is the righteous judge of all； should reward their persecutors
with judgment； and themselves with protection of their lives。
12。 In less than ten years； therefore； of the above…named persecution；
and when these bloody decrees began to fail in consequence of the
death of their authors； all Christ's young disciples； after so
long and wintry a night； begin to behold the genial light of heaven。
They rebuild the churches； which had been levelled to the ground；
they found； erect； and finish churches to the holy martyrs； and
everywhere show their ensigns as token of their victory； festivals
are celebrated and sacraments received with clean hearts and lips；
and all the church's sons rejoice as it were in the fostering
bosom of a mother。 For this holy union remained between Christ
their head and the members of his church； until the Arian treason；
fatal as a serpent； and vomiting its poison from beyond the sea；
caused deadly dissension between brothers inhabiting the same house；
and thus； as if a road were made across the sea； like wild beasts
of all descriptions； and darting the poison of every heresy from
their jaws； they inflicted dreadful wounds upon their country；
which is ever desirous to hear something new； and remains constant
long to nothing。
13。 At length also； new races of tyrants sprang up； in terrific
numbers； and the island； still bearing its Roman name； but casting
off her institutes and laws； sent forth among the Gauls that bitter
scion of her own planting Maximus； with a great number of followers；
and the ensigns of royalty； which he bore without decency and
without lawful right； but in a tyrannical manner； and amid the
disturbances of the seditious soldiery。 He； by cunning arts rather
than by valour； attaching to his rule； by perjury and falsehood；
all the neighbouring towns and provinces； against the Roman state；
extended one of his wings to Spain； the other to Italy； fixed
the seat of his unholy government at Treves； and so furiously
pushed his rebellion against his lawful emperors that he drove
one of them out of Rome； and caused the other to terminate his
most holy life。 Trusting to these successful attempts； he not
long after lost his accursed head before the walls of Aquileia；
whereas he had before cut off the crowned heads of almost all
the world。
14。 After this； Britain is left deprived of all her soldiery
and armed bands； of her cruel governors； and of the flower of
her youth； who went with Maximus； but never again returned； and
utterly ignorant as she was of the art of war； groaned in amazement
for many years under the cruelty of two foreign nationsthe
Scots from the north…west； and the Picts from the north。
15。 The Britons； impatient at the assaults of the Scots and Picts；
their hostilities and dreadful oppressions； send ambassadors to
Rome with letters； entreating in piteous terms the assistance of
an armed band to protect them； and offering loyal and ready
submission to the authority of Rome； if they only would expel their
foes。 A legion is immediately sent； forgetting their past rebellion；
and provided sufficiently with arms。 When they had crossed over
the sea and landed； they came at once to close conflict with their
cruel enemies； and slew great numbers of them。 All of them were
driven beyond the borders； and the humiliated natives rescued
from the bloody slavery which awaited them。 By the advice of their
protectors； they now built a wall across the island from one sea
to the other； which being manned with a proper force； might be a
terror to the foes whom it was intended to repel； and a protection
to their friends whom it covered。 But this wall； being made of
turf instead of stone； was of no use to that foolish people； who
had no head to guide them。
16。 The Roman legion had no sooner returned home in joy and
triumph； than their former foes； like hungry and ravening wolves；
rushing with greedy jaws upon the fold which is left without a
shepherd； and wafted both by the strength of oarsmen and the
blowing wind； break through the boundaries； and spread slaughter
on every side； and like mowers cutting down the ripe corn； they
cut up； tread under foot； and overrun the whole country。
17。 And now again they send suppliant ambassadors； with their
garments rent and their heads covered with ashes； imploring
assistance from the Romans； and like timorous chickens； crowding
under the protecting wings of their parents； that their wretched
country might not altogether be destroyed； and that the Roman
name； which now was but an empty sound to fill the ear； might
not become a reproach even to distant nations。 Upon this； the
Romans； moved with compassion； as far as human nature can be； at
the relations of such horrors； send forward； like eagles in their
flight； their unexpected bands of cavalry by land and mariners
by sea； and planting their terrible swords upon the shoulders of
their enemies； they mow them down like leaves which fall at the
destined period； and as a mountain…torrent swelled with numerous
streams； and bursting its banks with roaring noise； with foaming
crest and yeasty wave rising to the stars； by whose eddying
currents our eyes are as it were dazzled； does with one of its
billows overwhelm every obstacle in its way； so did our illustrious
defenders vigorously drive our enemies' band beyond the sea； if
any could so escape them； for it was beyond those same seas that
they transported； year after year； the plunder which they had
gained； no one daring to resist them。
18。 The Romans； therefore； left the country； giving notice that
they could no longer be harassed by such laborious expeditions；
nor suffer the Roman standards； with so large and brave an army；
to be worn out by sea and land by fighting against these unwarlike；
plundering vagabonds； but that the islanders； inuring themselves
to warlike weapons； and bravely fighting； should valiantly protect
their country； their property； wives and children； and； what is
dearer than these； their liberty and lives； that they should not
suffer their hands to be tied behind their backs by a nation which；
unless they were enervated by idleness and sloth； was not more
powerful than themselves； but that they should arm those hands
with buckler； sword； and spear； ready for the field of battle；
and； because they thought this also of advantage to the people
they were about to leave； they； with the help of the miserable
natives； built a wall different from the former； by public and
private contributions； and of the same structure as walls generally；
extending in a straight line from sea to sea； between some cities；
which； from fear of their enemies； had there by chance been built。
They then give energetic counsel to the timorous natives； and
leave them patterns by which to manufacture arms。 Moreover； on
the south coast where their vessels lay； as there was some
apprehension lest the barbarians might land； they erected towers
at stated intervals； commanding a prospect of the sea； and then
left the island never to return。
19。 No sooner were they gone； than the Picts and Scots； like
worms which in the heat of the mid…day come forth from their
holes； hastily land again from their canoes； in which they had
been carried beyond the Cichican* valley； differing one from
another in manners； but inspired with the same avidity for blood；
and all more eager to shroud their villainous faces in bushy hair
than to cover with decent clothing those parts of their body which
required it。 Moreover； having heard of the departure of our friends；
and their resolution never to return； they seized with greater
boldness than before on all the country towards the extreme north
as far as the wall。 To oppose them there was placed on the heights
a garrison equally slow to fight and ill adapted to run away； a
useless and panic…struck company； who slumbered away days and
nights on their unprofitable watch。 Meanwhile the hooked weapons
of their enemies were not idle； and our wretched countrymen were
dragged from the wall and dashed against the ground。 Such premature
death； however； painful as it was； saved them from seeing the
miserable sufferings of their brothers and children。 But why
should I say more？ They left their cities； abandoned the protection
of the wall； and dispersed themselves in flight more desperately
than before。 The enemy； on the other hand； pursued them with
more unrelenting cruelty than before； and butchered our countrymen
like sheep； so that their habitations were like those of savage
beasts； for they turned their arms upon each other； and for the
sake of a little sustenance； imbrued their hands in the blood of
their fellow countrymen。 Thus foreign calamities were augmented
by domestic feuds； so that the whole country was entirely destitute
of provisions； save such as could be procured in the chase。
* The meaning of this expression is not known。 O'Connor thinks
it is the Irish Sea。
20。 Again； therefore； the wretched remnant； sending to Aetius；
a powerful Roman citizen； address him as follow：〃To Aetius；*
now consul for the third time： the groans of the Britons。〃 And
again a little further； thus：〃The barbarians drive us to the
sea； the sea throws us back on the barbarians： thus two modes of
death await us； we are either slain or drowned。〃 The Romans；
however； could not assist them； and in the meantime the discomfited
people； wandering in the woods； began to feel the effects of a
severe famine； which compelled many of them without delay to yield
themselves up to their cruel persecutors； to obtain subsistence：
others of them； however； lying hid in mountains； caves and woods；
continually sallied out from thence to renew the war。 And then
it was； for the first time； that they overthrew their enemies； who
had for so many years been living in their country； for their
trust was not in man； but in God； according to the maxim of Philo；
〃We must have divine assistance； when that of man fails。〃 The
boldness of the enemy was for a while checked； but not the
wickedness of our countrymen； the enemy left our people； but the
people did not leave their sins。
* Or Agitius； according to another reading。
21。 For it