of two noble rivers； the Thames and the Severn； as it were two
arms； by which foreign luxuries were of old imported； and by
other streams of less importance。 It is famous for eight and
twenty cities； and is embellished by certain castles； with walls；
towers； well barred gates； and houses with threatening battlements
built on high； and provided with all requisite instruments of
defence。 Its plains are spacious； its hills are pleasantly
situated； adapted for superior tillage； and its mountains are
admirably calculated for the alternate pasturage of cattle； where
flowers of various colours； trodden by the feet of man； give it
the appearance of a lovely picture。 It is decked； like a man's
chosen bride； with divers jewels； with lucid fountains and abundant
brooks wandering over the snow white sands； with transparent
rivers； flowing in gentle murmurs； and offering a sweet pledge
of slumber＇2＇ to those who recline upon their banks； whilst it
is irrigated by abundant lakes； which pour forth cool torrents
of refreshing water。
＇1＇ The description of Britain is given in very nearly the same
terms； by Orosius； Bede； and others； but the numbers denoting
the length and breadth and other dimensions； are different in
almost every MS。 Copy。
＇2＇ 〃Soporem〃 in some MSS。； 〃saporem〃 in others； it is difficult
from the turgidity and superabundance of the style to determine
which is the best meaning。
4。 This island； stiffnecked and stubbornminded； from the
time of its being first inhabited； ungratefully rebels； sometimes
against God； sometimes against her own citizens； and frequently
also； against foreign kings and their subjects。 For what can
there either be； or be committed； more disgraceful or more
unrighteous in human affairs； than to refuse to show fear to God
or affection to one's own countrymen； and （without detriment to
one's faith） to refuse due honour to those of higher dignity； to
cast off all regard to reason； human and divine； and； in contempt
of heaven and earth； to be guided by one's own sensual inventions？
I shall； therefore； omit those ancient errors common to all the
nations of the earth； in which； before Christ came in the flesh；
all mankind were bound； nor shall I enumerate those diabolical
idols of my country； which almost surpassed in number those of
Egypt； and of which we still see some mouldering away within or
without the deserted temples； with stiff and deformed features
as was customary。 Nor will I call out upon the mountains； fountains；
or hills； or upon the rivers； which now are subservient to the
use of men； but once were an abomination and destruction to them；
and to which the blind people paid divine honour。 I shall also
pass over the bygone times of our cruel tyrants； whose notoriety
was spread over to far distant countries； so that Porphyry； that
dog who in the east was always so fierce against the church； in
his mad and vain style added this also； that 〃Britain is a land
fertile in tyrants。〃* I will only endeavour to relate the
evils which Britain suffered in the times of the Roman emperors；
and also those which she caused to distant states； but so far as
lies in my power； I shall not follow the writings and records of
my own country； which （if there ever were any of them） have been
consumed in the fires of the enemy； or have accompanied my exiled
countrymen into distant lands； but be guided by the relations of
foreign writers； which； being broken and interrupted in many places
are therefore by no means clear。
* Gildas here confuses the modern idea of a tyrant with that
of an usurper。 The latter is a sense in which Britain was said
to be fertile in tyrants； viz。 In usurpers of the imperial dignity。
5。 For when the rulers of Rome had obtained the empire of the
world； subdued all the neighbouring nations and islands towards
the east； and strengthened their renown by the first peace which
they made with the Parthians； who border on India； there was a
general cessation from war throughout the whole world； the fierce
flame which they kindled could not be extinguished or checked by
the Western Ocean； but passing beyond the sea； imposed submission
upon our island without resistance； and entirely reduced to
obedience its unwarlike but faithless people； not so much by fire
and sword and warlike engines； like other nations； but threats
alone； and menaces of judgments frowning on their countenance；
whilst terror penetrated to their hearts。
6。 When afterwards they returned to Rome； for want of pay； as
is said； and had no suspicion of an approaching rebellion； that
deceitful lioness （Boadicea） put to death the rulers who had been
left among them； to unfold more fully and to confirm the enterprises
of the Romans。 When the report of these things reached the senate；
and they with a speedy army made haste to take vengeance on the
crafty foxes；* as they called them； there was no bold navy on
the sea to fight bravely for the country； by land there was no
marshalled army； no right wing of battle； nor other preparation
for resistance； but their backs were their shields against their
vanquishers； and they presented their necks to their swords； whilst
chill terror ran through every limb； and they stretched out their
hands to be bound； like women； so that it has become a proverb
far and wide； that the Britons are neither brave in war nor faithful
in time of peace。
* The Britons who fought under Boadicea were anything but 〃crafty
foxes。〃 〃Bold lions〃 is a much more appropriate appellation； they
would also have been victorious if they had half the military
advantages of the Romans。
7。 The Romans； therefore； having slain many of the rebels； and
reserved others for slaves； that the land might not be entirely
reduced to desolation； left the island； destitute as it was of
wine and oil； and returned to Italy； leaving behind them taskmasters；
to scourge the shoulders of the natives； to reduce their necks to
the yoke； and their soil to the vassalage of a Roman province；
to chastise the crafty race； not with warlike weapons； but with
rods； and if necessary to gird upon their sides the naked sword；
so that it was no longer thought to be Britain； but a Roman island；
and all their money； whether of copper； gold； or silver； was
stamped with Caesar's image。
8。 Meanwhile these islands； stiff with cold and frost； and in a
distant region of the world； remote from the visible sun； received
the beams of light； that is； the holy precepts of Christ； the true
Sun； showing to the whole world his splendour； not only from the
temporal firmament； but from the height of heaven； which surpasses
every thing temporal； at the latter part； as we know； of the reign
of Tiberius Caesar； by whom his religion was propagated without
impediment； and death threatened to those who interfered with its
professors。
9。 These rays of light were received with lukewarm minds by the
inhabitants； but they nevertheless took root among some of them
in a greater or less degree； until the nine years' persecution
of the tyrant Diocletian； when the churches throughout the whole
world were overthrown； all the copies of the Holy Scriptures
which could be found burned in the streets； and the chosen pastors
of God's flock butchered； together with their innocent sheep；
in order that not a vestige； if possible； might remain in some
provinces of Christ's religion。 What disgraceful flights then
took place…what slaughter and death inflicted by way of punishment
in divers shapes；what dreadful apostacies from religion； and
on the contrary； what glorious crowns of martyrdom then were won；
what raving fury was displayed by the persecutors； and patience
on the part of the suffering saints； ecclesiastical history informs
us； for the whole church were crowding in a body； to leave behind
them the dark things of this world； and to make the best of their
way to the happy mansions of heaven； as if to their proper home。
10。 God； therefore； who wishes all men to be saved； and who calls
sinners no less than those who think themselves righteous； magnified
his mercy towards us； and； as we know； during the above…named
persecution； that Britain might not totally be enveloped in the
dark shades of night； he； of his own free gift； kindled up among
us bright luminaries of holy martyrs； whose places of burial and
of martyrdom； had they not for our manifold crimes been interfered
with and destroyed by the barbarians； would have still kindled
in the minds of the beholders no small fire of divine charity。
Such were St。 Alban of Verulam； Aaron and Julius； citizens of
Carlisle； * and the rest； of both sexes； who in different places
stood their ground in the Christian contest。
* Or Caerleon。
11。 The first of these martyrs； St。 Alban； for charity's sake
saved another confessor who was pursued by his persecutors； and
was on the point of being seized； by hiding him in his house； and
then by changing clothes with him； imitating in this example of
Christ； who laid down his life for his sheep； and exposing himself
in the other's clothes to be pursued in his stead。 So pleasing
to God was this conduct； that between his confession and martyrdom；
he was honoured with the performance of wonderful miracles in
presence of the impious blasphemers who were carrying the Roman
standards； and like the Israelites of old； who trod dry…foot an
unfrequented path whilst the ark of the covenant stood some time
on the sands in the midst of Jordan； so also the martyr； with a
thousand others； opened a path across the noble river Thames；
whose waters stood abrupt like precipices on either side； and
seeing this； the first of his executors was stricken with awe；
and from a wolf became a lamb； so that he thirsted for martyrdom；
and boldly underwent that for which he thirsted。 The other holy
martyrs were tormented with divers sufferings； and their limbs
were racked in such unheard of ways； that they； without delay；
erected the trophies of their glorious martyrdom even in the gates
of the city of Jerusalem。 For those who survived； hid themselves
in woods and deserts； and secret caves； waiting until God； who
is the righteous judge of all； should reward their persecutors
with j