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that seven emperors went into Britain； though the Romans affirm
there were nine。
* This district； in modern language； extended from the great St。
Bernard in Piedmont to Cantavic in Picardy； and from Picardy to
the western coast of France。
28。 Thus； aggreeably to the account given by the Britons； the
Romans governed them four hundred and nine years。
After this； the Britons despised the authority of the Romans；
equally refusing to pay them tribute； or to receive their kings；
nor durst the Romans any longer attempt the government of a country；
the natives of which massacred their deputies。
29。 We must now return to the tyrant Maximus。 Gratian； with his
brother Valentinian； reigned seven years。 Ambrose； bishop of Milan；
was then eminent for his skill in the dogmata of the Catholics。
Valentinianus and Theodosius reigned eight years。 At that time
a synod was held at Constantinople； attended by three hundred and
fifty of the fathers； and in which all heresies were condemned。
Jerome； the presbyter of Bethlehem； was then universally celebrated。
Whilst Gratian exercised supreme dominion over the world； Maximus；
in a sedition of the soldiers； was saluted emperor in Britain； and
soon after crossed the sea to Gaul。 At Paris； by the treachery
of Mellobaudes； his master of the horse； Gratian was defeated and
fleeing to Lyons； was taken and put to death； Maximus afterwards
associated his son victor in the government。
Martin； distinguished for his great virtues； was at this period
bishop of Tours。 After a considerable space of time； Maximus
was divested of royal power by the consuls Valentinianus and
Theodosius； and sentenced to be beheaded at the third mile…stone
from Aquileia： in the same year also his son Victor was killed in
Gaul by Arbogastes； five thousand six hundred and ninety years
from the creation of the world。
30。 Thrice were the Roman deputies put to death by the Britons；
and yet these； when harassed by the incursions of the barbarous
nations； viz。 Of the Scots and Picts； earnestly solicited the aid
of the Romans。 To give effect to their entreaties； ambassadors
were sent； who made their entrance with impressions of deep sorrow；
having their heads covered with dust； and carrying rich presents；
to expiate the murder of the deputies。 They were favourably
received by the consuls； and swore submission to the Roman yoke；
with whatever severity it might be imposed。
The Romans； therefore； came with a powerful army to the assistance
of the Britons； and having appointed over them a ruler； and settled
the government； returned to Rome： and this took place alternately
during the space of three hundred and forty…eight years。 The
Britons； however； from the oppression of the empire； again massacred
The Roman deputies； and again petitioned for succour。 Once more
the Romans undertook the government of the Britons； and assisted
them in repelling their neighbours； and； after having exhausted
the country of its gold； silver； brass； honey； and costly vestments；
and having besides received rich gifts； they returned in great
triumph to Rome。
31。 After the above…said war between the Britons and Romans； the
assassination of their rulers； and the victory of Maximus； who
slew Gratian； and the termination of the Roman power in Britain；
they were in alarm forty years。
Vortigern then reigned in Britain。 In his time； the natives had
cause of dread； not only from the inroads of the Scots and Picts；
but also from the Romans； and their apprehensions of Ambrosius。*
* These words relate evidently to some cause of dispute between
the Romans； Ambrosius； and Vortigern。 Vortigern is said to have
been sovereign of the Dimetae； and Ambrosius son to the king of
the Damnonii。 The latter was half a Roman by descent； and naturally
supported the Roman interest： the former was entirely a Briton；
and as naturally seconded by the original Britons。
In the meantime； three vessels； exiled from Germany； arrived in
Britain。 They were commanded by Horsa and Hengist； brothers； and
sons of Wihtgils。 Wihtgils was the son of Witta； Witta of Wecta；
Wecta of Woden； Woden of Frithowald； Frithowald of Frithuwulf；
Frithuwulf of Finn； Finn of Godwulf； Godwulf of Geat； who； as they
say； was the son of a god； not＇1＇ of the omnipotent God and our
Lord Jesus Christ （who before the beginning of the world； was with
the Father and the Holy Spirit； co…eternal and of the same substance；
and who； in compassion to human nature； disdained not to assume
the form of a servant）； but the offspring of one of their idols；
and whom； blinded by some demon； they worshipped according to the
custom of the heathen。 Vortigern received them as friends； and
delivered up to them the island which is in their language called
Thanet； and； by the Britons； Ruym。＇2＇ Gratianus Aequantius at
that time reigned in Rome。 The Saxons were received by Vortigern；
four hundred and forty…seven years after the passion of Christ；
and；＇3＇ according to the tradition of our ancestors； from the
period of their first arrival in Britain； to the first year of
the reign of king Edmund； five hundred and forty…two years； and
to that in which we now write； which is the fifth of his reign；
five hundred and forty…seven years。
＇1＇ V。R。 not the God of gods； the Amen； the Lord of Hosts； but one
of their idols which they worshipped。
＇2＇ Sometimes called Ruoichin； Ruith…in； or 〃river island；〃 separated
from the rest of Kent and the mainland of Britain by the estuary
of the Wantsum； which； though now a small brook； was formerly
navigable for large vessels； and in Bede's time was three stadia
broad； and fordable only at two places。
＇3＇ The rest of this sentence is omitted in some of the MSS。
32。 At that time St。 Germanus； distinguished for his numerous
virtues； came to preach in Britain： by his ministry many were saved；
but many likewise died unconverted。 Of the various miracles which
God enabled him to perform； I shall here mention only a few： I
shall first advert to that concerning an iniquitous and tyrannical
king； named Benlli。* The holy man； informed of his wicked conduct；
hastened to visit him； for the purpose of remonstrating him。 When
the man of God； with his attendants； arrived at the gate of the
city； they were respectfully received by the keeper of it； who
came out and saluted them。 Him they commissioned to communicate
their intention to the king； who returned a harsh answer； declaring；
with an oath； that although they remained there a year； they should
not enter the city。 While waiting for an answer； the evening came
on； and they knew not where to go。 At length； came one of the
king's servants； who bowing himself before the man of God； announced
the words of the tyrant； inviting them； at the same time； to his
own house； to which they went； and were kindly received。 It
happened； however； that he had no cattle； except one cow and a
calf； the latter of which； urged by generous hospitality to his
guests； he killed； dressed and set before them。 But holy St。
Germanus ordered his companions not to break a bone of the calf；
and； the next morning； it was found alive uninjured； and standing
by its mother。
* King of Powys。 V。R。 Benli in the district of Ial （in Derbyshire）；
in the district of Dalrieta； Belinus； Beluni； and Benty。
33。 Early the same day； they again went to the gate of the city；
to solicit audience of the wicked king； and； whilst engaged in
fervent prayer they were waiting for admission； a man； covered
with sweat； came out； and prostrated himself before them。 Then
St。 Germanus； addressing him； said 〃Dost thou believe in the Holy
Trinity？〃 To which the man having replied； 〃I do believe；〃 he
baptized； and kissed him； saying； 〃Go in peace； within this hour
thou shalt die： the angels of God are waiting for thee in the air；
with them thou shalt ascent to that God in whom thou has believed。：
He； overjoyed； entered the city； and being met by the prefect； was
seized； bound； and conducted before the tyrant； who having passed
sentence upon him； he was immediately put to death； for it was a
law of this wicked king； that whoever was not at his labour before
sun…rising should be beheaded in the citadel。 In the meantime；
St。 Germanus； with his attendants； waited the whole day before
the gate； without obtaining admission to the tyrant。
34。 The man above…mentioned； however； remained with them。 〃Take
care；〃 said St。 Germanus to him； 〃that none of your friends remain
this night within these walls。 Upon this he hastily entered the
city； brought out his nine sons； and with them retired to the house
where he had exercised such generous hospitality。 Here St。 Germanus
ordered them to continue； fasting； and when the gates were shut；
〃Watch；〃 said he； 〃and whatever shall happen in the citadel； turn
not thither your eyes； but pray without ceasing； and invoke the
protection of the true God。〃 And； behold； early in the night；
fire fell from heaven； and burned the city； together with all those
who were with the tyrant； so that not one escaped； and that citadel
has never been rebuilt even to this day。
35。 The following day； the hospitable man who had been converted
by the preaching of St。