35。Thefollowingday,thehospitablemanwhohadbeenconvertedbythepreachingofSt。Germanus,wasbaptized,withhissons,andalltheinhabitantsofthatpartofthecountry;andSt。Germanusblessedhim,saying,"akingshallnotbewantingofthyseedforever。"ThenameofthispersonisCatelDrunlue:*"fromhence—
forwardthoushaltbeakingallthedaysofthylife。"ThuswasfulfilledtheprophecyofthePsalmist:"Heraisethupthepooroutofthedust,andliftethuptheneedyoutofthedunghill。"
AndagreeablytothepredictionofSt。Germanus,fromaservanthebecameaking:allhissonswerekings,andfromtheiroffspringthewholecountryofPowyshasbeengovernedtothisday。
*OrCadellDeyrnllug,princeoftheValeRoyalandtheupperpartofPowys。
36。AftertheSaxonshadcontinuedsometimeintheislandofThanet,Vortigernpromisedtosupplythemwithclothingandprovision,onconditiontheywouldengagetofightagainsttheenemiesofhiscountry。Butthebarbarianshavinggreatlyincreasedinnumber,theBritonsbecameincapableoffulfillingtheirengagement;andwhentheSaxons,accordingtothepromisetheyhadreceived,claimedasupplyofprovisionsandclothing,theBritonsreplied,"Yournumberisincreased;yourassistanceisnowunneccessary;youmay,therefore,returnhome,forwecannolongersupportyou;"andhereupontheybegantodevisemeansofbreakingthepeacebetweenthem。
37。ButHengist,inwhomunitedcraftandpenetration,perceivinghehadtoactwithanignorantking,andafluctuatingpeople,incapableofopposingmuchresistance,repliedtoVortigern,"Weare,indeed,fewinnumber;but,ifyouwillgiveusleave,wewillsendtoourcountryforanadditionalnumberofforces,withwhomwewillfightforyouandyoursubjects。"Vortigernassentingtothisproposal,messengersweredespatchedtoScythia,whereselectinganumberofwarliketroops,theyreturnedwithsixteenvessels,bringingwiththemthebeautifuldaughterofHengist。
AndnowtheSaxonchiefpreparedanentertainment,towhichheinvitedtheking,hisofficers,andCeretic,hisinterpreter,havingpreviouslyenjoinedhisdaughtertoservethemsoprofuselywithwineandale,thattheymightsoonbecomeintoxicated。Thisplansucceeded;andVortigern,attheinstigationofthedevil,andenamouredwiththebeautyofthedamsel,demandedher,throughthemediumofhisinterpreter,ofthefather,promisingtogiveforherwhateverheshouldask。ThenHengist,whohadalreadyconsultedwiththeelderswhoattendedhimoftheOghgul[1]race,demandedforhisdaughtertheprovince,calledinEnglish,Centland,inBritish,Ceint,(Kent。)Thiscessionwasmadewithouttheknowledgeoftheking,Guoyrancgonus,[2]whothenreignedinKent,andwhoexperiencednoinconsiderableshareofgrief,fromseeinghiskingdomthusclandestinely,fraudulently,andimprudentlyresignedtoforeigners。Thusthemaidwasdelivereduptotheking,whosleptwithher,andlovedherexceedingly。
[1]V。R。WhohadcomewithhimfromtheislandofOghgul,Oehgul(orTingle),Angul。AccordingtoGunn,asmallislandintheduchyofSleswickinDenmark,nowcalledAngel,ofwhichFlensburgisthemetropolis。HencetheoriginoftheAngles。
[2]V。R。Gnoiramcono,Goiranegono,Guiracgono。Malmesbury,Gorongi;Camden,Guorong,supposedtomeangovernor,orviceroy。
38。Hengist,afterthis,saidtoVortigern,"Iwillbetoyoubothafatherandanadviser;despisenotmycounsels,andyoushallhavenoreasontofearbeingconqueredbyanymanoranynationwhatever;forthepeopleofmycountryarestrong,warlike,androbust:ifyouapprove,Iwillsendformysonandhisbrother,bothvaliantmen,whoatmyinvitationwillfightagainsttheScots,andyoucangivethemthecountriesinthenorth,nearthewallcalledGual。"[1]Theincautioussovereignhavingassentedtothis,OctaandEbusaarrivedwithfortyships。InthesetheysailedroundthecountryofthePicts,laidwastetheOrkneys,andtookpossessionofmanyregions,eventothePictishconfines。[2]
[1]Antoninus’swall。
[2]SomeMSS。add,"beyondtheFrenesic,Fresicum(orFresic)sea,"
i。e。whichisbetweenusandtheScotch。TheseabetweenScotlandandIreland。Camdentranslatesit"beyondtheFrith;"Langhornesays,"SolwayFrith。"
ButHengistcontinued,bydegrees,sendingforshipsfromhisowncountry,sothatsomeislandswhencetheycamewereleftwithoutinhabitants;andwhilsthispeoplewereincreasinginpowerandnumber,theycametotheabove—namedprovinceofKent。
39。Inthemeantime,Vortigern,asifdesirousofaddingtotheevilshehadalreadyoccasioned,marriedhisowndaughter,bywhomhehadason。WhenthiswasmadeknowntoSt。Germanus,hecame,withalltheBritishclergy,toreprovehim:andwhilstanumerousassemblyoftheecclesiasticsandlaitywereinconsultation,theweakkingorderedhisdaughtertoappearbeforethem,andinthepresenceofalltopresenthersontoSt。Germanus,anddeclarethathewasthefatherofthechild。Theimmodest*womanobeyed;
andSt。Germanus,takingthechild,said,"Iwillbeafathertoyou,myson;norwillIdismissyoutillarazor,scissors,andcomb,aregiventome,anditisallowedyoutogivethemtoyourcarnalfather。"ThechildobeyedSt。Germanus,andgoingtohisfatherVortigern,saidtohim,"Thouartmyfather;shaveandcutthehairofmyhead。"Thekingblushed,andwassilent;and,withoutreplyingtothechild,aroseingreatanger,andfledfromthepresenceofSt。Germanus,execratedandcondemnedbythewholesynod。
[1]V。R。"Immodest"isomittedinsomeMSS。
40。Butsoonafter,callingtogetherhistwelvewisemen,toconsultwhatwastobedone,theysaidtohim,"Retiretotheremoteboundariesofyourkingdom;therebuildandfortifyacity[1]
todefendyourself,forthepeopleyouhavereceivedaretreacherous;
theyareseekingtosubdueyoubystratagem,and,evenduringyourlife,toseizeuponallthecountriessubjecttoyourpower,howmuchmorewilltheyattempt,afteryourdeath!"Theking,pleasedwiththisadvice,departedwithhiswisemen,andtravelledthroughmanypartsofhisterritories,insearchofaplaceconvenientforthepurposeofbuildingacitadel。Having,tonopurpose,travelledfarandwide,theycameatlengthtoaprovincecalledGuenet;[2]andhavingsurveyedthemountainsofHeremus,[3]theydiscovered,onthesummitofoneofthem,asituation,adaptedtotheconsturctionofacitadel。Uponthis,thewisemensaidtotheking,"Buildhereacity:for,inthisplace,itwilleverbesecureagainstthebarbarians。"Thenthekingsentforartificers,carpenters,stone—masons,andcollectedallthematerialsrequisitetobuilding;butthewholeofthesedisappearedinonenight,sothatnothingremainedofwhathadbeenprovidedfortheconstructingofthecitadel。Materialswere,therefore,fromallparts,procuredasecondandthirdtime,andagainvanishedasbefore,leavingandrenderingeveryeffortineffectual。Vortigerninquiredofhiswisementhecauseofthisoppositiontohisundertaking,andofsomuchuselessexpenseoflabour?Theyreplied,"Youmustfindachildbornwithoutafather,puthimtodeath,andsprinklewithhisbloodthegroundonwhichthecitadelistobebuilt,oryouwillneveraccomplishyourpurpose。"
[1]V。R。Youshallfindafortifiedcityinwhichyoumaydefendyourself。
[2]V。R。Guined,Guoienet,Guenez,NorthWales。
[3]V。R。Heremi,Heriri,orEryri,signifyingeaglerocks,themountainsofSnowdon,inCarnarvonshire。ThespotalludedtoissupposedtobeDinasEmrys,orthefortressofAmbrosius。
41。Inconsequenceofthisreply,thekingsentmessengersthrough—
outBritain,insearchofachildbornwithoutafather。Afterhavinginquiredinalltheprovinces,theycametothefieldofAelecti,[1]inthedistrictofGlevesing,[2]whereapartyofboyswereplayingatball。Andtwoofthemquarrelling,onesaidtotheother,"Oboywithoutafather,nogoodwilleverhappentoyou。"Uponthis,themessengersdiligentlyinquiredofthemotherandtheotherboys,whetherhehadhadafather?Whichhismotherdenied,saying,"InwhatmannerhewasconceivedIknownot,forIhaveneverhadintercoursewithanyman;"andthenshesolemnlyaffirmedthathehadnomortalfather。Theboywas,therefore,ledaway,andconductedbeforeVortigerntheking。
[1]V。R。Elleti,Electi,Gleti。SupposedtobeBassaliginMonmouthshire。
[2]ThedistrictbetweentheUskandRumney,inMonmouthshire。
42。Ameetingtookplacethenextdayforthepurposeofputtinghimtodeath。Thentheboysaidtotheking,"Whyhaveyourservantsbroughtmehither?""Thatyoumaybeputtodeath,"
repliedtheking,"andthatthegroundonwhichmycitadelistostand,maybesprinkledwithyourblood,withoutwhichIshallbeunabletobuildit。""Who,"saidtheboy,"instructedyoutodothis?""Mywisemen,"answeredtheking。"Orderthemhither,"
returnedtheboy;thisbeingcompliedwith,hethusquestionedthem:"Bywhatmeanswasitrevealedtoyouthatthiscitadelcouldnotbebuilt,unlessthespotwerepreviouslysprinkledwithmyblood?Speakwithoutdisguise,anddeclarewhodiscoveredmetoyou;"thenturningtotheking,"Iwillsoon,"saidhe,"unfoldtoyoueverything;butIdesiretoquestionyourwisemen,andwishthemtodisclosetoyouwhatishiddenunderthispavement:"
theyacknowledgingtheirignorance,"thereis,"saidhe,"apool;
comeanddig:"theydidso,andfoundthepool。"Now,"continuedhe,"tellmewhatisinit;"buttheywereashamed,andmadenoreply。"I,"saidtheboy,"candiscoverittoyou:therearetwovasesinthepool;"theyexaminedandfounditso:continuinghisquestions,"Whatisinthevases?"theyweresilent:"thereisatentinthem,"saidtheboy;"separatethem,andyoushallfinditso;"thisbeingdonebytheking’scommand,therewasfoundinthemafoldedtent。Theboy,goingonwithhisquestions,askedthewisemenwhatwasinit?Buttheynotknowingwhattoreply,"Thereare,"saidhe,"twoserpents,onewhiteandtheotherred;
unfoldthetent;"theyobeyed,andtwosleepingserpentswerediscovered;"considerattentively,"saidtheboy,"whattheyaredoing。"Theserpentsbegantostrugglewitheachother;andthewhiteone,raisinghimselfup,threwdowntheotherintothemiddleofthetent,andsometimesdrovehimtotheedgeofit;andthiswasrepeatedthrice。Atlengththeredone,apparentlytheweakerofthetwo,recoveringhisstrength,expelledthewhiteonefromthetent;andthelatterbeingpursuedthroughthepoolbytheredone,disappeared。Thentheboy,askingthewisemenwhatwassignifiedbythiswonderfulomen,andtheyexpressingtheirignorance,hesaidtotheking,"Iwillnowunfoldtoyouthemeaningofthismystery。Thepoolistheemblemofthisworld,andthetentthatofyourkingdom:thetwoserpentsaretwodragons;
theredserpentisyourdragon,butthewhiteserpentisthedragonofthepeoplewhooccupyseveralprovincesanddistrictsofBritain,evenalmostfromseatosea:atlength,however,ourpeopleshallriseanddriveawaytheSaxonracefrombeyondthesea,whencetheyoriginallycame;butdoyoudepartfromthisplace,whereyouarenotpermittedtoerectacitadel;I,towhomfatehasallottedthismansion,shallremainhere;whilsttoyouitisincumbenttoseekotherprovinces,whereyoumaybuildafortress。""Whatisyourname?"askedtheking;"IamcalledAmbrose(inBritishEmbresguletic),"returnedtheboy;andinanswertotheking’squestion,"Whatisyourorigin?"hereplied,"ARomanconsulwasmyfather。"
Thenthekingassignedhimthatcity,withallthewesternProvincesofBritain;anddepartingwithhiswisementothesinistraldistrict,hearrivedintheregionnamedGueneri,wherehebuiltacitywhich,accordingtohisname,wascalledCairGuorthegirn。*
*Anancientscholiastadds,"HethenbuiltGuasmoric,nearLugubalia[Carlisle],acitywhichinEnglishiscalledPalmecaster。"
Somedifferenceofopinionexistsamongantiquariesrespectingthesiteofvortigern’scastleorcity。UsherplacesitatGwent,Monmouthshire,whichname,heways,wastakenfromCaer—Went,nearChepstow。ThisappearstoagreewithGeoffrey’saccount,{illegible}
SeeUsher’sBritan。Eccles。cap。v。p。23。Accordingtoothers,supposedtobethecityfromtheruinsofwhicharosethecastleofGurthrenion,inRadnorshire,Camden’sBritannia,p。479。Whitaker,however,saysthatCairGuorthegirnwastheMaridunumoftheRomans,andthepresentCaermarthen。(Hist。OfManchester,bookii。c。1。)SeealsoNennius,sec。47。
43。AtlengthVortimer,thesonofVortigern,valiantlyfoughtagainstHengist,Horsa,andhispeople;drovethemtotheisleofThanet,andthriceenclosedthemwithinit,andbesetthemontheWesternside。
TheSaxonsnowdespatcheddeputiestoGermanytosolicitlargereinforcements,andanadditionalnumberofships:havingobtainedthese,theyfoughtagainstthekingsandprincesofBritain,andsometimesextendedtheirboundariesbyvictory,andsometimeswereconqueredanddrivenback。
44。FourtimesdidVortimervalorouslyencountertheenemy;[1]
thefirsthasbeenmentioned,thesecondwasupontheriverDarent,thethirdattheFord,intheirlanguagecalledEpsford,thoughinoursSetthirgabail,[2]thereHorsafell,andCatigern,thesonofVortigern;thefourthbattlehefoughtwasnearthestone[3]
ontheshoreoftheGallicsea,wheretheSaxonsbeingdefeated,fledtotheirships。
[1]SomeMSS。hereadd,"ThisVortimer,thesonofVortigern,inasynodheldatGuartherniaun,afterthewickedking,onaccountoftheincestcommittedwithhisdaughter,fledfromthefaceofGermanusandtheBritishclergy,wouldnotconsenttohisfather’swickedness;butreturningtoSt。Germanus,andfallingdownathisfeet,hesuedforpardon;andinatonementforthecalumnybroughtuponGermanusbyhisfatherandsister,gavehimtheland,inwhichtheforementionedbishophadenduredsuchabuse,tobehisforever。
Whence,inmemoryofSt。Germanus,itreceivedthenameGuarenniaun(Guartherniaun,Gurthrenion,GwarthEnnian)whichsignifies,acalumnyjustlyretorted,since,whenhethoughttoreproachthebishop,hecoveredhimselfwithreproach。"
[2]AccordingtoLanghorne,Epsfordwasafterwardscalled,intheBritishtongue,Saessenaeghabail,or’theslaughteroftheSaxons。’
[3]V。R。"ThestoneofTitulus,thoughttobeStoneinKent,orLarger—stoneinSuffolk。
AfterashortintervalVortimerdied;beforehisdecease,anxiousforthefutureprosperityofhiscountry,hechargedhisfriendstointerhisbodyattheentranceoftheSaxonport,viz。upontherockwheretheSaxonsfirstlanded;"forthough,"saidhe,"theymayinhabitotherpartsofBritain,yetifyoufollowmycommands,theywillneverremaininthisisland。"Theyimprudentlydisobeyedthislastinjunction,andneglectedtoburyhimwherehehadap—
pointed。*
*RapinsayshewasburiedatLincoln;Geoffrey,atLondon。
45。Afterthisthebarbariansbecamefirmlyincorporated,andwereassistedbyforeignpagans;forVortigernwastheirfriend,onaccountofthedaughter*ofHengist,whomhesomuchloved,thatnoonedurstfightagainsthim—inthemeantimetheysoothedtheimprudentking,andwhilstpractisingeveryappearanceoffondness,wereplottingwithhisenemies。Andlethimthatreadsunderstand,thattheSaxonswerevictorious,andruledBritain,notfromtheirsuperiorprowess,butonaccountofthegreatsinsoftheBritons:Godsopermittingit。
ForwhatwisemanwillresistthewholesomecounselofGod?TheAlmightyistheKingofkings,andtheLordoflords,rulingandjudgingeveryone,accordingtohisownpleasure。
AfterthedeathofVortimer,Hengistbeingstrengthenedbynewaccessions,collectedhisships,andcallinghisleaderstogether,consultedbywhatstratagemtheymightovercomeVortigernandhisarmy;withinsidiousintentiontheysentmessengerstotheking,withoffersofpeaceandperpetualfriendship;unsuspiciousoftreachery,themonarch,afteradvisingwithhiselders,acceptedtheproposals。
*V。R。Ofhiswife,andnoonewasablemanfullytodrivethemoffbecausetheyhadoccupiedBritainnotfromtheirownvalour,butbyGod’spermission。
46。Hengist,underpretenceofratifyingthetreaty,preparedanentertainment,towhichheinvitedtheking,thenobles,andmilitaryofficers,innumberaboutthreehundred;speciouslyconcealinghiswickedintention,heorderedthreehundredSaxonstoconcealeachaknifeunderhisfeet,andtomixwiththeBritons;
"andwhen,"saidhe,"theyaresufficientlyinebriated,&c。cryout,’NimedeureSaxes,’thenleteachdrawhisknife,andkillhisman;butsparetheking,onaccountofhismarriagewithmydaughter,foritisbetterthatheshouldberansomedthankilled。"*
*TheVV。RR。Ofthissectionaretoonumeroustobeinserted。
Thekingwithhiscompany,appearedatthefeast;andmixingwiththeSaxons,who,whilsttheyspokepeacewiththeirtongues,cherishedtreacheryintheirhearts,eachmanwasplacednexttohisenemy。
Aftertheyhadeatenanddrunk,andweremuchintoxicated,Hengistsuddenlyvociferated,"NimedeureSaxes!"andinstantlyhisadherentsdrewtheirknives,andrushingupontheBritons,eachslewhimthatsatnexttohim,andtherewasslainthreehundredofthenoblesofVortigern。Thekingbeingacaptive,purchasedhisredemption,bydeliveringupthethreeprovincesofEast,South,andMiddleSex,besidesotherdistrictsattheoptionofhisbetrayers。
47。St。GermanusadmonishedVortigerntoturntothetrueGod,andabstainfromallunlawfulintercoursewithhisdaughter;buttheunhappywretchfledforrefugetotheprovinceGuorthegirnaim,*
socalledfromhisownname,whereheconcealedhimselfwithhiswives:butSt。GermanusfollowedhimwithalltheBritishclergy,anduponarockprayedforhissinsduringfortydaysandfortynights。
*AdistrictofRadnorshire,formingthepresenthundredofRhaiadr。
TheBlessedmanwasunanimouslychosencommanderagainsttheSaxons。
Andthen,notbytheclangoftrumpets,butbypraying,singinghallelujah,andbythecriesofthearmytoGod,theenemieswererouted,anddriveneventothesea。*
*V。R。ThisparagraphisomittedintheMSS。
AgainVortigernignominiouslyflewfromSt。GermanustothekingdomoftheDimetae,where,ontheriverTowy,*hebuiltacastle,whichhenamedCairGuothergirn。Thesaint,asusual,followedhimthere,andwithhisclergyfastedandprayedtotheLordthreedays,andasmanynights。Onthethirdnight,atthethirdhour,firefellsuddenlyfromheaven,andtotallyburnedthecastle。Vortigern,thedaughterofHengist,hisotherwives,andalltheinhabitants,bothmenandwomen,miserablyperished:suchwastheendofthisunhappyking,aswefindwritteninthelifeofSt。Germanus。
*TheTobiasofPtolemy47。Othersassureus,thatbeinghatedbyallthepeopleofBritain,forhavingreceivedtheSaxons,andbeingpubliclychargedbySt。
GermanusandtheclergyinthesightofGod,hebetookhimselftoflight;and,thatdesertedandawanderer,hesoughtaplaceofrefuge,tillbrokenhearted,hemadeanignominiousend。
Someaccountsstate,thattheearthopenedandswallowedhimup,onthenighthiscastlewasburned;asnoremainswerediscoveredthefollowingmorning,eitherofhim,orofthosewhowereburnedwithhim。
Hehadthreesons:theeldestwasVortimer,who,aswehaveseen,foughtfourtimesagainsttheSaxons,andputthemtoflight;
thesecondCategirn,whowasslaininthesamebattlewithHorsa;
thethirdwasPascent,whoreignedinthetwoprovincesBuilthandGuorthegirnaim,[1]afterthedeathofhisfather。TheseweregrantedhimbyAmbrosius,whowasthegreatkingamongthekingsofBritain。ThefourthwasFaustus,bornofanincestuousmarriagewithhisdaughter,whowasbroughtupandeducatedbySt。Germanus。HebuiltalargemonasteryonthebanksoftheriverRenis,calledafterhisname,andwhichremainstothepresentperiod。[2]
[1]InthenorthernpartofthepresentcountiesofRadnorandBrecknock。
[2]V。R。TheMSS。add,’andhehadonedaughter,whowasthemotherofSt。Faustus。’
49。ThisisthegenealogyofVortigern,whichgoesbacktoFernvail,[1]whoreignedinthekingdomofGuorthegirnaim,[2]
andwasthesonofTeudor;TeudorwasthesonofPascent;PascentofGuoidcant;GuoidcantofMoriud;MoriudofEltat;EltatofEldoc;EldocofPaul;PaulofMeuprit;MeupritofBraciat;
BraciatofPascent;PascentofGuorthegirn,GuorthegirnofGuortheneu;GuortheneuofGuitaul;GuitaulofGuitolion;GuitolionofGloui。Bonus,Paul,Mauron,Guotelin,werefourbrothers,whobuiltGloiuda,agreatcityuponthebanksoftheriverSevern,andinBirtishiscalledCairGloui,inSaxon,Gloucester。EnoughhasbeensaidofVortigern。
[1]Fernvail,orFarinmail,appearstohavebeenkingofGwentorMonmouth。
[2]V。R。’Twoprovinces,BuilthandGuorthegirnaim。’
50。St。Germanus,afterhisdeath,returnedintohisowncountry。
*Atthattime,theSaxonsgreatlyincreasedinBritain,bothinstrengthandnumbers。AndOcta,afterthedeathofhisfatherHengist,camefromthesinistralpartoftheislandtothekingdomofKent,andfromhimhaveproceededallthekingsofthatprovince,tothepresentperiod。
*V。R。Allthistotheword’Amen,’inotherMSS。isplacedafterthelegendofSt。Patrick。
Thenitwas,thatthemagnanimousArthur,withallthekingsandmilitaryforceofBritain,foughtagainsttheSaxons。Andthoughthereweremanymorenoblethanhimself,yethewastwelvetimeschosentheircommander,andwasasoftenconqueror。Thefirstbattleinwhichhewasengaged,wasatthemouthoftheriverGleni。[1]Thesecond,third,fourth,andfifth,wereonanotherriver,bytheBritonscalledDuglas,[2]intheregionLinuis。
Thesixth,ontheriverBassas。[3]TheseventhinthewoodCelidon,whichtheBritonscallCatCoitCelidon。[4]TheeighthwasnearGurnioncastle,[5]whereArthurboretheimageoftheHolyVirgin,[6]
motherofGod,uponhisshoulders,andthroughthepowerofourLordJesusChrist,andtheholyMary,puttheSaxonstoflight,andpursuedthemthewholedaywithgreatslaughter。[7]TheninthwasattheCityofLegion,[8]whichiscalledCairLion。ThetenthwasonthebanksoftheriverTratTreuroit。[9]TheeleventhwasonthemountainBreguoin,whichwecallCatBregion。[10]Thetwelfthwasamostseverecontest,whenArthurpenetratedtothehillofBadon。[11]Inthisengagement,ninehundredandfortyfellbyhishandalone,noonebuttheLordaffordinghimassistance。
InalltheseengagementstheBritonsweresuccessful。FornostrengthcanavailagainstthewilloftheAlmighty。
[1]SupposedbysometobetheGlem,inLincolnshire;butmostprobablytheGlen,inthenorthernpartofNorthumberland。
[2]OrDubglas。ThelittleriverDunglas,whichformedthesouthernboundaryofLothian。Whitakersays,theriverDuglas,inLancashire,nearWigan。
[3]Notariver,butanisolatedrockintheFrithofForth,nearthetownofNorthBerwick,called"TheBass。"SomethinkitistheriverLusas,inHampshire。
[4]TheCaledonianforest;ortheforestofEnglewood,extendingfromPenrithtoCarlisle。
[5]VariouslysupposedtobeinCornwall,orBinchesterinDurham,butmostprobablytheRomanstationofGarionenum,nearYarmouth,inNorfolk。
[6]V。R。TheimageofthecrossofChrist,andoftheperpetualvirginSt。Mary。
[7]V。R。ForArthurproceededtoJerusalem,andtheremadeacrosstothesizeoftheSaviour’scross,andthereitwasconsecrated,andforthreesuccessivedayshefasted,watched,andprayed,beforetheLord’scross,thattheLordwouldgivehimthevictory,bythissign,overtheheathen;whichalsotookplace,andhetookwithhimtheimageofSt。Mary,thefragmentsofwhicharestillpreservedingreatvenerationatWedale,inEnglishWodale,inLatinVallis—doloris。WodaleisavillageintheprovinceofLodonesia,butnowofthejurisdictionofthebishopofSt。Andrew’s,ofScotland,sixmilesonthewestofthatheretoforenobleandeminentmonasteryofMeilros。
[8]Exeter。
[9]OrRibroit,theBrue,inSomersetshire;ortheRibble,inLancashire。
[10]OrAgnedCathregonion,Cadbury,inSomersetshire;orEdinburgh[11]Bath。
ThemoretheSaxonswerevanquished,themoretheysoughtfornewsuppliesofSaxonsfromGermany;sothatkings,commanders,andmilitarybandswereinvitedoverfromalmosteveryprovince。AndthispracticetheycontinuedtillthereignofIda,whowasthesonofEoppa,he,oftheSaxonrace,wasthefirstkinginBernicia,andinCairEbrauc(York)。
WhenGratianAequantiuswasconsulatrome,becausethenthewholeworldwasgovernedbytheRomanconsuls,theSaxonswerereceivedbyVortigernintheyearofourLordfourhundredandforty—seven,andtotheyearinwhichwenowwrite,fivehundredandforty—seven。
Andwhosoevershallreadhereinmayreceiveinstruction,theLordJesusChristaffordingassistance,who,co—eternalwiththeFatherandtheHolyGhost,livesandreignsforeverandever。Amen。
InthosedaysSaintPatrickwascaptiveamongtheScots。Hismaster’snamewasMilcho,towhomhewasaswineherdforsevenyears。Whenhehadattainedtheageofseventeenhegavehimhisliberty。Bythedivineimpulse,heappliedhimselftoreadingoftheScriptures,andafterwardswenttoRome;where,replenishedwiththeHolySpirit,hecontinuedagreatwhile,studyingthesacredmysteriesofthosewritings。Duringhiscontinuancethere,Palladius,thefirstbishop,wassentbypopeCelestinetoconverttheScots[theIrish]。ButtempestsandsignsfromGodpreventedhislanding,fornoonecanarriveinanycountry,exceptitbeallowedfromabove;alteringthereforehiscoursefromIreland,hecametoBritainanddiedinthelandofthePicts。*
*AtFordun,inthedistrictofMearns,inScotland—Usher。
51。ThedeathofPalladiusbeingknown,theRomanpatricians,TheodosiusandValentinian,thenreigning,popeCelestinesentPatricktoconverttheScotstothefaithoftheHolyTrinity;
Victor,theangelofGod,accompanying,admonishing,andassistinghim,andalsothebishopGermanus。
GermanusthensenttheancientSegeruswithhimasavenerableandpraiseworthybishop,tokingAmatheus,[1]wholivednear,andwhohadprescienceofwhatwastohappen;hewasconsecratedbishopinthereignofthatkingbytheholypontiff,[2]assumingthenameofPatrick,havinghithertobeenknownbythatofMaun;
Auxilius,Isserninus,andotherbrotherswereordainedwithhimtoinferiordegrees。
[1]V。R。Germanus"senttheelderSegeruswithhimtoawonderfulman,theholybishopAmathearex。"AnotherMS。"SenttheelderSegerus,abishop,withhimtoAmatheorex。"
[2]V。R。"ReceivedtheepiscopaldegreefromtheholybishopAmatheorex。"AnotherMS。"ReceivedtheepiscopaldegreefromMatheorexandtheholybishop。"
52。Havingdistributedbenedictions,andperfectedallinthenameoftheHolyTrinity,heembarkedontheseawhichisbetweentheGaulsandtheBritons;andafteraquickpassagearrivedinBritain,wherehepreachedforsometime。Everynecessarypreparationbeingmade,andtheangelgivinghimwarning,hecametotheIrishSea。
Andhavingfilledtheshipwithforeigngiftsandspiritualtreasures,bythepermissionofGodhearrivedinIreland,wherehebaptizedandpreached。
53。Fromthebeginningoftheworld,tothefifthyearofkingLogiore,whentheIrishwerebaptized,andfaithintheunityoftheindividualTrinitywaspublishedtothem,arefivethousandthreehundredandthirtyyears。
54。SaintPatricktaughtthegospelinforeignnationsforthespaceoffortyyears。Enduedwithapostolicalpowers,hegavesighttotheblind,cleansedthelepers,gavehearingtothedeaf,castoutdevils,raisedninefromthedead,redeemedmanycaptivesofbothsexesathisowncharge,andsetthemfreeinthenameoftheHolyTrinity。HetaughttheservantsofGod,andhewrotethreehundredandsixty—fivecanonicalandotherbooksrelatingtothecatholicfaith。Hefoundedasmanychurches,andconsecratedthesamenumberofbishops,strengtheningthemwiththeHolyGhost。
Heordainedthreethousandpresbyters;andconvertedandbaptizedtwelvethousandpersonsintheprovinceofConnaught。And,inonedaybaptizedsevenkings,whowerethesevensonsofAmalgaid。[1]
Hecontinuedfastingfortydaysandnights,onthesummitofthemountainEli,thatisCruachan—Aichle;[2]andpreferredthreepetitionstoGodfortheIrish,thathadembracedthefaith。
TheScotssay,thefirstwas,thathewouldreceiveeveryrepentingsinner,evenatthelatestextremityoflife;thesecond,thattheyshouldneverbeexterminatedbybarbarians;andthethird,thatasIreland[3]willbeoverflowedwithwater,sevenyearsbeforethecomingofourLordtojudgethequickandthedead,thecrimesofthepeoplemightbewashedawaythroughhisintercession,andtheirsoulspurifiedatthelastday。Hegavethepeoplehisbenedictionfromtheupperpartofthemountain,andgoinguphigher,thathemightprayforthem;andthatifitpleasedGod,hemightseetheeffectsofhislabours,thereappearedtohimaninnumerableflockofbirdsofmanycoulours,signifyingthenumberofholypersonsofbothsexesoftheIrishnation,whoshouldcometohimastheirapostleatthedayofjudgment,tobepresentedbeforethetribunalofChrist。Afteralifespentintheactiveexertionofgoodtomankind,St。Patrick,inahealthyoldage,passedfromthisworldtotheLord,andchangingthislifeforabetter,withthesaintsandelectofGodherejoicesforevermore。
[1]KingofConnaught。
[2]AmountaininthewestofConnaught,countyofMayo,nowcalledCroagh—Patrick。
[3]V。R。thatnoIrishmanmaybealiveonthedayofjudgment,becausetheywillbedestroyedsevenyearsbeforeinhonourofSt。Patrick。
55。SaintPatrickresembledMosesinfourparticulars。Theangelspoketohimintheburningbush。Hefastedfortydaysandfortynightsuponthemountain。Heattainedtheperiodofonehundredandtwentyyears。Nooneknowshissepulchre,norwherehewasburied;sixteen[1]yearshewasincaptivity。Inhistwenty—fifthyear,hewasconsecratedbishopbySaintMatheus,[2]andhewaseighty—fiveyearstheapostleoftheIrish。Itmightbeprofitabletotreatmoreatlargeofthelifeofthissaint,butitisnowtimetoconcludethisepitomeofhislabours。[3]
[1]V。R。Fifteen。
[2]V。R。BytheholybishopAmatheus。
[3]HereendstheVaticanMS。collatedbyMr。Gunn。
[Hereendeththelifeoftheholybishop,SaintPatrick。]
(Afterthis,theMSS。giveas56。,thelegendofkingArthur,whichinthiseditionoccursin50。)
GenealogyofthekingsofBernicia。*
*Thesetitlesarenotpartoftheoriginalwork,butaddedintheMSS。byalaterhand。
57。WodenbegatBeldeg,whobegatBeornec,whobegatGethbrond,whobegatAluson,whobegatIngwi,whobegatEdibrith,whobegatEsa,whobegatEoppa,whobegatIda。ButIdahadtwelvesons,Adda,Belric,Theodric,Ethelric,Theodhere,Osmer,andonequeen,Bearnoch,Ealric。EthelricbegatEthelfrid:thesameisAedlfredFlesaur。Forhealsohadsevensons,Eanfrid,Oswald,Oswin,Oswy,Oswudu,Oslac,Offa。OswybegatAlfrid,Elfwin,andEgfrid。
EgfridishewhomadewaragainsthiscousinBrudei,kingofthePicts,andhefellthereinwithallthestrengthofhisarmy,andthePictswiththeirkinggainedthevictory;andtheSaxonsneveragainreducedthePictssoastoexacttributefromthem。SincethetimeofthiswaritiscalledGueithlinGaran。
ButOswyhadtwowives,Riemmelth,thedaughterofRoyth,sonofRum;andEanfled,thedaughterofEdwin,sonofAlla。
ThegenealogyofthekingsofKent。
58。HengistbegatOcta,whobegatOssa,whobegatEormenric,whobegatEthelbert,whobegatEadbald,whobegatErcombert,whobegatEgbert。
TheoriginofthekingsofEast—Anglia。
59。WodenbegatCasser,whobegatTitinon,whobegatTrigil,whobegatRodmunt,whobegatRippa,whobegatGuillemGuercha,*whowasthefirstkingoftheEastAngles。GuerchabegatUffa,whobegatTytillus,whobegatEni,whobegatEdric,whobegatAldwulf,whobegatElric。
*GuerchaisadistortionofthenameofUffa,orWuffa,arisinginthefirstinstancefromthepronunciationoftheBritishwriter;
andinthenextplacefromtheerrorofthetranscriber——Palgrave。
ThegenealogyoftheMercians。
60。WodenbegatGuedolgeat,whobegatGueagon,whobegatGuithleg,whobegatGuerdmund,whobegatOssa,whobegatOngen,whobegatEamer,whobegatPubba。*ThisPubbahadtwelvesons,ofwhomtwoarebetterknowntomethantheothers,thatisPendaandEawa。
EadlitisthesonofPantha,Penda,sonofPubba,Ealbald,sonofAlguing,sonofEawa,sonofPenda,sonofPubba。Egfert,sonofOffa,sonofThingferth,sonofEnwulf,sonofOssulf,sonofEawa,sonofPubba。
*OrWibba。
ThekingsoftheDeiri。
61。WodenbegatBeldeg,BrondbegatSiggar,whobegatSibald,whobegatZegulf,whobegatSoemil,whofirstseparated[1]DeurfromBerneich(DeirafromBernicia。)SoemilbegatSguerthing,whobegatGiulglis,whobegatUlfrea,whobegatIffi,whobegatUlli,Edwin,OsfridandEanfrid。ThereweretwosonsofEdwin,whofellwithhiminbattleatMeicen,[2]andthekingdomwasneverrenewedinhisfamily,becausenotoneofhisraceescapedfromthatwar;
butallwereslainwithhimbythearmyofCatguollaunus,[3]kingoftheGuendota。OswybegatEgfrid,thesameisAilguin,whobegatOslach,shobegatAlhun,whobegatAdlsing,whobegatEchun,whobegatOslaph。IdabegatEadric,whobegatEcgulf,whobegatLeodwald,whobegatEata,thesameisGlinmaur,whobegatEadbertandEgbert,whowasthefirstbishopoftheirnation。
[1]V。R。Conquered。
[2]Hatfield,intheWestRidingofYorkshire。SeeBede’sEccles。
Hist。
[3]Cadwalla,kingoftheWesternBritons。
Ida,thesonofEoppa,possessedcountriesontheleft—handsideofBritain,i。e。oftheHumbriansea,andreignedtwelveyears,andunited*DynguaythGuarth—Berneich。
*V。R。Unitedthecastle,i。e。DinguerinandGurdbernech,whichtwocountrieswereinonecountry,i。e。Deurabernech;AngliceDieraandBernicia。AnotherMS。BuiltDinguayrhGuarthBerneich。
62。ThenDutgirnatthattimefoughtbravelyagainstthenationoftheAngles。Atthattime,TalhaiarnCataguen*wasfamedforpoetry,andNeirin,andTaliesinandBluchbard,andCian,whoiscalledGuenithGuaut,wereallfamousatthesametimeinBritishpoetry。
*TalhaiarnwasadescendantofCoelGodebog,andchaplaintoAmbrosius。
Thegreatking,Mailcun,*reignedamongtheBritons,i。e。inthedistrictofGuenedota,becausehisgreat—great—grandfather,Cunedda,withhistwelvesons,hadcomebeforefromtheleft—handpart,i。e。
fromthecountrywhichiscalledManauGustodin,onehundredandforty—sixyearsbeforeMailcunreigned,andexpelledtheScotswithmuchslaughterfromthosecountries,andtheyneverreturnedagaintoinhabitthem。
*BetterknownasMaelgwn。
63。Adda,sonofIda,reignedeightyears;Ethelric,sonofAdda,reignedfouryears。Theodoric,sonofIda,reignedsevenyears。
Freothwulfreignedsixyears。InwhosetimethekingdomofKent,bythemissionofGregory,receivedbaptism。Hussareignedsevenyears。Againsthimfoughtfourkings,Urien,andRyderthen,andGuallauc,andMorcant。Theodoricfoughtbravely,togetherwithhissons,againstthatUrien。Butatthattimesometimestheenemyandsometimesourcountrymenweredefeated,andheshutthemupthreedaysandthreenightsintheislandofMetcaut;andwhilsthewasonanexpeditionhewasmurdered,attheinstanceofMorcant,outofenvy,becausehepossessedsomuchsuperiorityoverallthekingsinmilitaryscience。EadferedFlesaursreignedtwelveyearsinBernicia,andtwelveothersinDeira,andgavetohiswifeBebba,thetownofDynguaroy,whichfromheriscalledBebbanburg。*
*Bambrough。SeeBede,iii。6,andSax。Chron。A。D。547。
Edwin,sonofAlla,reignedseventeenyears,seizedonElmete,andexpelledCerdic,itsking。Eanfled,hisduaghter,receivedbaptism,onthetwelfthdayafterPentecost,withallherfollowers,bothmenandwomen。ThefollowingEasterEdwinhimselfreceivedbaptism,andtwelvethousandofhissubjectswithhim。Ifanyonewishestoknowwhobaptizedthem,itwasRumMapUrbgen:*hewasengagedfortydaysinbaptizingallclassesoftheSaxons,andbyhispreachingmanybelievedonChrist。
*SeeBede’sEccles。Hist。FromthesharewhichPaulinushadintheconversionoftheNorthumbrianking,ithasbeeninferredthatheactaullybaptizedhim;butNenniusexpersslystates,thattheholysacramentwasadministeredbyRhun,thesonofUrien。
TheWelshnameofPaulinusisPawlHen,orPolinEagob。
64。OswaldsonofEthelfrid,reignednineyears;thesameisOswaldLlauiguin;[1]heslewCatgublaun(Cadwalla),[2]kingofGuenedot,[3]inthebattleofCatscaul,[4]withmuchlosstohisownarmy。Oswy,sonofEthelfrid,reignedtwenty—eightyearsandsixmonths。Duringhisreign,therewasadreadfulmortalityamonghissubjects,whenCatgualart(Cadwallader)waskingamongtheBritons,succeedinghisfather,andhehimselfdiedamongsttherest。[5]HeslewPendainthefieldofGai,andnowtookplacetheslaughterofGaiCampi,andthekingsoftheBritons,whowentoutwithPendaontheexpeditionasfarasthecityofJudeu,wereslain。
[1]Llauiguin,meansthe"fair,"orthe"bounteoushand。"
[2]Thisnamehasbeenvariouslywritten;BedespellsitCaedualla(Cadwalla);Nennius,Catgublaun;theSaxonChronicle,Ceadwalla;
andtheWelshwriters,CadwallonandKalwallawn:andthoughtheidentityofthepersonmaybeclearlyproved,itisnecessarytoobservetheseparticularstodistinguishhimfromCadwaladr,andfromanotherCaeduallaorCaedwalla,akingoftheWestSaxons;
allofwhom,astheylivedwithinashorttimeofeachother,havebeenfrequentlyconfoundedtogether。——Rees’sWelshSaints。
[3]Gwynedd,NorthWales。
[4]BedesaysatDenis’sbrook。
[5]TheBritishchroniclesassertthatCadwalladerdiedatRome,whilstNenniuswouldleadustoconcludethatheperishedinthepestilenceathome。
65。ThenOswyrestoredallthewealth,whichwaswithhiminthecity,toPenda;whodistributeditamongthekingsoftheBritons,thatisAtbertJudeu。ButCatgabailalone,kingofGuenedot,risingupinthenight,excaped,togetherwithhisarmy,whereforehewascalledCatgabailCatguommed。Egfrid,sonofOswy,reignednineyears。InhistimetheholybishopCuthbertdiedintheislandofMedcaut。*ItwashewhomadewaragainstthePicts,andwasbythemslain。
*TheisleofFarne。
Penda,sonofPybba,reignedtenyears;hefirstseparatedthekingdomofMerciafromthatoftheNorth—men,andslewbytreacheryAnna,kingoftheEastAnglians,andSt。Oswald,kingoftheNorthMen。HefoughtthebattleofCocboy,inwhichfellEawa,sonofPybba,hisbrother,kingoftheMercians,andOswald,kingoftheNorth—men,andhegainedthevictorybydiabolicalagency。Hewasnotbaptized,andneverbelievedinGod。
66。FromthebeginningoftheworldtoConstantinusandRufus,arefoundtobefivethousandsixhundredandfifty—eightyears。
Alsofromthetwoconsuls,RufusandRubelius,totheconsulStilicho,arethreehundredandseventy—threeyears。
AlsofromStilichotoValentinian,sonofPlacida,andthereignofVortigern,aretwenty—eightyears。
AndfromthereignofVortigerntothequarrelbetweenGuitolinusandAmbrosius,aretwelveyears,whichisGuoloppum,thatisCatgwaloph。*VortigernreignedinBritainwhenTheodosiusandValentinianwereconsuls,andinthefourthyearofhisreigntheSaxonscametoBritain,intheconsulshipofFelixandTaurus,inthefourhundredthyearfromtheincarnationofourLordJesusChrist。
*InCarmarthenshire。PerhapsthetownnowcalledKidwelly。
>FromtheyearinwhichtheSaxonscameintoBritain,andwerereceivedbyVortigern,tothetimeofDeciusandValerian,aresixty—nineyears。