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History Of The Britons
my country are strong； warlike； and robust： if you approve； I will send for
my son and his brother； both valiant men； who at my invitation will fight
against the Scots； and you can give them the countries in the north； near
the wall called Gual。〃＇1＇ The incautious sovereign having assented to this；
Octa and Ebusa arrived with forty ships。 In these they sailed round the
country of the Picts； laid waste the Orkneys； and took possession of many
regions； even to the Pictish confines。＇2＇ ＇1＇ Antoninus's wall。 ＇2＇ Some
MSS。 add； 〃beyond the Frenesic； Fresicum （or Fresic） sea；〃 i。e。 which is
between us and the Scotch。 The sea between Scotland and Ireland。
Camden translates it 〃beyond the Frith；〃 Langhorne says； 〃Solway Frith。〃
But Hengist continued； by degrees； sending for ships from his own
country； so that some islands whence they came were left without
inhabitants； and whilst his people were increasing in power and number；
they came to the above…named province of Kent。 39。 In the meantime；
Vortigern； as if desirous of adding to the evils he had already occasioned；
married his own daughter； by whom he had a son。 When this was made
known to St。 Germanus； he came； with all the British clergy； to reprove
him： and whilst a numerous assembly of the ecclesiastics and laity were in
consultation； the weak king ordered his daughter to appear before them；
and in the presence of all to present her son to St。 Germanus； and declare
that he was the father of the child。 The immodest* woman obeyed； and St。
Germanus； taking the child； said； 〃I will be a father to you； my son； nor
will I dismiss you till a razor； scissors； and comb； are given to me； and it is
allowed you to give them to your carnal father。〃 The child obeyed St。
Germanus； and going to his father Vortigern； said to him； 〃Thou art my
father； shave and cut the hair of my head。〃 The king blushed； and was
silent； and； without replying to the child； arose in great anger； and fled
from the presence of St。 Germanus； execrated and condemned by the
whole synod。 ＇1＇ V。R。 〃Immodest〃 is omitted in some MSS。
40。 But soon after； calling together his twelve wise men； to consult
what was to be done； they said to him； 〃Retire to the remote boundaries of
your kingdom； there build and fortify a city＇1＇ to defend yourself； for the
people you have received are treacherous； they are seeking to subdue you
by stratagem； and； even during your life； to seize upon all the countries
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History Of The Britons
subject to your power； how much more will they attempt； after your
death！〃 The king； pleased with this advice； departed with his wise men；
and travelled through many parts of his territories； in search of a place
convenient for the purpose of building a citadel。 Having； to no purpose；
travelled far and wide； they came at length to a province called Guenet；＇2＇
and having surveyed the mountains of Heremus；＇3＇ they discovered； on
the summit of one of them； a situation； adapted to the consturction of a
citadel。 Upon this； the wise men said to the king； 〃Build here a city： for； in
this place； it will ever be secure against the barbarians。〃 Then the king sent
for artificers； carpenters； stone…masons； and collected all the materials
requisite to building； but the whole of these disappeared in one night； so
that nothing remained of what had been provided for the constructing of
the citadel。 Materials were； therefore； from all parts； procured a second
and third time； and again vanished as before； leaving and rendering every
effort ineffectual。 Vortigern inquired of his wise men the cause of this
opposition to his undertaking； and of so much useless expense of labour？
They replied； 〃You must find a child born without a father； put him to
death； and sprinkle with his blood the ground on which the citadel is to be
built； or you will never accomplish your purpose。〃 ＇1＇ V。R。 You shall find
a fortified city in which you may defend yourself。 ＇2＇ V。R。 Guined；
Guoienet； Guenez； North Wales。 ＇3＇ V。R。 Heremi； Heriri； or Eryri；
signifying eagle rocks； the mountains of Snowdon； in Carnarvonshire。 The
spot alluded to is supposed to be Dinas Emrys； or the fortress of
Ambrosius。
41。 In consequence of this reply； the king sent messengers through… out
Britain； in search of a child born without a father。 After having inquired in
all the provinces； they came to the field of Aelecti；＇1＇ in the district of
Glevesing；＇2＇ where a party of boys were playing at ball。 And two of them
quarrelling； one said to the other； 〃O boy without a father； no good will
ever happen to you。〃 Upon this； the messengers diligently inquired of the
mother and the other boys； whether he had had a father？ Which his mother
denied； saying； 〃In what manner he was conceived I know not； for I have
never had intercourse with any man；〃 and then she solemnly affirmed that
he had no mortal father。 The boy was； therefore； led away； and conducted
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History Of The Britons
before Vortigern the king。 ＇1＇ V。R。 Elleti； Electi； Gleti。 Supposed to be
Bassalig in Monmouthshire。 ＇2＇ The district between the Usk and Rumney；
in Monmouthshire。
42。 A meeting took place the next day for the purpose of putting him to
death。 Then the boy said to the king； 〃Why have your servants brought me
hither？〃 〃That you may be put to death；〃 replied the king； 〃and that the
ground on which my citadel is to stand； may be sprinkled with your blood；
without which I shall be unable to build it。〃 〃Who；〃 said the boy；
〃instructed you to do this？〃 〃My wise men；〃 answered the king。 〃Order
them hither；〃 returned the boy； this being complied with； he thus
questioned them： 〃By what means was it revealed to you that this citadel
could not be built； unless the spot were previously sprinkled with my
blood？ Speak without disguise； and declare who discovered me to you；〃
then turning to the king； 〃I will soon；〃 said he；