Now will we returne to Vortigerne, 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,
[Sidenote: _Galfrid._]
with other cities & townes, he not onelie fearing their puissance,
but also the returne of Aurelius Ambrosius, and his brother Vter
Pendragon, withdrew him into Wales, where he began to build a
[Sidenote: _Caxton_. _Fabian_. _Polychron._]
strong castell vpon a mounteine called Breigh, or after other Cloaric,
néere to the riuer of Guana, which is in the west side of Wales in
a place within the compasse of the same hill called Generon or
[Sidenote: Mount Erix he calleth it in one place of his booke.]
Gueineren. Of the building of this castell, and of the hinderance
in erecting the same, with the monstrous birth of Merlin and his
knowledge in prophesieng, the British histories tell a long processe,
the which in Caxton, and in Galfrides bookes is also set foorth, as
there ye maie sée: but for that the same séemeth not of such credit as
deserueth to be registred in anie sound historie, we haue with silence
passed it ouer.
[Sidenote: Aurelius and Vter brethren returne into Britaine.]
Whilest Vortigerne was busied in building of this castell, the two
foresaid brethren Aurelius and Vter 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 Britains were aduertised, the which were scattered
abroad 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 Vter perceiued that they were sufficientlie furnished of
people, they marched foorth towards Wales against Vortigerne, who
[Sidenote: Vortigerne burnt to death. Wild fire not yet inuented as
some think.]
hauing knowledge of their approch, had fortified his castell verie
strongly with men, munition and vittels, but yet all auailed him
nothing, for in the end after his enimies had giuen diuers assaults to
the said castell, they found meanes with wild fire to burne it downe
to the earth, and so consumed it by fire togither with the king, and
all other that were within it.
Thus did Vortigerne end his life (as in the British 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
[Sidenote: _Polychron._ A feined tale of S. Germane.
A caluish narration.]
that kings should come of him, and therefore he was excommunicated
by S. Germane. It is also said, that when the same S. Germane came
into Britaine (as before ye haue heard) this Vortigerne on a time
should denie the same S. Germane harbour: but one that kept the kings
heards of cattell receiued him into his house, 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 Vortigerne to be deposed from his kinglie estate,
and tooke the heardman and made him king. But Ranulfe Hig. in his
"Polychronicon," alledging Gyldas for his author, saith that this
chanced to a king that ruled in Powsey, whose name was Bulie, and not
to Vortigerne: so that the successors of that Bulie reigning in that
side of Wales, came of the linage of the same heardman.
[Sidenote: _H. Hunt._]
Moreouer it hath beene said (as one writer recordeth) that when
Vortigerne 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 after 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 farced 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 pretended skilfulnesse to cast glorious colours vpon
lies, that the readers (whom they presupposed either ignorant 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
nature of an historie, (defined to be _Rei verè gestæ memoria_) will
not beare the burthen or lode of a lie, sith the same is too heauie:
otherwise they would haue deposed matters conspiring with the truth.
* * * * *
_Aurelius Ambrosius the brother to Constantius created king of
Britaine, he incountereth with the Saxons, Hengist their generall is
beheaded, Occa his sonne submitteth 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 spoken of on Salisburie plaine, the exploits of Pascentius
Vortigerns yongest sonne, Aurelius lieth sicke, Vter goeth against
Pascentius and giueth him the ouerthrow, Aurelius is poisoned of a
counterfet moonke, the place of his buriall, Polydor 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 if the west part of
the land, Vortimer dieth, the disagreement of writers touching matters
interchangeablie passed betwene the Britains and Saxons._