The historie of Great Britannie declaring the successe of times and affaires in that iland, from the Romans first entrance, vntill the raigne of Egbert, the West-Saxon prince; who reduced the severall principalities of the Saxons and English, into a monarchie, and changed the name of Britannie into England.

CHAP. V.

Vortimer succeedeth his father in the government. Vor∣tiger is restored. The most noble of the Britans are trecherously murdered by the Saxons vpon Salisbnrie Plaines.

THen Vortimer his sonne (a man in disposition of his mind much vnlike his father) was declared King, & renued the warre with the Saxons, whom he encountred in a pitched field neere Ailsford in Kent. In that conflict Catigern his brother, and Horsa the brother of Hengist, fighting hand to hand, were both slaine, whereby though the Saxons perished in greater number then the Britans: yet by the losse of the Ge∣nerals on both sides, the fortune of the battaile seemed in a maner to be equall. On the part of the Britans there died no man of name, save onely Catigern, in remembrance of whose death there was afterwards a Sepulchre of stone erected, where the battaile was fought. The like Monument was also built by the Saxons for Horsa, their Captaine, though Time hath now defaced it: howbeit the memorie of the place it selfe (if credite may be given to the Inhabitants there,) is continued among them even to this day, by a small Village in East Kent, yet bearing his name. After this, the Britans made diverse attempts vp∣on their enemies, sometimes winning, sometimes loosing; and then recovering againe, that which they had lost, when Vortimer the King ended his dayes, either by a naturall death, or by the trecherie of Rowen his Stepmother. He was a Prince of great cou∣rage

adorned with many Morall vertues, and (as some writers have reported) a favorer and professor of the Christian religion.

Then was Vortiger the King (either vpon hope that adversitie had wrought in him a reformation of mind, or else, for feare lest any civill discord should arise by the election of any other) revoked with common con∣sent of the Britans, and restored to his former estate. During his Sonnes raigne (as the Brittish Storie repor∣teth) he lived a private life neere Radnor in Wales, where he bestowed much cost in building a Castle for defence (as himselfe vainly imagined against any sud∣daine assault.

In the meane time, the strength of the Saxons en∣creased by new supplies, which came dayly out of Germanie: and the Britans now doubted their owne estates so much the more, by reason that the Picts and Scottish-men (their ancient enemies) were disper∣sed in most parts of the Ile: the Saxons also, for their owne aduantage, entring oftentimes into secret confe∣deracie and mutuall leagues with them.

But Hengist (supposing that he could not with safetie enjoy the possession of that territorie, which Vor∣tiger had assigned vnto him, so long as the chiefe, and most valiant of the Brittish Nation remained alive) de∣vised by a cunning practise (vnder pretence of hospi∣talitie and friendship) to draw them togither into one place, and on the suddaine to surprise them. To this end he prepared a solemne Banquet, at which the King, with diverse Noble personages (as bidden guests) were present, suspecting nothing lesse, then what was intended against them. For the Britans being warme with good cheere, and wine (whereof they had drunke immeasurably) were scoffed at by the

Saxons, the one provoking the other so farre with re∣proachfull termes, that in the end they fell from words to blowes, in such furious maner, as the Britans (be∣ing about three hundred in number, all vnarmed, and surcharged with Wine,) were slaine in the place, and Vortiger their King taken prisoner; who (soone after delivering for his ransome, the whole Countrey of Kent, with other Provinces thereto adjoyning, into the Saxons hands) fled to his Castle in Wales: where (supposing himselfe free from danger) he continued his vitious and prophane maner of living, till in the end, both himselfe, and his Castle (as some Wri∣ters affirme) was by lightning from heaven consumed to ashes.

Thus Vortiger the last King of the Brittish blood, a Prince in manners dissolute, and weake in actions, was by Strangers dispossessed of his Kingdome: li∣ving to see the ruine of his Countrey, whereof him∣selfe was the principall cause, and dying in the ende a strange and vnnaturall death, which is commonly the issue of a disordered and infamous life.

The report goeth, that this fatall meeting was held vpon Salisburie Plaines, where (not many yeares after Aurelianus Ambrosius caused that strange building of Stone (now called Stone-henge) to be erected, as a perpetuall Monument of so many wor∣thie Britans slaine and buried there; concerning which, sundrie conjectures have beene made, as be∣ing either framed according to mens particular con∣ceits, or grounded vpon common reports received by tradition. But by what meanes soever they came thither, they are accounted at this day, one of the mi∣racles of England, in regarde both of the Stones themselves, which are of a huge bignesse: and also of

their composition, and order, whereby they seeme (in a maner) to be supported with their owne weight, in hanging one by another: considering withall, that there are no Stones fit for building, to be found with in many miles of that place.