first named Gomer； descended the Galli； from the second； Magog； the
Scythi and Gothi； from the third； Madian； the Medi； from the fourth；
Juuan； the Greeks； from the fifth； Tubal； arose the Hebrei； Hispani；
and Itali； from the sixth； Mosoch； sprung the Cappadoces； and from
the seventh； named Tiras； descended the Thraces： these are the sons
of Japheth； the son of Noah； the son of Lamech。
19。* The Romans； having obtained the dominion of the world； sent
legates or deputies to the Britons to demand of them hostages and
tribute； which they received from all other countries and islands；
but they； fierce； disdainful； and haughty； treated the legation
with contempt。
* Some MSS。 add； I will now return to the point from which I made
this digression。
Then Julius Caesar； the first who had acquired absolute power at
Rome； highly incensed against the Britons； sailed with sixty
vessels to the mouth of the Thames； where they suffered shipwreck
whilst he fought against Dolobellus； （the proconsul of the British
king； who was called Belinus； and who was the son of Minocannus
who governed all the islands of the Tyrrhene Sea）； and thus Julius
Caesar returned home without victory； having had his soldiers
Slain； and his ships shattered。
20。 But after three years he again appeared with a large army；
and three hundred ships； at the mouth of the Thames； where he
renewed hostilities。 In this attempt many of his soldiers and
horses were killed； for the same consul had placed iron pikes in
the shallow part of the river； and this having been effected with
so much skill and secrecy as to escape the notice of the Roman
soldiers； did them considerable injury； thus Caesar was once more
compelled to return without peace or victory。 The Romans were；
therefore； a third time sent against the Britons； and under the
command of Julius； defeated them near a place called Trinovantum
＇London＇； forty…seven years before the birth of Christ； and five
thousand two hundred and twelve years from the creation。
Julius was the first exercising supreme power over the Romans who
invaded Britain： in honour of him the Romans decreed the fifth month
to be called after his name。 He was assassinated in the Curia； in
the ides of March； and Octavius Augustus succeeded to the empire
of the world。 He was the only emperor who received tribute from
the Britons； according to the following verse of Virgil： 〃Purpurea
intexti tollunt aulaea Britanni。〃
21。 The second after him； who came into Britain； was the emperor
Claudius； who reigned forty…seven years after the birth of Christ。
He carried with him war and devastation； and； though not without
loss of men； he at length conquered Britain。 He next sailed to
the Orkneys； which he likewise conquered； and afterwards rendered
tributary。 No tribute was in his time received from the Britons；
but it was paid to British emperors。 He reigned thirteen years
and eight months。 His monument is to be seen at Moguntia （among
the Lombards）； where he died in his way to Rome。
22。 After the birth of Christ； one hundred and sixty…seven years；
king Lucius； with all the chiefs of the British people； received
baptism； in consequence of a legation sent by the Roman emperors
and pope Evaristus。*
* V。R。 Eucharistus。 A marginal note in the Arundel MS。 adds；
〃He is wrong； because the first year of Evaristus was A。D。 79；
whereas the first year of Eleutherius； whom he ought to have
named； was A。D。 161。〃 Usher says； that in one MS。 of Nennius he
found the name of Eleutherius。
23。 Severus was the third emperor who passed the sea to Britain；
where； to protect the provinces recovered from barbaric incursions；
he ordered a wall and a rampart to be made between the Britons； the
Scots； and the Picts； extending across the island from sea to sea；
in length one hundred and thirty…three miles： and it is called in
the British language Gwal。* Moreover； he ordered it to be made
between the Britons； and the Picts and Scots； for the Scots from
the west； and the Picts from the north； unanimously made war
against the Britons； but were at peace among themselves。 Not long
after Severus dies in Britain。
*Or； the Wall。 One MS。 here adds； 〃The above…mentioned Severus
constructed it of rude workmanship in length 132 miles； i。e。 from
Penguaul； which village is called in Scottish Cenail； in English
Peneltun； to the mouth of the river Cluth and Cairpentaloch； where
this wall terminates； but it was of no avail。 The emperor Carausius
afterwards rebuilt it； and fortified it with seven castles between
the two mouths： he built also a round house of polished stones on
the banks of the river Carun ＇Carron＇： he likewise erected a
triumphal arch； on which he inscribed his own name in memory of
his victory。
24。 The fourth was the emperor and tyrant； Carausius； who； incensed
at the murder of Severus； passed into Britain； and attended by the
leaders of the Roman people； severely avenged upon the chiefs and
rulers of the Britons； the cause of Severus。*
* This passage is corrupt； the meaning is briefly given in the
translation。
25。 The fifth was Constantius the father of Constantine the Great。
He died in Britain； his sepulchre； as it appears by the inscription
on his tomb； is still seen near the city named Cair segont （near
Carnarvon）。 Upon the pavement of the above…mentioned city he sowed
three seeds of gold； silver and brass； that no poor person might
ever be found in it。 It is also called Minmanton。*
* V。R。 Mirmantum； Mirmantun； Minmanto； Minimantone。 The Segontium
of Antoninus； situated on a small river named Seiont； near Carnarvon。
26。 Maximianus＇1＇ was the sixth emperor that ruled in Britain。 It
was in his time that consuls＇2＇ began； and that the appellation of
Caesar was discontinued： at this period also； St。 Martin became
celebrated for his virtues and miracles； and held a conversation
with him。
＇1＇ This is an inaccuracy of Nennius； Maximus and Maximianus were
one and the same person； or rather no such person as Maximianus
ever reigned in Britain。
＇2＇ Geoffrey of Monmouth gives the title of consul to several
British generals who lived after this time。 It is not unlikely
that the town； name； and dignity； still lingered in the provinces
after the Romans were gone； particularly as the cities of Britain
maintained for a time a species of independence。
27。 The seventh emperor was Maximus。 He withdrew from Britain
with all his military force； slew Gratian； the king of the Romans；
and obtained the sovereignty of all Europe。 Unwilling to send
back his warlike companions to their wives； children； and possessions
in Britain； he conferred upon them numerous districts from the lake
on the summit of Mons Jovis； to the city called Cant Guic； and to
the western Tumulus； that is； to Cruc Occident。* These are the
Armoric Britons； and they remain there to the present day。 In
consequence of their absence； Britain being overcome by foreign
nations； the lawful heirs were cast out； till God interposed with
his assistance。 We are informed by the tradition of our ancestors
that seven emperors went into Britain； though the Romans affirm
there were nine。
* This district； in modern language； extended from the great St。
Bernard in Piedmont to Cantavic in Picardy； and from Picardy to
the western coast of France。
28。 Thus； aggreeably to the account given by the Britons； the
Romans governed them four hundred and nine years。
After this； the Britons despised the authority of the Romans；
equally refusing to pay them tribute； or to receive their kings；
nor durst the Romans any longer attempt the government of a country；
the natives of which massacred their deputies。
29。 We must now return to the tyrant Maximus。 Gratian； with his
brother Valentinian； reigned seven years。 Ambrose； bishop of Milan；
was then eminent for his skill in the dogmata of the Catholics。
Valentinianus and Theodosius reigned eight years。 At that time
a synod was held at Constantinople； attended by three hundred and
fifty of the fathers； and in which all heresies were condemned。
Jerome； the presbyter of Bethlehem； was then universally celebrated。
Whilst Gratian exercised supreme dominion over the world； Maximus；
in a sedition of the soldiers； was saluted emperor in Britain； and
soon after crossed the sea to Gaul。 At Paris； by the treachery
of Mellobaudes； his master of the horse； Gratian was defeated and
fleeing to Lyons； was taken and put to death； Maximus afterwards
associated his son victor in the government。
Martin； distinguished for his great virtues； was at this period
bishop of Tours。 After a considerable space of time； Maximus
was divested of royal power by the consuls Valentinianus and
Theodosius； and sentenced to be beheaded at the third mile…stone
from Aquileia： in the same year also his son Victor was killed in
Gaul by Arbogastes； five thousand six hundred and ninety years
from the creation of the world。
30。 Thrice were the Roman deputies put to death by the Britons；
and yet these； when harassed by the incursions of the barbarous
nations； viz。 Of the Scots and Picts； earnestly solicited the aid
of the Romans。 To give effect to their entreaties； ambassadors
were sent； who made their entrance with impressions of deep sorrow；
having their heads covered with dust； and carrying rich presents；
to expiate the murder of the deputies。 They were favourably
received by the consuls； and swore submission to the Roman yoke；
with whatever severity it might be imposed。
The Romans； therefore； came with a powerful army to the assistance
of the Britons； and having appointed over them a ruler； and settled
the government； returned to Rome： and this took place alternately
during the space of three hundred and forty…eight years。 The
Britons； however； from the oppression of the empire； again massacred
The Roman deputies； and again petitioned for succour。 Once more
the Romans undertook the government of the Britons； and assisted
them in repelling their neighbours； and； after having exhausted
the country of its gold； silver； brass； honey； and costly vestments；
and having besides received rich gifts； they returned in great
triumph to Rome。
31。 After the above…said war between