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
[Sidenote: Aurelius and Vter brethren returne into Britaine.]
Whilest Vortigerne was busied in building of this castell, the two
foresaid brethren Aurelius and Vter prepared a nauie of ships, and an
armie of men, by helpe of such their kinsmen and fréends as they found
in Britaine Armorike, and so passed the sea, and landed at Totnesse:
whereof when the Britains were aduertised, the which were scattered
abroad and seuered in diuers parties and countries, they drew vnto the
said two brethren with all spéed that might be. When Aurelius and
his brother Vter perceiued that they were sufficientlie furnished of
people, they marched foorth towards Wales against Vortigerne, who
[Sidenote: Vortigerne burnt to death. Wild fire not yet inuented as
some think.]
hauing knowledge of their approch, had fortified his castell verie
strongly with men, munition and vittels, but yet all auailed him
nothing, for in the end after his enimies had giuen diuers assaults to
the said castell, they found meanes with wild fire to burne it downe
to the earth, and so consumed it by fire togither with the king, and
all other that were within it.
Thus did Vortigerne end his life (as in the British historie is
recorded.) Much euill is reported of him by the same historie, and
also by other writers, and among other things it is written, that he
should lie by his owne daughter, and of hir beget a sonne, in hope
[Sidenote: _Polychron._ A feined tale of S. Germane.
A caluish narration.]
that kings should come of him, and therefore he was excommunicated
by S. Germane. It is also said, that when the same S. Germane came
into Britaine (as before ye haue heard) this Vortigerne on a time
should denie the same S. Germane harbour: but one that kept the kings
heards of cattell receiued him into his house, and lodged him, and
slue a calfe for his supper, which calfe after supper was ended, S.
Germane restored againe to life: and on the morrow by the ordinance of
God, he caused Vortigerne to be deposed from his kinglie estate,
and tooke the heardman and made him king. But Ranulfe Hig. in his
"Polychronicon," alledging Gyldas for his author, saith that this
chanced to a king that ruled in Powsey, whose name was Bulie, and not
to Vortigerne: so that the successors of that Bulie reigning in that
side of Wales, came of the linage of the same heardman.
[Sidenote: _H. Hunt._]
Moreouer it hath beene said (as one writer recordeth) that when
Vortigerne refused to heare the preaching of saint Germane, and fled
from him as he would haue instructed him, one night there fell fire
from heauen vpon the castell wherein the king was lodged, and so the
king being destroied with the fall of the house and the fire togither,
was neuer after séene.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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