hold or wynne from the Saxons: which cōmyng in dayly & growing vpon thē, did so replenish þ^e land with multitudes of thē, that þ^e Britaines at lēgth neither were able to hold þ^t which they had, not ro recouer þ^t which they lost: Leauyng example to all ages & coūtreys, what it is,MarginaliaExample what it is to let in straunge nations. first to let in forreine natiōs into their dominiō,MarginaliaMaryage wyth Infidels what destruction it worketh. but especially what it is for Princes to ioyne in mariage with infidels: as this Vortiger did with Hengistus daughter, which was the mother of all this mischief: geuing to the Saxons not onely strength, but also occasion and courage to attempt that whiche they dyd. Neither was this vncōsidered before of þ^e Britaine Lordes and Nobilitie: who worthely beyng therwith offēded, iustly deposed their kyng, and inthroned Vortimerus his sonne in his rowme. By the whiche Vortimer beyng a puisaunt Prince, the Saxons were then repulsed and driuen agayne into Germany, wher they stayed a while till the death of Vortimer whom Rowen daughter of Hēgistus caused trayterously to be poysoned. Then Vortiger beyng agayne restored to his kyngdome, through the entreatie of Rowen hys wife,MarginaliaThe second returne of Engist into Britayne. sent into Germany agayne for Engist, who eftsoones makyng his returne, came in with a nauy of 300. shyppes well apointed. The Nobles of Britaine hearing this, prepared themselues on the contrary side in all forceable wise to put them of.MarginaliaThe dissemblyng wordes of the Saxons to deceaue the Brytaynes. But Engist through Rowen his daughter so laboured the kyng: excusing himselfe, and saying that he brought not the multitude, to worke any violence either agaynst him or against his countrey, but only thinkyng that Vortimer had yet bene alyue, whom he mynded to impugne for the kynges sake, and to take his part. And now for so much as he heareth of the death of Vortimer his enemy, he therfore cōmitteth both himselfe and his people to his disposition, to appoint how few or how many of them he would to remaine within his land: the rest should returne. And if it so pleased the kyng, to appoint day and place, where they might meete and talke together of the matter, both he and his would stand to such order as the kyng with his counsaile should appoint. With these fayre wordes the kyng and his nobles (well cōtented) did assigne to them both day and place, which was in the towne of Ambry: where he ment to talk with them, addyng this condition with all, that eche part should come without any maner of weapon. Engist shewyng him selfe well agreed thereto, gaue priuy intelligence to his side, that eche man should cary with him secretly in his hose a long knife, with their watch wordMarginaliaNeme your sexes the watchword. also geuē vnto them when they should draw their kniues: wherwith euerye Saxon should (and so did) kill the Britaine, with whom he talked, as is aboue declared.MarginaliaAll the Nobilitie of the Britaynes destroyed in one day. The Britaine Lordes beyng slayne, the Saxons tooke Vortigerne the kyng, and bound him:MarginaliaThe king raunsomed. for whose raunsom they required to be deliuered to them the Citie of London, Yorke, Lincolne, Winchester, with other the most str?gest holdes within the lād:MarginaliaThe Saxons enter possession of the land. which beyng to them graunted, they begyn to make spoyle and hauocke of the Britaine nation,MarginaliaThe Christian Britaines persecuted of the Infidel Saxons. destroying the Citizens, pluckyng downe Churches, killyng vp the Priestes, burnyng bookes of the holy Scripture, leauyng nothyng vndone that tyranny could worke, whiche was about the yeare of our Lord. 462. The kyng seyng this miserable slaughter of the people fled into Wales.

MarginaliaAurelius Ambrosius returneth into Britaine. This while Aurelius Ambrosius, and Vter Pendragon brethern to kyng Constans aboue mentioned, whom Vortigerne wickedly caused to be killed, were in litle Britaine. To whom the Britaynes sent word, desyring their ayde in helpyng their countrey. Aurelius vnderstandyng the wofull state of the Realme, speedeth hym ouer to satisfie their desire, and to rescue (what in him was) their necessitie.MarginaliaAurelius crowned king of Britaine. Who at his first commyng eftsoones beyng crowned for their kyng, seeketh out wicked Vortigerne, the cause of all this trouble and murder of kyng Constās his brother.MarginaliaVortigerne burned in his tower. And findyng him in Wales in a strong tower, wherein he had inmured him selfe, setteth him and his castel on fire. That done he moued his power agaynst the Saxons, with whō, and with Elle Captaine of the Southsaxons (who then was newly come ouer) he had diuers conflictes.

MarginaliaHorsus slayne. Our English old Chronicles make record that Horsus the brother of Engist was slayne before in the tyme of Vortimer.MarginaliaEngist taken in the field. The same also do record, that this Engist was taken prisoner in the field, fightyng agaynst Aurelius Ambrosius: who then consultyng with his Nobles and Barons, what was to be done with him: the Byshop of Glocester, called Eldadus, standing vp, gaue this counsaile, saying:MarginaliaThe counsell of Eldadus byshop of Glocester. that if all men would deliuer him, yet he with his owne hādes would cut him in peeces, alleaging the example of Samuel against Agag kyng of the Ameleches, taken by kyng Saul in the field: whom the said Samuell caused to be cut in pieces. Euen so (sayth he) do you to this Agag here: that as he hath made many a woman widow, and without children: so his mother may be made this day of him likewise.MarginaliaEngist beheaded. And so was Engist taken out of the Citie by Eldol Consul or Maior of Glocester, and there was beheaded: if truth or credite is to be geuen to these our old Britaine stories: wherof I haue nothyng certainly to pronounce, but that I may suspect the truth therof, which was about the yeare of our Lord. 490. Henr. Huntyng. Galfr. cum alijs. MarginaliaEx Henric. Huntingtonēsi.
Galfrido.

MarginaliaEx Chronico quod? Cariensi.
The vncertainty of our old Britaine stories A certaine auncient written history I haue in Latin, compiled in the. xiiij. yeare of kyng Richard the second, and by him caused to be written as the title declareth: which because it beareth no name of the author: I call it by the name of him of whom I borowed this booke, with many other likewise without name, Historia Cariana. This history recordeth that Hengistus dyed in Kent the xxxij. yeare of his raigne: which if it be true, then is it false that he was takē at Cunynburgh, and slayne in the North.MarginaliaAurelius Ambrosius Brit. kyng This Aurelius Ambrosius before mentioned, is thought of Polidorus Vergilius cityng the authoritie of Bede, to descend of the stocke of the Romaines: which as it is not vnpossible to be true: so this is certaine by the full accord of all our old writtē stories, that both the sayd Aurelius, and his brother Vter Pendragon beyng the sonnes of Constantinus, brother to Andoenus kyng of litle Britaine, were nursed and brought vp in England, in their tender age, and instructed by Guitelinus Archbyshop of London, and after the murder of Constans their elder brother, were conueyed from hence to litle Britaine: whereby it is manifest that they were borne in this land, and though their father were a Romaine as Polydorus pretēdeth, yet like it is that they were Britaines borne, and had a Britaine to their mother.

After the death of Aurelius, who (as the story sayth) was poysoned by the crafty meanes of Pascensius, sonne of Vertigernus (subornyng one, vnder the weede of a Monke to play the Phisicion, and so to poyson him) nexte succeded his brotherMarginaliaVter Pendragō Brit. kyng. Vter, surnamed Pendragon, about the yeare of our Lord. 497. who fightyng agaynst Octa & Cosa, tooke them and brought them to London there to be kept. But they breakyng out of prison returned into Germanie for more ayde. In this meane time dayly recourse was of Saxons, with great companies cōming out of Saxonie:MarginaliaRemember the wordes of Gildas 633. hist. Caria. with whom the Britaines had diuers and sundry cōflictes, some tymes wynning, sometymes loosing. Not long after Octa and Cosa, renewyng their power in Germany, in all most speedy hast did returne agayne, and ioyne with the other Saxons agaynst the Britaines. Here began the state of miserable Britaine dayly more and more to decay, while the idolatrous Saxons preuayled in nūber and strength against the Christian Britaines:MarginaliaThe Christiā Britaines persecuted by the heathen Saxons. oppressyng the people, throwyng downe Churches and Monastries, murderyng the Prelates, sparyng neither age nor person, but wastyng Christianitie almost through the whole realme. To these miseries it fell moreouer that Vter their kyng was sicke & could not come out. Notwithstandyng beyng greeued with the lamētable destruction of his people, caused his bed to be brought into the camp, where God gaue him the victory: Octa and Cosa there beyng slayne. After this victory in short space Vter dyed of poyson (as is sayd) put into a fountaine of water, wherof the kyng was wont to drinke, about the yeare of our Lorde. 516. Flor. Hist.

About which tyme and yeare, came in Stuph and Wigarius two nephewes of Certhice king of Westsaxons, with their companies so violently vpon the Britaines, that they of the West part of the Realme, were not able to resist thē.MarginaliaKing Arthur. Then the mercifull prouidence of almighty God, raysed vp for them kyng Arthure the sonne of Vter: who was then crowned after him and victoriously raigned. To this Arthure the olde Britaine historyes do ascribe xij. great victories agaynst the Heathē Saxons: whose notorious and famous conquestes, mētioned in the Britaine stories, I leaue them as I finde them: referryng them to the credite of their authours in whom they are found. Notwithstandyng as I do not thinke contrary, but God by the foresayd Arthure, gaue to the Britaines some stay and quietnes duryng his life, and certaine of his successours:MarginaliaThe tales of kyng Arthur so touchyng certaine of great victories and conquestes, not only ouer this land, but also ouer all Europe, I iudge them more fabulous, thē that any credit should be geuen vnto them, more worthy to be ioyned with the Iliades of Homere, then to haue place in any Ecclesiasticall history.MarginaliaConst?tinus. 3. After Arthure next kyng of the Britaines, was Constantinus the. 3.MarginaliaAurelius.
Conanus
Vortiporius.
Malgo,
Carecius
kynges of Britaine. After him Aurelius Conanus. Then Vortiporius, after whom folowed Malgo, noted in stories to be a Sodomite. And after him the last kyng of the Britaines, was Carecius, all geuen to Ciuil warre, execrable to God and man. Who beyng chased out by the Britaines th?selues, the land fell to the possession of the Saxons: about the yeare of our Lord. 568. by whom all the