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 within the
land, for the Saxons
[Sidenote: The decay of christian religion.]
being pagans, did what they could to extinguish the faith of Christ,
and to plant againe in all places their heathenish religion, and
woorshipping of false gods: and not onelie hereby was the true faith
of the Christians brought in danger dailie to decaie, but also the
erronious opinions of the Pelagians greatlie preuailed here amongst
the Britains, by meanes of such vnsound preachers as in that
troublesome season did set forth false doctrine amongst the people,
without all maner of reprehension.
[Sidenote: _Beda._]
Certeine yéeres before the comming of the Saxons, that heresie began
to spread within this land verie much, by the lewd industrie of one
Leporius Agricola, 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 opinion 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.
This erronious doctrine being taught therefore, and mainteined in this
troublesome time of warres with the Saxons, sore disquieted the godlie
[Sidenote: _Beda._]
minded men amongst the Britains, who not meaning to receiue 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 learned
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 relieue their present néed,
[Sidenote: A synod called in Gallia.]
speciallie in that case of religion, called a synod, and therein
taking counsell to consider who were most méet to be sent, it was
[Sidenote: Germanus and Lupus.]
decréed by all their consents in the end, that one Germane the bishop
of Auxerre, 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 taking their iournie, finallie
arriued in Britaine, though not without some danger by sea, through
stormes &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
conuincing 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.
[Sidenote: _Beda._]
[Sidenote: Palladius.]
[Sidenote: Constantine king of Scots.]
About the same time also, one Palladius 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. This
Palladius exhorted Constantinus the king of Scots, that in no wise he
should aid the Saxons being infidels against the Britains: whose
exhortation tooke so good effect, that the said Constantinus did not
onelie forbeare 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
[Sidenote: _H. Hunt._]
[Sidenote: _Beda._]
decaie. In the meane time, the Saxons renewed their league with the
Picts, so that their powers being ioined togither, they began afresh
to make sore warres vpon the Britains, who of necessitie were
constreined to assemble an armie, &mistrusting their owne strength,
required aid of the two bishops, Germane and Lupus, 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.
Now such was the diligence of the bishops, that the people (being
instructed with continuall preaching) 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
[Sidenote: The armie of the Britains newlie christened.]
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 leading of the British host, 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 generall
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
[Sidenote: Alleluia.]
the priests with a lowd and shrill voice called _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 astonied (the echo from the rocks and hils adjoining,
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 péeces and come tumbling downe vpon their heads:
héerewith 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, gathered 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.)
[Sidenote: _Matth. West._]
[Sidenote: 448.]
By one author it should appéere that this battell was woone against
the Scots and Picts, about the yéere of our Lord 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 heresie of Pelagius, as by
the same author more at large is affirmed. Howbeit, some
chronographers alledge out of Prosper &other, and note the first
comming 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 victorie 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 defend the cause of true religion which he
had before confirmed.
[Sidenote: Germane returneth againe into Britaine.]
Héerevpon bishop Germane granted so to doo, and therefore taking with
him one Seuerus (that was disciple vnto Lupus, and ordeined at that
time bishop 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 inquiring out the authors, he condemned them to exile
(as it is written) and with a manifest miracle by restoring a yoong
man that was lame (as they saie) vnto the right vse of his lims, he
confirmed his doctrine. Then followed preaching to persuade amendment
of errors, and by the generall consent of all men, the authors of the
wicked doctrine being banished 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 danger, and they receiue the benefit of due
amendment.
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
forenamed bishop Germane went to Rauenna to sue for peace to be
granted vnto the people of Britaine Armorike, where being receiued of
the emperor Valentinian and his mother Placida in most reuerend maner,
[Sidenote: Anno 450, as _Vincentius_ noteth, _lib._ 20. _ca._ 15.]
he departed in that citie out of this transitorie life, to the
eternall ioies of heauen. His bodie was afterwards conueied to the
citie of Auxerre, where he had béene bishop with great opinion of
holines for his sincere doctrine and pure and innocent life. Shortlie
[Sidenote: The emperour Valentinian slaine.]
after was the emperour Valentinian slaine by the friends of that noble
man named Aetius, whome he had before caused to be put to death.
¶ By this it maie appéere, that bishop Germane came into this realme
both the first and second time, whilest as well Hengist, as also
Vortigerne were liuing: for the said Valentinian was murthered about
[Sidenote: 454.]
the yeere of our Lord 454, where the said kings liued and reigned long
after that time, as maie appéere both before and after in this present
booke.
* * * * *
_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
wildfire 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._