A continuance of Albions England: by the first author. VV.VV.

CHAP. 87.

THe Scots, that more than fortie yeares had been in hard Exile, Were by the Picts, that vnder-went the Romaine yoke meane while, Recal'd by double Ambasie: who, though they were disperst, By labourd Opportunities of their returne conuerst. Fergus (a fatall name vnto the Scots beginning-Raigne, And why not This their first king here, & Scots for Gothes mistain?) One neerest of the blood, who then in Denmarke did remaine, That with the Gothes had sacked Rome, and Thence brought wealth & fame, Collects an Armie, and arriues in Scotland with the same. To whom assemble soone the Picts, and, Quarrels passed-by, Against the Romaines Either did their forces whole applye: And in their Territories slew and made their foes to flye. When Victorine (then either Realme to Rome in Prouince was, As Britaine too) thither, to stay their forward Swords, did passe Of Romefied Britons and Emperials warre so great, As, after bloodie Battels, coold theirs and those others heate. For both their Armies, broken with these Battels, did returne: Esteeming it in vaine as yet against the Prick to spurne. Meane while in friendly League the Picts and Scots together liue, And Skermidges both of and to their foes did take and giue. One Placidus, by Victorine for Rome Deputed then, Fought with the Picts and Scots vnto the losse of most his men. To either Propriarie so was either Realme againe Of Romaines left, to leaue their holds to saue their liues then faine.

Yet both their Kings in following fight did brauely tyne their liues: Whence long the Romaine cause against the Armes cōfedrat thriues.

But neuer did the Picts omit occasion when they might Reuenge them on th'Emperiales by their Stratigmes or fight. In fine, the Romaine Monarchie Els-where did languish so, As their disabled Conquests heere they of themselues forgo. Reforming first their thrise-reard wall of fourescore miles in length, Against the Picts defencelesse, though of wondrous Art & strength: When thence▪forth long the Picts and Scots did Brutaine so inthrall, As lastly in their Ayde they did the Saxons hither call. Who, by Degrees (the Welsh except, so named Saxonlie) Subdued Brutaine (England now) vnto their Soueraigntie.

The lacerated Empire of the Romaines, though with griefe, Disclaim'd the Brutaines, at the least could yeeld them no reliefe. Imbellious through their Policie, adde Pestilence thereto, Succeeded with th'vnlabourd Earths sterilitie: but who Wold think that Plētie more offence thā war, death, dearth, should do? The Earth then fertile, men became effeminat and vaine, Luxurious, Idle, Bacchanists, and gladly intertaine, Like Issachres, their Seruitude, Their foes but aske and haue Conditions such as they themselues, how grosse someuer, craue, Tribute, with Pledges at the Picts their owne Deuotion: so A sensuall, seruile, sinfull life the Brutons vnder-go. Romes Policie, in plentie Sloth, and ciuill Discords heere From that it was, brought Brutaine thus to Nullitie wellneere. O Brutons (diffrent Brutons from your Auncestors, that oft Victoriously gainst these your Foes and Romaine Legions fought: Who, had ye neuer been secure, had neuer you subdude, Nor needed on th' Armoricanes that Raigne ye should obtrude) Euen now for then I should be greeu'd at your dis-brittish't swords, But that your then resumed Prowse, when Welsh amends affords. And, that your Arthure comes againe, so far-forth we allow It Prophesie, as Brutaine dead with him reuiueth now:

That is, Brutes Baptisme of this Ile, that ana-baptizd grew By diuers names in diuers parts, Iames doth through-out renew. That Arthur Tuder was your Prince, and yee, inthrald before, Were then infranchiz'd one with vs adds it fulfild the more. But to our Brutes, in mind deiect and warr-bit, be progrest.