The history of the warres of the Emperour Justinian in eight books : of the Persian, II, Vandall, II, Gothicke, IV / written in Greek by Procopivs of Caesarea ; and Englished by Henry Holcroft, Knight.

CHAP. XII.

IN these times was a great Warr between the Varnians and the Islanders of Brit∣tia: The Varnians are seated beyond the River Isler, and extend to the Nor∣thern Ocean, and the Rhyne, which River divides them, and the Francks, and the other Nations inhabiting those parts. All which Nations on both sides the Rhyne are named Germans. Brittia lyes on the Ocean Sea, distant from the Conti∣nent but twenty five miles, opposite to the mouth of the Rhyne, and lying between Brittany and * Thule. Brittany lyes to the West of Spaine five hundred miles,* 1.1 but Brittia lyes at the bottom of Gaule upon the Ocean, Northward to Spaine and Brittany: And Thule lyes in the uttermost bounds of the Ocean, Northward. This Island of Brittia is possest by three populous Nations, and over each is a King, and they are named Angli, Frisons, and Brittians. The people are so fruitfull, that yearely they transport many Families to the Francks, who plant them in de∣sert Countries, and upon that ground pretend an interest to the Island; and lately in an Embassage to the Emperour Justinian, sent some Angli in company, as if the Island were theirs. Over the Varnians one Hermegis••lus lately reigned, who took to Wife a Sister of Theodebert King of the Francks, his former Wife being dead; by whom he had a Son named Radisis, betroathed to the Sister of the King of the Angli in Brittia: This Hermegliscus riding to take the avre, a Raven from a tree croaked at him; he told his Noble men attending him, that the Bird in her lan∣guage did foretell his death to be within forty dayes after: And I (quoth he)

for your peace and security made an allyance with the Francks by mine owne Wife, and contracted a Brittian Lady to my Son: But now being suddenly to dye without Issue from my now Wife, and my Son being yet without his Bride, let me communicate my thoughts to you, and when I am dead, if you like my ad∣vise, put it in execution. I hold it more advantagious for you, to have allyance with the Francks then with the Brittians; who being Islanders, cannot joyne with you in time, nor easily: whereas nothing severs the Francks, but the Rhyne, from you. And being so neer and so powerfull, they are at hand both to helpe and hurt you; and hurt they will, if this allyance restraine them not: An over∣growne

neighbour proves heavy, and apt to doe wrong, and the meanes of a War are easie against men at the next doore. Quit therefore that betroathed Islander, and the Money shee hath received restore, according to the Law of Nations, for a reparation of the refusall of her: and let my Son Radisis marry his Mother-in-law, which our Lawes permit.

Hermegisclus gave this advise, and at the fortieth day dyed; and his Son taking the Kingdome, renounced his betroathed Spouse by the perswasion of his Nobles, and tooke his Mother-in-law to Wife. The contracted Lady could not brook the scorne done her, but was eager to revenge it. For so tender of their honour are the Barbarians of those parts, that after the name onely of a marriage without consummation, if the woman be refused, shee thinks her selfe profest a Strumpet. First shee sent Messengers to demand the reason of this rejection, seeing he could not charge her with incontinence, nor any other offence; but that way prevailing nothing, with a manly courage shee resolved upon a Warr: Shee got four hun∣dred Ships and an hundred thousand men, whom her selfe led, with one of her Brothers to assist her. The Brittians are the bravest Infantry we know, but so un∣exercised in Horsemanship, that they know not what a Horse is, nor ever saw in Brittia the Picture of any, where never any was bred.

When upon Ambassages they come abroad among the Romans, or Francks, and are put to necessity of riding, men lift them up, and set them upon their Horses; and so take them downe againe when they are to alight. The Varaians also are all Footmen. Aboard the aforesayd Fleet were none but rowers, for the Brittians have no Sailes: Being landed upon the Continent, the Virgin-Generall encamped at the mouth of the Rhyne, where staying her selfe, shee sent out her Brother a∣gainst the Enemy: He finding the Varnians neer the Sea shore encamped, had a bat∣tell with them and defeated them, where many fell, and the rest with their King fled, and were followed by the Angles as farr as foot-men could; who retyring to the Campe, were by the Lady chid, and especially her Brother, for having nothing worthy such an Army, seeing he brought not Radisis to her alive. Shee selected then her best men, and charged them to bring the man to her: who in the end found him concealed in a Wood, and brought him bound to the Lady. He stood before her trembling, expecting some cruell death: But shee onely reproaching to him the unjust affront he had done her, askt him why he would neglect his Vow, and bed another Woman, his owne Spouse not having committed whoredome. He excused all upon the injunctions of a Father, and the importunity of his Nobles, mingling his apologie with supplications, and imputing the crime to necessity, pro∣mising now, if it were her pleasure, to live with her, and by his future services to cure his former injury. The Lady was pleased, and Radisis loosed from his bonds was vouchsafed all manner of courtesie: And immediately he sent home the Sister of Theodebert, and marryed this Brittian Lady,

In Brittia also is a Wall dividing a great part of the Island in two; the reason of it is, because to the Eastward is good ayre according to the seasons, and many ci∣vill Inhabitants, and they have Corne and Fruit-trees in abundance, and are well stored with waters. But to the Westward all is so contrary, that a man cannot live there halfe an houre, the Countrey being possest with Adders and Snakes, and all sorts of venemous creatures. The natives affirme, that so soon as a man passes to the other side of the Wall, he instantly falls dead with the pestilentiall ayre; and the like happens to Beasts.

In this description I am to mention a Story, or rather a Fable; I cannot think it true, though many men affirme to have seen it and been actors in it, neither must I absolutely reject it, least professing to write of the particularities of this Island, I be thought ignorant of the things done in it. They report that to this part of the Island are transported the Soules of the departed, by a meanes, which though I have heard in very good earnest related, yet I conceive that the first rumour of it sprung from some dreaming heads. Along the Ocean shore, over against Brittia, are ma∣ny Villages, inhabited by Fishermen, Husbandmen, and Boatmen, who traffique in the Island; subjects they are to the Francks, but pay no Tribute, the exemption from which is granted unto them for a service which I will now relate. They have the employment of conducting Soules departed imposed on them by turnes; when

any mans turne comes, they goe home to bed towards night, expecting their fel∣low conductor; and at midnight they finde the door opened, and heare a softly voice calling them to the businesse: Instantly they rise, and go downe to the Sea∣side, finding themselves constrained to goe on, but they perceive not by whom: Boats they finde ready, with no men in them, and aboard they goe and sit to their Oares. They perceive the Boats loaded with Passengers even to the Deck; and the place of their Oares not an inch from the water: They see nothing, but after an houres rowing, come a Land in Brittia, whereas in their owne Boats they have much adoe to passe over in a day and a night, having no Sayles, but rowing onely. They instantly land their Fare, and are gone away with their Boats suddenly grown light, and swimming with the current, and having all save the Keele above water: They see no men leaveing the Boat, but they heare a voice, relating to some, who it seemes stayes there for them, the names of the Passengers, with their Titles, and additions of what Fathers they were; and (if women) of what Husbands. But to returne to my History, and to the Gothick Warr, having already spoken of the successes of other Provinces.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Thule with this Author is Norway and part of Den∣marke.