History Of The Britons (Historia Brittonum) by Nennius
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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 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
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 vessels, and in Bede's time was three stadia
broad, and fordable only at two places.
[3] The rest of this sentence is omitted in some of the MSS.
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