History of the Britons
by Nennius
The History
28 to 31
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.1
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, not2 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.3 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,4 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.
Notes
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1
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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.
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2
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V.R. not the God of gods, the
Amen, the Lord of Hosts, but one of their idols
which they worshipped.
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3
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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.
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4
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The rest of this sentence is
omitted in some of the MSS.
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History of the Britons
by Nennius
The History, 19 to
27 <<< Contents
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History, 32 to 35
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