Vorliporus.
Vorliporus, the Son of Aurelius Conanus, succeeded his Father, and began to Reign over the Brittains, in the Year of our Lord 576.
This Vorliporus vanquished the Saxons in Battel, as the Brittish Histories record, and va∣liantly defended his Land and Subjects the Brittains, from the Danger of them and their Alleyes: In the time of this King's Reign, Ella began to Reign in the South part of the Kingdome of Northumberland, called Peira, according to the Account of some Writers, who also take this Vorliporus to begin his Reign in the Year 548. Finally, after that Vorli∣porus had ruled the Brittains the space of four years, he departed this Life, leaving no Issue behinde him to succeed him in the Kindome. Against whom also Gildas turning his Pen, beginneth with him thus. And, why standest thou as one quite amazed? Thou, I say Vortiporus, the Tyrant of South-Wales, like to the Panther in Manners, and Wickedness, diversly spotted as it were with many Colours, with thy hoar head in thy Throne, full of Deceits, Crafts, and Wiles, and defiled even from the lowest part of thy Body to the Crown of the Head, with divers and sundry Murders committed in thine own Kinde, and filthy Adulteries: Thus proving a naughty Son of a good King, as Manusses was of Eze∣kias, How chanceth it that the violent streams of sins, which thou swallowllest up like plea∣sant Wine, or rather art devoured of them (the end of thy Life, by little, and little, now drawing near) cannot yet satisfie thee.
What meanest thou, that with Fornication of all Evills as it were the full Heap, thine own Wife being put away, and by her honest Death, thou dost oppress thy Soul with a cer∣tain Burden that cannot be avoided, of thy own un-shamefac'd Daughter! consume not I pray thee the Residue of thy Daies to the Offence of God,* 1.1 &c.
Thus Hollenshed out of Gildas.
* 1.2Fabian writing of this King, saith, Of which is little left in any Chronicle, except that Guido testifying him to be a victorious Knight; shewing briefly, that in sundry Battels, he discomfited the Saxons, and defended the Land and Brittains from the Danger of them, and other their Allyes.
* 1.3Howes calleth him a vicious King, and a Tyrant, who put from him his Wife, and kept her Daughter for his Concubine.
Harpesfield having spoken of several Saintly men, and great Schollers in the Reign of former Kings, continuing his History, saith, After whom, other famous and learned Brit∣tains are not to be forgotten; I mean Thelianus, Daniel, Petrocius, Kentegernus, Samp∣son, Cadocus, with others: Thelianus born of an Illustrious and Princely Off-spring, yet more illustrated his Family by his own most resplendent Virtues; he was first Disciple to Dubritius, Bishop of Landaff, and afterwards, together with Saint David to Paulinus. So strict was the Amity betwixt him and David, that they were esteemed the most admira∣ble Pair of Friends of that time; For the wonderfull Lustre of his Virtue, and Sanctity he was commonly called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 (i. e.) The Sun; from whence by Corruption, instead of Elios, he is usually called Elive. He succeeded Dubritius in the Episcopal Dignity of Lan∣daff, where after the leading of a most holy Life, he rendred his blessed Soul into the hands of his Creatour, in the Ides of February, in the Reign of Vorliporus, Anno 540.
Daniel, famous both for Learning and Virtue, associated himself with Dubritius and David, for Extirpation of the cursed Poyson of the Pelagian Heresie, and founded that Renowned Colledge of Acaon, in the province of North-Wales, which is now the Bishop∣prick of Bangor, where he was the first Bishop, and flourished untill the year 560. under Vortiporus. There is a certain Island in Wales, which the Cambrians or Welshm••n, Scots, and English, call Bardsey, in which they say, not onely the Body of this Daniel, but of divers other Saints likewise are interr'd; neither want Authours, who affirm, that for the sakes of those Saints there buried, the Inhabitants of that Isle live extreamly long, even to the most decrepid Age that can be imagined. Who so desireth to have further Satisfaction con∣cerning the Renowned Brittains, in this Kings Reign, let him read Harpsfield in the first six Ages, c. 27.