5.7. What part of the realme the Saxons possessed, Vortigerne buildeth a castell in Wales for his safetie, Aurelius and Vter both brethren returne into Britaine, they assalt the vsurper Vortigerne, and with wild fire burne both him, his people, his fort, and all the furniture in the same, Vortigerne committeth incest with his owne daughter, feined and ridiculous woonders of S. Germane, a sheepherd made a king. The seuenth Chapter.

What part of the realme the Saxons possessed, Vortigerne buildeth a castell in Wales for his safetie, Aurelius and Vter both brethren returne into Britaine, they assalt the vsurper Vortigerne, and with wild fire burne both him, his people, his fort, and all the furniture in the same, Vortigerne committeth incest with his owne daughter, feined and ridiculous woonders of S. Germane, a sheepherd made a king. The seuenth Chapter.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 _NOw will we returne to Uortigerne, of whome we read in the British historie, that after the Saxons had constreined him to deliuer into their hands a great part of the south and east parts of the realme, so that they had in possession London, Yorke, Lincolne, & Winchester,Galfrid. with other cities & townes, he not onelie fearing their puissance, but also the re|turne of Aurelius Ambrosius, and his brother Uter pendragon, withdrew him into Wales, where he be|gan to build a strong castell vpon a mounteine called Breigh,Caxton. or after other Cloaric,Fabian. néere to the riuer of Guana,Polychron. which is in the west side of Wales in a place within the compasse of the same hill called Generon EEBO page image 84 or Guemeren.Mount Erir he calleth it in one place of his booke. Of the building of this castell, and of the hinderance in erecting the same, with the mon|strous birth of Merlin and his knowledge in prophe|sieng, the British histories tell a long processe, the which in Caxton, and in Galf [...]ides bookes is also set foorth, as there ye maie sée: but for that the same sée|meth not of such credit as deserueth to be registred in anie sound historie, we haue with silence passed it ouer.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 Whilest Uortigerne was busied in building of this castell,Aurelius and Uter brethren returne into Britaine. the two foresaid brethren Aurelius and Uter prepared a nauie of ships, and an armie of men, by helpe of such their kinsmen and fréends as they found in Britaine Armorike, and so passed the sea, and landed at Totnesse: whereof when the Bri|tains were aduertised, the which were scattered a|broad and seuered in diuers parties and countries, they drew vnto the said two brethren with all spéed that might be. When Aurelius and his brother Uter perceiued that they were sufficientlie furnished of people, they marched foorth towards Wales against Uortigerne,Uortigerne burnt to death. who hauing knowledge of their approch, had fortified his castell verie strongly with men, mu|nition and vittels, but yet all auailed him nothing, for in the end after his enimies had giuen diuers assaults to the said castell,Wild fire not yet inuented as some think. they found meanes with wild fire to burne it downe to the earth, and so con|sumed it by fire togither with the king, and all other that were within it.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 3 Thus did Uortigerne end his life (as in the Bri|tish historie is recorded.) Much euill is reported of him by the same historie, and also by other writers, and among other things it is written, that he should lie by his owne daughter, and of hir beget a sonne, in hope that kings should come of him, and therefore he was excommunicated by S. Germane. It is al|so said, Polychron.. A feined tale of S. Ger|mane. that when the same S. Germane came into Britaine (as before ye haue heard) this Uortigerne on a time should denie the same S. Germane har|bour: but one that kept the kings heards of cat|tell receiued him into his house,A caluish narration. and lodged him, and slue a calfe for his supper, which calfe after supper was ended, S. Germane restored againe to life: and on the morrow by the ordinance of God, he caused Uortigerne to be deposed from his kinglie estate, and tooke the heardman and made him king. But Ranulfe Hig. in his Polychronicon, alledging Gyl|das for his author, saith that this chand to a ceking that ruled in Powsey, whose name was Bulie, and not to Uortigerne: so that the successors of that Bu|lie reigning in that side of Wales, came of the li|nage of the same heardman.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 Moreouer it hath beene said (as one writer re|cordeth)H. Hunt. that when Uortigerne refused to heare the preaching of saint Germane, and fled from him as he would haue instructed him, one night there fell fire from heauen vpon the castell wherein the king was lodged, and so the king being destroied with the fall of the house and the fire togither, was neuer af|ter séene. ¶But these are fables, and therfore I passe them ouer, hoping that it shall suffice to shew here with what stuffe our old historiographers haue far|ced vp their huge volumes, not so much regarding the credit of an historie, as satisfieng the vanitie of their owne fond fantasies, studieng with a preten|ded skilfulnesse to cast glorious colours vpon lies, that the readers (whom they presupposed either igno|rant or credulous) would be led away with a flowing streme of woords void of reason and common sense. Which kind of men knew not (belike) that the na|ture of an historie) defined to be Rei verè gestae memoria) will not beare the burthen or lode of a lie, sith the same is too heauie: otherwise they would haue depo|sed matters conspiring with the truth.

5.8. Aurelius Ambrosius the brother to Constantius created king of Britaine, he incountereth with the Saxons, Hengist their generall is beheaded, Occa his sonne submit|teth himselfe to Aurelius, he putteth all the Saxons out of the land, repaireth places decaied, and restoreth religion, the memorable monument of the stones that are so much spo|ken of on Salisburie plaine, the exploits of Pascentius Vorti|gerns yongest sonne, Aurelius lieth sicke, Vter goeth against Pascentius and giueth him the ouerthrow, Aurelius is poiso|ned of a counterfet moonke, the place of his buriall, Poly|dor Virgils report of the acts and deeds of Aurelius against the Saxons, Hengist is slaine, Osca and Occa his two sonnes make a fowle spoile of the west part of the land, Vortimer dieth, the disa|greement of writers touching matters interchangeablie passed betwene the Britains and Saxons. The eight Chapter.

Aurelius Ambrosius the brother to Constantius created king of Britaine, he incountereth with the Saxons, Hengist their generall is beheaded, Occa his sonne submit|teth himselfe to Aurelius, he putteth all the Saxons out of the land, repaireth places decaied, and restoreth religion, the memorable monument of the stones that are so much spo|ken of on Salisburie plaine, the exploits of Pascentius Vorti|gerns yongest sonne, Aurelius lieth sicke, Vter goeth against Pascentius and giueth him the ouerthrow, Aurelius is poiso|ned of a counterfet moonke, the place of his buriall, Poly|dor Virgils report of the acts and deeds of Aurelius against the Saxons, Hengist is slaine, Osca and Occa his two sonnes make a fowle spoile of the west part of the land, Vortimer dieth, the disa|greement of writers touching matters interchangeablie passed betwene the Britains and Saxons. The eight Chapter.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 _AUrelius Ambrose,Aurelius Ambro|sius. the se|cond sonne of king Constan|tine, brother to Constantius, and murthered by the trea|son of Uortigerne (as before ye haue heard) was made king of Britaine in the yéere of our Lord 481, which was about the third yéere of the reigne of the emperour Zen [...],Matt. West. saith 466. and the 23 of Childericus king of France, Odocer king of the Herulians then vsurping the gouernment of Italie. When this Aurelius Ambro|sius had dispatched Uortigerne, and was now esta|blished king of the Britains,Gal. Mon. he made towards Yorke, and passing the riuer of Humber, incountred with the Saxons at a place called Maesbell, and o|uerthrew them in a strong battell, from the which as Hengist was fléeing to haue saued himselfe,Hengist taken and beheaded. he was taken by Edoll earle of Glocester, or (as some say) Chester, and by him led to Conningsborrow, where he was beheaded by the counsell of Eldad then bishop of Colchester.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 Howbeit there be some that write,Matth. We [...]. how that Hen|gist was taken at another battell fought vpon the riuer of Dune, in the yéere of our Lord 489, and not in the chase of the battell which was fought at Maes|bell in the yéere 487, as the same authors doo alledge. Occa the son of Hengist by flight escaped to Yorke, and being there besieged,Occa. at length was constreined to yéeld himselfe to Aurelius: who dealing fauou|rablie with him, assigned vnto him and other of the Saxons a countrie bordering neere to the Scots, which (as some affirme) was Galloway, where the said Occa and the Saxons began to inhabit. Then did Aurelius Ambrosius put the Saxons out of all other parts of the land, & repaired such cities, townes and also churches, as by them had beene destroied or defaced, and placed againe priests, and such other as should attend on the ministerie and seruice of God in the same churches.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 Also for a perpetuall memorie of those Britains that were slaine on the plaine of Salisburie by the treason of Hengist, he caused stones to be fetched out of Ireland, and to be set vp in the same place where that slaughter was committed, and called the place Stoneheng,Stoneheng. which name continueth vnto this day. Fiftéene thousand men (as Galfrid [...] saith) were sent for those stones,Gal. Mon. vnder the leading of Uter Pendra|gon the kings brother, who giuing battell vnto Gil|lomanus king of Ireland that went about to resist the Britains, and would not permit them to fetch a|way the same stones out of his countrie, discomfited him and his people, and so (maugre his hart) brought the stones away with him.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 EEBO page image 85 Shortlie after, Pascentius that was Uortigerns yoongest sonne, and had escaped into Ireland (when Aurelius Ambrosius came into Britaine) returned with a great power of strange nations, and tooke the citie of Meneuia in Wales, afterwards called saint Dauids, and did much hurt in the countrie with fire and swoord. At which time the same Aurelius Ambro|sius lay sicke at Winchester, and being not able to go foorth himselfe, desired his brother Uter Pendra|gon to assemble an armie of Britains, and to go a|gainst Pascentius and his adherents. Uter, accor|ding to his brothers request, gathering his people, went foorth, and incountering with the enimies gaue them the ouerthrow, slue Pascentius and Gillomare or Gilloman king of Ireland, that was come ouer with him in aid against the Britains.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 In the meane while, [...] a Saxon or some other stran|ger, whose name was Eopa or Copa, not long before procured thereto by Pascentius, fained himselfe to be a Britaine, and for a colour counterfeiting him|selfe a moonke, and to haue great knowledge in phy|sicke, was admitted to minister as it were medi|cins to Aurelius: but in stead of that which should haue brought him health, he gaue him poison, wherof he died shortlie after at Winchester aforesaid, [...] when he had reigned after most accord of writers nintéene yeeres: his bodie was conueied to Stoneheng and there buried. ¶Thus find we in the British and com|mon English histories of the dooings of Aurelius Ambrosius, who (as ye haue hard) makes him a Bri|taine borne, and descended of the bloud of the ancient Britains. But Gyldas and Beda report him to be a Romane by descent, as before is mentioned.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 Polydor Virgil writeth in this sort of the victorious acts atchiued by the foresaid Aurelius Ambrosius.Polydor. Then (saith he) the Saxons hauing alreadie gotten the whole rule of the Ile, practised their outragious cruelties speciallie against the princes of the Bri|tains, to the end that the said princes being ouer|come and destroied, they might with more ease ob|teine possession of the whole Ile, which thing they on|like sought. But the fauour of almightie God was not wanting to the miserable Britains in that great necessitie. For behold, Aurelius Ambrosius was at hand, who had no sooner caused the trumpet to sound to armor, but euerie man for himselfe prepared and repaired vnto him, praieng & beseeching him to helpe to defend them, and that it might stand with his plea|sure to go foorth with them against the enimies in all speed.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 Thus an armie being assembled, Aurelius Am|brosius went against them, and valiantlie assailed them, so that within the space of a few daies they fought thrée battels with great fiercenesse on both sides, in triall of their high displeasures and vtter|most forces, in which at length the Britains put the Saxons to flight, Horsus the brother of Hengist be|ing slaine with a great number of his people. But yet notwithstanding the enimies rage was little a|bated hereby, for within a few daies after receiuing out of Germanie a new supplie of men, they brake foorth vpon the Britains with great confidence of victorie. Aurelius Ambrosius was no sooner aduer|tised thereof, but that without delaie he set forward towards Yorke, from whence the enimies should come, and hearing by the way that Hengist was in|camped about seuen & twentie miles distant from that citie, néere to the banke of a riuer at this day called Dune, in the place where Doncaster now standeth, he returned out of his waie, and marched towards that place, and the next day set on the eni|mie and vanquished him,Hengist is slaine. Hengist at the first mée|ting of the battell being slaine, with a [...] number of the Germans. The fame of this [...] (saith Po|lydor) is had in memorie with the inhabitants of those parties euen vnto this day, which victorie did sore diminish the power of the Saxons, insomuch that they began now to thinke it should be more for their profit to sit in rest with that dishonour, than to make anie new warres to their great disaduantage and likelihood of present losse.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 3 4 Hengist left behind him two sonnes, Osca and and Occa, which as men most sorowfull for the ouer|throw of fate receiued, assembled such power as they could togither, and remooued therewith towards the west part of the Ile, supposing it to be better for them to draw that way foorth, than to returne into Kent, where they thought was alreadie a sufficient num|ber of their people to resist the Britains on that side. Now therefore when they came into the west parts of the land, they wasted the countrie, burnt villages, and absteined from no maner of crueltie that might be shewed. These things being reported vnto Aure|lius Ambrosius, he straightwaies hasted thither to resist those enimies, and so giuing them battell, eft|soones discomfited them:Aurelius di|eth of a wound but he himselfe receiuing a wound, died thereof within a few daies after. The English Saxons hauing thus susteined so manie losses within a few moneths togither, were conten|ted to be quiet now that the Britains stirred nothing against them, by reason they were brought into some trouble by the death of such a noble capteine as they had now lost.Uortimer de|parteth this life. In the meane time Uortimer died, whome Uier surnamed Pendragon succéeded.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 Thus hath Polydor written of the forsaid Aureli|us Ambrosius, not naming him to be king of Bri|taine, and differing in déed in sundrie points in this behalfe from diuerse ancient writers of the English histories: for where he attributeth the victorie to the Britains in the battell fought, wherein Horsus the brother of Hengist was slaine, by the report of Poly|chronicon, and others, the Saxons had the victorie in that reincounter: and William of Malmesburie saith,Wil. Malm. that they departed from that batell with equall fortune, the Saxons losing their capteine Horsus, and the Britains their capteine Katigerne (as be|fore ye haue heard.)Katigerne. But there is such contrarietie in writers touching the dooings betwixt the Britains and Saxons in those daies, as well in account of yéeres, as in report of things doone, that setting af|fection aside, hard it is to iudge to which part a man should giue credit.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 For Fabian and other authors write, that Aureli|us. Ambrosius began his reigne ouer the Britains about the yéere of our Lord 481, and Horsus was slaine about the yéere 458,458 during the reigne of Uortimer, as aboue is mentioned, so that it can|not stand with the truth of the British histories (the which Fabian followeth) that Horsus was slaine by Aurelius Ambrosius, if according to the same histo|ries he returned not into Britaine, till the time there supposed. But diuerse such maner oh contrarieties shall ye find, in perusing of those writers that haue written the chronicles of the Britains and Saxons, the which in euerie point to recite would be too tedi|ous and combersome a matter, and therefore we are forced to passe the same ouer, not knowing how to bring them to anie lust accord for the satisfieng of all mens minds, speciallie the curious, which may with diligent search satisfie themselues happilie much bet|ter, than anie other shall be able to doo in vttering his opinion neuer so much at large, and agreeable to a truth. This therefore haue we thought good as it were by the waie to touch what diuerse authors doo write, leauing it so to euerie mans iudgement to construe thereof, as his affection leadeth him. We find in the writings of those that haue registred the dooings of these times,Sigebertus. that Aurelius hauing van|quished EEBO page image 86 the Saxons, restored churches to the furthe|rance of the christian religion,Matth. West. saith 488. which by the inuasion of the Saxons was greatlie decaied in diuerse parts of Britaine, and this chanced in the daies of the em|perour Theodosius the yoonger.

5.9. The beginning of the kingdome of the Southsaxons commonlie called Sussex, the Britains with their rulers giue battell to Ella the Saxon & his three sonnes, disagreement betweene the English and British chronographers about the battels fought by Hengist and his death, the be|ginning of the Kentish kingdome, a battell fought betweene the Britains and Sax|ons, the first are conquered, the last are conquerors. The ninth Chapter.

The beginning of the kingdome of the Southsaxons commonlie called Sussex, the Britains with their rulers giue battell to Ella the Saxon & his three sonnes, disagreement betweene the English and British chronographers about the battels fought by Hengist and his death, the be|ginning of the Kentish kingdome, a battell fought betweene the Britains and Sax|ons, the first are conquered, the last are conquerors. The ninth Chapter.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 _IN the time of the foresaid Aurelius Ambrosius,Ella entred this land as Matt. West. saith ann. 477 one El|la a Saxon with his 3 sonnes Cymen, Plettinger and Cis|sa, came out of Germanie with thrée ships, and landed in the south parts of Britaine, and being incountred with a power of Britains at a place called Cuneueshore, discomfited them, and chased them vnto a wood then called Andredescester, and so tooke that countrie, and inhabited there with his people the Saxons which he brought with him, and made himselfe king and lord thereof, in somuch that afterwards the same coun|trie was named the kingdome of the Southsaxons,The kingdom of the South|saxons dooth begin. which had for limits on the east side Kent, on the south the sea and Ile of Wight, on the west Hamshire, and on the north part Southerie. This kingdome (af|ter some) began vnder the foresaid Ella, about the 32 yeere after the first comming of the Saxons into this land, which by following that account, should be a|bout the second yéere of the reigne of Aurelius Am|brosius,482 and about the yéere of our Lord 482. But o|ther write, that it did begin about the 30 yéere after the first comming of Hengist, which should be two yéeres sooner.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 William Harison differing from all other, noteth it to begin in the fourth yéere after the death of Hen|gist, 4458 of the world, 2 of the 317 Olympiad, 1243 of Rome, 492 of Christ, and 43 after the com|ming of the Saxons: his woords are these. Ella erec|ted the kingdome of the Southsaxons, in the 15 after his arriuall, and reigned 32 yéeres, the chiefe citie of his kingdome also was Chichester, and after he had inioied the same his kingdome a while, he ouerthrew the citie called Andredescester, which as then was ta|ken for one of the most famous in all the south side of England. ¶For my part I thinke my dutie dis|charged, if I shew the opinions of the writers: for if I should therto a [...] mine owne, I should but increase coniectures, whereof alreadie we haeu superfluous store. To procéed thereforr as I find.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 About the ninth yéere after the comming of Ella, the Britains perceiuing that he with his Saxons still inlarged the bounds of his lordship by entring further into the land, assembled themselues togither vnder their kings and rulers, and gaue battell to El|la and his sonnes at Mecredesbourne, where they de|parted with doubtfull victorie, the armies on both sides being sore diminished, and so returned to their homes. Ella after this battell sent into his countrie for more aid.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 But now touching Hengist, who as ye haue heard, reigned as king in the prouince of Kent, the writers of the Wnglish kings varie somewhat from the Bri|tish histories, both in report of the battels by him fought against the Britains, and also for the maner of his death: as thus. After that Uortimer was dead, who departed this life (as some write) in the first yéere of the emperor Leo,Polych [...] surnamed the great, and first of that name that gouerned the empire, who be|gan to rule in the yéere of our Lord 457, we find that Hengist and his sonne Occa or Osca gathered their people togither that were before sparkled,457 Henrie [...] Wil. Ma [...]t. and ha|uing also receiued new aid out of Germanie, fought with the Britans at a place called Crekenford, where were slaine of the Britains foure dukes or capteins, and foure thousand of other men, the residue were chased by Hengist out of Kent vnto London,Britains [...] [...] so that they neuer returned afterwards againe into Kent: thus the kingdome of Kent began vnder Hengist the twelfe yéere after the comming of the Saxons into Britaine, and Hengist reigned in Kent after this (as the same writers agree) foure and twentie yéeres.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 It is remembred that those Germans which late|lie were come ouer to the aid of Hengist,Polychro [...] being cho|sen men, mightie and strong of bodie, with their axes and swoords made great slaughter of the Britains in that battell at Crekenford or Creiford, which Bri|tains were ranged in foure battels vnder their a|foresaid foure dukes or capteins,Hen. Hu [...]. and were (as before is mentioned) slaine in the same battell. About the sixt yéere of the said emperor Leo, which was in the 17 yéere after the comming of the Saxons, Hengist and his sonne Occa or Osca fought at Wipets field in Kent,Wipets field. Matth. West. This battell was fought anno 473. as the same Mat West. noteth. Wipet. H Hunt. néere to a place called Tong with the Bri|tains, and slue of them twelue dukes or capteins, & on the part of the Saxons was slaine beside com|mon souldiers but onelie one capteine called Wipet, of whom the place after that daie tooke name.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 This victorie was nothing plesant to the Saxons, by reason of the great losse which they susteined, as well by the death of the said Wipet, as of a great number of others: and so of a long time neither did the Saxons enter into the confines of the Britains, nor the Britains presumed to come into Kent. But whilest outward wars ceassed among the Britains, they exercised ciuill battell, falling togither by the eares among themselues, one striuing against ano|ther. Finallie, Hengist departed this life by course of nature, in the 39 yéere after his first comming into Britaine,Fortie yéeres saith H. Hun [...]. hauing procéeded in his businesse no lesse with craft and guile than with force and strength, fol|lowing therewith his natiue crueltie, so that he ra|ther did all things with rigour than with gentle|nesse. After him succéeded a sonne whom he left be|hind him,By this it is euident that he was not driuen out of the land after he had once set foot [...] it. Matt. West. H. Hunt. The citie of Andredesce|ster. who being attentiue rather to defend than to inlarge his kingdome, neuer set foot out of his fa|thers bounds, during the space of 24 yéeres, in the which he reigned.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 About thrée yéeres after the deceasse of Hengist, a new supplie of men of warre came out of Germa|nie vnto the aid of Ella king of Sussex, who hauing his power increased, besieged the citie of Andredes|cester, which was verie strong and well furnished with men and all things necessarie. The Britains al|so assembling togither in companies, greatlie an|noied the Saxons as they lay there at [...]ege, laieng ambushes to destroie such as went abroad, and ceas|sing not to giue alarums to the campe in the night season: and the Saxons could no sooner prepare them selues to giue the assalt, but the Britains were rea|die to assaile them on the backs, till at length the Saxons diuiding themselues into two companies, appointed the one to giue the assalt, and the other to incounter with the armie of the Britains without, and so finallie by that meanes preuailed, tooke the ci|tie, and destroied man, woman and child. Neither so EEBO page image 87 contented, they did also vtterlie race the said citie, so as it was neuer after that daie builded or readified againe.