Part 2 (1/2)

26. Maximia.n.u.s(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.

(1) This is an inaccuracy of Nennius; Maximus and Maximia.n.u.s were one and the same person; or rather no such person as Maximia.n.u.s ever reigned in Britain. (2) Geoffrey of Monmouth gives the t.i.tle of consul to several British generals who lived after this time. It is not unlikely that the town, name, and dignity, still lingered in the provinces after the Romans were gone, particularly as the cities of Britain maintained for a time a species of independence.

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 G.o.d interposed with his a.s.sistance. We are informed by the tradition of our ancestors that seven emperors went into Britain, though the Romans affirm there were nine.

* This district, in modern language, extended from the great St. Bernard in Piedmont to Cantavic in Picardy, and from Picardy to the western coast of France.

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 ma.s.sacred 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. Valentinia.n.u.s 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 a.s.sociated his son victor in the government.

Martin, distinguished for his great virtues, was at this period bishop of Tours. After a considerable s.p.a.ce of time, Maximus was divested of royal power by the consuls Valentinia.n.u.s 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 hara.s.sed 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, amba.s.sadors 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 a.s.sistance of the Britons; and having appointed over them a ruler, and settled the government, returned to Rome: and this took place alternately during the s.p.a.ce of three hundred and forty-eight years. The Britons, however, from the oppression of the empire, again ma.s.sacred The Roman deputies, and again pet.i.tioned for succour. Once more the Romans undertook the government of the Britons, and a.s.sisted them in repelling their neighbours; and, after having exhausted the country of its gold, silver, bra.s.s, 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 a.s.sa.s.sination 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.*

* These words relate evidently to some cause of dispute between the Romans, Ambrosius, and Vortigern. Vortigern is said to have been sovereign of the Dimetae, and Ambrosius son to the king of the d.a.m.nonii. The latter was half a Roman by descent, and naturally supported the Roman interest: the former was entirely a Briton, and as naturally seconded by the original Britons.

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 G.o.dwulf; G.o.dwulf of Geat, who, as they say, was the son of a G.o.d, not(1) of the omnipotent G.o.d 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 compa.s.sion to human nature, disdained not to a.s.sume the form of a servant), but the offspring of one of their idols, and whom, blinded by some demon, they wors.h.i.+pped 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) Gratia.n.u.s Aequantius at that time reigned in Rome. The Saxons were received by Vortigern, four hundred and forty-seven years after the pa.s.sion 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.

(1) V.R. not the G.o.d of G.o.ds, the Amen, the Lord of Hosts, but one of their idols which they wors.h.i.+pped.

(2) Sometimes called Ruoichin, Ruith-in, or ”river island,”

separated from the rest of Kent and the mainland of Britain by the estuary of the Wantsum, which, though now a small brook, was formerly navigable for large vessels, and in Bede's time was three stadia broad, and fordable only at two places.

(3) The rest of this sentence is omitted in some of the MSS.

32. At that time St. Germa.n.u.s, 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 G.o.d 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 G.o.d, 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 G.o.d, 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. Germa.n.u.s 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.

* King of Powys. V.R. Benli in the district of Ial (in Derbys.h.i.+re); in the district of Dalrieta; Belinus; Beluni; and Benty.

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. Germa.n.u.s, 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 G.o.d are waiting for thee in the air; with them thou shalt ascent to that G.o.d 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 pa.s.sed 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.

Germa.n.u.s, 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. Germa.n.u.s 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. Germa.n.u.s 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 G.o.d.” 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. Germa.n.u.s, was baptized, with his sons, and all the inhabitants of that part of the country; and St. Germa.n.u.s 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.

Germa.n.u.s, 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.

* Or Cadell Deyrnllug, prince of the Vale Royal and the upper part of Powys.

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.