Chapter One: Vortegirn Asks Merlin Concerning His Own Death. #

¹ By delivering these and many other prophecies, Merlin caused all those present to marvel at the ambiguity of his words. But Vortegirn, above all the rest, both admired and applauded the wisdom and prophetic spirit of the young man, for that age had produced no one who had ever spoken in such a manner before him. Being curious, therefore, to learn his own fate, he asked the young man to tell him what he knew concerning it. Merlin answered: “Flee from the fire of the sons of Constantine, if you are able to do so. Already they are fitting out their ships; already they are leaving the Armorican shore; already they are spreading their sails to the wind. They will steer towards Britain; they will invade the Saxon nation; they will subdue that wicked people, but they will first burn you while you are shut up in a tower. To your own ruin, you betrayed their father and invited the Saxons into the island. You invited them for your protection, but they came as a punishment upon you. Two deaths now threaten you, and it is not easy to determine which you can best avoid. On the one hand, the Saxons shall lay waste your country and endeavour to kill you; on the other, the two brothers, Aurelius Ambrosius and Uther Pendragon, shall arrive, intent on avenging their father’s murder upon you. Seek some refuge if you can; tomorrow they will be on the shore of Totness. The faces of the Saxons shall be red with blood, Hengist shall be killed, and Aurelius Ambrosius shall be crowned. He shall bring peace to the nation; he shall restore the churches, but shall die of poison. His brother Uther Pendragon shall succeed him, and his days also shall be cut short by poison. Your own issue shall be present when this treason is committed, and the boar of Cornwall shall devour him.” Accordingly, early the next day, Aurelius Ambrosius and his brother arrived with ten thousand men.

Chapter Two: Aurelius Ambrosius, Being Anointed King of Britain, Burns Vortegirn Besieged in a Tower. #

¹ As soon as the news of his arrival became known, the Britons, who had been scattered by their great calamities, gathered together from all parts and, gaining this new increase of strength from their countrymen, displayed unusual vigour. Having assembled the clergy, they anointed Aurelius king and paid him the customary homage. When the people urged him to attack the Saxons, he dissuaded them from doing so, because he wished first to pursue Vortegirn. The treason committed against his father affected him so deeply that he considered nothing accomplished until it had first been avenged. In pursuit of this plan, therefore, he marched with his army into Cambria, to the town of Genoreu, where Vortegirn had fled for refuge. That town was in the country of Hergin, upon the river Gania, on the mountain called Cloarius. As soon as Ambrosius arrived there, bearing in mind the murder of his father and brother, he spoke as follows to Eldol, duke of Gloucester.

² “See, most noble duke, whether the walls of this city are able to protect Vortegirn from my sheathing this sword in his bowels. He deserves to die, and you cannot, I suppose, be ignorant of what he deserves. O most villainous of men, whose crimes deserve inexpressible tortures! First, he betrayed my father Constantino, who had delivered him and his country from the attacks of the Picts; afterwards, he betrayed my brother Constans, whom he made king for the express purpose of destroying him. Again, when by his cunning he had usurped the crown, he introduced pagans among the natives in order to mistreat those who remained steadfast in their loyalty to me. But, by the good providence of God, he unwittingly fell into the snare that he had laid for my faithful subjects. For the Saxons, when they discovered his wickedness, drove him from the kingdom, for which no one ought to be concerned. But I consider this a cause for just grief: that this hateful people, whom that detestable traitor invited over, has expelled the nobility, laid waste a fruitful country, destroyed the holy churches and almost extinguished Christianity throughout the whole kingdom. Now, therefore, my countrymen, show yourselves to be men. First avenge yourselves upon the man who caused all these disasters; then let us turn our weapons against our enemies and free our country from their brutish tyranny.”

³ Immediately, therefore, they set their engines to work and laboured to beat down the walls. At last, when all other attempts failed, they resorted to fire, which, finding suitable fuel, continued to rage until it had burned down the tower and Vortegirn within it.

Chapter Three: The Praise of Aurelius’s Valour. The Levity of the Scots Exposed. Forces Raised Against Hengist. #

¹ Hengist and his Saxons were struck with terror at this news, for he dreaded the valour of Aurelius. Such was the bravery and courage possessed by this prince that, while he was in Gaul, no one dared to encounter him. For in every encounter he either unhorsed his adversary or broke his spear. Besides this, he was magnificent in his gifts, constant in his devotions, temperate in all respects and, above all things, hated a lie. He was a brave soldier on foot, a better one on horseback and expert in the discipline of an army. Reports of these noble accomplishments, while he still remained in Armorican Britain, were brought over daily to the island. Therefore, the Saxons, for fear of him, withdrew beyond the Humber and fortified the cities and towns in those parts; for that country had always been a place of refuge for them, their safety lying in the neighbourhood of Scotland, which used to seize every opportunity to distress the nation. For that country, being in itself a frightful place to live and wholly uninhabited, had been a safe retreat for strangers. By its situation, it lay open to the Picts, Scots, Dacians, Norwegians and others who came to plunder the island. Being, therefore, assured of a safe reception in this country, they fled towards it so that, if the need arose, they might retreat into it as into their own camp. This was good news to Aurelius and caused him to conceive greater hopes of victory. So, quickly assembling his people, he increased his army and made a rapid march towards the north. As he passed through the countries, he was grieved to see the desolation worked in them, but especially that the churches had been levelled to the ground; and he promised to rebuild them if he gained the victory.

Chapter Four: Hengist Marches with His Army Against Aurelius, into the Field of Maisbeli. #

¹ But upon Aurelius’s approach, Hengist took courage again and selected the bravest of his men, whom he urged to make a gallant defence and not to be daunted by Aurelius, who, he told them, had only a few Armorican Britons with him, since their number did not exceed ten thousand. As for the native Britons, he thought nothing of them, since they had so often been defeated by him. He therefore promised his men victory and assured them that they would come through safely, considering their superior numbers, which amounted to two hundred thousand armed men. After encouraging his men in this manner, he advanced with them towards Aurelius, into a field called Maisbeli, through which Aurelius was to pass. His intention was to launch a sudden surprise attack and fall upon the Britons before they were prepared. But Aurelius perceived the plan and did not therefore delay his advance to the field, but instead continued his march with greater speed. When he came within sight of the enemy, he arranged his troops, ordering three thousand Armoricans to support the cavalry, and drew up the rest, together with the islanders, in a line of battle. He placed the Demetians upon the hills and the Yenedotians in the neighbouring woods. His reason for doing so was that they might be ready there to fall upon the Saxons if they fled in that direction.

Chapter Five: A Battle Between Aurelius and Hengist. #

¹ In the meantime, Eldol, duke of Gloucester, went to the king and said, “This one day would suffice for all the days of my life, if by God’s good providence I could only gain an opportunity to engage with Hengist; for one of us should die before we parted. I still retain deeply fixed in my memory the day appointed for us to hold peaceful talks together, but which he villainously used to assassinate all who were present at the treaty, except me alone. I defended myself with a stake that I happened to find, until I made my escape. That very day, through his treachery, proved fatal to no fewer than four hundred and sixty barons and consuls, all of whom went unarmed. God was pleased to deliver me from that conspiracy by placing a stake in my way, with which I defended myself and escaped.” Thus spoke Eldol. Then Aurelius urged his companions to place all their hope in the Son of God and, with one accord, to make a brave assault upon the enemy in defence of their country. Nor was Hengist any less busy on the other side, arranging his troops and giving them instructions on how to conduct themselves in battle; and he himself walked through their several ranks to encourage them further. At last, when both armies had been drawn up in battle order, they began the attack, which they maintained with great bravery and no small loss of blood among both the Britons and the Saxons. Aurelius encouraged the Christians and Hengist the pagans; and throughout the engagement, Eldol’s chief endeavour was to encounter Hengist, but he had no opportunity to do so. For Hengist, when he found that his own men had been routed and that the Christians, by the special favour of God, had gained the advantage, fled to the town called Kaerconan, now Cunungeburg. Aurelius pursued him and either killed or enslaved all whom he found along the way. When Hengist saw that Aurelius was pursuing him, he would not enter the town, but assembled his troops and prepared them to withstand another engagement. For he knew that the town would not hold out against Aurelius and that his only security now lay in his sword. At last, Aurelius overtook him and, after marshalling his forces, began another most furious battle. Here the Saxons firmly maintained their ground, despite the numbers who fell. There was great slaughter on both sides, and the groans of the dying provoked even greater fury in those who survived. In brief, the Saxons would have won the day had not a detachment of horsemen from the Armorican Britons attacked them. For Aurelius had assigned them the same position they had held in the former battle; therefore, when they advanced, the Saxons gave ground and, once they had become somewhat scattered, were unable to rally again. Encouraged by this advantage, the Britons exerted themselves and laboured with all their might to overwhelm the enemy. Throughout this time, Aurelius was fully occupied not only in giving commands but also in encouraging his men by his own example; for with his own hand he killed all who stood in his way and pursued those who fled. Nor was Eldol any less active throughout the field, running to and fro to assault his adversaries; but his principal endeavour remained to find an opportunity to encounter Hengist.

Chapter Six: Hengist, in a Duel with Eldol, Is Taken by Him. The Saxons Are Slain by the Britons Without Mercy. #

¹ As the forces engaged on each side made several movements, an opportunity arose for Eldol and Hengist to meet and engage each other fiercely. In this encounter between the two greatest champions on the field, fire sparked from the clashing of their weapons, and every stroke seemed to produce both thunder and lightning. For a long time, the outcome remained uncertain, as victory appeared to favour first one and then the other. While they were thus fiercely engaged, Gorlois, duke of Cornwall, came up with the force under his command inflicted great losses upon the enemy’s troops. At the sight of him, Eldol, now assured of victory, seized Hengist by the helmet and, by sheer force, dragged him among the Britons. Then, transported with joy, he cried out in a loud voice, “God has fulfilled my desire! My brave soldiers, strike down, strike down your enemies, the Ambrons. Victory is now in your hands: Hengist is defeated, and the day is yours.” Meanwhile, every one of the Britons continued to play his part against the pagans, upon whom they made many vigorous assaults. Although they were sometimes forced to give ground, their courage did not fail them, and they continued to put up a strong resistance; thus, they gave the enemy no respite until they had defeated them. The Saxons therefore fled wherever their terror drove them, some to the cities, some to the woods upon the hills and others to their ships. But Octa, the son of Hengist, retreated with a large body of men to York, and Eosa, his kinsman, withdrew to the city of Alclud, where he had a very large army to protect him.

Chapter Seven: Hengist Is Beheaded by Eldol. #

¹ Aurelius, after this victory, took the city of Conan mentioned above and remained there for three days. During this time, he gave orders for the burial of the slain, the treatment of the wounded, and the rest and refreshment of his weary forces. Then he called a council of his principal officers to deliberate on what was to be done with Hengist. Eldad, bishop of Gloucester and brother of Eldol, was present at the assembly, a prelate of very great wisdom and piety. As soon as he saw Hengist standing in the king’s presence, he called for silence and said, “Though all should be unanimous in setting him at liberty, I would still cut him to pieces. The prophet Samuel is my authority, who, when he had Agag, king of Amalek, in his power, hewed him in pieces, saying, ‘As your sword has made women childless, so shall your mother be childless among women’ [1 Samuel 15:33]. Do the same, therefore, to Hengist, who is a second Agag.” Accordingly, Eldol took his sword, led him out of the city and then cut off his head. But Aurelius, who showed moderation in all his conduct, ordered him to be buried and a heap of earth to be raised over his body, according to the custom of the pagans.

Chapter Eight: Octa, Being Besieged in York, Surrenders Himself to the Mercy of Aurelius. #

¹ From there, Aurelius conducted his army to York to besiege Octa, Hengist’s son. When the city was surrounded, Octa was uncertain whether he should offer any resistance and withstand a siege against such a powerful army. After consulting about it, he went out with the principal nobles who were present, carrying a chain in his hand sand upon his head, and presented himself to the king with this address: “My gods are vanquished, and I do not doubt that sovereign power rests in your God, who has compelled so many noble persons to come before you in this suppliant manner. Be pleased, therefore, to accept us and this chain. If you do not consider us fit objects of your clemency, we present ourselves here ready to be fettered and to undergo whatever punishment you shall judge proper.” Aurelius was moved with pity at the sight and asked his council for advice on what should be done with them. After various proposals had been made on this subject, Eldad the bishop rose and gave his opinion in these words: “The Gibeonites came voluntarily to the children of Israel to ask for mercy, and they obtained it [Joshua 9:3–27]. Shall we Christians, then, be worse than the Jews by refusing them mercy? It is mercy that they ask for, and let them have it. The island of Britain is large and in many places uninhabited. Let us make a covenant with them and allow them at least to inhabit the desert places, so that they may be our vassals for ever.” The king agreed with Eldad’s advice and allowed them to partake of his clemency. After this, Eosa and the rest who had fled, encouraged by Octa’s success, also came and were admitted to the same favour. The king therefore granted them the country bordering upon Scotland made a firm covenant with them.

Chapter Nine: Aurelius, Having Entirely Routed the Enemies, Restores All Things in Britain, Especially Ecclesiastical Affairs, to Their Ancient State. #

¹ With the enemies now entirely subdued, the king summoned the consuls and princes of the kingdom to York, where he gave orders for the restoration of the churches that the Saxons had destroyed. He himself undertook the rebuilding of the metropolitan church of that city, as well as the other cathedral churches in that province. After fifteen days, when he had established workmen in several places, he went to London, which had not escaped the fury of the enemy. He viewed with great sorrow the destruction worked there, recalled the remaining citizens from all parts and began the restoration of the city. There he settled the affairs of the whole kingdom, revived the laws, restored the rightful heirs to the possessions of their ancestors and distributed among his fellow soldiers those estates whose heirs had been lost in the recent grievous calamity. His time was wholly occupied with these important concerns: restoring the nation to its ancient state, repairing the churches, re-establishing peace and law, and settling the administration of justice. From there he went to Winchester to repair its ruins, as he had those of other cities; and when the work there was finished, he went, at the request of Bishop Eldad, to the monastery near Kaercaradoc, now Salisbury, where the consuls and princes whom the wicked Hengist had treacherously murdered lay buried. At this place stood a convent that maintained three hundred friars, situated on the mountain of Ambrius, who, as is reported, had founded it. The sight of the place where the dead lay caused the king, who was of a compassionate nature, to shed tears and at last to consider what kind of monument he should erect there. For he thought that something ought to be done to perpetuate the memory of that piece of ground, which was honoured with the bodies of so many noble patriots who had died for their country.

Chapter Ten: Aurelius Is Advised by Merlin to Remove the Giant’s Dance from the Mountain Killaraus. #

¹ For this purpose, he summoned several carpenters and masons and commanded them to employ the utmost of their skill in devising some new structure as a lasting monument to those great men. But they, lacking confidence in their own skill, refused to undertake it. Tremounus, archbishop of the City of Legions, then went to the king and said, “If anyone living is able to carry out your commands, Merlin, the prophet of Vortegirn, is the man. In my opinion, there is no person in your entire kingdom of greater genius, either in predicting future events or in mechanical contrivances. Order him to come to you and exercise his skill in the work you have planned.” Then Aurelius, after asking many questions about him, despatched several messengers throughout the countries to find him and bring him to him. After passing through several provinces, they found him in the country of the Gewisseans, at the fountain of Galabes, which he frequently visited. As soon as they had delivered their message to him, they conducted him to the king, who received him with joy and, being curious to hear some of his wonderful speeches, commanded him to prophesy. Merlin answered, “Mysteries of this kind must not be revealed except when there is the greatest necessity. If I were to utter them either for ostentation or amusement, the spirit that instructs me would fall silent and leave me when I had need of it.” When he had given the same refusal to all the others present, the king did not press him any further about his predictions, but spoke to him about the monument he had planned. “If you wish,” said Merlin, “to honour the burial place of these men with an everlasting monument, send for the Giant’s Dance, which is in Killaraus, a mountain in Ireland. For there is a structure of stones there which no one of this age could raise without a profound knowledge of the mechanical arts. They are stones of vast size and wonderful quality; and if they can be placed here, as they are there, around this piece of ground, they will stand for ever.”

Chapter Eleven: Uther Pendragon Is Appointed with Merlin to Bring over the Giant’s Dance. #

¹ At these words of Merlin, Aurelius burst into laughter and said, “How is it possible to remove such vast stones from so distant a country, as though Britain were not furnished with stones suitable for the work!” Merlin replied, “I entreat your majesty to refrain from vain laughter, for what I say is without vanity. They are mystical stones and possess medicinal virtue. The giants of old brought them from the farthest coasts of Africa and placed them in Ireland while they inhabited that country. Their purpose was to make baths with them whenever they were afflicted by any illness. Their method was to wash the stones and place their sick in the water, which unfailingly cured them. With equal success, they also cured wounds, adding only the application of certain herbs. There is not a stone there that does not possess some healing virtue.” When the Britons heard this, they resolved to send for the stones and to make war upon the people of Ireland if they attempted to withhold them. To accomplish this task, they chose Uther Pendragon, who was to be accompanied by fifteen thousand men. They also chose Merlin himself, under whose direction the whole undertaking was to be managed. A fleet was therefore prepared, and they set sail and, with a fair wind, arrived in Ireland.

Chapter Twelve: Gillomanius, Being Routed by Uther, the Britons Bring over the Giant’s Dance into Britain. #

¹ At that time Gillomanius, a youth of remarkable valour, reigned in Ireland. Upon hearing news of the arrival of the Britons in his kingdom, he raised a vast army and marched out against them. When he learned the reason for their coming, he smiled and said to those around him, “No wonder a cowardly race of people was able to cause such great devastation in the island of Britain, when the Britons are such brutes and fools. Was such folly ever heard of? How are the stones of Ireland better than those of Britain, that our kingdom must be subjected to this disturbance for their sake? To arms, soldiers, and defend your country. While I live, they shall not take from us even the smallest stone of the Giant’s Dance.” Uther, seeing them prepared for battle, attacked them; and it was not long before the Britons gained the advantage. Having scattered and killed the Irish, they forced Gillomanius to flee. After the victory, they went to the mountain Killaraus and reached the structure of stones, the sight of which filled them with both joy and admiration. While they were all standing around them, Merlin came up and said, “Now test your strength, young men, and see whether strength or skill can do more towards taking down these stones.” At these words, they all applied themselves to their engines with one accord and attempted to remove the Giant’s Dance. Some prepared cables, others small ropes and others ladders for the work, but all to no purpose. Merlin laughed at their vain efforts and then began to use his own devices. When he had arranged the necessary engines, he took down the stones with incredible ease and gave directions for carrying them to the ships and placing them aboard. This done, they joyfully set sail again to return to Britain, where they arrived with a fair wind and brought the stones to the burial place. When Aurelius received news of this, he sent messengers to every part of Britain to summon the clergy and the people to the mount of Ambrius, so that they might celebrate the erection of the monument with joy and honour. In response to this summons came the bishops, abbots and people of every other rank and condition. On the day and at the place appointed for their general assembly, Aurelius placed the crown upon his head and celebrated the feast of Pentecost with royal splendour, continuing the solemnity for the following three days. Meanwhile, he bestowed all vacant positions of honour upon members of his household as rewards for their good service. At that time, the two metropolitan sees of York and Legions were vacant. With the general consent of the people, whom he wished to please in this choice, he granted York to Sanxo, a man of high rank who was greatly celebrated for his piety, and the City of Legions to Dubricius, whom Divine Providence had indicated as a most useful pastor in that place. As soon as he had settled these and other affairs of the kingdom, he ordered Merlin to set up the stones brought over from Ireland around the sepulchre. Merlin did so, placing them in the same manner as they had stood on the mountain Killaraus, and thereby gave clear proof the superiority of skill over strength.

Chapter Thirteen: Pascentius Brings in the Saxons Against the Britons. #

¹ At the same time, Pascentius, the son of Vortegirn, who had fled to Germany, was raising all the forces of that kingdom against Aurelius Ambrosius, intending to avenge his father’s death. He promised his men an immense treasure of gold and silver if, with their assistance, he succeeded in bringing Britain under his power. When he had at last won over all the young men of the country with his generous promises, he prepared a vast fleet and arrived in the northern parts of the island, where he began to cause great devastation. The king, on the other hand, upon hearing this news, assembled his army and marched against them, challenging the enraged enemy to battle. The challenge was accepted, and by the blessing of God, the enemy was defeated and put to flight.

Chapter Fourteen: Pascentius, Assisted by the King of Ireland, Again Invades Britain. Aurelius Dies by the Treachery of Eopa, a Saxon. #

¹ After this defeat, Pascentius dared not return to Germany, but changed course and sailed to Gillomanius in Ireland, by whom he was well received. When he had told him of his misfortune, Gillomanius, taking pity on him, promised him his assistance and at the same time expressed his grievance over the injuries done to him by Uther, the brother of Aurelius, when he came for the Giant’s Dance. At last, entering into a confederacy together, they prepared their fleet, embarked and arrived at the city of Menevia. This news caused Uther Pendragon to raise his forces and march into Cambria to fight them. For his brother Aurelius was then lying ill at Winchester and was unable to go himself. When Pascentius, Gillomanius and the Saxons heard this, they greatly rejoiced, flattering themselves that his illness would make the conquest of Britain easier for them. While this event was the subject of public discussion, one of the Saxons, named Eopa, came to Pascentius and said, “What reward will you give the man who kills Aurelius Ambrosius for you?” Pascentius answered, “Oh, that I could find a man of such resolution! I would give him a thousand pounds of silver and my friendship for life; and if, by good fortune, I can gain the crown, I swear that I will make him a centurion.” Eopa replied, “I have learned the British language, know the customs of the people and am skilled in physic. If, therefore, you will fulfil this promise, I will pretend to be a Christian and a Briton; and when, as a physician, I am admitted into the king’s presence, I will prepare a potion that will dispatch him. To gain easier access to him, I will assume the appearance of a devout and learned monk.” Upon this offer, Pascentius entered into a covenant with him and confirmed his promise with an oath. Eopa therefore shaved his beard and head and, dressed as a monk, hastened to Winchester, carrying vessels full of medical preparations. As soon as he arrived there, he offered his services to those attending the king and was graciously received by them, for no one was now more welcome to them than a physician. After being introduced into the king’s presence, he promised to restore him to health if he would take his potions. He was immediately ordered to prepare one of them, into which he secretly mixed poison before giving it to the king. As soon as Aurelius had drunk it, the wicked Ambron instructed him to cover himself closely at once and fall asleep, so that the detestable potion might work more effectively. The king readily followed his instructions and, hoping for a speedy recovery, fell asleep. But the poison quickly spread through every pore and vein of his body, so that his sleep ended in death. Meanwhile, the wicked traitor, having cunningly withdrawn first from one person and then from another, could no longer be found at court. During these events at Winchester, a star of extraordinary size and brightness appeared, casting forth a ray at the end of which was a globe of fire shaped like a dragon. From its mouth issued two rays, one of which seemed to extend beyond the furthest reaches of Gaul, while the other stretched towards the Irish Sea and ended in seven smaller rays.

Chapter Fifteen: A Comet Presignifies the Reign of Uther. #

¹ At the appearance of this star, general fear and amazement seized the people; and even Uther, the king’s brother, who was then marching with his army into Cambria, was greatly terrified by it and very eager to learn from the learned men what it portended. Among others, he ordered Merlin to be summoned, who was also accompanying this expedition to give his advice on the conduct of the war. When Merlin was brought before him, he was commanded to explain the meaning of the star. At this, he burst into tears and cried out in a loud voice, “O irreparable loss! O distressed people of Britain! Alas! The illustrious prince has departed! The renowned king of the Britons, Aurelius Ambrosius, is dead, whose death will prove fatal to us all unless God is our helper. Make haste, therefore, most noble Uther; make haste to engage the enemy. The victory will be yours, and you shall be king of all Britain. For the star and the fiery dragon beneath it signify you, and the ray extending towards the Gallic coast portends that you shall have a most powerful son, to whose power all the kingdoms over which the ray reaches shall be subject. But the other ray signifies a daughter, whose sons and grandsons shall successively possess the kingdom of Britain.”

Chapter Sixteen: Pascentius and Gillomanius Are Killed in Battle. #

¹ Though Uther doubted the truth of what Merlin had declared, he continued his march against the enemy, for he had now come within half a day’s march of Menevia. When Gillomanius, Pascentius and the Saxons were informed of his approach, they went out to give him battle. As soon as they came within sight of one another, both armies began to form themselves into several divisions and then advanced into close combat, in which both sides suffered losses, as usually happens in such engagements. At last, towards the end of the day, the advantage was on Uther’s side, and the deaths of Gillomanius and Pascentius opened the way to complete victory. The barbarians, being put to flight, hastened to their ships but were slain by their pursuers. Thus, by the favour of Christ, the general achieved a triumphant victory and then, with all possible speed after so great a struggle, returned to Winchester. For he had now been informed by arriving messengers of the king’s sad fate and of his burial by the bishops of the country near the convent of Ambrius, within the Giant’s Dance, which he had ordered to be constructed during his lifetime. Upon hearing the news of his death, the bishops, abbots and all the clergy of that province had assembled at Winchester to solemnise his funeral. Because he had given orders during his lifetime to be buried in the sepulchre he had prepared, they carried his body there and performed his funeral rites with royal magnificence.

Chapter Seventeen: Uther Pendragon Is Made King of Britain. #

¹ But his brother Uther, having assembled the clergy of the kingdom, took the crown and, by universal consent, was raised to the throne. Remembering the explanation Merlin had given of the star mentioned above, he ordered two dragons to be made of gold, in the likeness of the dragon he had seen in the ray of the star. As soon as they were finished, which was done with wonderful precision of workmanship, he presented one to the cathedral church of Winchester, but kept the other for himself, to be carried with him in his wars. From that time, therefore, he was called Uther Pendragon, which in the British tongue signifies the dragon’s head; the reason for this name was Merlin’s prediction, from the appearance of a dragon, that he would be king.

Chapter Eighteen: Octa and Eosa Are Taken in Battle. #

¹ In the meantime, Octa, the son of Hengist, and his kinsman Eosa, seeing that they were no longer bound by the treaty they had made with Aurelius Ambrosius, began to raise disturbances against the king and ravage his territories. They were now joining with the Saxons whom Pascentius had brought over and sending messengers into Germany for the rest. Being therefore accompanied by a vast army, Octa invaded the northern provinces and, in an outrageous manner, destroyed all the cities and fortified places from Albania to York. At last, as he was beginning the siege of that city, Uther Pendragon came upon him with the whole power of the kingdom and gave him battle. The Saxons fought with great gallantry and, having withstood the assaults of the Britons, forced them to flee; and, taking advantage of this, pursued and slaughtered them as far as the mountain Damen, for as long as daylight allowed. The mountain was high and had a hazel wood upon its summit, while about its middle were broken and cavernous rocks that served as a refuge for wild beasts. The Britons made their way up to it and remained there all night among the rocks and hazel bushes. But as day began to approach, Uther ordered the consuls and princes to be called together so that he might consult them on how to attack the enemy. They immediately appeared before the king, who commanded them to give their advice; and Gorlois, duke of Cornwall, was ordered to give his opinion first, out of respect for his age and great experience. “There is no occasion,” he said, “for ceremonies or speeches while we see that it is still night; but there is occasion for boldness and courage, if you wish to enjoy your life and liberty any longer. The pagans are very numerous and eager to fight, while we are greatly inferior to them in number; therefore, if we wait until daybreak, we cannot, in my opinion, attack them to advantage. Come, then, while we have the favour of the night. Let us go down in a close body and surprise them in their camp with a sudden assault. There can be no doubt of success if, with one accord, we fall upon them boldly while they believe themselves secure and have no expectation of our coming in such a manner.” The king and all who were present approved of his advice and followed it. As soon as they were armed and placed in their ranks, they advanced towards the enemy’s camp, intending to make a general assault. But as they approached it, they were discovered by the watch, who awakened their companions with the sound of a trumpet. The enemy were consequently thrown into confusion and astonishment; some hastened towards the sea, while others ran in every direction wherever their fear or haste drove them. The Britons, finding that their approach had been discovered, quickened their march and, still keeping close together in their ranks, attacked the camp. When they had found an entrance, they rushed upon the enemy with drawn swords. In this sudden surprise, the enemy offered only a feeble defence against their vigorous and orderly attack; and the Britons, pressing their advantage with great eagerness, killed several thousand of the pagans, took Octa and Eosa prisoner, and completely dispersed the Saxons.

Chapter Nineteen: Uther, Falling in Love with Igerna, Enjoys Her by the Assistance of Merlin’s Magical Operations. #

¹ After this victory, Uther went to the city of Alclud, where he settled the affairs of that province and restored peace everywhere. He also travelled through all the countries of the Scots and subdued the fierceness of that rebellious people by administering justice with a strictness that none of his predecessors had exercised before. Thus, in his time, offenders everywhere lived in great fear, since they were certain to be punished without mercy. At last, when he had established peace in the northern provinces, he went to London and ordered Octa and Eosa to be imprisoned there. The following Easter, he commanded all the nobility of the kingdom to meet him in that city to celebrate the great festival, in honour of which he intended to wear his crown. The summons was obeyed everywhere, and great numbers came from all the cities to celebrate the day. The king therefore observed the festival with great solemnity, as he had intended, and joyfully entertained his nobility, of whom a very great number attended with their wives and daughters, in a manner suited to the magnificence of the banquet prepared for them. Having been joyfully received by the king, they likewise displayed their joy in their behaviour before him. Among the rest was Gorlois, duke of Cornwall, with his wife Igerna, the greatest beauty in all Britain. No sooner had the king set eyes upon her among the other ladies than he fell passionately in love with her and, paying little attention to the rest, made her the subject of all his thoughts. She was the only lady whom he continually served with fresh dishes and to whom he sent golden cups through his confidants. He bestowed all his smiles upon her and addressed all his conversation to her. Her husband, noticing this, flew into a great rage and withdrew from the court without taking leave. No one could stop him while he feared losing the chief object of his delight. Uther therefore angrily commanded him to return to court and give him satisfaction for this affront. But Gorlois refused to obey, at which the king became highly incensed and swore that he would destroy his country unless he quickly made amends for his offence. Accordingly, without delay, while their anger against each other was still fierce, the king assembled a great army and marched into Cornwall, where he set the cities and towns on fire. But Gorlois dared not engage him because his forces were inferior in number, and thought it wiser to fortify his towns until he could obtain assistance from Ireland. As he was more concerned for his wife than for himself, he placed her in the town of Tintagel on the seashore, which he regarded as a place of great safety. He himself entered the castle of Dimilioc, so that they would not both be exposed to the same danger at once if any misfortune occurred. When the king was informed of this, he went to the town where Gorlois was, laid siege to it and blocked every approach. A whole week had now passed when, still consumed by his love for Igerna, he said to one of his confidants, named Ulfin de Ricaradoch, “My passion for Igerna is such that I can have neither peace of mind nor health of body until I possess her; and unless you can advise me how to accomplish my desire, the inward torments I endure will kill me.” “Who can advise you in this matter,” said Ulfin, “when no force can give us access to her in the town of Tintagel? It stands upon the sea and is surrounded by it on every side. There is only one entrance, through a narrow rocky passage, which three men could defend against the whole power of the kingdom. Nevertheless, if the prophet Merlin would earnestly undertake this attempt, I believe that, with his advice, you might obtain your desire.” The king readily believed what he was already so inclined to believe and ordered Merlin, who had also come to the siege, to be summoned. Merlin was therefore brought into the king’s presence and commanded to advise him how he might accomplish his desire concerning Igerna. Seeing the king’s great anguish and moved by such excessive love, he said, “To accomplish your desire, you must use arts that have never been heard of in your time. I know how, through the power of my medicines, to give you the exact likeness of Gorlois, so that in every respect you will appear to be no one other than he. Therefore, if you will follow my instructions, I shall transform you into the true likeness of Gorlois, Ulfin into Jordan of Tintagel, his familiar friend, and myself into another form, so that I may be the third in this adventure. In this disguise, you may safely go to the town where Igerna is and be admitted to her.” The king agreed to the proposal and acted with great caution in the matter. After entrusting the siege to his intimate friends, he underwent Merlin’s medical treatments, by which he was transformed into the likeness of Gorlois. Ulfin was likewise transformed into Jordan, and Merlin himself into Bricel, so that no trace of their former appearances could be seen. They then set out for Tintagel, where they arrived in the evening twilight, and immediately informed the porter that the consul had arrived. The gates were therefore opened, and the men were admitted. For how could there be any suspicion when Gorlois himself appeared to be present? The king therefore spent that night with Igerna and had full enjoyment of her, for she was deceived by the false appearance he had assumed and by the artful and amorous conversation with which he entertained her. He told her that he had left his own stronghold under siege solely to provide for the safety of her dear self and the town in which she was staying. Believing everything he said, she refused him nothing that he desired. That same night, therefore, she conceived the most renowned Arthur, whose heroic and wonderful deeds have justly made his name famous to posterity.

Chapter Twenty: Gorlois Being Killed, Uther Marries Igerna. #

¹ In the meantime, as soon as the king’s absence from the siege was discovered, his army rashly assaulted the walls and provoked the besieged count to battle. He, acting as inconsiderately as they did, sallied out with his men, thinking that so small a handful could oppose a powerful army; but he was killed in the very first clash of the battle, and all his men were routed. The town was also taken, but its riches were not shared equally among the besiegers; instead, everyone greedily took whatever he could obtain, according as fortune or his own strength favoured him. After this bold attempt, messengers came to Igerna with news both of the duke’s death and of the outcome of the siege. But when they saw the king, in the likeness of the consul, sitting close beside her, they were struck with shame and astonishment at his safe arrival there, since they had left him dead at the siege; for they were wholly ignorant of the miracles Merlin had performed with his medicines. The king therefore smiled at the news and, embracing the countess, said to her, “Your own eyes may convince you that I am not dead, but alive. Nevertheless, the destruction of the town and the slaughter of my men grieve me greatly, so there is reason to fear that the king will fall upon us and take us in this place. To prevent this, I will go out to meet him and make peace with him, for fear of a worse disaster.” Accordingly, as soon as he was outside the town, he went to his army and, having cast off the disguise of Gorlois, became Uther Pendragon again. When he had received a full account of how matters had turned out, he was sorry for the death of Gorlois, but rejoiced that Igerna was now free to marry again. Then he returned to the town of Tintagel, which he took, and there obtained what he had impatiently desired: Igerna herself. After this, they continued to live together with great affection for one another and had a son and a daughter, whose names were Arthur and Anne.

Chapter Twenty-One: Octa and Eosa Renew the War. Lot, a Consul, Marries the King’s Daughter. #

¹ In the course of time, the king was afflicted by a lingering illness. Meanwhile, the keepers of the prison in which Octa and Eosa, as we related before, led a weary life, had fled with them to Germany, causing great fear throughout the kingdom. For there were reports of their great levies in Germany and of the vast fleet they had prepared for their return to destroy the island, which events proved to be true. They returned with a great fleet and an enormous number of men and invaded the parts of Albania, where they destroyed both cities and inhabitants with fire and sword. Therefore, to repel the enemy, command of the British army was entrusted to Lot of Londonesia, who was a consul, a most valiant knight, and mature in both years and wisdom. Out of respect for his eminent merits, the king had given him his daughter Anne and entrusted him with the care of the kingdom during his illness. In his campaign against the enemy, he met with varying success, being often repulsed by them and forced to retreat to the cities; but more often he routed and dispersed them, compelling them to flee sometimes into the woods and sometimes to their ships. Thus, in a war marked by so many reversals of fortune, it was difficult to know which side had the advantage. The greatest injury to the Britons arose from their own pride, as they disdained to obey the consul’s commands; for this reason, all their efforts against the enemy were less vigorous and successful.

Chapter Twenty-Two: Uther, Being Ill, Is Carried in a Horse-Litter Against the Enemy. #

¹ The island having been almost laid waste by this conduct, the king, when he was informed of the matter, fell into a rage greater than his weakness could bear and commanded all his nobility to appear before him so that he might rebuke them severely for their pride and cowardice. As soon as they had all entered his presence, he sharply reproved them in threatening language and swore that he himself would lead them against the enemy. For this purpose, he ordered a horse-litter to be made in which he intended to be carried, since his infirmity would not allow him to use any other kind of vehicle; and he ordered them all to be ready to march against the enemy at the first opportunity. Without delay, therefore, the horse-litter and all his attendants were made ready, and the day appointed for their march arrived.

Chapter Twenty-Three: Octa and Eosa, with a Great Number of Their Men, Are Killed. #

¹ The king, therefore, being placed in his vehicle, they marched directly to Verulam, where the Saxons were grievously oppressing the people. When Octa and Eosa learned that the Britons had come and that the king had been brought in a horse-litter, they disdained to fight him, saying that it would be shameful for such brave men to fight one who was half dead. For this reason, they withdrew into the city and, as though in contempt of any danger from the enemy, left their gates wide open. But Uther, upon hearing this, immediately commanded his men to lay siege to the city and assault the walls on every side. They strictly carried out his orders and were just entering the breaches they had made in the walls, ready to begin a general assault, when the Saxons, seeing the advantages the Britons had gained and being forced to moderate their haughty pride somewhat, condescended so far as to put themselves into a posture of defence. They therefore mounted the walls, from which they poured down showers of arrows and repulsed the Britons. The struggle continued on both sides until night released them from the fatigue of battle, which was what many of the Britons desired, although the greater part wished to settle the matter with the enemy quickly. The Saxons, on the other hand, realising how harmful their own pride had been to them and that the advantage lay with the Britons, resolved to make a sally at daybreak and try their fortune against the enemy in the open field, which they accordingly did. For no sooner was it daylight than they marched out with this intention, all in their proper ranks. The Britons, seeing them, divided their men into several bodies and, advancing towards them, began the attack first, their part being to assault while the others remained on the defensive. Nevertheless, much blood was shed on both sides, and the greater part of the day was spent fighting, until at last, Octa and Eosa being killed, the Saxons turned their backs and left the Britons with a complete victory. At this, the king was in such an ecstasy of joy that, whereas before he could scarcely raise himself without the help of others, he now sat upright in his horse-litter without any difficulty, as though he had suddenly been restored to health, and said with a laughing and cheerful expression, “These Ambrons called me the half-dead king because my illness obliged me to lie in a horse-litter, and indeed I was. Yet victory for me while half dead is better than being safe and sound but defeated. For it is preferable to die with honour than to live in disgrace.”

Chapter Twenty-Four: Uther, upon Drinking Spring Water Treacherously Poisoned by the Saxons, Dies. #

¹ Notwithstanding this defeat, the Saxons still persisted in their malice and, entering the northern provinces, continued to oppress the people there without respite. Uther intended to pursue them, but his princes dissuaded him because his illness had worsened since the victory. This gave new courage to the enemy, who left nothing unattempted in their efforts to conquer the kingdom. They now resorted to their former treacherous practices and devised a way to bring about the king’s death by secret villainy. Because they could gain no other access to him, they resolved to kill him with poison, in which they succeeded. While he lay ill at Verulam, they sent spies disguised as poor men to learn the state of the court. When they had thoroughly informed themselves of the situation, they discovered a means by which they might best accomplish their villainy. Near the court was a spring of very clear water, from which the king used to drink when his illness had made all other drinks nauseating to him. The detestable conspirators used this to destroy him, poisoning the entire body of water that sprang from it so that, the next time the king drank from it, he was struck by sudden death. A hundred other people died after him before the villainy was discovered and a heap of earth was thrown over the well. As soon as the king’s death became known, the bishops and clergy of the kingdom assembled and carried his body to the convent of Ambrius, where they buried it with royal solemnity beside Aurelius Ambrosius, within the Giant’s Dance.