4. yeareâ— Â After whose death the Sea was voyd one yeare 628 Honorius 26. yeares  After whose death the Sea was voyd three yeares 655 Deus-dedit 10. yeares  After whose death the Sea was voyd three yeares 668 Theodorus 22. yeares 693 Bertualdus 38. yeares 731 Tatwinus 4. yeares 735 Nothelmus 5. yeares  After his death the Sea was voyd one yeare 740 Cuthbertus translated from the Sea of Hereford 18. yeares 759 Bregwinus 3. yeares 762 Lambrihtus who had formerly beene Abbot of St. Augustine 31. yeares 791 Aethelardus in the time of Egbert the West-Saxon Prince 13. yeares Anno Dom. Bishops of Rochester 604 Iustus ordained the first Bishoppe there by Augustine the Archbishop of Canterbury sate 20. yeares 624 Romanus 10 yeares 634 Paulinus translated from the Sea of Yorke 10. yeares 644 Ithamarus 12. yeares  After whose death the Sea was voyd foure yeares 656 Damianus 9. yeares 669 Putta 8. yeares 677 Quichelmus 4. yeares  After whose death the Sea was voyd three yeares 681 Gebmundus 9. yeares 693 Tobias 34. yeares 727 Aldwulfus 13. yeares 740 Dunnus 24. yeares 764 Eardulfus 11. yeares 775 Deora 15. yeares 790 Weremundus in the time of Egbert the West-Saxon Prince 12. yeares THE SECOND PART The second Booke HENGIST I PRINC SAX CHAP. I. The Principalitie of the Kentish-Saxons established by Hengist whom Vsk Otta and Ermeric succeede in the government Austen the Monke is sent from Rome by Gregorie the Great to preach the Christian faith to the Saxons and English He landeth in Kent where he is curteousâ— â—ertained by Ethelbert the Prince of that Countrie THE Territorie of the Kentish-Saxons did at the first include only that part which at this day is contained within the county of Kent being the very entrance key of the whole Iland The west south sides of it butte vpon the firme land on the East the Brittish Ocean beateth and vppon the North runneth the famous river Thames navigable for ships of very great burden and ebbing and flowing many miles within the land whereby commodities are brought in and carryed forth to the enriching of it selfe and the Countries round about This Principalitie enlarged by addition of such Provinces as Vortiger after the slaughter of the Brittish Nobilitie delivered to the Saxons for his ransome was established by Hengist eight yeares after his arrivall about the yeare of grace 456. Valentinian the third of that name then shoring vp the decayed Empire in the West Although by consent of divers Writers he ruled a long time yet little or nothing is left of record concerning any thing done by him after he was setled in the governement either for that perhaps no great occasion was ministred to shew himselfe in action the Britans being now seated in the remote parts of the I le and his owne countrymen making warre in other places of the same or else for that being wearied with the warre he gave himselfe to ease and quietnesse supposing hee had done enough alreadie in making the first attempt in an enterprize so difficult and in getting and leaving to his posteritie the possession of so faire and fruitfull Countries After his death there raigned eyther joyntly or successively Vsk Otta and Ermeric concerning whom I finde no other mention then of their names onely Ethelbert succeeding Ermeric his father was in the beginning of his raigne much encumbred with warres which he made with very ill successe against Ceaulin Prince of the West-Saxons but afterwards his knowledge in militare affaires increasing with his yeares hee fortunately repaired those losses extending his Dominion by reducing the South Provinces to his obedience even to the water of Humber And the better to strengthen his estate by forraigne aliance hee married Bertha the danghter of Châ—rebert then King of France a vertuous Lady and a professor of Christianitie wherein the King her husband was not as yet instructed howbeit hee permitted both her selfe and Luidhard a French Bishop that accompanied her into Britannie to vse the Rites and Ceremonies of their owne Countrie and religion eyther for observance of the contract which Ethelbert before the marriage had made with the King her Father to that end or else for the heartie and entire affection which hee bare vnto her as his wife whom God had ordained to bee the meanes of his conversion to the Christian faith For in the yeare of grace five hundred ninetie sixe and fourteenth of the raigne of Mauritius the Emperour Austen a Monke was sent by Gregory the first surnamed the Great then Bishop of Rome to preach the faith to the Saxons and English then inhabiting the I le of Britannie where landing in the I le of Tanet vpon the coast of Kent hee was entertained in curteous manner by Ethelbert the Prince whose heart being somewhat prepared by his wives perswasion and by the example of Luidhard the devout Bishop that lived with her was more apt in time to take impression of the Truth whereto though himselfe assented not at the first yet hee licensed it to be taught privately and assigned to Austen a convenient seate at Canterbury the cheefe Citie of that Province giving him an olde Church which in former times had beene erected by certaine Romans exercising there the Christian religion and consecrated to our Saviour Christ. This Church was then reedified and not many yeares after Austen without the Citie Eastward layd the foundation of a Monasterie for which Ethelbert erected a Church wherein both Austen himselfe with his successours and also the Christian Princes of Kent were for the most part interred after their death This Monasterie being finished long time after Austens decease was dedicated to him by the name of Saint Austen whose memoriall the ruines of that place retaine even to this day CHAP. II. Austen converteth divers of the Saxons and English from Paganisme to Christianitie The cause that first moved Gregorie the Great to intend their conversion Austen is consecrated chief Bishop of the English Nation by the Bishop of Arles in France He advertiseth the Bishop of Rome of the successe of his voyage into Britannie and requireth directions touching the Ecclesiasticall governement to be there established IN the meane time Austen beeing now received as the Apostle of the English Nation and such Priests as were with him exercised their Ecclesiasticall functions without empeachment and for that they were altogether ignorant of the Brittish language they vsed the helpe of such Interpreters as they had brought with them out of France in preaching and instructing the people with whom partly by their doctrine and partly by their example they prevailed so much as many of them beleeved and were baptized for their teachers began then to expresse in their lives the practise of the Apostles in the Primitive Church by continuall watching fasting and praying contemning the world and contenting themselves with things necessarie to sustaine Life and Nature so strongly were they possessed with the
sister of Penda the Mercian Prince and afterwards put her away whereupon Penda to revenge the indignitie offered to his sister made warre vpon him and drave him out of the Province which he afterwards recovered by the assistance of Ana Prince of the East-Angles for Kennewalch during the troubles in his owne dominions had fled thither and was there baptised by Faelix the Bishop He founded the Cathedrall Church at Winchester to be the Bishops Sea for the Province of the West-Saxons and appointed Wiâ—a to be the first Bishop of that place Hee gave also to the Abbot Aldelmus the towne of Malâ—esbury where by the helpe of Elutherius that succeeded Wiâ—â— in the Bishopricke of the West-Saxons he erected a faire Monasterie of which William of Malmesbury who wrote in Latine part of the English History was sometimes a Monke After his death Sexburga his wife held the Principalitie but finding that by reason of the weakenesse of her sexe she was vnable to support so weightie a burthen she soone gave it over and went into a Nunnery in the I le of Shepey which her selfe had founded Then Eascwin the nephew of Kinegles succeeded He began a warre against Wolpher the Mercian Prince with whom he fought a set battaile What other things were done by him worthy remembrance I finde little reported Then Kenewin the youngest sonne of Kinegles ruled the West-Saxons He was oft times annoyed by the Britans whom in the end he chased into the vtmost parts of the Province Westward Ceadwall the nephew of Ceaulin possessing the government subdued the Province of the South-Saxons and wasted the Kentish Territories in the pursuit of which warre he gave vnto the Church even before he was baptised the tenths of all those spoiles which hee tooke Wherein howsoever his intention may be censured yet the example is no way justifiable considering it is written That hee which offereth vnto God the goods of the innocent doth as it were sacrifice the Son in the â—ight of the Father After hee had subdued the I le of Wight he sent thither Wilfrid the Bishop to instruct the inhabitants in the knowledge of Christian religion and being wearied with worldly affaires resigned the governement to Ina and went to Rome where he was baptised by the name of Peter and soone after ended his life His body was buried in the Church of Saint Peter and over the place where he was 〈◊〉 the inscription of his name and condition was engraven CHAP. II. Ina succeedeth Ceadwall in the governement of the West-Saxons Peter Pence first paied to Rome The Bishopricke of the West-Saxons divided into two Seas Lawes made by Ina the Prince The Church at Wells made a Bishops Sea The first arrivall of the Danes in Britannie in the time of Britric Egbert the West-Saxon Prince subdueth divers provinces which he annexeth to his 〈◊〉 Principalitie INa was lineally descended from the West-Saxon Princes He was a Prince of great courage and wisedome and for the most part fortunate in his attempts For 〈…〉 Prince he withstood by open forcâ— the Kentish-Saxons being weakned by many formeâ— assaults he constrained with great summes of money to purchase peace at his hands and the Province of the 〈…〉 after the death of Anthâ—â— their Prince 〈…〉 in battaile he reduced wholly vnder his obedience Then he manifested his good inclination to support and advance the state of the Church to which end he 〈…〉 at Wâ—llâ— that was afterwards 〈◊〉 to a Bishops Sea He builded also anew the Abbey of 〈◊〉 bestowing great cost vpon the Church there which he caused to be very â—ichly garnished with gold and 〈…〉 for the religious persons He instituted a certaine yeerely payment to the Sea of 〈◊〉 â—â—ipyning every 〈◊〉 of his Read me that 〈…〉 This payment was first called the Kings Almes and afterwards the Peter pence In his time the Bishopricke of the West-Saxons becomming voide was divided into two Seas whereof the one remained at Winchester and the other was established at Shirborn He made many good lawes both for the administration of justice in civill causes and also for the governement of the Church some of which even in these our daies are extant in the Saxon tongue After he had raigned a long time in great prosperity he was perswaded by Ethelburga his wife to resigne the Principalitie to Ethelard his kinsman and to goe to Rome where afterwards professing voluntary poverty he ended his latter daies in as lowly and meane estate 〈◊〉 he had formerly spent the greatest number of 〈…〉 pompe and glory Ethelard at his first entrance was much troubled with civill discention which Oswald one of the princely blood aspiring to the governement had raised 〈◊〉 the West-Saxons but that rebellion being appâ—â—â—ed he raigned the rest of his life in peace Then Cutâ—red the kinsman of Ethelard succeeded The borders of his Province bâ—ing strongly assailed by the 〈◊〉 he fortunately defended In his time there appeared two blazing Stars which were afterwards noted to be ominous predictions of those calamities which befell the Province vnder the tyranny of the Danes Then 〈◊〉 obtained the Principality of the West-Saxons He was a Prince much deâ—ained for 〈◊〉 and oppression of his subjects the antient lawes and customes of the Province 〈…〉 in such like outragious practises he was at the last by his owne people deprived of all authoritie and enforced for safeguard of his life to hide himselfe in woods and forrests where he lived in great misery secluded from the societie of men whereof by his inhumanitie he had made himselfe vnworthy till at the last he was slaine in Andreds-wald by a Swineheard whose Maister in former times Sigebert had injuriously put to death Kenulph descended from the line of Cerdic the first Prince of the West-Saxons was partly for the honour of his blood and partly for the generall opinion of his sufficiencie advanced to the government Such factions and popular tumults as had risen by the deposing of his predecessor hee pacified with great wisedome and moderation He was the first founder of the church at Wells where a Bishops Sea was afterwards placed Howbeit hee was much inclined to the wanton pleasures of the flesh which were the occasion of his destruction in the end for going in private manner to visite a strumpet whom he kept he was entrapped by one of Sigeberts kinsmen and murdered in the way Then Britric being also of the race of Cerdic governed the West-Saxons Hee was a Prince by nature more addicted to peace then warre He married Eadburga the daughter of Offa Prince of the Mercians by whose ayd hee expelled Egbert the West-Saxon that invaded his Province forcing him to flie into France where afterwards he lived like a banished man In his time about the yeare of grace 800. the Danes first attempted to land in Britannie whereat their arrivall they tooke the I le of Portland but Britric combining with some other of the Saxon Princes ioyntly assailed them and in
verie griefe slue himselfe CHAP. VI. Suetonius renforceth the Roman Garrisons Variance betweene him and Classicianus the Procurator Polycletus is sent by Nero the Emperour to examine their doings Suetonius is discharged of the armie which he delivereth vp to Turpilianus THen Suetonius having gathered togither his dispersed troopes certaine Legionarie souldiers and Cohorts of Auxiliaries were sent him out of Germany to renforce the Garrisons and to make an end of the warre Some of the Britans that either openly resisted or elsstood doubtfully affected were put to the sword and some that escaped the sword died of famine for lacke of corne a calamitie incident to them as to a people given rather to warre then husbandrie The rest found meanes to relieve themselves by the Romans provision And though some overtures were now and then made for a treatie of peace yet the Britans would not verie readily hearken thereto by reason they much doubted their safetie as imagining that their guiltinesse of the rebellion had excluded them from all hope of pardon and they feared also the private displeasure of the Lievtenant who though otherwise a singular man yet seemed to shew too much hautie and hard dealing towards them that yeelded themselves and in some sort vnder pretext of the publike service to revenge his owne injuries Besides Iulius Classicianus who was sent to succeed Catus being at variance with Suetonius had given out that a new Lievtenant was comming and that he was such a one as being void of malice or the pride of a Conquerour would be readie to receive into favour all such as would yeeld themselves He wrote Letters also to Rome signifying to the Senate that they should looke for no end of the warre in Britannie so long as Suetonius continued the government there and that the ill successe which he had in the service was to be attributed to his owne ill cariage of himselfe and the good to the fortune of the Common weale Hereupon Nero sent Polycletus a Libertine into Britannie to examine and report the state of the affaires there and to enterpose his authoritie as a meane to reconcile the Lievtenant the procurator to win the Britans to embrace peace At his landing in the I le the Roman souldiers there seemed to feare reverence him the causes of his comming were diversly reported at the first But the Britans derided him for as men being borne free they knew not till that time the power of Libertines men made free but rather marvailed that a Captain and an armie which had atchieved so great an enterprise could be brought to obey and yeeld an account of their actions to a base bondslave as they termed him These things howsoever they were censured by others yet they were reported to Nero in such maner as the reporters thought might best content him and Suetonius after the losse of some of his shipping was commanded the warre being not yet finished to deliver vp the armie to Petronius Turpilianus who had but even a little before given over his Consulship CHAP. VII Trebellius Maximus succeedeth Turpilianus in the government of the Province Discord in the armie betweene Trebellius and Celius The death of Nero the Emperor and succession of Galba Otho and Vitellius The valour and fortune of the Fourteenth Legion TVrpilianus was a man of a soft spirit and being a stranger to the Britans faults was the more tractable and readie to remit them by which meanes having composed the former troubles he delivered vp his charge to Trebellius Maximus whose vnfitnesse for action and want of experience in militare matters gave the more boldnes to the Britans that began now to discover the defects of their Governours having learned both to flatter dissemble in conforming themselves to the present times and occasions for their advantage and for the most part yeelding themselves to those pleasures which Securitie vseth to engender even in minds well disposed by Nature For Trebellius besides his insufficiencie abused the authoritie of his place to enrich himself by polling the Common souldiers and Roscius Coelius Lievtenant of the Twentieth Legion whetted them on against him as against his ancient enemie so that in the end they brake out into hainous termes the one objecting matter of crime against the other Trebellius charged Coelius with factious behauiour Coelius againe Trebellius with beggering the Legions and the discord betwixt them grew so farre that Trebellius being despised as well by the Aydes as the Legions both of them sorting themselves to Coelius his side was in great feare of his life the danger wherof he sought to prevent rather by flying away then by executing any exemplarie Iustice vpon offenders In the meane time the Souldiers neglecting the ancient discipline of warre fell to mutinie and all kind of riot as men that had rather be doing ill then doing nothing And afterwards Trebellius taking againe his former place as it were by capitulation seemed to govern onely at the discretion of his Souldiers who finding his weaknesse and want of Iudgement to vse his authoritie tooke vpon them to do what they listed and herewith also the Lievtenant himselfe seemed contented as being now given over altogither to a slouthfull kind of life terming it peace and quietnesseâ— for which the death of Nero the Emperour and the civill discord at that time between Galba Otho and Vitellius contending for the soveraigntie ministred some colour of excuse Not long before this time the Fourteenth Legion famous for many great attempts and growing now more insolent then the rest was revoked out of the I le to have beene sent to the Streights about the Caspian Sea though afterwards vpon intelligence of the revolt in Gallia and Spaine when Iulius Vindex tooke armes against Nero it was retained about the Citie of Rome for a safegard to those parts In the turbulent times that ensued Neroes death it tooke part with Otho against Vitellius at the battell neere Bebriacum where Otho was overthrowne and Vitellius after the victorie suspecting the Souldiers of that Legion as knowing their great stomacks and ill affection towards him thought it expedient to joyne to them the Batavian Cohorts that by reason of the inveterate hatred betweene them they might one oppose the other and himselfe in the meane time remaine more secure CHAP. VIII Vectius Bolanus is sent by Vitellius the Emperour to take charge of the Armie in Britannie Vespasian succeedeth Vitellius in the Empire The government of the Province assigned to Petilius Cerealis who soone after leaveth the same to Iulius Frontinus VEctius Bolanus a man not much vnlike Trebellius in some respects was sent over by Vitellius during the time of whose Government the like disorders continued still in the Campe saving that Bolanus by the mildnesse of his nature being not touched otherwise in his reputation had purchased love and good will in stead of feare and obedience In his time diverse choise men of warre taken out of the
spirit of zeale in first planting the Christian religion among Idolatrous Saxons and English It is reported that Gregorie the Great when he was but Archdeacon of the Sea of Rome tooke notice first of the state of the I le of Britannie by seeing certaine yong men borne in a Province of the Northumbers presented in an open Market at Rome to be there sold For marking well their faire complexions and comlinesse of stature he enquired whence they were and vnderstanding that they were Angles of a Province called Deira and vnder the government of Alla but as yet heathen for so the Inhabitants of those parts then were he seemed much to lament that such excellent outward gifts of Nature should want the ornaments of inward grace and thereupon alluding to the name of their Prince and Country according to their significations in the Latin and Hebrew tongue he vttered these words as it were by way of Prophecie These men are worthily called Angles for they have the verie faces of Angels and they shall be one day fellow heires with Angels in Heaven For the people of Deira must be delivered De-ira Divina by their conversion to the Christian faith and Alla their King must be taught to sing Alleluia to the praise of the most high God which worke being now Bishop of Rome he was made the Instrument to effect by sending Austen at this time to preach the faith of Christ in Britannie where in a short space the Christian Religion encreased in such measure that vpon one day wherein the memoriall of the birth of our Saviour was celebrated there was above ten thousand men besides women and children baptized in a river the water thereof being hallowed by Austen the Monke who commanded the people by reason of the great multitude and the small number of Priests to go in by couples and one to baptise another In the name of the blessed Trinitie When these things were done Austen went into France where according to order given by the Sea of Rome before his departure thence he was by Etherius Bishop of Arles consecrated chiefe Bishop of the English Nation and at his returne into Britannie he sent Laurence a Priest and Peter a Monke to advertise the Bishop of Rome of the successe of his labors requiring also further instructions in some doubtfull points concerning the discipline of the Church and other matters of ceremonie and observance CHAP. III. Instructions sent to Austen from the bishop of Rome for the ordering and government of the new Church in Britannie The Primacie of the Sea of Canterburie The first English bishops of London and Yorke HEreupon the Bishop of Rome signified by his Letters to Austen and the rest of his Associates how acceptable a worke to God and his Church they had performed commending their great zeale and constant minds which neither the travaile of a long and laborious journey nor feare of danger by sea or land could dismay from persisting in their good intention giving thanks to God that had assisted them with his spirit and exhorting them to hold on the course into which they were alreadie entred Touching the Ecclesiasticall government if there were any thing either in the Church of Rome France or any other Church which Austen thought meete to be altered for the better service of God he willed him therein to vse his pastorall authoritie and to select out of everie one of them what himselfe thought most requisite for setling an vniformitie of government in the Church of Britannie affirming that divine worship was not to be esteemed in regard of the place but the place to be honoured in regard of the divine worship Further he put him in mind of the ancient custome of the Sea of Rome which had ordeined the profits and revenues of Bishoprikes to be divided into foure equall parts whereof the first was assigned to the Bishop him self and the family for the maintenance of hospitalitie the second for the benefite of the Clergie in generall the third for reliefe of the poore and the fourth for repairing of Churches Then he admonished him to deale gently with the new Converts and to tollerate some of their erronious Traditions for a time lest by restraining them at first to the precise observation of Christian discipline in everie point he might divert them from their good purpose and hinder the proceeding in the generall cause For he supposed it a matter of verie great difficultie to plucke vp at once those ranke weedes of Superstition which by long continuance of time had taken deepe â—oote in their affections considering well that he that desireth to attaine the highest place must ascend thither by steps and degrees and not by leapes as it were in an instant He answered likewise many other objections propounded by Austen concerning degrees of consanguinitie and aliance to be observed in cases of Marriage and also touching the admission of meete persons to be partakers of the Lords Supper Touching the punishment of Sacrilege he advised that offenders therein might first be charitably corrected admonished to the end that knowing the greatnesse of the crime they might by penance and restitution make amends and detest from thence-foorth to commit the like With the Bishops of France he willed him not to intermeddle otherwise then by counsaile and exhortatation lest by interposing himselfe in matters of Ecclesiasticall government there he should seeme to thrust his Sickle into an other mans Harvest but he appointed all the Bishops of Britannie to be vnder his jurisdiction giving him power to nominate and consecrate Bishops in severall places where he thought convenient Howbeit it was then decreed that the Bishop of London should ever after be consecrated by his owne Synod and receive his Pall from the Sea of Rome for he appointed the Citie of London to be the Metropolis and chiefe Sea though Austen contrarie to the Bishop of Romes direction in that behalfe transferred it afterwards to Canterburie as a place vnto which he was well affected for the good entertainment he had there first received and also for that it was more commodious for sending by Sea to Rome and more free from danger then the miner parts about London whose inhabitants were lesse civill and not so well in inclined to receive the doctrine of christianity as the 〈◊〉 were For Pope Gregorie ordained London and Yorke to be the Seas of two Archbishoprikes and that each of them should have vnder it twelve inferior Bishopriks but that neither of the Archbishops should be subject to other nor take place of precedence otherwise then according to prioritie of consecration save onely that for Austens honour he appointed all of them to remaine vnder his jurisdiction during his life CHAP. IIII. Austen receiveth the Pall from Rome Gregorie the Great sendeth gratulatorie Letters to Ethelbert who is converted to the faith being the first Christiâ—n Prince of the English nation The Church of Saint Paul in London is founded Melitus the
purpose had sent thither before Caesars comming a company of horsemen and chariots called Esseda which they then vsed in their warres and following afterwards with the rest of their forces empeached their enemies from landing whoseships by reason of their huge bulks drawing much water could not come neer to the shore so as the Roman souldiers were thereby enforcedin places vnknown their bodies being charged with their armour to leap into the water and encounter the Britans who assayled them nimbly with their darts and drave their horses and chariots with main force vpon them The Romans being therewith terrifyed as men vnacquainted with that kind of fight fayled much of the wonted courage which they had shewed in their former land-services and Caesar perceiving it caused the long boats which seemed more strange to the barbarous people and were more serviceable by reason of their swiftnesse in motion to put off by little and little from the greater ships and to row towards the shore from whence they might more easily charge the Britans with their arrowes slings and other warlike engines which being then vnknowne to the Ilanders as also the fashion of the ships and motion of the oares in the long boats having stricken them with feare and amazement caused them to make a stand and afterwards to draw backe a litle But the Roman souldiers making no haste to pursue them by reason of the water which they suspected in some places to be deep and dangerous the Standard-bearer of the Eagle of the Tenth Legion praying that his attempt might prove successefull to the Legion cryed out with a lowd voyce in this manner Fellow Souldiers leape out of your boates and followe mee except you meane to betray your Standard to the enemie For mine owne part I meane to discharge the duetie I owe to the Common wealth and to my Generall This said he cast himselfe into the water and carryed the Standard boldly against the Britans Whereupon the souldiers exhorting one another to follow the Ensigne what fortune soever might befall with common consent leapt out of their long boats one seconding another and so wading through the water at length got to shore where began a sharp and bloody fight on both sides The Romans were much incumbred by reason that they could neither keepe their ranks nor fight vpon firm ground nor follow their owne standards for every one as he came on land ran confusedly to that which was next him Some of the Britans who knew the flats and shallow places espying the Romans as they came single out of their ships pricked forward their horses and set vpon them overlaying them with number and finding them vnwealdy and vnready to make any great resistance by reason of the depth of the water and weight of their armour while the greater part of the barbarous people with their darts assailed them fiercely vpon the shore which Caesar perceiving commanded the Cock-boates and Skowts to be manned with souldiers whom hee sent in all haste to rescue their fellowes There was a souldier of Caesars company called Cassius Scaeva who with some other of the same band was carried in a small boat vnto a rocke which the ebbing sea in that place had made accessible The Britans espying them made thitherward the rest of the Romans escaping Scaeva alone was left vpon the rocke to withstand the fury of the enraged multitude that assailed him with their darts which he received vpon his shield and thrust at them with his speare till it was broken and his helmet and shield lost then being tired with extreame toyle and dangerously wounded he betooke himselfe to flight and carrying two light harnesses on his backe with much difficulty recovered Caesars Tent where hee craved pardon for making so bold an attempt without commandement of his Generall Caesar did both remit the offence and reward the offender by bestowing vpon him the office of a Centurion This was the Scaeva who afterwards gave good cause to have his name remembred in the Roman story for 〈◊〉 memorable service he did to Caesar in the time of the civill warres betweene him and Pompey at the battaile neere Dyrrachium The Romans having at length got footing on drie land gave a fresh charge vpon the Britans and in the end enforced them to turne their backs and leave the shore though they could not pursue them farre into the Land for want of horsemen Caesars accustomed fortune failing him in this one accident CHAP. III. Some of the Britans submit themselves to Caesar. The Romans Ships are scattered by tempest The Britans secretly reuolt THe Britans after this overthrow assembling themselves together vpon consultation had amongst them sent Ambassadors to Caesar promising to deliver in pledges or to doe whatsoever else he would command them With these Ambassadors came Comius of Arras whom Caesar had sent before out of Gallia into Britannie where having delivered the Message he had then in charge he was apprehended committed to prison and now after the battaile released The cheefe States of the Britans seeking to excuse their attempts laid the blame vpon the multitude who being the greater number and wilfully bent to take armes could neither by perswasion nor authority be restrained and they pretended their owne ignorance as being a free people and not experienced in the customes of other Nations Caesar although he reprooved them for making warre in that manner considering that of their owne accord they had sent Ambassadors to him before his arrivall in Britannie to desire peace yet was content to pardon them vpon delivery of pledges whereof some he received presently and the rest being to come from remote places he appointed to be sent in by a certaine day So the Britans were dismissed to returne into their Countries and in the meane time there came divers Princes from other parts of the I le to submit themselves and their Cities to Caesar. The fourth day after the Romans landing the ships before mentioned appointed for transportation of Caesars horsemen having a favourable gale of wind put out to the sea from the vpper haven and approaching neere the Iland in view of the Roman Campe asodaine storme arose and scattered them driving some of them backe againe to the Port from whence they came and some others vpon the lower part of the Iland westward where after they had cast anchor their keeles being almost overwhelmed with the waves they were carryed by violence of the storme in the night into the maine and with very great perill recovered a harbor in the continent The same night the Moone was at the full at which time commonly the Sea in those parts is much troubled and overfloweth the banks by reason of the high tides a matter vnknowne to the Romans insomuch as the long boates which transported the armie then lying vpon the shore were filled with the flood and the ships of burden that lay at anchor were beaten with the storme and split in peeces the greater
for that they would not have the knowledge of their superstitious rites laid open to the common people in whom ignorance seemeth to ingender a kind of devotion or else for that they would have their schollers to trust the more to their memorie while they wanted the helpe of writing They preached that the soule was immortall and that after the death of one man it went into another By this perswasion they stirred vp men to vertue and tooke away the feare of death the maine obstacle of glorious adventures Other things they taught also concerning the motion of the Starres the situation of the earth and the power of their prophane gods The strange behavior of these religious Priests and the out-cries of the people of Mona so amazed the Roman souldiers that like men inchaunted they stood still without motion till the Captain spake vnto them and encouraged them to adventure not fearing a flocke of feelie women or frantike people and then boldly giving the charge he soone disordered dispersed them making himselfe maister of the field which done the Roman souldiers entred the Townes and placed garrisons there felling the woods which the Inhabitants superstitiously reputed holy by reason of the Altars whereupon they sacrificed the blood of captives and prophecied of the successe of their owne affaires by viewing the entralls of men whom they had killed CHAP. II. The Britans oppressed by the crueltie and covetousnesse of the Roman officers discover their greevances one to another Prodigious signes foregoing the subversion of the Roman Colonie The Britans take armes vnder the conduct of Voadica IN the meane time Prasutagus Prince of the Icenians a man renowned for his riches did by his last will make the Roman Emperour his heire joyntly with two of his daughters supposing that thereby his principalitie and family should have beene maintained in good estate and protected from violence after his death all which fell out contrarie to his hopes for his kingdome was made a prey to the Souldiers Voadica his wife whipped his daughters deflowred such as were of his family made slaves and the wealthiest men of his Country either by open force or surmised pretences deprived of their goods and dispossessed of their inheritance Besides that Seneca one of Neroes counsailors having forced diverse of the better sort of the Britans to take great summes of money of him vpon vsurie did then for his private gaine exact the payment of the principall vpon a sodaine to the vtter vndoing of his debtors and Decianus Catus the Procurator in Britannie renued the Confiscation of their goods which Claudius the Emperour had pardoned The souldiers placed in the Colonie at Camalodunum had thrust the owners and ancient Inhabitants out of their houses terming them slaves and drudges and abusing them in all reprochfull maner The Temple erected in the honour of Claudius was an eie-sore and continuall burden vnto them while the Priests Augustales that attended there wasted the wealth of the inhabitants vnder the pretext of religion To these common grievances of the afflicted people the present occasion seemed to offer means of redresse while the Roman Generall was making warre in Mona Whereupon they resolved to take armes inciting the Trinobantes and other Nations that were not wholy brought vnder subjection to doe the like Then they began to discourse of the miseries of bondage to lay their injuries togither aggravating them by their owne Constructions and complaining that their patience had profited them nothing but to draw heavier burdens vpon them as men that would gently beare That whereas in former times they had onely one Commander now there was two thrust vpon them the Lievtenant to sucke their blood and the Procurator their substance whose disagreement was the vexation of the subject and agreement their vtter vndoing while the one burdened them with Souldiers and Captaines the other with wrongs and indignities that the lust and covetousnesse of these their enemies laid hold vpon all persons without exception that though in the field he that spoyleth be commonly the stronger yet themselves were by Cowards and weaklings for the most part dispossest of their houses bereft of their Children enioyned to yeeld Souldiers for other mens behoofe as though they were such a kind of people as knew how to do any thing else save onely to die for their owne Countrey For otherwise there was but a handfull of Souldiers come over if they did but reckon their owne number considering withall that Germanie had alreadie shaken off the yoke having no Ocean Sea but a river to defend it that the causes then moving them to take armes were just and honourable namely to recover their libertie and to defend their Parents Wives Children and Countrey whereas the Romans had nothing to provoke them to warre but their owne covetousnesse and wanton lust and were likely enough to depart as Iulius Caesar had done if themselves would imitate the vertues of their progenitors and not be dismaid with the doubtfull event of one skirmish or two seeing that men in miserie have commonly more courage then at other times and more constancie to continue and now the heavens themselves seemed to pittie their poore estate by sending the Roman Governour out of the way and confining the army as it were into another Iland by which meanes oportunitie of revenge and hope of libertie was offred and finally that being assembled to devise and deliberate togither they had obtained the hardest point in an action of that nature wherein it were more danger to be taken consulting then doing With these and the like speeches they stirred vp one another each man laying open his owne particular greevances and adding them to the common cause About this time diverse prodigious signes were noted to portend the subversion of the Roman Colonie as namely an Image of Victorie falling downe reversed at Camalodunum Strange noyses sounding in the ayre Strange apparitions seene in the sea The Ocean bloody in shew and the print of mens bodies vpon the sands Diverse constructions were made of these things as ominous whether that they proceed of some naturall causes though not alwayes observed or else that they do necessarily forego the ruine and change of great States Howbeit commonly in such cases mens minds do mis-give them while they frame the future event of things answerable to their owne fearefull imaginations and great alterations falling out sometimes after like accidents they superstitiously suppose them to be alwayes the certaine fore-runners of destruction The apprehension of these things at the first strooke the Romans with greater feare by reason of the absence of their General and thereupon they required the ayde of Catus Decianus the Procurator who sent a small companie badly armed to renforce the garrison The old souldiers that had beene left within the Towne although few in number yet trusting to the franchize of the Temple and not doubting the secret conspiracie of their confederates were in a maner
Arviragus a Britan by birth and education did governe as King part of the I le of Britannie the Romans accounting it a poynt of policie to permit the Britans sometimes to be ruled by Princes of their owne Nation whose ayde and counsaile they might vse vpon occasions to the pacifying of rebellions and the establishing of their owne greatnesse For the common people whose affection doth oft times sway the fortunes of great Princes are much more easily brought vnder the obedience of their own Country-men then of strangers The end of the second Booke of the first Part of the Historie of Great Britannie The succession of the Roman Emperors from Nerva Cocceius vnto Honorius in whose time the Romans gave over the government of Britannie 13 Nerva Cocceius raigned one yeare and foure Moneths 14 Vlpius Trajanus a Spaniard nineteene yeares and six moneths 15 Aelius Adrianus twentie yeares 16 Antoninus Pius twentie three yeares 17 M. Aurel Antoninus Philosophus nineteene yeares L Verus his Collegue in the Empire 18 Aurel. Commodus the sonne of Antoninus Philosophus thirteene yeares 19 Aelius Pertinax six moneths 20 Didius Iulianus seven moneths 21 Septimius Severus Brit eighteene yeares Pessenius Niger Vsurpers Clodius Albinus 22 Anton Bassianus Caracalla Brit the eldest sonne of Sept Severus six yeares Geta Caesar Brit. the yonger sonne of Sept. Severus 23 Opilius Macrinus one yeare and two moneths 24 Varius Heliogabalus the base son of Caracalla 4. year 25 Alexander Severus a kinsman of Heliogab 13. year 26 Iul Maximinus three yeares Caesars elected Balbinus Pupienus 27 Gordianus the father with his two sonnes and his Nephew six yeares C. Valens Hostilianus Caesar. 28 Philippus the Arabian five yeares 29 Decius Trajanus two yeares 30 Vibius Pallus Hostilianus with his sonne Volusianus two yeares 31 Aemilius of Mauritania three moneths 32 Licinius Valerianus fifteene yeares 33 Gallienus the sonne of Valerianus nine yeares Valerianus the brother of Gallienus Caesar. Cassus Labienus Posthumus Caes. 34 Flavius Claudius two yeares 35 Aurelius Quintillus the brother of Claudius 17. daies 36 Valerius Aurelianus five yeares and six moneths 37 Tacitus six moneths 38 Annius Florianus the brother of Tacitus sixtie dayes 39 Valerius Probus six yeares and foure moneths 40 Carus Narbonensis two yeares Caesars the sonnes of Carus Numerianus Carinus 41 Dioclesianus twentie yeares Maximianus Herculeius Caesar. 42 Constantius Chlorus foure yeares 43 Galerius Maximus eleven yeares Caesars Severus Maximianus 44 Maxentius the sonne of Maximian six yeares 45 Licinius fourteene yeares 46 Constantinus Magnus thirtie yeares Magnentius Vsurper The three sonnes of Constantine the Great Constantinus Constans 47 Costantius 24. yeares 48 Iulianus Apostata one yeare six moneths 49 Iovinianus eight moneths 50 Valentinianus twelve yeares Valens his brother Caesar. 51 Gratianus six yeares Valentinianus Caesar. Theodosius Caesar. 52 Theodosius three yeares 53 Arcadius thirteene yeares 54 Honorius twentie eight yeares ⧠Lievtenants in Britannie from Nerva Cocceius his entrance into the Government of the Empire vntill the raigne of Honorius the Emperour Lievtenants vnder the Emperours Nerva and Traianus ¶ There is no mention of any Lievtenants in Britannie during the time of their government Lievetenants vnder Adrian Brit. ¶ Iulius Severus ¶ Priscus Licinius Lievtenants vnder Antoninus Pius ¶ Lollius Vrbicus Brit. Lievtenants vnder Antoninus Philosophus ¶ Calphurnius Agricola Lievtenants vnder Commodus ¶ Vlpius Marcellus ¶ Helvius Pertinax ¶ Clodius Albinus ¶ Iunius Severus Lievtenants vnder Pertinax ¶ Clodius Albinus Lievtenants vnder Did Iulianus ¶ Clodius Albinus Lievtenants vnder Sept. Severus Brit. ¶ Heraclianus ¶ Virius Lupus From the time of Bassianus Caracalla the Successor of Severus vnto Constantine the great there is no mention in approoved Histories of any Lievtenants in Britannie Deputies vnder Constantine the Great ¶ Pacatianus Deputies vnder Constantius the yongest sonne of Constantine the Great ¶ Martinus ¶ Alipius Deputies vnder Honorius ¶ Chrysanthus ¶ Victorinus Princes and secular men of speciall note among the Britans In the time of Calphurnius Agricolaes government vnder M. Aur. Antoninus Philosophus Lucius surnamed Lever-Maur the first Christian Prince in Britannie In the raigne of Aurelianus Bonosus Vsurper of the Empire in Britannie In the raigne of Constantius the yongest sonne of Constantine the Great Magnentius Taporus vsurper of the Empire in Britannie  Archbishops of London from the time of Lucius vntill the comming in of the Saxons 1 Thean 2 Clavus 3 Cador. 4 Obinns 5 Conanus 6 Paladius 7 Stephanus 8 Iltut 9 Dedwinus 10 Thedredus 11 Hillarius 12 Guidilinus 13 Vodinus who lived when the Saxons first entred the land THE FIRST PART The third Booke IMP NERVA CAES AVG P. M. TR P. P. P. CHAP. I. Nerva Cocceius succeedeth Domitian in the Empire leaving the same soone after to Vlpius Trajanus Adrianus the successour of Trajan sendeth Iulius Severus into Britannie to defend the borders of the Province against the incursions of the Northern Britans The Emperour himselfe with an Army entreth the Iland and buildeth there a wall of Turves for defence of the Province Licinius Priscus is Governour of Britannie HItherto hath beene declared the successe of times and affaires in Britannie vnder the first twelve Emperours of Rome the same being recorded by such Writers as had best meanes to vnderstand the truth thereof and were the principall Registrers of things done by the Romans in those times As for the occurrents ensuing the death of Domitian vntill the raigne of Honorius in whose time the Roman governement ceased they are imperfectly reported or a great part of them meerely omitted so that I am forced of many things to make onely a bare and briefe relation as vnwilling by adding or diminishing to alter in substance what Antiquitie hath left vs or to fill vp blancks with conjectures or projects of mine owne invention And therefore howsoever this Booke following which comprehendeth the acts of many more yeares then the former may seeme to carry with it a kinde of disproportion from the other two and likewise in respect of the stile and composition to be somewhat differing from them yet the cause thereof ought to be imputed to the very matters themselves being for the most part fragments and naked memorialls the loose ends of Time without observation of circumstances or congruitie in substance which will hardly admit any method fitting a continuate History And I owe so much love and reverence to Truth as I would rather expose her in the meanest and worst habit that Time hath left her then by disguising her to abuse the world and make her seeme a counterfet DOmitian the Emperour being slaine Nerva Cocceius a Prince much honored for his vertues succeeded in the Empire But in what estate the affaires of Britannie then stood the histories of those times make no mention either for that the Emperour being a man stricken in yeares and disposed to ease and quietnesse employed himselfe rather in reforming abuses at home then in maintaining warre abroad or else for that the
and strength of all Britannie into Gallia made many dishonourable leagues to the prejudice of the Empire with the barbarous Nations that then invaded it and sent his sonne Constans whom of a Monke he had made a Caesar into Spaine where Constans having put to death some principall men whom hee suspected to favour Honorius committed the governement of the Country to Gerontius his chiefe Captaine by whom he was afterwards slaine at Vienna in Gallia and Constantine his father having run through many fortunes was in the end besieged at Arlâ—s where he was taken and slaine by the Souldiers of Honorius the Emperour who then recovered Britannie Chrysanthus the sonne of Martianus a Bishop a man of consular dignitie was then Deputy of Britannie where he wan so great reputation for his vertue and integritie in the governement both of the Church which was then tainted with the gracelesse heresie of Pelagius the Britan and also of the weale publike of the Province as he was afterwards thogh against his will preferred to the Bishopricke of Constantinople Now the Romans about foure hundred and seventie years after their first entrance into the I le waxed weary of the governement of Britannie and the Britans that had beene many times assailed by their vncivill neighbours consorted with strangers of divers Nations perceived themselves vnable to make resistance as in former times whereupon they sent Ambassadors to Rome requiring aid and promising fealtie if the Romans would reskew them from the oppression of their enemies Then was there a Legion sent over into the Iland to expulse the barbarous people out of the Province which being with good successe effected the Romans counselled the Britans for their better defence to make a stone wall betweene Glota and Bodatria the two Armes of the sea that ran into the Iland and so departed thence But this wall was afterwards made onely of Turves and not of Stone as they were directed the Britans having not then any skill in such kind of buildings by which meanes it served to little purpose For the Scottishmen and Picts vnderstanding that the Romans were gone passed over the water in boats at both ends of the wall invaded the borders of the Province and with maine force bare downe all before them Whereupon Ambassadors were sent againe out of Britannie to declare the miserable state of the Province which without speedy succour was likely to be lost CHAP. XIX A second supply of forces sent by the President of Gallia into Britannie The Romans erect a wall of stone for defence of the Province The Picts and Scottishmen breake it downe The Pelagian heresie is suppressed in Britannie by the meanes of Germanus and Lupus two French Bishops The Scottishmen are converted to the Christian faith by S. Palladius the Picts by S. Ninianus and the Irishmen by S. Patricius VPon the complaint and earnest solicitation of the Britans there was another Legion sent overby Aetius the President of Gallia vnder the conduct of Gallio of Ravenna to aide the distressed Britans and the Romans having reduced the Province into her former state did tell the Britans that it was not for their ease to take any more such long costly and painefull journeies considering that the Empire it selfe was assailed and in a manner over-run by strangers and therefore that from thence forth they should provide for their owne safetie that they should learne to vse armor and weapons and trust to their owne valor Howbeit the Romans in regard of the good service done by the British Nation in former times beganne to build a wall of stone from East to West in the selfe same place where Severus the Emperour had cast his Trench the labour and charges of the worke being borne partly by the Romans and partly by the Britans themselves This wall contained about eight foote in breadth and twelve in height some reliques thereof remaining to be seene at this day Vpon the sea coasts towards the South they raised Bulwarkes one somewhat distant from another to empeach the enemies landing in those parts and this done they took their last farewell transporting their Legions into Gallia as men resolved to returne hither no more Assoone as they were gone the barbarous people having intelligence thereof presumed confidently that without any great resistance they might now enter the Province And thereupon accounting as their owne whatsoever was without the wall they gave an assault to the wall it selfe and with grapples and such like engines pulled downe to the ground a great part thereof while the Britans inhabiting the borders being awaked with the suddainnesse of the enterprize gave warning to the rest of their countrymen within the land to arme themselves with speede and to make resistance About this time also which was the yeare of our redemption 430. the state of the Church in Britannie was much incumbred with the heresie of Pelagius who being by birth a Britan by profession a Monke and as some thinke trained vp in the Monastery of Bangor travailed first into Italy then into Sicilia Aegypt and other East parts of the world to learne and studie as he professed whereby he wownd himselfe into the good opinion of many men of great fame in those daies for learning and pietie as namely of Paulinus Bishop of Nola and by his meanes of Saint Augustine till the heretical assertions which himselfe and his disciple Celestius a Scottishman secretly taught being by Saint Hierom discovered were afterwards condemned by the Bishop of Rome Innocentius the first Whereupon they returned againe into Britannie being obstinately bent to maintaine their former heresie which Agricola the sonne of Severianus a Bishop of that sect had not long before brought thither whereby the same in short time was received and approoved among the Chistians in divers parts of the I le so that betwixt heresie among the Britans themselves and paganisme professed by their enemies the light of Christian religion seemed for a time to be eclipsed Howbeit some of the Britans disliking those hereticall opinions which as yet they were vnable by knowledge in the Scriptures to confute and perceiving withall what dangerous inconveniences to the State arose oft times by reason of their disagreement one from another in matters of religion earnestly required the Bishops of France to send over some godly wise learned men that might defend the truth of Christianitie which seemed to be borne downe by the subtill allegations of humane reason Heereupon the Bishoppes there called a Synod wherein Germanus the Bishop of Auxerre and Lupus Bishop of Troyes in Champaigne were appointed to goe into Britannie and to vndertake the cause which they afterwards prosecuted with so good successe as many heretickes among the Britans were openly convinced and Christians confirmed in the faith About the same time Ninianus Bernitius of the race of the British Princes was sent into Pict-land to convert the inhabitants there to Christianitie Palladius a Graetian was likewise appointed
resuming courage againe and resolving rather to die with their countrie then to abandon it Whereupon as Beda reporteth they assembled themselves togither from diverse places and assailed their enemies forcing them to retire within their borders by which meanes the Britans for certaine yeares lived in peace and fell to tillage and other handy works After that ensued great plentie of graine and other fruits of the earth which the Britans abused mis-spending them riotously in gluttonie and drunkennesse Then pride and dissolute living the common causes of the change ruine of estates raigned aswell among the Clergie as the Laitie both whom the hand of God severely punished by afflicting them with a grievous pestilence and mortalitie which in short time wasted so many of them as the quicke were scarse sufficient in number to bury the dead Howbeit the infection once ceasing the Britans fell to their old disorders drawing therby a greater plague vpon them even the vtter subversion and in a manner rooting out of their name and nation as by that which followeth may partly appeare CHAP. II. The Britans elect Vortiger to be their King They send for the Saxons to aide them The originall and manners of the Saxons AFter the Romans had given over the government and protection of Britannie the inhabitants of the South parts of the I le being altogether vnable by their owne strength any longer to withstand the furious assaults of the Scottishmen and Picts who were already come with their power as farre as Stamford vpon the river Welland assembled themselves together in severall companies and the most antient and best respected among them entred into consultation what meanes might then be vsed for defence in a case of such necessitie But first of all for that they had found by their late experience what dangerous effects proceede from civill jarres they resolved with common consent to run all joyntly one and the same course and for the better strengthning of this their purpose they elected a King whose name was Vortiger a man much esteemed both for the nobilitie of his birth as being extract from the line of the Brittish Princes and also for the generall good opinion conceived of his sufficiencie to vndergoe so weightie a charge though the eminencie of his degree did soone after lay open those vices and infirmities which his private life had concealed To him did all the pettie Princes in the I le submit themselves Then they entred into consultation together and called to minde the conditions of such Nations as were most knowne vnto them considering well with themselves that from the Romans there was no more reliefe to be expected Italy it selfe the seate of the Empire being invaded by strangers that France was assailed as well as Britannie that Germany though a mightie and ample region was not altogether free from incumbrance For this Country had formerly beene the common receptacle of those Northern people that dwelling beyond the rivers of Rhene and Danow and being very fruitfull in generation came vsually thither to disburden themselves and to seeke new habitations by reason whereof the Germans themselves were much distressed and now and then forced to abandon their native soyle being sometimes also by consent among themselves chosen out by lots for that purpose howbeit those strangers which had there planted themselves were for the most part better able to annoy other countries then to maintaine in peace what by intrusion and violence they had gotten Among al the Germans there was at that time no one nation which for great adventures both by sea and land was more renowned then the Saxons For touching the qualities of the minde they were bold hardie and vaine-glorious patiently enduring labour hunger and cold whereto by the very constitution of their bodies and temperature of the climate they seemed to be framed as being verie strong and yet not vnwealdy tall of stature but not vncomely or out of due proportion For the North Region by reason of the coldnesse of the ayre which driveth the naturall heate inward bringeth forth commonly men of greater courage and abilitie of bodie then those Countries that lie neerer the Sunne Their diet was simple and home-bred neither knew they any other a long time till by attaching some of the Romans ships stragling about the Coasts of France and the Lower Germanie they became first acquainted with their manner of vittailing Their habite was neither verie costly nor cumbersome but serving indeede rather for decencie and ornament then for defence against the sharpnesse of ayre or such like annoyances For their garments were commonly of linnen or yarne woven with divers colours and hanging loose about them the lockes of their haire which in former times they had beene accustomed to shave being then curled and spred abroad in compasse so that they covered their shoulders and vpper parts of their cassocks The weapons which they ordinarily vsed in fight were long speares round targets and battle-axes having also trussed vp behind at their backs certaine short swords which they did weare continually for readinesse vpon all occasions In the Art of Navigation they were verie expert and lived at the first by pilfering and afterwardes by open robberie being trayned vp therein even from their child-hoode vnder a kinde of discipline Stormes at sea vnseasonable weather perills of rockes and sands losse of goodes and shipwrackes which terrifie other men they carelesly contemned while they seemed to have not onely a certaine knowledge of them but also a kinde of familiaritie with them The offices of Souldiers and Marriners they executed with like skill and oftentimes with equall advantage There was no kind of crueltie in a manner new or strange vnto them neither were they altogither voide of policy in watching oportunities of time and place to further their desseins albeit they were for the most part more sodaine in attempting and procuring other mens harmes then warie or well advised in avoyding their owne Superiority in degrees they hardly admitted but each man commanded and obeyed as the case required being as readie to learne of his fellowes what he knew not as to instruct others in those things wherein he happened to be more skilfull then the rest Of their owne blood they were nothing at all sparing but they exercised crueltie sometimes even vppon themselves as making lesse account to cast away their owne lives then to indure any publicke shame scorne or disgrace When they did set foorth to sea vppon anie voyage their custome was to choose out of the number of their captives every tenth man to be murdered and offered vp as a purging sacrifice to their profane gods esteeming it a worke of religion and much more behoovefull for them then to receive any ransome for redemption of such prisoners as they had taken The Ancestors of these Saxons as approoved Writers report did fetch their originall from the Sacae a people of Asia that came first out of Scythia into Europe with the Gothes