History Of The Britons (Historia Brittonum) by Nennius
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38. Hengist, after this, said to Vortigern, "I will be to you
both a father and an adviser; despise not my counsels, and you
shall have no reason to fear being conquered by any man or any
nation whatever; for the people of my country are strong, warlike,
and robust: if you approve, I will send for my son and his brother,
both valiant men, who at my invitation will fight against the
Scots, and you can give them the countries in the north, near the
wall called Gual."[1] The incautious sovereign having assented
to this, Octa and Ebusa arrived with forty ships. In these they
sailed round the country of the Picts, laid waste the Orkneys, and
took possession of many regions, even to the Pictish confines.[2]
[1] Antoninus's wall.
[2] Some MSS. add, "beyond the Frenesic, Fresicum (or Fresic) sea,"
i.e. which is between us and the Scotch. The sea between Scotland
and Ireland. Camden translates it "beyond the Frith;" Langhorne
says, "Solway Frith."
But Hengist continued, by degrees, sending for ships from his own
country, so that some islands whence they came were left without
inhabitants; and whilst his people were increasing in power and
number, they came to the above-named province of Kent.
39. In the meantime, Vortigern, as if desirous of adding to the
evils he had already occasioned, married his own daughter, by whom
he had a son. When this was made known to St. Germanus, he came,
with all the British clergy, to reprove him: and whilst a numerous
assembly of the ecclesiastics and laity were in consultation, the
weak king ordered his daughter to appear before them, and in the
presence of all to present her son to St. Germanus, and declare
that he was the father of the child. The immodest* woman obeyed;
and St. Germanus, taking the child, said, "I will be a father to
you, my son; nor will I dismiss you till a razor, scissors, and
comb, are given to me, and it is allowed you to give them to your
carnal father." The child obeyed St. Germanus, and going to his
father Vortigern, said to him, "Thou art my father; shave and cut
the hair of my head." The king blushed, and was silent; and,
without replying to the child, arose in great anger, and fled from
the presence of St. Germanus, execrated and condemned by the whole
synod.
[1] V.R. "Immodest" is omitted in some MSS.
40. But soon after, calling together his twelve wise men, to
consult what was to be done, they said to him, "Retire to the
remote boundaries of your kingdom; there build and fortify a city[1]
to defend yourself, for the people you have received are treacherous;
they are seeking to subdue you by stratagem, and, even during your
life, to seize upon all the countries subject to your power, how
much more will they attempt, after your death!" The king, pleased
with this advice, departed with his wise men, and travelled through
many parts of his territories, in search of a place convenient
for the purpose of building a citadel. Having, to no purpose,
travelled far and wide, they came at length to a province called
Guenet;[2] and having surveyed the mountains of Heremus,[3] they
discovered, on the summit of one of them, a situation, adapted to
the consturction of a citadel. Upon this, the wise men said to
the king, "Build here a city: for, in this place, it will ever be
secure against the barbarians." Then the king sent for artificers,
carpenters, stone-masons, and collected all the materials requisite
to building; but the whole of these disappeared in one night, so
that nothing remained of what had been provided for the constructing
of the citadel. Materials were, therefore, from all parts, procured
a second and third time, and again vanished as before, leaving and
rendering every effort ineffectual. Vortigern inquired of his wise
men the cause of this opposition to his undertaking, and of so much
useless expense of labour? They replied, "You must find a child
born without a father, put him to death, and sprinkle with his
blood the ground on which the citadel is to be built, or you will
never accomplish your purpose."
[1] V.R. You shall find a fortified city in which you may defend
yourself.
[2] V.R. Guined, Guoienet, Guenez, North Wales.
[3] V.R. Heremi, Heriri, or Eryri, signifying eagle rocks, the
mountains of Snowdon, in Carnarvonshire. The spot alluded to is
supposed to be Dinas Emrys, or the fortress of Ambrosius.
41. In consequence of this reply, the king sent messengers through-
out Britain, in search of a child born without a father. After
having inquired in all the provinces, they came to the field of
Aelecti,[1] in the district of Glevesing,[2] where a party of boys
were playing at ball. And two of them quarrelling, one said to
the other, "O boy without a father, no good will ever happen to
you." Upon this, the messengers diligently inquired of the mother
and the other boys, whether he had had a father? Which his mother
denied, saying, "In what manner he was conceived I know not, for
I have never had intercourse with any man;" and then she solemnly
affirmed that he had no mortal father. The boy was, therefore,
led away, and conducted before Vortigern the king.
[1] V.R. Elleti, Electi, Gleti. Supposed to be Bassalig in
Monmouthshire.
[2] The district between the Usk and Rumney, in Monmouthshire.
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