THE DRUIDESS. A STORY FOR BOYS AND OTHERS. BY FLORENCE GAY. London: JOHN OUSELEY, 16, FARRINGDON STREET, E.C. [ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.] PREFACE. As this story touches upon history to a certain extent, perhaps too much licence has been taken with Ethelbert’s movements in bringing him as far west as the Severn Valley. The union between the Britons and Saxons was suggested by the historical league formed between the Britons and those Saxons who revolted against the detested Ceawlin, and, settling in the valley of the lower Severn, took the name of Hwiccan. The date of this league was 592--eleven years after the destruction of Uriconium which in the following story is placed about 578. Some liberty, also, has been taken with the date of Ethelbert’s marriage with Bertha, which took place in 584. It seems hardly necessary to say that Banba and Fail are old bardic names for Ireland. And that the cities Gloucester, Cirencester and Bath were known in Roman days as Glevum, Corinium and Aque Sulio. S. Kevin is known also as S. Coemgen. The date of the Convocation at Druimceta is difficult to discover, but must have been during the reign of S. Columba’s friend, King Aedh, 572-599. DEDICATED TO MY NEPHEWS AND NIECES. CONTENTS. CHAPTER. PAGE. I. FROM THE BRITONS’ APPEAL TO AËTIUS--COMMANDER OF THE ROMAN ARMIES, 446 A.D. 11 II. GLÉAND DÉ 21 III. FROM THE EPISTLE OF GILDAS THE MOST ANCIENT BRITISH AUTHOR 29 IV. MANY A BRANCH OF THE RACE OF CONN IS IN THE LAND OF BANBA OF SMOOTH GRASS (BOOK OF LECAN) 37 V. WHY ETHNE HATES THE CHRISTIANS 50 VI. THE SACRED HEART OF HIBERNIA 60 VII. INTO THE ARMS OF MOLOCH 69 VIII. ETHNE AGAIN AS LEADER 79 IX. TO THE NORTH 88 X. BARDS OF HIBERNIA 98 XI. SAINT COLUMBA 114 XII. THE FAIR 122 XIII. MAN AND WOMAN 134 XIV. LEADER OF THE KYMRY 149 XV. THE BLACK HORSE 158 XVI. ETHELBERT OF KENT 172 XVII. ETHNE’S ERROR 181 XVIII. ENGLAND’S FIRST CHRISTIAN QUEEN 189 THE DRUIDESS. CHAPTER I.