[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]nation, which has groaned under the oppression of barbarians ever since
the time of Malgo, and has not yet got a prince, to restore it to its ancient
flourishing state. And even the little honour that it had left, is lessened
by your indulgence; since the Saxons, who are only strangers, and always
traitors to our country, must now be permitted to wear the same crown
as you do. For when once they shall attain to regal dignity, it will be a
great addition to their glory in the country from whence they came; and
they will the sooner invite over their countrymen, for the utter
extirpation of our race. For they have been always accustomed to
treachery, and never to keep faith with any; which I think should be a
reason for our keeping them under, and not for exalting them. When
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king Vortigern first retained them in his service, they made a show of
living peaceably, and fighting for our country, till they had an
opportunity of practising their wickedness; and then they returned evil
for good, betrayed him, and made a cruel massacre of the people of the
kingdom. Afterwards they betrayed Aurelius Ambrosius, to whom, even
after the most tremendous oaths of fidelity, at a banquet with him they
gave a draught of poison. They also betrayed Arthur, when, setting aside
the covenant by which they were bound, they joined with his nephew
Modred, and fought against him. Lastly, they broke faith with king
Careticus, and brought upon him Gormund, king of the Africans, by
whose disturbances our people were robbed of their country, and the
king disgracefully driven out.Ó
Chapter 3. A quarrel between Cadwalla and Edwin.
At the mention of these things, Cadwalla repented of entering into
this treaty, and sent word to Edwin that he could by no means induce his
counsellors to consent to his petition. For they alleged that it was
contrary to law and the ancient establishment, that an island, which has
always had no more than one crown, should be now under subjection to
two crowned heads. This message incensed Edwin, and made him break
off the conference, and retire into Northumberland, saying, he would be
crowned without CadwallaÕs leave. When Cadwalla was told this, he
declared to him by his ambassadors that he would cut off his crowned
head, if he presumed to wear a crown within the kingdom of Britain.
Chapter 4. Cadwalla is vanquished by Edwin,
and driven out of the kingdom.
This proved the occasion of a war between them, in which, after
several engagements between their men, they at last met together
themselves beyond the Humber, and had a battle, wherein Cadwalla lost
many thousands of his followers, and was put to flight. From hence he
marched with precipitation through Albania, and went over to Ireland.
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But Edwin, after this victory, led his army through the provinces of the
Britons, and burning the cities before him, grievously afflicted the
citizens and country people. During this exercise of his cruelty, Cadwalla
never ceased endeavouring to return back to his country in a fleet, but
without success; because to whatever port he steered, Edwin met him
with his forces, and hindered his landing. For there was come to him
from Spain a very skilful soothsayer, named Pellitus who, by the flight of
birds and the courses of the stars, foretold all the disasters that would
happen. By these means Edwin, getting knowledge of CadwallaÕs return,
prepared to meet him, and shattered his ships so that he drowned his
men, and beat him off from all his ports. Cadwalla, not knowing what
course to take, was almost in despair of ever returning. At last it came
into his head to go to Salomon, king of the Armorican Britons, and desire
his assistance and advice, to enable him to return to his kingdom. And
so, as he was steering towards Armorica, a strong tempest rose on a
sudden, which dispersed the ships of his companions, and in a short time
left no two of them together. The pilot of the kingÕs ship was seized
immediately with so great a fear, that quitting the stern, he left the vessel
to the disposal of fortune; so that all that night it was tossed up and
down in great danger by the raging waves. The next morning they
arrived at a certain island called Garnareia, where with great difficulty
they got ashore. Cadwalla was forthwith seized with such grief for the
loss of his companions, that for three days and nights together he
refused to eat, but lay sick upon his bed. The fourth day he was taken
with a very great longing for some venison, and causing Brian to be
called, made him acquainted with it. Whereupon Brian took his bow and
quiver, and went through the island, that if he could light on any wild
beast, he might make booty of it. And when he had walked over the
whole island without finding what he was in quest of, he was extremely
concerned that he could not gratify his masterÕs desire; and was afraid
his sickness would prove mortal if his longing were not satisfied. He,
therefore, fell upon a new device, and cut a piece of flesh out of his own
thigh, which he roasted upon a spit, and carried to the king for venison.
The king, thinking it to be real venison, began to eat of it to his great
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refreshment, admiring the sweetness of it, which he fancied exceeded
any flesh he ever had tasted before. At last, when he had fully satisfied
his appetite, he became more cheerful, and in three days was perfectly
well again. Then the wind standing fair, he got ready his ship, and
hoisting sails they pursued their voyage, and arrived at the city Kidaleta.
From thence they went to king Salomon, by whom they were received
kindly and with all suitable respect, and as soon as he had learned the
occasion of their coming, he made them a promise of assistance, and
spoke to them as follows.
Chapter 5. The speech of Salomon, king of Armorica, to Cadwalla.
ÒIt is a grief to us, noble youths, that the country of your ancestors is
oppressed by a barbarous nation, and that you are ignominiously driven
out of it. But since other men are able to defend their kingdoms, it is a
wonder your people should lose so fruitful an island, and not be able to
withstand the nation of the Angles, whom our countrymen hold in
contempt. While the people of this country lived together with yours in
Britain, they bore sway over all the provincial kingdoms, and never
could be subdued by any nation but the Romans. Neither did the Romans
do this by their own power, as I have been lately informed, but by a
dissension among the nobility of the island. And even the Romans,
though they held it under their subjection for a time, yet upon the loss
and slaughter of their rulers, were driven out with disgrace. But after the
Britons came into this province under the conduct of Maximian and
Conan, those that remained never had the happiness afterwards of
holding an uninterrupted possession of the crown. For though many of
their princes maintained the ancient dignity of their ancestors, yet their
weak heirs that succeeded, though more in number, entirely lost it, upon
the invasion of their enemies. Therefore I am grieved for the weakness of
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