The History of Britain, Book 3
THE HISTORY OF BRITAIN. The Third Book.
THis third Book having to tell of accidents as various and exemplary, as the intermiſſion or change of Government hath any where brought forth, may deſerve attention more than common, and repay it with like benefit to them who can judiciouſly read: conſidering eſpecially that the late civil broils had caſt us into a condition not much unlike to what the Britans then were in, when the imperial juriſdiction departing hence left them to the ſway of thir own Councils; which times by comparing ſeriouſly with theſe later, and that confuſed Anarchy with this intereign, we may be able from two ſuch remarkable turns of State, producing like events among us, to raiſe a knowledg of our ſelves both great and weighty, by judging hence what kind of men the Britans generally are in matters of ſo high enterpriſe, how by nature, induſtry, or cuſtom fitted to attempt or undergoe matters of ſo main conſequence: for if it be a high point of wiſdom in every private man, much more is it in a Nation to know it ſelf; rather than puft up with vulgar flatteries, and encomiums, for want of ſelf knowledge, to enterpriſe raſhly and come off miſerably in great undertakings. The Britans thus as we heard being left without protection from the Empire, and the Land in a manner emptied of all her youth, conſumed in Warrs abroad, or not caring to return home, themſelves through long ſubjection, ſervile in mind,Gild. Bede. Malins. ſloathful of body, and with the uſe of Arms unacquainted, ſuſtain'd but ill for many years the violence of thoſe barbarous Invaders, who now daily grew upon them. For although at firſt greedy of change,Zozim. L. 6. and to be thought the leading Nation to freedom from the Empire, they ſeem'd a while to beſtirr them with a ſhew of diligence in thir new affairs, ſom ſecretly aſpiring to rule, others adoring the name of liberty, yet ſo ſoon as they felt by proof the weight of what it was to govern well themſelves, and what was wanting within them, not ſtomach or the love of licence, but the wiſdom, the virtue, the labour, to uſe and maintain true libertie, they ſoon remitted thir heat, and ſhrunk more wretchedly under the burden of thir own libertie, than before under a foren yoke. Inſomuch that the reſidue of thoſe Romans which had planted themſelves heer, deſpairing of thir ill deportment at home, and weak reſiſtance in the field by thoſe few who had the courage, or the ſtrength to bear Arms, nine years after the ſacking of Rome remov'd out of Britain into France, An. Dom. 418 hiding for haſte great part of thir treaſure,Ethelwerd. annal. Sax. which was never after found. And now again the Britans, no longer able to ſupport themſelves againſt the prevailing Enemy, ſollicit Honorius to thir aid, with mournful Letters,Gildas. Embaſſages and vows of perpetual ſubjection to Rome if the Northern Foe were but repuls't. An. Dom. 422 He at thir requeſt ſpares them one Legion, Diaconus. L. 14.which with great ſlaughter of the Scots and Picts drove them beyond the Borders, reſcu'd the Britans, and advis'd them to build a Wall croſs the Iland, between Sea and Sea, from the place where Edinburg now ſtands to the Frith of Dunbritton, Bede. L. 1. c. 2.by the City Alcluith. But the material being only Turf, and by the rude multitude unartificially built up without better direction, avail'd them little. For no ſooner was the Legion departed,Gildas. but the greedy ſpoilers returning, land in great numbers from thir Boats and Pinaces, waſting, ſlaying, and treading down all before them. Then are meſſengers again poſted to Rome in lamentable ſort, beſeeching that they would not ſuffer a whole Province to be deſtroy'd, and the Roman name, ſo honourable yet among them, to become the ſubject of barbarian ſcorn and inſolence. An. Dom. 423 The Emperor, at thir ſad complaint, with what ſpeed was poſſible ſends to thir ſuccour. Who coming ſuddenly on thoſe ravenous multitudes that minded only ſpoil, ſurpriſe them with a terrible ſlaughter. They who eſcap'd, fled back to thoſe Seas, from whence yearly they were wont to arrive, and return lad'n with booties. But the Romans who came not now to rule, but charitably to aid, declaring that it ſtood not longer with the eaſe of thir Affairs to make ſuch labourious voyages in purſuit of ſo baſe and vagabond robbers, of whom neither glory was to be got, nor gain, exhorted them to manage thir own warfare; and to defend like men thir Country, thir Wives, thir Children, and what was to be dearer than life, thir liberty, againſt an Enemy not ſtronger than themſelves, if thir own ſloth and cowardiſe had not made them ſo; if they would but only find hands to graſp defenſive Arms, rather than baſely ſtretch them out to receave bonds.Bede ibid. They gave them alſo thir help to build a new Wall, not of earth as the former, but of ſtone (both at the public coſt,Gildas. and by particular contributions) traverſing the Ile in direct line from Eaſt to Weſt between certain Cities plac'd there as Frontiers to bear off the Enemy, where Severus had wall'd once before. They rais'd it 12 Foot high, 8 broad. Along the South ſhoar, becauſe from thence alſo like hoſtility was fear'd, they place Towers by the Sea ſide at certain diſtances, for ſafety of the Coaſt. Withall they inſtruct them in the art of Warr, leaving Patterns of thir Arms and Weapons behind them; and with animating words, and many leſſons of valour to a faint-hearted audience, bid them finally farewell, without purpoſe to return. And theſe two friendly Expeditions, the laſt of any hither by the Romans, were perform'd, as may be gather'd out of Beda, and Diaconus, the two laſt years of Honorius. Thir Leader, as ſom modernly write, was Gallio of Ravenna;Blond. Buchanan, who departs not much from the Fables of his Predeceſſor Boethius, Sabellic.names him Maximianus, and brings againſt him to this Battel Fergus firſt King of Scots after thir ſecond ſuppos'd coming into Scotland, Durſius King of Picts, both there ſlain, and Dioneth an imaginary King of Britain, or Duke of Cornwall, who improbablie ſided. with them againſt his own Countrie, hardlie eſcaping. With no leſs exactneſs of particular circumſtances,Buch. L. 5. he takes upon him to relate all thoſe tumultuarie inrodes of the Scots and Picts into Britain, as if they had but yeſterday happen'd, thir order of Battel, manner of fight, number of ſlain, Articles of Peace, things whereof Gildas and Beda are utterly ſilent, Authors to whom the Scotch Writers have none to cite comparable in Antiquity; no more therefore to be believ'd for bare aſſertions, however quaintlie dreſt, than our Geofry of Monmouth when he varies moſt from authentick ſtorie. But either the inbred vanity of ſome, in that reſpect unworthily call'd Hiſtorians, or the fond zeal of praiſing thir Nations above truth hath ſo far tranſported them, that where they find nothing faithfully to relate, they fall confidently to invent what they think may either beſt ſet off thir Hiſtorie, or magnifie thir Countrie.
The Scots and Picts in manners differing ſomwhat from each other, but ſtill unanimous to rob and ſpoile, hearing that the Romans intended not to return, from thir Gorroghs, or Leathern Frigats pour out themſelves in ſwarms upon the Land,Gildas. Bede. more confident than ever: and from the North end of the Ile to the very wall ſide, then firſt took poſſeſſion as inhabitants; while the Britans with idle Weapons in thir hands ſtand trembling on the Battlements, till the half-naked Barbarians with thir long and formidable Iron hooks pull them down headlong. The reſt not only quitting the Wall but Towns and Cities, leave them to the bloodie purſuer, who follows killing, waſting, and deſtroying all in his way. From theſe confuſions aroſe a Famin, and from thence diſcord and civil commotion among the Britans: each man living by what he rob'd or took violently from his Neighbour. When all ſtores were conſum'd and ſpent where men inhabited, they betook them to the Woods, and liv'd by hunting, which was thir only ſuſtainment.Bede. Conſtantius. To the heaps of theſe evils from without, were added new diviſions within the Church. For Agricola the Son of Severianus a Pelagian Biſhop had ſpread his Doctrine wide among the Britans not uninfected before. The ſounder part neither willing to embrace his opinion to the overthrow of divine grace, nor able to refute him, crave aſſiſtance from the Churches of France: who ſend them Germanus Biſhop of Auxerre, An. Dom. 429 and Lupus of Troyes. They by continual preaching in Churches,Proſp. Aquit. in Streets, in Fields, and not without miracles, as is writt'n, confirm'd ſom, regain'd others,Math. Weſt. ad ann. 446. and at Verulam in a public diſputation put to ſilence thir chief adverſaries. This reformation in the Church was beleev'd to be the cauſe of thir ſucceſs a while after in the field. An. Dom. 430 For the Saxons and Picts with joint force, which was no new thing before the Saxons at leaſt had any dwelling in this Iland, during the abode of Germanus heer, had made a ſtrong impreſſion from the North.Conſtant. vit. German. The Britans marching out againſt them, and miſtruſting thir own power, ſend to Germanus and his Collegue, repoſing more in the ſpiritual ſtrength of thoſe two men, than in thir own thouſands arm'd. They came, and thir preſence in the Camp was not leſs than if a whole Army had com to ſecond them. It was then the time of Lent, and the people inſtructed by the daily Sermons of theſe two Paſtors, came flocking to receave Baptiſm. There was a place in the Camp ſet apart as a Church, and trick'd up with boughs upon Eaſter-day. The Enemy underſtanding this, and that the Britans were tak'n up with Religions more than with feats of Arms, advances, after the Paſchal Feaſt, as to a certain Victorie. German who alſo had intelligence of thir approach, undertakes to be Captain that day; and riding out with ſelected Troops to diſcover what advantages the place might offer, lights on a Valley compaſs't about with Hills, by which the Enemy was to paſs. And placing there his ambuſh, warns them that what word they heard him pronounce aloud, the ſame they ſhould repeat with univerſal ſhout. The Enemy paſſes on ſecurely, and German thrice aloud cries Halleluia; which anſwered by the Souldiers with a ſudd'n burſt of clamour, is from the Hills and Valleys redoubled. The Saxons and Picts on a ſudden ſuppoſing it the noiſe of a huge Hoaſt, throw themſelves into flight, caſting down thir Arms, and great numbers of them are drown'd in the River which they had newly paſs'd. This Victory, thus won without hands, left to the Britans plenty of ſpoile, and to the perſon and the preaching of German greater authority and reverence than before. And the exploit might paſs for current, if Conſtantius, the Writer of his life in the next age, had reſolv'd us how the Britiſh Army came to want baptizing; for of any Paganiſm at that time, or long before, in the Land we read not, or that Pelagianiſm was re-baptiz'd. The place of this Victory, as is reported,Ʋſſer. Primord p. 333. was in Flintſhire by a Town call'd Guid-cruc, and the River Allen, where a field retains the name of Maes German to this day. An. Dom. 431 But ſo ſoon as German was return'd home, the Scots and Picts, Proſp. Aquit.though now ſo many of them Chriſtians, that Palladius a Deacon was ordain'd and ſent by Celeſtine the Pope to be a Biſhop over them, were not ſo well reclaim'd, Ethelwerd. Florent. Gild. Bede.or not ſo many of them as to ceaſe from doing miſchief to thir Neighbours, where they found no impeachment to fall in yearly as they were wont. They therefore of the Britans who perhaps were not yet wholly ruin'd, in the ſtrongeſt and South-weſt parts of the Ile, ſend Letters to Aetius, then third time Conſul of Rome, with this ſuperſcription;Malmsbury L. 1. c. 1. p. 8. To Aetius thrice Conſul, the groanes of the Britans. And after a few words thus: An. Dom. 446 The barbarians drive us to the Sea, the Sea drives us back to the barbarians; thus bandied up and down between two deaths we periſh, either by the Sword or by the Sea. But the Empire at that time overſpread with Hunns and Vandals, was not in condition to lend them aid. Thus rejected and wearied out with continual flying from place to place, but more afflicted with Famine, which then grew outrageous among them, many for hunger yielded to the Enemy, others either more reſolute, or leſs expos'd to wants, keeping within Woods, and Mountainous places, not only defended themſelves, but ſallying out at length gave a ſtop to the inſulting Foe with many ſeaſonable defeats; led by ſome eminent perſon, as may be thought, who exhorted them not to truſt in thir own ſtrength, but in Divine aſſiſtance. And perhaps no other heer is meant than the foreſaid deliverance by German, if computation would permit, which Gildas either not much regarded, or might miſtake; but that he tarried ſo long heer, the Writers of his life aſſent not.Gildas. Finding therefore ſuch oppoſition, the Scots or Iriſh Robbers, for ſo they are indifferently term'd, without delay get them home. The Picts, as before was mentioned, then firſt began to ſettle in the utmoſt parts of the Iland, uſing now and then to make inrodes upon the Britans. But they in the mean while thus ridd of thir Enemies, begin afreſh to till the ground; which after ceſſation yields her fruit in ſuch abundance, as had not formerly bin known for many Ages. But wantonneſs and luxury, the wonted companions of plenty, grow up as faſt, and with them, if Gildas deſerve belief, all other vices incident to human corruption. That which he notes eſpecially to be the chief perverting of all good in the Land, and ſo continued in his days, was the hatred of truth, and all ſuch as durſt appear to vindicate and maintain it. Againſt them, as againſt the only diſturbers, all the malice of the Land was bent. Lies and falſities, and ſuch as could beſt invent them, were only in requeſt. Evil was embrac'd for good, wickedneſs honour'd and eſteem'd as virtue. And this quality thir valour had, againſt a foren Enemy to be ever backward and heartleſs; to civil broils eager and prompt. In matters of Government, and the ſearch of truth, weak and ſhallow, in falſhood and wicked deeds pregnant and induſtrious. Pleaſing to God, or not pleaſing, with them weighed alike; and the worſe moſt an end was the weightier. All things were done contrary to public welfare and ſafety; nor only by ſecular men, for the Clergy alſo, whoſe Example ſhould have guided others, were as vitious and corrupt. Many of them beſotted with continual drunkenneſs; or ſwoln with pride and willfulneſs, full of contention, full of envy, indiſcreet, incompetent Judges to determine what in the practice of life is good or evil, what lawful or unlawful. Thus furniſh'd with judgment, and for manners thus qualifi'd both Prieſt and Lay, they agree to chuſe them ſeveral Kings of thir own; as neer as might be, likeſt themſelves; and the words of my Author import as much. Kings were anointed, ſaith he, not of Gods anointing, but ſuch as were cruelleſt, and ſoon after as inconſiderately, without examining the truth, put to death by thir anointers, to ſet up others more fierce and proud. As for the election of thir Kings (and that they had not all one Monarch, appears both in Ages paſt and by the ſequel) it began, as nigh as may be gueſs'd, either this Year or the following, An. Dom. 447 when they ſaw the Romans had quite deſerted thir claim.Conſtant. Bede. About which time alſo Pelagianiſm again prevailing by means of ſome few, the Britiſh Clergie too weak, it ſeems, at diſpute, entreat the ſecond time German to thir aſſiſtance. Who coming with Severus a Diſciple of Lupus that was his former aſſociate, ſtands not now to argue, for the people generally continu'd right; but enquiring thoſe Authors of new diſturbance, adjudges them to baniſhment. They therefore by conſent of all were deliver'd to German; An. Dom. 448 who carrying them over with him,Sigon. Gildas. diſpos'd of them in ſuch place where neither they could infect others, and were themſelves under cure of better inſtruction. But Germanus the ſame year dy'd in Italy; and the Britans not long after found themſelves again in much perplexity, with no ſlight rumour that thir old troublers the Scots and Picts had prepar'd a ſtrong invaſion, purpoſing to kill all and dwell themſelves in the Land from end to end. But ere thir coming in, as if the inſtruments of Divine juſtice had bin at ſtrife, which of them firſt ſhould deſtroy a wicked Nation, the Peſtilence foreſtalling the Sword left ſcarce alive whom to bury the dead; and for that time, as one extremity keeps off another, preſerv'd the Land from a worſe incumbrance of thoſe barbarous diſpoſſeſſors, whom the Contagion gave not leave now to enter farr.Malmſ. L. 1. And yet the Britans nothing better'd by theſe heavy judgments, the one threatn'd, the other felt, inſtead of acknowledging the hand of Heaven, run to the Palace of thir King Vortigern with complaints and cries of what they ſuddenly fear'd, from the Pictiſh invaſion. Vortigern, who at that time was chief rather than ſole King, unleſs the reſt had perhaps left thir Dominions to the common Enemy, is ſaid by him of Monmouth to have procur'd the death firſt of Conſtantine, then of Conſtance his Son, who of a Monk was made King, and by that means to have uſurp'd the Crown. But they who can remember how Conſtantine with his Son Conſtance the Monk, the one made Emperor, the other Caeſar, periſh'd in France, may diſcern the ſimple fraud of this Fable. But Vortigern however coming to reign, is decipher'd by truer ſtories a proud unfortunate Tyrant, and yet of the people much belov'd, becauſe his vices ſorted ſo well with theirs. For neither was he skill'd in Warr, nor wiſe in Counſel, but covetous, luſtful, luxurious, and prone to all vice; waſting the public Treaſure in gluttony and riot, careleſs of the common danger, and through a haughty ignorance, unapprehenſive of his own. Nevertheleſs importun'd and awak'd at length by unuſual clamours of the people, he ſummons a general Council, to provide ſome better means than heertofore had been us'd againſt theſe continual annoyances from the North. Wherein by advice of all it was determin'd, that the Saxons be invited into Britain againſt the Scots and Picts; whoſe breaking in they either ſhortly expected, or already found they had not ſtrength anough to oppoſe. The Saxons were a barbarous and heathen Nation, famous for nothing elſe but robberies and cruelties done to all thir Neighbours both by Sea and Land; in particular to this Iland, witneſs that military force which the Roman Emperors maintain'd heer purpoſely againſt them, under a ſpecial Commander, whoſe title, as is found, on good record,Notitiae imperii. was Count of the Saxon ſhoar in Britain; and the many miſchiefs done by thir landing heer, both alone and with the Picts, as above hath bin related, witneſs as much. They were a people thought by good Writers,Florent. Wigorn. ad an. 370. to be deſcended of the Sacae, a kind of Scythian in the North of Aſia, thence call'd Sacaſons, or Sons of Sacae, who with a Flood of other Northern Nations came into Europe, toward the declining of the Roman Empire; and uſing Pyracy from Denmark all along theſe Seas,Ethelwerd. poſſeſs'd at length by intruſion all that Coaſt of Germany and the Nether-lands, which took thence the name of old Saxony, lying between the Rhene and Flve, and from thence North as far as Eidora, the River bounding Holſatia, though not ſo firmly, or ſo largely, but that thir multitude wander'd yet uncertain of habitation. Such gueſts as theſe the Britans reſolve now to ſend for, and entreat into thir houſes and poſſeſſions, at whoſe very name heertofore they trembl'd afar off. So much do men through impatience count ever that the heavieſt which they bear at preſent, and to remove the evil which they ſuffer, care not to pull on a greater: as if variety and change in evil alſo were acceptable. Or whether it be that men in the deſpair of better, imagine fondly a kind of refuge from one miſery to another.
The Britans therefore, with Vortigern, who was then accounted King over them all,Ethelwerd. Malmsb. Witichind. geſt. Sax. L. 1. p. 3. reſolve in full Council to ſend Embaſſadors of thir choiceſt men with great gifts, and ſaith a Saxon Writer in theſe words, deſiring thir aid. Worthy Saxons, hearing the fame of your proweſs, the diſtreſsed Britans wearied out, and overpreſt by a continual invading Enemy, have ſent us to beſeech your aid. They have a Land fertile and ſpatious, which to your commands they bid us ſurrender. Heertofore we have liv'd with freedom, under the obedience and protection of the Roman Empire. Next to them we know none worthier than your ſelves; and therefore become ſuppliants to your valour. Leave us not below our preſent Enemies, and to ought by you impos'd, willingly we ſhall ſubmit. Yet Ethelwerd writes not that they promis'd ſubjection, but only amity and league.Malmſ. They therefore who had chief rule among them, hearing themſelves entreated by the Britans, to that which gladly they would have wiſh't to obtain of them by entreating, to the Britiſh Embaſſy return this anſwer.Witichind. Be aſſur'd henceforth of the Saxons, as of faithful friends to the Britans, no leſs ready to ſtand by them in thir need, than in thir beſt of fortune. The Embaſſadors return joyful, and with news as welcome to thir Countrie, whoſe ſiniſter fate had now blinded them for deſtruction.Gildas. The Saxons, conſulting firſt thir Gods (for they had anſwer, that the Land whereto they went, they ſhould hold 300 years, half that time conquering, and half quietly poſſeſſing) furniſh out three long Gallies, or Kyules,Bede. with a chos'n company of warlike youth, under the conduct of two Brothers, Hengiſt and Horſa, deſcended in the fourth degree from Woden; of whom, deify'd for the fame of his acts, moſt Kings of thoſe Nations derive thir pedigree. Theſe, and either mixt with theſe, or ſoon after by themſelves, two other Tribes, or neighbouring people, Jutes and Angles, the one from Jutland, the other from Anglen by the City of Sleſwich, both Provinces of Denmark, An. Dom. 450 arrive in the firſt year of Martian the Greek Emperor,Nennius. Malmſ. from the birth of Chriſt 450, receav'd with much good will of the people firſt, then of the King, who after ſome aſſurances giv'n and tak'n, beſtows on them the Ile of Tanet, where they firſt landed, hoping they might be made heerby more eager againſt the Picts, when they fought as for thir own Countrie, and more loyal to the Britans, from whom they had receav'd a place to dwell in, which before they wanted. The Britiſh Nennius writes that theſe Brethren were driv'n into exile out of Germany, and to Vortigern who reigned in much fear, one while of the Picts, then of the Romans, and Ambroſius, came opportunely into the Hav'n.Malmsb. For it was the cuſtom in old Saxony, when thir numerous off-ſpring overflow'd the narrowneſs of thir bounds, to ſend them out by lot into new dwellings, wherever they found room, either vacant or to be forc't. But whether ſought, or unſought, they dwelt not heer long without employment.Henry Huntingd. For the Scots and Picts, were now come down, ſom ſay, as far as Stamſord in Lincoln-ſhire, whom, perhaps not imagining to meet new oppoſition,Ethelwerd. the Saxons, though not till after a ſharp encounter, put to flight; and that more than once:Bed. Nin. ſlaying in fight, as ſome Scotch Writers affirm, thir King Eugenius the Son of Fergus.Nenn. Hengiſt percaeving the Iland to be rich and fruitful, but her Princes and other inhabitants giv'n to vicious eaſe, ſends word home, inviting others to a ſhare of his good ſucceſs. Who returning with 17 Ships, were grown up now to a ſufficient Army, and entertain'd without ſuſpicion on theſe terms, that they ſhould bear the brunt of War againſt the Picts, receaving ſtipend and ſome place to inhabit. With theſe was brought over the Daughter of Hengiſt, a Virgin wondrous fair, as is reported, Rowen the Britiſh call her: ſhe by commandment of her Father, who had invited the King to a Banquet, coming in preſence with a Bowle of Wine to welcome him, and to attend on his Cup till the Feaſt ended, won ſo much upon his fancy, though already wiv'd, as to demand her in mariage upon any conditions. Hengiſt at firſt, though it fell out perhaps according to his drift, held off, excuſiing his meanneſs; then obſcurely intimating a deſire and almoſt a neceſſity, by reaſon of his augmented numbers, to have his narrow bounds of Tanet enlarg'd to the Circuit of Kent, had it ſtreit by donation: though Guorangonus till then was King of that place: and ſo, as it were overcome by the great munificence of Vortiger, gave his Daughter. And ſtill encroaching on the Kings favour, got furder leave to call over Octa and Ebiſſa, his own and his Brothers Son; pretending that they, if the North were giv'n them, would ſit there as a continual defence againſt the Scots, while himſelf guarded the Eaſt. They therfore ſayling with forty Ships eev'n to the Orcades, and every way curbing the Scots and Picts, poſſeſs'd that part of the Ile which is now Northumberland. Gildas. Bed. Ninn.Notwithſtanding this they complain that thir monthly pay was grown much into arrear; which when the Britans found means to ſatisfie, though alleging withall that they to whom promiſe was made of wages, were nothing ſo many in number, quieted with this a while, but ſtill ſeeking occaſion to fall off, they find fault next, that thir pay is too ſmall for the danger they undergo, threatning op'n Warr unleſs it be augmented. Guortimer the Kings Son perceaving his Father and the Kingdom thus betray'd, from that time bends his utmoſt endeavour to drive them out. They on the other ſide making League with the Picts and Scots, and iſſuing out of Kent, waſted without reſiſtance almoſt the whole Land eev'n to the Weſtern Sea, with ſuch a horrid devaſtation, that Towns and Colonies overturn'd, Preiſts and people ſlain; Temples, and Palaces, what with fire and Sword lay alltogether heap'd in one mixt ruin. Of all which multitude, ſo great was the ſinfullneſs that brought this upon them, Gildas adds that few or none were likely to be other then lew'd and wicked perſons. The reſidue of theſe, part overtak'n in the Mountains were ſlain; others ſubdu'd with hunger preferr'd ſlavery before inſtant death; ſom getting to Rocks, Hills, and Woods inacceſſible, preferr'd the fear and danger of any Death before the ſhame of a ſecure ſlavery; many fled over Sea into other Countries; ſome into Primord. pag. 418.Holland, where yet remain the ruins of Brittenburgh, an old Caſtle on the Sea, to be ſeen at low water not far from Leiden; either built, as Writers of thir own affirm, or ſeis'd on by thoſe Britans in thir eſcape from Hengiſt: Others into Armorica, peopl'd, as ſom Malms. L. 1. c. 1.think, with Britans long before; either by guift of Conſtantine the Great, or elſe of Maximus to thoſe Britiſh Forces which had ſerv'd them in Forein Wars; to whom thoſe alſo that miſcarried not with the latter Conſtantine at Arles; and laſtly, theſe exiles driv'n out by Saxons, fled for refuge. But the antient Chronicles of thoſe Provinces atteſt thir coming thether to be then firſt when they fled the Saxons, and indeed the name of Britain in France is not read till after that time. Yet how a ſort of fugitives who had quitted without ſtroke thir own Country, ſhould ſo ſoon win another, appears not; unleſs joyn'd to ſom party of thir own ſettl'd there before. Vortiger nothing better'd by theſe calamities, grew at Ninn. Malmsb.laſt ſo obdurat as to commit inceſt with his daughter, tempted or tempting him out of an ambition to the Crown. For which beeing cenſur'd and condemn'd in a great Synod of Clercs, and Laics, and partly for fear of the Saxons, according to the Counſel of his Peers he retir'd into Wales, and built him there a ſtrong Caſtle in Radnorſhire by the advice of Ambroſius Ninn.a young prophet, whom others call Merlin. Nevertheleſs Fauſtus, who was the Son thus inceſtuouſly begott'n under the inſtructions of German, or ſome of his Diſciples, for German was dead before, prov'd a religious man, and liv'd in devotion by the River Remnis in Clamorganſhire. But the Saxons, though Gildas.finding it ſo eaſy to ſubdue the Ile, with moſt of thir Forces, uncertain for what cauſe, return'd home: when as the eaſineſs of thir Conqueſt might ſeem rather likely to have call'd in more. Which makes more probable that which the Britiſh write of Guortemir. For he coming to Reigne, inſtead of his Father Ninn.depos'd for inceſt, is ſaid to have thrice driv'n and beſeig'd the Saxons in the Ile of Taneth; and when they iſſu'd out with powerful ſupplies ſent from Saxony, to have fought with them fowr other Battells, wherof three are nam'd; the firſt on the River Darwent, the ſecond at Episford, wherin Horſa the Brother of Hengiſt fell, and on the Britiſh part Catigern the other Son of Vortiger. The third in a Feild by Stonar then call'd Lapis tituli in Tanct, where he beat them into thir Ships that bore them home, glad to have ſo ſcap'd and not venturing to land again for 5 years after. In the ſpace wherof Guortemir dying, commanded they ſhould bury him in the Port of Stonar; perſwaded that his bones lying there would be terror enough to keep the Saxons from ever landing in that place: they, ſaith Ninnius, neglecting his command, buried him in Lincoln. But concerning theſe times, antienteſt annals of the Saxons relate in this manner. An. Dom. 455 In the year 455. Hengiſt and Horſa fought againſt Vortigern, Bede. Ethelwerd.in a place called Egleſthrip, now Ailsford in Kent; where Horſa loſt his life, of Florent. Annal. Sax.whom Horſted, the place of his burial, took name.
After this firſt Battel and the Death of his Brother, The Kingdome of Kent.Hengiſt with his Son Eſca took on him Kingly Title, and peopl'd Kent with Jutes; who alſo then or not long after poſſeſs'd the Ile of Wight, and part of Hamſhire lying oppoſite. An. Dom. 457 Two years after in a fight at Creganford, or Craford, Hengiſt and his Son ſlew of the Britans four Cheif Commanders, and as many thouſand men: the reſt in great diſorder flying to London, with the total loſs of Kent. An. Dom. 465 And 8 years paſſing between, he made new Warr on the Britans; of whom in a Battel at Wippeds-fleot, 12 Princes were ſlain, and Wipped the Saxon Earl, who left his name to that place, though not ſufficient to direct us where it now ſtands. An. Dom. 473 His laſt encounter was at a place not mention'd, where he gave them ſuch an overthrow, that flying in great fear they left the ſpoil of all to thir Enemies. And theſe perhaps are the 4 Battells, according to Nennius, fought by Guortemir, though by theſe Writers far differently related; and happ'ning beſides many other bickerings, in the ſpace of 20 years, as Malmsbury reck'ns. Nevertheleſs it plainly appears that the Saxons, by whomſoever, were put to hard ſhifts, being all this while fought withall in Kent, thir own allotted dwelling, and ſomtimes on the very edge of the Sea, which the word Wippeds-fleot ſeems to intimat. But Guortemir now dead, and none of courage left to defend the Land,Nennius. Vortigern either by the power of his faction, or by conſent of all, reaſſumes the Government: and Hengiſt thus rid of his grand oppoſer, hearing gladly the reſtorement of his old favourer, returns again with great Forces; but to Vortigern whom he well knew how to handle without warring, as to his Son in Law, now that the only Author of diſſention between them was remov'd by Death, offers nothing but all terms of new league and amity. The King both for his Wives ſake and his own ſottiſhneſs, conſulting alſo with his Peers not unlike himſelf, readily yeilds; and the place of parly is agree'd on; to which either ſide was to repair without Weapons. Hengiſt, whoſe meaning was not peace, but treachery, appointed his men to be ſecretly arm'd, and acquainted them to what intent. The watch-word was Malmſ.Nemet eour Saxes, that is, Draw your Daggers; which they obſerving, when the Britans were throughly heated with Wine (for the Treaty it ſeems was not without Cups) and provok'd, as was plotted, by ſom affront, diſpatch'd with thoſe Poniards every one his next man, to the number of 300. the cheif of thoſe that could do ought againſt him either in Counſel or in Field. Vortigern they only bound and kept in Cuſtody, untill he granted them for his ranſome three Provinces, which were called afterward Eſſex, Suſſex, and Middleſex. Who thus diſmiſt, retiring again to his ſolitary abode in the Country of Guorthigirniaun, ſo call'd by his name, from thence to the Caſtle of his own building in North-Wales, by the River Tiebi; and living there obſcurely among his Wives, was at length burnt in his Towre by fire from Heav'n at the Praier, as ſome ſay, of German, but that Nin. ex legend St. Ger. Galfrid. Monmouth.coheres not; as others, by Ambroſius Aurelian; of whom as we have heard at firſt, he ſtood in great fear, and partly for that cauſe invited in the Saxons. Who whether by conſtraint or of thir own accord after much miſcheif don, moſt of them returning back into thir own Country, left a fair opportunity to the Britans of avenging themſelves the eaſier on thoſe that ſtaid behinde. Repenting therefore, and with earneſt ſupplication imploring divine help to prevent thir final rooting out, they gather from all parts, and under the leading of Ambroſius Aurelianus, a vertuous and modeſt man, the laſt heer of Roman ſtock, advancing now onward againſt the late Victors, defeat them in a memorable Battell. Common opinion, but grounded cheifly on the Britiſh Fables, makes this Ambroſius to be a younger Son of that Conſtantine, whoſe eldeſt, as we heard, was Conſtance the Monk: who both loſt thir lives abroad uſurping the Empire. But the expreſs words both of Gildas and Bede, aſſures us that the Parents of this Ambroſius having heer born regal dignity, were ſlain in theſe Pictiſh Wars and commotions in the Iland. And if the fear of Ambroſe induc'd Vortigern to call in the Saxons, it ſeems Vortigern uſurp'd his right. I perceave not that Nennius makes any difference between him and Merlin: for that Child without Father that propheci'd to Vortigern, he names not Merlin but Ambroſe, makes him the Son of a Roman Conſul; but conceal'd by his mother, as fearing that the King therfore ſought his life; yet the youth no ſooner had confeſs'd his parentage, but Vortigern either in reward of his predictions, or as his right, beſtow'd upon him all the Weſt of Britain; himſelf retiring to a ſolitary life. Whoſe ever Son he was, he was the firſt, according to ſureſt Authors, Gildas. Bed.that led againſt the Saxons, and overthrew them; but whether before this time or after, none have writt'n. This is certain, that in a time when moſt of the Saxon Forces were departed home, the Britans gather'd ſtrength; and either againſt thoſe who were left remaining, or againſt thir whole powers, the ſecond time returning obtain'd this Victory. Thus Ambroſe as cheif Monarch of the Ile ſucceeded Vortigern; to whoſe third Son Paſcentius he permitted the rule of two Regions in Wales, Buelth, and Guorthigirniaun. In his daies, ſaith Nennius, the Saxons Ninn.prevail'd not much: againſt whom Arthur, as beeing then Cheif General for the Britiſh Kings, made great War; but more renown'd in Songs and Romances, then in true ſtories. And the ſequel it ſelf declares as much. An. Dom. 477 For in the year 477. Ella the Saxon, Sax. an. Ethelw. Florent.with his three Sons, Cymen, Pleting, and Ciſſa, at a place in Suffex call'd Cymenſhore, arrive in three Ships, kill many of the Britans, chaſing them that remain'd into the Wood Andreds League. An. Dom. 485 Another Battell was fought at Mercreds-Burnamſted, Florent. Huntingd.wherin Ella had by far the Victory; but Huntingdon makes it ſo doubtful, that the Saxons were conſtrain'd to ſend home for ſupplies. An. Dom. 489 Four year after dy'd Hengiſt the firſt Saxon King of Kent; noted to have attain'd that dignity by craft, as much as valour, Malmſ.and giving ſcope to his own cruel nature, rather then proceeding by mildneſs or civility. His Son Bed. L. 2. c. 5.Oeric ſurnam'd Oiſc, of whom the Kentiſh Kings were call'd Oiſcings, ſucceeded him, and ſate content with his Fathers winnings; more deſirous to ſettle and defend, then to enlarge his bounds: he reign'd 24 years. By this time Ella and his Son Ciſſa, beſeiging Andredcheſter, An. Dom. 492 Camden.ſuppos'd now to be Newenden in Kent, take it by force, and all within it put to the Sword.
Thus Ella 3 years after the death of Hengiſt, began The Kingdome of South-Saxons. Bed. L. 1. c. 15. & L. 2. c. 5.his Kingdome of the South-Saxons; peopling it with new inhabitants, from the Country which was then old Saxony, at this day Holſtein in Denmark, and had beſides at his command all thoſe Provinces which the Saxons had won on this ſide Humber. Animated with theſe good ſucceſſes, as if Britain were become now the field of Fortune, Kerdic another Saxon Prince, the tenth by Linage from Woden an Sax. an. omn.old and practis'd Souldier, who in many proſperous conflicts againſt the Enemy in thoſe parts, An. Dom. 495 had nurs'd up a Spirit too big to live at home with equals, coming to a certain place which from thence took the name of Kerdic-ſhoar, with 5 Ships, and Kenric his Son, the very ſame day overthrew the Britans that oppos'd him; and ſo effectually, that ſmaller ſkirmiſhes after that day were ſufficient to drive them ſtill furder off, leaving him a large territory. An. Dom. 501 After him Porta another Saxon with his two Sons Bida and Sax. an. omn. Huntingd.Megla, in two Ships arrive at Portsmouth thence call'd; and at thir landing ſlew a young Britiſh Nobleman, with many others who unadviſedly ſet upon them. An. Dom. 508 The Britans to recover what they had loſt, draw together Annal. omn. Huntingd. Camden.all thir Forces led by Natanleod, or Nazaleod, a certain King in Britain, and the greateſt ſaith one; but him with 5000 of his men Kerdic puts to rout and ſlaies. From whence the place in Hantſhire, as far as Kerdicsford, now Chardford, was call'd of old Nazaleod. Who this King ſhould be, hath bred much queſtion; ſom think it to be the Britiſh name of Ambroſe; Camd. Ʋſs. primord.others to be the right name of his Brother, who for the terror of his eagerneſs in fight, became more known by the Sirname of Ʋther, which in the Welch Tongue ſignifies Dreadful. And if ever ſuch a King in Britain there were as Ʋther Pendragon, for ſo alſo the Monmouth Book ſurnames him, this in all likelyhood muſt be he. Kerdic by ſo great a blow giv'n to the Britans had made large room about him; not only for the men he brought with him, but for ſuch alſo of his friends, as he deſir'd to make great; for which cauſe, and withall the more to ſtrengthen himſelf, An. Dom. 514 his two Nefews Stuf, and Withgar, An. omn.in 3 Veſſels bring him new levies to Kerdic ſhoar. Who that they might not come ſluggiſhly to poſſeſs what others had won for them, either by thir own ſeeking, or by appointment, are ſet in place where they could not but at thir firſt coming give a proof of themſelves upon the Enemy: and ſo well they did it, that the Britans after a hard encounter left them Maiſters of the field. And about the ſame time, Ella the firſt Huntingdon.South-Saxon King dy'd; whom Ciſſa his youngeſt ſucceeded; the other two failing before him.
Nor can it be much more or leſs then about this The Kingdom of Eaſt-Angles.time, for it was before the Weſt-Saxon Kingdome, that Ʋffa the 8th. from Woden made himſelf King of the Eaſt-Angles; who by thir name teſtifie the Country above mention'd; from whence they came Malmſ. L. 1. c. 5. Bed. L. 1. c. 15. Huntingd. L. 2. p. 313. 315. Bede L. 2. c. 15. Malmſ. L. 1. c. 6.in ſuch multitudes, that thir native ſoil is ſaid to have remain'd in the daies of Beda uninhabited. Huntingdon deferrs the time of thir coming in, to the ninth year of Kerdic's Reigne: for ſaith he, at firſt many of them ſtrove for principality, ſeiſing every one his Province, and for ſom while ſo continu'd making petty Warrs among themſelves; till in the end Ʋffa, of whom thoſe Kings were call'd Ʋffings, overtop'd them all in the year 571, then Titilus his Son, the Father of Redwald, who became potent.
And not much after the Eaſt-Angles, began alſo the The Kingdom of Eaſt-Saxons.Eaſt-Saxons to erect a Kingdom under Sleda the tenth from Woden. But Huntingdon, as before, will have it later by 11 years, and Erchenwin to be the firſt King.
An. Dom. 519 Kerdic the ſame in power, though not ſo fond of The Kingdom of Weſt-Saxons.title, forbore the name 24 Years after his arrival; but then founded ſo firmly the Kingdome of Weſt-Saxons, that it ſubjected all the reſt at length, and became the ſole Monarchie of England. The ſame year he had a Victory againſt the Britans at Kerdics-Ford Sax. an. omn.Ford, by the River Aven: An. Dom. 527 and after 8 years, another great fight at Kerdics Leage, but which won the day is not by any ſet down. Hitherto hath bin collected what there is of certainty with circumſtance of time and place to be found regiſter'd, and no more then barely regiſter'd in annals of beſt note; without deſcribing after Huntingdon the manner of thoſe Battels and Encounters, which they who compare, and can judge of Books, may be confident he never found in any current Author whom he had to follow. But this diſeaſe hath bin incident to many more Hiſtorians: and the age wherof we now write, hath had the ill hap, more then any ſince the firſt fabulous times, to be ſurcharg'd with all the idle fancies of poſterity. Yet that we may not rely altogether on Saxon relaters, Gildas, in Antiquity far before theſe, and every way more credible, ſpeaks of theſe Wars in ſuch a manner, though nothing conceited of the Britiſh valour, as declares the Saxons in his time and before to have bin foyl'd not ſeldomer then the Britans. For beſides that firſt Victory of Ambroſe, and the interchangeable ſucceſs long after, he tells that the laſt overthrow which they receav'd at Badon Hill, was not the leaſt; which they in thir oldeſt annals mention not at all. And becauſe the time of this Battell, by any who could do more then gueſs, is not ſet down, or any foundation giv'n from whence to draw a ſolid compute, it cannot be much wide to inſert it in this place. For ſuch Authors as we have to follow, give the conduct and praiſe of this exploit to Arthur; and that this was the laſt of 12 great Battells which he fought victoriouſly againſt the Saxons. The ſeveral places writt'n by Nennius Ninn.in thir Welch names, were many hunder'd years ago unknown, and ſo heer omitted. But who Arthur was, and whether every any ſuch reign'd in Britain, hath bin doubted heertofore, and may again with good reaſon. For the Monk of Malmsbury, and others whoſe credit hath ſway'd moſt with the learneder ſort, we may well perceave to have known no more of this Arthur 500 years paſt, nor of his doeings, then we now living; And what they had to ſay, tranſcrib'd out of Nennius, a very trivial writer yet extant, which hath already bin related. Or out of a Britiſh Book, the ſame which he of Monmouth ſet forth, utterly unknown to the World, till more then 600 years after the dayes of Arthur, of whom (as Sigebert in his Chronicle confeſſes) all other Hiſtories were ſilent, both Foren and Domeſtic, except only that fabulous Book. Others of later time have ſought to aſſert him by old legends and Cathedrall regeſts. But he who can accept of Legends for good ſtory, may quickly ſwell a volume with traſh, and had need be furniſh'd with two only neceſſaries, leaſure, and beleif, whether it be the writer, or he that ſhall read. As to Artur, no leſs is in doubt who was his Father; for if it be true as Nennius or his notiſt avers, that Artur was call'd Mab-Ʋther, that is to ſay, a cruel Son, for the fierſeneſs that men ſaw in him of a Child, and the intent of his name Arturus imports as much, it might well be that ſom in after ages who ſought to turn him into a Fable, wreſted the word Ʋther into a proper name, and ſo fain'd him the Son of Ʋther; ſince we read not in any certain ſtory, that ever ſuch perſon liv'd, till Geffry of Monmouth ſet him off with the ſirname of Pendragon. And as we doubted of his parentage, ſo may we alſo of his puiſſance; for whether that Victory at Badon Hill were his or no, is uncertain; Gildas not naming him, as he did Ambroſe in the former. Next, if it be true as Caradoc relates,Caradoc. Llancarvon. vit. Gild. that Melvas King of that Country which is now Summerſet, kept from him Gueniver his Wife a whole year in the Town of Glaſton, and reſtor'd her at the entreaty of Gildas, rather then for any enforcement, that Artur with all his Chivalry could make againſt a ſmall Town defended only by a moory ſituation; had either his knowledge in War, or the force he had to make, bin anſwerable to the fame they bear, that petty King had neither dar'd ſuch an affront, nor he bin ſo long, and at laſt without effect, in revenging it. Conſidering laſtly how the Saxons gain'd upon him every where all the time of his ſuppos'd reign, which began, as ſom write, in the tenth year of Kerdic, who Malmſ. Antiquit. Glaſton.wrung from him by long Warr the Countries of Summerſet, and Hamſhire; there will remain neither place nor circumſtance in ſtory, An. Dom. 529 which may adminiſter any likelyhood of thoſe great Acts that are aſcrib'd Primord. p. 468. Polychronic. L. 5. c. 6.him. This only is alleg'd by Nennius in Arturs behalf, that the Saxons, though vanquiſh't never ſo oft, grew ſtill more numerous upon him by continual ſupplies out of Germany. And the truth is, that valour may be over-toil'd, and overcom at laſt with endleſs overcoming. But as for this Battell of Mount Badon where the Saxons were hemm'd in, or beſeig'd, whether by Artur won, or whenſoever, it ſeems indeed to have giv'n a moſt undoubted and important blow to the Saxons, and to have ſtop'd thir proceedings for a good while after. Gildas himſelf witneſſing that the Britans having thus compel'd them to ſit down with peace, fell thereupon to civil diſcord among themſelves. Which words may ſeem to let in ſom light toward the ſearching out when this Battell was fought. And we ſhall find no time ſince the firſt Saxon War, from whence a longer peace enſu'd, then from the fight at Kerdics Leage in the year 527. which all the Chronicles mention, without Victory to Kerdic; and give us argument from the cuſtome they have of magnifying thir own deeds upon all occaſions, to preſume heer his ill ſpeeding. And if we look ſtill onward, eev'n to the 44th year after, wherin Gildas wrote, if his obſcureutterance be underſtood, we ſhall meet with very little War between the Britans and Saxons. This only remains Gildas.difficult, that the Victory firſt won by Ambroſe, was not ſo long before this at Badon Seige, but that the ſame men living might be eye-witneſſes of both; and by this rate hardly can the latter be thought won by Artur, unleſs we reck'n him a grown youth at leaſt in the daies of Ambroſe, and much more then a youth, if Malmsbury be heard, who affirms all the exploits of Ambroſe, to have bin don cheifly by Artur as his General, which will add much unbeleif to the common aſſertion of his reigning after Ambroſe and Ʋther, eſpecially the fight at Badon, being the laſt of his twelve Battels. But to prove by that which follows, that the fight at Kerdics Leage, though it differ in name from that of Badon, may be thought the ſame by all effects; Kerdic 3 years after, An. Dom. 530 not proceeding Sax. an. omn.onward, as his manner was, on the continent, turns back his Forces on the Ile of Wight; which with the ſlaying of a few only in Withgarburgh, he ſoon maiſters; and not long ſurviving, left it to his Nefews by the Mothers ſide, Stuff and Withgar; An. Dom. 534 the reſt of what he had ſubdu'd, Kenric his Son held; An. Dom. 544 and reign'd 26 years, in whoſe tenth year Withgar was buried in the Town of that Iland which bore his name. Notwithſtanding all theſe unlikelyhoods of Artur's Reign and great acheivments, in a narration crept in I know not how among the Laws of Edward the Confeſſor, Artur the famous King of Britans, is ſaid not only to have expell'd hence the Saracens, who were not then known in Europe, but to have conquer'd Freeſland, and all the North Eaſt Iles as far as Ruſſia, to have made Lapland the Eaſtern bound of his Empire, and Norway the Chamber of Britain. When ſhould this be done? from the Saxons, till after twelve Battells, he had no reſt at home; after thoſe, the Britans contented with the quiet they had from thir Saxon Enemies, were ſo far from ſeeking Conqueſts abroad, that, by report of Gildas above cited, they fell to civil Wars at home. Surely Artur much better had made War in old Saxony, to repreſs thir flowing hither, then to have won Kingdoms as far as Ruſſia, ſcarce able heer to defend his own. Buchanan our Neighbour Hiſtorian reprehends him of Monmouth and others for fabling in the deeds of Arms, yet what he writes thereof himſelf, as of better credit, ſhews not whence he had but from thoſe Fables; which he ſeems content to believe in part, on condition that the Scots and Picts may be thought to have aſſiſted Arthur in all his Wars, and atchievments; whereof appears as little grownd by any credible ſtory, as of that which he moſt counts Fabulous. But not furder to conteſt about ſuch uncertainties.
An. Dom. 547 In the year 547. Ida the Saxon, ſprung alſo from Woden in the tenth degree,The Kingdome of Northumberland. Annal omn. Bed. Epit. Malmsb. began the Kingdome of Bernicia in Northumberland; built the Town Bebbanburg, which was after wall'd; and had 12 Sons, half by Wives, and half by Concubines. Hengiſt by leave of Vortigern, we may remember, had ſent Octa and Ebiſſa to ſeek them ſeats in the North, and there by warring on the Picts, to ſecure the Southern parts. Which they ſo prudently effected, that what by force and fair proceeding, they well quioted thoſe Countries; and though ſo far diſtant from Kent, nor without power in thir hands, yet kept themſelves nigh 180 years within moderation; and as inferiour Governors, they and their off-ſpring gave obedience to the Kings of Kent, as to the elder Family. Till at length following the example of that Age; when no leſs then Kingdoms were the prize of every fortunat Commander, they thought it but reaſon, as well as others of thir Nation, to aſſume Royalty. Of whom Ida was the firſt, a man in the prime of his Malmsb.years, and of Parentage as we heard; but how he came to wear the Crown, aſpiring or by free choiſe, is not ſaid. Certain enough it is, that his vertues, made him not leſs noble then his birth, in War undaunted, and unfoil'd; in peace tempring the aw of Magiſtracy, with a naturall mildneſs he raign'd about 12 years. An. Dom. 552 In the mean while Kenric in a fight at Searesbirig, Annal omn.now Salsbury, kil'd and put to flight many of the Britans; An. Dom. 556 and the fourth year after at Beranvirig, now Banbury, Camden.as ſome think, with Keaulin his ſon put them again to flight. Keaulin ſhortly after ſucceeded his father in the West-Saxons. And Alla deſcended alſo of Woden, An. Dom. 560 but by another Annal. Florent.line, ſet up a ſecond Kingdom in Deira the South part of Northumberland, and held it 30 years; while Adda the ſon of Ida, and five more after him reign'd without other memory in Bernicia: and in Kent, Ethelbert the next year began. An. Dom. 561 For Eſca the ſon of Hengist had left Otha, and he Emeric to rule after him; both which without adding to their bounds, kept what they had in peace 53 years. But Ethelbert in length of reign equal'd both his progenitors, and as Beda counts, 3 years exceeded.Malmſ. Young at his firſt entrance, and unexperienc'd, he was the firſt raiſer of civill War among the Saxons; claiming from the priority of time wherin Hengiſt took poſſeſſion here, a kind of right over the later Kingdomes; and thereupon was troubleſome to thir Confines: but by them twiſe defeated, he who but now thought to ſeem dreadfull, became almoſt contemptible.An. omn. For Keaulin and Cutha his Son, An. Dom. 568 perſuing him into his own Territory, ſlew there in Battel, at Wibbandun 2 of his Earls, Oſlac, and Cnebban. By this means the Britans, but cheifly by this Victory at Badon, for the ſpace of 44 years ending in 571, receav'd no great annoyance from the Saxons: but the peace they enjoy'd, by ill uſing it, prov'd more deſtructive to them then War. For being rais'd on a ſudden by two ſuch eminent ſucceſſes, from the loweſt condition of thraldome, they whoſe Eyes had beheld both thoſe deliverances, that by Ambroſe, and this at Badon, were taught by the experience of either Fortune, both Kings, Magiſtrates, Prieſts, and privat men, to live orderly.Gildas. But when the next Age, unacquainted with paſt Evils, and only ſenſible of thir preſent eaſe and quiet, ſucceeded, ſtrait follow'd the apparent ſubverſion of all truth, and juſtice, in the minds of moſt men: ſcarſe the leſt footſtep, or impreſſion of goodneſs left remaining through all ranks and degrees in the Land; except in ſome ſo very few, as to be hardly viſible in a general corruption: which grew in ſhort ſpace not only manifeſt, but odious to all the Neighbour Nations. And firſt thir Kings, among whom alſo, the Sons or Grand-Children of Ambroſe, were fouly degenerated to all Tyranny and vitious life. Wherof to hear ſom particulars out of Gildas will not be impertinent. They avenge, ſaith he, and they protect; not the innocent, but the guilty: they ſwear oft, but perjure; they wage War, but civil and unjuſt War. They puniſh rigorouſly them that rob by the high way; but thoſe grand Robbers that ſit with them at Table, they honour and reward. They give alms largly, but in the face of thir Alms-deeds, pile up wickedneſs to a far higher heap. They ſit in the ſeat of Judgment, but goe ſeldome by the rule of right; neglecting and proudly overlooking the modeſt and harmleſs; but countenancing the audacious, though guilty of abominableſt crimes; they ſtuff thir Priſons, but with men committed rather by circumvention, then any juſt cauſe. Nothing better were the Clergy, but at the ſame paſs or rather worſe, then when the Saxons came firſt in; Unlerned, Unapprehenſive, yet impudent; ſuttle Prowlers, Paſtors in Name, but indeed Wolves; intent upon all occaſions, not to feed the Flock, but to pamper and well line themſelves: not call'd, but ſeiſing on the Miniſtry as a Trade, not as a Spiritual Charge: teaching the people, not by ſound Doctrin, but by evil Example: uſurping the Chair of Peter, but through the blindneſs of thir own worldly luſts, they ſtumble upon the Seat of Judas: deadly haters of truth, broachers of lies: looking on the poor Chriſtian with Eyes of Pride and Contempt; but fawning on the wickedeſt rich men without ſhame: great promoters of other mens Alms with thir ſet exhortations; but themſelves contributing ever leaſt; ſlightly touching the many vices of the Age, but preaching without end thir own greivances, as don to Chriſt; ſeeking after preferments and degrees in the Church more then after Heav'n; and ſo gain'd, make it thir whole ſtudy how to keep them by any Tyranny. Yet leſt they ſhould be thought things of no uſe in thir eminent places, they have thir niceties and trivial points to keep in aw the ſuperſtitious multitude; but in true ſaving knowledge leave them ſtill as groſs and ſtupid as themſelves; bunglers at the Scripture, nay forbidding and ſilencing them that know; but in worldly matters, practis'd and cunning Shifters; in that only art and ſymony, great Clercs and Maiſters, bearing thir heads high, but thir thoughts abject and low. He taxes them alſo as gluttonous, incontinent, and daily Drunkards. And what ſhouldſt thou expect from theſe, poor Laity, ſo he goes on, theſe beaſts, all belly? ſhall theſe amend thee, who are themſelves laborious in evil doings? ſhalt thou ſee with their Eyes, who ſee right forward nothing but gain? Leave them rather, as bids our Saviour, leſt ye fall both blind-fold into the ſame perdition. Are all thus? Perhaps not all, or not ſo groſly. But what avail'd it Eli to be himſelf blameleſs, while he conniv'd at others that were abominable? who of them hath bin envi'd for his better life? who of them hath hated to conſort with theſe, or withſtood thir entring the Miniſtry, or endeavour'd zealouſly thir caſting out? Yet ſom of theſe perhaps by others are legended for great Saints. This was the ſtate of Goverment, this of Religion among the Britans, in that long calm of peace, which the fight at Badon Hill had brought forth. Wherby it came to paſs, that ſo fair a Victory came to nothing. Towns and Citties were not reinhabited, but lay ruin'd and waſt; nor was it long ere domeſtic War breaking out, waſted them more. For Britain, as at other times, had then alſo ſeveral Kings.Primord. p. 444. Five of whom Gildas living then in Armorica, at a ſafe diſtance, boldly reproves by name; Firſt Conſtantine (fabl'd the Son of Cador, Duke of Cornwall, Arturs half Brother by the Mothers ſide) who then reign'd in Cornwall and Devon, a Tyrannical and bloody King, polluted alſo with many Adulteries: he got into his power, two young Princes of the Blood Royal, uncertain whether before him in right, or otherwiſe ſuſpected: and after ſolemn Oath giv'n of thir ſafety the year that Gildas wrote, ſlew them with thir two Governours in the Church, and in thir Mothers Arms, through the Abbots Coap, which he had thrown over them, thinking by the revernce of his veſture to have withheld the murderer. Theſe are commonly ſuppos'd to be the Sons of Mordred, Arturs Nefew, ſaid to have revolted from his Uncle, giv'n him in a Battel his Deaths wound, and by him after to have bin ſlain. Which things were they true, would much diminiſh the blame of cruelty in Conſtantine, revenging Artur on the Sons of ſo falſe a Mordred. In another part, but not expreſs'd where, Aurelius Conanus was King: him he charges alſo with Adulteries, and Parricide; cruelties worſe then the former; to be a hater of his Countries Peace, thirſting after civil War and Prey. His condition it ſeems was not very proſperous; for Gildas wiſhes him, being now left alone, like a Tree withering in the midſt of a barren field, to remember the vanity, and arrogance of his Father, and elder Brethren, who came all to untimely Death in thir youth. The third reigning in Demetia, or South Wales, was Vortipor, the Son of a good Father; he was when Gildas wrote, grown old, not in years only, but in Adulteries, and in governing full of falſhood, and cruel Actions. In his latter dales, putting away his Wife, who dy'd in divorce, he became, if we miſtake not Gildas, inceſtuous with his Daughter. The fourth was Cuneglas, imbru'd in civil War; he alſo had divorc'd his Wife, and tak'n her Siſter, who had vow'd Widdowhood: he was a great Enemy to the Clergy, high-minded, and truſting to his wealth. The laſt, but greateſt of all in power, was Maglocune, and greateſt alſo in wickedneſs; he had driv'n out or ſlain many other Kings, or Tyrants; and was called the Iſland Dragon, perhaps having his ſeat in Angleſey; a profuſe giver, a great Warrior, and of a goodly ſtature. While he was yet young, he over-threw his Uncle, though in the head of a compleat Army, and took from him the Kingdom: then touch't with remorſe of his doings, not without deliberation took upon him the profeſſion of a Monk; but ſoon forſook his vow, and his wife alſo, which for that vow he had left, making love to the wife of his Brothers Son then living. Who not refuſing the offer, if ſhe were not rather the firſt that entic'd, found means both to diſpatch her own Husband, and the former wife of Maglocune, to make her marriage with him the more unqueſtionable. Neither did he this for want of better inſtructions, having had the learnedeſt and wiſeſt man reputed of all Britain, the inſtituter of his youth. Thus much, the utmoſt that can be learnt by truer ſtory, of what paſt among the Britans from the time of their uſeleſs Victory at Badon, to the time that Gildas wrote, that is to ſay, as may be gueſs't, from 527 to 571, is here ſet down altogether; not to be reduc't under any certainty of years. But now the Saxons, who for the moſt part all this while had bin ſtill, unleſs among themſelves, began afreſh to aſſault them, and ere long to drive them out of all which they yet maintain'd on this ſide Wales. An. Dom. 571 For Cuthulf the Brother of Reaulin, by a Victory obtain'd at Bedanford, now Bedford, Camden. Annal omn.took from them 4 good Towns, Liganburgh, Eglesburh, Beſington, now Benſon in Oxfordſhire, and Igneſham; but outliv'd not many months his good ſucceſs. And after 6 years more, Keaulin, and Cuthwin his Son, An. Dom. 577 gave them a great overthrow at Deorrham in Gloſterſhire, ſlew three of thir Kings, Comail, Condidan, and Farinmaile, and took three of thir Cheif Citties; Gloceſter, Cirenceſter, and Badenceſter. An. Dom. 584 The Britans notwithſtanding, after ſome ſpace of time, judging to have out-grown thir loſſes, gather to a head, and encounter Keaulin with Cutha his Son, at Fethanleage; whom valiantly fighting, they ſlew among the thickeſt, and as is ſaid, forc'd the Saxons to retire.Huntingd. But Keaulin reinforcing the fight, put them to a main rout, and following his advantage, took many Towns, and return'd lad'n with rich booty.
The laſt of thoſe Saxons who rais'd thir own acheivments to a Monarchy,The Kingdome of Mercia. was Crida, much about this time, firſt founder of the Mercian Kingdom, drawing alſo his Pedigree from Woden. Of whom Huntingd. Mat. Weſtm.all to write the ſeveral Genealogies, though it might be done without long ſearch, were, in my opinion, to encumber the ſtory with a ſort of barbarous names, to little purpoſe. This may ſuffice, that of Wodens 3 Sons, from the Eldeſt iſſu'd Hengiſt, and his ſucceſſion; from the ſecond, the Kings of Mercia; from Malmsb. L. 1. c. 3.the third, all that reign'd in Weſt-Saxon, and moſt of the Northumbers, of whom Alla was one, the firſt King of Deira; which, after his death, the race of Ida ſeis'd, and made it one Kingdom, with Bernicia, Florent. ad ann.uſurping on the Childhood of Edwin, Alla's Son. Whom Ethelric the Son of Ida expel'd. An. Dom. 559 Notwithſtanding others write of him; that from a poor life, and beyond hope in his old Age, coming to the Crown, he could hardly by the acceſs of a Kingdom, have overcome his former obſcurity, had not the fame of his Son preſerv'd him. An. Dom. 588 Once more the Britans, ere they quitted all on this ſide the Mountains, forgot not to ſhew ſome manhood; for meeting Annal. omn.Keaulin at Wodens Beorth, An. Dom. 592 that is to ſay, Wodens Florent.Mount in Wiltſhire, whether it were by thir own Forces, or aſſiſted by the Angles, whoſe hatred Keaulin had incurr'd, they ruin'd his whole Army, Bed. l. 2. c. 3. Malmſ. Florent. Sax. an.and chas'd him out of his Kingdom, from whence flying, he dy'd the next year in poverty; Who a little before, was the moſt potent and indeed ſole King of all the Saxons on this ſide Humber. But who was cheif among the Britans in this exploit, had bin worth remembring, whether it were Maglocune, of whoſe proweſs hath bin ſpok'n, or Tendric King of Glamorgan, whom the regeſt of Landaff recounts to have bin alwaies victorious in fight; to have reign'd about this time, and at length to have exchang'd his Crown for a Hermitage; till in the aid of his Son Mouric, whom the Saxons had reduc'd to extremes, taking armes again, he defeated them at Tinterne by the River Wye; but himſelf receav'd a mortal wound. The ſame year with Keaulin, whom Keola the Son of Cuthulf, Keaulins Brother ſucceeded, An. Dom. 593 Crida alſo the Mercian King deceas'd, in whoſe room Wibba ſucceeded; and in Northumberland, Ethelfrid, in the room of Ethelric; reigning 24 years. Thus omitting Fables, we have the veiw of what with reaſon can be rely'd on for truth, don in Britain, ſince the Romans forſook it. Wherin we have heard the many miſeries and deſolations, brought by divine hand on a perverſe Nation; driv'n, when nothing elſe would reform them, out of a fair Country, into a Mountanous and Barren Corner, by Strangers and Pagans. So much more tolerable in the Eye of Heav'n is Infidelity profeſs't, then Chriſtian Faith and Religion diſhonoured by unchriſtian works. Yet they alſo at length renounc'd thir Heatheniſm; which how it came to paſs, will be the matter next related.
The End of the Third Book.