History Of The Britons

I. = The=20 Prologue.

1. Nennius, = the lowly=20 minister and servant of the servants of God, by the grace of = God,=20 disciple of St. Elbotus, [Or Elvod, bishop of Bangor, A.D. = 755, who=20 first adopted in the Cambrian church the new cycle for = regulating=20 Easter.] to all the followers of truth sendeth=20 health.

Be it known to your charity, that being = dull in=20 intellect and rude of speech, I have presumed to deliver = these=20 things in the Latin tongue, not trusting to my own learning, = which=20 is little or none at all, but partly from traditions of our=20 ancestors, partly from writings and monuments of the ancient = inhabitants of Britain, partly from the annals of the = Romans, and=20 the chronicles of the sacred fathers, Isidore, Hieronymus, = Prosper,=20 Eusebius, and from the histories of the Scots and Saxons, = although=20 our enemies, not following my own inclinations, but, to the = best of=20 my ability, obeying the commands of my seniors; I have = lispingly put=20 together this history from various sources, and have = endeavored,=20 from shame, to deliver down to posterity the few remaining = ears of=20 corn about past transactions, that they might not be trodden = under=20 foot, seeing that an ample crop has been snatched away = already by=20 the hostile reapers of foreign nations. For many things have = been in=20 my way, and I, to this day, have hardly been able to = understand,=20 even superficially, as was necessary, the sayings of other = men; much=20 less was I able in my own strength, but like a barbarian, = have I=20 murdered and defiled the language of others. But I bore = about with=20 me an inward wound, and I was indignant, that the name of my = own=20 people, formerly famous and distinguished, should sink into=20 oblivion, and like smoke be dissipated. But since, however, = I had=20 rather myself be the historian of the Britons than nobody, = although=20 so many are to be found who might much more satisfactorily = discharge=20 the labour thus imposed on me; I humbly entreat my readers, = whose=20 ears I may offend by the inelegance of my words, that they = will=20 fulfil the wish of my seniors, and grant me the easy task of = listening with candour to my history. For zealous efforts = very often=20 fail: but bold enthusiasm, were it in its power, would not = suffer me=20 to fail. May, therefore, candour be shown where the = inelegance of my=20 words is insufficient, and may the truth of this history, = which my=20 rustic tongue has ventured, as a kind of plough, to trace = out in=20 furrows, lose none of its influence from that cause, in the = ears of=20 my hearers. For it is better to drink a wholesome draught of = truth=20 from the humble vessel, than poison mixed with honey from a = golden=20 goblet.

2. And do not = be loath,=20 diligent reader, to winnow my chaff, and lay up the wheat in = the=20 storehouse of your memory: for truth regards not who is the = speaker,=20 nor in what manner it is spoken, but that the thing be true; = and she=20 does not despise the jewel which she has rescued from the = mud, but=20 she adds it to her former treasures.

For I yield = to those who=20 are greater and more eloquent than myself, who, kindled with = generous ardour, have endeavoured by Roman eloquence to = smooth the=20 jarring elements of their tongue, if they have left unshaken = any=20 pillar of history which I wished to see remain. This history = therefore has been compiled from a wish to benefit my = inferiors, not=20 from envy of those who are superior to me, in the 858th year = of our=20 Lord's incarnation, and in the 24th year of Mervin, king of = the=20 Britons, and I hope that the prayers of my betters will be = offered=20 up for me in recompence of my labour. But this is sufficient = by way=20 of preface. I shall obediently accomplish the rest to the = utmost of=20 my power.

II. = The Apology=20 of Nennius

Here begins = the apology of=20 Nennius, the historiographer of the Britons, of the race of = the=20 Britons.

3. I, = Nennius, disciple of=20 St. Elbotus, have endeavoured to write some extracts which = the=20 dulness of the British nation had cast away, because = teachers had no=20 knowledge, nor gave any information in their books about = this island=20 of Britain. But I have got together all that I could find as = well=20 from the annals of the Romans as from the chronicles of the = sacred=20 fathers, Hieronymus, Eusebius, Isidorus, Prosper, and from = the=20 annals of the Scots and Saxons, and from our ancient = traditions.=20 Many teachers and scribes have attempted to write this, but = somehow=20 or other have abandoned it from its difficulty, either on = account of=20 frequent deaths, or the often recurring calamities of war. I = pray=20 that every reader who shall read this book, may pardon me, = for=20 having attempted, like a chattering jay, or like some weak = witness,=20 to write these things, after they had failed. I yield to him = who=20 knows more of these things than I do.

III. The=20 History

4, 5. From = Adam to the=20 flood, are two thousand and forty-two years. From the flood = of=20 Abraham, nine hundred and forty-two. From Abraham to Moses, = six=20 hundred. [And forty, according to Stevenson's new edition. = The rest=20 of this chronology is much contracted in several of the = manuscripts,=20 and hardly two of them contain it exactly the same.] From = Moses to=20 Solomon, and the first building of the temple, four hundred = and=20 forty-eight. From Solomon to the rebuilding of the temple, = which was=20 under Darius, king of the Persians, six hundred and twelve = years are=20 computed. From Darius to the ministry of our Lord Jesus = Christ, and=20 to the fifteenth year of the emperor Tiberius, are five = hundred and=20 forty-eight years. So that from Adam to the ministry of = Christ and=20 the fifteenth year of the emperor Tiberius, are five = thousand two=20 hundred and twenty-eight years. From the passion of Christ = are=20 completed nine hundred and forty-six; from his incarnation, = nine=20 hundred and seventy-six: being the fifth year of Edmund, = king of the=20 Angles.

6. The first = age of the=20 world is from Adam to Noah; the second from Noah to Abraham; = the=20 third from Abraham to David; the fourth from David to = Daniel; the=20 fifth to John the Baptist; the sixth from John to the = judgment, when=20 our Lord Jesus Christ will come to judge the living and the = dead,=20 and the world by fire. The first Julius. The second = Claudius. The=20 third Severus. The fourth Carinus. The fifth Constantius. = The sixth=20 Maximus. The seventh Maximianus. The eighth another Severus=20 Aequantius. The ninth Constantius. [This list of the Roman = emperors=20 who visited Britain, is omitted in many of the = MSS.]

Here = beginneth the history=20 of the Britons, edited by Mark the anchorite, a holy bishop = of that=20 people.

7. The island = of Britain=20 derives its name from Brutus, a Roman consul. Taken from the = south-west point it inclines a little towards the west, and = to its=20 northern extremity measures eight hundred miles, and is in = breadth=20 two hundred. It contains thirty three cities, [V.R. = Twenty-eight,=20 twenty-one. ] viz.

1. Cair = ebrauc=20 (York).
2. Cair ceint (Canterbury).
3. Cair gurcoc=20 (Anglesey?).
4. Cair guorthegern [Site unknown]
5. = Cair=20 custeint (Carnarvon).
6. Cair guoranegon = (Worcester).
7. Cair=20 segeint (Silchester).
8. Cair guin truis (Norwich, or=20 Winwick).
9. Cair merdin (Caermarthen).
10. Cair peris = (Porchester).
11. Cair lion (Caerleon-upon-Usk).
12. = Cair=20 mencipit (Verulam).
13. Cair caratauc (Catterick).
14. = Cair=20 ceri (Cirencester).
15. Cair glout (Gloucester).
16. = Cair=20 luillid (Carlisle).
17. Cair grant (Grantchester, now=20 Cambridge).
18. Cair daun (Doncaster), or Cair dauri=20 (Dorchester).
19. Cair britoc (Bristol).
20. Cair = meguaid=20 (Meivod).
21. Cair mauiguid (Manchester).
22. Cair = ligion=20 (Chester).
23. Cair guent (Winchester, or Caerwent, in=20 Monmouthshire).
24. Cair collon (Colchester, or St. = Colon,=20 Cornwall).
25. Cair londein (London).
26. Cair guorcon = (Worren, or Woran, in Pembrokeshire).
27. Cair lerion=20 (Leicester).
28. Cair draithou (Drayton).
29. Cair=20 pensavelcoit (Pevensey, in Sussex).
30. Cairtelm = (Teyn-Grace, in=20 Devonshire).
31. Cair Urnahc (Wroxeter, in = Shropshire).
32.=20 Cair colemion (Camelet, in Somersetshire).
33. Cair loit = coit=20 (Lincoln).

These are the = names of the=20 ancient cities of the island of Britain. It has also a vast = many=20 promontories, and castles innumerable, built of brick and = stone. Its=20 inhabitants consist of four different people; the Scots, the = Picts,=20 the Saxons and the ancient Britons.

8. Three = considerable=20 islands belong to it; one, on the south, opposite the = Armorican=20 shore, called Wight; [Inis-gueith, or Gueith] another = between=20 Ireland and Britain, called Eubonia or Man; and another = directly=20 north, beyond the Picts, named Orkney; and hence it was = anciently a=20 proverbial expression, in reference to its kings and rulers, = "He=20 reigned over Britain and its three islands."

9. It is = fertilized by=20 several rivers, which traverse it in all directions, to the = east and=20 west, to the south and north; but there are two = pre-eminently=20 distinguished among the rest, the Thames and the Severn, = which=20 formerly, like the two arms of Britain, bore the ships = employed in=20 the conveyance of riches acquired by commerce. The Britons = were once=20 very populous, and exercised extensive dominion from sea to=20 sea.

10. [The = whole of this, as=20 far as the end of the paragraph, is omitted in several MSS.] = Respecting the period when this island became inhabited = subsequently=20 to the flood, I have seen two distinct relations. According = to the=20 annals of the Roman history, the Britons deduce their origin = both=20 from the Greeks and Romans. On the side of the mother, from = Lavinia,=20 the daughter of Latinus, king of Italy, and of the race of = Silvanus,=20 the son of Inachus, the son of Dardanus; who was the son of = Saturn,=20 king of the Greeks, and who, having possessed himself of a = part of=20 Asia, built the city of Troy. Dardanus was the father of = Troius, who=20 was the father of Priam and Anchises; Anchises was the = father of=20 Aeneas, who was the father of Ascanius and Silvius; and this = Silvius=20 was the son of Aeneas and Lavinia, the daughter of the king = of=20 Italy. From the sons of Aeneas and Lavinia descended Romulus = and=20 Remus, who were the sons of the holy queen Rhea, and the = founders of=20 Rome. Brutus was consul when he conquered Spain, and reduced = that=20 country to a Roman province. He afterwards subdued the = island of=20 Britain, whose inhabitants were the descendants of the = Romans, from=20 Silvius Posthumus. He was called Posthumus because he was = born after=20 the death of Aeneas his father; and his mother Lavinia = concealed=20 herself during her pregnancy; he was called Silvius, because = he was=20 born in a wood. Hence the Roman kings were called Silvan, = and the=20 Britons from Brutus, and rose from the family of Brutus. =

Aeneas, after = the Trojan=20 war, arrived with his son in Italy; and Having vanquished = Turnus,=20 married Lavinia, the daughter of king Latinus, who was the = son of=20 Faunus, the son of Picus, the son of Saturn. After the death = of=20 Latinus, Aeneas obtained the kingdom Of the Romans, and = Lavinia=20 brought forth a son, who was named Silvius. Ascanius founded = Alba,=20 and afterwards married. And Lavinia bore to Aeneas a son, = named=20 Silvius; but Ascanius [Other MSS. Silvius] married a wife, = who=20 conceived and became pregnant. And Aeneas, having been = informed that=20 his daughter-in-law was pregnant, ordered his son to send = his=20 magician to examine his wife, whether the child conceived = were male=20 or female. The magician came and examined the wife and = pronounced it=20 to be a son, who should become the most valiant among the = Italians,=20 and the most beloved of all men. [V.R. Who should slay his = father=20 and mother, and be hated by all mankind] In consequence of = this=20 prediction, the magician was put to death by Ascanius; but = it=20 happened that the mother of the child dying at its birth, he = was=20 named Brutus; ad after a certain interval, agreeably to what = the=20 magician had foretold, whilst he was playing with some = others he=20 shot his father with an arrow, not intentionally but by = accident.=20 [V.R. He displayed such superiority among his play-fellows, = that=20 they seemed to consider him as their chief.] He was, for = this cause,=20 expelled from Italy, and came to the islands of the Tyrrhene = sea,=20 when he was exiled on account of the death of Turnus, slain = by=20 Aeneas. He then went among the Gauls, and built the city of = the=20 Turones, called Turnis. [Tours.] At length he came to this = island=20 named from him Britannia, dwelt there, and filled it with = his own=20 descendants, and it has been inhabited from that time to the = present=20 period.

11. Aeneas = reigned over the=20 Latins three years; Ascanius thirty three years; after whom = Silvius=20 reigned twelve years, and Posthumus thirty-nine [V.R. = Thirty-seven]=20 years: the latter, from whom the kings of Alba are called = Silvan,=20 was brother to Brutus, who governed Britain at the time Eli = the=20 high-priest judged Israel, and when the ark of the covenant = was=20 taken by a foreign people. But Posthumus his brother reigned = among=20 the Latins.

12. After an = interval of=20 not less than eight hundred years, came the Picts, and = occupied the=20 Orkney Islands: whence they laid waste many regions, and = seized=20 those on the left hand side of Britain, where they still = remain,=20 keeping possession of a third part of Britain to this day. = [See=20 Bede's Eccles. Hist.]

13. Long = after this, the=20 Scots arrived in Ireland from Spain. The first that came was = Partholomus, [V.R. Partholomaeus, or Bartholomaeus] with a = thousand=20 men and women; these increased to four thousand; but a = mortality=20 coming suddenly upon them, they all perished in one week. = The second=20 was Nimech, the son of..., [A blank is here in the MS. = Agnomen is=20 found in some of the others.] who, according to report, = after having=20 been at sea a year and a half, and having his ships = shattered,=20 arrived at a port in Ireland, and continuing there several = years,=20 returned at length with his followers to Spain. After these = came=20 three sons of a Spanish soldier with thirty ships, each of = which=20 contained thirty wives; and having remained there during the = space=20 of a year, there appeared to them, in the middle of the sea, = a tower=20 of glass, the summit of which seemed covered with men, to = whom they=20 often spoke, but received no answer. At length they = determined to=20 besiege the tower; and after a year's preparation, advanced = towards=20 it, with the whole number of their ships, and all the women, = one=20 ship only excepted, which had been wrecked, and in which = were thirty=20 men, and as many women; but when all had disembarked on the = shore=20 which surrounded the tower, the sea opened and swallowed = them up.=20 Ireland, however, was peopled, to the present period, from = the=20 family remaining in the vessel which was wrecked. = Afterwards, other=20 came from Spain, and possessed themselves of various parts = of=20 Britain.

14. Last of = all came one=20 Hoctor, [V.R. Damhoctor, Clamhoctor, and Elamhoctor] who = continued=20 there, and whose descendants remain there to this day. = Istoreth, the=20 son of Istorinus, with his followers, held Dalrieta; Buile = had the=20 island Eubonia, and other adjacent places. The sons of = Liethali=20 [V.R. Liethan, Bethan, Vethan] obtained the country of the = dimetae,=20 where is a city called Menavia, [St. David's] and the = province=20 Guiher and Cetgueli, [Guiher, probably the Welsh district = Gower.=20 Cetgueli is Caer Kidwelly, in Carmarthenshire] which they = held till=20 they were expelled from every part of Britain, by Cunedda = and his=20 sons.

15. According = to the most=20 learned among the Scots, if any onedesires to learn what I = am now=20 going to state, Ireland was a desert, and uninhabited, when = the=20 children of Israel crossed the Red Sea, in which, as we read = in the=20 Book of the Law, the Egyptians who followed them were = drowned. At=20 that period, there lived among this people, with a numerous = family,=20 a Scythian of noble birth, who had been banished from his = country=20 and did not go to pursue the people of God. The Egyptians = who were=20 left, seeing the destruction of the great men of their = nation, and=20 fearing lest he should possess himself of their territory, = took=20 counsel together, and expelled him. Thus reduced, he = wandered=20 forty-two years in Africa, and arrived, with his family, at = the=20 altars of the Philistines, by the Lake of Osiers. Then = passing=20 between Rusicada and the hilly country of Syria, they = travelled by=20 the river Malva through Mauritania as far as the Pillars of=20 Hercules; and crossing the Tyrrhene Sea, landed in Spain, = where they=20 continued many years, having greatly increased and = multiplied.=20 Thence, a thousand and two years after the Egyptians were = lost in=20 the Red Sea, they passed into Ireland, and the district of = Dalrieta.=20 [North-western part of Antrim in Ulster] At that period, = Brutus, who=20 first exercised the consular office, reigned over the = Romans; and=20 the state, which before was governed by regal power, was = afterwards=20 ruled, during four hundred and forty-seven years, by = consuls,=20 tribunes of the people, and dictators.

The Britons = came to Britain=20 in the third age of the world; and in the fourth, the Scots = took=20 possession of Ireland. The Britons who, suspecting no = hostilities,=20 were unprovided with the means of defence, were unanimously = and=20 incessantly attacked, both by the Scots from the west, and = by the=20 Picts from the north. A long interval after this, the Romans = obtained the empire of the world.

16. From the = first arrival=20 of the Saxons into Britain, to the fourth year of king = Mermenus, are=20 computed four hundred and twenty eight years; from the = nativity of=20 our Lord to the coming of St. Patrick among the Scots, four = hundred=20 and five years; from the death of St. Patrick to that of St. = Bridget, forty years; and from the birth of Columeille [V.R. = Columba] to the death of St Bridget four years.[Some MSS. = add, the=20 beginning of the calculation is 23 cycles of 19 years from = the=20 incarnation of our Lord to the arrival of St. Patrick in = Ireland,=20 and they make 438 years. And from the arrival of St. Patrick = to the=20 cycle of 19 years in which we live are 22 cycles, which make = 421=20 years.]

17. I have = learned another=20 account of this Brutus from the ancient books of our = ancestors.=20 [This proves the tradition of Brutus to be older than = Geoffrey or=20 Tyssilio, unless these notices of Brutus have been = interpolated in=20 the original work of Nennius.] After the deluge, the three = sons of=20 Noah severally occupied three different parts of the earth: = Shem=20 extended his borders into Asia, Ham into Africa, and Japheth = in=20 Europe.

The first man = that dwelt in=20 Europe was Alanus, with his three sons, Hisicion, Armenon, = and=20 Neugio. Hisicion had four sons, Francus, Romanus, Alamanus, = and=20 Brutus. Armenon had five sons, Gothus, Valagothus, Cibidus,=20 Burgundus, and Longobardus. Neugio had three sons, Vandalus, = Saxo,=20 and Boganus. From Hisicion arose four nations--the Franks, = the=20 Latins, the Germans, and Britons: from Armenon, the Gothi,=20 Balagothi, Cibidi, Burgundi, and Longobardi: from Neugio, = the=20 Bogari, Vandali, Saxones, and Tarinegi. The whole of Europe = was=20 subdivided into these tribes. Alanus is said to have been = the son of=20 Fethuir; [This genealogy is different in almost all the MSS] = Fethuir, the son of Ogomuin, who was the son of Thoi; Thoi = was the=20 son of Boibus, Boibus of Semion, Semion of Mair, Mair of = Ecthactus,=20 Ecthactus of Aurthack, Aurthack of Ethec, Ethec of Ooth, = Ooth of=20 Aber, Aber of Ra, Ra of Esraa, Esraa of Hisrau, Hisrau of = Bath, Bath=20 of Jobath, Jobath of Joham, Joham of Japheth, Japheth of = Noah, Noah=20 of Lamech, Lamech of Mathusalem, Mathusalem of Enoch, Enoch = of=20 Jared, Jared of Malalehel, Malalehel of Cainan, Cainan of = Enos, Enos=20 of Seth, Seth of Adam, and Adam was formed by the living = God. We=20 have obtained this information respecting the original = inhabitants=20 of Britain from ancient tradition.

18. The = Britons were thus=20 called from Brutus: Brutus was the son of Hisicion, Hisicion = was the=20 son of Alanus, Alanus was the son of Rhea Silvia, Fhea = Silvia was=20 the daughter of Numa Pompilius, Numa was the son of = Ascanius,=20 Ascanius of Eneas, Eneas of Anchises, Anchises of Troius, = Troius of=20 Dardanus, Dardanus of Flisa, Flisa of Juuin, Juuin of = Japheth; but=20 Japheth had seven sons; from the first named Gomer, = descended the=20 Galli; from the second, Magog, the Scythi and Gothi; from = the third,=20 Madian, the Medi; from the fourth, Juuan, the Greeks; from = the=20 fifth, Tubal, arose the Hebrei, Hispani, and Itali; from the = sixth,=20 Mosoch, sprung the Cappadoces; and from the seventh, named = Tiras,=20 descended the Thraces: these are the sons of Japheth, the = son of=20 Noah, the son of Lamech.

19. [Some = MSS. add, I will=20 now return to the point from which I made this digression.] = The=20 Romans, having obtained the dominion of the world, sent = legates or=20 deputies to the Britons to demand of them hostages and = tribute,=20 which they received from all other countries and islands; = but they,=20 fierce, disdainful, and haughty, treated the legation with=20 contempt.

Then Julius = Caesar, the=20 first who had acquired absolute power at Rome, highly = incensed=20 against the Britons, sailed with sixty vessels to the mouth = of the=20 Thames, where they suffered shipwreck whilst he fought = against=20 Dolobellus, (the proconsul of the British king, who was = called=20 Belinus, and who was the son of Minocannus who governed all = the=20 islands of the Tyrrhene Sea), and thus Julius Caesar = returned home=20 without victory, having had his soldiers Slain, and his = ships=20 shattered.

20. But after = three years=20 he again appeared with a large army, and three hundred = ships, at the=20 mouth of the Thames, where he renewed hostilities. In this = attempt=20 many of his soldiers and horses were killed; for the same = consul had=20 placed iron pikes in the shallow part of the river, and this = having=20 been effected with so much skill and secrecy as to escape = the notice=20 of the Roman soldiers, did them considerable injury; thus = Caesar was=20 once more compelled to return without peace or victory. The = Romans=20 were, therefore, a third time sent against the Britons; and = under=20 the command of Julius, defeated them near a place called = Trinovantum=20 [London], forty-seven years before the birth of Christ, and = five=20 thousand two hundred and twelve years from the creation. = Julius was=20 the first exercising supreme power over the Romans who = invaded=20 Britain: in honour of him the Romans decreed the fifth month = to be=20 called after his name. He was assassinated in the Curia, in = the ides=20 of March, and Octavius Augustus succeeded to the empire of = the=20 world. He was the only emperor who received tribute from the = Britons, according to the following verse of Virgil: = "Purpurea=20 intexti tollunt aulaea Britanni."

21. The = second after him,=20 who came into Britain, was the emperor Claudius, who reigned = forty-seven years after the birth of Christ. He carried with = him war=20 and devastation; and, though not without loss of men, he at = length=20 conquered Britain. He next sailed to the Orkneys, which he = likewise=20 conquered, and afterwards rendered tributary. No tribute was = in his=20 time received from the Britons; but it was paid to = British=20 emperors. He reigned thirteen years and eight months. His = monument=20 is to be seen at Moguntia (among the Lombards), where he = died in his=20 way to Rome.

22. After the = birth of=20 Christ, one hundred and sixty-seven years, king Lucius, with = all the=20 chiefs of the British people, received baptism, in = consequence of a=20 legation sent by the Roman emperors and pope Evaristus. = [V.R.=20 Eucharistus. A marginal note in the Arundel MS. adds, "He is = wrong,=20 because the first year of Evaristus was A.D. 79, whereas the = first=20 year of Eleutherius, whom he ought to have named, was A.D. = 161."=20 Usher says, that in one MS. of Nennius he found the name of=20 Eleutherius.]

23. Severus = was the third=20 emperor who passed the sea to Britain, where, to protect the = provinces recovered from barbaric incursions, he ordered a = wall and=20 a rampart to be made between the Britons, the Scots, and the = Picts,=20 extending across the island from sea to sea, in length one = hundred=20 and thirty-three miles: and it is called in the British = language=20 Gwal. [Or, the Wall. One MS. here adds, "The above-mentioned = Severus=20 constructed it of rude workmanship in length 132 miles; i.e. = from=20 Penguaul, which village is called in Scottish Cenail, in = English=20 Peneltun, to the mouth of the river Cluth and Cairpentaloch, = where=20 this wall terminates; but it was of no avail. The emperor = Carausius=20 afterwards rebuilt it, and fortified it with seven castles = between=20 the two mouths: he built also a round house of polished = stones on=20 the banks of the river Carun [Carron]: he likewise erected a = triumphal arch, on which he inscribed his own name in memory = of his=20 victory.] Moreover, he ordered it to be made between the = Britons,=20 and the Picts and Scots; for the Scots from the west, and = the Picts=20 from the north, unanimously made war against the Britons; = but were=20 at peace among themselves. Not long after Severus dies in=20 Britain.

24. The = fourth was the=20 emperor and tyrant, Carausius, who, incensed at the murder = of=20 Severus, passed into Britain, and attended by the leaders of = the=20 Roman people, severely avenged upon the chiefs and rulers of = the=20 Britons, the cause of Severus. [This passage is corrupt, the = meaning=20 is briefly given in the
translation.]

25. The fifth = was=20 Constantius the father of Constantine the Great. He died in = Britain;=20 his sepulchre, as it appears by the inscription on his tomb, = is=20 still seen near the city named Cair segont (near = Carnarvon).=20 Upon the pavement of the above-mentioned city he sowed three = seeds=20 of gold, silver and brass, that no poor person might ever be = found=20 in it. It is also called Minmanton. [V.R. Mirmantum, = Mirmantun,=20 Minmanto, Minimantone. The Segontium of Antoninus, situated = on a=20 small river named Seiont, near Carnarvon.]

26. = Maximianus [This is an=20 inaccuracy of Nennius; Maximus and Maximianus were one and = the same=20 person; or rather no such person as Maximianus ever reigned = in=20 Britain.] was the sixth emperor that ruled in Britain. It = was in his=20 time that consuls [Geoffrey of Monmouth gives the title of = consul to=20 several
British generals who lived after this time. It is = not=20 unlikely that the town, name, and dignity, still lingered in = the=20 provinces after the Romans were gone, particularly as the = cities of=20 Britain maintained for a time a species of independence.] = began, and=20 that the appellation of Caesar was discontinued: at this = period=20 also, St. Martin became celebrated for his virtues and = miracles, and=20 held a conversation with him.

27. The = seventh emperor was=20 Maximus. He withdrew from Britain with all his military = force, slew=20 Gratian, the king of the Romans, and obtained the = sovereignty of all=20 Europe. Unwilling to send back his warlike companions to = their=20 wives, children, and possessions in Britain, he conferred = upon them=20 numerous districts from the lake on the summit of Mons = Jovis, to the=20 city called Cant Guic, and to the western Tumulus, that is, = to Cruc=20 Occident. [This district, in modern language, extended from = the=20 great St. Bernard in Piedmont to Cantavic in Picardy, and = from=20 Picardy to the western coast of France.] These are the = Armoric=20 Britons, and they remain there to the present day. In = consequence of=20 their absence, Britain being overcome by foreign nations, = the lawful=20 heirs were cast out, till God interposed with his = assistance. We are=20 informed by the tradition of our ancestors that seven = emperors went=20 into Britain, though the Romans affirm there were = nine.

28. Thus, = aggreeably to the=20 account given by the Britons, the Romans governed them four = hundred=20 and nine years. After this, the Britons despised the = authority of=20 the Romans, equally refusing to pay them tribute, or to = receive=20 their kings; nor durst the Romans any longer attempt the = government=20 of a country, the natives of which massacred their deputies. =

29. We must = now return to=20 the tyrant Maximus. Gratian, with his brother Valentinian, = reigned=20 seven years. Ambrose, bishop of Milan, was then eminent for = his=20 skill in the dogmata of the Catholics. Valentinianus and = Theodosius=20 reigned eight years. At that time a synod was held at=20 Constantinople, attended by three hundred and fifty of the = fathers,=20 and in which all heresies were condemned. Jerome, the = presbyter of=20 Bethlehem, was then universally celebrated. Whilst Gratian = exercised=20 supreme dominion over the world, Maximus, in a sedition of = the=20 soldiers, was saluted emperor in Britain, and soon after = crossed the=20 sea to Gaul. At Paris, by the treachery of Mellobaudes, his = master=20 of the horse, Gratian was defeated and fleeing to Lyons, was = taken=20 and put to death; Maximus afterwards associated his son = victor in=20 the government. Martin, distinguished for his great virtues, = was at=20 this period bishop of Tours. After a considerable space of = time,=20 Maximus was divested of royal power by the consuls = Valentinianus and=20 Theodosius, and sentenced to be beheaded at the third = mile-stone=20 from Aquileia: in the same year also his son Victor was = killed in=20 Gaul by Arbogastes, five thousand six hundred and ninety = years from=20 the creation of the world.

30. Thrice = were the Roman=20 deputies put to death by the Britons, and yet these, when = harassed=20 by the incursions of the barbarous nations, viz. Of the = Scots and=20 Picts, earnestly solicited the aid of the Romans. To give = effect to=20 their entreaties, ambassadors were sent, who made their = entrance=20 with impressions of deep sorrow, having their heads covered = with=20 dust, and carrying rich presents, to expiate the murder of = the=20 deputies. They were favourably received by the consuls, and = swore=20 submission to the Roman yoke, with whatever severity it = might be=20 imposed. The Romans, therefore, came with a powerful army to = the=20 assistance of the Britons; and having appointed over them a = ruler,=20 and settled the government, returned to Rome: and this took = place=20 alternately during the space of three hundred and = forty-eight years.=20 The Britons, however, from the oppression of the empire, = again=20 massacred The Roman deputies, and again petitioned for = succour. Once=20 more the Romans undertook the government of the Britons, and = assisted them in repelling their neighbours; and, after = having=20 exhausted the country of its gold, silver, brass, honey, and = costly=20 vestments, and having besides received rich gifts, they = returned in=20 great triumph to Rome.

31. After the = above-said=20 war between the Britons and Romans, the assassination of = their=20 rulers, and the victory of Maximus, who slew Gratian, and = the=20 termination of the Roman power in Britain, they were in = alarm forty=20 years. Vortigern then reigned in Britain. In his time, the = natives=20 had cause of dread, not only from the inroads of the Scots = and=20 Picts, but also from the Romans, and their apprehensions of=20 Ambrosius. [These words relate evidently to some cause of = dispute=20 between the Romans, Ambrosius, and Vortigern. Vortigern is = said to=20 have been sovereign of the Dimetae, and Ambrosius son to the = king of=20 the Damnonii. The latter was half a Roman by descent, and = naturally=20 supported the Roman interest: the former was entirely a = Briton, and=20 as naturally seconded by the original Britons.]

In the = meantime, three=20 vessels, exiled from Germany, arrived in Britain. They were=20 commanded by Horsa and Hengist, brothers, and sons of = Wihtgils.=20 Wihtgils was the son of Witta; Witta of Wecta; Wecta of = Woden; Woden=20 of Frithowald; Frithowald of Frithuwulf; Frithuwulf of Finn; = Finn of=20 Godwulf; Godwulf of Geat, who, as they say, was the son of a = god,=20 not [V.R. not the God of gods, the Amen, the Lord of Hosts, = but one=20 of their idols which they worshipped.] of the omnipotent God = and our=20 Lord Jesus Christ (who before the beginning of the world, = was with=20 the Father and the Holy Spirit, co-eternal and of the same=20 substance, and who, in compassion to human nature, disdained = not to=20 assume the form of a servant), but the offspring of one of = their=20 idols, and whom, blinded by some demon, they worshipped = according to=20 the custom of the heathen. Vortigern received them as = friends, and=20 delivered up to them the island which is in their language = called=20 Thanet, and, by the Britons, Ruym. [Sometimes called = Ruoichin,=20 Ruith-in, or "river island," separated from the rest of Kent = and the=20 mainland of Britain by the estuary of the Wantsum, which, = though now=20 a small brook, was formerly navigable for large vessels, and = in=20 Bede's time was three stadia broad, and fordable only at two = places.] Gratianus Aequantius at that time reigned in Rome. = The=20 Saxons were received by Vortigern, four hundred and = forty-seven=20 years after the passion of Christ, and, [The rest of this = sentence=20 is omitted in some of the MSS] according to the tradition of = our=20 ancestors, from the period of their first arrival in = Britain, to the=20 first year of the reign of king Edmund, five hundred and = forty-two=20 years; and to that in which we now write, which is the fifth = of his=20 reign, five hundred and forty-seven years.

32. At that = time St.=20 Germanus, distinguished for his numerous virtues, came to = preach in=20 Britain: by his ministry many were saved; but many likewise = died=20 unconverted. Of the various miracles which God enabled him = to=20 perform, I shall here mention only a few: I shall first = advert to=20 that concerning an iniquitous and tyrannical king, named = Benlli.=20 [King of Powys. V.R. Benli in the district of Ial (in = Derbyshire);=20 in the district of Dalrieta; Belinus; Beluni; and Benty.] = The holy=20 man, informed of his wicked conduct, hastened to visit him, = for the=20 purpose of remonstrating him. When the man of God, with his=20 attendants, arrived at the gate of the city, they were = respectfully=20 received by the keeper of it, who came out and saluted them. = Him=20 they commissioned to communicate their intention to the = king, who=20 returned a harsh answer, declaring, with an oath, that = although they=20 remained there a year, they should not enter the city. While = waiting=20 for an answer, the evening came on, and they knew not where = to go.=20 At length, came one of the king's servants, who bowing = himself=20 before the man of God, announced the words of the tyrant, = inviting=20 them, at the same time, to his own house, to which they = went, and=20 were kindly received. It happened, however, that he had no = cattle,=20 except one cow and a calf, the latter of which, urged by = generous=20 hospitality to his guests, he killed, dressed and set before = them.=20 But holy St. Germanus ordered his companions not to break a = bone of=20 the calf; and, the next morning, it was found alive = uninjured, and=20 standing by its mother.

33. Early the = same day,=20 they again went to the gate of the city, to solicit audience = of the=20 wicked king; and, whilst engaged in fervent prayer they were = waiting=20 for admission, a man, covered with sweat, came out, and = prostrated=20 himself before them. Then St. Germanus, addressing him, said = "Dost=20 thou believe in the Holy Trinity?" To which the man having = replied,=20 "I do believe," he baptized, and kissed him, saying, "Go in = peace;=20 within this hour thou shalt die: the angels of God are = waiting for=20 thee in the air; with them thou shalt ascent to that God in = whom=20 thou has believed.: He, overjoyed, entered the city, and = being met=20 by the prefect, was seized, bound, and conducted before the = tyrant,=20 who having passed sentence upon him, he was immediately put = to=20 death; for it was a law of this wicked king, that whoever = was not at=20 his labour before sun-rising should be beheaded in the = citadel. In=20 the meantime, St. Germanus, with his attendants, waited the = whole=20 day before the gate, without obtaining admission to the = tyrant.=20

34. The man=20 above-mentioned, however, remained with them. "Take care," = said St.=20 Germanus to him, "that none of your friends remain this = night within=20 these walls. Upon this he hastily entered the city, = brought=20 out his nine sons, and with them retired to the house where = he had=20 exercised such generous hospitality. Here St. Germanus = ordered them=20 to continue, fasting; and when the gates were shut, "Watch," = said=20 he, "and whatever shall happen in the citadel, turn not = thither your=20 eyes; but pray without ceasing, and invoke the protection of = the=20 true God." And, behold, early in the night, fire fell from = heaven,=20 and burned the city, together with all those who were with = the=20 tyrant, so that not one escaped; and that citadel has never = been=20 rebuilt even to this day.

35. The = following day, the=20 hospitable man who had been converted by the preaching of = St.=20 Germanus, was baptized, with his sons, and all the = inhabitants of=20 that part of the country; and St. Germanus blessed him, = saying, "a=20 king shall not be wanting of thy seed for ever." The name of = this=20 person is Catel Drunlue: [Or Cadell Deyrnllug, prince of the = Vale=20 Royal and the upper part of Powys.] "from hence-forward thou = shalt=20 be a king all the days of thy life." Thus was fulfilled the = prophecy=20 of the Psalmist: "He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, = and=20 lifteth up the needy out of the dunghill." And agreeably to = the=20 prediction of St. Germanus, from a servant he became a king: = all his=20 sons were kings, and from their offspring the whole country = of Powys=20 has been governed to this day.

36. After the = Saxons had=20 continued some time in the island of Thanet, Vortigern = promised to=20 supply them with clothing and provision, on condition they = would=20 engage to fight against the enemies of his country. But the=20 barbarians having greatly increased in number, the Britons = became=20 incapable of fulfilling their engagement; and when the = Saxons,=20 according to the promise they had received, claimed a supply = of=20 provisions and clothing, the Britons replied, "Your number = is=20 increased; your assistance is now unneccessary; you may, = therefore,=20 return home, for we can no longer support you;" and hereupon = they=20 began to devise means of breaking the peace between = them.

37. But = Hengist, in whom=20 united craft and penetration, perceiving he had to act with = an=20 ignorant king, and a fluctuating people, incapable of = opposing much=20 resistance, replied to Vortigern, "We are, indeed, few in = number;=20 but, if you will give us leave, we will send to our country = for an=20 additional number of forces, with whom we will fight for you = and=20 your subjects." Vortigern assenting to this proposal, = messengers=20 were despatched to Scythia, where selecting a number of = warlike=20 troops, they returned with sixteen vessels, bringing with = them the=20 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=20 his daughter to serve them so profusely with wine and ale, = that they=20 might soon become intoxicated. This plan succeeded; and = Vortigern,=20 at the instigation of the devil, and enamoured with the = beauty of=20 the damsel, demanded her, through the medium of his = interpreter, of=20 the father, promising to give for her whatever he should = ask. Then=20 Hengist, who had already consulted with the elders who = attended him=20 of the Oghgul [V.R. Who had come with him from the island of = Oghgul,=20 Oehgul
(or Tingle), Angul. According to Gunn, a small = island in=20 the duchy of Sleswick in Denmark, now called Angel, of which = Flensburg is the metropolis. Hence the origin of the = Angles.] race,=20 demanded for his daughter the province, called in English, = Centland,=20 in British, Ceint, (Kent.) This cession was made without the = knowledge of the king, Guoyrancgonus, [ V.R. Gnoiram cono,=20 Goiranegono, Guiracgono. Malmesbury, Gorongi; Camden, = Guorong,=20 supposed to mean governor, or viceroy.] who then reigned in = Kent,=20 and who experienced no inconsiderable share of grief, from = seeing=20 his kingdom thus clandestinely, fraudulently, and = imprudently=20 resigned to foreigners. Thus the maid was delivered up to = the king,=20 who slept with her, and loved her exceedingly.

38. Hengist, = after this,=20 said to Vortigern, "I will be to you both a father and an = adviser;=20 despise not my counsels, and you shall have no reason to = fear being=20 conquered by any man or any nation whatever; for the people = of my=20 country are strong, warlike, and robust: if you approve, I = will send=20 for my son and his brother, both valiant men, who at my = invitation=20 will fight against the Scots, and you can give them the = countries in=20 the north, near the wall called Gual." [Antoninus's wall.] = The=20 incautious sovereign having assented to this, Octa and Ebusa = arrived=20 with forty ships. In these they sailed round the country of = the=20 Picts, laid waste the Orkneys, and took possession of many = regions,=20 even to the Pictish confines.[Some MSS. add, "beyond the = Frenesic,=20 Fresicum (or Fresic) sea," i.e. which is between us and the = Scotch.=20 The sea between Scotland and Ireland. Camden translates it = "beyond=20 the Frith;" Langhorne says, "Solway Frith."]

But Hengist = continued, by=20 degrees, sending for ships from his own country, so that = some=20 islands whence they came were left without inhabitants; and = whilst=20 his people were increasing in power and number, they came to = the=20 above-named province of Kent.

39. In the = meantime,=20 Vortigern, as if desirous of adding to the evils he had = already=20 occasioned, married his own daughter, by whom he had a son. = When=20 this was made known to St. Germanus, he came, with all the = British=20 clergy, to reprove him: and whilst a numerous assembly of = the=20 ecclesiastics and laity were in consultation, the weak king = ordered=20 his daughter to appear before them, and in the presence of = all to=20 present her son to St. Germanus, and declare that he was the = father=20 of the child. The immodest [V.R. "Immodest" is omitted in = some MSS]=20 woman obeyed; and St. Germanus, taking the child, said, "I = will be a=20 father to you, my son; nor will I dismiss you till a razor,=20 scissors, and comb, are given to me, and it is allowed you = to give=20 them to your carnal father." The child obeyed St. Germanus, = and=20 going to his father Vortigern, said to him, "Thou art my = father;=20 shave and cut the hair of my head." The king blushed, and = was=20 silent; and, without replying to the child, arose in great = anger,=20 and fled from the presence of St. Germanus, execrated and = condemned=20 by the whole synod.

40. But soon = after, calling=20 together his twelve wise men, to consult what was to be = done, they=20 said to him, "Retire to the remote boundaries of your = kingdom; there=20 build and fortify a city [V.R. You shall find a fortified = city in=20 which you may defend yourself.] to defend yourself, for the = people=20 you have received are treacherous; they are seeking to = subdue you by=20 stratagem, and, even during your life, to seize upon all the = countries subject to your power, how much more will they = attempt,=20 after your death!" The king, pleased with this advice, = departed with=20 his wise men, and travelled through many parts of his = territories,=20 in search of a place convenient for the purpose of building = a=20 citadel. Having, to no purpose, travelled far and wide, they = came at=20 length to a province called Guenet; [V.R. Guined, Guoienet, = Guenez,=20 North Wales.] and having surveyed the mountains of Heremus, = [V.R.=20 Heremi, Heriri, or Eryri, signifying eagle rocks, the = mountains of=20 Snowdon, in Carnarvonshire. The spot alluded to is supposed = to be=20 Dinas Emrys, or the fortress of Ambrosius.] they discovered, = on the=20 summit of one of them, a situation, adapted to the = consturction of a=20 citadel. Upon this, the wise men said to the king, "Build = here a=20 city: for, in this place, it will ever be secure against the = barbarians." Then the king sent for artificers, carpenters,=20 stone-masons, and collected all the materials requisite to = building;=20 but the whole of these disappeared in one night, so that = nothing=20 remained of what had been provided for the constructing of = the=20 citadel. Materials were, therefore, from all parts, procured = a=20 second and third time, and again vanished as before, leaving = and=20 rendering every effort ineffectual. Vortigern inquired of = his wise=20 men the cause of this opposition to his undertaking, and of = so much=20 useless expense of labour? They replied, "You must find a = child born=20 without a father, put him to death, and sprinkle with his = blood the=20 ground on which the citadel is to be built, or you will = never=20 accomplish your purpose."

41. In = consequence of this=20 reply, the king sent messengers through-out Britain, in = search of a=20 child born without a father. After having inquired in all = the=20 provinces, they came to the field of Aelecti, [V.R. Elleti, = Electi,=20 Gleti. Supposed to be Bassalig in Monmouthshire.] in the = district of=20 Glevesing, [The district between the Usk and Rumney, in=20 Monmouthshire.] where a party of boys were playing at ball. = And two=20 of them quarrelling, one said to the other, "O boy without a = father,=20 no good will ever happen to you." Upon this, the messengers=20 diligently inquired of the mother and the other boys, = whether he had=20 had a father? Which his mother denied, saying, "In what = manner he=20 was conceived I know not, for I have never had intercourse = with any=20 man;" and then she solemnly affirmed that he had no mortal = father.=20 The boy was, therefore, led away, and conducted before = Vortigern the=20 king.

42. A meeting = took place=20 the next day for the purpose of putting him to death. Then = the boy=20 said to the king, "Why have your servants brought me = hither?" "That=20 you may be put to death," replied the king, "and that the = ground on=20 which my citadel is to stand, may be sprinkled with your = blood,=20 without which I shall be unable to build it." "Who," said = the boy,=20 "instructed you to do this?" "My wise men," answered the = king.=20 "Order them hither," returned the boy; this being complied = with, he=20 thus questioned them: "By what means was it revealed to you = that=20 this citadel could not be built, unless the spot were = previously=20 sprinkled with my blood? Speak without disguise, and declare = who=20 discovered me to you;" then turning to the king, "I will = soon," said=20 he, "unfold to you every thing; but I desire to question = your wise=20 men, and wish them to disclose to you what is hidden under = this=20 pavement:" they acknowledging their ignorance, "there is," = said he,=20 "a pool; come and dig:" they did so, and found the pool. = "Now,"=20 continued he, "tell me what is in it;" but they were = ashamed, and=20 made no reply. "I," said the boy, "can discover it to you: = there are=20 two vases in the pool;" they examined and found it so: = continuing=20 his questions, "What is in the vases?" they were silent: = "there is a=20 tent in them," said the boy; "separate them, and you shall=20 find it so;" this being done by the king's command, = there was=20 found in them a folded tent. The boy, going on with his = questions,=20 asked the wise men what was in it? But they not knowing what = to=20 reply, "There are," said he, "two serpents, one white and = the other=20 red; unfold the tent;" they obeyed, and two sleeping = serpents were=20 discovered; "consider attentively," said the boy, "what they = are=20 doing." The serpents began to struggle with each other; and = the=20 white one, raising himself up, threw down the other into the = middle=20 of the tent, and sometimes drove him to the edge of it; and = this was=20 repeated thrice. At length the red one, apparently the = weaker of the=20 two, recovering his strength, expelled the white one from = the tent;=20 and the latter being pursued through the pool by the red = one,=20 disappeared. Then the boy, asking the wise men what was = signified by=20 this wonderful omen, and they expressing their ignorance, he = said to=20 the king, "I will now unfold to you the meaning of this = mystery. The=20 pool is the emblem of this world, and the tent that of your = kingdom:=20 the two serpents are two dragons; the red serpent is your = dragon,=20 but the white serpent is the dragon of the people who occupy = several=20 provinces and districts of Britain, even almost from sea to = sea: at=20 length, however, our people shall rise and drive away the = Saxon race=20 from beyond the sea, whence they originally came; but do you = depart=20 from this place, where you are not permitted to erect a = citadel; I,=20 to whom fate has allotted this mansion, shall remain here; = whilst to=20 you it is incumbent to seek other provinces, where you may = build a=20 fortress." "What is your name?" asked the king; "I am called = Ambrose=20 (in British Embresguletic)," returned the boy; and in answer = to the=20 king's question, "What is your origin?" he replied, "A Roman = consul=20 was my father." Then the king assigned him that city, with = all the=20 western Provinces of Britain; and departing with his wise = men to the=20 sinistral district, he arrived in the region named Gueneri, = where he=20 built a city which, according to his name, was called Cair=20 Guorthegirn. [An ancient scholiast adds, "He then built = Guasmoric,=20 near Lugubalia [Carlisle], a city which in English is called = Palmecaster." Some difference of opinion exists among = antiquaries=20 respecting the site of vortigern's castle or city. Usher = places it=20 at Gwent, Monmouthshire, which name, he ways, was taken from = Caer-Went, near Chepstow. This appears to agree with = Geoffrey's=20 account, {illegible} See Usher's Britan. Eccles. cap. v. = p.23.=20 According to others, supposed to be the city from the ruins = of which=20 arose the castle of Gurthrenion, in Radnorshire, Camden's = Britannia,=20 p.479. Whitaker, however, says that Cair Guorthegirn was the = Maridunum of the Romans, and the present Caermarthen. = (Hist.=20 Of Manchester, book ii. c. 1.) See also Nennius, = sec.47.]

43. At length = Vortimer, the=20 son of Vortigern, valiantly fought against Hengist, Horsa, = and his=20 people; drove them to the isle of Thanet, and thrice = enclosed them=20 within it, and beset them on the Western side.

The Saxons = now despatched=20 deputies to Germany to solicit large reinforcements, and an=20 additional number of ships: having obtained these, they = fought=20 against the kings and princes of Britain, and sometimes = extended=20 their boundaries by victory, and sometimes were conquered = and driven=20 back.

44. Four = times did Vortimer=20 valorously encounter the enemy; [Some MSS. here add, "This = Vortimer,=20 the son of Vortigern, in a synod held at Guartherniaun, = after the=20 wicked king, on account of the incest committed with his = daughter,=20 fled from the face of Germanus and the British clergy, would = not=20 consent to his father's wickedness; but returning to St. = Germanus,=20 and falling down at his feet, he sued for pardon; and in = atonement=20 for the calumny brought upon Germanus by his father and = sister, gave=20 him the land, in which the forementioned bishop had endured = such=20 abuse, to be his for ever. Whence, in memory of St. = Germanus, it=20 received the name Guarenniaun (Guartherniaun, Gurthrenion, = Gwarth=20 Ennian) which signifies, a calumny justly retorted, since, = when he=20 thought to reproach the bishop, he covered himself with = reproach."]=20 the first has been mentioned, the second was upon the river = Darent,=20 the third at the Ford, in their language called Epsford, = though in=20 ours Set thirgabail, [According to Langhorne, Epsford was = afterwards=20 called, in the British tongue, Saessenaeg habail, or 'the = slaughter=20 of the Saxons.'] there Horsa fell, and Catigern, the son of=20 Vortigern; the fourth battle he fought was near the stone = [V.R. "The=20 stone of Titulus, thought to be Stone in Kent, or = Larger-stone in=20 Suffolk.] on the shore of the Gallic sea, where the Saxons = being=20 defeated, fled to their ships.

After a short = interval=20 Vortimer died; before his decease, anxious for the future = prosperity=20 of his country, he charged his friends to inter his body at = the=20 entrance of the Saxon port, viz. upon the rock where the = Saxons=20 first landed; "for though," said he, "they may inhabit other = parts=20 of Britain, yet if you follow my commands, they will never = remain in=20 this island." They imprudently disobeyed this last = injunction, and=20 neglected to bury him where he had appointed. [Rapin says he = was=20 buried at Lincoln; Geoffrey, at London.]

45. After = this the=20 barbarians became firmly incorporated, and were assisted by = foreign=20 pagans; for Vortigern was their friend, on account of the = daughter=20 [V.R. Of his wife, and no one was able manfully to drive = them off=20 because they had occupied Britain not from their own valour, = but by=20 God's permission.] of Hengist, whom he so much loved, that = no one=20 durst fight against him-in the meantime they soothed the = imprudent=20 king, and whilst practising every appearance of fondness, = were=20 plotting with his enemies. And let him that reads = understand, that=20 the Saxons were victorious, and ruled Britain, not from = their=20 superior prowess, but on account of the great sins of the = Britons:=20 God so permitting it.

For what wise = man will=20 resist the wholesome counsel of God? The Almighty is the = King of=20 kings, and the Lord of lords, ruling and judging every one,=20 according to his own pleasure.

After the = death of=20 Vortimer, Hengist being strengthened by new accessions, = collected=20 his ships, and calling his leaders together, consulted by = what=20 stratagem they might overcome Vortigern and his army; with = insidious=20 intention they sent messengers to the king, with offers of = peace and=20 perpetual friendship; unsuspicious of treachery, the = monarch, after=20 advising with his elders, accepted the proposals.

46. Hengist, = under pretence=20 of ratifying the treaty, prepared an entertainment, to which = he=20 invited the king, the nobles, and military officers, in = number about=20 three hundred; speciously concealing his wicked intention, = he=20 ordered three hundred Saxons to conceal each a knife under = his feet,=20 and to mix with the Britons; "and when," said he, "they are=20 sufficiently inebriated, &c. cry out, 'Nimed eure = Saxes,' then=20 let each draw his knife, and kill his man; but spare the = king, on=20 account of his marriage with my daughter, for it is better = that he=20 should be ransomed than killed."

The king with = his company,=20 appeared at the feast; and mixing with the Saxons, who, = whilst they=20 spoke peace with their tongues, cherished treachery in their = hearts,=20 each man was placed next to his enemy. After they had eaten = and=20 drunk, and were much intoxicated, Hengist suddenly=20 vociferated, "Nimed eure Saxes!" and instantly his adherents = drew=20 their knives, and rushing upon the Britons, each slew him = that sat=20 next to him, and there was slain three hundred of the nobles = of=20 Vortigern. The king being a captive, purchased his = redemption, by=20 delivering up the three provinces of East, South, and Middle = Sex,=20 besides other districts at the option of his = betrayers.

47. St. = Germanus admonished=20 Vortigern to turn to the true God, and abstain from all = unlawful=20 intercourse with his daughter; but the unhappy wretch fled = for=20 refuge to the province Guorthegirnaim, [A district of = Radnorshire,=20 forming the present hundred of Rhaiadr.] so called from his = own=20 name, where he concealed himself with his wives: but St. = Germanus=20 followed him with all the British clergy, and upon a rock = prayed for=20 his sins during forty days and forty nights.

The Blessed = man was=20 unanimously chosen commander against the Saxons. And then, = not by=20 the clang of trumpets, but by praying, singing hallelujah, = and by=20 the cries of the army to God, the enemies were routed, and = driven=20 even to the sea. [V.R. This paragraph is omitted in the = MSS.] Again=20 Vortigern ignominiously flew from St. Germanus to the = kingdom of the=20 Dimetae, where, on the river Towy, [The Tobias of Ptolemy] = he built=20 a castle, which he named Cair Guothergirn. The saint, as = usual,=20 followed him there, and with his clergy fasted and prayed to = the=20 Lord three days, and as many nights. On the third night, at = the=20 third hour, fire fell suddenly from heaven, and totally = burned the=20 castle. Vortigern, the daughter of Hengist, his other wives, = and all=20 the inhabitants, both men and women, miserably perished: = such was=20 the end of this unhappy king, as we find written in the life = of St.=20 Germanus.

48. Others = assure us, that=20 being hated by all the people of Britain, for having = received the=20 Saxons, and being publicly charged by St. Germanus and the = clergy in=20 the sight of God, he betook himself to flight; and, that = deserted=20 and a wanderer, he sought a place of refuge, till broken = hearted, he=20 made an ignominious end. Some accounts state, that the earth = opened=20 and swallowed him up, on the night his castle was burned; as = no=20 remains were discovered the following morning, either of = him, or of=20 those who were burned with him.

He had three = sons: the=20 eldest was Vortimer, who, as we have seen, fought four times = against=20 the Saxons, and put them to flight; the second Categirn, who = was=20 slain in the same battle with Horsa; the third was Pascent, = who=20 reigned in the two provinces Builth and Guorthegirnaim, [In = the=20 northern part of the present counties of Radnor and = Brecknock.]=20 after the death of his father. These were granted him by = Ambrosius,=20 who was the great king among the kings of Britain. The = fourth was=20 Faustus, born of an incestuous marriage with his daughter, = who was=20 brought up and educated by St. Germanus. He built a large = monastery=20 on the banks of the river Renis, called after his name, and = which=20 remains to the present period. [V.R. The MSS. add, 'and he = had one=20 daughter, who was the mother of St. Faustus.']

49. This is = the genealogy=20 of Vortigern, which goes back to Fernvail, [Fernvail, or = Farinmail,=20 appears to have been king of Gwent or Monmouth.] who reigned = in the=20 kingdom of Guorthegirnaim, [V.R. 'Two provinces, Builth and=20 Guorthegirnaim.'] and was the son of Teudor; Teudor was the = son of=20 Pascent; Pascent of Guoidcant; Guoidcant of Moriud; Moriud = of Eltat;=20 Eltat of Eldoc; Eldoc of Paul; Paul of Meuprit; Meuprit of = Braciat;=20 Braciat of Pascent; Pascent of Guorthegirn, Guorthegirn of=20 Guortheneu; Guortheneu of Guitaul; Guitaul of Guitolion; = Guitolion=20 of Gloui. Bonus, Paul, Mauron, Guotelin, were four brothers, = who=20 built Gloiuda, a great city upon the banks of the river = Severn, and=20 in Birtish is called Cair Gloui, in Saxon, Gloucester. = Enough has=20 been said of Vortigern.

50. St. = Germanus, after his=20 death, returned into his own country. [V.R. All this to the = word=20 'Amen,' in other MSS. is placed after the legend of St. = Patrick.] At=20 that time, the Saxons greatly increased in Britain, both in = strength=20 and numbers. And Octa, after the death of his father = Hengist, came=20 from the sinistral part of the island to the kingdom of = Kent, and=20 from him have proceeded all the kings of that province, to = the=20 present period.

Then it was, = that the=20 magnanimous Arthur, with all the kings and military force of = Britain, fought against the Saxons. And though there were = many more=20 noble than himself, yet he was twelve times chosen their = commander,=20 and was as often conqueror. The first battle in which he was = engaged, was at the mouth of the river Gleni. = [Supposed by=20 some to be the Glem, in Lincolnshire; but most probably the = Glen, in=20 the northern part of Northumberland.] The second, third, = fourth, and=20 fifth, were on another river, by the Britons called Duglas, = [Or=20 Dubglas. The little river Dunglas, which formed the southern = boundary of Lothian. Whitaker says, the river Duglas, in = Lancashire,=20 near Wigan.] in the region Linuis. The sixth, on the river = Bassas.=20 [Not a river, but an isolated rock in the Frith of Forth, = near the=20 town of North Berwick, called "The Bass." Some think it is = the river=20 Lusas, in Hampshire.] The seventh in the wood Celidon, which = the=20 Britons call Cat Coit Celidon. [The Caledonian forest; or = the forest=20 of Englewood, extending from Penrith to Carlisle.] The = eighth was=20 near Gurnion castle, [Variously supposed to be in Cornwall, = or=20 Binchester in Durham, but most probably the Roman station of = Garionenum, near Yarmouth, in Norfolk.] where Arthur bore = the image=20 of the Holy Virgin, [V.R. The image of the cross of Christ, = and of=20 the perpetual virgin St. Mary.] mother of God, upon his = shoulders,=20 and through the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the holy = Mary,=20 put the Saxons to flight, and pursued them the whole day = with great=20 slaughter. [V.R. For Arthur proceeded to Jerusalem, and = there made a=20 cross to the size of the Saviour's cross, and there it was=20 consecrated, and for three successive days he fasted, = watched, and=20 prayed, before the Lord's cross, that the Lord would give = him the=20 victory, by this sign, over the heathen; which also took = place, and=20 he took with him the image of St. Mary, the fragments of = which are=20 still preserved in great veneration at Wedale, in English = Wodale, in=20 Latin Vallis-doloris. Wodale is a village in the province of = Lodonesia, but now of the jurisdiction of the bishop of St.=20 Andrew's, of Scotland, six miles on the west of that = heretofore=20 noble and eminent monastery of Meilros.] The ninth was at = the City=20 of Legion, [Exeter.] which is called Cair Lion. The tenth = was on the=20 banks of the river Trat Treuroit. [Or Ribroit, the Brue, in=20 Somersetshire; or the Ribble, in Lancashire. ] The eleventh = was on=20 the mountain Breguoin, which we call Cat Bregion. [Or Agned=20 Cathregonion, Cadbury, in Somersetshire; or Edinburgh] The = twelfth=20 was a most severe contest, when Arthur penetrated to the = hill of=20 Badon. [Bath.] In this engagement, nine hundred and forty = fell by=20 his hand alone, no one but the Lord affording him = assistance. In all=20 these engagements the Britons were successful. For no = strength can=20 avail against the will of the Almighty.

The more the = Saxons were=20 vanquished, the more they sought for new supplies of Saxons = from=20 Germany; so that kings, commanders, and military bands were = invited=20 over from almost every province. And this practice they = continued=20 till the reign of Ida, who was the son of Eoppa, he, of the = Saxon=20 race, was the first king in Bernicia, and in Cair Ebrauc=20 (York).

When Gratian = Aequantius was=20 consul at rome, because then the whole world was governed by = the=20 Roman consuls, the Saxons were received by Vortigern in the = year of=20 our Lord four hundred and forty-seven, and to the year in = which we=20 now write, five hundred and forty-seven. And whosoever shall = read=20 herein may receive instruction, the Lord Jesus Christ = affording=20 assistance, who, co-eternal with the Father and the Holy = Ghost,=20 lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen. In those days = Saint=20 Patrick was captive among the Scots. His master's name was = Milcho,=20 to whom he was a swineherd for seven years. When he had = attained the=20 age of seventeen he gave him his liberty. By the divine = impulse, he=20 applied himself to reading of the Scriptures, and afterwards = went to=20 Rome; where, replenished with the Holy Spirit, he continued = a great=20 while, studying the sacred mysteries of those writings. = During his=20 continuance there, Palladius, the first bishop, was sent by = pope=20 Celestine to convert the Scots [the Irish]. But tempests and = signs=20 from God prevented his landing, for no one can arrive in any = country, except it be allowed from above; altering therefore = his=20 course from Ireland, he came to Britain and died in the land = of the=20 Picts. [At Fordun, in the district of Mearns, in=20 Scotland-Usher.]

51. The death = of Palladius=20 being known, the Roman patricians, Theodosius and = Valentinian, then=20 reigning, pope Celestine sent Patrick to convert the Scots = to the=20 faith of the Holy Trinity; Victor, the angel of God, = accompanying,=20 admonishing, and assisting him, and also the bishop=20 Germanus.

Germanus then = sent the=20 ancient Segerus with him as a venerable and praiseworthy = bishop, to=20 king Amatheus, [V.R. Germanus "sent the elder Segerus with = him to a=20 wonderful man, the holy bishop Amathearex." Another MS. = "Sent the=20 elder Segerus, a bishop, with him to Amatheorex."] who lived = near,=20 and who had prescience of what was to happen; he was = consecrated=20 bishop in the reign of that king by the holy pontiff, [V.R.=20 "Received the episcopal degree from the holy bishop = Amatheorex."=20 Another MS. "Received the episcopal degree from Matheorex = and the=20 holy bishop."] assuming the name of Patrick, having hitherto = been=20 known by that of Maun; Auxilius, Isserninus, and other = brothers were=20 ordained with him to inferior degrees.

52. Having = distributed=20 benedictions, a