + (165) Ad Abum XV | XV | Winterton. + Unde transis in Maximam | | + (166) Ad Petuariam VI | VI | Brough. + (43) Deinde Eboraco, ut | | + supra (It. 5) | | + m.p. XLVI | XXX | York. + +This Iter ran in the track of the British Ermyn Street, from Pevensey +and East Bourne, which were perhaps the _Anderida Portus_ and _Anderida_ +of the 15th Iter, along the ridge of hills to Holwood Hill (already +mentioned as the capital of the Rhemi), and from thence to London, but +its traces are now so obscure as to be almost forgotten. Some think that +from London it proceeded along the British Street, by the Green Lanes, +Cheshunt, and to the west of Broxbourne to Ware; while others suppose +that this Roman road went much straighter, and nearly in the course of +the present turnpike through Ware to Broughing, a post at the confluence +of the Rib and the Quin, where was probably the station _Ad Fines_, the +boundary between the countries of the Iceni, the Cassii, and the +Trinobantes. From hence the Roman road is so perfect by Caxton quite to +Lincoln, that we fix the station of _Durnomagus_ at the great camp near +Castor, and the three others at Godmanchester, Ancaster, and Lincoln. +From Lincoln the Roman road proceeds directly to the banks of the +Humber, having, at the distance assigned in the Iter, the _Mansio in +Medio_, and the post at Winterton; from whence six miles carry us across +the river to Brough, or _Petuaria_, a post often confounded with the +_Praetorium_ of the 6th Iter. As there is a Roman road still existing +from Brough towards Weighton, and then over Barmby Moor to York, there +can be little doubt in considering it as the course of this Iter. +Should, however, the forty-six miles given in the Itinerary (which +appears to have been an error arising from the mistake of the +transcriber in confounding _Petuaria_ and _Praetorium_) be considered as +correct, the course of the Iter may be supposed to have run from Brough +by Londesborough and Millington, to the great road from Flamborough, and +then to have turned with it to York, making exactly the forty-six miles +of the Itinerary. + + * * * * * + + ITER XVIII. | SITES OF THE STATIONS. + | + (43) Ab Eboraco per medium insulae | From York through the middle + Clausentum usque, sic:-- | of the island to Bittern. + |_Corrected_| + |_numbers._ | + (42) Legiolio m.p. XXI | XXI | Castleford. + (167) Ad Fines XVIII | XXIII | Temple Brough, on the bank + | | of the Don. + (168) ..... XVI | XVI | Tapton Hill near Chesterfield. + (169) ..... XVI | XII | Camp near Penkridge. + (170) Derventione[724] XVI | XII | Little Chester. + (171) Ad Trivonam XII | XII | Berry Farm, in Branston. + (15) Etoceto[725] XII | XII | Wall. + (14) Manduessuedo XVI | XVI | Manceter. + (13) Benonnis XII | XII | High Cross. + (12) Tripontio XI | XI | Near Dove Bridge. + (11) Isannavaria XII | X | Burnt Walls. + (172) Brinavis XII | XII | Black Ground, near Chipping + | | Norton. + (173) AElia Castra XVI | XVI | Alcester, near Bicester. + (174) Dorocina XV | XVI | Dorchester. + (175) Tamesi VI | VI | On the Thames. + Vindomi } | | + (122) _Calleva_ } XV | XX | Silchester. + (141) Clausento XXXXVI | XXXXV | Bittern, near Southampton. + +This Iter proceeds from York in the same direction as the fourth to +Castleford, where, bearing to the right to join the Ryknield Street, it +continues with it through the several stations of Temple Brough on the +Don, Chesterfield, Penkridge, Little Chester, and Branston, to Wall. +Here diverging to the left with the Watling Street, it passed through +Manceter, High Cross, and Dove Bridge, to Burnt Walls. It there quitted +the known road, and bore across the country, by an unknown route, to +Alcester, on the Akeman street; but the considerable remains found at +Black Ground, near Chippington Norton, would lead us to place the +station of _Brinavis_ there, if the Roman road did not make any material +deviation between Burnt Walls and Alcester. + +From Alcester the road runs plainly over Ottmoor, and indeed almost all +the way to Dorchester. But from thence as we can discover no traces of a +road, and as our next post appears to have been only six miles distant +and on the Thames, if any reliance can be placed on the number, it may +be the point where the Roman road from Wantage apparently passes that +river opposite Mongewell. The next distance of fifteen miles, being +insufficient to lead us by any road to _Vindomis_, if it were placed +either at Silchester or near St. Mary Bourne, it is more than probable +that there is some error in the name of the station; and as the +following number of forty-six miles agrees with the distance in the 15th +Iter of the road from Silchester passing near Egbury to Bittern, we +cannot help supposing that the name of _Vindomis_ has been inserted by +mistake for that of _Calleva_. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 685: On this subject it may not be improper to observe, that +the name of Castor, Cester, or Chester, generally points out a Roman +station; and Sarn, Street, Stane and Stone, (Strat, and Stan, when +compounded) as generally show the course of a British or Roman way.] + +[Footnote 686: For example these marks [Illustration], being the +mutilated parts of numerals, might have been easily transformed by the +copyist into IIIII. XIII. VIII. XVI. XIX. or XXI. and single numerals +might have been omitted, as XX. and XXIII. for XIX. and XXXIII.] + +[Footnote 687: Near Leicester.] + +[Footnote 688: Hist. de l'Academie, t. 88, p. 661.] + +[Footnote 689: Burnt Walls was the Roman post of _Isannavaria_; Borough +Hill, on the hill above it, was the great British fortification, +_Bennavenna_.] + +[Footnote 690: Icianis XXVIII. _Stukeley_.] + +[Footnote 691: Durolisponte, Iter 17.] + +[Footnote 692: Iter 17, XXX.] + +[Footnote 693: Corisennis XXX. Iter 17.] + +[Footnote 694: Iter 17, XXX.] + +[Footnote 695: Legiolio, Iter 18.] + +[Footnote 696: Iter 5 and 8, Eburaco.] + +[Footnote 697: Cataractone XI.] + +[Footnote 698: Probably Corium, _Stukeley_.] + +[Footnote 699: Vinovio, Iter 4.] + +[Footnote 700: XXXVIII.] + +[Footnote 701: This _Praeturium_ and the _Praetonum_ of Antonine must be +carefully distinguished from the _Petuaria_, mentioned by our author in +the 17th Iter, for _Petuaria_ was certainly at Brough on the Humber.] + +[Footnote 702: Iter 10, Mancunio--Condate XXIII.] + +[Footnote 703: _Stukeley_, XVIIII] + +[Footnote 704: Lataris, XVII. _Stuk._] + +[Footnote 705: XVI. _Stuk._] + +[Footnote 706: XX. _Stuk._] + +[Footnote 707: Iter 10 inverted, Brocavonacis--Luguvallia, XXII.] + +[Footnote 708: VIIII. _Stukeley._] + +[Footnote 709: XXX Iter 9.] + +[Footnote 710: Statio Trajectus. _Comm._] + +[Footnote 711: Ad Sabrinam. _Comm._] + +[Footnote 712: VIIII. _Stukeley._] + +[Footnote 713: Tibia VII. _Stukeley._] + +[Footnote 714: This station was discovered by Mr. Fenton during his +researches for his History of Pembrokeshire. It lies in the parish of +Ambleston.] + +[Footnote 715: We prefer the name of _Abone_ for Sea Mills, because it +bears that name in old deeds; on the other hand, there appears to be no +instance in which the name of _Trajectus_ is applied to a town unless at +the passage of a river.] + +[Footnote 716: The bishops of St. David's being called in Latin +_Menapienses_ by the earliest of our ecclesiatical writers, is an +argument that the station is near the present town. The site of the +station itself was probably at a short distance from the modern city, at +a place called the Burrows, and just above a fine harbour called the +Porth Mawr.] + +[Footnote 717: Few of the Roman stations have been fixed at so many +different pieces as that of _Calleva Atrebatum_. It has been placed at +Silchester, Henley, Wallingford, and Reading, by different antiquaries; +yet in no doubtful case do more testimonies concur to ascertain the +site. It was evidently a station of importance, because it appears as a +central point, to which the roads traversed by three different Iters of +Antonine (the 13th, 14th, and 15th,) converge. It was the capital of the +Atrebates; situated at known distances from London, Winchester, Bath, +Spene, and Caerleon; and at a doubtful one, though easily supplied, from +Cirencester and Old Sarum. These circumstances cannot by any expedient +be brought to coincide, either with Henley, Wallingford, or Reading; but +all agree in regard to Silchester. Its distance nearly accords with the +Itinerary distance of _Calleva_ from London, Bath, Spene, Winchester, +and Caerleon, and, if a station (which is evidently lost) in the Iter of +Antonine be supplied, with that from Cirencester. The present remains +are those of a great Roman town; it is situated in the district formerly +inhabited by the Atrebates; and in every direction traces of Roman roads +converging to this point still plainly exist, from London, Spene, +Winchester, Old Sarum, Bath, and Cirencester.] + +[Footnote 718: Bultro, Iter 13] + +[Footnote 719: _Stukeley_, X.] + +[Footnote 720: Richard, b. 1, c. 6, sect. 28, describing the several +nations whose territories were watered by the Thames in its course to +the German Ocean, places the Atrebates between the Hedui and the Cassii, +without even mentioning the Segontiaci, a proof that their territories +did not approach the river.] + +[Footnote 721: In Hasted's History of Kent is a passage which +countenances the idea of an ancient road having traversed the country in +this line.] + +[Footnote 722: _Stuk._ XXX.] + +[Footnote 723: It. 3. Duraliponte--Durnomago XX.--Issinis XX.--Lindo XX.] + +[Footnote 724: XVI.] + +[Footnote 725: It. 2, inv. Etoceto.--Manduessuedo XIII.--Benonais +XII.--Tripontio Isantia Varia XII.] + + + + +APPENDIX.--No. II. + +HANES TALIESIN, OR THE HISTORY OF TALIESIN + + The primary domestic bard + Am I to Elphin, + And my original country + Is the region of Cherubims. + Joannes the divine + Called me Merddin, + At length every king + Will call me Taliesin. + I was full nine months + In the womb of mother Cyridwen;[726] + I was little Gwion heretofore, + Taliesin am I now. + I was with my Lord + In the superior state, + When Lucifer did fall + To the infernal deep. + I have borne a banner + Before Alexander: + I know the names of the stars + From the north to Auster. + I have been in the circle of Gwdion + Tetragammaton;[727] + I conducted Hean[728] + To the depth of Ebron vale, + I was in Canaan + When Absalom was slain, + I was in the Court of Don[729] + Before Gwdion was born, + I was an attendant + On Eli and Enoc; + I was on the cross-devoting sentence + Of the Son of the merciful God. + I have been chief keeper + Of the work of Nimrod's tower; + I have been three revolutions + In the circle of Arianrod.[730] + I was in the Ark + With Noah and Alpha; + I beheld the destruction + Of Sodoma and Gomorra; + I was in Africa + Before Rome was built: + I am come here + To the remnants of Troia. + I was with my Lord + In the manger of the she-ass; + I strengthened Moses + Through the Jordan water. + I have been in the firmament + With Mary Magdalen; + I have been gifted with genius + From the Cauldron of Cyridwen. + I have been bard of the harp + To the Teon of Lochlyn;[731] + I have endured hunger + For the son of the Virgin. + I have been in the White Hill[732] + In the court of Cynvelyn, + In stocks and fetters, + For a year and a day. + I have had my abode + In the kingdom of the Trinity; + It is not known what is my body, + Whether flesh or fish. + I have been an instructor + To the whole universe; + I shall remain till the day of doom + On the face of the earth, + I have been in an agitated seat + Above the circle of Sidin,[733] + And that continues revolving + Between three elements: + Is it not a wonder to the world, + That it reflects not a splendour? + +[_From Meyrick's History of Cardiganshire_, p. 65, 2 vols. London, 1806.] + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 726: Venus.] + +[Footnote 727: The Galaxy.] + +[Footnote 728: The Divine Spirit.] + +[Footnote 729: Or Llys Don, i.e. Cassiopeia.] + +[Footnote 730: The Northern Crown.] + +[Footnote 731: Denmark.] + +[Footnote 732: Tower of London.] + +[Footnote 733: Perhaps Caer Sidin, or the Zodiac.] + + + + +GENERAL INDEX. + + + Aaron, a British martyr, 161, 242, 303, 466. + + AElla, king of the South Saxons, 1. + + AElla, usurper of Northumbria, 52. + + AEneas, the Trojan, marries Lavinia, 91, 387. + + AEsc, king of Kent, 7. + + AEtius, a Roman general, 307, 450. + + Aganippus, king of the Franks, 116. + + Agricola, Roman governor, 443, 448, 450, 466, 470. + + Aidan, king of the Scots, 285. + + Alan, king of Armorica, 290. + + Alban, St. his martyrdom, 161, 303, 445, 466. + + Albanact, a son of Brutus, killed, 109. + + Aldhelm, bishop, 14. + + Aldroen, king of Armorica, 177. + + ALFRED, ASSER'S LIFE OF, 43-48, some further notices of, 1, 2, 27-37, + 132; + his children, 2, 68. + + Alfrid, king of Northumbria, 14, 286. + + Alifantinam, king of Spain, slain, 264. + + Alla [Ella], king of Northumbria, 8. + + Allectus, emperor in Britain, 159, 160. + + Alleluiatic victory, 406. + + Allobroges, in Switzerland, 126. + + Amalgaid, king of Connaught, 410. + + Amatheus consecrates St. Patrick, 410. + + Ambrius, founder of a monastery, 190. + + Ambrosius [Emrys Wledig], 182, 207-219, 396, 403, 407, 416. + + Amphibalus, St. 161. + + Anacletus taken prisoner by Brutus, 94-96. + + Andragius, a king of Britain, 136. + + Androgeus, duke of Trinovantum, 137. + + Anglia, East, genealogy of the kings, 412. + + Antenor, Trojan, 102. + + Antigonus taken prisoner by Brutus, 94. + + Antoninus's wall, 450. + + Anwiund, a Danish king, 30, 58. + + Archflamens made archbishops, 155. + + Arianism spreads in Britain, 304. + + Arthgallo deposed, 134, 135. + + Arthmail, a king of Britain, 136. + + Arthur, king, not noticed by Gildas or Bede, 89; + his exploits, 225-271, 408; + coronation, 243-245; + death, 271. + + Arviragus, a king of Britain, 149-153. + + Ascanius, son of AEneas, 91, 387, 388. + + Ascnillius, king of Dacia, slain, 271. + + Asclepiodotus frees Britain from the Romans, 160-162, 466. + + Assa (Cissa), king of the South Saxons, 7. + + Assaracus joins Brutus against the Grecians, 82. + + Assaracus, king of Germany, 113 + + Asser, archbishop of St. David's, Life of Alfred, vi, 43-86; + visits king Alfred, 70. + + Athelred, archbishop of Canterbury, 34. + + Athelstan, king of Kent, &c. 22, 23, 45. + + Athelstan, king of Mercia, 39, 40. + + Angusil, king of Albania, 238, 249, 269. + + Augustine, archbishop of Canterbury, 9-11, 275, 438, 444. + + Aulus Plautius visits Britain, 469. + + Aurelius Antoninus' victories in Britain, 466. + + Auxilius, a bishop of Ireland, 410. + + + Bagsac, a Danish king, slain, 56. + + Baldulph, a Saxon chief, 230-234. + + Bards, the British poets, 434. + + Bassianus kills his brother Geta, 157-159, 449, 466. + + Battles between the Romans and the Britons at the invasion, 138-153; + on the Grampian hills, 451. + + Battles between the Britons and Saxons at Anderida, 7; + Badon-hill, 313, 409; + the river Bassas, 498; + Beandune, 12; + Bedanford, 8; + Berin-byrig, 8; + Breguoin, 409; + Cat Coit Celidon, 408; + Cerdic's-ore, 7; + Cirencester, 12; + the river Darent, 404; + Deorhamme, 9; + the river Duglas, 230, 270, 408; + Fethanleage, 9; + the river Gleni, 408; + Gurnion castle, 408; + Hengeston, 22; + Mearcraedsburn, 7; + Scarburh, 8; + Stone, 404; + Trat Treuroit, 409; + Verulam, 228. + + Battles between the English and the Danes + at Ac-lea, 45; + AEscendune, 27, 54; + Basing, 27, 56; + Brumby, 39; + Cambridge, 38; + Canterbury, 44; + Charmouth, 21, 22; + Devonshire, 30, 44, 61; + East Anglia, 22, 26, 33, 50; + Edington, 62; + Ethandune, 31; + Exeter, 59; + Hampshire, 25, 50; + Holme, 38; + Kent, 22, 25, 45, 50, 61; + Mercia, 26; + Merton, 27; + Nottingham, 53; + Port, 22; + Reading, 29, 54; + Southampton, 22; + the Stour, 65; + Surrey, 23, 44; + Swanwich, 59; + Wareham, 58; + Wessex, 26; + Wilton, 56; + York, 52. + + Beaduherd, reve of the shire, 19. + + Bede noticed, 15, 89. + + Bedver, governor of Neustria, 241, 244, 252-264. + + Belinus, king of Britain, 122-135, 392. + + Belinus, general of Cassibelaun's army, 130. + + Benlli, king of Powys, 397. + + Bernhelm, abbat, 34. + + Bernicia, genealogy of the kings, 412. + + Bernulf, king of Mercia, 21. + + Berthwulf, king of Mercia, 23, 44. + + Bertric, king of Wessex, 18, 19, 48. + + Birinus, bishop, 12 + + Bladud, king of Britain, 114. + + Blederic, killed by Ethelfrid, 276. + + Bleduno, a king of Britain, 136. + + Blegabred, a king of Britain, 136. + + Boadicea, or Bonduica, queen of the Iceni, 301, 445, 447, 465, 469. + + Boccus, king of the Medes, 263. + + Borellus, consul of the Cenomanni, 259. + + Boso's gallantry against the Romans, 255. + + Brennius quarrels with Belinus, 122-130. + + Brian, nephew to Cadwalla, 278-284. + + Bridget, an Irish saint, 390, 460. + + Britael, king of Demetia, 139. + + Britain, described, 3, 90, 106, 133, 244, 289, 299, 386, 419-422, 435; + its original inhabitants, 90, 386, 422-428, 464; + invaded by Julius Caesar, 3, 301, 445, 468; + Christianity introduced into, 302, 466; + divided into provinces, 436; + boundary of the Roman empire in Britain, 453; + finally quitted by the Romans, 2, 305, 396, 467, 468; + occupied by Saxons, 3; + invaded by the Danes, 19-39, 50-66. + + British cities, ancient. 90, 155. + + Brocmail defeated by Ethelfrid, 276. + + Brutus, xiv; + his history, 91-109, 386-388, 391. + + Brutus, surnamed Greenshield, 113. + + Bryto supposed to have built London, 464. + + Budes, king of Armorica, 182. + + Buile settles in Eubonia, 389. + + Burhred, king of Mercia, 23, 26, 45, 53, 57. + + + Cador, duke of Cornwall, 231, 235, 246. + + Cadwan, makes a treaty with Ethelfrid, 277. + + Cadwalla, a British king, 277-288, 415. + + Cadwallader, a British king, 199, 288-290, 415. + + Caedwalla, king of Wessex, 14. + + Caesar, Julius, invasion, 138-150, 392, 393, 465, 468. + + Caius, governor of Andegavia, 241-244. + + Caliburn, the sword of Arthur, 234, 241. + + Cap, one of the kings of Britain, 136. + + Capoir, one of the kings of Britain, 136. + + Caracalla. See _Bassianus_ + + Caractacus (Caradog), 442, 443, 465. + + Caradoc, duke of Cornwall, 165-168. + + Carausius, governor of Britain, 158-160, 394, 437, 466. + + Careticus (_Ceredig_), a British king, 273. + + Cartismandua, queen of Brigantia, 443. + + Cassibellaun (Caswallon) 136-148, 445, 465, 468. + + Catellus, a British king, 136. + + Catel Drunluc, or Cadell Deyrnllug, prince of Powys, 399. + + Catigern, son of Vortigern, 188. + + Ceawlin, king of Wessex, 8, 9. + + Celestine, pope, 409, 410. + + Cenric, king of the West Saxons, 7, 8, 44. + + Ceolnoth, abp. of Canterbury, 26, 54. + + Ceolred, king of Mercia, 14. + + Ceolwulf, king of Wessex, 11. + + Ceolwulf, king of Northumbria, 15. + + Ceolwulf, king of Mercia, 20, 30. + + Cerdic, king of Wessex, 7, 8, 44. + + Cerealis, Roman governor of Britain, 448, 466, 470. + + Cheldric arrives from Germany, 231, 235; + assists Modred against Arthur, 268, 271. + + Chelianus, appointed archbishop of Dole, 245. + + Cherdich, a Saxon chief, 187. + + Cherin, an ancient British king, 136. + + Cheulphus repulsed by Brennius, 123. + + Chrism-loosing, what, 63 + + Claudius invades Britain, 149-152, 393, 445, 448, 465, 468. + + Cledaucus, an ancient British king, 136. + + Cletonus, an ancient British king, 136. + + Cligueillus, a king of Britain, 136. + + Clodius Albinus, Roman governor of Britain, 471. + + Cloten, king of Cornwall, 121. + + Coel rebels against Asclepiodotus, 162. + + Cogibundus, a British regulus, 465, 469. + + Coillus, a British king, 136. + + Coillus, a British king, 154. + + Colgrin, a Saxon chief, 230-234. + + Columba, St. 8, 460. + + Comet appeared, 13, 15, 35, 220. + + Conan kills Constantine, 199, 272. + + Conan Meriadoc, 166-171. + + Conanus (Aurelius), 316. + + Constans, a monk, king of Britain, 179-182, 208. + + Constantine the Great, 163, 248, 394, 437, 467. + + Constantine the Armorican, made king, 178, 208. + + Constantine, Arthur's successor, 271, 272, 314. + + Constantius, governor of Britain, 162, 394, 395, 466. + + Councils, ecclesiastical, at Heathfield, 13; + Cloveshoo, 20; + Constantinople, 395; + Caer Guorthegirn, 401. + + Conwenna's speech to Brennius, 127. + + Cordeilla, daughter of Leir, 114-119. + + Corineus, duke of Cornwall, 102-110 + + Cridious, king of Albania, 139. + + Crocea mors, the name of Caesar's sword, 141. + + Cuichelm, king of Wessex, 12. + + Cunedagius kills his brother, 119. + + Cuneglasse, a British prince, 317. + + Cutha, 8. + + Cuthbert, bishop of Lindisfarne, 415. + + Cuthred, king, 12. + + Cuthred, king of Wessex, 15. + + Cuthred, king of Kent, 20. + + Cynegils, king of Wessex, 12. + + Cynewulf, king of Wessex, 16-18. + + + Dabutius reproaches Merlin, 192. + + Danes arrive in England, 19-36, 50-66. + + Danius, an ancient British king, 132. + + David. St. archbp. of Menevia, 245, 271. + + Diana's answer to Brutus, 100. + + Dianotus, king of Cornwall, 171. + + Dinooth, abbat of Bangor, 275, 276. + + Diocletian persecution, 161, 302, 466. + + Divitiacus subdues part of Britain, 464. + + Diwanius, bishop of Winchester, 246. + + Doldavius, king of Gothland, 238. + + Dolobellus, a British proconsul, 392. + + Dress of the ancient Britons, 427. + + Druidism, 429-434. + + Dubricius, abp. of Caerleon, 217, 230, 233, 242-245. + + Dunwallo Molmutius (_Dynval Moelmud_) 121. + + Duvanus, bishop, sent from Rome, 155. + + + Eadbert, king of Northumbria, 15. + + Eadburga, Bertric's queen, account of, 47, 48. + + Eadfered Flesaurs, king of Northumbria, 412, 414. + + Eagle, said to have spoken, 114. + + Ealstan, bishop, 21, 22, 26, 46, 53. + + Ebissa, or Eosa, the Saxon chief, 187, 212, 223, 227, 228, 400. + + Ebraucus, king of Britain, 112, 113. + + Eclipses, 8, 13, 15, 21, 32, 63. + + Ecwils, a Danish king, killed, 39. + + Edgar, king, 40. + + Edmund, (St.) king of East Anglia, 26, 46, 50, 54. + + Edmund, king, 40. + + Edred, king, 40. + + Edward (the elder,) king, 37-39. + + Edwin, king of Northumbria, 277, 279, 284, 414. + + Edwy, king, 40. + + Egbert, king of Wessex, 20-22. + + Egbert, bishop, 15. + + Egfert, king of Mercia, 19. + + Egfrid, king of Northumbria, 13, 415. + + Eisc, king of Kent, 11. + + Elbotus, or Elvod, bp. of Bangor, 383, 384. + + Eldad, bishop of Gloucester, 191, 212-214. + + Eldadus, an ancient British king, 136. + + Eldol, duke of Gloucester, 191, 210-213. + + Eldol, an ancient British king, 136. + + Eledanius, bishop of Alclud, 246. + + Eleutherius, pope, 155, 393. + + Elfgiva, king Edmund's queen, 40. + + Elidure, surnamed the pious, 134, 135. + + Eliud, an ancient British king, 136. + + Elsingius, king of Norway, 123. + + Enniaunus, king of Britain, 136. + + Eohric, a Danish king, 38. + + Escwin, king of Wessex, 13. + + Estrildis, concubine of Locrin, 110, 111. + + Ethelard, king of Wessex, 15. + + Ethelbald, king of Mercia, 15, 17. + + Ethelbald, king of Wessex, 25, 45-47, 49, 50. + + Ethelbald, archbishop of York, 38. + + Ethelbert, king of Kent, 8, 10, 276. + + Ethelbert II. king of Kent, &c. 25, 50. + + Ethelfrid, king of Northumbria, 9, 276, 277. + + Ethelgiva, abbess of Shaftesbury, 68, 82. + + Ethelred, king of Mercia, 14. + + Ethelred, king of England, 1. + + Ethelred, king of Northumbria, 19. + + Ethered, [Ethered] king of Wessex. 25, 27, 50-56. + + Ethelwald rebels against Oswy, 286. + + Ethelswitha, daughter of Alfred, 2. + + Ethered, earl of Mercia, 34-39, 74. + + ETHELWERD'S CHRONICLE, 1-40; + account of the author, v, vi. + + Ethelwulf, king of Wessex, 22-25, 44-49. + + Evander, king of Syria, killed, 258. + + Evelinus, nephew of Androgeus, 143, 144. + + Eventus, king of Albania, 269. + + + Faganus sent to convert the Britons, 155. + + Famine in Britain, 53. + + Fergusius emigrates from Ireland, 467. + + Ferrex killed by his brother Porrex, 120. + + Flamens made bishops, 155. + + Flollo, a Roman tribune, 240, 241. + + Friday, so called from the goddess Frea, 184. + + Frontinus, a Roman gov. 443, 466, 470. + + Fulgenius, a British king, 136. + + Fulgenius wars against Severus, 157. + + Funeral rites of the ancient Britons, 428. + + + Gabius, a Roman consul, 130. + + Galgacus, king of the Caledonians, 466, 470. + + Gallus, Livius, besieged in London, 160, 469. + + Genuissa, daughter of Claudius, 151, 152. + + GEOFFREY OF MONMOUTH'S BRITISH HISTORY; 89-292. + Some account of the author, viii, 89. + + Gerion, the augur, 100. + + Germanus, St. bishop of Auxerre, 75, 187, 397-407. + + Geruntius, an ancient British king, 136. + + Geta, son of Severus, killed, 157, 158. + + Giant, killed by Arthur, 252. + + Giant's Dance, its removal, 215-219, 229. + + GILDAS' WORKS, 293-380; + notices of its author, vii, 89, 108, 121, 126. + + Gillomanius, king of Ireland, 216-221. + + Godbold, king of the Orkneys, killed, 285. + + Goemagot, a giant killed, 107. + + Goffarius, king of Aquitaine, 102-105. + + Gombert, king of Norway, 164. + + Gonorilla, one of Leir's daughters, 114-116. + + Gorbogudo, a British king, 120. + + Gorbonian, a British king, 133. + + Gorlois, duke of Cornwall, 222, 226. + + Gormund, king of the Africans, 273. + + Gothrun, a Danish king, 30, 34, 58, 63. + + Gratian, emp. slain by Maximus, 394-396. + + Gratian Municeps, a British king, 172, 173. + + Gregory I, pope, 10, 11. + + Grimbald, abbat of Hyde Abbey, 70, 74, 75. + + Guanhumara, wife of Arthur, 238, 268, 269. + + Guanius, king of the Huns, 172, 175. + + Guendoloena, wife of Locrin, 111. + + Guerthaeth, king of Venedotia, 139. + + Guethelin, archbp. of London, 174, 177. + + Guichthlac, king of Dacia, 123, 125. + + Guiderius, a British king, 149. + + Guillamurius, king of Ireland, 236, 238. + + Guitard defeated by Hoel, 241, 258. + + Guithelin, a British king, 132. + + Guitolinus quarrels with Ambrosius, 415. + + Gunfasius, king of the Orkneys, 238. + + Guoyrancgonus, a king of Kent, 400. + + Gurgintius, a British king, 136. + + Gurgiunt Brabtruc, king of Britain, 131. + + Gurgustius, a British king, 120. + + Guthfrid, king of Northumbria, 37. + + + Hadrian's wall, 466, 471. + + Halfdene, a Danish chieftain, 30, 31, 39, 58, 61, 62. + + Hamo, Leuis, a Roman general, 149. + + Hasten, invades England, 35, 36. + + Heahmund, bishop, 27. + + Helena, mother of Constantine, 162, 444-446, 467. + + Helena, niece of Hoel, 252. + + Heli, king of Britain, 136. + + Hengist and Horsa, 4-7, 183-191, 209-212, 396-400, 405, 406. + + Henry I. king of England, 90. + + Henuinus, duke of Cornwall, 116. + + Hider, a British general, 256. + + Hilda, abbess, 13. + + Hirelgas, Bedver's nephew, 264. + + Hirelglas, Cassibellaun's nephew, 143. + + Hingwar, Danish chief, 25, 26, 39, 61, 62. + + Hoctor settles in Ireland, 389. + + Hoel, king of Armorica, 231, 241, 248, 264. + + Holdin, king of the Ruteni, 264. + + Horsus, brother of Hengist, 4, 6, 183, 188. + + Hudibras, king of Britain, 114. + + Humber, king of the Huns, 109, 110. + + Humbert, bishop of the East Angles, 50. + + + Ida, king of Northumbria, 8, 409. + + Idwallo, a just king of Britain, 136. + + Igerna, wife of Gorlois, 223-226. + + Ignoge, daughter of Pandrasus, 98. + + Imbertus, ambassador, 102. + + Ina, king of Wessex, 13, 14, 43. + + Inbaltus, commander of the Gauls, 169. + + Ireland, its first inhabitants, 389, 390, 464; + description of, 457-462. + + Isembard renounces Christianity, 273. + + Isserninus, a bishop of Ireland, 410. + + Istereth settles in Dalrieta, 389. + + Ivor and Ini, British chiefs, 290, 291. + + + Jago, an ancient British king, 120. + + John, abbat of Athelney, 70, 79-81. + + Judith, Alfred's queen, 46-51, 65. + + Julius, a British martyr, 161, 242, 466. + + + Kamber, son of Brutus, 109. + + Kent, genealogy of the kings, 412. + + Kentwin, king of Wessex, 13. + + Kenulf, king of Mercia, 19, 20. + + Kenwalk, king of Wessex, 12, 13. + + Kimarus, a British king, 132. + + Kinmarcus, a British king, 120. + + Kinocus, (_Cynog_), archbp. of Menevia, 271. + + Kymbelinus, king of Britain, 148. + + + Lambienus, a Roman tribune, 140. + + Lantern made by king Alfred, 84. + + Latian law, what, 457. + + Lavinia, the wife AEneas, 91, 387, 388. + + Leil, a good king of Britain, 113. + + Leir, king of Britain, 114-119. + + Leo III. pope, 19, 20. + + Leo IV. pope, anoints king Alfred, 45. + + Lepidus, Marius, a Roman senator, 264. + + Liethali settles in South Wales, 389. + + Locrin, son of Brutus, 109-111. + + Logiore, an Irish king, 410. + + Lot, a British chief, 226, 238, 239. + + Lucius, the first Christian king of Britain, 154-156, 393. + + Lucius Tiberius, 245, 250, 259-266. + + Lucullus, Roman governor of Britain, 470. + + Lud, beautifier of London, 136. + + Lumond, a wonderful lake, 235. + + Lupus, bishop of Troyes, 187. + + + Maddan advanced to the throne, 111. + + Magicians, 91, 192-194, 388. + + Maglaunus, duke of Albania, 116. + + Malgo, or Malgocune, a British king, 272, 318. + + Malim murdered by Mempricius, 112. + + Marcellus, Roman gov. of Britain, 471. + + Marcellus Mutius killed, 256. + + Margadud, king of Demetia, 286. + + Margan, duke, 119. + + Margan, king of Britain, 136. + + Marinus, pope, died, 33, 65. + + Marius, king of Britain, 153. + + Mark, editor of Nennius's History, viii, 386. + + Martia, qn., author of the Martian law, 132. + + Martin, bishop of Tours, 395. + + Matilda, daughter of Otho the Great, v, 1. + + Mauganius, bishop of Silchester, 246. + + Maugantius, a philosopher, 193. + + Mauricius, son of Caradoc, 165-167. + + Maxentius, Roman emperor, 163. + + Maximian invited to Britain, 164-173. + + Maximianus Herculius, 161. + + Maximus (Macsen Wledig), usurper, 304, 394-396, 467. + + Mellobaudes, Gratian's general, slain, 395. + + Mempricius's advice to the Trojans, 98. + + Mempricius, a British king, 112. + + Merianus, a British king, 136. + + Merlin's history and prophecies, 192-224. + + Mermenus, a king of Britain, 390. + + Mervin, a British king, 384. + + Milcho, St. Patrick's master, 409. + + Micipsa, king of Babylon, 264. + + Milvius, Quintus, Roman senator, 264. + + Mistletoe, a sacred plant, 432, 433. + + Modred, Arthur's nephew, 238, 268-272. + + Molmutine laws, 121, 125. + + Monasteries, Amesbury, 73, 190, 229; + Athelney, 79; + Banwell, 73; + Hyde Abbey, 75; + Menevia, 271; + Salisbury, 214; + Shaftesbury, 82; + Wareham, 58; + Wembury, 44. + + Morvid, consul of Gloucester, 266. + + Morvidus, a tyrant of Britain, 133. + + + Natan-Leod, king of the Britons, 7. + + NENNIUS'S HISTORY OF THE BRITONS, vii, 383-416. + + Nennius, brother of Cassibellaun, 136, 140, 141. + + Neot, St., vi, 60, 61, 66. + + Nimech settles in Ireland, 389. + + Novia, abp. of St. David's, 72. + + + Oak, peculiarly sacred to the Druids, 432. + + Octa, son of Hengist, 187, 212, 213, 221-228, 400. + + Octavius (_Eudav_), rebels against the Romans, 164-168. + + Offa, king of Mercia, 17-19, 47. + + Ordinal of the British Church quoted, 375. + + Osbert, king of Northumbria, 25, 52. + + Osburga, king Alfred's mother, 44. + + Oskytel, a Danish king, 30, 58. + + Osric, king of Northumbria, 15, 285. + + Ostorius, Roman governor, 443, 446, 448, 453, 469. + + Oswald, king of Northumbria, 15, 285, 415. + + Oswy, king of Northumbria, 13, 285-287. + + Oxford university, 74. + + + Palladius, bishop, sent to the Scots, 6, 409. + + Pandrasus, king of Greece, 92-99. + + Parthlud, Ludgate, in London, 137. + + Partholoim settles in Ireland, 131, 389. + + Pascentius, son of Vortigern, 218-221. + + Patrick, St., 271, 390, 407, 410, 411, 460. + + Pelagian heresy, 187. + + Penda, king of Mercia, 12, 284-288, 415. + + Peredure deposes Elidure, 135. + + Pertinax, Roman gov. of Britain, 471. + + Pestilence among the birds, 13. + + Petreius, Cotta, a Roman general, 256. + + Petronius Turpilianus, a Roman governor of Britain, 469. + + Philaenian altars in Africa, 101. + + Pictavians, inhabitants of Poictou, 104. + + Picts and Scots, 3, 39, 153, 159, 182-184, 305-308, 390, 394, 396, + 467, 468. + + Pir, an ancient British king, 136. + + Plegmund, abp. of Canterbury, 38, 70. + + Polycarp, bishop of Smyrna, 353. + + Polytetes, king of Bithynia, 266. + + Porrex, king of Britain, 120. + + Porrex, another king of Britain, 136. + + Porsena, a Roman consul, killed, 130. + + Port arrives in Britain, 7. + + Posthumus, brother to Brutus, 387, 388. + + Praesutagus, a British king, 446, 447. + + Priwen, the name of Arthur's shield, 234. + + Pyramus, abp. of York, 237. + + + Quintilianus killed by Walgan, 255. + + + Raven, the Danish standard, 62. + + Rederchius, an ancient king of Britain, 136. + + Redion, an ancient king of Britain, 136. + + Regan, daughter of king Leir, 116. + + Reuda, king of the Picts, 466. + + RICHARD OF CIRENCESTER'S HISTORY OF BRITAIN, 419; + account of the author, xviii, 455, 456; + discovery of his work, xx. + + Riculf, king of Norway, defeated, 239. + + Ritho, the giant, 252. + + Rivallo, king of Britain, 120. + + Robert, earl of Gloucester, 89, 90. + + Rodric, king of the Picts, 153. + + Rollo, duke of Normandy. 58, 59. + + Roman governors of Britain, 465-471. + + Rome taken by Belinus, 129. + + Ron, the name of Arthur's lance, 234. + + Rowena, daughter of Hengist, 186-190. + + Roy's Commentary on the campaigns of Agricola, 450. + + Rudaucus, king of Cambria, 121. + + Runno, an ancient king of Britain, 136. + + + Sabre, daughter of Estrildis, 111. + + Salomon, king of Armorica, 281. + + Samuilpenissel, king of Britain, 136. + + Samson, abp. of Dole, 245. + + Sanxo, abp. of York, 217. + + Saturninus, prefect of the Roman fleet, 471. + + Saxons settle in Britain, 3-9, 183-191, 232-235, 272-274, 285-290, 396. + + Scaeva, son of Androgeus, 145. + + Scots, their origin, 389, 459, 461. + + Scots and Picts. See _Picts_. + + Segerus consecrated with St. Patrick, 410. + + Seginus, duke of the Allobroges, 126. + + Sertorius, king of Libya, 266. + + Severus, gov. of Britain, 156, 393-395, 471. + + Severus's wall, 393, 448, 466. + + Sexburga, queen of Wessex, 13. + + Sigebert, king of the East Saxons, 11. + + Sigebert, king of Wessex, 15. + + Sisilius, name of three British kings, 120, 132, 136. + + Staterius, king of Albania, 121. + + Stilicho builds a wall, 467. + + Stipendiary cities, 457. + + Stuf, lord of the Isle of Wight, 7, 44. + + Suard, king of the Franks, 120. + + Suetonius, Roman British consul, 447, 465, 469. + + Sylvius, father of Brutus, 91, 387. + + + Tennantius, duke of Cornwall, 137. + + Thadiocus, abp. of York, 274. + + Theodore, abp. of Canterbury, 14. + + Theodosius, emperor, 395, 450, 452, 467. + + Theon, abp of London, 274. + + Thompson (Aaron), defends Geoffrey's History, ix. + + Torques, a gold collar worn by the Britons, 427. + + Tower of glass, 389. + + Tower of London, 135, 200. + + Trahern, uncle of Helena, 163. + + Trebellius, Roman gov. of Britain, 470. + + Trebellius Maximus, Roman gov. of Britain, 469. + + Tremounus, abp. of Caerleon, 215. + + Triads, the Welsh, 430, 431. + + Trojans settle in Britain, 106, 387. + + Turonus, nephew of Brutus, 106. + + Tyrants of Britain, 304, 314. + + + Ulfin of Ricaradoch, 224. + + Urbicus, a Roman general, 466, 471. + + Urian honoured by Arthur, 238. + + Urianus, a British king, 136. + + Ursula and the Virgins, 171. + + Uther Pendragon, his history, 220-230. + + + Valentinian, emperor, 395, 416. + + Vectius Bolanus, Roman gov. of Britain, 470. + + Veranius, Roman governor, 443, 469. + + Vespasian sent to Britain, 152, 442, 465, 468, 470. + + Victor, son of Maximus, 395. + + Victrix, the name of the sixth legion, 447. + + Vigenius imprisons his brother, 135. + + Virius Lupus, Roman lieutenant of Britain, 471. + + Vortigern (_Gwrtheyrn_), king, 4, 6, 179-193, 206-208, 310, 396-407, + 416. + + Vortimer (_Gwrthefyr_), 188, 189, 404-407. + + Vortipore, a British prince, 317. + + Vulteius Catellus, a Roman chief, 258. + + + Walgan, Arthur's nephew, 255, 264-269. + + Wall between Deira and Albania, 174; + Severus's, 393, 448, 466; + Antoninus's 450; + Hadrian's, 466, 471; + Stilicho's, 467. + + Walter, archdeacon of Oxford, xii, 89, 268, 291. + + Wednesday, so called from Woden, 184. + + Werefrith, bishop of Worcester, 70. + + Whitgar, lord of the Isle of Wight, 7, 44. + + Widen slays her son Porrex, 120. + + Withlaf, king of Mercia, 21. + + Wortiporius, king of Britain, 272 + + Wulfhere, king of Mercia, 13. + + Wulfred, king of Mercia, 287. + + Wulfstan, abp. of York, 40. + + York made an archiepiscopal see, 155. + + + + +TOPOGRAPHICAL INDEX. + + + Abona, river, 440, 453. + + Abrasuanus, river, 450. + + Abus, river, 447. + + Ac-lea, Ockley, 45. + + Acmodae, islands, 463. + + Ad Abum, station, 499. + + Ad Abonam, station, 493. + + Ad AEsicam, station, 490. + + Ad Alaunam Amnem, station, 492. + + Ad Alpes Penninos, sta., 488. + + Ad Antonam, station, 496. + + Ad Aquas, station, 492. + + AEdui, 464. + + AElecti, 402. + + AElia Castra, station, 500. + + AEscendune, 27. + + AEsica, river, 451. + + Afene, river, 12. + + Agned, Edinburgh, 113. + + Akalon, river in Greece, 93. + + Akeman Street, 478. + + Alauna, city, 445, 451, 478, 489, 496. + + ---- river, 449, 486. + + Alba, now Albano in Italy, 91. + + Albania, now Scotland, 109. + + Albion, notices of, 106, 419, 421. + + Alcluith, city, 112, 134, 212, 235, 437, 452. + + Alicana, 488. + + Allobroges, in Switzerland, 126. + + Alps, Pennine, 447. + + Ambrius, mt., 214, 217, 221. + + Ambrons, 212, 229. + + Anderida, port, 478, 497. + + ---- wood, 438, 499. + + ---- town, 439, 499. + + Andros, isles, 463. + + Angles, their origin, 400. + + Anglia, 5. + + Andredes-leage, Anderida, 7. + + Antivestaeum, prom., 441, 460. + + Antona, river, 439. + + Antoninus's Itinerary, 473. + + Apoldre, Appledore, 35. + + Aquae Solis, 440, 456, 492-494. + + Aquitaine, in France, 102. + + Aravius, mountain, 254. + + Argitta, river, 459. + + Argolicum, station, 486. + + Armorica, 169, 177. + + Artavia, 441, 477. + + Ashdune, Aston, 54. + + Athelingay, Athelney, 31. + + Atlantic Ocean, 459. + + Attacotti, 452. + + Atrebates, 439, 497. + + Aufona, river, 446. + + Augusta, London, 445. + + Ausoba, bay, 459. + + Austrinum, 460. + + Auterii, 459. + + Auterum, town, 460. + + Avalonia, city, 271, 440, 477. + + Avene, river, 7. + + Axanminster, 17. + + Azara, mountains, 101. + + + Badon-hill, 200, 313, 409. + + Ballium, station, 496. + + Banatia, town, 452. + + Banchorium, station and monastery, 275, 444, 483. + + Banna, river, 459. + + Barba, river, 250, 252. + + Bassas, river, 408. + + Bath. Vide _Aquae Solis and Thermae_. + + Bdora, estuary, 437. + + Beadanhead, Bedwin, 13. + + Beandune, 12. + + Bebbanburgh, Bambrough, 39, 414. + + Bedanford, Bedford, 8. + + Belgae, 439. + + Bennavenna, 483. + + Benonae, 444. + + Benonnis, 483, 500. + + Bensingtun, Benson, 8. + + Beodoricsworthe, Bury St. Edmunds, 26. + + Beorgforda, Burford, 15. + + Berin-byrig, Banbury? 8. + + Berneich, province, 413, 414. + + Bibracte, 494, 495, 497. + + Bibrocum, town, 439. + + Billingsgate, 131. + + Blestium, station, 496. + + Bodotria, estuary, 450. + + Boduni, 444. + + Bolerium, promontory, 441. + + Bovium, station, 493. + + Brannogenium, town, 443, 479, 495. + + Branogena, town, 445. + + Breguoin, mountain, 409. + + Bremenium, stip., 449, 457, 477, 487. + + Brigae, station, 498. + + Brigantes, 447, 465. + + Brigantia, kingdom, 447. + + ---- city, 460. + + Brigantum, Extrema, 447. + + Briga, river, 460. + + Brinavae, station, 500. + + Britannia Inferior, pro., 437. + + ---- Prima, pro., 436. + + ---- Secunda, pro., 437, 443. + + ---- Superior, pro., 437, 443. + + British provinces, 436. + + Brocavonacae, sta., 491, 492. + + Brunandune, Brumby, 39. + + Builth, province, 407. + + Bubinda, Buvinda, river, 460. + + Bultrum, station, 495. + + Burne, 285. + + Burva, or Barva, 50. + + + Caegineshamme, Keynsham, 27. + + Caer-badus, 114, 200. + + Caer-britoc, 386. + + Caer-caradauc, 191, 214. + + Caer-caratauc, 386. + + Caer-ceint, 386. + + Caer-celemion, 386. + + Caer-ceri, or cori, 63, 386. + + Caer-collon, or colvin, 162, 386. + + Caer-conan, 211, 212. + + Caer-corrie, 186. + + Caer-custeint, 386. + + Caer-dubalem, 204. + + Caer-daun, 386. + + Caer-dauri, 386. + + Caer-draithou, 386. + + Caer-ebrauc, 386, 409. + + Caer-gloul, 152, 153, 386, 407. + + Caer-grant, 386. + + Caer-guent, 386. + + Caer-guintruis, 386. + + Caer-guoranegon, 386. + + Caer-guorcon, 386. + + Caer-guorthegern, 386, 404, 406. + + Caer-gurcoc, 386. + + Caer-lem, 114. + + Caer-liel, or luilid, 113, 386. + + Caer-leir, or lerion, 114, 135, 386. + + Caer-ligion, 386. + + Caer-lion, or Caer-osc, 130, 380, 408. + + Caer-loit-coit, 232, 386. + + Caer-lud, or londein, 108, 137, 386. + + Caer-maniguid, 386. + + Caer-meguaid, 386. + + Caer-mencipit, 386. + + Caer-merdin, 192, 386. + + Caer-penhuelgoit, 152. + + Caer-pensavelcoit, 386. + + Caer-peris, 130, 149, 150, 164, 386. + + Caer-segeint, 386. + + Caer-segont, 394, 443. + + Caer-teim, 386. + + Caer-urnahc, 386. + + Caerwent, 404. + + Caer-wisc, 58. + + Caesarea, island, 463. + + Caesariensis, province, 445. + + Caesaromagus, sta., 484, 485. + + Cair. For words with this prefix, see _Caer_. + + Calcaria, station, 488. + + Caledonia, 450, 452. + + Caledonian wood, 232, 438, 446, 453. + + Caledonian promontory, 454. + + Caledoniae extrema, 454. + + Caledonii, 453. + + Caleterium, a wood, 124, 134, 201, 202. + + Calleba, city, 439, 494, 496, 497, 500. + + Camalodunum, called Geminae Martiae, 444, 445, 456, 465, 469, 484. + + Cambodunum, town, Latian, 447, 457, 488. + + Camboricum, colony, 416, 457, 485. + + Cambretonium, sta., 484, 485. + + Cambria, 109. + + Cambula, river, 270. + + Cangani, 442. + + Canganum, promontory, 443. + + Cangi, 459, 465. + + Cangian promontory, 443. + + Cangiani, 443, 444, 461. + + Cangiorum, station, 444. + + Canonium, station, 484. + + Canovius, river, 444. + + Cantabric, ocean, 459. + + Cantabridge, Cambridge, 38. + + Cantae, 453. + + Cant Guic, 394. + + Cantian state, 6, 438. + + ---- promontory, 421. + + Cantiopolis, stipendiary, 438, 457, 482. + + Cantium, promont., 422, 438. + + ---- region of, 438. + + Carnabii, region of, 441, 444, 453. + + Carnonacae, 454. + + Carnubia, region of, 107, 441. + + Carrum, Charmouth, 21. + + Carun, river, 393. + + Casae Candidae, town, 450. + + Cassii, kingd. of, 444, 445, 497. + + Cassiterides, Isles, 441, 463. + + Cataracton, Caturacton, town under the Latian law, 447, 457, 477, 478, + 486, 487, 489. + + Cat Bregion, mountain, 409. + + Catgwaloph, 416. + + Catini, 454. + + Catscaul, 415. + + Cauci, 461. + + Celidon, wood, 201, 232, 408. + + Celnius, river, 452. + + Celtae, 439. + + Cenail, 393. + + Cenia, city, 441, 477, 498. + + Cenius, river, 441. + + Cenomanni, 446. + + Cerdic's-ore, 7. + + Cerdic's-ford, 7. + + Cerones, 454. + + Cetgueli, 389. + + Chippenham, a royal villa, 60, 63. + + Cichican, valley, 307. + + Cimbri, region of, 423, 440. + + Cittanford (Ottanford?) 18. + + Clas Merddyn, island, 419. + + Clausentum, 439, 479, 497, 500. + + Clotta, Clydda, est. 437, 450. + + Cloveshoo, in Kent, 20. + + Cocboy, 416. + + Coccium, city, 448, 457, 479, 492. + + Coitani, Coitanni, 446. + + Coit-mawr, Selwood, 62. + + Concangii, 460. + + Condate, station, 488, 492. + + Conovio, 483. + + Conovium, station, 483. + + Consular provinces in Britain, 438. + + Contiopoli, 497. + + Corbantorigum, 449. + + Corinium, Corinum, town, Latian, 445, 457, 479, 492. + + Coriondii, 461. + + Corisennae, station, 485, 499. + + Corium, 489, 490. + + Cornish people, so called from Corineus, 102. + + Corstopitum, Corstoplio, station, 487. + + Creones, 454. + + Crococolana, station, 496. + + Cruachan-Aichle, mt. 411. + + Cruc Occident, 394. + + Cunetio, station, 494. + + Cunetium, river, 439. + + Curia, town, 449, 487. + + Cymry, see _Cimbri_. + + Cynemaeresford, Kempsford, 20. + + Cynuit, Kynwith, 61. + + + Dabrona, river, 460. + + Dacia, 123, 131. + + Dalrieta, 389. + + Damnia, region of, 449. + + Damnii, 314, 450, 460, 461. + + ---- Albani, 452. + + Damnonii, state of, 421, 438, 441, 465. + + Daneian, wood, 201. + + Danum, station, 486. + + Darabona, Darabouna, riv. 459. + + Decimum (Ad), station, 497. + + Defna, Devonshire, 20. + + Delgovicia, station, 487. + + Demetians, 242, 317. + + Dene, a royal villa, 71. + + Derbentio, town, 481. + + Dereuent, the river Darent, 188, 404. + + Derventione, sta., 487, 500. + + Deva, colony, called Getica, 444, 457, 477, 483, 488. + + ---- river, 444, 451. + + Devana, city, 451. + + ---- sta., 473, 485, 490, 491. + + Deucaledonian, ocean, 459. + + Deorhamme, 9. + + Deur, province, 413. + + Dianae Forum, 445, 482. + + Dimetiae, 317, 389, 406, 443. + + Dinas Emrys, 401. + + Dobona, river, 460. + + Dobuni, 444. + + Dolobellum, or Dorobellum, 139, 392. + + Dorobernia, Canterbury, 44, 145, 183. + + Dorocina, station, 500. + + Dubrae, city and port, 438. + + Dubris, river, 438, 497. + + Duglas, river, 230, 270, 408. + + Dunum, city, 460. + + Duralipons, station, 485. + + Durinum, stip. 440, 457, 477. + + Durius, river, 441, 460, 498. + + Durngueis, 58. + + Durnomagus, Latian, 446, 457, 478, 485, 499. + + Durnovaria, station, 498. + + Durocobrivae, 477. + + Durolevum, Durosevum, station, 482, 497. + + Durolispons, station, 499. + + Durobris, Durobrobis, Duroprovae, Durobrivae, sti. 438, 457, 477, 482, + 485. + + Durositum, station, 484. + + Durotriges, 440. + + Durovernum, 477. + + Dynguayth, province, 413. + + Dynguoaroy, town, 414. + + + Eblanae, Eblani, 460. + + Eboracum, Eburacum, municipal and metropolis, 112, 447, 456, 486-489, + 499. + + Ebudium, Ebudum, promontory, 454. + + Egbert's-stone, Brixton Deverill, 62. + + Eglesburh, Aylesbury, 8. + + Ellandune, Allington, 29. + + Elmete, 414. + + Epiacum, town, 447, 477, 486. + + Epidii, 454. + + Epidium, promontory, 454. + + Ermyn Street, 478. + + Eriri, mount, 444. + + Esc's-dune, 12, 13. + + Ethandune, 31, 62. + + Etocetum, town, 444, 478, 483, 492, 500. + + Eubonia, 386, 389. + + Evoric, or Eoferwic, York, 25. + + Exanceaster, Exeter, 58. + + Extremitas Caledoniae, 454. + + + Fethanleage, 9. + + Fines (Ad), 487, 499, 500. + + Fines Flaviae et Secundae, 483. + + ---- Maximae et Flaviae, 488. + + ---- Trinobantum, 484. + + Flavia Extrema, 446. + + ---- province, 436, 444. + + Forum Dianae, town, 445. + + Foss, the, 473. + + Fraun, river, 58. + + Fresicum, or Fresic sea, 400. + + Fretum Meneviacum, 443. + + ---- Sabrinae, 442. + + + Gadanica, station, 489, 490. + + Gadeni, 449. + + Gadenia, region, 449. + + ---- town, 449. + + Gai Campi, battle, 415. + + Gaini, inhabitants of Gainsborough, 53. + + Galabes, fountain, 215. + + Galacium, Galgacum, town, 447. + + Gallembourne, 161. + + Gania, river, 208. + + Garion, Garionis, river, 446. + + Garionenum, station, 408. + + Garnareia, 280. + + Genania, region, 444. + + Genoreu, 208. + + Gessoriacum, port, 420. + + Gewissae, 43, 203, 215. + + Glebon, Glevum, colony called Claudia, 445, 457, 465, 478, 479, 492, + 496. + + Gleni, river, 408. + + Glevesing, 402. + + Gloui, Gloucester, 252, 407. + + Gobanium, Gobannium, town, 442, 495. + + Goemagot's leap, 108. + + Grampius, mount, 450. + + Grantabridge, or Grantchester, Cambridge, 30, 58. + + Guasmoric, 404. + + Guenet, or Guined, 401, 414. + + Gather, province, 389. + + Guoloppum, 416. + + Guorthegirnaim, province, 406, 407. + + Gurnion Castle, 408. + + Gurthrenion, 404. + + Gwent, 404, 407. + + Gwyddelians, 423. + + Gwynedd, province, 415. + + + Halangium, Holongum, town, 441, 477. + + Hamo's Port, Southampton, 125, 150, 166, 232. + + Hamptonshire, Hampshire, 16. + + Hamptun, Southampton, 22. + + Heathfield, 284. + + Heavenfield, 285. + + Hebudes, isles, 461, 462. + + Hedui, 440, 497. + + Helenis, Helenum, pro. 441. + + Hengeston, in Cornwall, 22. + + Herculea, isle, 441. + + Hercules, pillars of, 441. + + Herculis, promontory. + + Hereri, mount, sta., 401, 404. + + Hethlege, Hatfield, 13. + + Hibernia, 457, 464, 465, 467. + + Hiernam (Ad), station, 490. + + Horestii, 451. + + + Ibernia, town, 461. + + Ibernii, 460. + + Ibernus, river, 460. + + Iceni, 447, 478. + + Iglea, Okeley, 62. + + Ignesham, Eynsham, 8. + + Iknield Street, 473, 477. + + Ila, river, 453. + + Inis-gueith, or Gueith, 386. + + Internal sea, 459. + + Ireland, vide _Hibernia_. + + Isannavaria, Isanta Varia, station, 483, 500. + + Isca, colony, metropolis, named Secunda, 442, 456. + + Isca, (Caerleon) 456, 493, 495, 496. + + ---- river, 441, 442. + + ---- stipendiary, Exeter, 441, 477, 479, 492, 498. + + Ischalis, 440. + + Isinnae, station, 485. + + Isurium, city, 447, 478, 486, 488. + + Itineraries, various, 476. + + Itunae, river, 449, 451. + + Itunam (Ad), sta., 490, 491. + + Itys, river, 454. + + + Jena, river, 450. + + + Kaer, for words with this prefix, see _Caer_. + + Karitia, 118. + + Kidaleta, 280. + + Killaraus, mountain, 215, 217. + + Kriou metopon, pron. 441. + + Kunetius, river, 439. + + + Lactorodum, station, 482. + + Lapidem (Ad), station, 497. + + Latian law, cities or towns, governed by, 457. + + Latarae, station, 489. + + Lebarum, 460. + + Legecester, 276, 277. + + Legiolium, Legotium, station, 480, 500. + + Legions, city, 131, 132, 155, 161, 217, 242, 269, 271, 408. + + Leircestre, Leicester, 111, 114. + + Lelanus, bay 454. + + Lemanianus, Portus, 497. + + Lemanum, station, 497. + + Lemanus, river, 438. + + ---- town, 438. + + Leonaford, a royal villa, 73. + + Letavia, 177. + + Leucarum, station, 493. + + Libnius, river, 459. + + Liganburh, Lenbury, 8. + + Limite, station, 487. + + Lindesia, or Lindsey, 184, 232. + + Lindocolinum, 232. + + Linligwan, 237. + + Lindum, 451, 490. + + ---- colony, 446, 457, 478, 484-486, 496, 499. + + Linuis, province, 408. + + Llan-Patern, bishopric, 271. + + Loebius, river, 460. + + Loegria, 109, 423. + + Logi. 453. + + Londinum Augusta, col. and met. Londinium, 108, 227, 238, 445, 456, + 465, 482, 484, 494, 496-499. + + London, rebuilt by Alfred, 74. + + Longus, river, 454. + + Lovantium, town, 443. + + Loxa, river, 453. + + Lucani, 460. + + Lucophibia, town, 450. + + Ludgate, London, 137. + + Lugubalia, Luguballium, Luguballie, Luguvalium, town, Latian, 404, + 448, 457, 479, 489, 491. + + Lumond, lake, 235. + + Lyncalidor, lake of, 452. + + + Maeatae, 449, 466. + + Macobicum, Macolicum, 460. + + Madus, river, 438. + + ---- station, 497. + + Magiovinium, station, 482. + + Magna, 442, 495. + + Maiden Way, 479. + + Maisbeli, Maybury, 210. + + Maisuriam, 164. + + Malua, river, 102. + + Manau Gustodin, prov. 414. + + Manavia, 458. + + Mancunium sta., 488, 492, 500. + + Manduesanedum, 483. + + Mansio in Medio, 499. + + Mare Internum, 459. + + ---- Vergivum, 459. + + ---- Thule, 459. + + Margan, 119, 120. + + Margidunum, station, 496. + + Maridunum, 404, 443, 457, 478, 479, 494. + + Maxima, province, 436, 447. + + Maxima Caesariensis, 486. + + Mearcraedsburn, 7. + + Medio (In), station, 491, 499. + + Mediolanum, 443. + + ---- station, 477, 484, 492. + + ---- Hib. 460. + + Meicen, town, 413. + + Menapia, ct. 443, 460, 478, 479. + + Menapiam, (Ad) st. 493, 494. + + Menapii, 461. + + Menavia, 389. + + Meranton, Merton, 16. + + Meresige, Mersey, 36. + + Merscwari, 19, 22. + + Mertae, 454. + + Metaris, estuary, 446. + + Michael's Mount, 252. + + Middleton, Milton, 36. + + Mile, the Roman, 475. + + Minmanton, 394. + + Modona, river, 460. + + Mona, isle, 434, 443, 469. + + Monoeda, island, 458. + + Mons Jovis, 394. + + Montem Grampium (Ad), station, 490, 491. + + Moridunum, 498. + + Morini, 133, 440. + + Mount Paladur, Shaftesbury, 114. + + Muridunum, stip. 443, 457. + + Murum (Ad), station, 486. + + Musidum, town. 441, 477. + + + Nabaeus, river, 454. + + Nagnata, town, 459. + + Nautgallim, 161. + + Nidum, station, 493. + + Northworthig, Derby, 27. + + Novantae, 449. + + Novantia, region, 449. + + Novantum Chersonesus, 421, 449. + + Noviomagus, town, 439, 477, 478, 497, 499. + + Novius, river, 449. + + + Oboca, river, 460. + + Oceanus Athlanticus, or Britannicus, 459. + + ---- Cantabricus, 459. + + ---- Deucalidonius, 459. + + ---- Internus, 459. + + ---- Vergivus, 459. + + Ocrinum, mount, 441. + + ---- prom. 421, 441. + + Octorupium, promont. 443. + + Oestromenides, isles, 441. + + Oghgul race, 400. + + Olicana, Alicana, town, 447, 477. + + Orcades, isles, 462, 466. + + Orcadum, promontory, 454. + + Ordovicia, region of, 444. + + Ordovices, 442, 443. + + Orrea, town, 451, 490, 491. + + Ossismii, 463. + + Ottadini, 449. + + Ottadinia, 449. + + Oxellum, promontory, 447. + + + Paladur, 114. + + Palmecaster, 404. + + Parisii, 447. + + Pederydan, Petherton, 12. + + Peneltun, 393. + + Penguaul, 393. + + Pennocrucium, 483. + + Penoxullum, promont., 453. + + Petuaria, 447, 487, 499. + + Picti, 466, 467. + + Pontem (Ad), sta., 496, 497. + + Pontesbury, 13. + + Portcester, Porchester, 149. + + Praeturium, station, 487. + + Praesutagus, 447. + + Prima, province, 436, 442. + + Portus, Anderida, 478, 497. + + ---- Felix, 447. + + ---- Leminianus, 497. + + ---- Magnus, 439, 479, 497. + + ---- Rhutupis, 420. + + ---- Sistuntiorum, 488. + + Pryffetesflodan, Privett, 16. + + Ptoroton, metropolis, Latian, 452, 457, 490, 491. + + + Quintanwic, Canterbury, 22. + + + Ragae, stip., 446, 457. + + Ratiscorion, 496. + + Redonum, 170. + + Regia, 460. + + Regnum, Regentium, 439, 478, 497. + + Regulbium, 438, 497. + + Renis, river, 407. + + Reopandune, Repton, 17. + + Rerigonium, 448, 488. + + Rheba, metropolis, 459, 461. + + Rhebeus, 459. + + ---- river, 461. + + Rhebeus, lake, 461. + + Rhemi, 439. + + Rhobogdii, 459. + + Rhobogdium, 459. + + Rhufina, 460. + + Rhutupis, colony and metropolis, 438, 456, 482, 497. + + ---- portus, 145, 152, 420. + + Richard's Itinerary, original text, 480. + + Ricnea, isle, 463. + + Roman roads in Britain, 125, 472-500. + + Romana Insula, 446. + + Ruim, isle of Thanet, 45, 397. + + Ruteni, 138. + + Rutunium, station, 484. + + Ryknield Street, 478. + + + Sabrina, estuary, river, 111, 440, 442, 443, 445. + + ---- strait of, 441. + + Sabrinam (Ad), station, 493. + + Sacrum, promontory, 460. + + Saessenaeg habail, 404. + + Salinae, 445, 479, 492. + + Salt Way, the Upper, 479. + + Sariconium, 442, 496. + + Sarna, isle, 463. + + Scarburh, Old Sarum, 8. + + Sceapige, the Isle of Sheppey, 21. + + Scotti, 459, 461, 464, 468. + + Seccandune, Seckington, 17. + + Secunda, prov., 436, 437, 442. + + Segontiaci, 438, 439, 497. + + Segontium, Seguntium, stip., 440, 443, 457, 477, 483, 484. + + Selgovae, 449. + + Selgovia, region of, 449. + + Selinam (Ad), sta., 490, 491. + + Selwoodshire, Sherborne, 14. + + Senae, isles, 463. + + Senones, 429, 443, 464. + + Senus, river, 460. + + Seteja, river, 447. + + Set thirgabail, 404. + + Sexta Colonia, see _Eboracum_. + + Sigdiles, isles, 463. + + Silimnus, isles, 463. + + Silures, 422, 442, 443, 470. + + Sistuntii, 447. + + Sistuntiorum Portus, 488. + + Sitomagus, station, 484. + + Snotingaham, Nottingh., 26. + + Sorbiodunum, town, Latian, 439, 457, 477, 498. + + Sore, river, 114, 119. + + Southampton, 439 + + Spinae, station, 494. + + Staeningham, Steyning, 49. + + Stemrugam, Stonehenge? 49. + + Stipendiary towns, 457. + + Stonehenge, 272. + + Streaneshalch, Whitby, 13. + + Sture, river, 111. + + Sturium Amnem (Ad), station, 484. + + Sturius, river, 438. + + Suanewic, Swanwich, 59. + + Sulomagus, station, 482. + + Surius, river, 446. + + Sygdiles, isles, 441. + + + Taixali, 451. + + Taixalorum, promont., 451. + + Tamara, river, 498. + + ---- town, 441, 477. + + Tamarus, river 441. + + Tamea, 452, 491. + + Tamesis, station, 500. + + Tavum (Ad), station, 490. + + Taum, 477. + + Tavus, river, 443, 451. + + Tenet, Isle of Thanet, 45. + + Termolus, 441, 477. + + Thamesis, river, 436, 439, 443, 444. + + Thanatos, isle, 463. + + Thancastre, 186. + + Theodosia, town, Latian, 452, 457. + + Thermae, colony, named Aquae Solis, 456, 465. + + Thornsaeta, 58. + + Thule, isle, 419, 462. + + ---- province, 452. + + Tibia, river, 493. + + Tiggocobauc, Nottingham, 53. + + Tina, river, 449, 451. + + Tinam (Ad), sta., 490, 491. + + Tintagel, 224. + + Tisam (Ad), 486. + + Tosibus, river, 444. + + Totness, 106, 207, 233. + + Towy, river, 406. + + Trajectus, station, 493. + + Trat Treuroit, river, 409. + + Trimontium, 449, 489, 490. + + Trinobantes, 444. + + Trinobantia, region of, 444. + + Trinobantum, 108, 114, 122, 131, 137, 142, 145, 392, 445, 477, 478. + + Tripontium, sta., 483, 500. + + Trivona, river, 446. + + Trivonam (Ad), 500. + + Troy, New, 108. + + Tueda, river, 449, 486. + + Tuessis, river, 452. + + ---- town, 452. + + Tuessim (Ad), sta., 490, 491. + + Turnis, city, 388. + + + Uriconium, Urioconium, 444, 477, 483, 495. + + Urus, river, 447. + + Uxaconia, station, 483. + + Uxella, river, 440. + + Uxella, mount, 450. + + ---- town, 441, 479. + + Uxellam Amnem (Ad), station, 492. + + Uxellum, town, 449. + + + Vacomagi, 451. + + Vagnaca, station, 483, 497. + + Valentia, province, 436, 450, 471. + + Vallis-doloris, 408. + + Vallum of Hadrian, 466. + + ---- Antoninus, 450. + + ---- Severus, 436, 448, 406. + + ---- (Ad), station, 486, 489-491. + + Vanduaria, 450. + + Varar, estuary, 437, 452. + + ---- river, 437, 452. + + Varis, station, 483, 491. + + Vatarae, station, 489. + + Vecta, Vectis, isle, 5, 7, 8, 462, 469. + + Vecturones, 451. + + Velatorii, 460. + + Veneti, 422, 463. + + Venicnii, islands, 459. + + Venicnium, head or promontory, 459. + + Venisnia, island, 459. + + Vennicuii, 459. + + Vennonis, 496. + + Venricones, 451. + + Venromentum, station, 496. + + Venta, Belgarum, stip., 439, 446, 457, 479, 496, 498. + + ---- Cenom, or Icenor, stip., 446, 457, 484, 485. + + ---- Silurum, stip., 442, 457, 479, 493. + + Ventageladia, station, 498. + + Verlucione, 494. + + Verolamium, Verulamium, municipal, 445, 456, 465, 417, 482. + + Verubium, or Viuvedrum, promontory, 454. + + Vespasiana, province, 436, 450, 452. + + Via Julia, 493. + + Victoria, town under the Latian law, 451, 457, 490, 491. + + Vidua, river, 459. + + Vegesimum,(Ad), st., 493, 494. + + Vindelia, Vindilios, island, 440, 463. + + Vinderus, river, 460. + + Vindomora, station, 487. + + Vindomis, 496, 497, 500. + + Vindonum, stip., 439, 457. + + Vinovium, Vindovium, 447, 477, 478, 486, 487. + + Vinvedrum, Virvedrum, promontory, 454. + + Virioconium, Viriconium, 483, 484. + + Vodiae, 460. + + Vodium, promontory, 460. + + Volsas Sinus, 454. + + Voluba, 441, 477, 498. + + Voluntii, 459, 460, 461. + + Vorreda, station, 489. + + + Walls, Roman, 444. + + Wanating, Wantage, 43. + + Wautsum, estuary, 397, 462. + + Wales, 441. + + Watling Street, 476. + + Wedale, or Wodale, 408. + + West Chester, 442. + + Wiccii, 63. + + Wicgambeorg, Wembury, 44. + + Wight, island, see _Vecta_. + + Weolod, Welland, river, 37. + + Westmaria, 153. + + Wilsaetum, Wiltshire, 20. + + Wisseans, 164. + + Wodnesbyrg, 9. + + Wothnesbeorghge, Wanborough, 14 + + Wubbandune, 8. + + + Y Vel Ynys, island, 419. + + + + +ROMAN PROVINCES AND ENGLISH COUNTIES. + + + 1. CORNABIL AND DANMONIA People of Cornwall and Devonshire. + 2. DUROTRIGES Dorsetshire. + 3. BELGAE Somerset, Wilts, and the greater part of + Hants, including the Isle of Wight. + 4. ATREBATIE Berkshire. + 5. REGNI Surrey, Sussex and the south-eastern part + of Hants. + 6. CANTII Kent. + 7. TRINOBANTES Middlesex and Essex. + 8. ICENI Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambridge, and + Huntingdonshire. + 9. CATIEUCHLANI Bucks, Bedford and Hertfordshire. + 10. DOBUNI Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire. + 11. SILURES Hereford, Monmouth, Radnor, Brecon, and + Glamorganshire. + 12. DIMETAE Carmarthen, Pembroke, and Cardiganshire. + 13. ORDOVICES Flint, Denbigh, Merioneth, Montgomery, + Carnarvonshire, and Anglesey. + 14. CORNAVII Cheshire, Shropshire, Stafford, Warwick, + and Worcestershire. + 15. CORITANI Lincoln, Nottingham, Derby, Leicester, + Rutland, and Northamptonshire. + 16. BRIGANTES Yorkshire, Lancashire, Westmoreland, + Cumberland, and Durham. + 17. 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