5.6. The heptarchie or seuen kingdoms of this land, Hengist causeth Britaine to be peopled with Saxons, the decaie of Christian religion, the Pelagians with their hereticall and falle doctrine infect the Britains, a synod summoned in Gallia for the redresse thereof, the Scots assist the Britains against the Saxons, who renew their league with the Picts, Germane and Lupus two bishops of Germanie procure the British armie to be newlie christened, the terror that the Bri|tains vnder bishop Germans fortunate conduct draue into the Saxons by the outcrie of Alleluia, and got the victorie, bishop Germane departeth out of the land, and to redresse the Pelagian heresie commeth againe at the clergies re|quest, he confirmeth his doctrine by a miracle, banisheth the Pelagians out of the land, the death of Germane, murther re|quited with murther. The vj. Chapter.

The heptarchie or seuen kingdoms of this land, Hengist causeth Britaine to be peopled with Saxons, the decaie of Christian religion, the Pelagians with their hereticall and falle doctrine infect the Britains, a synod summoned in Gallia for the redresse thereof, the Scots assist the Britains against the Saxons, who renew their league with the Picts, Germane and Lupus two bishops of Germanie procure the British armie to be newlie christened, the terror that the Bri|tains vnder bishop Germans fortunate conduct draue into the Saxons by the outcrie of Alleluia, and got the victorie, bishop Germane departeth out of the land, and to redresse the Pelagian heresie commeth againe at the clergies re|quest, he confirmeth his doctrine by a miracle, banisheth the Pelagians out of the land, the death of Germane, murther re|quited with murther. The vj. Chapter.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 _HEngist and all other the Saxon kings which ruled (as after shall appeare) in seuen parts of this realme, are called by writers Reguli, that is, little kings or rulers of some small dominion: so that Hengist is counted a little king, who when he had got into his hands the foresaid thrée prouinces, he caused more Saxons to come into Britaine, and bestowed them in places abroad in the countrie, by reason whereof the christian religion greatlie decaied with|in the land, for the Saxons being pagans, did that they could to extinguish the faith of Christ,The decay of christian re|ligion. and to plant againe in all places their heathenish religion, and woorshipping of false gods: and not onelie here|by was the true faith of the Christians brought in danger dailie to decaie, but also the erronious opi|nions of the Pelagians greatlie preuailed here a|mongst the Britains, by meanes of such vnsound preachers as in that troublesome season did set forth false doctrin [...] amongst the people, without all maner of reprehension.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 Certeine yéeres before the comming of the Sax|ons,R [...]da. that heresie began to spread within this land vr|rie much, by the lewd industrie of one Leporius A|gricola, the sonne of Seuerus Sulpitius (as Bale saith) a bishop of that lore. But Pelagius the author of this heresie was borne in Wales, and held opini|on that a man might obteine saluation by his owne frée will and merit, and without assistance of grace, as he that was borne without originall sinne, &c.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 This erronious doctrine being taught therefore, and mainteined in this troublesome time of warres with the Saxons, sore disquieted the godlie minded men amongst the Britains,Beda. who not meaning to re|ceiue it, nor yet able well to confute the craftie and wicked persuasions vsed by the professors thereof, thought good to send ouer into Gallia, requiring of the bishops there, that some godlie and profound lear|ned men might be sent ouer from thence into this land, to defend 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, and desirous to re|lieue their present néed, speciallie in that case of reli|gion,A synod called in Gallia. called a synod, and therein taking counsell to consider who were most méet to be sent, it was de|créed by all their consents in the end,Germanus and Lupus. that one Ger|mane the bishop of Aurerre, and Lupus bishop of Trois should passe ouer into Britaine to confirme the Christians there in the faith of the celestiall grace. And so those two vertuous learned men ta|king their iournie, finallie arriued in Britaine, though not without some danger by sea, through stor|mes & rage of winds, stirred (as hath beene thought of the superstitious) by the malice of wicked spirits, who purposed to haue hindered their procéedings in this their good and well purposed iournie. After they were come ouer, they did so much good with conuin|cing the wicked arguments of the aduersaries of the truth, by the inuincible power of the woord of God, and holinesse of life, that those which were in the wrong waie, were soone brought into the right path againe.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 3 About the same time also,Beda. one PalladiusPalladius. was sent from Celestinus bishop of Rome, vnto the Scots, to instruct them in the faith of Christ, and to purge them from the heresie of the said Pelagius.Constantine king of Scots. This Palladi|us exhorted Constantinus the king of Scots, that in no wise he should aid the Saxons being infidels a|gainst the Britains: whose exhortation tooke so good effect, that the said Constantinus did not onelie for|beare to assist the Saxons, but contrarilie holpe the Britains in their warres against them, which thing did mainteine the state of the Britains for a time from falling into vtter ruine and decaie. In the meane time, the Saxons renewed their league with the Picts,H. Hunt. Beda. so that their powers being ioined togither, they began afresh to make sore warres vpon the EEBO page image 83 Britains, who of necessitie were constreined to as|semble an armie, & mistrusting their owne strength, required aid of the two bishops, Germane and Lu|pus, who hasting forward with all speed came into the armie, bringing with them no small hope of good lucke to all the Britains there being assembled. This was doone in Kent.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 3 4 Now such was the diligence of the bishops, that (the people being instructed with continuall prea|ching) in renouncing the error of the Pelagians, earnestlie came by troops to receiue the grace of God offred in baptisme, so that on Easter day which then insued, the more part of the armie was baptised, and so went foorth against the enimies, who hearing thereof, made hast towards the Britains, in hope to ouercome them at pleasure. But their approch being knowne, bishop Germane tooke vpon him the lea|ding of the British host,The armie of the Britains newlie chri|stened. and ouer against the passage thorough the which the enimies were appointed to come, he chose foorth a faire vallie inclosed with high mounteins, and within the same he placed his new washed armie. And when he saw the enimies now at hand, he commanded that euerie man with one ge|nerall voice should answer him, crieng alowd the same crie that he should begin. So that euen as the enimies were readie to giue the charge vpon the Britains, supposing that they should haue taken them at vnwares, and before anie warning had béen giuen, suddenlie bishop Germane and the priests with a lowd and shrill voice called Alleluia, Alleluia. thrice: and therewith all the multitudes of the Britains with one voice cried the same crie, with such a lowd shout, that the Saxons were therewith so amazed and asto|nied (the echo from the rocks and hils adioining, redoubling in such wise the crie) that they thought not onelie the rocks and clifs had fallen vpon them, but that euen the skie it selfe had broken in pée|ces and come tumbling downe vpon their heads: heerewith therefore throwing awaie their weapons, they tooke them to their féet, and glad was he that might get to be formost in running awaie. Manie of them for hast were drowned in a riuer which they had to passe. Polydor taketh that riuer to be Trent. The Britains hauing thus vanquished their enimies, ga|thered the spoile at good leasure, & gaue God thanks for the victorie thus got without bloud, for the which the holie bishops also triumphed as best became them. Now after they had setled all things in good quiet within the Ile, as was thought expedient, they returned into Gallia or France, from whence they came (as is before rehearsed.)

Compare 1577 edition: 1 By one author it should appéere that this battell was woone against the Scots and Picts,Matth. West. about the yéere of our Lord 448,448. a little before the comming of the Saxons into this land vnder Hengist, in which yéere Germane first came hither to wéed out the he|resie of Pelagius, as by the same author more at large is affirmed. Howbeit, some chronographers alledge out of Prosper & other, and note the first com|ming of Germane to haue béene in the 429 yéere of Christ, and vnder the consulship of Florentius and Dionysius. And this should séeme to agrée with the truth, for that after some, the foresaid Germane should die at Rauenna, about the yéere of our Lord 450, as Vincentius noteth, which was the verie yeere of the comming of the Saxons: notwithstanding, when or wheresoeuer he died, it was not long after his returne into Gallia, vpon his first iournie made hither into this land, who no sooner obteined the victo|rie before mentioned, but woord was brought againe vnto him, that eftsoones the heresie of the Pelagians was spread abroad in Britaine, and therefore all the priests or cleargie made request to him that it might stand with his pleasure to come ouer againe, and de|fend the cause of true religion which he had before confirmed.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 Héerevpon bishop Germane granted [...] to doo,Germane re|turneth a|gaine into Britaine. and therefore taking with him one Seuerns (that was disciple vnto Lupus, and ordeined at that tune bi|shop of Triers) tooke the sea, and came againe into Britaine, where he found the multitude of the people stedfast in the same beliefe wherein he had left them, & perceiued the fault to rest in a few: wherevpon in|quiring out the authors, he condemned them to exile (as it is written) and with a manifest miracle by re|storing a yoong man that was lame (as they saie) vn|to the right vse of his lims, he confirmed his doc|trine. Then followed preaching to persuade amend|ment of errors, and by the generall consent of all men, the authors of the wicked doctrine being bani|shed the land, were deliuered vnto bishop Germane and to his fellow Seuerus, to conueie them away in their companie vnto the parties beyond the seas, that the region might so be deliuered of further dan|ger, and they receiue the benefit of due amendment.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 By this meanes it came to passe, that the true faith continued in Britaine sound and perfect a long time after. Things being thus set in good order, those holie men returned into their countries, the forena|med bishop Germane went to Rauenna to sue for peace to be granted vnto the people of Britaine Armorike, where being receiued of the emperor Ua|lentinian and his mother Placida in most reuerend maner, he departed in that citie out of this transito|rie life,Anno 450, as Vincentius no|teth, lib. 20. ca. 15. to the eternall ioies of heauen. His bodie was afterwards conueied to the citie of Anxerre, where he had béene bishop with great opinion of holines for his sincere doctrine and pure and innocent life. Short|lie after was the emperour Ualentinian slaine by the friends of that noble man named Aetius,The empe|rour Ualen|tin [...]an slaine. whome he had before caused to be put to death.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 ¶By this it maie appéere, that bishop Germane came into this realme both the first and second time, whilest as well Hengist, as also Uortigerne were li|uing: for the said Ualentinian was murthered a|bout the yeere of our Lord 454,454 where the said kings liued and reigned long after that time, as maie ap|péere both before and after in this present booke.