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and dispersed the whole fleet. In this storm the greater part of the ships
foundered; but the women that escaped the danger of the sea, were
driven upon strange islands, and by a barbarous people either murdered
or made slaves. For they happened to fall into the hands of the cruel
army of Guanius and Melga, who, by the command of Gratian, were
making terrible destruction in Germany, and the nations on the sea-coast.
Guanius was king of the Huns, and Melga of the Picts, whom Gratian
had engaged in his part and had sent him into Germany to harass those
of GratianÕs party along the sea-coasts. While they were thus exercising,
their barbarous rage, they happened to light upon these virgins who had
been driven on those parts, and were so inflamed with their beauty, that
they courted them to their brutish embraces; which, when the women
would not submit to the Ambrons fell upon them, and without remorse
murdered the greatest part of them. This done, the two wicked leaders
of the Picts and Huns, Guanius and Melga, being the partisans of Gratian
and Valentinian, when they had learned that the island of Britain was
drained of all its soldiers, made a speedy voyage towards it; and, taking
into their assistance the people of the adjacent islands, arrived in Albania.
Then joining in a body, they invaded the kingdom, which was left
without either government or defence, and made miserable destruction
among the common people. For Maximian, as we have already related,
had carried away with him all the warlike youth that could be found,
and had left behind him only the husbandman, who had neither sense
nor arms for the defence of their country Guanius and Melga, finding
that they were not able to make the least opposition, began to domineer
most insolently, and to lay waste their cities and countries, as if they had
only been pens of sheep. The news of this grievous calamity, coming to
Maximian, he sent away Gratian Municeps, with two legions to their
assistance; who, as soon as they arrived, fought with the enemy, and
after a most bloody victory over them forced them to fly over into
Ireland. In the meantime, Maximian was killed at Rome by GratianÕs
friends; and the, Britons whom he had carried with him were also slain
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or dispersed. Those of them that could escape, went to their countrymen
in Armorica, which was now called the other Britain.
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Book VI.
Chapter 1. Gratian, being advanced to the throne,
is killed by the common people. The Britons desire
the Romans to defend them against Guanius and Melga.
But Gratian Municeps, hearing of the, death of Maximian, seized the
crown, and made himself king. After this he exercised such tyranny that
the common people fell upon him in tumultuous manner and murdered
him. When this news reached other countries, their former enemies
returned back from Ireland, and bringing with them the Scots
Norwegians, and Dacians, made dreadful devastations with fire and
sword over the whole kingdom, from sea to sea upon this most grievous
calamity and oppression, ambassadors are despatched with letters to
Rome, to beseech, with tears and vows of perpetual subjection, that a
body of men might be sent to revenge their injuries, and drive out the
enemy from them. The ambassadors in a short time prevailed so far, that,
unmindful of past injuries, the Romans granted them one legion, which
was transported in a fleet to their country, and there, speedily
encountered the enemy. At last, after the slaughter of a vast multitude of
them, they drove them entirely out of the country, and rescued the
miserable people from their outrageous, cruelty. Then they gave orders
for a wall to be built between Albania and Deira, from one sea to the
other, for a terror to the enemy, and safeguard to the country. At that
time Albania was wholly laid waste, by the frequent invasions of
barbarous nations; and whatever enemies made an attempt upon the
country, met with a convenient landing-place there. So that the
inhabitants were diligent in working upon the wall, which they finished
partly at the public, partly upon private charge.
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Chapter 2. GuethelinÕs speech to the Britons when the Romans left them.
The Romans, after this, declared to the Britons, that they should not
be able for the future to undergo the fatigue of such laborious
expeditions; and that it was beneath the dignity of the Roman state to
harass so great and brave an army, both by land and sea, against base
and vagabond robbers; but that they ought to a ply themselves to the use
of arms, and to fight bravely in defending to the utmost of their power,
their country, riches wives, children, and, what is dearer than all these,
their liberty and lives. As soon as they had given them this exhortation,
they commanded all the men of the island that were fit for war, to
appear together at London, because the Romans were about to return
home. When, therefore, they were all assembled, Guethelin, the
metropolitan of London, had orders to make a speech to them, which he
did in these words:Ñ
ÒThough I am appointed by the princes here present to speak to you,
I find myself rather ready to burst into tears, than to make an eloquent
oration. It is a most sensible affliction to me to observe the weak and
destitute state into which you are fallen since Maximian drew away with
him all the forces and youth of this kingdom. You that were left were
people wholly inexperienced in war, and occupied with other
employments, as tilling the ground, and several kinds of mechanical
trades. So that when your enemies from foreign countries came upon
you, as sheep wandering without a shepherd, they forced you to quit
your folds, till the Roman power restored you to them again. Must your
hopes, therefore, always depend upon foreign assistance? And will you
never use yourselves to handle arms against a band of robbers, that are
by no means stronger than yourselves, if you are not dispirited by sloth
and cowardice? The Romans are now tired with the continual voyages
wherewith they are harassed to defend you against your enemies: they
rather choose to remit to you the tribute you pay them than undergo any
longer this fatigue by land and sea. Because you were only the common
people at the time when we had soldiers of our own, do you therefore
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