both Naval and Land supplies to his Enemies and entertaining such as run from him took up a resolution to make the Puissance of Rome known to these Islanders which being discovered by Merchants some particular States sent Ambassadors to him promising to put in Pledges and yeild obedience to the Roman Empire Caesar commending their Prudence and exherting them to continue in the same mind sends them back with Comius in their company whom he had made King of Artois giving him instructions to work them to a suller submission and prepare them to give him a quiet admission with his forces into their Countrey Hereupon the British Princes joyn to oppose him of whom Geffrey nameth these Caswallan Androgeus and Tenerantius with Crederus King of Albania Guitellus of Venedotia and Britael of Demetia Lhud as he writes though falsely was dead some years before and therefore is not here mentioned and King Belinus as I said before is only brought in to be his Son's General Caesar having gained what knowledge he could of the British coast from C. Volusenus whom he had sent out to descry it embarques two Legions in eighty Ships of burthen and some Gallies and endeavours to land in Kent Here Dolobellus General to King Belinus as appears by Nennius who calls him his Proconful stood ready to receive him and performed his part so bravely that the noble Roman confessed the terror of such resolute opposition made his Veteran Soldiers forget their wonted valour But in the end they gained the Shore and put the Britans to flight with extraordinary slaughter In Caesar â—â— Caesar is brought in by Julian attributing to himself the honour if it be at all an honour to that person which he suâ—â—ained of being the first that left his Ship and 〈◊〉 Land but this were to make him not understand what became him and he acknowledges it was the Eagle-bearer of the tenth Legion Lib. 4. de bello Galliâ—â—o Caesar marching forwards encamps upon a great Plain supposed to be Barham-Down where he beheld the dispersion and loss of a considerable part of his Flect by the violence of an unexpected storm Comius found not such entertainment as he expected being imprisoned as a Spy by the Britans who were wise enough to perceive that the Romans aimed at more than they should be willing to grant yet finding by the late conflict that there was an apparent inequality in the match between the Roman and Britain Arms and discipline they judged it convenient to make their best termes and submit to which end they dispatcht Ambassadors to him and with them sent back Comius thinking by the one to moderate his anger and by the other in consequence to procure a peace which they obtained the â—aslier by reason of the late Wrack and the approach of Winter yet were enjoyned to deliver Hostages But understanding his want of Horsemen and the losses he had sustamed by the Tempest they took courage again and slew to Arms. About a thousand Horsemen were coming after him in eighteen Ships which being got within view of the Camp were driven by a sudden storm some back to the Gallick coast others upon the Western part of the Island from whence they had much adoe to recover the Continent again and those Ships that were with him fared as ill for the Gallies which were drawn up to the Shore were filled with the Tide and the Ships of burden that lay at Anchor were so shaken with the Tempest that they were almost rendred unserviceable The seventh Legion being sent out to fetch in Corn was set upon by the Britans and in danger of being cut off if Caesar had not seasonably come to the rescue who contenting himself with putting his Enemies to a stand considering it was not now a fit time to offer Battel while his men were scarce recovered of so late a fear only keeps his ground for a while and soon after returns to his Camp The Britans giving themselves out for Victors sent straight to all the neigbouring States for more forces and getting together a great multitude drew towards the Romans but Caesar encouraging his Soldiers received these Guests with a battel before his Camp put them to rout with slaughter and burnt and laid wast all round about Daunted with this ill success they again crave peace which he granted them but withal severely reproved them for their breach of faith and imposed a double number of Hostages to be sent after him into Gaul whither the season of the year required him to hasten so that all his Ships but twelve being by this time made able to abide the Sea by incessant labour of the Soldiers he hoisted sail about midnight and arrived safely with all but eleven Ships of burden upon the Continent these not keeping their course landed at a Port of the Morini who would have put them to the sword in hopes of prey if Caesar hearing of their peril had not sent his Horsemen to fetch them off The Senate advertised of these passages by his Letters decreed a solemn Procession and Supplication of twenty dayes and himself ordering Labienus to chastise the rebellious Morini went to Rome as he used to do every Winter to look after his concernments there About this time died King Belinus having reigned forty years yet did not his death hinder the Britans from celebrating a solemn Festival in Trinovant for joy of Caesar's departure But here fell out an unlucky accident which proved of very ill consequence As the Youth were exercising themselves at Martial sports it chanced that two young Noblemen fell out the one named Hireldas is by Geffrey of Monmouth said to be Nophew to Caswallan the other named Evelinus to Mandubratius Henry of Huntington saith they were their Sons In this quarrel Hireldas was slain by Evelinus whem Caswallan would therefore have had to be put to death but Mandubratius prevailed with his Father Immanuentius to protect him Caswallan thought it too difficult a matter to contest at that time with his Brother in his own Royal City he departs therefore but quickly returns with strong Forces which he had in readiness kills Immanuentius seizes the greatest part of his Kingdom and compells Mandubratius to flee for safety of his life into Gaul Nennius who adhered so saithfully to him in his war against the Romans may seem likely to have sided with him now there being a grudg between him and Immanuentius for going about to change the name of Trinovant to Caer Lud as the * Lib. 1. cap. 10. Monmouth Writer tells us These proceedings of Caswallan allarm'd the Neighbour-States who thereupon took up Arms against him And thus were the Britans embroiled in Civil wars not fearing belike Caesar's return whose hasty departure they looked upon as little better than flight and thought he was as desirous to leave them as they were to have him and therefore all the States but two neglected the sending of their Hostages after him Here now
former Engagement Yet he still retaining his affection to the Captive Lady who was very beautiful kept her and her two Companions in a Cave till the death of Chorinaeus and then repudiating Guendolena married Estrildis But this injury was not long unpunished for the rejected Queen returning into Danmonia levied an Army wherewith she gave Battel to her wanton Husband in Worcestershire by the River Stour and victoriously slew him Estrildis here taken was thrown into the River Severne and drowned with her Daughter Habren which she had by Locrinus Madan the Son of Locrinus and Guendolena being under age his Mother governed for him as Guardian fifteen years and then retiring to a private life dyed within a short space whereupon the King gave Danmonia to his Uncle Camber After Madan reigned his Son Mempricius who murdered his Brother Manlius then Eboracus or Ebrauc the Son of Mempricius Brute Sirnamed Green-shield the Son of Ebrauc Leil the Son of Brute Rudibras the Son of Leil Bladud the Son of Rudibras and Leir the Son of Bladud This Leir had only three Daughters Gonerilla married to Maglanus Prince of Albania descended from Albanactus Ragana married to Henninus Prince of Danmonia descended from Camber and Cordella married to Aganippus a Gaulish Prince descended from one of those twelve with whom Brutus fought which twelve after the death of Galates the Son of Wolfheim Sichinger had made themselves absolute in their several Provinces each of them assuming the Name and Title of King as likewise did the German Princes after the death of Celtes Aganippus restored King Leir who had been expelled by his other Sons in Law and he in requital at his death left his Kingdom to Cordella which she ruled worthily while her Husband lived but after being taken and imprisoned by her Nephews she killed her self The Kingdom must now be divided into two parts whereof the Southern is allotted to Cuneda the Son of Henninus and all North of Humber to Morgan the Son of Maglanus which Agreement held not long for Morgan not satisfied with his moiety falls out with his Cousin who overcomes and kills him thereby getting the whole which he leaves to his Son Râ—â—aâ—â— To him succeeded his two Sons one after the other first Gorgustus then Sisillius and after him Jago Son or Grandson to Gorgustus Chinimarchus the Son of Sisillius and Gorbodugus the Son of Chinimarchus whose two Sons contended for the Kingdom but Ferrea finding himself the weaker fled into Gaule whence returning with such forces as he had procured of Suardus one of the Kings there he was slain in battel by his Brother Porrex who yet enjoyed not the fruits of his victory being in revenge hereof cruelly murdered as he slept in his Tent by Queen Videnia the Mother of them both assisted in that bloudy design by her Maids This plunged Britain into Civil Wars and turned the Monarchy into a Pentarchy under the Governments of Pinnar King of Loegria Rudaue King of Cambria Stater King of Albania Jevan King of Northumbria and Cloten King of Cornwall whose Father Chinimarchus was son to Prydain and Grandson to Aedhmaur the son of King Gorgustus Dunvallo Molmutius the son of Cloten reduced the Land to a Monarchical State again subduing all his Competitors but Jevan or Owen as some call him who terrified by the death of the rest submitted himself yet the generous Conquerour suffered their Sons to hold under him part of what their Fathers had enjoyed He is said to be the first that wore a Crown of Gold here His sons Belinus and Brennus parted the Island between them after their Fathers death the Southern moiety with the Soveraignty being assigned to Belinus as the Elder and the Northern to Brennus whom Cenulphus King of the Morini invaded to his own hurt being vanquished and chased home with shame Brennus herewith puffed up would no longer stand to the first Agreement but by the advice of some flattering Incendiaries sailed to the King of Norway and obtaining his Daughter in Marriage with a strong Army to make war upon his Brother who being informed of his design had seized his Principality into his own hands The King of Denmark a former lover of the Norwegian Princess armes all his power and meets this bold Britan upon the Sea where in the heat of the fight a sudden Tempest severs and scatters the Fleets The Danish King having luckily seized the Ship wherein was his beloved Lady was with two others making four Ships in all cast upon the British Shore and there taken and delivered to Belinus while his Fleet made shift to get home and Brennus with his Navy was driven upon the Gallick Coasts nor was it long ere he crossed over to Northumbria and fought with his Brother in the Forrest of Galtres but losing the day and all his Ships but one fled to Seginus King of the Senones and Allobroges Belinus now treats with his Danish Prisoner who swearing to become his Liegeman and pay a yearly Tribute and leaving Hostages for performance is dismissed with his Lady Brennus in this time had so far gained the love of Seginus that he bestowed upon him his only Daughter and dying shortly after left all to him so that he thought himself able to deal with his Brother and getting leave of his Neighbour-Princes to conduct his Soldiers through their Countreys transported them into Britain where the two Brothers being ready to encounter one another were reconciled by their mother Convenna They therefore fall to consulting how they should dispose of those multitudes of Warriours that were raised and brought together on both sides and resolve to purchase Renown by conquering forreign Nations Passing into Gaul they easily induced these people to joyn with them in their Enterprises being thereto encouraged by the former prosperous successes of Sigovesus in Germany and Pannonia and of Belâ—â—vesus and Elitovius in Italy Having now greatly increased their numbers and strength it was judged sit to divide their Forces and part asunder Brennus enters Italy having Aruns an inhabitant of Clusium for his Guide over the Alps and at his instigation besiegeth that City Aruns did this because he could not otherwise be revenged upon Lucumo a potent Citizen who had abused his Wife The Clusines crave help of the Romans who send three Sons of Marcus Fabius Ambustus to Brennus to try if fair words might avail any thing in the behalf of their Friends But these hot-spirited Youths taking offence at the Answer they received forgot the duties of Mediators and Ambassadors and encouraging the besieged to make a Sally put themselves in the head of their Troops in which Action Quintus one of the Brothers slew a great Commander of the Gauls This was a violation of the Law of Nations for which Brennus having in vain demanded their persons of the Senate marches towards Rome and takes the City having first defeated their Army near the place where the River Allia runs into Tibur They that
accompanied him by this vainglorious Emperour taken into Protection Who thereupon bragg'd in his Letters to the Senate Anno Do. 40. that the whole Island was yielded to him The issue of this his Expedition was That he made his Army march embattelled to the Sea-shore over against Britain and commanded them to gather Cockles Muscles and other Shel-fishes into their Helmets terming them the Spoils of the Conquered Ocean and in memorial of this Exploit he built a high Watch-Tower which was afterwards named Brittenhuis and then returned to Rome leaving his Enemies the Britans and Germans to laugh at his strange folly and madness Cunobeline after a long and peaceable Reign of sixty six years dyed leaving behind him divers Sons Togodumnus whom the Britans call Guiderius Caradock Adminius Arviragus and others The first of these had reigned many years before with his Father whom he had but newly interred when suddenly he found himself necessitated to prepare for his defence against the Romans Hitherto the Britans enjoyed an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the free use and exercise of their own Laws and Customs only paying a Tribute But now the Rebellion of some ambitious persons makes way for their more absolute subjection for being unable to make good their parties against their Princes they flee to Rome and there find favourable entertainment Of these one Bericus was the principal who incited Claudius to make war upon the Britans who were grown so stout that they refused to pay the Tribute because their Fugitives were not delivered up to those that were sent to demand them Claudius sends over A. Plantius with an Army who soon after his arrival overcomes Caradock first 43 and then Togodumnus upon which part of the Dobuni who had been subjected by the Cattieuclani shook off their old Masters and submitted to him receiving a Garrison Plautius marches forwards to a River on the further side of which the Britans who deemed it unpassable without a Bridge lay careless and secure The Germans whose custom was to swim armed through the swiftest and yiolentest Rivers were sent over first with orders to strike especially at the Horses whereby the Chariots might be rendred unserviceable These were seconded by Vespasian and his Brother Sabinus by whom the Britans were surprised and many of them killed but night coming on hindred further execution The next morning the Britans joyned Battel with them which continued a long space with doubtful success till Sidius Geta at the point of being taken so bestirred himself that through his valour chiefly the Romans obtained the victory After this another Battel was fought neer the mouth of the River Thames where the Britans were again overthrown though this victory cost the Romans dear many of them being lost not only in the fight but in the pursuit too following the Chase too rashly among the Bogs Togodumnus retreating to Portchester was there slain by Vespasian who subdued those parts which was about two years after Cunobelines death The Britans were more enraged than daunted at the death of their King and Caradock who succeeded carried on the War with such fiereness that Plautius despairing of Conquest sent word to the Emperour of the doubtful condition of his Affairs Claudius glad of this occasion to get himself an Honourable Name sets forward with strong Forces and armed Elephants and coming over joyns with Plautius and marches against the Britans who were so far from fearing him that they adventured to fight a set Battel with him but were over-power'd and vanquished After which Claudius took Camalodunum formerly the Royal City of Adminius or Etiminius as his name is inscribed in an old Coin where he reigned under his Father before his Banishment Divers Cities submitted hereupon and were committed to the Government of Plautius the first Propraetor or Lieutenant of Britain Claudius for these Successes was several times by his Army saluted Imperator and tempering his Conquests with Clemency though he disarmed the Britans yet he remitted the Confiscation of their Goods for which they worshipped him as a God Having atchieved these Exploits in the space of sixteen dayes for he staid here no longer he departed homewards and came to Rome at the end of six months from his first setting out from thence entring the City in Triumph Plantius goes on with the relicks of the War and speeds so well that it was decreed he should have the less sort of Triumph called Ovation at his Return wherein the Emperour honoured him with his company and gave him the right hand all the way both going and coming And Vespasian who had fought thirty battels here in one of which he had beed slain if he had not been rescued by his Son Titus and had sudued two Nations and above twenty Towns together with the Isle of Wight was rewarded with Triumphal Ornaments and other great Dignities Valerius Asiaticus Junius Silanus Sidius Geta and others had marks of Honour conferred upon them P. Ostorius succeeding Plautius was entertained with troubles at his very entrance upon his Charge for they that had leagued with the Romans or submitted to them were over-run by the other Britans who encouraged themselves with a conceit of the new Propraetor's unacquaintedness with the Army But he knowing first Successes to be of great consequence with his readiest Cohorts advanced against them whom he soon routed and dispersed and then fell to disarming them that he suspected and by placing Garrisons and Forts upon the Rivers Antona and Sabrina attempted to hemme in so much of the Island as he was concerned to defend Sabrina is granted by all to be Severn but Antona is not so well known Camden saith it is the River Nen that runs by Northampton but then he will have it to be transcribed amiss for Aufona upon a supposition that the Britans called all Rivers Avon and so Northampton should be contracted of Northafandon But I cannnot see any necessity of blaming the Transcriber here nor any reason why Northampton or Northanton may not take its name from Antona since himself allows Southampton to be so called from a River of the very same name The Icenians who had sought the friendship of Plautius disliked the proceedings of Ostorius and armed against him with their Confederates but were overcome whereby they that wavered were confirmed in their obedience In this conflict M. Ostorius the Licutenant's Son merited a Civick Crown or Garland The Cangi were the next who felt the anger of the Romans by whom their Territory was wasted and harryed all over The Lieutenant was gotten near the Sea-coast which looks towards Ireland when some stirs among the Brigantes brought him back but those he quickly quieted by seizing and punishing some great ones who would have incited that people against him the rest upon his willingness to remit the Commotion departing peaceably to their homes But a War with the Silures could not be avoided King Caradock in person headed them who could not be prevailed with by all
Scotland take name from that remote Nation but from Mor which in British signifies the Sea as being a Maritime Province as Moravia in Germany took its Name from the River Mora which passes through it Some reject this Story of Marius his Victory but that which William of Malmesbury relates in the Prologue of his third Book De Gestis Pontificum seems no contemptible Evidence for it There is saith he in the City of Lugubalia now Carlile a Dining-Chamber built of Stone and arched with Vaults so that no spiteful force of Tempests nor furioun flame of Fire could ever shake or hurt it the Country is called Cumberland and the people Cumbrians in the forefront thereof this Inscription is to be read MARII VICTORIAE that is To the Victory of MARIVS Here Camden thinks fit to acquaint us how he had learned that another making mention of this Stone saith it was not inscribed Marii Victoriae but Marti Victori that is To Victorious MARS But that this is clearly contrary to Malmesburie's mind his words immediately following shew What is meant by it I am at a stand for unless part of the Cimbrians haply planted themselves here after they had been driven out of Italy by Marius Here Lib. 4. cap. 9. saith Ranulphus Cestrensis in his Polychronicon William of Malmesbury was deceived in thinking the Inscription upon this Stone appertained to Marius the Roman Consul but it is no wonder seeing he had not read the British Book where it is written of King Marius Neither indeed could he have read it in Geffrey's History which was not published when Mulmesbury wrote Cneus Trebellius was the next Lieutenant of Britain that we read of after Salustius Lucullus and after him Julius Severus who being called hence by Adrian to suppress the Jewish Rebellion the Northern Britans with the Picts again entred the Province and so fiercely assailed the Romans and Southern Britans that the Emperour was fain to come in person to their relief by whom the Enemies were repulsed and again forced to betake themselves to their sculking holes and Adrian approving the policy of Tiberius for girding the Empire within moderate bounds withdrew the Limit from Agricola's Fence an hundred Italian Miles as he had done in the East further from Tygris to Euphrates and erected a Wall of Turf for fourscore Italian Miles in length from Gabrosentuns Spartianus in vita Adriani 122. now Gateshead to Carlile which should divide the Barbarians and the Romans asunder strengthned with great Stakes or Piles pitched deep in the ground and fastned together in manner of a Mural or Military mound for defence And then having reformed many things throughout the Island triumphantly returned to Rome and upon his Coin entituled himself The Restorer of Britain The next Lieutenant here was Priscus Licinius whom Adrian afterwards employed in an Expedition against the Jews as appears by an old Inscription In the year of Christ one hundred twenty five dyed Marius the British King to whom succeeded his Son Coelus who kept peace with the Romans and paid them their Tribute as his Father had done In his time the Brigantes confederating with the Northern people made Inrodes into Genunia Paus in Arcad. a Neighbour-Province which Camden thinks should be written Genuthia taking it to be the same with Guinethia or North Wales against whom the Emperour Antoninus Pius by whose Ordinance as many as were in the Roman world became Citizens of Rome sent Lollius Vrbicus Lieutenant into Britain who subdued them and fined them with the loss of a good part of their Territory and driving the Northern Enemies further back enlarged the Bounds of the Roman Province again as far as Agricola's Frontier-Fence between Glotta and Bodotria In vita Antorini Pij building there as Julius Capitolinus saith another Wall of Turfs viz. beyond that of Adrian Seius Saturninus was now Archigubernus of the Navy in Britain as we find in the Digests Lib. 36. but whether by that Title be meant Admiral or Arch-Pilot is questionable In the beginning of the Reign of the Emperour Aurelius the Picts and Caledonians raising new Commotions were quelled by Calpurnius Agricola who succeeded Lollius in the Lieutenantship Coelus having reigned forty years dyed in the Year one Hundred sixty five leaving his Kingdom to his Son Lucius whom the Britans call Lhes and Sirname him Lever Maur that is Great Light because he was the first Christian King of their Nation For having heard of the Miracles wrought by Christ and Christians and particularly of the Emperour's Victory over the Germans obtained by the Prayers of the Christian Legion and observing the Piety and Sanctity of the Lives of those who in Britain professed that Religion he begain to entertain a high and honourable opinion of it Theonus Elvanus and Meduinus lived at this time of whom the first was the first Archbishop of London the other two were employed by the King to Eleutherus or Eleutherius Bishop of Rome to request him to send some able Teachers hither to instruct and Baptize him and his people Radulphus de Baldock and Gisburnensis say that at the receipt of this Message the good Bishop for joy sung the Angels Hymn Gloria in Excelsis The time of this Embassy is much controverted Beda Marianus and Florentius though dissenting in the computation of Years yet agree in this that they refer it to the beginning of Eleutherus which according to Eusebius was in the year one Hundred seventy six in the sixteenth year of the Emperour Aurelius when Aper and Pollio were Consuls Hereupon Faganus and Duvianus are dispatched into Britain who the same year baptized the King and many of his Subjects The Names of these two are strangely varied by Authors the former being called Fugatius Fagatius Fagaunus Foganus Fuganus Euganus and Figinus and Phaganus the other Damianus Dumianus Dunanus Dunianus Dimianus Dimanus Dinnamus Diwanus Divianus Divinianus Derwianus and Donatianus The Britans called them Fagan and Dwywan With these was also Marcellus or Marcellinus afterwards Bishop of Triers and Tongres King Lucius having now received the Faith is reported to have requested the Bishop of Rome to send him a Copy of the Roman Laws whereupon Eleutherus sent him this Letter You have desired us to send you the Laws of Rome and of Caesar which You would use in your Kingdom We may reject the Laws of Rome and of Caesar at all times but in no wise the Law of God Ye have lately by God's mercy received the Law and Faith of Christ in the Kingdom of Britain Ye have with you in your Kingdom both Testaments out of them by God's Grace with the Counsel of your Realm take a Law and by it with God's sufferance govern your Kingdom of Britain For You are God's Vicegerent in your Realm according to the Royal Prophet Psal 24.1 The Earth is the Lord's and the fulness thereof the world and they that dwell therein and again according to that
Royal Prophet Thou lovest Righteousness and hatest wickedness Ps 45.7 therefore God thy God hath anointed thee with the oyl of gladness above thy fellows And again according to the same Royal Prophet Ps 72.1 Give the King thy Judgments O God c. for he said not the Judgments nor the Righteousness of Caesar For the King's Sons are the Christian Nations and people of the Realm who live and abide in the Kingdom under your Protection and Peace according to the Gospel Mat. 23.37 even as a Hen gathereth her Chickens under her wings The Nations and people of Britain are your people whom however divided you ought to gather into one to reclaim to Concord and Peace and the Faith and Law of Christ and to the Holy Church to cherish maintain or to lead by hand protect govern and always defend them from injurious and malitious Folks and from their Enemies Eccl. 10.16 Wo to the Kingdom whose King is a Child and whose Princes eat in the morning I do not term a King a Child for Infant-age but for Folly Iniquity and Madness according to the Royal Prophet Ps 55.23 Bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their dayes By Eating we understand Gluttony by Gluttony Luxury by Luxury all filthy perverse and wicked things according to King Solomon Into a malicious Soul Wisdom shall not enter nor dwell in the body that is subject unto sin Rex dicitur à Regendo non à Regno A King hath his name from his Ruling not from his Kingdom As long as you govern well you shall be a King which if you do not the Name of King will not be evidenced in you and you will lose that Name which God forbid Almighty God grant you so to govern the Kingdom of Britain that you may reign for ever with him whose Vicegerent you are in the said Realm This Letter was written in the year one Hundred seventy nine when the Emperour Commodus was Consul with Vespronius and is to be seen in Lambard's Archaeonomia Printed at London in the years 1560 and 1644 among Edward the Confessor's Laws and in a Copy of our old Laws written in Edward the fourths time now kept in Sr. John Cotton's famous Library and likewise in an Ancient Manuscript Chronicle called Brutus and Breton William Harrison hath inserted it into his description of Britain Lib. 1. c. 9. having translated it into English out of sundry ancient Copies Theon Bishop of London is said to have built St. Peter's Church in Cornhil London with the help of Ciranus the King 's Cup-bearer which Lucius liberally endowed and made it to be the Episcopal Sea for the Diocess of London But Fagan and Dwywan not confining their endeavours only to Lucius his Kingdom converted the greatest part of Britain with the assistance of Elvan and Medwin of whom the former had been made a Bishop at Rome the other a Doctor as Johannes Tinmuthensis and Capgrave in the life of Dubricius and an old Tract concerning the first state of the Church of Landaffe assirm meaning Presbyter or Priest as I suppose by Doctor for the title of Doctor doth not appear to have been so ancient in the Church in the sence wherein it hath been since used Divers other Bishopricks are reported to have been erected about this time as York Carleon upon Vske Winchester Gloucester Congresbury Landaffe and other places Philippus Berterius and Archbishop Vsher of Armagh take York to have been the Metropolis of Britain at that time as being a Roman Colony and honoured with the Emperour's Palace and the Praetorium of Britain in regard whereof Spartianus terms it by way of Excellency In vita Severi The City And in the Council of Arles Eborius of York subscribed before Restitutus of London He that in the year one Thousand four hundred and sixty wrote the History of the Archbishops of York makes Fagan the first Archbishop of that Sea but Harrison in his description of Britain saith Lib. 1. cap. 7. that one Theodosius was Bishop there in the time of Lucius who might be so indeed in the latter end of Lucius his Reign after Fagan's death The Church of Winchester being finished in the fifth year of Lucius his Conversion viz. in the year one Hundred and eighty was then Dedicated by Fagan and Dwywan at which time also one Devotus was made Abbot of the Monastery which the King had founded for certain Monks professing the Egyptian Rule of St. Mark And about the same time was also founded the renowned Abbey of Bangor And now the Northern men are up in arms again and passing Lollius his Fence were come as far as Adrian's Wall which they broke down putting most of the Soldiers that defended it with their commander to the sword and entring the Province wasted and spoiled it at their pleasure against whom Vlpius Marcelius was sent who valiantly beat them back to their own homes and governed the country with such same and reputation that the Emperour Commodus whose Vices were as notorious as his Lieutenant's Virtues fearing the growth of his Credit with the Romans in an envious mood sent him Letters of Discharge After his departure the Army which he had kept in excellent Discipline fell to mutinying and civil Dissensions the Officers abusing and defrauding the common Soldiers whereupon fifteen Hundred of them went to Rome and complained against the Emperour's grand Favourite Perennis as the cause of those and many other distempers in the State for which he was put to death Yet did not this compliance so appease the British Army but that they would have set up another Emperour and Helvins Pertinax who here succeeded in the Lieutenancy endeavouring to suppress their insolency by severe means provoked them to an Insurrection in which divers were slain and himself left for dead whereupon he was glad for his own safety to get himself revoked In his place came Clodius Albinus who so worthily demeaned himself that Commodus either for fear or favour honoured him with the Title of Caesar which yet he accepted not but upon a false report of the Emperour's death having in a set speech discovered himself to be better affected to the old Government of the Senate and Consuls than to Monarchical Empire he was commanded to resign to Junius Severus But Pertinax suceeding Commodus was not long after murdered by the Praetorian Guards who sold the Empire to Didius Julianus who enjoyed his Purchase but a very little time being soon after slain by Septimius Severus This Emperour to keep Albinus who during the late Broils had made bold to keep his place from attempting any thing against him during his Wars with Pescennius Niger created him his Caesar which he now accepted as having a greater esteem for him than for Commodus But Niger being defeated and slain Severus falls to practising the death of his new Caesar and therein failing proclaims him Traitour and publick Enemy and comes in person
have kept their station upon those Hills near Cambridge which Henry of Huntington terms The most pleasant Mountains of Balsham from a little Village of that Name standing beneath them but the Students call them Gogmagog Hills On the top of which there is to be seen a Fort entrenched and the same very large strengthned with a threefold Rampire which Gervase of Tilbury calleth Vandelbiria Beneath Cambridge saith he there was a place named Vandelbiria for that the Vandals wasting the parts of Britain with cruel slaughter of Christians there encamped themselves where upon the very top of the Hill they pitched their Tents there is a Plain inclosed round with a Trench and Rampire which hath Entrance into it but in one place as it were at a gate Carus Manlius coming to the Empire made his two Sons Carinus and Marianus Caesar's allotting by decree to the former Britain Spain Gaul and Illyricum who seems to have exploited something here against the Northern people from these Verses of Nemesianus Nec taceam quae nuper bella sub Arcto Foelici Carine manu conâ—â—ceris ipso Penè prior genitore Deo Neither may I the Wars in silence hide Dispatcht of late with happy hand i' th' North By thee Carine thy Father Deify'd Who dost well near surpass in works of worth But after the death of his Father and Brother Diocletian being saluted Emperour by the Eastern Armies vanquished and slew Carinus at Murgum or Murtium in the confines of Maesia and Pannonia Diocletian associated with him in the Empire his old Companion in Arms Maximian committing the Western parts to his Government by whom Caius Caransius a Menapian who had given good proof of his Abilities in the late War against the Gallick Rusticks called Bagaudae was intrusted with the charge of Admiral of the Roman Fleet for scouring the Seas and guarding the Maritim Coasts then terribly infested by the Saxons and Franks But he designing to enrich himself and oblige his Complices suffered some of those Pirats to pass under Compositions and others he would not seize till they had first robbed and spoiled the true Subjects and what he did intercept he neither restored to the Provincials nor accounted to the Publick These courses made him suspected of intentions to rebell whereupon Maximian sent some Forces against him with orders to put him to death To prevent this danger having made sure of the Navy he crossed over into Britain where he drew to his side the Roman Legion that was lest here in Garrison and detained other outlandish Cohorts which he â—ound here listed the very Merchants and Factors of Gaul and procured great Aids from the German Nations especially the Franks and putting on the Purple Robe sent out his Ships to Sea who did more mischief to the Roman Subjects of Gaul Spain Italy and other places than ever the Germans had done whence this was called the Piratick War By these means he so strengthned himself that Maximian not able to come any nearer to him than the Sea-shore and having his hands full enough at that time of other Enemies thought fit to make a feigned Peace with him for the present yielding Britain to him with Gessoriacum now Boloign and some other Sea-towns neigbouring to it And now Carausius to gratifie his new Subjects turned his Forces against his Northern Enemies whom he defeated and then as Nennius informs us he reedified the Wall between Glotta and Bodotria and fortified it with seven Castles and built a round House of polished Stone upon the bank of the River Carun which took name of him now commonly called Carron erecting therewith a Triumphal Arch in remembrance of his victory This House is by some called Arthur's oven by others Julius hoff and the Temple of Terminus After ensued a peace which Carausius the more willingly granted because he conceived these people might be useful to him if the Roman Emperours should break their Agreement with him and invade him In the year two hundred eighty nine Coelus the British King dyed and was buried at Glastonbury to whom succeeded his Brother Trahern Diocletian and Maximian had now conferred the Title and honour of Caesars upon Constantius and Galerius whom as Eutropius saith they made to put away their former Wives and so Diocletian married his Daughter Valeria to Galerius and Maximian gave his Emperesses Daughter Theodora whom she had by a former Husband to Constantius The detention of Britain could now no longer be endured and therefore in the year two Hundred ninety two Constantius Caesar Sirnamed Chlorus is sent against the Usurper who besieged Bolóigne and with Stones and Timber obstructing the Port kept out all Relief whereby the Garrison was forced to surrender after which followed the yielding of all on that side of the Sea and the Soldiers were pardoned and taken into Caesar's Service These Losses much impaired the reputation of Carausius with his own party who the same year was slain after seven years Reign by Caius Allectus Captain of his own Guard who was the more emboldned to this Treason because he presumed the Romans would never be able to provide a Navy sufficient for the recovery of the Island Having therefore murdered his Master and assumed the Title of Emperour he sent out his Ships to rob and spoil the Subjects of Rome and thinking himself secure enough became a most luxurious Tyrant The year following Constantius leaving orders for the preparing of a strong Fleet transfers the War into Batavia which the Franks had seised by the help of Carausius and the revolt of that people Cleve was besieged by them and reduced to great extremity when Constantius with invincible courage surmounting all the difficulties of a tedious march through Woods and Bogs where the Enemy had planted themselves to impede his passage came seasonably to the relief and overthrowing the Assailants freed the City and following his fortune recovered the Province forcing Assaricus and Gaiso Princes of the Franks to sue for peace which with much adoe they obtained but so that he transplanted many of their Nation into Gaul to till the wast and desert places there In the year two Hundred ninety four Constantius having gotten his Armada now in readiness set sail with a mighty Army though in a very Tempestuous Scason and by the benefit of a Mist passing by the British Fleet unseen which was placed near the Isle of Wight to discover and intercept him arrived happily in Britain to the great joy of the oppressed Inhabitants who ran out with their Wives and Children to meet their Deliverer whom they lookt upon as sent them immediately from Heaven and adored the very Sails and Oars of the Ship that brought him Presently he set all his Ships on fire to take from his followers all hopes of escaping otherwise than by conquering Allectus who relyed chiefly upon his Naval strength and thought Constantius had given over all hopes of regaining this Countrey when he saw him engaged in war with the
endured with undaunted resolution Sentence was pronounced against him That he should be drawn through the City and beheaded which was accordingly performed upon the three and twentieth of April in the year three Hundred and three in which year as I said before out of Eusebius the Persecution began and therefore I cannot assent to them who place his death in the year two Hundred and ninety Of this George I understand Eusebius to speak Hist Eccl. lib. 8. cap. 5. where he saith Presently one of those who were not obscure but most glorious as they are reputed according to the excellencies of this world as soon as the Edict against the Churches was published at Nicomedia moved with zeal and fervent faith took down and rent the Writing as profane and impious which was set up in an open and publick place when two Emperours meaning the Emperour and his Caesar were in the City and even he who of all the rest was most honoured and chief of the Four But he who first behaved himself thus worthily suffered likewise those punishments which in all likelihood attended one that had dared to do such an Action and manifested an undejected and undaunted Spirit to the very last Thus far Eusebius His Body was afterwards by his Servant conveyed back to Palestine and interred at a City called Lydda and Diospolii now St. Georges near Ramah He is reported by his constancy at his suffering and by private Reasonings and Conferences to have converted many and among the rest Vincentius who was Martyred in Spain That George suffered where the Emperour kept his Court is agreed by all which sufficiently proves that neither Lydda nor Ramah was the place as some deceived by his Burial at the former have written but Nicomediae where all the Histories of those times aver that Diocletian usually resided The Arians to procure the reputation of Saintship to their George the Alexandrian Bishop confounded him and our Martyr into one composing a mixt Legend of their Acts and Sufferings stuffed with such sottish forgeries of Saint Athanasius whom they make a Magician and Alexandra the wife of Dacianus and such like that Pope Gelasius though fit to reject it with others of the same nature as Apocryphal but that he might not be misinterpreted to deny the being of those Saints whose Legends he condemned he thus concludes his Canon Yet notwithstanding this we with the Church devoutly reverence all those Martyrs and their glorious sufferings ' which are better known to God than men Yet did not this Censure though past with the advice of above seventy Prelates hinder succeeding Writers from inserting those Fopperies into their Relations of this Saint whereby some as Calvin Chemnitius c. have been induced to think that there was never such a man Others De Idol Rom. lib. 1. cap. 5. of whom Dr. Reynolds is the most considerable have really believed him to be the same with George of Alexandria though he confesseth that in his opinion Gelasius did believe him to be a Holy Martyr which he could not surely think of the Arian George whose death was but an hundred and thirty years or thereabouts before his Papacy too scant a time to have his impieties and villanies forgotten Amm. Marcel lib. 22. Neither was the Arian George a Cappadocian as this Martyr was which Dr. Reynolds goes about to prove but a Cilician born at a Town of that Province called Epiphania in a Fullers House but dwelling in Cappadocia when the Emperour Constantius the Younger appointed him to be Bishop of Alexandria many years after the other George's Martyrdom By Dacianus the Legendaries mean Galerius Caesar a Native of Dacia who had that Denomination from his Countrey as the Emperour Adrianus had his Name from Adria a Town of Italy whence his Family came and Diocletian from Dioclea in Dalmatia where he was born They call him King of the Persians in regard of his great victories over that people from whom he won five Provinces and was in a fair way as we find in Aurelius Victor to have subdued the whole Kingdom if Diocletian had not recalled him The Fable of George killing a Dragon to save a Virgin 's life seems to be taken from the Poetical Fiction of Persens and Andromeda though it may not unfitly be judged Emblematical if by the Virgin we understand his Soul and by the Dragon the Devil the one preserved the other conquered by his Christian Magnanimity and constant perseverance His name is commemorated in the Martyrologies of Greece and Rome and many ancient Authors his Relicks reverenced and Churches erected and dedicated to his memory in several Lands I have spoken the more of this Martyr that it may appear to the world that the Kings and the Nation of England who for some Ages have had a peculiar respect for this Saint whom they chose for Patron of the most Noble Order of the Garter have not bestowed all this Honour either upon a Heretick or a meer Chimoera Bouchet in his Annals of Aquitain writes That Helena the Daughter of King Cloel so he calls Coel brought Constantius two other Sons besides Constantine and that the youngest named Lucius having slain the Elder was by his Father banished out of Britain and condemned to a Monastical life Embarking therefore with divers Priests and Religious men he crossed over to Poictou where at a place from him called Lucionum now Lusson he founded an Abbey and a Church in honour of the Virgin Mary This he relates out of an old Hymn of that Church But seeing no Ancient approved Author mentions any other Son of Helena's besides Constantine I rather think this Lucius to be the same with him who preached to the Rhaetians and Bavarians since all the Writers of his Acts agree that he preached in Gaul before he entred into Germany Gaul had been much depopulated by the frequent irruptions of the Barbarous people whereupon Constantius as he had translated many of the Franks to manure the Grounds about Langres Rad. Niger Lib. Triedum Rheimes Troyes and Amiens thought fit to draw a Colony of Britans into Armorica which was transported thither under the command of Conan the Son of King Coel whom his Sister the Divorced Princess Helena accompanied In the year three Hundred and five the Picts raised some Commotions here which brought the Emperour over who gave them an Overthrow but was constrained by sickness to return to York where he dyed in the year three Hundred and six and was buried at Caer Seiont near Caernarvon which place was in honour of him called also Caer Custeint Nenn. whose Body being found there in the year one Thousand two hundred and eighty Mat. Westm was by King Edward's command Honourably interred in the Church of Caernarâ—â—â—â— To him succeeded the Noble Constantine worthily Sirnamed The Great who happily came Post from Rome to Boloigne just as his Father was setting Sail his last time hither as we find
in Eumenius and an old Historian published with Ammianus Marcellinus by Henricus Valesius His Father when he was made Caesar to assure Galerius of his fraternal love had put this his Son to him to be trained up in Martial Discipline out of his Stepmother Theodora's sight But he discerning him to be of a great a spiring soul exposed him to continual perils wherein he so behaved himself that he always came off with Honour This made his envious Guardian cause him to be the more narrowly observed resolving either by policy or force ever to detain him in his power Constantine perceiving himself to be in some sort a prisoner determined to take the first opportunity for his Escape so that when Maximinus and Severus were made Caesars by Galerius which was according to Eusebius his Chronicle in the year preceding the death of Constantius he knowing himself as worthy of that Dignity as they procured a feigned permission to return to his Father And coming to Rome took Post there and maimed all the Post-horses by the way till he got out of Italy to prevent the pursuit of Severus Caesar whom he understood to have private Instructions from Galerius to apprehend him Coming safe to Constantius he was by him before his Embarquing declared Caesar the same year as Aurelius Victor saith He staid behind to govern Gaul in his Fathers absence but hearing that he lay sick at York he hasted thither to see him who upon his death-bed appointed him to succeed him not without the envy of his Brothers who csteemed him as the Son of a British Princess not so nobly born as themselves whose Mother was a Roman Emperour's Daughter-in-law Which stuck so deep in the stomach of his ungracious Nephew Julian that he was not ashamed to style the Empress Helena 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Anaughty and mean woman and Zosimus terms her 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A shameful Mother and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 An unworthy woman who was not the lawful wife of Constantius the falseness of which appears in that he was forced to put her away in order to his marriage with Theodora And both Jews and Gentiles by way of reproach called her Stabularia or Hostess because she so devoutly sought out that Inn and Stable at Bethlehem where Christ was born and there founded a Church which gave occasion to that fabulous report of her keeping an Hostelry at Drepanum in Bithynia But her Heroick Son was so far from being ashamed of his Mother that he declared her Augusta and at Triers she had a stately Palace for her residence while he kept his Imperial Court there which retaining her Name long time after caused the Abbot Berengosius and others to imagine her a Native of that City Constantine pursuing the Relicks of the Pictish War soon brought the Enemy to terms of Submission and then crossed the Sea to Gaul where the next year he married Fausta the Daughter of the late Emperour Maximian by whom he was then declared Augustus which Title he had forborn till that time Octavius Lord of the Evissaei people inhabiting part of the Counties of Monmouth and Hereford which from them took the name of Ewias leaguing himself with the Northern men rose up in Rebellion here against whom the Emperour sent back his Uncle Traherne who happened at that time to be with him upon some business between whom near Winchester was sought a Battel in which the British King was put to the worst and compelled to flee into the Countrey of the Brigantes where the greatest part of the Roman Army lay to oppose the Picts and their Allies The Rebel following him thither presuming much upon the strength and power of his Confederates where another Battel was fought in which Traherne and the Romans prevailed who pursued Octavius so eagerly that they forced him to quit the Land and sail to Scandia leaving orders with his Friends to contrive some means for dispatching the King which was quickly effected for Traherne thinking himself secure rode out of London with a small Retinue and was intercepted by the Lord of Verulam who with an hundred men lay in Ambush for him and slew him in the year three hundred and eleven when he had reigned two and twenty years Hereof Octavius was immediately advertised who hastning his return and getting his Complices together became very strong but Constantine coming against him in person the same year subdued him and upon his submission suffered him to hold some part of Cambria with the Title of King under him Eusebius speaks of this Exploit saying That Constantine after he had furnished his Army with mild and modest Instructions of piety Euseb de vita Constantin lib. 1. cap. 4. invaded Britain that he might likewise reform those who dwell environed round about with the waves of the Ocean bounding the Sun's setting as it were with his Coasts And in another place Cap. 19. He passed over to the Britans enclosed on every side within the Banks of the Ocean whom when he had overcome he began to compass in his mind other parts of the world that he might come in time to succour those that wanted his help After this he overcame and killed Maxentius and Licinius and established Christian Religion throughout the Roman Empire He caused the Council of Arles to be assembled in the year three hundred and fourteen about the Donatists to which Eborius Bishop of York Restitutus Bishop of London Adelphius Bishop of Colchester Sacerdos a Presbyter and Arminius a Deacon repaired out of Britain and subscribed He also called the Famous Nicene Council against the Arians in the year three hundred twenty five whereat some of the British Clergy were present and held with the Orthodox men In his time the Government of Propraetors or Lieutenants ceased in Britain in stead whereof succeeded Vice-gerents or Vicars General of whom Pacatianus was the first In the year three hundred thirty seven dyed the Emperour Constantine the Great and Singular Ornament of this his Native Countrey in respect whereof the Panegyrist crieth out Panegyric 3. O Fortunate Britain and more happy now than all other Lands that hadst the first sight of Constantinus Caesar But Livineius will not allow this Honour to Britain and tells us That this passage only imports that he was here made Caesar whereas we have already shewed out of Aurelius Victor that he was made Caesar the same year with Maximinus and Severus when he came to his Father in Gaul just as he was embarquing for Britain Lib. 7. c. 19. which is acknowledged by Nicephorus Ad that those two were made Caesars the year before the death of Constantius is expresly affirmed by Eusebius in his Chronicle Lib. 4. c. 53. who likewise in his life of this Emperour deduceth his Reign from that year saying that he reigned two and thirty years wanting some odd months and dayes For if he had computed his Reign from his Fathers death which was on the
Hundred and sixty 360. Amm. Mare lib. 20. the Savage Nations of the Scots and Picts broke the Peace and by sundry Inrodes wasted the Frontiers in dreadful manner Julianus Caesar therefore sent over Lupicinus to repress their boldness who with a power of light-armed Herulians Batavians and Maesians set sail from Boloigne in the midst of Winter and landed at Rutupiae now Richborough and marched to London to take order there for the management of the War In the mean time Julianus Caesar is by his Army saluted Augustus whereupon he makes preparations against Constantius and mistrusting the turbulent humour of Lupicinus Whom he knew to be an arrogant and haughty man he sends a Notary to Boloigne to look that none should pass from those Coasts to Britain so that returning before he had any information of what had happened in his absence he was able to make no Disturbance In his room came Alypius whom Julian after the death of Constantius recalled and employed in that vain attempt of re-edifying the Temple of Jerusalem In the year three hundred sixty four 364. Amm. Marcel lib. 26. Valentinianus and Valeus were made Emperours in the beginning of whose Reign the Picts Saxons Scots and Attiscots assailed the Britans and vexed them with continual turmoils for some years Nectaridius Count of the Maritime Tract or the Saxon Shore was slain and Bulchobaudes Duke of Britain circumvented by the enemies Ambuscadoes Amm. Marcel lib. 27. Upon these News Valentinian sent hither Severus Lord High Steward of his Houshold and presently revoking him sent over Jovinus a famous Commander who perceiving his own Forces too weak to perform any great matters dispatcht Proventusides back for a greater supply But the Emperour who could not well spare him ordered his return and sent Theodosins to succeed him in his Charge here who being a man of great Experience in Martial Affairs having with him the Batavians Herulians Jovij and Victores fell upon the spoiling Bands and Companies of Robbers routed and stripped them of their Prey and Prisoners and after a full restitution of all save only some small parcels bestowed upon his wearied Soldiers he triumphantly entred the Ancient Town of London which Posterity called Augusta where he got what intelligence he could from Captives and Fugitives of the condition of the Enemies who being of disserent Nations and the war scattered secret Wiles and sudden Excursions would be most available against them Many Deserters and Runnagates he brought back to the Roman Service by Proclamation of Impunity Then he requests that Civilis a man of noted Integrity might be sent him to govern the Land as Deputy and with him Duleitius a renowned Captain And now he marches out from London against the Barbarous people Amm. Mar. cel lib. 28. 368. and gaining all places of advantage to forelay them discomsited and put to slight divers Nations whom a long unchastised Insolence had emboldned to invade the Roman Empire and laid the foundation of a lasting Tranquillity restoring every where the decayed Cities and Castles In the mean time Valentinus a Pannonian banished hither for a crime of a high nature sollicited the Exiles and Soldiers with large promises of Rewards to allure and draw them to an Insurrection but was seasonably prevented by the wary General who delivered him and some sew of his inward Complices to Dulcitius to be put to death yet politickly forebore any further inquisition into the Conspiracy as knowing that too many were engaged in it And having now recovered the Province between the two Walls he fortified the Frontiers with standing Watches and strong Fore-fences and so brought it to the former ancient Estate that upon his motion it had a lawful Governour to rule it and was in honour of the Emperours named Valentia The Areans a kind of people formerly instituted on purpose to run to and fro by long journeys to find out the designs of the neigbour Nations being convicted of holding traiterous correspondence with them were displaced by him from their Stations So having quieted and settled all things here he was sent for by Valentinian of whom he was Honourably received and made General of the Horse In this war his Son named also Theodosius and Magaus Clemens Maximus gave good proofs of their valours which came afterwards to be Emperours About this time lived Chebius or Keby the Son of Salomon a Cornish Prince brought up by Hilarius Bishop of Poâ—ctiers by whom made a Bishop returning into Britâ—â—â—â— he passed some time at Menevia from whence he sailed into Ireland and building a Church in a certain Island stayed there four years and lastly coming back to Mona now Anglesey there spent the remainder of his dayes with his disciples at a place called from him Caer Guby for Caer Keby as Hilary-point a Promontory of the same Isle had its name from his Master whom the Britans highly honoured Valentinian having mastred part of the Almans Amm. Marcel 29. 373. made Fraomarius King of the Bucinobantes an Alman Tribe dwelling near Memz whom soon after in regard his Territory had been shrewdly harassed in the German Wars he translated into this Island with Authority of a Tribune over his own Countrey-forces which for number and valour were very considerable In the year three hundred seventy five dyed the British King Octavius whom the Cambro-Britans call Eucta and Euciha after a long Reign of sixty four years leaving behind only one Daughter named Helena who as Geoffrey saith was by the means of Caradoc Prince of Cornwall and his Son Maurice married to Maximus probably when he came hither under the Noble General Theodosius Geoffrey makes him to be near of kin to Constantine the Great whose Grandfather King Coel as he tells us had three Brothers Tâ—â—â—â—rne Leoline and Marius of whom Leoline married a Roman Lady and by her was Father to Maximus who was brought up in Spain where by what means soever it came to pass he fell into such despicable Poverty that Latinus Paratus the Panegyrist terms him Patris incertum a man whose Father was unknown Ft mensularum servilium Statarium lixam A standing Drudge to Servants Tables and Ausmius calls him Armigerum lixam An Army-Drudge yet afterwards by his valour he rose to great preferment and wanted not the sprit to challenge Kindred with the Emperour Theodesius which in all likelihood he could not have had the impudence to have done if his Parentage had been so very base as some would imply The Panegyrist calls him an Exile from the world not because he was banished hither but for the same reason that he calls all the Britans so because they were secluded by the Sea from the greater World It seems he commanded here in chief after Civilis and Dulcitius and Fraomarius and overcame Conan Mertadoc forcing him and his partakers to sly to the Scots who had newly seized upon part of Albania They by entertaining the vanquished Britans drew upon themselves a dangerous
space However by continual preaching not only in Churches but also in Streets and fields and by Miracles accompanying their Doctrine they confirmed many that wavered regained others and convening a Council at Verulam in the year four hundred and thirty did there in publick Disputation put to silence their chief Adversaries From thence the Bishops went for Wales where as Nennius saith one Banlius King of Powis infected as it seems with Pelagianism and therefore refusing to entertain German and hear his Preaching was destroyed with his Palace by Lightning and Cadel a Swineherd who had lodged and treated the Bishop to his best ability was therefore advanced to the Heaven-burnt Tyrant's Throne In the year four hundred thirty one being the eighth year of Theodosius reckoning from the death of his Uncle Honorius the Picts and Scots understanding the resolution of the Romans to come back no more assail the Britans again and with greater considence than ever before drive the dismaied Soldiers from their Stations and seize into their hands all the Countrey which lay on that side of the Wall There was placed along this Wall upon an high Fort a Garrison consisting of such as lacked both Military skill and courage who warding and watching there day and night became lazy with doing nothing The Enemies coming on with their hooked weapons easily pulled down these unwarlike Wretches and dashed them to the ground and making a great Breach in the Wall at a place thence called Thirlwall which is as much as a Wall pierced through they went forward taking several wayes and committing horrible spoils and bloody slaughters every where as they went The Picts in their way meet with the Saxons who were come upon the same design of spoil and slaughter with them they joyn and all together march into Northwales The Britans had there an Army to oppose them and hearing of their Enemies approach applyed themselves to the two Bishops bemoaning their past and present miseries to them who bid them be of courage and promised them their assistance The decay of the State had wrought a strange decay of Religion the greatest part of this Army was yet unbaptized they therefore first list them under Christ's Banner by the initiating Sacrament of Baptism and then German who in his younger dayes had been a Soldier undertakes to be their General It was then the time of Lent and in the Camp there was a place set a part and drest up with Boughs for Easter-day The Enemies judging the Britans more taken up with acts of Religion than the exercise of Arms hasten against them after the Paschal Feast as to an assured victory German draws up his Army in a valley compassed about with Hills by which the Enemy was to pass and having laid an Ambush in a convenient place gives order that what word they heard him pronounce aloud the same they should repeat with an universal Shout The Saxons and Picts pass on securely and German thrice aloud cryes Halleluiah which answered by the Soldiers with a sudden burst of clamour is from the hills and valley redoubled and presently they that were in Ambush shew themselves The Enemies were hereat strangely astonished and searing that some unexpected Succours were come to the Britans were seized with such a general consternation that breaking their Ranks and throwing down their Arms they ran away in a miserable consusion leaving their Pillage to the Pursuers many of them in their hasty flight being drowned in the River This victory was gained in Flintshire hard by a Town called by the Welch Guiderue by the English Mold and hence the place of Fight was named Maes Garmon Usser de primord that is to say German's field near which runs the River Alen wherein so many of the Britans were baptized and of the Enemies drowned The same year the two Bishops returned home having overcome both Spiritual and worldly Adversaries and acted many memorable things here which we may read in Constantius Beda Nennius and others And this very year the forementioned Palladius was by Pope Celestine sent into Ireland to be Bishop of the Scots there who had received the Christian Faith and to spread Christianity in those parts who took with him twelve of his Disciples to four of whom namely Augustine Benedict Silvester and Solonius he committed the care and charge of three Churches which he built in the Province of Lemster whither he was come after he had been with the Scots in Vlster But Nathius the Son of Garcon King of Lemster opposing and disturbing him and those wild people not willing to entertain his Doctrine he departed thence into Albania and spent some time in preaching to the Picts among whom he died at Fordon in Mernis where the common people call him St. Pad Antonius Possevinus saith he was a Britan and we find the same of him in an old Marginal Note to St. Patrick's Charter in William of Malmesbury's M. S. History of the Antiquity of Glastonbury in the Library of Trinity Colledge in Cambridge speaking of Celestine's sending him to Ireland Eodem anno vel praecedente misit idem Papa ad praedicandum ibidem virum nomine Palladium Britannicum genere sed idem citò repatriavit sine effectu The same year or the year before the same Pope sent a man named Palladius a Britan by Nation to preach there but he soon returned without effect Upon the death of Paliadius Pope Celestine sent over Patrick in the year four hundred thirty two to convert the Irish and soon after himself dyed Prosp contra Collat. cap. 41. of whose Endeavours for Britain and Ireland Prâ—sper gives this Testimony Nec segniore curâ ab hoc eodem morbo Britannias liberavit quando quosdam inimicos gratiae solum suae originis occupantes etiam ab illo secreto exclusâ—t Oceani â—rdinato Scotis Episcopo dum Romanam Insulam studet strvare Catholicam fecit etiam Barbaram Christianam The Emperess Placidia Idacius Marcellinus comes Mother to the Emperour Valentinian being reconciled to Boniface resolved to make him Magister Militum Chief Commander of the Forces of the Empire in the place of Aetius which yet she thought could not casily be done while Aetius continued in the head of the Galâ—ick Army she therefore had contrived to have him elected Consul for this year with Valerius and thereby drawing him to Rome to look after his Charge there sends for Boniface out of Africk and at his coming bestows upon him the Command she had designed for him Aetius not brooking to see himself so supplanted and his utter Enemy put over his head stood out in opposition with such of his friends and followers as he could get together and came to a conflict with him wherein these two famous Generals met and fought hand to hand and Aetius with his Javelin gave Boniface his mortal wound whereof he dyed about three months after charging his wife Pelagia whom he left very rich to accept
of no other Husband but Aetius as judging none but him a fit Match for his Relict Aetius himself received no hurt in this combat yet loth to hazard his friends too far against the whole Army of Italy retired and dismissing them betook himself to a private life in the Countrey but understanding that one who owed him an old grudge plotted to murder him he privately speeded to Rome and from thence by Dalmatia to Pannonia then possessed by the Hunnes with whose help he recovered the Emperour's favour and his former Command displacing Sebastian Boniface's Son-in-Law who then held it and being advanced to the Dignity of a Patrician returned into Gaul The Britans did not make a right improvement of Germans victory but lost both Courage and Virtue when they lost the sight of the two Bishops relapsing to their old courses of Debauchery and Dissension being as Gildas describes them as eager and prompt to Civil Broils as they were backward and heartless against Foreigners This encouraged their Enemies to prosecute the War more furiously in which after some variable successes they so prevailed at length that they forced the Britans in many places to quit their Towns and Cities and flee to the Woods not daring to till their Grounds because they durst not hope to reap and then arose a cruel Famine both here and in divers other parts of Europe so that these people had nothing to keep them alive but what they got by robbing one another and by Hunting And here De Gest Scot. lib. â— cap. 1. because John Maior and others wonder that the Britans should be unable to deal with the Picts and Scots it will not be amiss to consider the sundry Drainings and numerous Levies made of them for the service of the Emperours in their Wars abroad Learned Camden hath observed out of Ancient Inscriptions and the Book called Notitia Provinciarum That these Companies underwritten served the Romans in their Wars and were here and there dispersed over their Provinces which also were from time to time evermore supplied out of Britain Ala Britannica Milliaria Ala quarta Britonum in Aegypto Cohors prima Aelia Britonum Cohors tertia Britonum Cohors septima Britonum Cohors vigesima sexta Britonum in Armenia Britanniciani sub magistro peditum Invicti Juniores Britanniciani Exculcatores Jun Britan inter auxilia Palatina Britones cum magistro Equitum Galliarum Invicti Juniores Britones intra Hispanias Britones Seniores in Illyrico besides the several forementioned Colonies transported by Constantius Chlorus Constantine the Great Maximus and the Last Constantine who settled in Armorica and are by Procopius called Arboricans for Armoricans and are commended by him and Zosamus for valiantly asserting and maintaining their Liberty when the rest of Gaul was overrun by Barbarians Nor were the Provincials only thus exhausted but sometimes too the Northern Britans were drawn into the Roman Service For among the Palatine Aids within Caul were reckoned Attecotti juniores Galiicani and Attecotti Honoriani seniores and within Italy Attecotti Honoriani juniores Which people so weakning themselves to pleasure the Emperours became an easier prey to the intruding Scots It appears then that the loss of this Island was a great damage to the Romans who bore sway here above four hundred and sixty years from Julius Caesar's Conquest to the last Constantine and so highly esteemed that they called it the Roman Isle and Romania and the Roman Language was grown so familiar among them that Gildas calls the Latin Tongue his own Language In all which time the Britans had Kings of their own reigning in some part of the Land which no other European Province of the Empire had And this may be further said for the credit of our Britans That when the Barbarous Nations like an inundation broke into the Roman Empire all the other Provinces never endeavoured to assert in the way of war or opposition either their ancient reputation or their Native Liberties but suffered themselves to be won lost fought for and again recovered by their quarrelsome Masters as if they had no Title to their own Countrey but were born to follow the fortunes of all Pretenders only this people stood up for themselves and when stored with a new stock of vigorous Youth contested bravely not only with the Picts and Scots but with the Saxons too though much more potent Enemies But at this time as I said the Britans were in a very low condition which William of Malmes bury Lib. 1. de Reg. having spoken of Maximus and Constantine thus describes When the Tyrants had left none in the Countrey but half Barbarians none in the Cities and Towns but such as wholly gave themseves to Belly-cheer Britain destitute of all Protection by her vigorous young men bereaved of all exercise and practice of good Arts became exposed for a long time to the greedy and gaping jaws of the hordering Nations Aetius was at this time Captain General of the Forces of the Empire and Consul the third time with Symmachus in the year four hundred forty six to whom the Distressed Britans send their Ambassadors with a pitious mournful Letter superscribed To Aetius thrice Consul the Groans of the Britans and after a few words thus The Barbarians drive us to the Sea the Sea puts us back to the Barbarians between these two sorts of Death we either have our Throats cut or are drowned The Brave Roman affords them pity but can spare no Succours not daring to diminish his Forces because Attila the Hunne that Scourge and Terrour of the World then threatned the Empire with a terrible Invasion The Britans therefore thus disappointed of their last hopes oppressed with War and Famine were many of them fain to yield themselves Slaves to the raging Foes meerly to get some food were it never so little to comfort and refresh their poor hungry Souls But there were some Nobler Spirits left who betaking themselves to the Mountains Grots and desert woody Forrests made from thence a worthy resistance Some fortunate Successes brought them more companions so that having their numbers pretty well increased with such as meer Despair made valiant they adventured to sight their Enemies in plain field and giving them sundry overthrows chased them out of the Countrey Having thus happily disburthened the Land of those Spoilers they enter into consultation about preserving it for the future and knowing that it would not be long before their Enemies returned again they resolved to choose among themselves one supreme King for management of their succeeding Affairs both military and civil to whom all the other Roytelets should be subordinate Hereupon they elect Vortigern Prince of Ewias not the best but the greatest man among them one whose vices were in some sort compensated by the virtues of his Sons who in all probability were the chief Instruments of their so late Deliverance By this surcease of Hostility the desolate peoples sore of Famine was perfectly
Usurpers Cl. Cornelius Laelianus Usurper Caius Carausius Usurper Caius Allecius Usurper M. Aurelius Asclepiodotus Pacatianus Gratianus Funarius Martinus Lupicinus Alypius Nectaridius and Bulchobaudes Severus Jovinus Theodosius Civilis and Dulcitius Fraomarius Maximus Usurper Chrysanthus Victorinus Marcus Usurper Gratianus Municeps Usurper Constantine and Constans Usurpers Gallio of Ravenna The Angles were a Tribe of the Suevians and both Suevians and Saxons were the Off-spring of the Syebi and Sasones in Asia and came into Europe together being of the same Gomerian Original with the Cimbrians Kings of the Saxons STresaeus Bedwig Gualas Hadras Ittermon Heremod Skeph reigned in Sleswick Skeld Bevin Tetuas Geta went to Asgard In Asgard Gedulph Son to Geta. Finne Fridulph Frelaph Fridwald In Germany Henry Sifrid Woden Son to Fridwald returned into Germany Weldeg and his Brethren with Sirick and his Sons Hunding and Gelder Anônymus contemporary with Wermund King of the Danes Gelder contemporary with Tordo King of Sweden and Dan the third King of Demnark Artrick Ansenrick Wilkin the I. Swerting and Hanef Swerting the II. Wilkin the II. Witikind Wilkin the III. with his Brother Sigar Marbod Bodo Vecta Vita Witigils Hengist Kings of the Suevians before the departure of the Angles from them to the Saxons ANônymus contemporary with Metellus Celer Arionistus or Ernest Nasua and Cimberius Maroboduus Vannius Vangio and Sido Italicus and Sido Kings of the PICTS THE Picts and Scots were Gothick Nations of the same Gomerian Original with the Cimbrians and came from Scandia which is also called Scythia Germanica But in regard our British Histories have hitherto been too deficient concerning the Pictish Kings I shall here exhibit a Catalogue of them out of John Fordon's M. S. Scotichronicon and Hector Boethius Cruithhe Camelon reigned ann 50. Ghede 100 Ghede II. Hect. 100 Chrine Hect. 150. Tharan 150. Ghede III. 150. Duchil 40. Dinorth Tisy 20. Duor Deghel 20. Decok Heth. 60. Congust 20. Caranath Creth 40. Garnard Bolg 9. Wipopneth whom Hector calls Unipanus 30. Blarchassereth 17. Phiathus albus Thalarg Amfrud 16. Canatalmel 6. Dongard Nethles 1. Feredeth Finyel Gannard Dives 60. Nectan II. Hect. 60. Nectan II. Hect. 60. Hungurst Son of Fergus 40. In his time Regulus brought St. Andrew's Relicks into Albania Thalarg Son of Keother 24 Durst aliàs Nectan Son of Irby 48. In his time Palladius taught in Ireland and Albania Thalarg Son of Amyle 2. Nectan Chaltamoth 10. Durst Germerth Son of Ethrede 38. Galan 15. Durst Son of Gigurun 5. Durst Son of Ethrede 8. Durst Son of Gigurun ag 4. Garnard Son of Gigurun 6. Kelturan Son of Garnard 6. Thalarg Son of Mordeleth 11. Durst Son of Mometh 1. Thalagath 4. Brude Son of Meilothon 19. In his time Columba came from Ireland to Albania Garnard Son of Dompnach 20 He built the Church of Abernethy Nectan Son of Irban 11. Kenel Son of Luchren 14. Nectan Son of Fode 6. Brude Son of Fathna 5. Thalarg Son of Farthard 11. Thalargan Son of Amfrud 4. Garnard Son of Dompnal 5. Durst Brother to Garnard 6. Brude Son of Bridebile 11. In his time Egfrid King of the Northumbrians was slain by the Picts Nectan Son of Brude 18. To him Abbot Celfrid writ about the observing of Easter and Clerical Tonsure after the Roman way Garnard Son of Feredeth 14. He slew Amberclet King of the Scots and gave an Oratory to the nine Daughters of Dovenald Oengussa Son of Fergus 16. Nectan Son of Decil Nine Months Feredeth Son of Alpin Six Months Alpin Father of Feredeth 26. Brude Son of Cenegus 2. Alpin Son of Cenegus 2. Thalargan Son of Durst 1. Thalarg Son of Drusken 4. Cenegus Son of Thalarg 6. Constantine Son of Fergus 40. He built the Church of Dunkeld 226 years after the building of Abernethy Church by Garnard Hungus Son of Fergus 10. Durstolorgus Son of Hungus 3. Feredeth Son of Badoc 3. Brude Son of Feredeth One Month. Kened Son of Feredeth 1. Brude Son of Fethel 2. Drusken Son of Feredeth 3. Five of these Kings are omitted in Fordon's Scotichronicon viz. Ghede the second Chrine and Ghede the third and the two Nectan's between Garnard and Hungurst but they are here supplied out of Hector Boetius I confess it is to be feared that in this Catalogue there may be some mistake either in the computation of years or the order of succession And therefore I could heartily wish that some Ingenious Lover of Antiquity could produce some more perfect and exact List of these Kings than this which I have faithfully transcribed out of the forementioned Author The TABLE A. ALbion whence so called Page 4 Ambrons a mischievous Nation Page 13 14 Asia a Province of Sarmatia Page 18 Asaei Asiotae ibid. Ancalites a British People Page 34 Attrebatij ibid. Attiscoti a Northern People Page 40 41 Invade the Roman Province Page 150 Albina Dioclesian's Daughter Page 53 Androgeus a British Prince Page 71 82 Adminius or Etiminius Page 84 85 87 Arviragus King of the Britans Page 91 Avitus Didius Gallus Governour of Britain Page 92 Agricola subdues the Ordovices Page 98 He overcomes the Caledonians Page 101 Agricola Calpurnius represseth the Picts and Caledonians Page 111 Adelphius Bishop of Colchester Page 144 Arminius a British Deacon ibid. Albinus Governour of Britain Page 117 Argetocoxus Prince of the Calcedonians Page 122 His Wifes Reply to the Empress ibid. Allectus an Vsurper Page 130 131 Asclepiodotus a Roman General Page 131 Was Governour of Britain Page 132 Alban and Aaron Martyrs Page 133 Amphibalus and Augulius Page 134 Alypius Governour of Britain Page 150 Armorica planted with Britans Page 162 174. Ambrose Son of Constantine Page 166 191 B. BRitain its Circuit p. 1 Whence named p. 5 6 Whether it was ever joyned to France p. 36 Brito King of Britain p. 9 Also a Centaure ibid. Britona or Britomartis ib. Britans whence descended p. 12 13 Belgae a British People p. 34 Bibroci Bodunni ibid. Brigantes whence so named p. 39 Britain how divided p. 44 45 British Idols ibid. Bards what they were p. 45 British Government under the Romans p. 46 47 Britains Cities and Streets p. 50 Brutus the same with Brito p. 9 His Discent and Exploits p. 55 56 His Successours p. 62 Brennus the Elder 's Warrs p. 64 65 66 Belinus King of Britain p. 63 66 Belinus the Great p. 68 His Sons p. 69 His Death p. 74 Boadicia's Insurrection p. 95 Bonosus an Vsurper p. 126 Brittia Batavica subdued p. 155 156 C. CImmerians Ancestors to the Cimbrians p. 13 26 And to the Britans ibid. Cerberion a City p. 30 Catticuchlani Cassij Cenimagni Cantij p. 34 35 Cossini Corini p. 33 Coritani Cornavij Cangi p. 38 Cantij p. 35 Caledonij Cantae Carini p. 40 Carnonacae Cerones Cornabyi ibid. Count of the Saxon Coast p. 47 48 Caswallan a British King p. 71 74 His Warr with Caesar p. 78 79 Cunobeline succeeds his Father p. 83 His Sons p. 85 Caligula intends to Invade Britain p. 84