Chronicles 1 (of 6): The Historie of England 5 (of 8): The Fift Booke of the Historie of England.Holinshed, Raphael
History
Chronicles 1 (of 6): The Historie of England 5 (of 8): The Fift Booke of the Historie of England.
Holinshed, Raphael
Great Britain -- History -- Anglo-Saxon period, 449-1066
Now such was the diligence of the bishops, that the people (being
instructed with continuall preaching) in renouncing the error of the
Pelagians, earnestlie came by troops to receiue the grace of God
offred in baptisme, so that on Easter day which then insued, the
more part of the armie was baptised, and so went foorth against the
[Sidenote: The armie of the Britains newlie christened.]
enimies, who hearing thereof, made hast towards the Britains; in
hope to ouercome them at pleasure. But their approch being knowne,
bishop Germane tooke vpon him the leading of the British host, and
ouer against the passage thorough the which the enimies were appointed
to come, he chose foorth a faire vallie inclosed with high mounteins,
and within the same he placed his new washed armie. And when he
saw the enimies now at hand, he commanded that euerie man with one
generall voice should answer him, crieng alowd the same crie that he
should begin. So that euen as the enimies were readie to giue the
charge vpon the Britains, supposing that they should haue taken them
at vnwares, and before anie warning had béen giuen, suddenlie bishop
[Sidenote: Alleluia.]
Germane and the priests with a lowd and shrill voice called
_Alleluia,_ thrice: and therewith all the multitudes of the Britains
with one voice cried the same crie, with such a lowd shout, that the
Saxons were therewith so amazed and astonied (the echo from the rocks
and hils adjoining, redoubling in such wise the crie) that they
thought not onelie the rocks and clifs had fallen vpon them, but that
euen the skie it selfe had broken in péeces and come tumbling downe
vpon their heads: héerewith therefore throwing awaie their weapons,
they tooke them to their féet, and glad was he that might get to be
formost in running awaie. Manie of them for hast were drowned in a
riuer which they had to passe. Polydor taketh that riuer to be Trent.
The Britains hauing thus vanquished their enimies, gathered the spoile
at good leasure, & gaue God thanks for the victorie thus got without
bloud, for the which the holie bishops also triumphed as best became
them. Now after they had setled all things in good quiet within the
Ile, as was thought expedient, they returned into Gallia or France,
from whence they came (as is before rehearsed.)
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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