 Section 1 of the History of the Britons. Historia Bretonium. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Alan Steely. The History of the Britons. Historia Bretonium. By Neneus. Translated by J.A. Giles. The Prologue. Neneus. The lowly minister and servant of the servants of God. By the grace of God. Disciple of St. Helbertus. 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 the traditions of our ancestors, partly from the writings and the monuments of the ancient inhabitants of Britain, partly from the annuals of the Romans, and the chronicles of the sacred fathers Isidore, Hieronymus, Prosper, Esebus, and from the histories of the Scots and the 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 endeavoured, from shame, to deliver down to prosperity the few remaining ears of corn about past transactions that they may not be trodden underfoot, 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 language of others. But I bore about me an inward wound, and I was indignant that the name of my own people, formally famous and distinguished, should sink into oblivion and, like smoke, be dissipated. But since, however, I had rather myself be the historian of 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 may 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, has a kind of plough to trait 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. 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 own 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 eight hundred and fifty-eighth year of our Lord's incarnation, and in the twenty-fourth year of Mervyn, King of Britons, and I hope that the prayers of my betters will be offered up for me in recompense for my labour. But this is insufficient by way of preface. I shall obediently accomplish the rest to the utmost of my power. The Apology of Neneas Here begins the Apology of Neneas, the historiographer of the Britons, of the race of the Britons. I, Neneas, disciple of St. Elbitus, have endeavoured to write some extracts which the dullness 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 as from the annuals of the Romans, as from the Chronicles of the Sacred Fathers, Heronomous, Ecibius, Isidorus, Prosper, and many annuals 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 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. Historia Bretonum by Neneus Section 2 The History From Adam to the Flood are 2042 years. From the Flood to Abraham 942 From Abraham to Moses 600 From Moses to Solomon in the first building of the temple 448 From Solomon to the rebuilding of the temple which was under Darius King of the Persians 912 years are computed. From Darius to the Ministry of Our Lord Jesus Christ and to the 15th year of the Emperor Tiberius 548 So that from Adam to the Ministry of Christ and the 15th year of the Emperor Tiberius 5228 From the Passion of Christ 946 From his Incarnation 976 Being the 5th year of Edmund King of the Angles Note The time from Abraham to Moses is 640 years according to Stevenson's new edition. The rest of this chronology is much contracted in several of the manuscripts and hardly two of them contain it exactly the same. End of Note 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 The first Julius The second Claudius The third Severus The fourth Carinus The fifth Constantius The sixth Maximus The seventh Maximinius The eighth another Severus Aquantius The ninth Constantius Note This list of the Roman emperors who visited Britain is omitted in many of the manuscripts End of Note Here begins the history of the Britons edited by Mark the Anchorite a holy bishop of that people The island of Britain derives its name from Brutus a Roman consul Taken from the southwest point it inclines a little towards the west and to its northern extremity measures 800 miles and is in breath 200 It contains 33 cities 1. Care Abrock York 2. Care Chaint Canterbury 3. Care Gurghawk Ainsley 4. Care Gwarthengurn 5. Care Custint 6. Care Gwornagon 7. Care Seguint 8. Care Goon Truus Norwich or Wynwick 9. Care Meridan 10. Care Perez 11. Care Leon Carlton upon Usk 12. Care Mancipit 13. Care Keratoc 14. Care Cherry 15. Care Glout Gloucester 16. Care Lulid Carlisle 17. Care Grant Grandchester, now Cambridge 18. Care Don Doncaster or Care Dory Dorchester 19. Care Britaque Bristol 20. Care Megweed Mavar 21. Care Muygud Manchester 22. Care Ligion Chester 23. Care Gwent Winchester or Carewent in Monmouthshire 24. Care Cologne Colchester or St. Collin Cornwall 25. Care London London 26. Care Gworkon Warren or Warren in Pembrokeshire 27. Care Lerion Leicester 28. Care Dratow Drayton 29. Care Penceveil Coit Pevency and Sausix 30. Care Telm Tain Grace and Devonshire 31. Care Ulnach Roxeter and Shropshire 32. Care Colemion Camelette and Summertshire 33. Care Lloyd Coit Lincoln Note. In variant readings 28 or 21 cities. Care Gwarthen Gorn is a site unknown. And note. 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 Picks, the Saxons and the Ancient Britons. Three considerable islands belong to it. One on the south. Opposite the Amorican shore called White. Another between Ireland and Britain called Ebonia or Man. And another directly north beyond the Picks 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. White is also known as Inesquayth or Guayth. End of note. 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 preeminently 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. Respecting the period when this island became inhabited subsequently to the flood I have seen two distinct relations. According to the annals of Roman history the Britons deduced 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 Sylvanus the son of Anacus the son of Dodonus the modern king of the Greeks and who, having possessed himself of a part of Asia, built the city of Troy. Dardanus was the father of Troyus who was the father of Pream and Ancaisis. Ancaisis was the father of Aeneas who was the father of Ascanius and Sylveus and this Sylveus was the son of Aeneas and Lavinia the daughter of the king of Italy. From the sons of Aeneas and Lavinia he ascended Romulus and Remus who were the sons of the Holy Queen Rhea in 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 Sylveus Postumus. He was called Postumus because he was born after the death of Aeneas's father and his mother Lavinia concealed herself from the sea. He was called Sylveus because he was born in a wood. Hence the Roman kings were called Sylvan and the Britons from Brutus and rose from the family of Brutus. Note the whole of this as far as the end of the paragraph is omitted in several manuscripts. End of note. Aeneas after the Trojan War arrived with his son in Italy and having vanquished Ternus married Lavinia the daughter of Ternus, 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 Sylveus. Ascanius found Alba and afterwards married. And Lavinia bore to Aeneas a son named Sylveus but Ascanius married a wife who conceived and became pregnant and Aeneas having been informed that his daughter-in-law was pregnant with 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. 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 and 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. He was, for this cause expelled from Italy and came to the islands of the Tyrian Sea where he was exiled on account of the death of Tarnus slain by Aeneas. He then went among the Gauls and built a city of Taronis called Tarnus. A length he came to the 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. Note, in other manuscripts it says Sylveus married a wife instead of Ascanius married a wife. In variant readings it says that the magician predicted that the child would slay his father and mother and be hated by all mankind. Brutus displayed such superiority among his playfellows that they seemed to consider him as their chief. Tarnus is Thors. Note, Aeneas reigned over the Latins three years Ascanius thirty-three years after whom Sylveus reigned twelve years and posthumous thirty-nine years. The latter, from whom the kings of Alba are called Sylvan, 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 posthumous his brother reigned among the Latins. It says that posthumous reigned thirty-seven years. 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. Note, sea beads ecclesiastical history. Long after this came the first that came was Potholomus 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 Nimec the son of Blanc 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 and 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 they 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 of women one ship only accepted 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 others came from Spain and possessed themselves of various parts of Britain note in variant readings Potholomus is called Potholomaius or Botholomaius Nimech is said to be the son of Agnomon End of note Last of all came one hawker who continued there and whose descendants remained there to this day Istoreth the son of Istorainus with his followers Held del Riera Bele had been the island Eubonia in other adjacent places the son of Lafali obtained the country of the Dimite and the province Guher and Cetguli which they held till they were expelled from every part of Britain by Cuneta and his sons note hawker is also called Damhawkter, Clamhawkter and Elamhawkter Lafali is also known as Lethan, Bethan and Vethan Minavia is St. David's note the province Guher is probably the Welsh district Gower Cetguli is Caerchidwili in Carmarthshire End of note End of Section 3 History of the Britons The History of the Britons by Neneus This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org History of the Britons by Neneus Section 3 According to the most learned among the Scots in the United States 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 amongless 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 that he should possess himself of their territory Thus reduced he wandered 42 years in Africa and arrived with his family at the altars of the Philistines by the lake of Oziers Then passing between Russicata and the hilly country of Syria they traveled by the river Malva through Mauritania as far as the pillars of Hercules and crossing the Tireen Sea landed in Spain where they continued many years having greatly increased and multiplied Then a thousand and two years after the Egyptians were lost in the Red Sea they passed into Ireland in the district of Dalrieta At that period Brutus who first exercised the consular office reigned over the Romans in the state which before was governed by regal power was afterwards ruled during 447 years by councils, tribunes of the people and dictators Note, Dalrieta is the north-western part of Antrim and Elster end of note 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 the Picts from the north A long interval after this the Romans obtained the empire of the world From the arrival of the Saxons into Britain to the fourth year of King Mermenes are computed 428 years From the nativity of our Lord to the coming of St. Patrick among the Scots 405 years From the death of St. Patrick to that of St. Bridget 40 years and from the birth of Colomille to the death of St. Bridget 4 years Some manuscripts add the beginning of the calculation is 23 cycles or 19 years from the incarnation of our Lord to the arrival of St. Patrick in Ireland and they make 438 years And from the arrival of St. Patrick to the cycle of 19 years in which we live are 22 cycles which make 420 years End of note 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 into Europe Note, this proves the tradition of Brutus to be older than Joffrey or Ticiliel unless these notices of Brutus have been interpolated in the original work of Neneus End of note The first man that dwelt in Europe was Elanus with his three sons Hesion, Armenon, and Nukio Hesion had four sons Frankus, Romanus, Alamanus, and Brutus Armenon had five sons Gothus, Valagothus, Sebitus Burgundus and Longobardus Nukio had three sons Vandalus, Saxo, and Boganus From Hesion arose four nations the Franks, the Latins, the Germans, and the Britons From Armenon, the Gothi, Valagothi, Sebiti, Burgundy, and Longobardi From Nukio, the Bulgari, Vandali, Saxonis, and Tarogeni The whole of Europe was subdivided into these tribes Elanus is said to have been the father of Phaethur Phaethur, the son of Agdmuin who was the son of Thoi Loi was the son of Boibus Boibus of Simeon Simeon of Mare Mare of Ecthetus Ecthetus of Orthok Orthok of Ethic Ethic of Ooth Ooth of Aver Aver of Ra Ra of Ezra Ezra of Hisra Jocham of Japheth Japheth of Noah Noah of Lamech Lamech of Methuselum Methuselum of Enoch Enoch of Jared Jared of Malahel Malahel of Canaan Canaan of Enos Enos of Seth Seth of Adam and Adam was formed by the Living God We have obtained this information respecting the original inhabits of Britain from ancient tradition which is different in almost all the manuscripts and of note The Britons were thus called from Brutus Brutus was the son of Hysian Hysian was the son of Elanus Elanus was the son of Rheosylvia Rheosylvia was the daughter of Numa Pompilius Numa was the son of Ascanius Ascanius of Aeneus Aeneus of Encaizis Encaizis of Troias Troias of Dardanus Dardanus of Flissa Jewen of Jetheth But Japheth had seven sons From the first name Gomor Descended the Gali From the second Magog The Sithi and Gothi From the third Median The Medi From the fourth Jewon The Greeks From the fifth Tobol Arosed the Hebrai, Hispani and Idoli From the sixth Bosoc Sprung the Cappadoces These are the sons of Japheth The son of Noah The son of Lamech 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 and disdainful and haughty Treated the legation with contempt Note, some manuscripts add I will now return to the point From which I made this digression End of note Then Julius Caesar 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 shipwrecks Whilst he fought against Dullo Bellis The proconsul of the British king Who was called Bellinus and who was the son Of Mino Canis who governed all the islands Of the Terran Sea And thus Julius Caesar returned home without victory Having had his soldiers slain And his ships shattered 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 council had placed iron spikes In the shallow part of the river And this having been affected with so much skill And secrecy as to escape the notice Of the Roman soldiers With them considerable injury Thus Caesar was once more compelled To return without peace or victory The Romans were, therefore, Defeated against the Britons. And under the command of Julius Defeated them near a place called Trinalvantum, London. Forty-seven years before the birth of Christ In 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 Tavius 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 Perperia and Textae Tolent, Alea, Britannia 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 excelled 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. 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 allegations Sent by the Roman emperors and Pope Averistus. Note, in variant readings Eucharistic. A marginal note in the Arundel manuscript adds He is wrong because the first year Of Averistus was AD 79 Whereas the first year of Eleutherius whom he ought to have named Was AD 161. Asher says that in one Manuscript of Deneus he found The name of Eleutherius. End of note. Eleutherius 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 Gual. Moreover he ordered it to be made Between the Britons and the Picts and Scots With the Scots from the west And the Picts made war against the Britons But were at peace among themselves Not long after Severus dies in Britain Note, it is called in the British language Gual or the Wall One manuscript here adds The above mentioned Severus Constructed it of rude workmanship In length one hundred and thirty-two miles I.e. from Pengual Which village is called the Scottish Senail In English Penultin To the mouth of the River Cloth In Carpentiloc where this wall terminates But it was of no avail The Emperor Carasius after was rebuilt it And fortified it with seven castles Between the two mouths He built also a roundhouse of polished stones On the banks of the river Caran Caran, he likewise erected a triumphal arch On which he inscribed his own name In memory of his victory End of note, the fourth was The Emperor, Entirent Carasius 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 Note, this passage is corrupt The meaning is briefly given in the translation End of note The fifth was Constantius The father of Constantine the Great He died in Britain, his apulchre As it appears by the inscription on his tomb Is still seen near the city Named Caersegon near Carnivon Upon the pavement of the above mentioned city He sold three seeds of gold, silver and brass That no poor person might ever be found in it It is also called Minmantin Note, invariant readings Mormantum, mormantin Minmanto, minamantone The Cigantium of Antoninus Situated on a small river named Caerne near Carnivon End of note Maximianus was the sixth emperor That ruled in Britain It was in his time that the consuls began And that the appellation of Caesar Was discontinued At this period also Saint Martin Became celebrated for his virtues and miracles And held a conversation with him Note, this is an inaccuracy of Neneus Maximus and Maximianus Were one and the same person Or rather, no such person As Maximianus ever reigned in Britain The offering of Monmouth Gives the title 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 cities of Britain Maintained for a time a species of Independence End of note 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 war-like 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 Canc-Guic And to the western tumulus, that is To Croc-Occident These are the Omoric 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 assistants We are informed by the tradition Of our ancestors that seven emperors Went into Britain Till the Romans affirmed they were nine Note, this district in modern language Extended from the great Saint-Bard in Piedmont To Cantervik in Picardy And from Picardy to the west coast Of France Thus, agreeably to the account Given by the Britons, the Romans Covered them 409 years After this, the Britons despised The authority of the Romans Equally refusing to pay them tribute Or to receive their kings Nor durced the Romans any longer Attempt the government of a country The natives of which massacred their deputies Must now return to the tyrant Maximus Gratian with his brother Valentinian Ranged seven years Ambrose, Bishop of Milan Was then eminent for his scale in the dog-matter Of the Catholics Valentianus and Theodosius reigned Eight years At that time, a Sinod was held at Constantinople Attended by 350 of the fathers And in which all heresies Were condemned Jerome, the Presbyter of Bethlehem Was then universally celebrated While 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 Melobotus, 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 Valentianus and Theodosius And sentenced to be beheaded At the 30 milestone from Aquilia In the same year also His son Victor was killed in Gaul By Arbogastis 5,690 years From the creation of the world Thrice were the Roman deputies Put to death by the Britons And yet these, when harassed By the incursions of the barbarous nations These 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 favorably 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 348 years The Britons however From the oppression of the empire Again massacred the Roman deputies And again petitioned for succor Once more the Romans undertook The government of the Britons And assisted them in repelling their neighbors 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 End of section three The history of the Britons Historia Bretonum by Neneus Translated by J.A. Giles Section four This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer Please visit LibriVox.org The history of the Britons by Neneus Section four After the above said war Between the Britons and Romans The assassination of their rulers And the victory of Maximus And the termination of the Roman power In Britain, they were in alarm 40 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 In their apprehensions of Ambrosius Note, these words relate Evidently to some cause of dispute Between the Romans, Ambrosius and Vortigern Vortigern is said to have been Sovereign of the Dimite An Ambrosius son to the king Of the damn Nonii The latter was half-Roman by descent And naturally supported the Roman interest The former was entirely a Briton And as naturally seconded By the original Britons End of note In the meantime, three vessels Exiled from Germany, arrived in Britain They were commanded by Horsa and Hengest Brothers and sons of Wickills Wickills was the son of Witte Witte of Wecta Wecta of Woden Woden of Free the Wald Free the Wald of Free the Wolf Free the Wolf of Fin Fin of God-Wolf God-Wolf of Geet, who, as they say Was the son of a God Not of the onnipotent God In our Lord Jesus Christ Who before the beginning of the world Was the only spirit co-eternal And of the same substance And who, in compassion to human nature Distained 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 Vodugern received them as friends And delivered up to them the island Which is in their language called Thanet And by the Britons' room Greedianus Aquitanius at that time The Saxons were received by Vodugern Four hundred and forty-seven years After the Passion of Christ And 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 No, regarding Geet being the son Of a God, in variant readings Not the God of Gods, the Amen Not the Lord of Hosts But one of their idols which they worshipped The island room is sometimes called Ruikin, Ruthen, or River Island Separated from the rest of Kent And the mainland of Britain By the estuary of the Wansum Which, though now a small brook Was formally navigable for large vessels And in Beed's time was the three Stadia broad and fortable Only at two places The rest of this sentence, stating The number of years past, is omitted End of note At that time Saint 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 Name Ben Lai The holy man informed of his wicked conduct Haste him 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 remain 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 saint Germanus Ordered his companions not to Break a bone of the calf In the next morning it was found alive Uninjured and standing by its mother Note, regarding the king Benly He is also the king of POWs In variant readings, Benly is the district Of Eyal, in Derbyshire In the district of Dalrida, Bellinus, Belluni, and Bente End of note 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 The man covered with sweat Came out and prostrated himself Before them Then saint 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 the God In whom thou hast believed He overjoyed and to the city And being met by the prefect He found 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 labor Before sun rising Should be beheaded in the citadel In the meantime saint Germanus With his attendants waited the whole day Before the gate without obtaining Admission to the tyrant The man above mentioned However remained with them Take care said saint 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 saint Germanus ordered them To continue fasting And when the gates were shut Watch said he 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 the 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 The following day the hospitable man Who had been converted by the preaching Of saint Germanus was baptized With his sons and all the inhabitants Of that part of the country And saint Germanus blessed him Saying a king shall not be wanting Of thy seed forever The name of this person is Katel Drunlou From hence forward thou shalt be a king Of all the days of thy life Thus was fulfilled the prophecy of the psalmist He raisedeth up the poor out of the dust And lifted up the needy out of the dung hill Inagreably to this prediction Of saint Germanus From a servant he became a king All his sons were kings And from their offspring the whole country Of pals has been governed to this day Note His name is Katel Drunlou Or Kadel Dernug Prince of the Vale Royal And the upper part of pals End of note After the Saxons had continued some time In the island of Thanet Vodegern 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 has increased Your assistance is now unnecessary 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 But Hengest, in whom united craft And penetration, perceiving he had To act with an ignorant king And a fluctuating people incapable Of opposing much resistance To Vodegern 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 In your subjects Vodegern ascending to this proposal Messengers were dispatched to Scythia For selecting a number of warlike troops They returned with sixteen vessels Bringing with them the beautiful daughter Of Hengest And now the Saxon chief prepared His officers in Keratec 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 in Vodegern At the instigation of the devil And enamored 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 Hengest would already consulted With the elders who attended him For the Uggul race Demanded for his daughter the province Called in English, Kentland and British Kent, Kent This session was made without the knowledge Of the king, Gwory and Gonus Who then reigned in Kent and who experienced No considerable 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 Note of the Uggul race That invariant readings Who would come with him from the island of Uggul Uggul or Tingul, Angul According to Gunn, a small island In the Duchy of Sleswick in Denmark Now called Angul, of which Flensburg is the metropolis Hence the origin of the Angles Invariant readings King Gworyn Gonus Is Gwornam Kono Gworyn Nagono Momsbury Gorongi Camden Gorong End of note Hengis, after this, said to Bordegorn I will be to you both a father And an advisor Spies not my councils 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 North, near the wall called Gwal The unconscious celebrant having Ascented to this, Okta and Abusa Arrived with 40 ships In these they sailed around The country of the Picts, they'd waste The Orkneys and took possession of many regions Even to the Pictish confines Note, the wall called Gwal Is Antoninus's wall Regarding the many regions That Okta and Abusa conquered Some manuscripts add Beyond the Frenetic Fresicome or Fresic sea i.e. which is between us and the Scotch The sea between Scotland and Ireland Camden translates it Beyond the Frith Langhorn says, Solway Frith End of note But Hengis continued by degrees Sending ships from his own country So that some islands, once 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 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 Thou art my father, and fled From the presence of St. Germanus Execrated and condemned by the whole Sinod Note, invariant readings Regarding the immodest woman Immodest is omitted in some manuscripts End of note 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 To defend yourself The people you have received are treacherous They are seeking to subdue you by strategy 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 traveled through many parts of his territories In search of a place convenient For the purpose of building a citadel Having to no purpose traveled far and wide They came at length to a province called Gwyneth And having surveyed the mountains Of Hermes, 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, donemasons 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 Bodegern 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 The king said to the king Or you will never accomplish your purpose No, in variant readings Where it says there build and fortify a city You shall find a fortified city In which you may defend yourself In variant readings The province Gwynedd is Gwynedd Gwynedd, Gwanas, North Wales In variant readings The mountains of Harremes Are known as Harremai Hariri or Ariri Signifying eagle rocks The mountains of Snowden In Carnarvinshire The spot alluded to as supposed to be Dynas Emerys Or the fortress of Ambrosius End of note 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 Electai In the district of Levensing Where a party of boys were playing at ball And two of them quarreling One said to the other One said to the other Oh 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 Vordegor and the king Note The field of Electai In variant readings Is a Letti, Electi, Gletai Supposed to be Basilig in Monmouthshire The district of Levensing Is the district between the Oskar and Romney In Monmouthshire End of note 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 The king In that 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 Or did them hither return 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 everything 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 They told 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 In the latter being pursued 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 In 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 Since 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 And British, Ambrus Guletic And 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 Gwennari Where he built a city Which, according to his name Was called Caer-Gwarthen-Gern Note, in ancient Scoliest ads He then built Guas Moric Near Lugubalia, Carlyle A city which in English is called Palma-Caster Some difference of opinion exists among Antiquaries respecting the site of Oedegren's castle or city Usher places it at Gwent, Monmouthshire Which name, he says, was taken From Caer-Gwent near Chepstow This appears to agree with the Joffrey's account, illegible See Usher's Britain Ecclesiastics Cap, V, page 23 According to others Supposed to be the city from the ruins Of which arose the castle of Gurthrenion in Radnishire Camden's Britannia, page 479 Whitaker, however, Says that Caer-Gwarthen-Gern Was the Maradunam of the Romans And the present Caer-Marthen History of Manchester, book 2, chapter 1 See also Nannyus, section 47 End of note End of section 4 The history of the Britons by Nannyus This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer Please visit LibriVox.org The history of the Britons Section 5 At length, Vordemer, the son Of Vordegern, valiantly fought Against Hengis, Horsa, and his people Drove them to the Isle of Thanet And thrice and close them within it And beset them on the western side The Saxons now dispatch 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. Four times did Vordemer valourously Encounter the enemy. The first has been mentioned The second was upon the river Darin The third at the Ford In their language called Eppsford Though in ours set Thurgabale Their Horsa fell in Caer-Gern The son of Vordegern. The fourth battle Was near the stone, on the shore of the Galaxy, where the Saxons being defeated Fled to their ships. Note, after the line four times Did Vordemer valourously encounter the Enemy, some manuscripts here add This Vordemer, the son Of Vordegern, in a sign on held At Guarthenion, after the wicked king On account of the incest committed With his daughter, fled from the face Of Germanus and the British clergy Would not consent to his father's wickedness. But returning to St. Germanus And falling down at his feet He sued for pardon. And in atonement for the Columny Brought upon Germanus by his father and sister Gave him the land in which the Forementioned Bishop had endured such Abuse to be his forever. Once in memory of St. Germanus It received the name Guarthenion Guarthenion Guarthenion, Guarthenion Which signifies a Columny justly retorted Since when he thought to reproach The Bishop, he covered himself Regarding Epsford being called by the Britons, set Thirka Bale. According to Langhorne, Epsford was Afterwards called, in the British tongue Cessenneg, Havale, or the slaughter Of the Saxons. Regarding the stone that the fourth Battle was fought near, in variant Readings, the stone of Tidalis Thought to be stone in Kent Or larger stone in Suffolk. End of note. After a short anvil, Vordemer died. Before his decease, anxious for the Scans to enter his body at the entrance Of the Saxon port. These, upon the rocks 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. Note, Reppin says he was buried at Lincoln, Joffrey at London. End of note. After the war, the Saxons were Uncooperated and were assisted by Foreign pagans. Favertigern 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 practicing every appearance Of fondness, were plotting with His enemies, and let him that Reads understand that the Saxons Were victorious and ruled Britain 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 everyone, according to his Own pleasure. After the death of Vordemer, Hengist Being strengthened by new assessions, Collected his ships, and calling his Leaders together, consulted by What stratagem they might overcome Vordigern in his army. With insidious intention they sent Messengers to the King, with Unsuspicious of treachery, the monarch After revising with his elders Accepted the proposals. Note, in variant readings, in place Of the daughter of Hengist, it says Of his wife. And no one was able Manfully to drive them off, because They had occupied Britain not from their Own valor, but by God's permission. End of note. Hengist, under pretense of Ratifying the treaty, prepared an Entertainment, to which he invited The King, the nobles, and military 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 Enneborated, etc., cry out, Nymed Uri Saxes Then laid 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 ransom than killed. Note, the variant readings of this To be inserted. End of note. 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, Nymed Uri Saxes, and instantly his Adherents drew their knives and rushing Upon the Britons, each slew him that Sat next to him, and they were slain Three hundred the nobles of Vortigern. The King, being a captive, purchased His redemption by delivering up the Three provinces of East, South, and Middle Sax, besides other districts At the option of his betrayers. St. Germanus admonished Vortigern To turn to the true God, and abstained From all unlawful intercourse with His daughter, but the unhappy wretch Fled for refuge to the province Of Gortha Gurname, so called From his own name, where he Concealed himself with his wives. St. Germanus followed him with all the British clergy, and upon a rock Prayed for his sins during forty days And forty nights. Note, Gortha Gurname is a district Of Radnishire, forming the present Hundred of Reider. End of note. 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 rooted and driven Away. Note. And variant readings, this paragraph Is omitted in the manuscripts. End of note. Again, Vortigern, ignominiously Flew from St. Germanus to the kingdom Of the Dimite, where on the river Taui He built a castle, which he named Keagorth and Gurn. The saint, as usual, followed him There, with his clergy fasted And prayed to the Lord three days And as many nights. On the third night, at the third hour He hurriedly burned the castle. Vortigern, the daughter of Hengest, 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. Note. The river Taui is to bias of Ptolemy. End of note. Others assure us, that being hated By all the people of Britain, By having received the Saxons And being publicly charged by St. Germanus and the clergy in the sight Of the flight, and that deserted In 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 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 In the same battle with Horses. The third was Passent, who reigned In the two provinces, Boulith And Guathegerne, 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 Reines, called after Vortimer. Note, Guathegerne Is in the northern part of the present Counties of Bradner and Breknock. In variant readings, the manuscripts Add, and he had one daughter, who Was the mother of St. Faustus. End of note. This is the genealogy of Vortegern, Which goes back to Fernvale, who Reigned in the kingdom of Guathegerne, and was the son Of Teodor. Teodor was the son of Passent, Orward of El-Tat, El-Tat of El-Doc, El-Doc of Paul, Paul of Muprit, Muprit of Brachiat, Brachiat of Passent. Passent of Guathegerne, Guathegerne of Guathegnu, Guathegnu of Guital, Guital of Guitalian, Guitalian of Gluy, Bonus Paul Moron, Guitalin, Were four brothers who built Gluda, a great city upon the banks Of the River Severn, and a Britishess called Keogluy, and lost her. Enough has been said of Vortegern. Note, Fernvale of Ferenvale appears to have been king of Gwent or Monmouth. Regarding the kingdom of Guathegerne, In variant readings, two provinces, Billeth and Guathegerne, End of note. End of section five, The History of the Britons. The History of the Britons by Nannyus. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. Please visit LibriVox.org. The History of the Britons, section six. Saint Germanus, after his death, Returned into his own country. At that time, the Saxons greatly Increased in Britain, both in Strength and Numbers, and Okta, After the death of his father, Hengus, Came from the Sinistral part of the Island, the kingdom of Kent. And from him have preceded all the kings Of that province to the present period. No, in variant readings after it says That Saint Germanus returned to his own All this to the word Amen. And on the manuscripts is placed After the legend of Saint Patrick. End of note. Then it was that the magnanimous author With all the kings and military forces Of Britain fought against the Saxons. And though there were many more noble Than himself, yet he was 12 times chosen Their commander, and was as often Conqueror. The first battle in which he was Engaged was at the mouth of the river Glean-Eye. And Britain's called Duglas In the region Linius. The sixth on the river Bassus, the Seventh in the wood Keladon, which The Britain's called Quake-Keladon. The eighth was near Gurnian Castle Where, out above the image of the Holy Virgin, 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. The ninth was at the city of Legion Of the River Tratturt. The Eleventh was on the mountain Brugion Which we call Cat Regan. The twelfth was a most severe contest When Arthur penetrated to the hill of Baden. In this engagement 940 fell By his hand alone. No one but the Lord afforded him Assistance. In all these engagements The Britons were successful, but no Strength can avail against the will Of the Almighty. Note, the river Glean-Eye Supposed by some to be the Glam Shire, but most probably the Glean In the northern part of Northumberland. The River Duglis or Dublgis. The little river Dunglis, which Formed the southern boundary of Lothian. Whittaker says the river Duglis and Lancashire near Wagon. The river Basis is not a river, but An isolated rock in the fifth or fourth Near the town of North Borowick called The Bass. Some think it is the river Lucis in Hampshire. The wood Cat Coit Keladon Is the Caldonian forest, or the River Inglewood extending from Penrith To Carlyle. Regarding the Curnian Castle, variously Supposed to be in Cornwall or Benchester in Durham, but most Probably the Roman station of Guarioninum near Yarmouth in Norfolk. Regarding Arthur bearing The image of the Holy Virgin, In variant readings the image of The Cross of Christ and the Perpetual Virgin St. Mary. Regarding Arthur slaughtering the Saxons, in variant readings for Arthur's Cross. And there it was Consecrated, and for three successive Days he fasted, watched and prayed Before the Lord's Cross, that the Lord would give him the victory By this sign over the heathen. Which also took place, and he took With him the image of St. Mary, the Fragments of which are still Preserved in great veneration at Weedale in English Wodale in Latin Volista Loris. Wodale is a village in the province Of Lowdenesia, but now of the Ligion, six miles on the west of That here-to-four noble and eminent Monastery of Milrose. The city Of Ligion is Exeter. The river Trattruet, or Ribroit, the Brew in Summitshire, or the Ribble in Lancashire. The Mountain Cat Brigion, or Agnid Cathregonion, Cadbury in Summitshire, or Edinburgh, Baden is Bath, end of note. The more the Saxons were vanquished, The more they sought for new Supplies of Saxons from Germany, The landers and military bands were Invited over from almost every Province. In this practice they Continued till the reign of Ida, Who was the son of Iopa, he of The Saxon race, was the first King in Bredesia and in Care Ebrock, York. When Gradient Aquatius was consul at Rome, Because then the whole world was Governed by the Roman consuls, the Saxons were received by Vodegurn in the year of our Lord 447, and to the year in 447, 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 forever and ever. Amen. In those days St. Patrick was Captive among the Scots. His Master's name was Milko, to whom He was a swine-herd for seven Years. When he had attained the Age of 17, he gave him his Liberty. By the divine impulse he Applied himself to reading of The Holy Spirit, he continued a great While, studying the sacred mysteries Of those writings. During his Continuous 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 Picks. No, at Fordon and the District Of Murns in Scotland Usher. End of No. End of Section 6, The History Of The Britons. The History Of The Britons, Historia Bretonum By Neneus, translated by J.A. Giles. This is a LibriVox Recording. All LibriVox recordings Are in the public domain. For more Information or to volunteer, please Visit LibriVox.org. Section 7 Of The History Of The Britons. 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 Segorus with him as a venerable And praiseworthy bishop, to King Amethius, who lived near And who had prescience of what Was to happen. He was consecrated Assuming the name of Patrick, having Hed the two been known by that of Mon, Auxilius, Iserninus, And other brothers were ordained With him to inferior degrees. Note, regarding Germanus sending The bishop Segorus to the king Amethius, and variant readings, Germanus sent the elder Segorus with him to a wonderful Man, the holy bishop Amothrax. Another manuscript sent the elder Segorus a bishop with him To Amothrax. Regarding being consecrated a bishop, In variant readings, Received the Episcopal degree from The holy bishop Amothrax. Another manuscript Received the Episcopal degree From Matthew, Rex, in the holy Bishop. End of note. 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 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. From the beginning of The world to the fifth year of King Lógiór, when the Irish Were baptized, and faith and The unity of the individual Trinity was published to them St. Patrick taught the gospel In foreign nations for the space Of forty years, endued with Apostolic powers. He gave sight to the blind, cleansed The lepers, gave hearing to the Death, cast out devils, raised Nine from the dead, redeemed many Captives of both sexes that his own Charged, 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 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 Connacht, and In one day baptized seven kings Who were the seven sons of Malagade. He continued fasting Forty days and nights on the Summit of the mountain Eli, that Is crook and ankle, 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 his island 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 And their souls purified at that 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 labors. There appeared to him An innumerable flock of birds Of many colors, 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, and be presented Before the tribunal of Christ. Life spent in the act of exertion Of good to mankind. St. Patrick In a healthy old age passed from this World to the Lord, and changing This life for better, with the Saints and elect of God he rejoices Forevermore. Note, Amal-gade is the king of Canot. Kuwak-Akel is a Mountain in the west of Canot. County of Mayo, now called Creach-Patrick. Regarding the third petition to God For the Irish, in variant No Irishman may be alive on the day Of judgment, because they will be Destroyed seven years before, in honor Of St. Patrick. End of note. St. Patrick resembled Moses in four Particulus. 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 sepulcher, nor Where he was buried. Sixteen Years he was in captivity. In particular, he was consecrated bishop By St. Matthias, and he was eighty-five Years the apostle of the Irish. It might be profitable to treat More at large the life of this Saint, but it is now time to conclude The subpitome of his labors. Note, in variant readings he was In captivity for fifteen years. Regarding being consecrated Bishop by St. Matthias, In variant readings it is by The Holy Bishop, Amethias. Here ends the Vatican manuscript Collated by Mr. Gunn. Here ends the life of the Holy Bishop St. Patrick. End of note. End of section seven, History of the Britons. The History of the Britons. Historia Britonum by Neneas. Translated by J. A. Giles. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the Public domain. For more information Or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. The History of the Britons by Neneas, section eight. The Genealogy of the Kings of Venetia. Note, these titles are not part of the Original work, but added in the Manuscripts by a later hand. End of note. End of section seven. End of note. The Genealogy of the Kings of Kent. Hengist Begat Okta, Begat Asa, Begat Irmenric, Begat Ethelbert, Begat Edbald, Begat Erkenbert, Begat Egbert. The Origin of the Kings of East Anglia. Woden Begat Kasser, Begat Tinnanon, Begat Trigel, Begat Rodman, Begat Rippa, Begat Guilam Guercá, Begat Guilam Guercá, Begat East Angles. Guercá, Begat Asa, Begat Tidalis, Begat Eni, Begat Edric, Begat Aldwulf, Begat Alric. Note, regarding Guilam Guercá. Guercá is a distortion of the name Affa or Waffa, arising in the first instance from the pronunciation of the British writer, and in the next place from the era of the transcriber Palgrave. End of note. Woden Begat Guodalghit, Begat Gwogon, Begat Guthleg, Begat Girmond, Begat Asa, Begat Ongen, Begat Emer, Begat Paba. This Paba had twelve sons, of whom two were better known to me than the others. That is Penda and Iowa. Edelit is the son of Panta, Penda son of Paba, Iobald son of Algwing, son of Iowa, son of Thingthirth, son of Enwulf, son of Osulf, son of Iowa, son of Paba. Note, Paba or Wibba. End of note. The Kings of Diary. Woden Begat Beldag, Bronze Begat Sigur, Begat Cybald, Begat Zegolf, Begat Soamil, who first separated Dürr from Bernich, Diera from Bernitia, Soamil Begat Scurrathing, Begat Alfria, Begat Ifi, Begat Elwi, Edwin, Osfried and Enfried. There were two sons of Edwin, who fell with him in battle at Mishien. 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 Cat Golanus. King of the Gwendata. Oswe Begat Egfrid, the same as Eilguin, Begat Adzling, Begat Eken, Begat Osloff, Begat Edric, Begat Gulf, Begat Leodwald, Begat Iata, the same as Glenmore, Begat Edbert and Egbert, who was the first bishop of their nation. Note, regarding Soamil separating Dürr from Bernach, and variant readings conquered. Miser is Hatfield in Gwendolynus, is Cadwala King of the Western Britons. End of note. Aida, the son of Iapa, possessed countries on the left side of Britain, i.e. of the Humbrian Sea, and reigned 12 years, and united Dingweth, Guarth, Bernach. Note, in variant readings united the castle, i.e. Gwingorin and Gerd Bernach, which two countries were in one country, i.e. Dürr-Bernach, Anglis Deira and Bernisha, another manuscript built by Bernach. End of note. Then Gutgerne, at that time, fought bravely against the nation of the Angles. At that time, Talhaian, Categuin, was famed for poetry, and Niren, and Teliacin, and Blubard, and Cyan. It was called Gwynethquat, were all famous at the same time in British poetry. Note, Talhaian was descendant of Cole Goldbaugh and Chaplain to Ambrosius. I.e. in the district of Guanadatta, because his great-great-grandfather, Cunita, with his twelve sons had come before him from the left-hand part, i.e. from the country which is called Manao-Gustadin, 146 years before Malkin reigned, and expelled the Scots with much slaughter from those countries, and they never returned again to inhabit them. Note, Malkin is better known as Melguin. End of note. Ada, son of Ida, reigned eight years. The Odric son of Ada reigned four years. The Odric son of Ida reigned seven years. Friethwulf reigned six years. In whose time the kingdom of Kent, by the mission of Gregory, received baptism. Husser reigned seven years. Against him fought four kings, Urian, and Ryderthen, and Guala, and Morkin. The Odoric fought bravely, together with his sons, three days and three nights in the island of Metcot. And whilst he was on an expedition, he was murdered at the instance of Morkot, out of Envy, because he possessed so much superiority over all the kings in military science. Eid-Ferred Flessors reigned 12 years in Venetia, and 12 others in Deira. He gave his wife Beva, the town of Dine-Goroi, which from her is called Bebenberg. Note, Bambrow. See, Bede, 36, in Saxon Chronicles, 547. End of note. Edwin, son of Alla, reigned 17 years, seized on Elmete, and expelled Cerdic, its king. Eid-Fledd his daughter received baptism on the 12th day after Pentecost, with all her followers, both men and women. The following Easter, Edwin himself received baptism and 12,000 of his subjects with him. If anyone wishes to know who baptized them, it was Rome map Erbgin. He began baptizing all classes of the Saxons, and by his preaching many believed on Christ. Note, regarding Rome map Erbgin, baptizing them. See, Bede's ecclesiastical history. From the share which Paulinus had in the conversion of the North Umbrian king, it has been inferred that he actually baptized him. But Neneus expressly states that the Holy Sacrament was administered by Rune, the son of Eurion. The Welsh name of Paulinus is Paul Han, or Polon Eagob. End of note. Oswald's son of Ethelfred reigned nine years, the same as Oswald Laeguin. He slew cat Goublon, Cadwala, king of Gwyneddot, in the battle of Catskall, with much loss to his own army. Oswy's son of Ethelfred reigned 28 years and 6 months. During his reign there was a dreadful mortality among his subjects. When cat Gwala, Cadwala, was king among the Britons, succeeding his father, and he himself slew Penda in the field of Gay. It now took place the slaughter of Gay Kampai in the kings of the Britons who went out with Penda on the expedition as far as the city of Jidw or Slain. Note. Laeguin means fair, or the bounteous hand. Regarding cat Goublon, Cadwala, this name has been variously written. Bede spells it, Cadwala, Cadwala, Neneus, cat Goublon, the Saxon Chronicle, Ciadwala, and the Welsh writers Cadwala and Cadwala and though the identity of the person may be clearly proved, it is necessary to observe these particulars to distinguish him from Cadwaladr and from another Cadwala or Cadwala, the king of the West Saxons. All of whom, as they lived within a short time of each other, have been frequently confounded together, Reese's Welsh Saints. Gwynadot is Gwynedd in north Wales. Bede says, Cat Scall is at Dynis's Brook. The British Chronicles assert that Cadwaladr died at Wom. Walneneus would lead us to conclude that he perished in the pestilence at home. End of note. Then Auswe restored all the wealth which was with him in the city to Penda, who distributed it among the kings of the Britons. That is, at Burt Jidu. But Cat Goublon alone, king of the Gwyneddot, rising up in the night escaped together with his army, wherefore he was called Cat Goublon, Cadwala. Egfrid, son of Auswe, reigned nine years. At the time, the holy bishop Cuthbert died in the island of Medcott. It was he who made war against the Picts and was by them slain. Note. The island of Medcott is the isle of Farni. End of note. Penda, son of Pubba, reigned ten years. He first separated the kingdom of Mercia from that of the Northmen and slew by treachery Anna, king of the East Anglians and St. Auswald, king of the Northmen. He fought the battle of Cockboy in which fell Iwa, son of Pubba, his brother king of the Mercians, in Auswald, king of the Northmen, and he gained the victory by diabolical agency. He was not baptized and never believed in God. From the beginning of the world to Constantinus and Rufus are found to be 5,658 years. Also from the two consuls Rufus and Rubellius to the consuls Stilico are 373 years. Also from Stilico to Valentinian, son of Placida and the reign of Vordigern are 28 years. And from the reign of Vordigern to the quarrel between Guichelinus and Ambrosius are 12 years, which is Goulopon that is Ket Gualof. Vordigern 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. Note, Ket Gualof is in Carmarthenshire perhaps the town now called Kidwellie end of note. From the year in which the Saxons came into Britain and were received by Vordigern to the time of D.C.S. and Valerian are 69 years. End of Section 8 End of the History of the Britons Historia Bretonum by Neneus translated by J.A. Giles