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Geoffrey of Monmouth gives the title of consul to several British generals
who lived after this time。 It is not unlikely that the town； name； and
dignity； still lingered in the provinces after the Romans were gone；
particularly as the cities of Britain maintained for a time a species of
independence。
27。 The seventh emperor was Maximus。 He withdrew from Britain
with all his military force； slew Gratian； the king of the Romans； and
obtained the sovereignty of all Europe。 Unwilling to send back his warlike
companions to their wives； children； and possessions in Britain； he
conferred upon them numerous districts from the lake on the summit of
Mons Jovis； to the city called Cant Guic； and to the western Tumulus； that
is； to Cruc Occident。* These are the Armoric Britons； and they remain
there to the present day。 In consequence of their absence； Britain being
overcome by foreign nations； the lawful heirs were cast out； till God
interposed with his assistance。 We are informed by the tradition of our
ancestors 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
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History Of The Britons
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
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History Of The Britons
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
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