The history of Scotland written in Latin by George Buchanan ; faithfully rendered into English.

Congallus I. The Forty Fourth King.

COngallus succeeded Constantine, the Son of Dongardus, Constan∣tine's Brother; He was inclineable to Arms; but durst not then attempt any thing, in regard the People were effeminated and weakned by Sloth and Luxury, during the Reign of his Uncle. And, tho' Many, in compliance with his Disposition, (as usually Kings have many such Parasites) did often persuade him to take Arms; yet, he would never be induced thereunto. First then, he applied himself to correct the publick Manners, neither did he attempt to reduce the Ancient Discipline, till he had Created new Magistrates, and, by their means, had abridged Suits and Controversies, and re∣strained Thefts and Robberies. Peace being setled at home, he en∣deavoured to reclaim others to a civiller course of Life, first of all by his own Example; and, if any took no Copy from him, but per∣sisted obstinately in their Evil Courses, Such he either gently chasti∣zed and punished, or else sleighted them as despicable and worthless Persons, and thus he quickly reduced all things to their former state: Seeing (as I said before) at the beginning of his Reign, he gave up himself wholly to the study of Peace, the Brittons began to per∣suade Aurelius Ambrosius to recover Westmorland from the Scots, which they had possessed many years. Hereupon several Embassys being sent, to and fro, betwixt them, the Matter was like to be de∣cided by the Sword, if fear of the Common Enemy had not put an end to the Dispute; so that the League made by Constantine was re∣newed, and no Alteration made in reference to Westmorland. Congallus had War with the Saxons all the time of his Reign; but it was a slow and intermittent one, as Parties fortuitously met in driving of their respective Preys; in which kind of Fighting, the Scots being nimble, light, and most Horsemen, accounted themselves Superior to their Enemies; but they never came to a pitch'd Battel. For Congallus was of opinion, That it was best to commit as few things, as we could, to the Arbitrement of Fortune, and therefore he sent Part of his Forces to help Aurelius Ambrosius; and with the rest, he wearied his Enemy, and never suffered him to rest Night nor Day. s Merlin and Gildas lived in the days of these and the next Kings; They were both Brittons, and obtained great Fame amongst Posterity, for the Opinion conceived of them, concerning Prophecies and Divinations. Merlin was a little the Ancienter of the Two, a Cheat and Impostor, rather than a Prophet. His Vaticinations are scattered up and down, but they are obscure and contain no Cer∣tainty at all, to encourage any ones hopes before their fulfilling; or, to satisfy them, when they are; so that, upon neither account, can you affirm them to be True. And besides, they are so framed, that you may accommodate, or apply, them to different, or contrary, Events, as you will your self. Yet, tho' they are dayly furbished up, and also augmented by new Additions, such is the Folly o•• cre∣dulous men, That what they understand not, they are yet bold to affirm, to be as True as Gospel; and, tho' they be taken in a notori∣ous I ••e, yet they will not suffer themselves to be convinced thereof.

Gildas was later than he, a Learned and Good Man, and one, who was had in great Veneration, both Alive and Dead, for his Excellent Learning, accompanied with Sanctity of Life. The Prophecies, which go under his Name, are such Ridiculous Sentences, and so course and ill-framed in Wording, and also in the whole Se∣ries of their Composure, that no Wise Man can esteem them to be His: Yet each Prophet (as you call them) had a Patron, suitable to his own Disposition. Merlin had Vortigern for his Patron; and, after him, Vter, to whom he was a Pander for his Lust. Gildas had Aurelius Ambrosius, a Person no less admirable for the Probity of his Life, than for his Victories in War; after whose Death, Gildas retired unto Glastonbury in Sommerset-shire, where he lived and died, very devoutly. Our Books of the Life of Aurelius Ambrosius, do make mention of him: After his Death, Vter, the youngest of Constantines Three Sons, succeeded him, in the Year of our Lord Five Hundred. And the next year after, Congallus, King of Scot∣land, departed this Natural Life, in the Twenty Second year of his Reign.

Notes

• Aurelius Am∣brosius, in Bri∣tain.
• s

  Merlin and Gilda••, When they lived? with a Comparison between Them; the Former•• counte•• an Impostor; the La••er, a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉〈◊〉▪
• Gildas his Prophecies, not Genuine.
• Gildas his Death, at Gla∣stonbury in England.