Chapter V--Constantine,
being made king of Britain, leaves three sons
When they had made all necessary preparations, they embarked, and arrived at
the port of Totness; and then without delay assembled together the youth
that was left in the island, and encountered the enemy; over whom, by the
merit of the holy prelate, they obtained the victory. After this the
Britons, before dispersed, flocked together from all parts, and in a council
held at Silchester, promoted Constantine to the throne, and there performed
the ceremony of his coronation. They also married him to a lady, descended
from a noble Roman family, whom archbishop Guethelin had educated, and by
whom the king had afterwards three sons, Constans, Aurelius Ambrosius, and
Uther Pendragon. Constans, who was the eldest, he delivered to the church of
Amphibalus in Winchester, that he might there take upon him the monastic
order. But the other two, namely Aurelius and Uther, he committed to the
care of Guethelin for their education. At last, after ten years were
expired, there came a certain Pict, who had entered in his service, and
under pretence of holding some private discourse with him, in a nursery of
young trees where nobody was present, stabbed him with a dagger. |
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Chapter VI--Constans is
crowned king of Britain by Vortigern
Upon the death of Constantine, a dissension arose among the nobility, about
a successor to the throne. Some were for setting up Aurelius Ambrosius;
others Uther Pendragon; others again some other persons of the royal family.
At last, when they could come to no conclusion, Vortigern, consul of the
Gewisseans, who was himself very ambitious of the crown, went to Constans
the monk, 6 and thus addressed himself to him:
"You see your father is dead, and your brothers on account of their age
are incapable of the government; neither do I see any of your family besides
yourself, whom the people ought to promote to the kingdom. If you will
therefore follow my advice, I will, on condition of your increasing my
private estate, dispose the people to favor your advancement, and free you
from that habit, notwithstanding that it is against the rule of your order." |
6It is true that Constans,
the son of Constantine, entered into the sacerdotal profession, but both he
and his father Constantine were slain in Gaul, which they had made the seat
of their empire, to the entire neglect of Britain. |
Constans, overjoyed at the proposal, promised,
with an oath, that upon these terms he would grant him whatever he would
desire. Then Vortigern took him, and investing him in his regal habiliments,
conducted him to London, and made him king though not with the free consent
of the people. Archbishop Guethelin was then dead, nor was there any other
that dared perform the ceremony of his unction, on account of his having
quitted the monastic order. However, this proved no hindrance to his
coronation, for Vortigern himself performed the ceremony instead of a
bishop.
Chapter VII--Vortigern treacherously contrives to get
King Constans assassinated.
Constans, being thus advanced, committed the whole government of the kingdom
to Vortigern, and surrendered himself up so entirely to his counsels, that
he did nothing without his order. His own incapacity for government obliged
him to do this, for he had learned any thing else rather than state affairs
within his cloister. Vortigern became sensible of this, and therefore began
to deliberate with himself what course to take to obtain the crown, of which
he had been before extremely ambitious. He saw that now was his proper time
to gain his end easily, when the kingdom was wholly intrusted to his
management; and Constans, who bore the title of king, was no more than the
shadow of one; for he was of a soft temper, a bad judge in matters of right,
and not in the least feared, either by his own people, or by the neighboring
states. And as for his two brothers, Uther Pendragon and Aurelius Ambrosius,
they were only children in their cradles, and therefore incapable of the
government. There was likewise this farther misfortune, that all the older
persons of the nobility were dead, so that Vortigern seemed to be the only
man surviving who had craft, policy, and experience in matters of state; and
all the rest in a manner children, or raw youths, who only inherited the
honors of their parents and relations that had been killed in the former
wars. Vortigern, finding a concurrence of so many favorable circumstances,
contrived how he might easily and cunningly depose Constans the monk, and
immediately establish himself in his place. But in order to do this, he
waited until he had first well established his power and interest in several
countries. He therefore petitioned to have the king's treasures, and his
fortified cities, in his own custody; pretending there was a rumor, that the
neighboring islanders designed an invasion of the kingdom. This being
granted him, he placed his own creatures in those cities, to secure them for
himself. Then having formed a scheme how to execute his treasonable designs,
he went to the king, and represented to him the necessity of augmenting the
number of his domestics, that he might more safely oppose the invasion of
the enemy.
"Have not I left all things to your disposal?" said Constans: "Do what
you will as to that, so that they be but faithful to me."
Vortigern replied, "I am informed that the Picts are going to bring the
Dacians and Norwegians in upon us, with a design to give us very great
annoyance. I would therefore advise you, and in my opinion it is the best
course you can take, that you maintain some Picts in your court, who may do
you good service among those of that nation. For if it is true that they are
preparing to begin a rebellion, you may employ them as spies upon their
countrymen in their plots and stratagems, so as easily to escape them."
This was the dark treason of a secret enemy; for he did not recommend
this out of regard to the safety of Constans, but because he knew the Picts
to be a giddy people, and ready for all manner of wickedness; so that, in a
fit of drunkenness or passion they might easily be incensed against the king
and make no scruple to assassinate him. And such an accident, when it should
happen, would make an open way for his accession to the throne, which he so
often had in view. Hereupon he dispatched messengers into Scotland, with an
invitation to a hundred Pictish soldiers whom accordingly he received into
the king's household; and when admitted, he showed them more respect than
all the rest of the domestics by making them several presents, and allowing
them a luxurious table, insomuch that they looked upon him as the king. So
great was the regard they had for him, that they made songs of him about the
streets, the subject of which was, that Vortigern deserved the government,
deserved the scepter of Britain; but that Constans was unworthy of it. This
encouraged Vortigern to show them still more favor, in order the more firmly
to engage them in his interest; and when by these practices he had made them
entirely his creatures, he took an opportunity, when they were drunk, to
tell them, that he was going to retire out of Britain, to see if he could
get a better estate; for the small revenue he had then, he said, would not
so much as enable him to maintain a retinue of fifty men. Then putting on a
look of sadness, he withdrew to his own apartment and left them drinking in
the hall. The Picts at this sight were in inexpressible sorrow, as thinking
what he had said was true, and murmuring said to one to another, "Why do we
suffer this monk to live? Why do not we kill him, that Vortigern may enjoy
his crown? Who is so fit to succeed as he? A man so generous to us is worthy
to rule, and deserves all the honor and dignity that we can bestow upon
him."
Chapter VIII.--Aurelius Ambrosius and Uther Pendragon
flee from Vortigern, and go to Lesser Britain.
After this, breaking into Constan's bedchamber, they fell upon him and
killed him, and carried his head to Vortigern. At the sight of it, he put on
a mournful countenance, and burst forth into tears, though at the same time
he was almost transported with joy. However, he summoned together the
citizens of London (for there the deed was done), and commanded all the
assassins to be bound, and their heads to be cut off for this abominable
parricide. In the meantime there were some who had a suspicion that this
piece of villainy was wholly the contrivance of Vortigern, and that the
Picts were only his instruments to execute it. Others again as positively
asserted his innocence. At last the matter being left in doubt, those who
had the care of the two brothers, Aurelius Ambrosius, and Uther Pendragon,
fled over with them into Lesser Britain, for fear of being killed by
Vortigern. There they were kindly received by King Budes, who took care to
give them an education suitable to their royal birth. |
|
Chapter IX--Vortigern
makes himself king of Britain.
Now Vortigern, seeing nobody to rival him in the kingdom, placed the crown
on his own head, and thus gained the preeminence over all the rest of the
princes. At last his treason being discovered, the people of the adjacent
islands, whom the Picts had brought into Albania, made insurrection against
him. For the Picts were enraged on account of the death of their fellow
soldiers, who had been slain for the murder of Constans, and endeavored to
revenge that injury upon him. Vortigern therefore was daily in great
distress, and lost a considerable part of his army in a war with them. He
had likewise no less trouble from another quarter, for fear of Aurelius
Ambrosius, and his brother Uther Pendragon, who, as we said before, had
fled, on his account, into Lesser Britain. For he heard it rumored, day
after day, that they had now arrived at man's estate, and had built a vast
fleet, with a design to return back to the kingdom, which was their
undoubted right. |
|
Chapter X.--Vortigern
takes the Saxons, who were new-comers, to his assistance.
In the meantime there arrived in Kent three brigandines, or long galleys,
full of armed men, under the command of two brothers, Horsa and Hengist.7
Vortigern was then at Dorobernia, now Canterbury, which city he used often
to visit; and being informed of the arrival of some tall strangers in large
ships, he ordered that they should be received peaceably, and conducted into
his presence. As soon as they were brought before him, he cast his eyes upon
the two brothers, who excelled all the rest both in nobility and
gracefulness of person; and having taken a view of the whole company, asked
them of what country they were, and what was the occasion of their coming
into his kingdom. To whom Hengist (whose years and wisdom entitled him to a
precedence), in the name of the rest, made the following answer: |
7It is the generally received
opinion that Hengist and Horsa landed in Britain A.D. 449. [Hengist's
historicity is a lot firmer than Horsa's.] |
"Most noble king, Saxony, which is one of the
countries of Germany, was the place of our birth; and the occasion of our
coming was to offer our service to you or some other prince. For we were
driven out of our native country, for no other reason, but that the laws of
the kingdom required it. It is customary among us, that when we come to be
overstocked with people, our princes from all the provinces meet together,
and command all the youths of the kingdom to assemble before them; then
casting lots, they make choice of the strongest and ablest of them, to go
into foreign nations, to procure themselves a subsistence, and free their
native country from a superfluous multitude of people. Our Country,
therefore, being of late overstocked, our princes met, and after having cast
lots, made choice of the youth which you see in your presence, and have
obliged us to obey the custom which has been established of old. And us two
brothers, Hengist and Horsa, they made generals over them, out of respect to
our ancestors, who enjoyed the same honor. In obedience, therefore, to the
laws so long established, we put out to sea, and under the good guidance of
Mercury have arrived in your kingdom." 8
The king at the name of Mercury, looking earnestly upon them, asked them
what religion they professed.
"We worship," replied Hengist, "our country's gods, Saturn and Jupiter,
and the other deities that govern the world, but especially Mercury, whom in
our language we call Woden, and to Whom our ancestors consecrated the fourth
day of the week, still called after his name Wodensday. Next to him we
worship the powerful goddess, Frea, to whom they also dedicated the sixth
day, which after her name we call Friday."
Vortigern replied, "For your credulity, or rather incredulity, I am much
grieved, but I rejoice at your arrival, which, whether by God's providence
or some other agency, happens very seasonably for me in my present
difficulties. For I am oppressed by my enemies on every side, and if you
will engage with me in my wars, I will entertain you honorably in my
kingdom, and bestow upon you lands and other possessions."
The barbarians readily accepted his offer, and the agreement between them
being ratified, they resided at his court. Soon after this the Picts,
issuing forth from Albania, with a very great army, began to lay waste the
northern parts of the island. When Vortigern had information of it, he
assembled his forces, and went to meet them beyond the Humber. Upon their
engaging, the battle proved very fierce on both sides, though there was but
little occasion for the Britons to exert themselves, for the Saxons fought
so bravely, that the enemy, formerly so victorious, were speedily put to
flight. |
8[Geoffrey of Monmouth would
have known that this was a well-established explanation for any incursions
of newcomers into western Europe. More important, he would also have known
that this was the explanation for the arrival of the Normans in Normandy, as
given by the first historian of the Normans, Dudo of St. Quentin. Of course,
Mercury was the god of thieves and of artifice, so Hengist's words imply
trickery.] |
Chapter XI--Hengist
brings over great numbers of Saxons into Britain: his crafty petition to
Vortigern.
Vortigern, therefore, as he owed the victory to them, increased his bounty
to them, and gave their general, Hengist, large possessions of land in
Lindesia,9 for the subsistence of himself and his fellow
soldiers. Hereupon Hengist, who was a man of experience and subtlety,
finding how much interest he had with the king, addressed him in this
manner: "Sir, your enemies give you disturbance from all quarters, and few
of your subjects love you. They all threaten you, and say, they are going to
bring over Aurelius Ambrosius from Armorica, to depose you, and make him
king. If you please, let us send to our country to invite over some more
soldiers, that with our forces increased we may be better able to oppose
them. But there is one thing which I would desire of your clemency, if I did
not fear a refusal."
Vortigern made answer, "Send your messengers to Germany, and invite over
whom you please, and you shall have no refusal from me in whatever you shall
desire."
Hengist, with a low bow, returned him thanks, and said, "The possessions
which you have given me in land and houses are very large, but you have not
yet done me that honor which becomes my station and birth, because, among
other things, I should have had some town or city granted me, that I might
be entitled to greater esteem among the nobility of your kingdom. I ought to
have been made a consul or prince, since my ancestors enjoyed both those
dignities."
"It is not in my power," replied Vortigern, "to do you so much honor,
because you are strangers and pagans; neither am I yet so far acquainted
with your manners and customs, as to set you upon a level with my natural
born subjects. And, indeed, if I did esteem you as my subjects, I should not
be forward to do so, because the nobility of my kingdom would strongly
dissuade me from it." |
9 Or Lindsey. See Bede's
Eccles. Hist.. |
"Give your servant," said Hengist, "only so
much ground in the place you have assigned me, as I can encompass with a
leather thong, for to build a fortress upon, as a place of retreat if
occasion should require. For I will always be faithful to you, as I have
been hitherto, and pursue no other design in the request which I have made."
With these words the king was prevailed upon to grant him his petition; and
ordered him to dispatch messengers into Germany, to invite more men over
speedily to his assistance. Hengist immediately executed his orders, and
taking a bull's hide, made one thong out of the whole, with which he
encompassed a rocky place that he had carefully made choice of, and within
that circuit began to build a castle, which, when finished, took its name
from the thong wherewith it had been measured; for it was afterwards called,
in the British tongue, Kaercorrei; in Saxon, Thancastre, that is, Thong
Castle.10 |
10 Now called Caistor,
twenty-three miles N.N.E. from Lincoln. |
Chapter XII--Vortigern
marries Rowen the daughter of Hengist.
In the meantime, the messengers returned from Germany, with eighteen ships
full of the best soldiers they could get. They also brought along with them
Rowen11 the daughter of Hengist, one of the most
accomplished beauties of that age. After their arrival, Hengist invited the
king to his house, to view his new buildings, and the new soldiers that were
come over. The king readily accepted of his invitation, but privately, and
having highly commended the magnificence of the structure, enlisted the men
into his service. Here he was entertained at a royal banquet; and when that
was over, the young lady came out of her chamber bearing a golden cup full
of wine, with which she approached the king and making a low courtesy, said
to him, "Lauerd12king wacht heil!" The king, at the sight
of the lady's face, was on a sudden both surprised and inflamed with her
beauty; and calling to his interpreter, asked him what she said, and what
answer he should make her.
"She called you, 'Lord king,'" said the interpreter, "and offered to
drink your health. Your answer to her must be, 'Drinc heil!'"
Vortigern accordingly answered, "Drinc heil!" and bade her drink; after
which he took the cup from her hand, kissed her, and drank himself. From
that time to this, it has been the custom in Britain, that he who drinks to
any one says, "Wacht heil!" and he that pledges him, answers "Drinc heil!"
Vortigern being now drunk with the variety of liquors, the devil took this
opportunity to enter into his heart, and to make him in love with the
damsel, so that he became suitor to her father for her. It was, I say, by
the devil's entering into his heart, that he, who was a Christian, should
fall in love with a pagan. By this example, Hengist, being a prudent man,
discovered the king's levity, and consulted with his brother Horsa and the
other ancient men present, what to do in relation to the king's request.
They unanimously advised him to give him his daughter, and in consideration
of her to demand the province of Kent. Accordingly the daughter was without
delay delivered to Vortigern, and the province of Kent to Hengist, without
the knowledge of Gorangan, who had the government of it. The king the same
night married the pagan lady, and became extremely delighted with her; by
which he quickly brought upon himself the hatred of the nobility, and of his
own sons. For he had already three sons, whose names were Vortimer, Catigern,
and Pascentius. |
11 More commonly and
elegantly called Rowena; Ronwen and Ronwenna occur in some of the MSS.
12 That is, Lord. |
Chapter XIII--The
bishops, Germanus and Lupus, restore the Christian faith that had been
corrupted in Britain. Octa and Ebissa are four times routed by Vortimer.
At that time came St. Germanus, bishop of Auxerre, and Lupus, bishop of
Troyes, to preach the gospel to the Britons. For the Christian faith had
been corrupted among them, partly by the pagans whom the king had brought
into society with them, partly by the Pelagian heresy, with the poison
whereof they had been a long time infected.13 But by the
preaching of these holy men, the true faith and worship was again restored,
the many miracles they wrought giving success to their labors. Gildas has in
his elegant treatise given an account of the many miracles God wrought by
them. The king being now, as we have said, possessed of the lady, Hengist
said to him: "As I am your father, I claim the right of being your
counselor: do not therefore slight my advice, since it is to my countrymen
you must owe the conquest of all your enemies. Let us invite over my son
Octa and his brother Ebissa, who are brave soldiers, and give them the
countries that are in the northern parts of Britain, by the wall, between
Deira and Albania. For they will hinder the inroads of the barbarians, and
so you shall enjoy peace on the other side of the Humber."
Vortigern complied with his request, and ordered them to invite over
whomsoever they knew able to assist him. Immediately upon the receipt of
this message, came Octa, Ebissa, and Cherdich, with three hundred ships
filled with soldiers, who were all kindly received by Vortigern, and had
ample presents made them. For by their assistance he vanquished his enemies,
and in every engagement proved victorious. Hengist in the meantime continued
to invite over more and more ships, and to augment his numbers daily. Which
when the Britons observed, they were afraid of being betrayed by them, and
moved the king to banish them out of his coasts. For it was contrary to the
rule of the gospel that Christians should hold fellowship, or have any
intercourse, with pagans. Besides which, the number of those that were come
over was now so great, that they were a terror to his subjects; and nobody
could now know who was a pagan, or who a Christian, since pagans married the
daughters and kinswomen of Christians. These things they represented to the
king, and endeavored to dissuade him from entertaining them, lest they
might, by some treacherous conspiracy, prove an overmatch for the native
inhabitants. But Vortigern, who loved them above all other nations on
account of his wife, was deaf to their advice. |
13[Pelagianism has the
distinction of being the only important western Christian heresy. Unlike the
great controversies dealt with at Nicea, however, it is not about the nature
of God, but is rather about salvation. Pelagius taught that the individual
through strenuous striving could live a life without sin through his or her
own efforts. The notion that people did not need divine help through grace
immediately attracted the wrath of major western theologians, particularly
St. Augustine. |
For this reason the Britons quickly deserted
him, and unanimously set up Vortimer his son for their king; who at their
instigation began to drive out the barbarians, and to make dreadful
incursions upon them. Four battles he fought with them, and was victorious
in all: the first upon the river Dereuent;14 the second
upon the ford of Epsford, where Horsa and Catigern, another son of Vortigern,
met and, after a sharp encounter, killed each other;15 the
third upon the sea-shore, where the enemies fled shamefully to their ships,
and betook themselves for refuge to the Isle of Thanet. But Vortimer
besieged them there, and daily distressed them with his fleet. And when they
were no longer able to bear the assaults of the Britons, they sent King
Vortigern, who was present with them in all those wars, to his son Vortimer,
to desire leave to depart, and return back safe to Germany. And while, a
conference upon this subject was being held, they in the meantime went on
board their long galleys, and, leaving their wives and children behind them,
returned back to Germany.
Chapter XIV--Vortimer's kindness to his soldiers at
his death.
Vortimer after this great success, began to restore his subjects to their
possessions which had been taken from them, and to show them all marks of
his affection and esteem, and at the instance of St. Germanus to rebuild
their churches. But his goodness quickly stirred up the enmity of the devil
against him, who entering into the heart of his stepmother Rowen, excited
her to contrive his death. For this purpose she consulted with the poisoners,
and procured one who was intimate with him, whom she corrupted with large
and numerous presents, to give him a poisonous draft; so that this brave
soldier, as soon as he had taken it, was seized with a sudden illness, that
deprived him of all hopes of life. Hereupon he forthwith ordered all his men
to come to him, and having shown them how near he was to his end,
distributed among them all the treasure his predecessors had heaped up, and
endeavored to comfort them in their sorrow and lamentation for him, telling
them, he was only going the way of all flesh. But he exhorted those brave
and warlike young men, who had attended him in all his victories, to persist
courageous in the defense of their country against all hostile invasion; and
with wonderful greatness of mind, commanded a brazen pyramid to be placed in
the port where the Saxons used to land, and his body when dead to be buried
on the top of it, that the sight of his tomb might frighten back the
barbarians to Germany. For he said none of them would dare approach the
country, that should but get a sight of his tomb. Such was the admirable
bravery of this great man, who, as he had been a terror to them while
living, endeavored to be no less so when dead. Notwithstanding which, he was
no sooner dead, than the Britons had no regard to his orders, but buried him
at London.
Chapter XV--Hengist, having wickedly murdered the
princes of Britain, keeps Vortigern prisoner.
Vortigern, after the death of his son, was again restored to the kingdom,
and at the request of his wife sent messengers into Germany to Hengist, with
an invitation to return into Britain, but privately, and with a small
retinue, to prevent a quarrel between the barbarians and his subjects. But
Hengist, hearing that Vortimer was dead, raised an army of no less than
three hundred thousand men, and fitting out a fleet returned with them to
Britain. When Vortigern and the nobility heard of the arrival of so vast a
multitude, they were immoderately incensed, and, after consultation
together, resolved to fight them, and drive them from their coasts. Hengist,
being informed of their design by messengers sent from his daughter,
immediately entered into deliberation what course to pursue against them.
After several stratagems had been considered, he judged it most feasible, to
impose upon the nation by making show of peace. With this view he sent
ambassadors to the king to declare to him, that he had not brought so great
a number of men for the purpose either of staying with him, or offering any
violence to the country. But the reason why he brought them, was because he
thought Vortimer was yet living, and that he should have occasion for them
against him, in case of an assault. But now since he no longer doubted of
his being dead, he submitted himself and his people to the disposal of
Vortigern; so that he might retain as many of them as he should think fit,
and whomsoever he rejected Hengist would allow to return back without delay
to Germany. And if these terms pleased Vortigern, he desired him to appoint
a time and place for their meeting, and adjusting matters according to his
pleasure |
14The Dereuent seems to be
the Darent, a stream which gives its name to Dartford.
15 The very remarkable monument, called Kit Cotty's house, is
traditionally supposed to mark the grave of Catigern. |
When these things were represented to the king,
he was mightily pleased, as being very unwilling to part with Hengist; and
at last ordered his subjects and the Saxons to meet upon the kalends of May,
which were now very near, at the monastery of Ambrius,16
for the settling of the matters above mentioned. The appointment being
agreed to on both sides, Hengist, with a new design of villany in his head,
ordered his soldiers to carry every one of them a long dagger under their
garments; and while the conference should be held with the Britons, who
would have no suspicion of them, he would give them this word of command, "Nemet
oure Saxas," at which moment they were all to be ready to seize boldly every
one his next man, and with his drawn dagger stab him.
Accordingly they all met at the time and place appointed, and began to
treat of peace; and when a fit opportunity offered for executing his villany,
Hengist cried out, "Nemet oure Saxas," and the same instant seized Vortigern,
and held him by, his cloak. The Saxons, upon the signal given, drew their
daggers, and falling upon the princes, who little suspected any, such
design, assassinated them to the number of four hundred and sixty barons and
consuls; to whose bodies St. Eldad afterwards gave Christian burial, not far
from Kaercaradauc, now Salisbury, in a burying-place near the monastery of
Ambrius, the abbot, who was the founder of it. For they all came without
arms, having no thoughts of anything but treating of peace which gave the
others a fairer opportunity of exercising their villainous design against
them. But the pagans did not escape unpunished while they, acted this
wickedness; a great number of them being killed during this massacre of
their enemies. For the Britons, taking up clubs and stones from the ground,
resolutely defended themselves, and did good execution upon the traitors. |
16Ambresbury. |
Chapter XVI--Eldol's
valiant exploit. Hengist forces Vortigern to yield up the strongest
fortifications in Britain, in consideration of his release.
There was present one Eldol, consul17 of Gloucester, who,
at the sight of this treachery, took up a stake which he happened to find,
and with that made his defense. Every blow he gave carried death along with
it; and by breaking either the head, arms, shoulders, or legs of a great
many, he struck no small terror into the traitors, nor did he move from the
spot before he had killed with that weapon seventy men. But being no longer
able to stand his ground against such numbers, he made his escape from them,
and retired to his own city. Many fell on both sides, but the Saxons got the
victory; because the Britons, having no suspicion of treachery, came
unarmed, and therefore made a weaker defense. After the commission of this
detestable villainy, the Saxons would not kill Vortigern; but having
threatened him with death and bound him, demanded his cities and fortified
places in consideration of their granting him his life. He, to secure
himself, denied them nothing; and when they had made him confirm his grants
with an oath, they released him from his chains, and then marched first to
London, which they took, as they did afterwards York, Lincoln, and
Winchester wasting the countries through which they passed, and destroying
the people, as wolves do sheep when left by their shepherds. When Vortigern
saw the desolation which they made, he retired into the parts of Cambria,
not knowing what to do against so barbarous a people. |
17This term must be
considered as equivalent to comes, count, or earl. [It is this kind
of thing that has convinced some scholars and convinced some contemporaries
of Geoffrey that he was making things up. He seems to have chosen an
appropriately elevated title, but one not the same as any title used in his
day. Counts in the eleventh century did sometimes use this title, which had
by then no specific meaning except an association with the Roman past.] |
Chapter XVII--Vortigern,
after consultation with magicians, orders a youth to be brought that never
had a father.
At last he had recourse to magicians for their advice, and commanded them to
tell him what course to take. They advised him to build a very strong tower
for his own safety, since he had lost all his other fortified places.
Accordingly he made a progress about the country, to find out a convenient
situation, and came at last to Mount Erir, where he assembled workmen from
several countries, and ordered them to build the tower. The builders,
therefore, began to lay the foundation; but whatever they did one day the
earth swallowed up the next, so as to leave no appearance of their work.17
Vortigern being informed of this again consulted with his magicians
concerning the cause of it, who told him that he must find out a youth that
never had a father, kill him, and then sprinkle the stones and cement with
his blood; for by those means, they said, he would have a firm foundation.
Hereupon messengers were despatched away over all the provinces, to inquire
out such a man.
In their travels they came to a city, called afterwards Kaermerdin, where
they saw some young men, playing before the gate, and went up to them; but
being weary with their journey, they sat down in the ring, to see if they
could meet with what they were in quest of. Towards evening, there happened
on a sudden a quarrel between two of the young men, whose names were Merlin
and Dabutius. In the dispute, Dabutius said to Merlin: "You fool, do you
presume to quarrel with me? Is there any equality in our birth? I am
descended of royal race, both by my father and mother's side. As for you,
nobody knows what you are, for you never had a father."
At that word the messengers looked earnestly upon Merlin, and asked the
bystanders who he was. They told him, it was not known who was his father;
but that his mother was daughter to the king of Dimetia, and that she lived
in St. Peter's church among the nuns of that city. |
17[This story sounds very
fishy to us, but what may have been going on was that Vortigern was trying
to build a fortification in marsh. If one can sink enough stones in marsh,
eventually, one can create a foundation that will hold. Then those who wish
to attack the fortification would need to know the way through the marsh.
There is some evidence that some people in late antiquity did in fact know
how to do this.] |
Chapter XVIII--Vortigern
inquires of Merlin's mother concerning her conception of him.
Upon this the messengers hastened to the governor of the city, and ordered
him, in the king's name, to send Merlin and his mother to the king.18
As soon as the governor understood the occasion of their message, he readily
obeyed the order, and sent them to Vortigern to complete his design.
When they were introduced into the king's presence, he received the
mother in a very respectful manner, on account of her noble birth; and began
to inquire of her by what man she had conceived.
"My sovereign lord," said she, "by the life of your soul and mine, I know
nobody that begot him of me. Only this I know, that as I was once with my
companions in our chambers, there appeared to me a person in the shape of a
most beautiful young man, who often embraced me eagerly in his arms, and
kissed me; and when he had stayed a little time, he suddenly vanished out of
my sight. But many times after this he would talk with me when I sat alone,
without making any visible appearance. When he had a long time haunted me in
this manner, he at last lay with me several times in the shape of a man, and
left me with child. I do affirm to you, my sovereign lord, that excepting
that young man, I know no body that begot him of me." |
18[Merlin's mother is an
added character here. How does adding her to the story change it?] |
The king full of admiration at this account,
ordered Maugantius to be called, that he might satisfy him as to the
possibility of what the woman had related. Maugantius, being introduced, and
having the whole, matter repeated to him, said to Vortigern: "In the books
of our philosophers, and in a great many histories, I have found that
several men have had the like original. For, as Apuleius informs us in his
book concerning the Demon of Socrates, between the moon and the earth
inhabit those spirits, which we will call incubuses.19
These are of the nature partly of men, and partly of angels, and whenever
they please assume human shapes, and lie with women. Perhaps one of them
appeared to this woman, and begot that young man of her."
Chapter XIX.--Merlin's speech to the king's magicians,
and advice about the building of the tower.
Merlin in the meantime was attentive to all that had passed, and then
approached the king, and said to him, "For what reason am I and my mother
introduced into your presence?"
"My magicians," answered Vortigern, "advised me to seek out a man that
had no father, with whose blood my building is to be sprinkled, in order to
make it stand."
"Order your magicians," said Merlin, "to come before me, and I will
convict them of a lie." The king was surprised at his words, and presently
ordered the magicians to come, and sit down before Merlin, who spoke to them
after this manner: "Because you are ignorant what it is that hinders the
foundation of the tower, you have recommended the shedding of my blood for
cement to it, as if that would presently make it stand. But tell me now,
what is there under the foundation? For something there is that will not
suffer it to stand."
The magicians at this began to be afraid, and made him no answer. Then
said Merlin, who was also called Ambrose, "I entreat your majesty would
command your workmen to dig into the ground, and you will find a pond which
causes the foundation to sink." This accordingly was done, and then
presently they found a pond deep under ground, which had made it give way.
Merlin after this went again to the magicians, and said, "Tell me you false
sycophants, what is there under the pond." But they were silent. Then said
he again to the king, "Command the pond to be drained,and at the bottom you
will see two hollow stones, and in them two dragons asleep." |
19[Apuleius was a Roman
writer, best known for his novel about magical transformations,
Metamorphoses, also known as The Golden Ass. This is a nicely
learned sort of magical text for a magician to have read! The "demon" here
might be better transcribed as a "dæmon, or lesser deity. In Christian
terms, of course, such a divinity would be "demonic."] |
The king made no scruple of believing him,
since he had found true what he said of the pond, and therefore ordered it
to be drained: which done, he found as Merlin had said; and. now was
possessed with the greatest admiration of him. Nor were the rest that were
present less amazed at his wisdom, thinking it to be no less than divine
inspiration. |
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