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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.

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5.66. Vortigerne the ſeconde time.

Vortigerne the ſeconde time.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 [...]. hath [...]at. Weſt. 471THen was Vortigerne agayne reſtored to the Kingdome of Brytayne, in the yeare of our Lorde. 471.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 All the tyme of his ſonnes raigne, he had re|mayned in the partyes nowe called Wales, where (as ſome wryte) in that meane tyme hee buylded a ſtrong Caſtell called Generon, or Guanereu, in the Weſt ſide of Wales neare to the ryuer of Guana, vpon a Mountayne called Cloaricus, which ſome referre to be buylded in his ſecond returne into Wales, as ſhall be ſhewed hereafter. And it is ſo much the more likely, for that an olde Chronicle, which Fabian had fight of, affyrmeth, that Vortigerne was kept vn|der the rule of certayne Gouernours to hym ap|poynted in the towne of Caerlegion,Caerleon Arwicke. and beha|ued himſelfe in ſuch commendable ſort towardes his ſonne in ayding him with his counſail, and o|therwiſe, in the meane ſeaſon whileſt his ſonne raigned, that the Brytayns by reaſon therof be|gan ſo to fauour him, that after the death of Vor|timer they made him againe king.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 Shortly after that Vortigerne was reſtored to the rule of the Kingdome,4000. hath Math. Weſt. He might eaſi|ly returne, for except I be de|ceyued he was neuer driuen out after he had once got foot within this Ile. Hengiſt aduertiſed thereof, returned into the lande with a mightye armie of Saxons, whereof Vortigerne being ad|uertiſed, aſſembled his Brytaines, and with all ſpeede made towardes him.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 When Hengiſt had knowledge of the huge hoſt of the Brytains that was comming againſt him, he required to come to a cõmunication with Vortigerne, which requeſt was graunted, ſo that it was concluded, that on May day a certain nũ|ber of Britains, & as many of the Saxons ſhould meete togither vpon the plaine of Saliſburie.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 EEBO page image 118Hengiſt hauing deuiſed a newe kind of trea|ſon, when the daye of theyr appoynted meeting was come, cauſed euery one of his allowed num|ber ſecretely to put into his Hoſe a long knyfe (where it was ordeined that no man ſhould bring any weapon with him at all) and that at the ve|rie inſtant when this watchworde ſhoulde be vt|tered by him,Nempt your ſexes, what if it were meſles. Nempt your ſexes, then ſhould euery of them plucke out his knife, and ſlea the Bry|tayne that chaunced to be next to him, except the ſame ſhoulde bee Vortigerne, whom he willed to be apprehended, but not ſlaine.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 At the day aſſigned, the king with his appoin|ted number of Brytaynes, nothing miſtruſting leſſe than any ſuch maner of vnfaythfull dealing, came to the place in order before preſcribed, with|out armour or weapon, where hee founde readie Hengiſt with his Saxons, the whiche receyued the king with amiable countenance, in moſte lo|uing ſort: but after they were entred a little into communication, Hengiſt meaning to accompliſh hys deuyſed purpoſe, gaue the watchwoorde, im|mediately wherevpon the Saxons drewe oute theyr knyues, and ſodainly fell on the Brytayns,There [...] the noble [...] Brytaine [...] as Gal [...] and ſlue them as ſheepe being fallen within the daunger of woolues.

[figure appears here on page 118]

Compare 1587 edition: 1 For the Brytaines had no weapons to defend themſelues, except any of them by his ſtrength & manhood got the knife of his enimie.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 Amongſt other of the Brytaynes, there was one Edol Earle of Glouceſter,Ran. Ceſtren. Fabian. or (as other haue) Cheſter, which got a ſtake out of an hedge, or elſe where,70. bath. Gal. Math Weſt. Ran. Ceſtren. and with the ſame ſo defended himſelfe and layde aboute him, that he ſlue. xvij. of the Saxons, and eſcaped to the Towne of Ambrie, nowe called Saleſburie, and ſo ſaued his owne lyfe.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 Vortiger was taken and kept as priſoner by Hengiſt, till he was conſtrayned to delyuer vnto Hengiſt three Prouinces or Countreys of thys Realme, that is to witte. Kent and Eſſex, or as ſome write, that parte where the ſouth Saxons after did inhabite, as Suſſex and other: the thirde was the Countrey where the Eaſtangles plan|ted themſelues, which was in Noffolk, and Suf|folke.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 Then Hengiſt being in poſſeſſion of thoſe three Prouinces ſuffred Vortigerne to depart, and to to be at his libertie.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 William Malmeſb: wryteth ſomewhat o|therwiſe of this taking of Vortigerne,VVil. Malm. during whoſe raigne, after the deceaſſe of his ſonne Vortimer, nothing (as ſhould appeare by that which the ſame Malmeſb. wryteth) was at|tempted agaynſt the Saxons, but in the meane tyme (ſayeth hee Hengiſt according to the de|fault of mannes nature, whiche the more he hath the more hee deſyreth, by a colourable craft pro|cureth his ſonne in lawe Vortigerne to come to a banket to his houſe, wyth three hundred other Brytaynes, and when hee had made them well and warme with often quaffing and emptying of Cuppes, and of purpoſe touched euerye of them wyth one bytter taunte or other, they firſt fell to multiplying of malicious wordes, and af|ter to blowes, ſo that the Brytaynes were ſlaine euery mothers ſonne, ſo yeelding vp their ghoſtes euen amongſt their pottes.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 The King himſelfe was taken, and to re|deeme himſelfe out of pryſon, gaue to the Sax|ons three Prouinces, and ſo eſcaped oute of bondage.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 Thus by what meane ſoeuer it came to paſſe, truth it is (as all wryters agree) that Hengiſt got poſſeſſion of Kent, and of other Countreys in this Realme, and beganne to raigne there as abſolute Lorde and Gouernour in the yeare of oure Lorde (as ſome wryte.) 476.476 aboute EEBO page image 119 the fifth yeare of Vortigerns laſt raigne: but af|ter other which take the begynning of this king|dome of Kent, to be when Hengiſt had firſt gyft thereof, the ſame Kingdome beganne in the yeare .455.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 Kingdome of Kent.This Kingdome or Lordſhip of Kent con|teyned the countrey that ſtretcheth from the Eaſt Ocean, vnto the ryuer of Thames, hauing on the Southeaſt Southerie, and vpon the Weſt Lon|don, vppon the Northeaſt the Ryuer of Thames aforeſayde, and the Countrey of Eſſex.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 Hengiſt and all other the Saxon kings which ruled (as after ſhall appeare) in. vij. partes of this Realme, are called by wryters Reguli, that is to ſay, little kings or rulers of ſome ſmal dominion: ſo that Hengiſt is accounted as a little king. And when he had got into his handes the foreſayde three Prouinces, he cauſed more number of Sax|ons to come into Brytayne, and beſtowed them in places abroade in the Countrey, by reaſon whereof, the Chriſtian Religion greatlye de|cayed within the lande: for the Saxons being Pagans, did what they coulde to extinguiſh the fayth of Chriſt,The decay of Chriſtian re|ligion. and to plant, againe in all places theyr heatheniſh Religion, and worſhipping of falſe Goddes: and not onely hereby was the true fayth of the Chriſtians brought in daun|ger dayly to decay, but alſo the erronious opi|nion of the Pelagians greatly preuayled here amongeſt the Brytaynes, by meanes of ſuche vnſounde Preachers, as in that troubleſome ſeaſon did fit foorth erronious doctrine amongſt the people, without all maner of reprehenſion.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 Certayne yeares before the comming of the Saxons,Beda. that hereſie began to ſpreade within this land very much, by the lewde induſtrie of one Le|porius Agricola, the ſonne of Seuerus Sulpitius (as Bale ſayth) a Biſhop of that lore. But Pela|gius the author of this hereſie was borne in Wa|les, and held opinion that a man might obteyne ſaluation by his owne free wil & merit, & without, aſſiſtance of grace, as he that was borne without originall ſinne. &c.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 This erronious doctrine being taught therfore, & mainteyned in this troubleſome time of warres with the Saxons, ſore diſquieted the godly min|ded men amongeſt the Brytaines,Beda. the which not meaning to receyue it, nor yet able we [...] to confute the craftie and wicked perſwaſions vſed by the profeſſors therof, thought good to ſent [...]art into Gallia, requiring of the Biſhops there, that ſome godly & profound learned men might be ſent from thence into this lande, to defende the cauſe of the true doctrine againſt the naughtie teachers of ſo blaſphemous an error. Whervpon the Biſhops of Gallia ſore lamenting the miſerable ſtate of the Britains, & deſirous to relieue their preſent neede,A Sinode cal|led in Gallia. ſpecially in that caſe of religion, called a Sinode, [figure appears here on page 119] and therin taking counſail to conſider, who were moſt meeteſt to be ſent, it was decreed by al their conſents in the ende, that one Germaine the Bi|ſhop of Auxerre,Germanus, and Lupus. and Lupus Biſhop of Troyes ſhould paſſe ouer into Brytayne to confirme the Chriſtians there in the fayth of the celeſtial grace. And ſo thoſe two vertuous learned men taking their iourney, finally arriued in Brytayn, though not without ſome daunger by ſea, through ſtor|mes and rage of windes, ſtyrred (as hath beene thought) of the ſuperſtitious, by the malice of wicked ſpirites, who purpoſed to haue hindered theyr proceeding in this theyr good and well pur|poſed iourney.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 After they were come ouer, they did ſo much what with conuincing the wicked arguments of the aduerſaries of the truth, by the inuincible po|wer of the worde of God, and holyneſſe of lyfe, that thoſe whiche were out of the right way, were ſoone brought into the right path againe.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 EEBO page image 120About the ſame time alſo, one Palladins was ſent from Celeſtinus Biſhop of Rome, Beda. Palladius. vnto the Scottes, to inſtruct them in the fayth of Chriſt, and to purge them from the Hereſie of the ſayde Pelagius.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 This Paladius exhorted Conſtantinus the king of Scottes,Conſtantine king of Scots. that in no wiſe he ſhoulde ayde the Saxons beeing infidelles agaynſt the Bry|taines: and his exhortation tooke ſo good effect, that the ſayd Conſtantinus did not only forbeare to aſſyſt the Saxons, but contrarily holpe the Brytaynes in theyr warres agaynſt them, the which thing did mainteyne the ſtate of the Bry|taynes for a tyme from falling into vtter ruine and decay.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 In the meane time, the Saxons renued their league with the Pictes, ſo that their powers being ioyned togither,H. Hunt. Beda. they beginne a freſh to make ſore warres vpon the Brytaynes, the which of neceſ|ſitie were conſtrayned to aſſemble an armie, and miſtruſting their owne ſtrength, required ayde of the two Biſhops, Germaine and Lupus. The which haſting forwarde with all ſpeede came in|to the army, bringing with them no ſmall hope of good lucke to all the Brytaynes there bee|ing aſſembled.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 This was done in Lent, and ſuch was the di|ligence of the Biſhops, that (the people being in|ſtructed with continuall preaching) in renoun|cing the error of the Pelagians, earneſtly came by troupes to receyue the grace of God offered in baptiſme, ſo that on Eaſter day which then en|ſued, the more part of the army was baptiſed, and ſo went forth againſt the enimies, the which hea|ring thereof, made haſt towards the Brytaynes, in hope to ouercome them at pleaſure. But theyr approche being knowne, Byſhoppe Ger|maine taketh vpon him the leading of the Br [...]|tiſh hoſt,The armi [...] [...] the Bryti [...] newly [...]. and ouer agaynſt the paſſage throughe the which the enimies were appoynted to come, he choſe forth a valley encloſed with high Moun|taynes, and within the ſame he placeth his [...] waſhe [...] armie.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 And when he ſaw the enimies now at hande he commaunded that euery man with one gene|rall voyce ſhoulde aunſwere him, crying alowde the ſame crie that he ſhould begin.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 And euen as the enimies were readie to giue the charge vpon the Brytaynes, ſuppoſing that they ſhould haue taken them at vnwares, and be|fore any warning had beene giuen, ſodainly Bi|ſhop Germaine and the Prieſtes, with a lowde and ſhrill voyce cryed Alleluia thrice:Alleluia. and there|with all the multitude of the Brytaynes wyth whole voyce cryed the ſame crie, with ſuch a lowd ſteauen, that the Saxons were ſo therewith a|maſed and aſtonyed, (the echo from the rocks and hilles adioyning, redoubling in ſuche wiſe the crie,) that they thought that not onely the rockes and clyfes had fallen vpon them, but that euen the ſkie it ſelfe had broken in peeces and come tum|bling downe vpon their heades: herewith there|fore throwing away their weapons, they tooke them to their feete, that glad was he that might get to be formoſt in running awaye. Many of them for haſt were drowned in a Riuer whiche they had to paſſe. Polidore taketh that Riuer to be Trent.

[figure appears here on page 120]

Compare 1587 edition: 1 2 3 The Brytayns hauing thus vanquiſhed their enimies, gathered the ſpoyle at good leyſure, and gaue God thanks for the victorie thus got with|out bloud, for the which the holy biſhops alſo tri|amphed as beſt became them. And after they had ſetled all things in good quiet within the Ile, as was thought expedient, they returned into Gallia or France, frõ whence they came (as is before re|herſed.Mat. VVeſt.) By one author it ſhould appeare that this battell was woonne againſt the Scots and Picts EEBO page image 105 about the yeare of our Lord .448.448 a little before ye comming of the Saxons into this lande vnder Hengiſt, whereto William Harriſon accordeth, in which yeare S. Germane firſte came hither to weede out the hereſie of Pelagius, as by the ſame author more at large is affirmed. Howbeit, Wil|liam Harriſon in his Chronologie out of Proſ|per, & other writers of time, noteth ye firſt cõming of Germanus in the .429. of Chriſt, and vnder ye Conſulſhip of Florentius and Dioniſius: & thys ſhoulde ſeeme to agree with the trouth, for that after ſome, ye foreſaid Germane ſhould dye at Ra|uenna about the yeare of our Lord .450. as Vin|centius noteth, whiche was the very yeare of the comming of the Saxons: notwithſtanding whẽ, or whereſoeuer he dyed, it was not long after hys returne into Gallia, vpon his firſt iourney made hither into this land, & obteyning of ye victory be|fore mentioned, but yt word was brought againe vnto him, that eftſoones the hereſie of the Pelagi|ans was ſpred abrode in Britayne,Germane re| [...]urneth againe [...]nto Britayne. & therefore al the Prieſts or Cleargie made requeſt to him yt it might ſtande with his pleaſure to come ouer a|gaine, and defend the cauſe of true Religion whi|che he had before confirmed. Heerevpon Biſhop German granteth ſo to do, and therefore takyng with him one Seuerus (that was diſciple vnto Lupus, & ordeyned at yt tyme Biſhop of Tryer) he tooke the Sea, and came againe into Britaine, where he founde the multitude of the people ſted|faſt in the ſame beliefe wherein he had left them, & perceyued the fault to reſt in a fewe: wherevppon enquiring out the authors, he condemneth them to exile (as it is written) and with a manifeſt mi|racle by reſtoring a yong man that was lame (as they ſay) vnto the right vſe of his limmes, he con|firmeth his doctrine. Then followeth preaching to perſwade amendmente of errors, and by the generall conſente of all men, the authors of the wicked doctrine being baniſhed the land, were de|liuered vnto Biſhop Germane and to his fellowe Seuerus, to conuey them forth in their company vnto the parties of beyond the Sea, that the Re|gion might ſo be deliuered of further daunger, and they receyue the benefite of due amendmente.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 2 3 4 By this meanes it came to paſſe, that the true faith continued in Britayne ſoun [...] [...] [...]fect a long time after. And thus things beeing ſet in good order, thoſe holy men returned into theyr countreys. And ſo after this ſeconde time of hys being here, the forenamed Biſhop German went to Rauenna for to ſew for peace to bee graunted vnto the people of Armorike Britayne, and there being receyued of the Emperour Valentinian, & his mother Placida in moſt reuerend manner, he departed in that Citie out of this tranſitory life, to the eternall ioyes of heauen. His body was af|terwardes conueyed vnto the Citie of Auxerre,Anno 450 as Vincentius noteth lib. 20. Cap. 15. where he had bin Biſhop with great opinion of holineſſe for his ſincere doctrine and pure and in|nocent life.The Emperor Valentinian ſlayne. Shortly after was the Emperoure Valentinian ſlayne by the friendes of that noble man named Aetius, whom he had before cauſed to be put to death. By this it may appeare, that Biſhop German came into this Realm both the firſt and ſecond time, whileſt as well Hengiſt, as alſo Vortigerne were liuing: for the ſayde Valẽ|tinian was murthered about ye yeare of our Lord 454. where the ſayde Kings liued & reigned long after that time,454 as may appeare both before & af|ter in this preſent booke. To returne then to Vor|tigerne. We find in the Brittiſh hiſtorie, that af|ter the Saxons had conſtreyned him to delyuer into their handes a greate parte of the ſouth & eaſt partes of the Realme, ſo that they had in poſſeſ|ſion London, Yorke, Lincolne, & Wincheſter, wt other Cities & townes,Galfrid. he not only fearing theyr puiſſãce, but alſo ye returne of Aurelius Ambroſi|us, & his brother Vtherpẽdragon, withdrew him into Wales, wher he begã to build a ſtrõg Caſtel [figure appears here on page 105] EEBO page image 122 vpon a Mountayne called Breigh, or after other Cloaric,Caxton. Fabian. Policron. neere to the riuer of Guana, whiche is in the Weſt ſide of Wales in a place within the compaſſe of the ſame hill called Generon or Gueyneren.Mount Erit 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 monſtrous birth of Merlin and his knowlege in propheſying, the Britiſhe hiſtories tell a long proceſſe, the whiche in Caxton, and in Galfrides bookes is alſo ſet foorthe, as there yee may ſee: but for that the ſame ſéemeth not of ſuche credite as deſerueth to be regiſtred in any ſound hiſtorie, we haue with ſilence paſſed it ouer.Aurelius and Vter brethren returne into Britayne. Whileſt Vor|tigerne was buſſed in building of this Caſtel, the two foreſayde breethren Aurelius and Vter pre|pared a nauie of Shippes, and an army of men, by helpe of ſuche their kinſmen and friendes as they founde in Armorike Britayne, and ſo paſſed the Sea, and landed at Totrieſſe: whereof when the Britaynes were aduertiſed, the which were ſcat|tered abrode and ſeuered in diuers parties & coun|treys, they drewe vnto the ſayde two breethren with all ſpeede that might be. When Aurelius and his brother Vter perceyued that they were ſufficiẽtly furniſhed of people, they marched forth towardes Wales againſt Vortigerne, the which hauing knowledge of their approche,Vortigerne brent to death had fortify|ed his Caſtell right ſtrongly with men, munition and vittayles, but yet all that nothing auayled him, for in the ende after his enimies had gyuen diuers aſſaultes to the ſayde Caſtell,Wilde fire not yet inuented as ſome think they found meanes with wilde fire to brenne it downe to the earth, and ſo conſumed it by fire togither with the King, and all other that were within it.

[figure appears here on page 122]

Compare 1587 edition: 1 Thus did Vortigerne ende his life (as in the Brittiſh hiſtorie is recorded.) Of him much euill is reported by the ſame hiſtorie, and alſo by other writers, and amongſt other things it is written, that he ſhoulde lie by his owne daughter, and of hir begote a ſonne, in truſt that kings ſhuld come of him, and therefore was he excommunicate by Saint Germane.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 It is alſo ſayde, [...] A ſay [...] of S. [...] that when the ſame Sainte Germane came into Britayne (as before ye haue heard) this Vortigerne on a time ſhoulde deri [...]e the ſame Saint Germane harbourrowe: but one that kept the Kings heardes of Caſtell receyued him into his houſe, and lodged him,A cali [...]+ [...]ation. and ſlewe a Calfe for his ſupper, the which Calfe (after ſupper was ended) Sainte Germane reſtored againe to life: and on the morrow by the ordinance of God, hee cauſed Vortigerne to bee depoſed from hys Kingly eſtate, and tooke the heardman and made him King.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 2 But Ranulfus Higden in his booke entitled Polychronicon, alledging Gildas for his author, ſayth, that this chaunced to a king that ruled in Powſey, whoſe name was Buly, and not to Vortigerne: ſo that the ſucceſſours of that Buly reigning in that ſide of Wales, came of the lig|nage of the ſame herdman. Moreouer it hath bin ſayd as one writer recordeth,H. Hunt. that when Vorti|gerne refuſed to heare the preaching of S. Ger|man, & fled from him as he followed to haue in|ſtructed him, one night there fell fyre from heauẽ vpon the caſtel wherin the king was lodged, and ſo the king being deſtroyed with the fall of the houſe and the fyre togyther, was neuer after ſeene. But theſe are fables, and therfore I paſſe them ouer, hoping that it ſhall ſuffiſe to ſhewe here with what ſtuffe our olde hiſtoriographers haue farced vp their huge volumes.

5.67. Aurelius Ambroſius.

Aurelius Ambroſius.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 2 [figure appears here on page 122] AVrelius Am+broſius,Aureli|us Am|broſius. ye ſe|cond ſon of king Conſtantine, & brother to Con|ſtãtius, murthe|red by the trea|ſon of Vorti|gerne (as before ye haue hearde) was made king of Brytons, in the yere of our Lord .481.Mat. VVeſt. hath. 466. which was about the thirde yeare of the reigne of the Emperour Zeno, and the .xxiij. of Childericus, King of Fraunce. Odocer King of the Heruli as then vſurping the gouernement of Italy. Af|ter that this Aurelius Ambroſius had diſpatched Vortigerne, and was nowe eſtabliſhed Kyng of the Britaynes, hee made towardes Yorke,Galfr. M [...]. and paſſing the Riuer of Humber, encountred with the Saxons at a place called Maeſbell, and ouer|threwe them in a ſtrong battell, from the which as Hengiſt was fleeing to haue ſaued himſelfe,Hengiſt taken & beheaded, hee was taken by Edoll Earle of Glowceſter (or as ſome haue Cheſter) and by him ledde to Conningeſbourrowe and was there beheaded EEBO page image 123 by the counſell of Eldade then Biſhop of Col|cheſter.Mat. VVeſt. But ther be that write how Hengiſt was taken at an other battell fought vpon the Riuer of Dune, in the yeare of our Lord .489. and not in the chaſe of the battell whiche was foughte at Maeſbelle in the yeare .427. as the ſame au|thors do alledge.Occa. Occa the ſonne of Hengiſt, by flight eſcaped to Yorke, and being there beſieged, at length was conſtreyned to yeelde hymſelfe to Aurelius: the which dealing fauorably with him, aſſigned foorth to him and other of the Saxons a countrey borduring neere to the Scottes, whych (as ſome affirme) was Galloway, where the ſayd Occa and the Saxons began to inhabite. Then did Aurelius Ambroſius put the Saxons out of all other partes of the land, and repared ſuche Ci|ties, Townes, and alſo Churches, as by them had bin deſtroyed or defaced, and placed agayne Prieſtes, and ſuch other as ſhoulde attende to the miniſterie and ſeruice of God in the ſame Chur|ches.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 Alſo for a perpetuall memorie of thoſe Bri|taynes that were ſlayne on the playne of Saliſ|burie by the treaſon of Hengiſt, he cauſed ſtones to bee fetched out of Irelande, and to be ſet vpon the ſame place where that ſlaughter was com|mitted and called the place Stonheng, whiche name continueth vnto this day. There were ſent fifteene thouſand men as Galfride ſaith,Galfrid. for thoſe ſtones, vnder the leading of Vter Pendragon the Kings brother, the whiche giuing battell vnto Gillomanus King of Ireland that went aboute to reſiſt the Britaynes, and would not permittte them to fetche away the ſame ſtones out of hyr countrey; diſcomfyted him and his people, and ſo maugre his will broughte the ſtones away with him.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 Shortly after Paſcentius that was Vorti|gernes yongeſt ſonne, and had eſcaped into Ire|land (when Aurelius Ambroſius came into Bri|tayne) returned with a greate power of ſtraunge nations, and toke ye Citie of Meneuia in Wales, afterwardes called Saint Dauid, and did much hurt in the countrey with fire and ſworde. At whiche time the ſame Aurelius Ambroſius laye ſicke at Wincheſter, and beeing not able to goe foorth himſelfe, deſired his brother Vter Pendra|gon to aſſemble an army of Britaines, and to goe againſt Paſcentius and his adherents. Vter according to his brothers requeſt, gathering hys people, wente forthe, and encountring with the e|nimies, gaue them the ouerthrowe, ſlew Paſcen|tius and Gillomare or Gilloman King of Ire|lande that was come ouer with him in ayde a|gainſt [figure appears here on page 123] the Britaynes.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 In the meane while, a Saxon, or ſome other ſtranger,Hec. Boetius. whoſe name was Eopa or Copa [...] long before procured thereto by Paſcentius, fay|ned himſelfe to be a Britayne, and for a couloure counterfeyting himſelfe a Monke, and ſo haue great knowledge in Phiſicke, was admitted to miniſter as it were medicines vnto Aurelius: but in ſtead of that whiche ſhoulde haue broughte him health, he gaue him poyſon, whereof hee dyed ſhortly after at Wincheſter aforeſayde,Fabian. when hee had raigned after moſt accorde of writers nine|teene yeares: his body was co [...]hed to Stone|heng and there buried.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 Thus finde wee in the Britiſhe and common Engliſh hiſtories of the doings of Aurelius Am|broſius, which as ye haue heard make him a Bri|tayne borne, and diſcended of the bloud of the an|cient Britaynes. But Gildas and Beda reporte him to be a Romayne by diſcent as before is mẽ|tioned.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 Polydore Virgill writeth in this ſorte of the victorious actes atchieued by the foreſayde Aure|lius Ambroſius. Then ſaith he,Polidor. the Saxons ha|uing EEBO page image 124 already gotten the whole rule of the Iſle, practiſe their outragious cruelty ſpecially againſt the Princes of the Britaynes, to the end, that the ſayde Princes beeing ouercome and deſtroyed, they might with more eaſe obteyne poſſeſſion of the whole Iſle, whiche thing they only ſoughte for. But the fauor of almightie God was not wanting to the miſerable Britaynes in that greate neceſſitie, for beholde, Aurelius Ambroſius was at hande, the which had no ſooner cauſed the Trumpet to blowe to armour, but euery man for himſelfe prepareth and reſorteth to him, praying and beſieching him to help to defende them, and that it might ſtand with his pleaſure to goe forth with them againſt the enimies with all ſpeede.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 Thus an army beeyng aſſembled, Aurelius Ambroſius goeth againſte them, and valiantly aſſayleth them, ſo that within the ſpace of a fewe dayes, they foughte three battayles with greate fierceneſſe on both ſydes in triall of their high diſ|pleaſures and vttermoſt forces, in which at lẽgth the Britaynes put the Saxons to flight, Horſus the brother of Hengiſt being ſlayne with a greate number of his people. But yet notwithſtanding the enimies rage was little abated heereby, for within a fewe dayes after receyuing out of Ger|many a newe ſupply of menne, they brake foorth vpon the Britaynes with greate confidence of victory. Aurelius Ambroſius was no ſooner ad|uertiſed thereof, but that withoute delay he ſette forwarde towardes Yorke from whence the eni|mies ſhould come, and hearing by the way that Hengiſt was encamped about ſeuen and twentie miles diſtante from that Citie, neere to the banke of a Riuer at this day called Dune, in the place where Doncaſter now ſtandeth, he returneth out of his way and marcheth towards that place, and the nexte daye ſetteth on the enimie and vanqui|ſheth him,Hengiſt is ſlayne. Hengiſt at the firſt meeting of the bat|tels beeyng ſlayne, with a greate number of the Germanes. The fame of this victory (ſaith Po|lidore) is had in memory with the inhabitantes of thoſe parties euen vnto this day, the which victo|ry did ſore diminiſh the power of the Saxons, in ſomuch that they began now to thinke it ſhoulde be more for their profit to ſit in reſt with that diſ|honor, than to make any newe warres to theyr great diſaduantage and likelyhod of preſent loſſe.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 Hengiſt lefte behynde him two ſonnes, Ofea and Otha, the which as menne moſt ſorrowfull for the ouerthrowe of late receyued, aſſembled ſuche power as they could togither, and remooued there with towardes the Weſt parte of the Iſle, ſuppoſing it to bee better for them to drawe that way foorth, than to returne into Kent, where they thought was already a ſufficient number of their people to reſiſt the Britaynes on that ſyde.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 Nowe therefore, when they were come into the Weſt partes of the land, they waſt the coun|trey, bre [...]ne Villages, and abſtayne from no ma|ner [figure appears here on page 124] of crueltie that might be ſhewed.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 Theſe things beeing reported vnto Aurelius Ambroſius, hee ſtraightwayes haſteth thither to reſiſt thoſe enimies, and ſo giuing them battell, eftſoones diſcomfiteth them:Aurelius dieth a wounde. but he himſelfe recey|uing a wounde, dyed thereof within a few dayes after.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 2 3 The Engliſh Saxons hauing thus ſuſteined ſo many loſſes within a few monethes togither, were contented to bee quiet nowe that the Bri|taynes ſtirred nothing agaynſte them, by reaſon they were brought into ſome trouble by the death of ſuch a noble Captayne as they had nowe loſt.Vortimer de|parteth this life. In the meane time Vortimer died, after whome ſucceeded Vter ſurnamed Pendragon. Thus hath Polidore written of the foreſayde Aurelius EEBO page image 125 Ambroſius, not naming him to be King of Bri|tayne, and differing indeede in ſundry poyntes in this behalfe from diuers aunciente writers of the Engliſh hiſtories, for wher he attributeth the vic|tory to the Britaynes in the battel fought, wher|in Horſus the brother of Hengiſt was ſlayne by the reporte of Polychronicon, and other, the Sax|ons hadde the victory in that reencounter, and William of Malmeſburie ſayeth,VVil. Mal that they de|parted from that battell with egall fortune, the Saxons loſing their Captayne Horſus,Katigerne. and the Britaynes their Captayne Katigerne (as before yee haue hearde) but there is ſuche [...] [...]arietie in writers touching the doings bet [...] [...] Bri|taynes and Saxons in thoſe dayes [...] well in accompte of yeares, as in the reporte of thynges done, that ſetting affection aſide, hard it is to iudge to which part a man ſhould giue credite. Where Fabian and other authors write, that Aurelius Ambroſius began his raigne ouer the Britaines about the yeare of our Lord .481. Hor|ſus was ſlayne about the yeare .458.458 during the raigne of Vortimer, as aboue is mentioned, ſo that it cannot ſtande with the froth of the Brit|tiſh hiſtories (the whiche Fabian followeth) that Horſus was ſlayne by Aurelius Ambroſius, if according to the ſame hiſtories hee returned not into Britayne, till the time there ſuppoſed. But diuers ſuch manner of contrarieties ſhall ye [...]nde in peruſing of thoſe writers that haue written the Chronicles of the Britaynes and Saxons, the which in euery point to recite would be too te|dious and comberſome a matter, and therefore we are forced to paſſe ye ſame ouer, not knowing how to bring them to any iuſt accorde for the ſa|tiſfying of all mens mindes, and namely the cu|rious, whiche may with diligente ſearche ſatiſfye themſelues happily muche better than any other ſhall be able to doe in vttering his opinion neuer ſo much at large, and agreeable to a troth: onely therefore haue we thought good as it were by the way to touch what diuers authors do write, lea|uing it ſo to euery mans iudgemente to conſtrue therof, as his affection leadeth him. We fynde in the writings of thoſe that haue regiſtred the do|ings of theſe times,Sigebertus. that Aurelius hauing vanqui|ſhed the Saxons, reſtored Churches to the fur|therance of the Chriſtian Religion, which by the inuaſion of the Saxons was greatly decayed in diuers partes of Britayne,488. as Math. Weſt hath. and thys chanced in the days of the Emperour Theodoſius ye yonger.

5.67.1. The beginning of the Kingdome of Suſſex.

The beginning of the Kingdome of Suſſex.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 2 Ella entred this land as M. VVeſt. hath anno. 477.IN the time of the foreſayd Aurelius Ambroſius one Ella a Saxon with his three ſonnes Cy|men, Plettinger & Ciſſa, came out of Germany with three Shippes, and landed in the South partes of Britayne, and being encountred with a power of Britaynes at a place called Cuneue|ſhore, diſcomfited them, and chaſed them vnto a wood then called Andredeſwold, and ſo tooke that countrey, and inhabited there with his people the Saxons which he brought with him, and made himſelfe King and Lord thereof, in ſomuche that afterwardes the ſame countrey was named the kingdome of the South Saxons,The kingdom of the South Saxons doth begin. whiche had for limittes on the Eaſt ſide Kent, on the South, the Sea and Iſle of Wight, on the weſt Hamſhire, and on the North part Southerie. This Kyng|dome (after ſome) began vnder the forſayd El|la, aboute the .32. yeare after the firſte commyng of the Saxons into this lãd, which by following that accompt, ſhould be about the ſecond yeare of the raigne of Aurelius Ambroſius, and about the yeare of oure Lord .482. But other write,482 that it did begin about the .30. yeare after the firſte com|ming of Hengiſt, which ſhould be two yeares ſoo|ner. William Harriſon differing from al other, noteth it to begin in the fourth yeare after ye death of Hengiſt .4458. of the worlde .2. of the .317. O|lympiad .1243. of Rome .492. of Chriſte, and .43. after the comming of the Saxons: his words are theſe. Ella erecteth the Kingdome of the South Saxons, in the .1 [...]. after his arriuall, and raigned 32. yeares, the chiefe Citie of his Kingdome alſo was Chicheſter, & after her had enioyed the fame his Kingdome awhile, he ouerthrew ye Citie cal|led Andredeſceſter, whiche as then was taken for one of the moſt famous in all the South ſide of England. For my parte I thinke my dutie diſ|charged, if I ſhew the opinions of ye writers: for if I ſhould thereto adde mine owne, I ſhould but increaſe coniectures, whereof already we haue ſu|perfluous ſtore. To proceede therfore as I fynde.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 2 3 About the ninth yeare after the comming of Elle, the Britaynes perceyuing that he with hys Saxons ſtill enlarged the boundes of his Lord|ſhip by entring further into the lande, aſſembled themſelues togither vnder their Kings and Ru|lers, and gaue battell to Elle and his ſonnes at Mecredeſbourne, where they departed with dout|full victory, the armies on both ſides being ſore diminiſhed, and ſo returned to their homes. Elle after this battell ſente into his countrey for more ayde. But nowe touching Hengiſt which as yre haue hearde, reigned as King in the prouince of Kente, the writers of the Engliſhe Kings varie ſomewhat from the Brittiſhe hiſtories, bothe in reporte of the battels by him foughte againſte the Britaynes, and alſo for the manner of his deathe: as thus. After that Vortimerus was dead, which departed this life (as ſome write) in the firſt yeare of the Emperour Leo, ſurnamed the greate,Policron. and firſt of that name that gouerned the Empire, who began to rule in the yeare of our Lorde .457.457 wee fynde that Hengiſt and his ſonne Occa or Oſta EEBO page image 126 gathered their people togither that were before ſparkled,H. Hunt. and hauing alſo receyued new ayde out of Germany,VV. Mal. fought with ye Britaynes at a place called Crekenforde,Creyſourd. wher were ſlayne of the Bri|taynes foure Dukes or Captaynes, and foure thouſand of other men,Britaynes o|uerthrowen. and the reſidue were cha|ſed by Hengiſt out of Kent vnto London, ſo that they neuer returned afterwards againe into Kẽt: and ſo the Kingdome of Kent began vnder Hen|giſt the twelfth yeare after the comming of the Saxons into Britayne, and Hengiſt raigned in Kent after this (as the ſame writers agree) foure and twentie yeares.Polychron. It is remembred that thoſe Germanes whiche lately were come ouer to the ayde of Hengiſt, beeing choſen men, mightie and ſtrong of body, with their axes and ſwords made great ſlaughter of the Britaynes in that battell at Crekenford or Creyforde, whiche Britaynes were aranged in foure battayles vnder their a|foreſayd foure Dukes or Captaynes, and were (as before is mentioned) ſlayne in the ſame battel.H. Hunt. About the ſixth yere of the ſayd Emperour Leo, which was in the .17. yeare after the comming of the Saxons.

VVipers field Mat. VVeſt. This battell was fought anno .473. as the ſame Mat. VVeſt noteth Wipet

Hen. Hunt.

Hengiſt and his ſonne Occa or O|ſca fought at Wyptiſhe fielde in Kent, neere to a place called Tong with the Britaynes, & ſlewe of them twelue Dukes or Captaynes, and on the parte of the Saxons was ſlayne beſyde common Souldiers but onely one Captayne that highte Vipet, of whome ye place after yt day tooke name.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 This victory was nothing pleaſaunte to the Saxons, by reaſon of the great loſſe whiche they ſuſteyned, as well by the death of the ſayd Vipet, as of a greate number of others: and ſo of a long time neyther did the Saxons enter into the con|fynes of the Britaynes, nor the Britaynes pre|ſumed to come into Kent. But whileſt outward warres ceaſſe among the Britaynes, they exer|ciſe ciuill battell, falling togither by the eares a|mong themſelues, one ſtriuing againſt another. Finally, Hengiſt departed this life by courſe of nature,Fortie yeares hath H. Hunt. in the .39. yeare after his firſte comming into Britayne, hauing proceeded in his buſineſſe no leſſe with craft and guyle than with force and ſtrength, following therewith his natiue crueltie, ſo that he rather did all things with rigoure than with gentleneſſe.By this it is euident that he was not driuen out of the lande after he had once got foote within it. After him ſucceeded a ſonne whiche hee left behinde him, who beeing attentiue rather to defende than to enlarge his King|dome, neuer ſet foote out of his fathers boundes, duryng the ſpace of .24. yeares, in the whiche hee raigned.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 About three yeares after the deceſſe of Hengiſt, a new ſupply of men of warre came out of Ger|many vnto the ayde of Elle King of Suſſex,Mat. VVeſt. the which hauing his power ſo encreaſſed,Hen. Hunt. beſieged the Citie of Andredeſceſtre,The Citie of Andredeſce|ſtre. which was very ſtrõg & well furniſhed with men & all things neceſſary.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 The Britaynes alſo aſſembling togither in companies, greatly annoyed the Saxons as they lay there at ſiege, laying ambuſhes to de|ſtroy ſuche as wente abrode, and ceaſſing not to giue alarmes to the campe in the night ſeaſon: & the Saxons could no ſooner prepare themſelues to giue the aſſault, but the Britaynes were ready to aſſayle them on the backes, till at length the Saxons deuiding themſelues into two compa|nies, appoynted the one to giue the aſſault, and the other to encounter with the army of the Bri|taynes without, and ſo finally by that meanes preuayled, tooke the Citie, and deſtroyed manne, woman and childe. Neyther ſo contented, they did alſo vtterly raſe the ſayde Citie, ſo as it was neuer after that daye builded or reedified a|gayne.

5.67.2. The Kingdome of the Eaſtangles.

The Kingdome of the Eaſtangles.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 [figure appears here on page 126] MOreouer,The Kingdome of the Eaſt|angles beg [...]. This King|dome a [...] [...]+riſon much began nor till Aurelius Conanus raigned. in the dayes of the fore|named Aurelius Am|broſius about the yeare of our Lorde .561. the kingdome of the Eaſt|angles began vnder a Saxon named Vffa.561 This Kingdome con|teyned Northfolke and Suffolke, hauing on the Eaſt and North partes the Sea, on the North|weſt Cambridge ſhire, and on the Weſt Sainte Edmonds ditch with a part of Hertfordſhire, and on the South ſide lieth Eſſex. This Kingdome at the firſte was called Vffines dominion, and the Kings that raigned, or the people that inha|bited there, were at the firſte named Vffines, but at length they were called Eaſtangles.

[figure appears here on page 126]

Compare 1587 edition: 1 FVrthermore about ye yere of oure Lorde 495.Cerdic. VVil. Mal. and in the eyght yeare af|ter that Hen|giſt was dead,495 one Cerdicus, and his ſonne Kenricus came out of Germa|ny with fiue Shippes,Fabian. Policrus. and landed at a place cal|led Cerdiceore, whiche as ſome thinke is nowe called Yermouth in Northfolke. Hee was at the firſt receyued with battell by the Britaynes,VVil. Mal. but beeing an olde ſkilfull warriour, hee eaſily beate backe and repulſed the inconſtante multitude of his enimies, and cauſed them to flee: by whyche good ſucceſſe hee procured for the time to come, both vndoubted aſſurance to himſelfe, and to the EEBO page image 127 inhabitantes good and perfect quietneſſe, for they thinking good neuer after to prouoke him more by reſiſtãce, ſubmitted themſelues to his pleaſure: but yet did not he then gyue himſelfe to ſlouthful reſt, but rather extending his often atchieued vic|tories on eache ſyde [...] foure and twentith yeare after his comming into this land he obtey|ned the title of the Weſt partes thereof, and go|uerned there as King ſo that the Kingdome of Weſt Saxons began vnder the ſayde [...]icus in the .519.519 of Chriſt as [...] ſhall be ſhewed.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 Thus may yee ſee that if Aurelius Ambroſius did ſucceede after Vortigerne, and raigned in the tyme ſuppoſed by the Brittiſh hiſtories, [...] before is alledged, the lande euen in his dayes was full of trouble, and the olde inhabitauntes the Bri|taynes ſore vexed by the Saxons that [...]ed the ſame, ſo that the Britaynes dayly were hampe|red, and brought vnderſubiection to the valiante Saxons, or elſe driuen to remoue further off, and to giue place to the victorers. But nowe to pro|ceede with the ſucceſſion of the Brittiſhe Kings as in their Hiſtories wee fynde them regiſtred, whiche I delyuer ſuche as I fynde, but not ſuche as I do wiſhe, being written with no ſuche cou|loure of credite as we may ſafely put foorthe the ſame for an vndoubted truth.

5.68. Vter Pendragon.

Vter Pendragon.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 AFter that Aurelius Ambroſius was dead, his brother Vter Pendragon (whome Harriſon calleth,Math. Weſt. noteth. Aurelius Vterius Ambroſianus) was made King in the yeare of our Lorde.500 500. in the ſeuenth yeare of the Emperour Anaſtaſius, and in the ſixteene yeare of Clodoueus King of the Frenchmen. The cauſe why hee was ſurnamed Pendragon, was, for that Merlyne the greate Prophete likened him to a Dragons head, that at the tyme of his natiuitie maruellouſly appea|red in the firmamente at the corner of a blaſing Starre as is reported. But Harriſon ſuppoſeth that hee was ſo called of his wiſedome and ſer|pẽtine ſubtiltie, or for that he gaue the Dragons head in his Banner.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 2 3 Thys Vter, hearing that the Saxons with their Captaynes Occa or Octa the ſonne of Hengiſt, and his brother Oſra hadde beſieged the Citie of Yorke, haſted thither, and giuing them battell diſcomfited their power, and tooke the ſayd Occa and Oſra priſoners. From this varieth Hector Boetius in his Chronicle of Scotland, writing of theſe doings in Britaine:Hec. Boetius. for he affir|meth that the counterfet Monke whiche poyſo|ned Aurelius Ambroſius, was ſubornate, and ſent to worke that feate by Occa, and not by his brother Paſcentius: and further, that about the very ſelfe time of Aurelius his deathe, his brother Vter Pendragon lay in Wales, not as yet fully recouered of a ſore ſickneſſe wherewith of late he had bin greeuouſly vexed. Yet the Lords of Bri|tayne after the Buriall of Aurelius Ambroſius, came vnto him, and crowned him king & though he was not able to goe againſt yt Saxons which as then by reaſon of Aurelius Ambroſius hys death were very buſie, and more earneſt in pur|ſuing the war than before) an army was yet pre|pared and ſente foorth with all conuenient ſpeede [...] leading of one Nathaliod, a man neyther of any greate auntiente houſe, not yet of ſkill i [...] warlike affaires. The noble men were nothyng pleaſed herewith, as miſliking altogither ye lack of diſcretion in their new king, and doubted ſore, leaſt in time to come he would haue more delight to aduance the baſe degree, than ſuch as were diſ|cended of noble parentage. Yet bicauſe they wold [...] the ſtate of the common wealth in daun|g [...] [...] any muteny, they agreed to goe forth with him in that iourney. Occa had aduertiſe|mente giuen by ſecrete letters ſente to him from ſome cloſe friendes amongſt the Britaines of the whole matter, and therefore in hope of the better ſpeed he haſted foorth to encounter the Britaines, and ſo the one army comming within ſight of yt other, they prepare to the battell, and ſhortly af|ter buckling togither, the Britaines were ſoone [figure appears here on page 127] diſcomfited, by reaſon that one of their chiefeſt Captaines called Gothlois diſdeyning to bee at the appointmente of Nathaliod, gote him vp to the next hill with the battell which he led, leauing the other Britaines in al the daunger: which they perceyuing ſtraight wayes began to flee. There dyed no greate number of the Britaines, excepte thoſe that were killed in the fighte: for Occa mi|ſtruſting what Gothlois meant by his withdra|wing aſide, woulde not ſuffer the Saxons to followe the chaſe, but in the nyghte followyng, Gothlois gote hym away, and reſted not till EEBO page image 128 hee was out of daunger. Occa then perceiuing himſelfe to haue the vpper hand, ſent an Herrauld vnto King Vter with a certayne meſſage, thret|ning deſtruction to him and to his people, if he re|fuſed to do that which he ſhould appoynt.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 2 3 4 Vter perceyuing what diſloyaltie reſted in the harts of his owne ſubiectes, agreed that the mat|ter might be committed to eyght graue and wiſe Counſellers, foure Britaines and foure Saxons, which might haue full power to make an ende of all controuerſies and variaunces depending be|twixt the two nations. Occa was likewiſe con|tented therewith, where vppon were named on eyther part four perſons, of ſuch wiſedom, know|ledge and experience, as were thought meéeteſt to take direction for the ordering of ſuch a weightie buſineſſe. By the arbitrement, warde and dome then of thoſe eighte perſons ſufficiently authori|ſed thereto, a league was concluded vppon cer|taine articles of agreement, amongſt the whyche the chiefeſt was, that the Saxons from thence|foorth ſhould quietly enioy all that part of Brit|tayne whiche lyeth fore aneynſt the Almayne Seas, the same to bee called euer after Engistlaunde, and all the residue shoulde remayne to the Britaines as their owne rightfull and aunciente inheritance. Thus hathe Hector Boetius, but nowe to returne vnto Vter according to that wee finde in the Brittish histories: but to proceede after our owne writers, that when he had vanquished the Saxons and taken their two chiefetaines prisoners, in processe of time, he fell in loue with a righte beautifull Lady called Igwarne or Igerna, Go [...]l [...] [...] of [...] wife to one Gorolus or Gorloys Duke of Cornewaile, the which Duke he slew at length neere to his owne Castell called Diuulioc in Cornewaile, to the ende that he mighte enioy the sayd Lady the which he afterwards married, and begate on hir that noble Knighte Arthur, and a daughter named Amye or Anna. Oca and Ossa escaping also out of prison assembled eftsoones a power of Saxons, and made warre againste the Britaynes, whereof Uter hauing aduertisement prepared to resist them, and finally went himselfe in person againste them, and at Saint Albanes (as some write) gaue them battel [...] and slew them [figure appears here on page 128] both in the fielde. By that which Polydore Ver|gill writeth it ſhoulde ſeeme that Germane the Biſhop of Auxerre came into Britayne in the dayes of this Vter, by whoſe preſence the Bryt|taynes had victory againſte the Saxons (as be|fore yet haue hearde) after whiche victory bothe parties reſted from troubling eyther other for a time, the Saxons as it were aſtonied with that preſente miracle, and the Britaynes not follo|wing their good ſucceſſe ſhortly after fell at diſ|cord amongſt themſelues, which finally brought them to vtter decay, as after ſhall appeare. But ye Saxons being deſirous to ſpoyle the Britaines of the whole poſſeſſion of that parte of the Iſle which they held, whereas they accompted the Ci|ties and Townes of ſmall ſtrength to be difen|ded, they gote them to an high Mountaine called Badon hill,Badon hill. whiche Polidore ſuppoſeth to bee Blackamore ye lieth neere to the water of Theiſe, which deuideth the Biſhoprike of Durham from Yorkſhire, hauing at the mouth thereof a [...] ha|uen meete to receyue ſuch Shippes as come out of Germany, from whence the Saxons looked dayly for ayde, hauing already ſent thither for the ſame. The Britaynes being thereof aduerti|ſed, make haſt towards the place, and beſieged it on euery ſide. They alſo lay the Sea coaſtes full of Souldiers to keepe ſuche of the enemies from landing as ſhoulde come out of Germany. The Saxons kept themſelues for a certayne ſpace a|loſt vpon the high grounde, but in the ende con|ſtreyned through wante of vittayles, they come EEBO page image 129 downe with their armie in order of bataile to the next plaines, and offring to fight, the batayl was anon begun, which continued from the morning till farre in the day, with ſuche ſlaughter, that the earth on euery ſide flowed with bloud: but ye Sa|xons ſuſteyned the greater loſſe, their capitaines Occa and Oſca beyng bothe ſlayne, ſo that the Britons might ſeme quite deliuered of al danger of thoſe enimies: but the fatall deſtenie could not be auoided, as hereafter may apere. And this was the ſlaughter made of the Saxons at Badon hil,Gildas. wherof Gildas maketh mention, and chanced the ſame yere that he was borne, which was in the 44. yere after the firſt cõming of the Saxons in|to this land,492 the yere of grace .492. & .15. indiction (as Hariſon alſo noteth.)

Compare 1587 edition: 1 About the ſame time Vter departed out of this life (ſaith Polydore) ſo that his accompte agreeth nothing with the cõmon accompte of thoſe au|thors, whom Fabiã and other haue folowed. For either muſt we preſuppoſe, that Vter reigned be|fore the time apointed to him by the ſaid authors, either elſe that the ſiege of Badon hill was before he began to reigne, as it ſhould ſeeme in deede by that which Wil. Malmſbury writeth therof, as hereafter ſhal be alſo ſhewed. Finally, according to the agreemente of the Engliſhe writers, Vter Pendragon died of poyſon when he had gouer|ned this land by the ful terme of .16. yeres,The deceaſſe of Vter Pen|dragon. Stonchenge, chorea gigantn & was after buried dy his brother Aurelius at Stonhẽg otherwyſe called Chorea Gigantũ, leauing his ſon Arthur to ſuccede him. Here muſt ye not that the ſcottiſh chronicles declare, that in al the war|res for the more parte wherein the Britons ob|teyned victorie againſt the Saxons, the Scots ayded them in the ſame warres, and ſo likewyſe did the Picts, but the ſame chronicles do not on+ly varie from the Brytiſh writers in accompt of yeres, but alſo in the order of things done, as in the ſame Chronicles more playnly may appere, and namely in the diſcourſe of the incidẽts which chanced during the reign of this Vter. For wher as the Britiſh hiſtories, as ye haue heard, attri|bute great praiſe vnto the ſame Vter for his vic|tories atchieued againſt the Saxons and theyr king Occa, whom he ſlew in battaile, and obtei|ned a greate victorie, the Scottiſhe writers make other report, affirming in deed that by the preſẽce of biſhop Germane hee obteyned victorie in one battaile againſt them: but ſhortly after the Bri|tons fought again with the Saxons, & were diſ|comfited, although Occa in following the chaſe ouer raſhly chaunced to be ſlaine: after whoſe de|ceaſſe the Saxons ordeyned his ſonn [...] named al|ſo Occa to ſucceede in his place, who to make himſelfe ſtrong againſt all his enimies, ſent in|to Germanie for one Colgerne, the whiche with a greate power of Tentſhmen came ouer into this our Britayne, and conquered by O [...]s ap|pointment, the countrey of Northumberland, ſi|tuate betwene Tyne & Tweede, as in the Scot|tiſh chronicles it may further appeare.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 2 Alſo this is to be remembred that the victorie which was got againſt the Saxons by the Bry|tons, at what time Germane biſhop of Aurerre was preſente: Hector Boetius affirmeth (by the authoritie of Veremond that wrote ye Scottiſhe chronicles) to haue chanced the ſecõd time of his cõming ouer into this lande, where Beda anon|cheth it to be at his firſt bring here. Againe, the ſame Boetius writeth, that ye ſame victory chã|ced in the dayes of Vter Pendragon, whiche can not be if it be true that Beda writeth, touchyng the tyme of ye death of ye ſayd German: for where he departed this life before the yere of oure Lorde 459. as aboue is noted, Vter Pendragon began not his reigne till the yere of our Lord .500.475. ſayth [...] a|riſon. or as the ſame Hector Boetius hath .503. ſo that biſhop Germane was dead long before that Vter began to reign. In deede ſome writers haue noted, that the third bataile which Vortimer ſought againſt the Saxons, was the ſame wherin S. Germane was preſent, and procured the victorie with the crie of Alleluya, as before ye haue heard whiche ſeemeth to be more agreeable to a truthe, and to ſtand alſo with that which holie Bede hath wri|ten, touching the time of the beeing heere of the ſayd German, than the opinion of other, whiche affirme that it was in the tyme of the reigne of Vter. The like is to bee founde in the reſidue of Hector Boetius his booke, touching the tyme ſpecially of the reignes of the Brytiſh kings that gouerned Brytaine aboute that ſeaſon. For as he affirmeth, Aurelius Ambroſius beganne his reigne in the yeare of our Lorde .498. and ruled but ſeuen yeres, and then ſuceeded Vter, whiche reigned .xviij. yeres, and departed this life in the yeare of our Lorde .521.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 BVt here is to be remẽbred, that whatſoeuer the Britiſh writers haue recorded touching the victories of this Vter had againſt ye Saxos, and how that Oſca the ſonne of Hengiſt ſhould be ſlaine in battayle by him and his power: In thoſe olde writers whiche haue regiſtred the Acts of the Engliſhe ſaxon kyngs wee fynde no ſuche matter, but wee fynde that after the deceaſſe of Hengiſt. hys ſonne Oſca or Occa reygned in Kente .24. yeares,Oſca. 34. hath Hen|ry Hnnt. in cor+rupted copies. defendyng hys kyngdome onely, and not ſeekyng to enlarge it (as before is touched.)

Compare 1587 edition: 1 After whoſe death his ſonne Oth, and Ir| [...]rike ſonne to the ſame Oth ſucceeded, more reſemblyng their father than their grandfather or greate grandfather. To their reignes are aſſig|ned fiftie and three yeares by the Chronicles: but whether they reigned ioyntely together, or EEBO page image 130 ſeuerally a parte, eyther after other, it is not cer|taynly perceyued.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 But nowe to the incidentes whiche happened during the reigne of Vter Pendragon we fynde that one Porth a Saxon with his .ij. ſonnes Me|gla [figure appears here on page 130] and Beda,Port entred this land about the yere of our Lord . [...]01. as Math. VVeſt. noteth. came a lande at Port [...]ſmouth in Suſſex, about the beginning of the ſayde Vters reigne and ſlewe a noble yong man of the Bry|tons, and many other of the meaner ſorte with him. Of this Porth the towne and hauen of Porteſmouth tooke the name as ſome haue thou|ght.Hariſo [...] [...]ſeth the [...] to bee [...] Poets, [...] vvorde [...] i [...] the [...] fr [...]h [...] the ſea. Moreouer about .lx. yeres after the coming of the Saxons into this lande with their leader Hengiſt, one Nazaleod, a mightie king amongſt the Britons, aſſembled all the power hee coulde make to fight with Certicus king of the Weſt|ſaxons, who vnderſtandyng the greate power of his enimies, required ayd of Oſca King of Kent, alſo of Elle king of Suſſex, and of Porth and his ſonnes whiche were lately before arriued as ye haue heard. Certicus being then furniſhed with a conuenient armie, deuided the ſame in|to two batayls, reſeruing the one to himſelf, and the other he appointed to his ſonne Kenrike.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 King Nazaleod perceiuing that the wing which Certicus ledde was of more ſtrength than the o|ther whiche Kenrike gouerned, he ſet fyrſt vpon Certicus, thinking that if he might diſtreſſe that part of the enimies armie, he ſhould eaſily ouer|come the other.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 Herevpon he gaue ſuch a fierce charge vppon that wing that by pure force he opened the ſame, and ſo ouerthrew the Saxons on that ſide, ma|king great ſlaughter of them as they were ſtate|red, the whiche maner of dealing when Kenrike ſawe, he made forwarde with all ſpeed to ſuccor [figure appears here on page 130] his father, and ruſhing in amongſt the Brytons on their backs,The Bryton [...] ouerth [...]ovven. he brake their armie in peeces, and ſlew their king Na [...]alcod, and with all put his people to flight.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 Mat. VVeſt. Hen. Hunt. Stuff and VVi|ghtgar. Math. VVeſt. noteth the yere of their riual to be .514.There died of the Brytons that daye .v. M. men and the reſidue eſcaped by fleeing as wel as they might.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 In the vj. yeare after this battayle Stuff and Wightgar ye were nephues to Certicus, came wyth three ſhippes, and landed at Certiceſt|ſhore, and ouerthrew a number of Britons that came againſte them in order of battayle, and ſo by the comming of thoſe his nephews being right valyant and hardie capitaines the part of Certi|cus became much ſtr [...]nger. About the ſame time Elle king of the Southſaxons departed this lyfe, after whome ſucceeded his ſonne Ciſſa, of whom wee fynde little lefte in writing to bee made ac|compte of.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 H. Hunt. Brytons ouer|throvven by Saxons.About the yeare of our Lorde .51 [...]. and in the yeare after the commyng of the Saxons .71. whyche was in the .xxvj. yeare of the Emperor Anaſtatius, the Brytons fought with Certicus and his ſonne Kenrike at Certiceſforde, where the Captaynes of the Brytons ſtoode to it man|fully: but in the ende they were diſcomfyted, and greate ſlaughter was made there of them by the Saxons, and greater had bene, if the nyghte commyng on, had not parted them, and ſo ma|ny were ſaued.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 From that daye forewarde Certicus was re|puted and taken for king of Weaſtſaxon,The kingdom of VVeſt [...] and ſo the ſame kyngdome at that tyme, whyche was as Harriſon noteth it (whoſe orderly pro|ce [...]dyng in this beha [...]ten, for the accoumpte of tyme, giueth greate lyght to our hiſtorie) the yeare of Chriſte fiue hundred and ninteene: af|ter the buylding of Rome, a thouſande, two hundred and ſeuentie, of the worlde, foure thou|ſande foure hundred eyghtie and fiue: of the cou [...]nyng of the Saxons ſeuentie of Iuſtinus Anicius Emperoure of the Eaſte, the fyrſte EEBO page image 131 and thirde of the renouned prince Patricius Ar|thurus then reygnyng oure the Brytaynes.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 The ſayd kingdom alſo conteyned the countreis of Wiltſhire, Somerſetſhire, Berkeſhire, Dor|ſetſhyre, Deuonſhire, and Cornewall, hauing on the Eaſt Hamſhire, on the North the [...] of Thames, and on the South and Weaſt the O|cean ſea: Howbeit at the firſte the kinges of the Weaſtſaxons had not ſo large dominion, but they dayly wanne grounde vpon the Brytons, & ſo in the rude by enlarging their confines they came to enioy all the ſayde countreys, and the whole at the laſt.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 In the nynthe yeare of the reigne of Certi|cus, he eftſoons fought with the Saxons at Cer|ticeſforde aforeſayde,Certiceſford. where great ſlaughter was made on bothe partes. This Certiceſforde was in times paſt called Nazaleoy of the late remem|bres Nazaleod king of the Brytons.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 Aboute this ſeaſon at ſundry tymes dyuerſe greate companies of the Saxons came ouer in|to Britayne out of Germanie, and got poſſeſſi|on of the countreys of Mercie and Eaſtangle: but as yet thoſe of Mercie had no one king that gouerned them, but were vnder certayne noble men that got poſſeſſion of diuers partes in that countrey, by meanes wherof great warres and many encounters enſued.

5.68.1. The kingdome of the Eaſtſaxons.

The kingdome of the Eaſtſaxons.

[figure appears here on page 131]

Compare 1587 edition: 1 IN thoſe dayes alſo the kyngdome of the Eaſtſaxons began,Erchen|wyn. the chiefe Citie where|of was London. It conteyned in effect ſo much as at this preſente belongeth to the Dioceſſe of London.The kingdom [...] of the Eaſtſax|ons. One Erchenwyn a Saxon was the fyrſt king thereof, the whiche was ſonne to one Offa, the ſixte in lineall deſcent from one Sax|not, from whom the kings of that countrey fet|ched their originall.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 Hariſon noteth there exacte yeare of the erection of the kingdom of the Eaſtſaxons to begin with the end of the eight of Cerdicius K. of the Weſt|ſaxons that is, the .527. of Chriſte, and .7. after the commyng of the Saxons.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 In the . [...]iij. yeare of the reigne of Cerdicius, he with his ſonne Kenrike, and other of the Sa|xon [figure appears here on page 131] capitayns fought with the Brytons, [...] the Iſle of Wight at Witgartſbridge, where they ſlewe a greate number of Brytons, and ſo con|quered the Iſle, the whiche aboute foure yeares after, was giuen by Cerdicius vnto hys ne|phues Stuff and Witgar.