The church-history of Brittany from the beginning of Christianity to the Norman conquest under Roman governours, Brittish kings, the English-Saxon heptarchy, the English-Saxon (and Danish) monarchy ... : from all which is evidently demonstrated that the present Roman Catholick religion hath from the beginning, without interruption or change been professed in this our island, &c. / by R.F., S. Cressy of the Holy Order of S. Benedict.

* 1.1XX. CHAP.

1.2. &c. Pascentius a Son of K. Vortigern comes with forces into Brittany: And contrives the murder of K. A. Ambro∣sius. But is slain by K. Vther.

6. Vther overcomes the Saxons.

1. THE Brittains though they had seen their Island thus dismembred, and on all sides oppress'd by barbarous enemies, yet sustained a greater dammage by civill dis∣sensions, rais'd by a Son of the late King Vor∣tigern call'd Pascentius, who in the end trea∣cherously depriv'd them of their Noble King Ambrosius.

2. This Pascentius after the death of his Father Vortigern seing the minds of the Brit∣tains,* 1.2 out of hatred to his Father, inclin'd to Ambrosius,* 1.3 fled into Germany: where he re∣mained severall years endeavouring to ga∣ther forces sufficient to place himself in the throne of his Ancestors. At length in the year four hundred ninety six he came, saith Florilegus, with a powerfull and well furnish'd Army, and landed in the Northern parts of the Island, intending to revenge his own and his fa∣thers injuries upon. Ambrosius. Who upon news hereof gathered likewise an Army, and march'd speedily to meet him. Shortly they came to a bat∣tell: in which Pascentius was overcom and forc'd to fly.

3. His refuge was into the countrey of the Scotts,* 1.4 where again recruiting his army, he return'd to try his fortune once more against the Brittains. But hearing that Am∣brosius lay sick in the Citty of Winchester, he thought it best to work his revenge by trea∣son, rather then open force. Therefore by gifts and promises he hired a certain Saxon, call'd Eopa, to fain himself a Physicion and a Brittain, and by that means to attempt the murder. Who under this feigned shew, and with a pretence of great piety and affection to the King being admitted, mingled poy∣son in a potion administred to him, of which Ambrosius presently dyed in the one and thirtieth year of his raign.

4. But Pascentius did not long enjoy the fruit of his Treason: For Vther-pendragon the Brother of Ambrosius, who during his Sicknes was Generall of the Brittish forces, marching against Pascentius, in a battell slew him and all his Captains that came along with him, over whom he obtain'd a signall Victory.

5. The year following,* 1.5 saith Florilegus, Vther the Brother of the late King Ambrosius came with hast to Winchester, and calling an As∣sembly of the people and Clergy of the Kingdom, took on him the Crown of Brittany, which is said to have been set on his head by the Holy Bishop Dubritius. And calling to mind how the year be∣fore a Comet had appear'd of a wonderfull magni∣tude, darting forth onely one beam, at the end whereof was seen a globe of fire shaped like a dra∣gon, out of whose mouth proceeded two beames, one reaching to Gaule, and the other shooting towards Ireland, which ended in seaven lesser beames: For this reason he commanded two Dra∣gons to be made of gold like to that which had ap∣pear'd: One of them he gave in oblation to the Church of Winchester: the other he caried with him, placing it in every combat in his Ensign: And from that time he was call'd in the Brittish language Vther-pendragon. And hence it is that to this day our Kings in their warlick expeditions cary the like Ensign.

6. But Vther had no sooner put on his crown, but he was forc'd to exchange it for a Head-peice:* 1.6 for as the same Authour relates, Eska the Successour of Hengist and his

Son Octa attended with a mighty army of Saxons invaded the Northern Provinces of Brittany,* 1.7 and destroyd all the Munitions between Albany and York. At last when they attempted the seige of a Citty call'd Alcluid, Vther-pendragon came upon them with all the strength of the countrey, and entred battell against them. The Saxons manfully resisted, and in the end compell'd the Brittains to fly as far as to a mountain calld Danet, which they seis'd upon, as a place of refuge, being so dismay'd, that they scarce knew what they did. But at last they resolv'd upon a prudent exploit, which was to sett courageously upon the enemies by night. This design they executed prosperously. For the Saxons being thus unexpectedly invaded, scarce rendred any combat at all, but were utterly routed: and Octa and Eska were taken prisoners, whom the King caried with him to London, where he caus'd them to be kept safe.

7. That which follows in Florilegus tou∣ching King Vthers love to Igerna wife to Gorlo Duke of Cornwall, on whom he is sayd to have begott Arthur, with many other Fables repugnant to all order of time, are not worth the exscribing: In the narration of the Gests of Arthur wee shall follow William of Malmsbury, a far more authentick Guide then Geffrey of Monmouth. By him we are informed that Arthur at this time was of a full ripe age, and by his assistance King Ambrosius had repress'd the Saxons.

Notes

• * 1.1

  XX. CH.
• * 1.2

  A. D. 498.
• * 1.3

  A. D. 496.
• * 1.4

  A. D. 497.
• * 1.5

  A. D. 398. Florileg. hîc.
• * 1.6

  Id ibid.
• * 1.7

  A. D. 500.