HISTORY OF THE BRITONS

(HISTORIA BRITTONUM)

by Nennius

Translated by J. A. Giles

Contents

I. THE PROLOGUE.

1. Nennius, the lowly minister and servant of the servants of God, by the
grace of God, disciple of St. Elbotus,* to all the followers of truth
sendeth health.

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

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

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

II. THE APOLOGY OF NENNIUS

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

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

III. THE HISTORY.

4, 5. From Adam to the flood, are two thousand and forty-two years. From
the flood of Abraham, nine hundred and forty-two. From Abraham to Moses,
six hundred.* From Moses to Solomon, and the first building of the temple,
four hundred and forty-eight. From Solomon to the rebuilding of the
temple, which was under Darius, king of the Persians, six hundred and
twelve years are computed. From Darius to the ministry of our Lord Jesus
Christ, and to the fifteenth year of the emperor Tiberius, are five
hundred and forty-eight years. So that from Adam to the ministry of Christ
and the fifteenth year of the emperor Tiberius, are five thousand two
hundred and twenty-eight years. From the passion of Christ are completed
nine hundred and forty-six; from his incarnation, nine hundred and
seventy-six: being the fifth year of Edmund, king of the Angles.

6. The first age of the world is from Adam to Noah; the second from Noah
to Abraham; the third from Abraham to David; the fourth from David to
Daniel; the fifth to John the Baptist; the sixth from John to the
judgment, when our Lord Jesus Christ will come to judge the living and the
dead, and the world by fire.

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

7. The island of Britain derives its name from Brutus, a Roman consul.
Taken from the south-west point it inclines a little towards the west, and
to its northern extremity measures eight hundred miles, and is in breadth
two hundred. It contains thirty three cities,(1) viz.

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

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

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

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

Aeneas, after the Trojan war, arrived with his son in Italy; and Having
vanquished Turnus, married Lavinia, the daughter of king Latinus, who was
the son of Faunus, the son of Picus, the son of Saturn. After the death of
Latinus, Aeneas obtained the kingdom Of the Romans, and Lavinia brought
forth a son, who was named Silvius. Ascanius founded Alba, and afterwards
married. And Lavinia bore to Aeneas a son, named Silvius; but Ascanius (1)
married a wife, who conceived and became pregnant. And Aeneas, having been
informed that his daughter-in-law was pregnant, ordered his son to send
his magician to examine his wife, whether the child conceived were male or
female. The magician came and examined the wife and pronounced it to be a
son, who should become the most valiant among the Italians, and the most
beloved of all men. (2) In consequence of this prediction, the magician
was put to death by Ascanius; but it happened that the mother of the child
dying at its birth, he was named Brutus; ad after a certain interval,
agreeably to what the magician had foretold, whilst he was playing with
some others he shot his father with an arrow, not intentionally but by
accident. (3) He was, for this cause, expelled from Italy, and came to the
islands of the Tyrrhene sea, when he was exiled on account of the death of
Turnus, slain by Aeneas. He then went among the Gauls, and built the city
of the Turones, called Turnis. (4) At length he came to this island named
from him Britannia, dwelt there, and filled it with his own descendants,
and it has been inhabited from that time to the present period.

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

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

13. Long after this, the Scots arrived in Ireland from Spain. The first
that came was Partholomus,(1) with a thousand men and women; these
increased to four thousand; but a mortality coming suddenly upon them,
they all perished in one week. The second was Nimech, the son of…,(2)
who, according to report, after having been at sea a year and a half, and
having his ships shattered, arrived at a port in Ireland, and continuing
there several years, returned at length with his followers to Spain. After
these came three sons of a Spanish soldier with thirty ships, each of
which contained thirty wives; and having remained there during the space
of a year, there appeared to them, in the middle of the sea, a tower of
glass, the summit of which seemed covered with men, to whom they often
spoke, but received no answer. At length they determined to besiege the
tower; and after a year’s preparation, advanced towards it, with the whole
number of their ships, and all the women, one ship only excepted, which
had been wrecked, and in which were thirty men, and as many women; but
when all had disembarked on the shore which surrounded the tower, the sea
opened and swallowed them up. Ireland, however, was peopled, to the
present period, from the family remaining in the vessel which was wrecked.
Afterwards, other came from Spain, and possessed themselves of various
parts of Britain.

14. Last of all came one Hoctor,(1) who continued there, and whose
descendants remain there to this day. Istoreth, the son of Istorinus, with
his followers, held Dalrieta; Buile had the island Eubonia, and other
adjacent places. The sons of Liethali(2) obtained the country of the
dimetae, where is a city called Menavia,(3) and the province Guiher and
Cetgueli, (4) which they held till they were expelled from every part of
Britain, by Cunedda and his sons.

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

The Britons came to Britain in the third age of the world; and in the
fourth, the Scots took possession of Ireland.

The Britons who, suspecting no hostilities, were unprovided with the means
of defence, were unanimously and incessantly attacked, both by the Scots
from the west, and by the Picts from the north. A long interval after
this, the Romans obtained the empire of the world.

16. From the first arrival of the Saxons into Britain, to the fourth year
of king Mermenus, are computed four hundred and twenty eight years; from
the nativity of our Lord to the coming of St. Patrick among the Scots,
four hundred and five years; from the death of St. Patrick to that of St.
Bridget, forty years; and from the birth of Columeille(1) to the death of
St Bridget four years.(2)

17. I have learned another account of this Brutus from the ancient books
of our ancestors.* After the deluge, the three sons of Noah severally
occupied three different parts of the earth: Shem extended his borders
into Asia, Ham into Africa, and Japheth in Europe.

The first man that dwelt in Europe was Alanus, with his three sons,
Hisicion, Armenon, and Neugio. Hisicion had four sons, Francus, Romanus,
Alamanus, and Brutus. Armenon had five sons, Gothus, Valagothus, Cibidus,
Burgundus, and Longobardus. Neugio had three sons, Vandalus, Saxo, and
Boganus. From Hisicion arose four nations—the Franks, the Latins,
the Germans, and Britons: from Armenon, the Gothi, Balagothi, Cibidi,
Burgundi, and Longobardi: from Neugio, the Bogari, Vandali, Saxones, and
Tarinegi. The whole of Europe was subdivided into these tribes.

Alanus is said to have been the son of Fethuir;* Fethuir, the son of
Ogomuin, who was the son of Thoi; Thoi was the son of Boibus, Boibus of
Semion, Semion of Mair, Mair of Ecthactus, Ecthactus of Aurthack, Aurthack
of Ethec, Ethec of Ooth, Ooth of Aber, Aber of Ra, Ra of Esraa, Esraa of
Hisrau, Hisrau of Bath, Bath of Jobath, Jobath of Joham, Joham of Japheth,
Japheth of Noah, Noah of Lamech, Lamech of Mathusalem, Mathusalem of
Enoch, Enoch of Jared, Jared of Malalehel, Malalehel of Cainan, Cainan of
Enos, Enos of Seth, Seth of Adam, and Adam was formed by the living God.
We have obtained this information respecting the original inhabitants of
Britain from ancient tradition.

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

19.* The Romans, having obtained the dominion of the world, sent legates
or deputies to the Britons to demand of them hostages and tribute, which
they received from all other countries and islands; but they, fierce,
disdainful, and haughty, treated the legation with contempt.

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

20. But after three years he again appeared with a large army, and three
hundred ships, at the mouth of the Thames, where he renewed hostilities.
In this attempt many of his soldiers and horses were killed; for the same
consul had placed iron pikes in the shallow part of the river, and this
having been effected with so much skill and secrecy as to escape the
notice of the Roman soldiers, did them considerable injury; thus Caesar
was once more compelled to return without peace or victory. The Romans
were, therefore, a third time sent against the Britons; and under the
command of Julius, defeated them near a place called Trinovantum (London),
forty-seven years before the birth of Christ, and five thousand two
hundred and twelve years from the creation.

Julius was the first exercising supreme power over the Romans who invaded
Britain: in honour of him the Romans decreed the fifth month to be called
after his name. He was assassinated in the Curia, in the ides of March,
and Octavius Augustus succeeded to the empire of the world. He was the
only emperor who received tribute from the Britons, according to the
following verse of Virgil: “Purpurea intexti tollunt aulaea Britanni.”

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

22. After the birth of Christ, one hundred and sixty-seven years, king
Lucius, with all the chiefs of the British people, received baptism, in
consequence of a legation sent by the Roman emperors and pope Evaristus.*

23. Severus was the third emperor who passed the sea to Britain, where, to
protect the provinces recovered from barbaric incursions, he ordered a
wall and a rampart to be made between the Britons, the Scots, and the
Picts, extending across the island from sea to sea, in length one hundred
and thirty-three miles: and it is called in the British language Gwal.*
Moreover, he ordered it to be made between the Britons, and the Picts and
Scots; for the Scots from the west, and the Picts from the north,
unanimously made war against the Britons; but were at peace among
themselves. Not long after Severus dies in Britain.

24. The fourth was the emperor and tyrant, Carausius, who, incensed at the
murder of Severus, passed into Britain, and attended by the leaders of the
Roman people, severely avenged upon the chiefs and rulers of the Britons,
the cause of Severus.*

25. The fifth was Constantius the father of Constantine the Great. He died
in Britain; his sepulchre, as it appears by the inscription on his tomb,
is still seen near the city named Cair segont (near Carnarvon). Upon the
pavement of the above-mentioned city he sowed three seeds of gold, silver
and brass, that no poor person might ever be found in it. It is also
called Minmanton.*

26. Maximianus(1) was the sixth emperor that ruled in Britain. It was in
his time that consuls(2) began, and that the appellation of Caesar was
discontinued: at this period also, St. Martin became celebrated for his
virtues and miracles, and held a conversation with him.

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

28. Thus, aggreeably to the account given by the Britons, the Romans
governed them four hundred and nine years.

After this, the Britons despised the authority of the Romans, equally
refusing to pay them tribute, or to receive their kings; nor durst the
Romans any longer attempt the government of a country, the natives of
which massacred their deputies.

29. We must now return to the tyrant Maximus. Gratian, with his brother
Valentinian, reigned seven years. Ambrose, bishop of Milan, was then
eminent for his skill in the dogmata of the Catholics. Valentinianus and
Theodosius reigned eight years. At that time a synod was held at
Constantinople, attended by three hundred and fifty of the fathers, and in
which all heresies were condemned. Jerome, the presbyter of Bethlehem, was
then universally celebrated. Whilst Gratian exercised supreme dominion
over the world, Maximus, in a sedition of the soldiers, was saluted
emperor in Britain, and soon after crossed the sea to Gaul. At Paris, by
the treachery of Mellobaudes, his master of the horse, Gratian was
defeated and fleeing to Lyons, was taken and put to death; Maximus
afterwards associated his son victor in the government.

Martin, distinguished for his great virtues, was at this period bishop of
Tours. After a considerable space of time, Maximus was divested of royal
power by the consuls Valentinianus and Theodosius, and sentenced to be
beheaded at the third mile-stone from Aquileia: in the same year also his
son Victor was killed in Gaul by Arbogastes, five thousand six hundred and
ninety years from the creation of the world.

30. Thrice were the Roman deputies put to death by the Britons, and yet
these, when harassed by the incursions of the barbarous nations, viz. Of
the Scots and Picts, earnestly solicited the aid of the Romans. To give
effect to their entreaties, ambassadors were sent, who made their entrance
with impressions of deep sorrow, having their heads covered with dust, and
carrying rich presents, to expiate the murder of the deputies. They were
favourably received by the consuls, and swore submission to the Roman
yoke, with whatever severity it might be imposed.

The Romans, therefore, came with a powerful army to the assistance of the
Britons; and having appointed over them a ruler, and settled the
government, returned to Rome: and this took place alternately during the
space of three hundred and forty-eight years. The Britons, however, from
the oppression of the empire, again massacred The Roman deputies, and
again petitioned for succour. Once more the Romans undertook the
government of the Britons, and assisted them in repelling their
neighbours; and, after having exhausted the country of its gold, silver,
brass, honey, and costly vestments, and having besides received rich
gifts, they returned in great triumph to Rome.

31. After the above-said war between the Britons and Romans, the
assassination of their rulers, and the victory of Maximus, who slew
Gratian, and the termination of the Roman power in Britain, they were in
alarm forty years.

Vortigern then reigned in Britain. In his time, the natives had cause of
dread, not only from the inroads of the Scots and Picts, but also from the
Romans, and their apprehensions of Ambrosius.*

In the meantime, three vessels, exiled from Germany, arrived in Britain.
They were commanded by Horsa and Hengist, brothers, and sons of Wihtgils.
Wihtgils was the son of Witta; Witta of Wecta; Wecta of Woden; Woden of
Frithowald; Frithowald of Frithuwulf; Frithuwulf of Finn; Finn of Godwulf;
Godwulf of Geat, who, as they say, was the son of a god, not(1) of the
omnipotent God and our Lord Jesus Christ (who before the beginning of the
world, was with the Father and the Holy Spirit, co-eternal and of the same
substance, and who, in compassion to human nature, disdained not to assume
the form of a servant), but the offspring of one of their idols, and whom,
blinded by some demon, they worshipped according to the custom of the
heathen. Vortigern received them as friends, and delivered up to them the
island which is in their language called Thanet, and, by the Britons,
Ruym.(2) Gratianus Aequantius at that time reigned in Rome. The Saxons
were received by Vortigern, four hundred and forty-seven years after the
passion of Christ, and,(3) according to the tradition of our ancestors,
from the period of their first arrival in Britain, to the first year of
the reign of king Edmund, five hundred and forty-two years; and to that in
which we now write, which is the fifth of his reign, five hundred and
forty-seven years.

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

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

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

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

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

37. But Hengist, in whom united craft and penetration, perceiving he had
to act with an ignorant king, and a fluctuating people, incapable of
opposing much resistance, replied to Vortigern, “We are, indeed, few in
number; but, if you will give us leave, we will send to our country for an
additional number of forces, with whom we will fight for you and your
subjects.” Vortigern assenting to this proposal, messengers were
despatched to Scythia, where selecting a number of warlike troops, they
returned with sixteen vessels, bringing with them the beautiful daughter
of Hengist. And now the Saxon chief prepared an entertainment, to which he
invited the king, his officers, and Ceretic, his interpreter, having
previously enjoined his daughter to serve them so profusely with wine and
ale, that they might soon become intoxicated. This plan succeeded; and
Vortigern, at the instigation of the devil, and enamoured with the beauty
of the damsel, demanded her, through the medium of his interpreter, of the
father, promising to give for her whatever he should ask. Then Hengist,
who had already consulted with the elders who attended him of the
Oghgul(1) race, demanded for his daughter the province, called in English,
Centland, in British, Ceint, (Kent.) This cession was made without the
knowledge of the king, Guoyrancgonus,(2) who then reigned in Kent, and who
experienced no inconsiderable share of grief, from seeing his kingdom thus
clandestinely, fraudulently, and imprudently resigned to foreigners. Thus
the maid was delivered up to the king, who slept with her, and loved her
exceedingly.

38. Hengist, after this, said to Vortigern, “I will be to you both a
father and an adviser; despise not my counsels, and you shall have no
reason to fear being conquered by any man or any nation whatever; for the
people of my country are strong, warlike, and robust: if you approve, I
will send for my son and his brother, both valiant men, who at my
invitation will fight against the Scots, and you can give them the
countries in the north, near the wall called Gual.”(1) The incautious
sovereign having assented to this, Octa and Ebusa arrived with forty
ships. In these they sailed round the country of the Picts, laid waste the
Orkneys, and took possession of many regions, even to the Pictish
confines.(2)

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

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

40. But soon after, calling together his twelve wise men, to consult what
was to be done, they said to him, “Retire to the remote boundaries of your
kingdom; there build and fortify a city(1) to defend yourself, for the
people you have received are treacherous; they are seeking to subdue you
by stratagem, and, even during your life, to seize upon all the countries
subject to your power, how much more will they attempt, after your death!”
The king, pleased with this advice, departed with his wise men, and
travelled through many parts of his territories, in search of a place
convenient for the purpose of building a citadel. Having, to no purpose,
travelled far and wide, they came at length to a province called
Guenet;(2) and having surveyed the mountains of Heremus,(3) they
discovered, on the summit of one of them, a situation, adapted to the
construction of a citadel. Upon this, the wise men said to the king,
“Build here a city: for, in this place, it will ever be secure against the
barbarians.” Then the king sent for artificers, carpenters, stone-masons,
and collected all the materials requisite to building; but the whole of
these disappeared in one night, so that nothing remained of what had been
provided for the constructing of the citadel. Materials were, therefore,
from all parts, procured a second and third time, and again vanished as
before, leaving and rendering every effort ineffectual. Vortigern inquired
of his wise men the cause of this opposition to his undertaking, and of so
much useless expense of labour? They replied, “You must find a child born
without a father, put him to death, and sprinkle with his blood the ground
on which the citadel is to be built, or you will never accomplish your
purpose.”

41. In consequence of this reply, the king sent messengers throughout
Britain, in search of a child born without a father. After having inquired
in all the provinces, they came to the field of Aelecti,(1) in the
district of Glevesing,(2) where a party of boys were playing at ball. And
two of them quarrelling, one said to the other, “O boy without a father,
no good will ever happen to you.” Upon this, the messengers diligently
inquired of the mother and the other boys, whether he had had a father?
Which his mother denied, saying, “In what manner he was conceived I know
not, for I have never had intercourse with any man;” and then she solemnly
affirmed that he had no mortal father. The boy was, therefore, led away,
and conducted before Vortigern the king.

42. A meeting took place the next day for the purpose of putting him to
death. Then the boy said to the king, “Why have your servants brought me
hither?” “That you may be put to death,” replied the king, “and that the
ground on which my citadel is to stand, may be sprinkled with your blood,
without which I shall be unable to build it.” “Who,” said the boy,
“instructed you to do this?” “My wise men,” answered the king. “Order them
hither,” returned the boy; this being complied with, he thus questioned
them: “By what means was it revealed to you that this citadel could not be
built, unless the spot were previously sprinkled with my blood? Speak
without disguise, and declare who discovered me to you;” then turning to
the king, “I will soon,” said he, “unfold to you every thing; but I desire
to question your wise men, and wish them to disclose to you what is hidden
under this pavement:” they acknowledging their ignorance, “there is,” said
he, “a pool; come and dig:” they did so, and found the pool. “Now,”
continued he, “tell me what is in it;” but they were ashamed, and made no
reply. “I,” said the boy, “can discover it to you: there are two vases in
the pool;” they examined and found it so: continuing his questions, “What
is in the vases?” they were silent: “there is a tent in them,” said the
boy; “separate them, and you shall find it so;” this being done by the
king’s command, there was found in them a folded tent. The boy, going on
with his questions, asked the wise men what was in it? But they not
knowing what to reply, “There are,” said he, “two serpents, one white and
the other red; unfold the tent;” they obeyed, and two sleeping serpents
were discovered; “consider attentively,” said the boy, “what they are
doing.” The serpents began to struggle with each other; and the white one,
raising himself up, threw down the other into the middle of the tent, and
sometimes drove him to the edge of it; and this was repeated thrice. At
length the red one, apparently the weaker of the two, recovering his
strength, expelled the white one from the tent; and the latter being
pursued through the pool by the red one, disappeared. Then the boy, asking
the wise men what was signified by this wonderful omen, and they
expressing their ignorance, he said to the king, “I will now unfold to you
the meaning of this mystery. The pool is the emblem of this world, and the
tent that of your kingdom: the two serpents are two dragons; the red
serpent is your dragon, but the white serpent is the dragon of the people
who occupy several provinces and districts of Britain, even almost from
sea to sea: at length, however, our people shall rise and drive away the
Saxon race from beyond the sea, whence they originally came; but do you
depart from this place, where you are not permitted to erect a citadel; I,
to whom fate has allotted this mansion, shall remain here; whilst to you
it is incumbent to seek other provinces, where you may build a fortress.”
“What is your name?” asked the king; “I am called Ambrose (in British
Embresguletic),” returned the boy; and in answer to the king’s question,
“What is your origin?” he replied, “A Roman consul was my father.”

Then the king assigned him that city, with all the western Provinces of
Britain; and departing with his wise men to the sinistral district, he
arrived in the region named Gueneri, where he built a city which,
according to his name, was called Cair Guorthegirn.*

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

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

44. Four times did Vortimer valorously encounter the enemy;(1) the first
has been mentioned, the second was upon the river Darent, the third at the
Ford, in their language called Epsford, though in ours Set thirgabail,(2)
there Horsa fell, and Catigern, the son of Vortigern; the fourth battle he
fought was near the stone(3) on the shore of the Gallic sea, where the
Saxons being defeated, fled to their ships.

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

45. After this the barbarians became firmly incorporated, and were
assisted by foreign pagans; for Vortigern was their friend, on account of
the daughter* of Hengist, whom he so much loved, that no one durst fight
against him-in the meantime they soothed the imprudent king, and whilst
practising every appearance of fondness, were plotting with his enemies.
And let him that reads understand, that the Saxons were victorious, and
ruled Britain, not from their superior prowess, but on account of the
great sins of the Britons: God so permitting it.

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

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

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

The king with his company, appeared at the feast; and mixing with the
Saxons, who, whilst they spoke peace with their tongues, cherished
treachery in their hearts, each man was placed next to his enemy.

After they had eaten and drunk, and were much intoxicated, Hengist
suddenly vociferated, “Nimed eure Saxes!” and instantly his adherents drew
their knives, and rushing upon the Britons, each slew him that sat next to
him, and there was slain three hundred of the nobles of Vortigern. The
king being a captive, purchased his redemption, by delivering up the three
provinces of East, South, and Middle Sex, besides other districts at the
option of his betrayers.

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

The Blessed man was unanimously chosen commander against the Saxons. And
then, not by the clang of trumpets, but by praying, singing hallelujah,
and by the cries of the army to God, the enemies were routed, and driven
even to the sea.*

Again Vortigern ignominiously flew from St. Germanus to the kingdom of the
Dimetae, where, on the river Towy,* he built a castle, which he named Cair
Guothergirn. The saint, as usual, followed him there, and with his clergy
fasted and prayed to the Lord three days, and as many nights. On the third
night, at the third hour, fire fell suddenly from heaven, and totally
burned the castle. Vortigern, the daughter of Hengist, his other wives,
and all the inhabitants, both men and women, miserably perished: such was
the end of this unhappy king, as we find written in the life of St.
Germanus.

47. Others assure us, that being hated by all the people of Britain, for
having received the Saxons, and being publicly charged by St. Germanus and
the clergy in the sight of God, he betook himself to flight; and, that
deserted and a wanderer, he sought a place of refuge, till broken hearted,
he made an ignominious end.

Some accounts state, that the earth opened and swallowed him up, on the
night his castle was burned; as no remains were discovered the following
morning, either of him, or of those who were burned with him.

He had three sons: the eldest was Vortimer, who, as we have seen, fought
four times against the Saxons, and put them to flight; the second
Categirn, who was slain in the same battle with Horsa; the third was
Pascent, who reigned in the two provinces Builth and Guorthegirnaim,(1)
after the death of his father. These were granted him by Ambrosius, who
was the great king among the kings of Britain. The fourth was Faustus,
born of an incestuous marriage with his daughter, who was brought up and
educated by St. Germanus. He built a large monastery on the banks of the
river Renis, called after his name, and which remains to the present
period.(2)

49. This is the genealogy of Vortigern, which goes back to Fernvail,(1)
who reigned in the kingdom of Guorthegirnaim,(2) and was the son of
Teudor; Teudor was the son of Pascent; Pascent of Guoidcant; Guoidcant of
Moriud; Moriud of Eltat; Eltat of Eldoc; Eldoc of Paul; Paul of Meuprit;
Meuprit of Braciat; Braciat of Pascent; Pascent of Guorthegirn,
Guorthegirn of Guortheneu; Guortheneu of Guitaul; Guitaul of Guitolion;
Guitolion of Gloui. Bonus, Paul, Mauron, Guotelin, were four brothers, who
built Gloiuda, a great city upon the banks of the river Severn, and in
Birtish is called Cair Gloui, in Saxon, Gloucester. Enough has been said
of Vortigern.

50. St. Germanus, after his death, returned into his own country. *At that
time, the Saxons greatly increased in Britain, both in strength and
numbers. And Octa, after the death of his father Hengist, came from the
sinistral part of the island to the kingdom of Kent, and from him have
proceeded all the kings of that province, to the present period.

Then it was, that the magnanimous Arthur, with all the kings and military
force of Britain, fought against the Saxons. And though there were many
more noble than himself, yet he was twelve times chosen their commander,
and was as often conqueror. The first battle in which he was engaged, was
at the mouth of the river Gleni.(1) The second, third, fourth, and fifth,
were on another river, by the Britons called Duglas,(2) in the region
Linuis. The sixth, on the river Bassas.(3) The seventh in the wood
Celidon, which the Britons call Cat Coit Celidon.(4) The eighth was near
Gurnion castle,(5) where Arthur bore the image of the Holy Virgin,(6)
mother of God, upon his shoulders, and through the power of our Lord Jesus
Christ, and the holy Mary, put the Saxons to flight, and pursued them the
whole day with great slaughter.(7) The ninth was at the City of Legion,(8)
which is called Cair Lion. The tenth was on the banks of the river Trat
Treuroit.(9) The eleventh was on the mountain Breguoin, which we call Cat
Bregion.(10) The twelfth was a most severe contest, when Arthur penetrated
to the hill of Badon.(11) In this engagement, nine hundred and forty fell
by his hand alone, no one but the Lord affording him assistance. In all
these engagements the Britons were successful. For no strength can avail
against the will of the Almighty.

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

When Gratian Aequantius was consul at rome, because then the whole world
was governed by the Roman consuls, the Saxons were received by Vortigern
in the year of our Lord four hundred and forty-seven, and to the year in
which we now write, five hundred and forty-seven. And whosoever shall read
herein may receive instruction, the Lord Jesus Christ affording
assistance, who, co-eternal with the Father and the Holy Ghost, lives and
reigns for ever and ever. Amen.

In those days Saint Patrick was captive among the Scots. His master’s name
was Milcho, to whom he was a swineherd for seven years. When he had
attained the age of seventeen he gave him his liberty. By the divine
impulse, he applied himself to reading of the Scriptures, and afterwards
went to Rome; where, replenished with the Holy Spirit, he continued a
great while, studying the sacred mysteries of those writings. During his
continuance there, Palladius, the first bishop, was sent by pope Celestine
to convert the Scots (the Irish). But tempests and signs from God
prevented his landing, for no one can arrive in any country, except it be
allowed from above; altering therefore his course from Ireland, he came to
Britain and died in the land of the Picts.*

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

Germanus then sent the ancient Segerus with him as a venerable and
praiseworthy bishop, to king Amatheus,(1) who lived near, and who had
prescience of what was to happen; he was consecrated bishop in the reign
of that king by the holy pontiff,(2) assuming the name of Patrick, having
hitherto been known by that of Maun; Auxilius, Isserninus, and other
brothers were ordained with him to inferior degrees.

52. Having distributed benedictions, and perfected all in the name of the
Holy Trinity, he embarked on the sea which is between the Gauls and the
Britons; and after a quick passage arrived in Britain, where he preached
for some time. Every necessary preparation being made, and the angel
giving him warning, he came to the Irish Sea. And having filled the ship
with foreign gifts and spiritual treasures, by the permission of God he
arrived in Ireland, where he baptized and preached.

53. From the beginning of the world, to the fifth year of king Logiore,
when the Irish were baptized, and faith in the unity of the individual
Trinity was published to them, are five thousand three hundred and thirty
years.

54. Saint Patrick taught the gospel in foreign nations for the space of
forty years. Endued with apostolical powers, he gave sight to the blind,
cleansed the lepers, gave hearing to the deaf, cast out devils, raised
nine from the dead, redeemed many captives of both sexes at his own
charge, and set them free in the name of the Holy Trinity. He taught the
servants of God, and he wrote three hundred and sixty-five canonical and
other books relating to the catholic faith. He founded as many churches,
and consecrated the same number of bishops, strengthening them with the
Holy Ghost. He ordained three thousand presbyters; and converted and
baptized twelve thousand persons in the province of Connaught. And, in one
day baptized seven kings, who were the seven sons of Amalgaid.(1) He
continued fasting forty days and nights, on the summit of the mountain
Eli, that is Cruachan-Aichle;(2) and preferred three petitions to God for
the Irish, that had embraced the faith. The Scots say, the first was, that
he would receive every repenting sinner, even at the latest extremity of
life; the second, that they should never be exterminated by barbarians;
and the third, that as Ireland(3) will be overflowed with water, seven
years before the coming of our Lord to judge the quick and the dead, the
crimes of the people might be washed away through his intercession, and
their souls purified at the last day. He gave the people his benediction
from the upper part of the mountain, and going up higher, that he might
pray for them; and that if it pleased God, he might see the effects of his
labours, there appeared to him an innumerable flock of birds of many
coulours, signifying the number of holy persons of both sexes of the Irish
nation, who should come to him as their apostle at the day of judgment, to
be presented before the tribunal of Christ. After a life spent in the
active exertion of good to mankind, St. Patrick, in a healthy old age,
passed from this world to the Lord, and changing this life for a better,
with the saints and elect of God he rejoices for evermore.

55. Saint Patrick resembled Moses in four particulars. The angel spoke to
him in the burning bush. He fasted forty days and forty nights upon the
mountain. He attained the period of one hundred and twenty years. No one
knows his sepulchre, nor where he was buried; sixteen(1) years he was in
captivity. In his twenty-fifth year, he was consecrated bishop by Saint
Matheus,(2) and he was eighty-five years the apostle of the Irish. It
might be profitable to treat more at large of the life of this saint, but
it is now time to conclude this epitome of his labours.(3)

(Here endeth the life of the holy bishop, Saint Patrick.) (After this, the
MSS. give as 56, the legend of king Arthur, which in this edition occurs
in 50.)

THE GENEALOGY OF THE KINGS OF BERNICIA.*

57. Woden begat Beldeg, who begat Beornec, who begat Gethbrond, who begat
Aluson, who begat Ingwi, who begat Edibrith, who begat Esa, who begat
Eoppa, who begat Ida. But Ida had twelve sons, Adda, Belric, Theodric,
Ethelric, Theodhere, Osmer, and one queen, Bearnoch, Ealric. Ethelric
begat Ethelfrid: the same is Aedlfred Flesaur. For he also had seven sons,
Eanfrid, Oswald, Oswin, Oswy, Oswudu, Oslac, Offa. Oswy begat Alfrid,
Elfwin, and Egfrid. Egfrid is he who made war against his cousin Brudei,
king of the Picts, and he fell therein with all the strength of his army,
and the Picts with their king gained the victory; and the Saxons never
again reduced the Picts so as to exact tribute from them. Since the time
of this war it is called Gueithlin Garan.

But Oswy had two wives, Riemmelth, the daughter of Royth, son of Rum; and
Eanfled, the daughter of Edwin, son of Alla.

THE GENEALOGY OF THE KINGS OF KENT.

58. Hengist begat Octa, who begat Ossa, who begat Eormenric, who begat
Ethelbert, who begat Eadbald, who begat Ercombert, who begat Egbert.

THE ORIGIN OF THE KINGS OF EAST-ANGLIA.

59. Woden begat Casser, who begat Titinon, who begat Trigil, who begat
Rodmunt, who begat Rippa, who begat Guillem Guercha,* who was the first
king of the East Angles. Guercha begat Uffa, who begat Tytillus, who begat
Eni, who begat Edric, who begat Aldwulf, who begat Elric.

THE GENEALOGY OF THE MERCIANS.

60. Woden begat Guedolgeat, who begat Gueagon, who begat Guithleg, who
begat Guerdmund, who begat Ossa, who begat Ongen, who begat Eamer, who
begat Pubba.* This Pubba had twelve sons, of whom two are better known to
me than the others, that is Penda and Eawa. Eadlit is the son of Pantha,
Penda, son of Pubba, Ealbald, son of Alguing, son of Eawa, son of Penda,
son of Pubba. Egfert, son of Offa, son of Thingferth, son of Enwulf, son
of Ossulf, son of Eawa, son of Pubba.

THE KINGS OF THE DEIRI.

61. Woden begat Beldeg, Brond begat Siggar, who begat Sibald, who begat
Zegulf, who begat Soemil, who first separated(1) Deur from Berneich (Deira
from Bernicia.) Soemil begat Sguerthing, who begat Giulglis, who begat
Ulfrea, who begat Iffi, who begat Ulli, Edwin, Osfrid and Eanfrid. There
were two sons of Edwin, who fell with him in battle at Meicen,(2) and the
kingdom was never renewed in his family, because not one of his race
escaped from that war; but all were slain with him by the army of
Catguollaunus,(3) king of the Guendota. Oswy begat Egfrid, the same is
Ailguin, who begat Oslach, sho begat Alhun, who begat Adlsing, who begat
Echun, who begat Oslaph. Ida begat Eadric, who begat Ecgulf, who begat
Leodwald, who begat Eata, the same is Glinmaur, who begat Eadbert and
Egbert, who was the first bishop of their nation.

Ida, the son of Eoppa, possessed countries on the left-hand side of
Britain, i.e. of the Humbrian sea, and reigned twelve years, and united*
Dynguayth Guarth-Berneich.

62. Then Dutgirn at that time fought bravely against the nation of the
Angles. At that time, Talhaiarn Cataguen* was famed for poetry, and
Neirin, and Taliesin and Bluchbard, and Cian, who is called Guenith Guaut,
were all famous at the same time in British poetry.

The great king, Mailcun,* reigned among the Britons, i.e. in the district
of Guenedota, because his great-great-grandfather, Cunedda, with his
twelve sons, had come before from the left-hand part, i.e. from the
country which is called Manau Gustodin, one hundred and forty-six years
before Mailcun reigned, and expelled the Scots with much slaughter from
those countries, and they never returned again to inhabit them.

63. Adda, son of Ida, reigned eight years; Ethelric, son of Adda, reigned
four years. Theodoric, son of Ida, reigned seven years. Freothwulf reigned
six years. In whose time the kingdom of Kent, by the mission of Gregory,
received baptism. Hussa reigned seven years. Against him fought four
kings, Urien, and Ryderthen, and Guallauc, and Morcant. Theodoric fought
bravely, together with his sons, against that Urien. But at that time
sometimes the enemy and sometimes our countrymen were defeated, and he
shut them up three days and three nights in the island of Metcaut; and
whilst he was on an expedition he was murdered, at the instance of
Morcant, out of envy, because he possessed so much superiority over all
the kings in military science. Eadfered Flesaurs reigned twelve years in
Bernicia, and twelve others in Deira, and gave to his wife Bebba, the town
of Dynguaroy, which from her is called Bebbanburg.*

Edwin, son of Alla, reigned seventeen years, seized on Elmete, and
expelled Cerdic, its king. Eanfled, his daughter, received baptism, on the
twelfth day after Pentecost, with all her followers, both men and women.
The following Easter Edwin himself received baptism, and twelve thousand
of his subjects with him. If any one wishes to know who baptized them, it
was Rum Map Urbgen:* he was engaged forty days in baptizing all classes of
the Saxons, and by his preaching many believed on Christ.

64. Oswald son of Ethelfrid, reigned nine years; the same is Oswald
Llauiguin;(1) he slew Catgublaun (Cadwalla),(2) king of Guenedot,(3) in
the battle of Catscaul,(4) with much loss to his own army. Oswy, son of
Ethelfrid, reigned twenty-eight years and six months. During his reign,
there was a dreadful mortality among his subjects, when Catgualart
(Cadwallader) was king among the Britons, succeeding his father, and he
himself died amongst the rest.(5) He slew Penda in the field of Gai, and
now took place the slaughter of Gai Campi, and the kings of the Britons,
who went out with Penda on the expedition as far as the city of Judeu,
were slain.

65. Then Oswy restored all the wealth, which was with him in the city, to
Penda; who distributed it among the kings of the Britons, that is Atbert
Judeu. But Catgabail alone, king of Guenedot, rising up in the night,
excaped, together with his army, wherefore he was called Catgabail
Catguommed. Egfrid, son of Oswy, reigned nine years. In his time the holy
bishop Cuthbert died in the island of Medcaut.* It was he who made war
against the Picts, and was by them slain.

Penda, son of Pybba, reigned ten years; he first separated the kingdom of
Mercia from that of the North-men, and slew by treachery Anna, king of the
East Anglians, and St. Oswald, king of the North Men. He fought the battle
of Cocboy, in which fell Eawa, son of Pybba, his brother, king of the
Mercians, and Oswald, king of the North-men, and he gained the victory by
diabolical agency. He was not baptized, and never believed in God.

66. From the beginning of the world to Constantinus and Rufus, are found
to be five thousand six hundred and fifty-eight years.

Also from the two consuls, Rufus and Rubelius, to the consul Stilicho, are
three hundred and seventy-three years.

Also from Stilicho to Valentinian, son of Placida, and the reign of
Vortigern, are twenty-eight years.

And from the reign of Vortigern to the quarrel between Guitolinus and
Ambrosius, are twelve years, which is Guoloppum, that is Catgwaloph.*
Vortigern reigned in Britain when Theodosius and Valentinian were consuls,
and in the fourth year of his reign the Saxons came to Britain, in the
consulship of Felix and Taurus, in the four hundredth year from the
incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ.

From the year in which the Saxons came into Britain, and were received by
Vortigern, to the time of Decius and Valerian, are sixty-nine years.