Gildas, On the Ruin of Britain

8/4/2019 Gildas, On the Ruin of Britain

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Gildas

On the Ruin of Britain

Translated by J. A. Giles and T. Habington

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Table of ContentsAc+no*ledge"ents....................................................................................................................................,-ntroduction................................................................................................................................................

-. TH/ $R/FA&/......................................................................................................................................0

--. TH/ H-1TOR2.....................................................................................................................................3---. TH/ /$-1T4/...................................................................................................................................56

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Acknowledgements

This te!t is an 735 translation by J. A. Giles. The te!t is in the #ublic do"ain because the

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no* outdated and no longer re#resent accurate infor"ation.

This te!t *as asse"bled *ith +ind #er"ission fro" te!ts "ade available by(

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Introduction

Of Gildas the su##osed author of the third *or+ contained in this volu"e little or nothing is

+no*n. 9r. 1tevenson in the #reface to his edition of the original 4atin lately #ublished by the

/nglish Historical 1ociety says( :;e are unable to s#ea+ *ith certainty as to his #arentage his country

or even his na"e the #eriod *hen he lived or the *or+s of *hich he *as the author.< 1uch a state"ent

is surely sufficient to e!cuse us at #resent fro" saying "ore on the sub=ect than that he is su##osed to

have lived and to have *ritten *hat re"ains under his na"e during so"e #art of the si!th century.

There are t*o legends of the life of 1t. Gildas as he is ter"ed but both of the" abound *ith such

absurdities that they scarcely deserve to be noticed in a serious history. Of the #resent translation the

first or historic half is entirely ne*> in the rest consisting al"ost entirely of te!ts fro" 1cri#ture the

translator has thought it ?uite sufficient to follo* the old translation of Habington correcting *hatever

errors he could detect and in so"e degree relieving the ?uaint and obsolete character of the language.

-t has been re"ar+ed by $olydore @irgil that Gildas ?uotes no other boo+ but the Bible> and it "ay be

added that his ?uotations are in other *ords than those of the @ulgate or co""on authoried

translation. The title of the old translation is as follo*s( :The /#istle of Gildas the "ost ancient British

Author ( *ho flourished in the yeere of our 4ord 0. And *ho by his great erudition sanctitie and

*isdo"e ac?uired the na"e of 1a#iens. Faithfully translated out of the originall 4atine.< 4ondon

75"o. 7,3.


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I. THE PREFACE

7. ;HAT/@/R in this "y e#istle - "ay *rite in "y hu"ble but *ell'"eaning "anner rather by

*ay of la"entation than for dis#lay let no one su##ose that it s#rings fro" conte"#t of others or that -

foolishly estee" "yself as better than they> Cfor alasD the sub=ect of "y co"#laint is the general

destruction of every thing that is good and the general gro*th of evil throughout the land>C but that -

*ould condole *ith "y country in her distress and re=oice to see her revive therefro"( for it is "y

#resent #ur#ose to relate the deeds of an indolent and slothful race rather than the e!#loits of those

*ho have been valiant in the field.7- have +e#t silence - confess *ith "uch "ental anguish

co"#unction of feeling and contrition of heart *hilst - revolved all these things *ithin "yself> and as

God the searcher of the reins is *itness for the s#ace of even ten years or "ore E 5"y ine!#erience as

at #resent also and "y un*orthiness #reventing "e fro" ta+ing u#on "yself the character of a censor.

But - read ho* the illustrious la*giver for one *ord8s doubting *as not allo*ed to enter the desired

land> that the sons of the high'#riest for #lacing strange fire u#on God8s altar *ere cut off by a s#eedydeath> that God8s #eo#le for brea+ing the la* of God save t*o only *ere slain by *ild beasts by fire

and s*ord in the deserts of Arabia though God had so loved the" that he had "ade a *ay for the"

through the Red 1ea had fed the" *ith bread fro" heaven and *ater fro" the roc+ and by the lifting

u# of a hand "erely had "ade their ar"ies invincible> and then *hen they had crossed the Jordan and

entered the un+no*n land and the *alls of the city had fallen do*n flat at the sound only of a tru"#et

the ta+ing of a cloa+ and a little gold fro" the accursed things caused the deaths of "any( and again the

breach of their treaty *ith the Gibeonites though that treaty had been obtained by fraud brought

destruction u#on "any and - too+ *arning fro" the sins of the #eo#le *hich called do*n u#on then

the re#rehensions of the #ro#hets and also of Jere"iah *ith his fourfold 4a"entations *ritten in

7 ot*ithstanding this re"ar+ of Gildas the Britons "ust have sho*n great bravery and resolution in their battles against

the 1a!ons or they *ould not have resisted their encroach"ents so long. ;hen Gildas *as *riting a hundred years had

ela#sed and the Britons still #ossessed a large #ortion of their native country.

5 All that follo*s enclosed *ithin brac+ets u# to #age 0 is o"itted in so"e co#ies.

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al#habetic order. - sa* "oreover in "y o*n ti"e as that #ro#het also had co"#lained that the city had

sat do*n lone and *ido*ed *hich before *as full of #eo#le> that the ?ueen of nations and the #rincess

of #rovinces i. e. the church had been "ade tributary> that the gold *as obscured and the "ost

e!cellent colour *hich is the brightness of God8s *ord changed> that the sons of 1ion i. e. of holy

"other church once fa"ous and clothed in the finest gold grovelled in dung> and *hat added

intolerably to the *eight of grief of that illustrious "an and to "ine though but an ab=ect *hilst he had

thus "ourned the" in their ha##y and #ros#erous condition :Her aarites *ere fairer than sno*

"ore ruddy than old ivory "ore beautiful than the sa##hire.< These and "any other #assages in the

ancient 1cri#tures - regarded as a +ind of "irror of hu"an life and - turned also to the e* *herein -

read "ore clearly *hat #erha#s to "e before *as dar+ for the dar+ness deaf and truth shed her steady

light C- read therein that the 4ord had said :- ca"e not but to the lost shee# of the house of -srael>< andon the other hand :But the children of this +ingdo" shall be cast out into outer dar+ness> there shal7 be

*ee#ing and gnashing of teeth(< and again :-t is not good to ta+e the children8s "eat and to give it to

dogs(< also :;oe to you scribes and #harisees hy#ocritesD< - heard ho* :"any shall co"e fro" the

east and the *est and shall sit do*n *ith Abraha" -saac and Jacob in the +ingdo" of heaven(< and

on the contrary :- *ill then say to the" 8%e#art fro" "e ye *or+ers of ini?uityD8< - read :Blessed are

the barren and the teats *hich have not given suc+>< and on the contrary :Those *ho *ere ready

entered *ith hi" to the *edding> after*ards ca"e the other virgins also saying 84ord 4ord o#en to

us(8 to *ho" it *as ans*ered 8- do not +no* you.8< - heard forsooth :;hoever shall believe and be

ba#tied shall be saved but *hoever shall not believe shall be da"ned.< - read in the *ords of the

a#ostle that the branch of the *ild olive *as grafted u#on the good olive but should nevertheless be cut

off fro" the co""union of the root of its fatness if it did not hold itself in fear but entertained lofty

thoughts. - +ne* the "ercy of the 4ord but - also feared his =udg"ent( - #raised his grace but - feared

the rendering to every "an according to his *or+s( #erceiving the shee# of the sa"e fold to be

different - deservedly co""ended $eter for his entire confession of &hrist but called Judas "ost

*retched for his love of covetousness( - thought 1te#hen "ost glorious on account of the #al" of

"artyrdo" but icholas *retched for his "ar+ of unclean heresy( - read assuredly :They had all

things co""on(< but li+e*ise also as it is *ritten :;hy have ye cons#ired to te"#t the 1#irit of

God I< - sa* on the other hand ho* "uch security had gro*n u#on the "en of our ti"e as if there

*ere nothing to cause the" fear. These things therefore and "any "ore *hich for brevity8s sa+e *e


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have deter"ined to o"it - revolved again and again in "y a"aed "ind *ith co"#unction in "y

heart and - thought to "yself :-f God8s #eculiar #eo#le chosen fro" all the #eo#le of the *orld the

royal seed and holy nation to *ho" he had said 89y first begotten -srael8 its #riests #ro#hets and

+ings throughout "any ages his servant and a#ostle and the "e"bers of his #ri"itive church *ere

not s#ared *hen they deviated fro" the right #ath *hat *ill he do to the dar+ness of this our age in

*hich besides all the huge and heinous sins *hich it has in co""on *ith all the *ic+ed of the *orld

co""itted is found an innate indelible and irre"ediable load of folly and inconstancy I< :;hat

*retched "an - say to "yself is it given to you as if you *ere an illustrious and learned teacher to

o##ose the force of so violent a torrent and +ee# the charge co""itted to you against such a series of

inveterate cri"es *hich has s#read far and *ide *ithout interru#tion for so "any years. Hold thy

#eace( to do other*ise is to tell the foot to see and the hand to s#ea+. Britain has rulers and she has*atch"en( *hy dost thou incline thyself thus uselessly to #rateI< 1he has such - say not too "any

#erha#s but surely not too fe*( but because they are bent do*n and #ressed beneath so heavy a burden

they have not ti"e allo*ed the" to ta+e breath. 9y senses therefore as if feeling a #ortion of "y debt

and obligation #reoccu#ied the"selves *ith such ob=ections and *ith others yet "ore strong. They

struggled as - said no short ti"e in a fearful strait *hilst - read :There is a ti"e for s#ea+ing and a

ti"e for +ee#ing silence. At length the creditor8s side #revailed and bore off the victory( if said he

thou art not bold enough to be "ar+ed *ith the co"ely "ar+ of golden liberty a"ong the #ro#hetic

creatures *ho en=oy the ran+ as reasoning beings ne!t to the angels refuse not the ins#iration of the

understanding ass to that day du"b *hich *ould not carry for*ard the tiara8d "agician *ho *as

going to curse God8s #eo#le but in the narro* #ass of the vineyard crushed his loosened foot and

thereby felt the lash> and though he *as *ith his ungrateful and furious hand against right =ustice

beating her innocent sides she #ointed out to hi" the heavenly "essenger behold the na+ed s*ord and

standing in his *ay though he had not seen hi".

;herefore in eal for the house of God and for his holy la* constrained either by the reasonings

of "y o*n thoughts or by the #ious entreaties of "y brethren - no* discharge the debt so long e!acted

of "e> hu"ble indeed in style but faithful as - thin+ and friendly to all &hrist8s youthful soldiers but

severe and insu##ortable to foolish a#ostates> the for"er of *ho" if - a" not deceived *ill receive

the sa"e *ith tears flo*ing fro" God8s love> but the others *ill sorro* such as is e!torted fro" the

indignation and #usillani"ity of a convicted conscience.

K


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2.- *ill therefore if God be *illing endeavour to say a fe* *ords about the situation of Britain

her disobedience and sub=ection her rebellion second sub=ection and dreadful slavery C of her religion

#ersecution holy "artyrs heresies of different +inds C of her tyrants her t*o hostile and ravaging

nations C of her first devastation her defence her second devastation and second ta+ing vengeance C of

her third devastation of her fa"ine and the letters to Agitius,C of her victory and her cri"es C of the

sudden ru"our of ene"ies C of her fa"ous #estilence C of her counsels C of her last ene"y far "ore

cruel than the first C of the subversion of her cities and of the re"nant that esca#ed> and finally of the

#eace *hich by the *ill of God has been granted her in these our ti"es.

II. THE HISTR!

".The island of Britain situated on al"ost the ut"ost border of the earth to*ards the south and*est and #oised in the divine balance as it is said *hich su##orts the *hole *orld stretches out fro"

the south'*est to*ards the north #ole and is eight hundred "iles long and t*o hundred broad e!ce#t

*here the headlands of sundry #ro"ontories stretch farther into the sea. -t is surrounded by the ocean

*hich for"s *inding bays and is strongly defended by this a"#le and if - "ay so call it i"#assable

barrier save on the south side *here the narro* sea affords a #assage to Baltic Gaul. -t is enriched by

the "ouths of t*o noble rivers the Tha"es and the 1evern as it *ere t*o ar"s by *hich foreign

lu!uries *ere of old i"#orted and by other strea"s of less i"#ortance. -t is fa"ous for eight and

t*enty cities and is e"bellished by certain castles *ith *alls to*ers *ell barred gates and houses

*ith threatening battle"ents built on high and #rovided *ith all re?uisite instru"ents of defence. -ts

#lains are s#acious its hills are #leasantly situated ada#ted for su#erior tillage and its "ountains are

ad"irably calculated for the alternate #asturage of cattle *here flo*ers of various colours trodden by

the feet of "an give it the a##earance of a lovely #icture. -t is dec+ed li+e a "an8s chosen bride *ith

divers =e*els *ith lucid fountains and abundant broo+s *andering over the sno* *hite sands> *ith

trans#arent rivers flo*ing in gentle "ur"urs and offering a s*eet #ledge of slu"ber0to those *ho

recline u#on their ban+s *hilst it is irrigated by abundant la+es *hich #our forth cool torrents of

refreshing *ater.

, Or Aetius. The descri#tion of Britain is given in very nearly the sa"e ter"s by Orosius Bede and others but the nu"bers

denoting the length and breadth and other di"ensions are different in al"ost every 91. co#y.

0 L1o#ore"< in so"e 911.< sa#ore" : in others> it is difficult fro" the turgidity and su#erabundance of the style to

deter"ine *hich is the best "eaning.

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. This island stiff'nec+ed and stubborn'"inded fro" the ti"e of its being first inhabited

ungratefully rebels so"eti"es against God so"eti"es against her o*n citiens and fre?uently also

against foreign +ings and their sub=ects. For *hat can there either be or be co""itted "ore

disgraceful or "ore unrighteous in hu"an affairs than to refuse to sho* fear to God or affection to

one8s o*n country"en and *ithout detri"ent to one8s faith to refuse due honour to those of higher

dignity to cast off all regard to reason hu"an and divine and in conte"#t of heaven and earth to be

guided by one8s o*n sensual inventionsI - shall therefore o"it those ancient errors co""on to all the

nations of the earth in *hich before &hrist ca"e in the flesh all "an+ind *ere bound> nor shall -

enu"erate those diabolical idols of "y country *hich al"ost sur#assed in nu"ber those of /gy#t and

of *hich *e still see so"e "ouldering a*ay *ithin or *ithout the deserted te"#les *ith stiff and

defor"ed features as *as custo"ary. or *ill - call out u#on the "ountains fountains or hills or u#onthe rivers *hich no* are subservient to the use of "en but once *ere an abo"ination and destruction

to the" and to *hich the blind #eo#le #aid divine honour. - shall also #ass over the bygone ti"es of

our cruel tyrants *hose notoriety *as s#read over to far distant countries> so that $or#hyry that dog

*ho in the east *as al*ays so fierce against the church in his "ad and vain style added this also that

:Britain is a land fertile in tyrants.


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*hilst terror #enetrated to their hearts.

$.;hen after*ards they returned to Ro"e for *ant of #ay as is said and had no sus#icion of an

a##roaching rebellion that deceitful lioness Boadicea #ut to death the rulers *ho had been left a"ong

the" to unfold "ore fully and to confir" the enter#rises of the Ro"ans. ;hen the re#ort of these

things reached the senate and they *ith a s#eedy ar"y "ade haste to ta+e vengeance on the crafty

fo!esKas they called the" there *as no bold navy on the sea to fight bravely for the country> by land

there *as no "arshalled ar"y no right *ing of battle nor other #re#aration for resistance> but their

bac+s *ere their shields against their van?uishers and they #resented their nec+s to their s*ords *hilst

chill terror ran through every li"b and they stretched out their hands to be bound li+e *o"en> so that

it has beco"e a #roverb far and *ide that the Britons are neither brave in *ar nor faithful in ti"e of

#eace.

%.The Ro"ans therefore having slain "any of the rebels and reserved others for slaves that the

land "ight not be entirely reduced to desolation left the island destitute as it *as of *ine and oil and

returned to -taly leaving behind the" tas+"asters to scourge the shoulders of the natives to reduce

their nec+s to the yo+e and their soil to the vassalage of a Ro"an #rovince> to chastise the crafty race

not *ith *arli+e *ea#ons but *ith rods and if necessary to gird u#on their sides the na+ed s*ord so

that it *as no longer thought to be Britain but a Ro"an island> and all their "oney *hether of co##er

gold or silver *as sta"#ed *ith &aesar8s i"age.

&.9ean*hile these islands stiff *ith cold and frost and in a distant region of the *orld re"ote

fro" the visible sun received the bea"s of light that is the holy #rece#ts of &hrist the true 1un

sho*ing to the *hole *orld his s#lendour not only fro" the te"#oral fir"a"ent but fro" the height

of heaven *hich sur#asses every thing te"#oral at the latter #art as *e +no* of the reign of Tiberius

&aesar by *ho" his religion *as #ro#agated *ithout i"#edi"ent and death threatened to those *ho

interfered *ith its #rofessors.

'.These rays of light *ere received *ith lu+e*ar" "inds by the inhabitants but they nevertheless

too+ root a"ong so"e of the" in a greater or less degree until nine years8 #ersecution of the tyrant

%iocletian *hen the churches throughout the *hole *orld *ere overthro*n al7 the co#ies of the Holy

K The Britons *ho fought under Boadicea *ere anything but :crafty fo!es.< :Bold lions< is a "uch "ore a##ro#riate

a##ellation> they *ould also have been victorious if they had had half the "ilitary advantages of the Ro"ans.

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1cri#tures *hich could be found burned in the streets and the chosen #astors of God8s floc+ butchered

together *ith their innocent shee# in order that not a vestige if #ossible "ight re"ain in so"e

#rovinces of &hrist8s religion. ;hat disgraceful flights then too+ #lace C *hat slaughter and death

inflicted by *ay of #unish"ent in divers sha#es C*hat dreadful a#ostacies fro" religion> and on the

contrary *hat glorious cro*ns of "artyrdo" then *ere *on C*hat raving fury *as dis#layed by the

#ersecutors and #atience on the #art of the suffering saints ecclesiastical history infor"s us> for the

*hole church *ere cro*ding in a body to leave behind the" the dar+ things of this *orld and to "a+e

the best of their *ay to the ha##y "ansions of heaven as if to their #ro#er ho"e.

().God therefore *ho *ishes all "en to be saved and *ho calls sinners no less than those *ho

thin+ the"selves righteous "agnified his "ercy to*ards us and as *e +no* during the above'na"ed

#ersecution that Britain "ight not totally be envelo#ed in the dar+ shades of night he of his o*n free

gift +indled u# a"ong us bright lu"inaries of holy "artyrs *hose #laces of burial and of "artyrdo"

had they not for our "anifold cri"es been interfered *ith and destroyed by the barbarians *ould have

still +indled in the "inds of the beholders no s"all fire of divine charity. 1uch *ere 1t. Alban of

@erula" Aaron and Julius citiens of &arlisle3and the rest of both se!es *ho in different #laces

stood their ground in the &hristian contest.

((.The first of these "artyrs 1t. Alban for charity8s sa+e saved another confessor *ho *as

#ursued by his #ersecutors and *as on the #oint of being seied by hiding hi" in his house and then

by changing clothes *ith hi" i"itating in this the e!a"#le of &hrist *ho laid do*n his life for his

shee# and e!#osing hi"self in the other8s clothes to be #ursued in his stead. 1o #leasing to God *as

this conduct that bet*een his confession and "artyrdo" he *as honoured *ith the #erfor"ance of

*onderful "iracles in #resence of the i"#ious blas#he"ers *ho *ere carrying the Ro"an standards

and li+e the -sraelites of old *ho trod dry'foot an unfre?uented #ath *hilst the ar+ of the covenant

stood so"e ti"e on the sands in the "idst of Jordan> so also the "artyr *ith a thousand others o#ened

a #ath across the noble river Tha"es *hose *aters stood abru#t li+e #reci#ices on either side> and

seeing this the first of his e!ecutors *as stric+en *ith a*e and fro" a *olf beca"e a la"b> so that he

thirsted for "artyrdo" and boldly under*ent that for *hich he thirsted. The other holy "artyrs *ere

tor"ented *ith divers sufferings and their li"bs *ere rac+ed in such unheard of *ays that they

3 Or &aerleon.

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*ithout delay erected the tro#hies of their glorious "artyrdo" even in the gates of the city of

Jerusale". For those *ho survived hid the"selves in *oods and deserts and secret caves *aiting

until God *ho is the righteous =udge of all should re*ard their #ersecutors *ith =udg"ent and

the"selves *ith #rotection of their lives.

(2.-n less than ten years therefore of the above na"ed #ersecution and *hen these bloody

decrees began to fail in conse?uence of the death of their authors all &hrist8s young disci#les after so

long and *intry a night begin to behold the genial light of heaven. They rebuild the churches *hich

had been levelled to the ground> they found erect and finish churches to the holy "artyrs and

every*here sho* their ensigns as to+en of their victory> festivals are celebrated and sacra"ents

received *ith clean hearts and li#s and all the church8s sons re=oice as it *ere in the fostering boso" of

a "other. For this holy union re"ained bet*een &hrist their head and the "e"bers of his church until

the Arian treason fatal as a ser#ent and vo"iting its #oison fro" beyond the sea caused deadly

dissension bet*een brothers inhabiting the sa"e house and thus as if a road *ere "ade across the sea

li+e *ild beasts of all descri#tions and darting the #oison of every heresy fro" their Ja*s they

inflicted dreadful *ounds u#on their country *hich is ever desirous to hear so"ething ne* and

re"ains constant long to nothing.

(".At length also ne* races of tyrants s#rang u# in terrific nu"bers and the island still bearing

its Ro"an na"e but casting off her institutes and la*s sent forth a"ong the Gauls that bitter scion of

her o*n #lanting 9a!i"us *ith a great nu"ber of follo*ers and the ensigns of royalty *hich he bore

*ithout decency and *ithout la*ful right but in a tyrannical "anner and a"id the disturbances of the

seditious soldiery. He by cunning arts rather than by valour attaching to his rule by #er=ury and false'

hood all the neighbouring to*ns and #rovinces against the Ro"an state e!tended one of his *ings to

1#ain the other to -taly fi!ed the seat of his unholy govern"ent at Treves and so furiously #ushed his

rebellion against his la*ful e"#erors that he drove one of the" out of Ro"e and caused the others to

ter"inate his holy life. Trusting to these successful atte"#ts he not long after lost his accursed head

before the *alls of A?uileia *hereas he had before cut off the cro*ned heads of al"ost all the *orld.

(*.After this Britain is left de#rived of all her soldiery and ar"ed bands of her cruel governors

and of the flo*er of her youth *ho *ent *ith 9a!i"us but never again returned> and utterly ignorant

as she *as of the art of *ar groaned in a"ae"ent for "any years under the cruelty of t*o foreign

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nations C the 1cots fro" the north'*est and the $icts fro" the north.

(#.The Britons i"#atient at the assaults of the 1cots and $icts their hostilities and dreadful

o##ressions send a"bassadors to Ro"e *ith letters entreating in #iteous ter"s the assistance of an

ar"ed band to #rotect the" and offering loyal and ready sub"ission to the authority of Ro"e if they

only *ould e!#el their invading foes. A legion is i""ediately sent forgetting their #ast rebellion and

#rovided sufficiently *ith ar"s. ;hen they had crossed over the sea and landed they ca"e at once to

close conflict *ith their cruel ene"ies and sle* great nu"bers of the". All of the" *ere driven

beyond the borders and the hu"iliated natives rescued fro" the bloody slavery *hich a*aited the".

By the advice of their #rotectors they no* built a *all across the island fro" one sea to the other

*hich being "anned *ith a #ro#er force "ight be a terror to the foes *ho" it *as intended to re#el

and a #rotection to their friends *ho" it covered. But this *all being "ade of turf instead of stone

*as of no use to that foolish #eo#le *ho had no head to guide the".

($.The Ro"an legion had no sooner returned ho"e in =oy and triu"#h than their for"er foes li+e

hungry and ravening *olves rushing *ith greedy =a*s u#on the fold *hich is left *ithout a she#herd

and *afted both by the strength of oars"en and the blo*ing *ind brea+ through the boundaries and

s#read slaughter on every side and li+e "o*ers cutting do*n the ri#e corn they cut u# tread under

foot and overrun the *hole country.

(%.And no* again they send su##liant a"bassadors *ith their gar"ents rent and their heads

covered *ith ashes i"#loring assistance fro" the Ro"ans and li+e ti"orous chic+ens cro*ding under

the #rotecting *ings of their #arents that their *retched country "ight not altogether be destroyed and

that the Ro"an na"e *hich no* *as but an e"#ty sound to fill the ear "ight not beco"e a re#roach

even to distant nations. N#on this the Ro"ans "oved *ith co"#assion as far as hu"an nature can be

at the relations of such horrors send for*ard li+e eagles in their flight their une!#ected bands of

cavalry by land and "ariners by sea and #lanting their terrible s*ords u#on the shoulders of their

ene"ies they "o* the" do*n li+e leaves *hich fall at the destined #eriod> and as a "ountain'torrent

s*elled *ith nu"erous strea"s and bursting its ban+s *ith roaring noise *ith foa"ing crest and

yeasty *ave rising to the stars by *hose eddying currents our eyes are as it *ere daled does *ith

one of its billo*s over*hel" every obstacle in its *ay so did our illustrious defenders vigorously drive

our ene"ies8 band beyond the sea if any could so esca#e the"> for it *as beyond those sa"e seas that

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they trans#orted year after year the #lunder *hich they had gained no one daring to resist the".

(&.The Ro"ans therefore left the country giving notice that they could no longer be harassed by

such laborious e!#editions nor suffer the Ro"an standards *ith so large and brave an ar"y to be

*orn out by sea and land by fighting against these un*arli+e #lundering vagabonds> but that the

islanders inuring the"selves to *arli+e *ea#ons and bravely fighting should valiantly #rotect their

country their #ro#erty *ives and children and *hat is dearer than these their liberty and lives> that

they should not suffer their hands to be tied behind their bac+s by a nation *hich unless they *ere

enervated by idleness and sloth *as not "ore #o*erful than the"selves but that they should ar" those

hands *ith buc+ler s*ord and s#ear ready for the field of battle> and because they thought this also

of advantage to the #eo#le they *ere about to leave they *ith the hel# of the "iserable natives built a

*all different fro" the for"er by #ublic and #rivate contributions and of the sa"e structure as *alls

generally e!tending in a straight line fro" sea to sea bet*een so"e cities *hich fro" fear of their

ene"ies had there by chance been built. They then give energetic counsel to the ti"orous native and

leave the" #atterns by *hich to "anufacture ar"s. 9oreover on the south coast *here their vessels

lay as there *as so"e a##rehension lest the barbarians "ight land they erected to*ers at stated

intervals co""anding a #ros#ect of the sea> and then left the island never to return.

('.o sooner *ere they gone than the $icts and 1cots li+e *or"s *hich in the heat of "id'day

co"e forth fro" their holes hastily land again fro" their canoes in *hich they had been carried

beyond the &ichicanMvalley differing one fro" another in "anners but ins#ired *ith the sa"e avidity

for blood and all "ore eager to shroud their villainous faces in bushy hair than to cover *ith decent

clothing those #arts of their body *hich re?uired it. 9oreover having heard of the de#arture of our

friends and their resolution never to return they seied *ith greater boldness than before on all the

country to*ards the e!tre"e north as far as the *all. To o##ose the" there *as #laced on the heights a

garrison e?ually slo* to fight and ill ada#ted to run a*ay a useless and #anic'struc+ co"#any *ho

cla"bered a*ay days and nights on their un#rofitable *atch. 9ean*hile the hoo+ed *ea#ons of their

ene"ies *ere not idle and our *retched country"en *ere dragged fro" the *all and dashed against

the ground. 1uch #re"ature death ho*ever #ainful as it *as saved the" fro" seeing the "iserable

sufferings of their brothers and children. But *hy should - say "oreI They left their cities abandoned

M The "eaning of this e!#ression is not +no*n. O8&onnor thin+s it is the -rish 1ea.

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Gildas

the #rotection of the *all and dis#ersed the"selves in flight "ore des#erately than before. The ene"y

on the other hand #ursued the" *ith "ore unrelenting cruelty than before and butchered our

country"en li+e shee# so that their habitations *ere li+e those of savage beasts> for they turned their

ar"s u#on each other and for the sa+e of a little sustenance i"brued their hands in the blood of their

fello* country"en. Thus foreign cala"ities *ere aug"ented by do"estic feuds> so that the *hole

country *as entirely destitute of #rovisions save such as could be #rocured in the chase.

56. Again therefore the *retched re"nant sending to Aetius a #o*erful Ro"an citien address

hi" as follo*s(C :To Aetius76no* consul for the third ti"e( the groans of the Britons.< And again a

little further thus(C :The barbarians drive us to the sea> the sea thro*s us bac+ on the barbarians( thus

t*o "odes of death a*ait us *e are either slain or dro*ned.< The Ro"ans ho*ever could not assist

the" and in the "eanti"e the disco"fited #eo#le *andering in the *oods began to feel the effects of

a severe fa"ine *hich co"#elled "any of the" *ithout delay to yield the"selves u# to their cruel

#ersecutors to obtain subsistence( others of the" ho*ever lying hid in "ountains caves and *oods

continually sallied out fro" thence to rene* the *ar. And then it *as for the first ti"e that they

overthre* their ene"ies *ho had for so "any years been living in their country> for their trust *as not

in "an but in God> according to the "a!i" of $hilo :;e "ust have divine assistance *hen that of

"an fails.< The boldness of the ene"y *as for a *hile chec+ed but not the *ic+edness of our

country"en( the ene"y left our #eo#le but the #eo#le did not leave their sins.

57. For it has al*ays been a custo" *ith our nation it is at #resent to be i"#otent in re#elling

foreign foes but bold and invincible in raising civil *ar and bearing the burdens of their offences they

are i"#otent - say in follo*ing the standard of #eace and truth but bold in *ic+edness and falsehood.

The audacious invaders therefore return to their *inter ?uarters deter"ined before long again to return

and #lunder. And then too the $icts for the first ti"e seated the"selves at the e!tre"ity of the island

*here they after*ards continued occasionally #lundering and *asting the country. %uring these truces

the *ounds of the distressed #eo#le are healed but another sore still "ore veno"ous bro+e out. o

sooner *ere the ravages of the ene"y chec+ed than the island *as deluged *ith a "ost e!traordinary

#lenty of all things greater than *as before +no*n and *ith it gre* u# every +ind of lu!ury and

licentiousness. -t gre* *ith so fir" a root that one "ight truly say of it :1uch fornication is heard of

76 OrAgitius, according to another reading.

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a"ong you as never *as +no*n the li+e a"ong the Gentiles.< But besides this vice there arose also

every other to *hich hu"an nature is liable and in #articular that hatred of truth together *ith her

su##orters *hich still at #resent destroys every thing good in the island> the love of falsehood together

*ith its inventors the rece#tion of cri"e in the #lace of virtue the res#ect sho*n to *ic+edness rather

than goodness the love of dar+ness instead of the sun the ad"ission of 1atan as an angel of light.

ings *ere anointed not according to God8s ordinance but such as sho*ed the"selves "ore cruel than

the rest> and soon after they *ere #ut to death by those *ho had elected the" *ithout any in?uiry into

their "erits but because others still "ore cruel *ere chosen to succeed the". -f any one of these *as of

a "ilder nature than the rest or in any *ay "ore regardful of the truth he *as loo+ed u#on as the

ruiner of the country every body cast a dart at hi" and they valued things ali+e *hether #leasing or

dis#leasing to God unless it so ha##ened that *hat dis#leased hi" *as #leasing to the"selves. 1o thatthe *ords of the #ro#het addressed to the #eo#le of old "ight *ell be a##lied to our o*n country"en(

:&hildren *ithout a la* have ye left God and #rovo+ed to anger the holy one of -sraelI77;hy *ill ye

still in?uire adding ini?uityI /very head is languid and every heart is sad> fro" the sole of the foot to

the cro*n there is no health in hi".< And thus they did all things contrary to their salvation as if no

re"edy could be a##lied to the *orld by the true #hysician of all "en. And not only the laity did so but

our 4ord8s o*n floc+ and its she#herds *ho ought to have been an e!a"#le to the #eo#le slu"bered

a*ay their ti"e in drun+enness as if they had been di##ed in *ine> *hilst the s*ellings of #ride the

=ar of strife the gri#ing talons of envy and the confused esti"ate of right and *rong got such entire

#ossession of the" that there see"ed to be #oured out and the sa"e still continueth conte"#t u#on

#rinces and to be "ade by their vanities to *ander astray and not in the *ay.

55. 9ean*hile God being *illing to #urify his fa"ily *ho *ere infected by so dee# a stain of

*oe and at the hearing only of their cala"ities to a"end the"> a vague ru"our suddenly as if on *ings

reaches the ears of all that their inveterate foes *ere ra#idly a##roaching to destroy the *hole country

and to ta+e #ossession of it as of old fro" one end to the other. But yet they derived no advantage

fro" this intelligence> for li+e frantic beasts ta+ing the bit of reason bet*een their teeth they

abandoned the safe and narro* road and rushed for*ard u#on the broad do*n*ard #ath of vice *hich

leads to death. ;hilst therefore as 1olo"on says the stubborn servant is not cured by *ords the fool

77 -sa. i. 0. -n "ost of these ?uotations there is great verbal variation fro" the authorised version( the author #robably

?uoted fro" "e"ory if not fro" the 4atin version.

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Gildas

is scourged and feels it not( a #estilential disease "ortally affected the foolish #eo#le *hich *ithout

the s*ord cut off so large a nu"ber of #ersons that the living *ere not able to bury the". But even

this *as no *arning to the" that in the" also "ight be fulfilled the *ords of -saiah the #ro#het :And

God hath called his #eo#le to la"entation to baldness and to the girdle of sac+cloth> behold they begin

to +ill calves and to slay ra"s to eat to drin+ and to say 8;e *ill eat and drin+ for to"orro* *e

shall die.


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?uarrel saying that unless "ore liberality is sho*n the" they *ill brea+ the treaty and #lunder the

*hole island. -n a short ti"e they follo* u# their threats *ith deeds.

5. For the fire of vengeance =ustly +indled by for"er cri"es s#read fro" sea to sea fed by the

hands of our foes in the east and did not cease until destroying the neighbouring to*ns and lands it

reached the other side of the island and di##ed its red and savage tongue in the *estern ocean. -n these

assaults therefore not unli+e that of the Assyrian u#on Judea *as fulfilled in our case *hat the

#ro#het describes in *ords of la"entation( :They have burned *ith fire the sanctuary> they have

#olluted on earth the tabernacle of thy na"e.< And again :O God the gentiles have co"e into thine

inheritance> thy holy te"#le have they defiled< Pc. 1o that all the colu"ns *ere levelled *ith the

ground by the fre?uent stro+es of the battering'ra" all the husband"en routed together *ith their

bisho#s #riests and #eo#le *hilst the s*ord glea"ed and the fla"es crac+led around the" on every

side. 4a"entable to behold in the "idst of the streets lay the to#s of lofty to*ers tu"bled to the

ground stones of high *alls holy altars frag"ents of hu"an bodies covered *ith livid clots of

coagulated blood loo+ing as if they had been s?ueeed together in a #ress>75and *ith no chance of

being buried save in the ruins of the houses or in the ravening bellies of *ild beasts and birds> *ith

reverence be it s#o+en for their blessed souls if indeed there *ere "any found *ho *ere carried at

that ti"e into the high heaven by the holy angels. 1o entirely had the vintage once so fine

degenerated and beco"e bitter that in the *ords of the #ro#het there *as hardly a gra#e or ear of cornto be seen *here the husband"an had turned his bac+.

50. 1o"e therefore of the "iserable re"nant being ta+en in the "ountains *ere "urdered in

great nu"bers> others constrained by fa"ine ca"e and yielded the"selves to be slaves for ever to

their foes running the ris+ of being instantly slain *hich truly *as the greatest favour that could be

offered the"( so"e others #assed beyond the seas *ith loud la"entations instead of the voice of

e!hortation. :Thou hast given us as shee# to be slaughtered and a"ong the Gentiles hast thou

dis#ersed us.< Others co""itting the safeguard of their lives *hich *ere in continual =eo#ardy to the

"ountains #reci#ices thic+ly *ooded forests and to the roc+s of the seas albeit *ith tre"bling

hearts re"ained still in their country. But in the "ean*hile an o##ortunity ha##ening *hen these

"ost cruel robbers *ere returned ho"e the #oor re"nants of our nation to *ho" floc+ed fro" divers

75 These are the *ords of the old translation> the original is obscure and. #erha#s corru#t.

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Gildas

#laces round about our "iserable country"en as fast as bees to their hives for fear of an ensuing

stor" being strengthened by God calling u#on hi" *ith all their hearts as the #oet saysC

L;ith their unnu"bered vo*s they burden heavenL

that they "ight not be brought to utter destruction too+ ar"s under the conduct of A"brosius

Aurelianus a "odest "an *ho of all the Ro"an nation *as then alone in the confusion of this

troubled #eriod by chance left alive. His #arents *ho for their "erit *ere adorned *ith the #ur#le had

been slain in these sa"e broils and no* his #rogeny in these our days although sha"efully

degenerated fro" the *orthiness of their ancestors #rovo+e to battle their cruel con?uerors and by the

goodness of our 4ord obtain the victory.

2$.After this so"eti"es our country"en so"eti"es the ene"y *on the field to the end that our

4ord "ight this land try after his accusto"ed "anner these his -sraelites *hether they loved hi" or

not until the year of the siege of Bath'hill *hen too+ #lace also the last al"ost though not the least

slaughter of our cruel foes *hich *as as - a" sure forty'four years and one "onth after the landing

of the 1a!ons and also the ti"e of "y o*n nativity. And yet neither to this day are the cities of our

country inhabited as before but being forsa+en and overthro*n still lie desolate> our foreign *ars

having ceased but our civil troubles still re"aining. For as *ell the re"e"brance of such a terrible

desolation of the island as also of the une!#ected recovery of the sa"e re"ained in the "inds of those

*ho *ere eye*itnesses of the *onderful events of both and in regard thereof +ings #ublic

"agistrates and #rivate #ersons *ith #riests and clergy"en did all and every one of the" live orderly

according to their several vocations. But *hen these had de#arted out of this *orld and a ne* race

succeeded *ho *ere ignorant of this troubleso"e ti"e and had only e!#erience of the #resent

#ros#erity all the la*s of truth and =ustice *ere so sha+en and subverted that not so "uch as a vestige

or re"e"brance of these virtues re"ained a"ong the above'na"ed orders of "en e!ce#t a"ong a very

fe* *ho co"#ared *ith the great "ultitude *hich *ere daily rushing headlong do*n to hell are

accounted so s"all a nu"ber that our reverend "other the church scarcely beholds the" her only

true children re#osing in her boso"> *hose *orthy lives being a #attern to all "en and beloved of

God inas"uch as by their holy #rayers as by certain #illars and "ost #rofitable su##orters our

infir"ity is sustained u# that it "ay not utterly be bro+en do*n - *ould have no one su##ose -

intended to re#rove if forced by the increasing "ultitude of offences - have freely aye *ith anguish

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not so "uch declared as be*ailed the *ic+edness of those *ho are beco"e servants not only to their

bellies but also to the devil rather than to &hrist *ho is our blessed God *orld *ithout end.

For *hy shall their country"en conceal *hat foreign nations round about no* not only +no* but

also continually are casting in their teethI

III. THE EPIST+E.

2%.BR-TA- has +ings but they are tyrants> she has =udges but unrighteous ones> generally

engaged in #lunder and ra#ine but al*ays #reying on the innocent> *henever they e!ert the"selves to

avenge or #rotect it is sure to be in favour of robbers and cri"inals> they have an abundance of *ives

yet are they addicted to fornication and adultery> they are ever ready to ta+e oaths and as often #er=ure

the"selves> they "a+e a vo* and al"ost i""ediately act falsely> they "a+e *ar but their *ars are

against their country"en and are un=ust ones> they rigorously #rosecute thieves throughout their

country but those *ho sit at table *ith the" are robbers and they not only cherish but re*ard the">

they give al"s #lentifully but in contrast to this is a *hole #ile of cri"es *hich they have co""itted>

they sit on the seat of =ustice but rarely see+ for the rule of right =udg"ent> they des#ise the innocent

and the hu"ble but seie every occasion of e!alting to the ut"ost the bloody'"inded> the #roud

"urderers the co"bined and adulterers ene"ies of God *ho ought to be utterly destroyed and their

na"es forgotten.

They have "any #risoners in their gaols loaded *ith chains but this is done in treachery rather

than in =ust #unish"ent for cri"es> and *hen they have stood before the altar s*earing by the na"e of

God they go a*ay and thin+ no "ore of the holy altar than if it *ere a "ere hea# of dirty stones.

2&.Of this horrid abo"ination &onstantine7,the tyrannical *hel# of the unclean lioness of

%a"nonia7is not ignorant.

This sa"e year after ta+ing a dreadful oath *hereby he bound hi"self first before God by a

sole"n #rotestation and then called all the saints and 9other of God to *itness that he *ould not

contrive any deceit against his country"en he nevertheless in the habit of a holy abbat a"id the

7, $robably &ystennyn of the Bards. &onstantine is a na"e often occurring in the British royal fa"ilies. The &onstantine ofGildas is su##osed to have been +ing of &orn*all *ho abdicated his throne and after*ards #reached the gos#el to the

$icts and 1cots. 1o"e account of hi" *ill be found in the Aberdeen Breviary in the Acta 1anctoru" 9arch vol ii. #.

and in ;hita+er8s &athedral of &orn*all i. ,50.

7 The #resent counties of %evon and &orn*all.

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Gildas

sacred altars did *ith s*ord and =avelin as if *ith teeth *ound and tear even in the boso"s of their

te"#oral "other and of the church their s#iritual "other t*o royal youths *ith their t*o attendants

*hose ar"s although not eased in ar"our *ere yet boldly used and stretched out to*ards God and

his altar *ill hang u# at the gates of thy city O &hrist the venerable ensigns of their faith and #atience>

and *hen he had done it the cloa+s red *ith coagulated blood did touch the #lace of the heavenly

sacrifice. And not one *orthy act could he boast of #revious to this cruel deed> for "any years before

he had stained hi"self *ith the abo"ination of "any adulteries having #ut a*ay his *ife contrary to

the co""and of &hrist the teacher of the *orld *ho hath said( :;hat God hath =oined together let

not "an se#arate< and again( :Husbands love your *ives.< For he had #lanted in the ground of his

heart an unfruitful soil for any good seed a bitter scion of incredulity and folly ta+en fro" the vine of

1odo" *hich being *atered *ith his vulgar and do"estic i"#ieties li+e #oisonous sho*ers andafter*ards audaciously s#ringing u# to the offence of God brought forth into the *orld the sin of

horrible "urder and sacrilege> and not yet discharged fro" the entangling nets of his for"er offences

he added ne* *ic+edness to the for"er.

2'.Go to no* - re#rove thee as #resent *ho" - +no* as yet to be in this life e!tant. ;hy standest

thou astonished O thou butcher of thine o*n soulI ;hy dost thou *ilfully +indle against thyself the

eternal fires of hellI ;hy dost thou in #lace of ene"ies des#erately stab thyself *ith thine o*n s*ord

*ith thine o*n =avelinI &annot those sa"e #oisonous cu#s of offences yet satisfy thy sto"achI 4oo+bac+ - beseech thee and co"e to &hrist for thou labourest and art #ressed do*n to the earth *ith this

huge burden and he hi"self as he said *ill give thee rest. &o"e to hi" *ho *isheth not the death of

a sinner but that he should be rather converted and live. Nnloose according to the #ro#het the bands

of thy nec+ O thou son of 1ion. Return - #ray thee although fro" the far re"ote regions of sins unto

the "ost holy Father *ho for his son that *ill des#ise the filthy food of s*ine and fear a death of

cruel fa"ine and so co"e bac+ to hi" again hath *ith great =oy been accusto"ed to +ill his fatted

calf and bring forth for the *anderer the first robe and royal ring and then ta+ing as it *ere a taste of

the heavenly ho#e thou shalt #erceive ho* s*eet our 4ord is. For if thou dost conte"n these be thou

assured thou shalt al"ost instantly be tossed and tor"ented in the inevitable and dar+ floods of endless

fire.

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,6. ;hat dost thou also thou lion8s *hel# as the #ro#het saith Aurelius &onanusI70Art not thou

as the for"er if not far "ore foul to thy utter destruction s*allo*ed u# in the filthiness of horrible

"urders fornications and adulteries as by an over*hel"ing flood of the seaI Hast not thou by hating

as a deadly ser#ent the #eace of thy country and thirsting un=ustly after civil *ars and fre?uent s#oil

shut the gates of heavenly #eace and re#ose against thine o*n soulI Being no* left alone as a

*ithering tree in the "idst of a field re"e"ber - beseech thee the vain and idle fancies of thy #arents

and brethren together *ith the unti"ely death that befell the" in the #ri"e of their youth> and shalt

thou for thy religious deserts be reserved out of all thy fa"ily to live a hundred years or to attain to

the age of a 9ethusale"I o surely but unless as the #sal"ist saith thou shalt be s#eedily converted

unto our 4ord that ing *ill shortly brandish his s*ord against thee *ho hath said by his #ro#het :-

*ill +ill and - *ill cause to live> - *ill stri+e and - *ill heal> and there is no one *ho can deliver out of"y hand.< Be thou therefore sha+en out of thy filthy dust and *ith all thy heart converted to Hi" *ho

hath created thee that :*hen his *rath shall shortly burn out thou "ayst be blessed by fi!ing thy

ho#es on hi".< But if other*ise eternal #ains *ill be hea#ed u# for thee *here thou shalt be ever

tor"ented and never consu"ed in the cruel =a*s of hell.

"(.Thou also *ho li+e to the s#otted leo#ard art diverse in "anners and in "ischief *hose head

no* is gro*ing grey *ho art seated on a throne full of deceits and fro" the botto" even to the to# art

stained *ith "urder and adulteries thou naughty son of a good +ing li+e 9anasses s#rung fro"/echiah @orti#ore thou foolish tyrant of the %e"etians7*hy art thou so stiffI ;hatD do not such

violent gulfs of sin *hich thou dost s*allo* u# li+e #leasant *ine nay rather *hich s*allo* thee u#

as yet satisfy thee es#ecially since the end of thy life is daily no* a##roachingI ;hy dost thou heavily

clog thy "iserable soul *ith the sin of lust *hich is fouler than any other by #utting a*ay thy *ife

and after her honourable death by the base #ractices of thy sha"eless daughterI ;aste not - beseech

thee the residue of thy life in offending God because as yet an acce#table ti"e and day of salvation

shines on the faces of the #enitent *herein thou "ayest ta+e care that thy flight "ay not be in the

*inter or on the sabbath day. :Turn a*ay according to the #sal"ist fro" evil and do good see+

#eace and ensue it< because the eyes of our 4ord *ill be cast u#on thee *hen thou doest

righteousness and his ears *ill be then o#en unto thy #rayers and he *ill not destroy thy "e"ory out

70 ing of $o*island *hich for so"e ti"e for"ed a distinct +ingdo".

7 -nhabitants of the counties of &ardigan $e"bro+e and &ar"arthen.

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of the land of the living> thou shalt cry and he *ill hear thee and out of thy tribulations deliver thee>

for &hrist doth never des#ise a heart that is contrite and hu"bled *ith fear of hi". Other*ise the *or"

of thy torture shall not die and the fire of thy burning shall never be e!tinguished.

"2.And thou too &uneglasse7K*hy art thou fallen into the filth of thy for"er naughtiness yea

since the very first s#ring of thy tender youth thou bear thou rider and ruler of "any and guider of the

chariot *hich is the rece#tacle of the bear thou conte"ner of God and vilifier of his order thou ta*ny

butcher as in the 4atin tongue thy na"e signifies. ;hy dost thou raise so great a *ar as *ell against

"en as also against God hi"self against "en yea thy o*n country"en *ith thy deadly *ea#ons and

against God *ith thine infinite offencesI ;hy besides thine other innu"erable bac+slidings having

thro*n out of doors thy *ife dost thou in the lust or rather stu#idity of thy "ind against the a#ostle8s

e!#ress #rohibition denouncing that no adulterers can be #arta+ers of the +ingdo" of heaven estee"

her detestable sister *ho had vo*ed unto God the everlasting continency as the very do*er in the

language of the #oet of the celestial ny"#hsI ;hy dost thou #rovo+e *ith thy fre?uent in=uries the

la"entations and sighs of saints by thy "eans cor#orally afflicted *hich *ill in ti"e to co"e li+e a

fierce lioness brea+ thy bones in #iecesI %esist - beseech thee as the #ro#het saith fro" *rath and

leave off thy deadly fury *hich thou breathest out against heaven and earth against God and his floc+

and *hich in ti"e *il7 be thy o*n tor"ent> rather *ith altered "ind obtain the #rayers of those *ho

#ossess a #o*er of binding over this *orld *hen in this *orld they bind the guilty and of loosing*hen they loose the #enitent. Be not as the a#ostle saith #roudly *ise nor ho#e thou in the

uncertainty of riches but in God *ho giveth thee "any things abundantly and by the a"end"ent of

thy "anners #urchase unto thyself a good foundation for hereafter and see+ to enter into that real and

true state of e!istence *hich *ill be not transitory but everlasting. Other*ise thou shalt +no* and see

yea in this very *orld ho* bad and bitter a thing it is for thee to leave the 4ord thy God and not have

his fear before thine eyes and in the ne!t ho* thou shalt be burned in the foul enco"#assing fla"es of

endless fire nor yet by any "anner of "eans shalt ever die. For the souls of the sinful are as eternal in

#er#etual fire as the souls of the =ust in #er#etual =oy and gladness.

"".And li+e*ise O thou dragon of the island *ho hast de#rived "any tyrants as *ell of their

+ingdo"s as of their lives and though the last'"entioned in "y *riting the first in "ischief e!ceeding

7K His do"inions *ere north of &a"bria bet*een the 1evern and the ;estern 1ea.

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"any in #o*er and also in "alice "ore liberal than others in giving "ore licentious in sinning strong

in ar"s but stronger in *or+ing thine o*n soul8s destruction 9aglocune73*hy art thou as if soa+ed

in the *ine of the 1odo"itical gra#e foolishly rolling in that blac+ #ool of thine offencesI ;hy dost

thou *ilfully hea# li+e a "ountain u#on thy +ingly shoulders such a load of sinsI ;hy dost thou sho*

thyself unto the ing of +ings *ho hath "ade thee as *ell in +ingdo" as in stature of body higher

than al"ost all the other chiefs of Britain not better li+e*ise in virtues than the rest> but on the

contrary for thy sins "uch *orseI 4isten then a*hile and hear #atiently the follo*ing enu"eration of

thy deeds *herein - *ill not touch any do"estic and light offences if yet any of the" are light but

only those o#en ones *hich are s#read far and *ide in the +no*ledge of all "en. %idst not thou in the

very beginning of thy youth terribly o##ress *ith s*ord s#ear and fire the +ing thine uncle together

*ith his courageous bands of soldiers *hose countenances in battle *ere not unli+e those of younglionsI ot regarding the *ords of the #ro#het *ho says :The blood'thirsty and deceitful "en shall not

live out half their days< and even if the se?uel of thy sins *ere not such as ensued yet *hat retribution

couldst thou e!#ect for this offence only at the hands of the =ust Judge *ho hath said by his #ro#het(

:;oe be to thee *ho s#oilest and shalt not thou thyself be s#oiledI and thou *ho +illest shalt not

thyself be +illedI and *hen thou shalt "a+e an end of thy s#oiling then shalt thou thyself fall.

add no further offence thereunto but rather #ray for the forgiveness of the for"er.< And again :Be not

slo* to be converted unto our 4ord neither #ut off the sa"e fro" day to day for his *rath doth co"e

suddenly.< Because as the 1cri#ture saith :;hen the +ing heareth the un=ust *ord all under his

do"inion beco"e *ic+ed.< And the =ust +ing according to the #ro#het raiseth u# his region.

,. But *arnings truly are not *anting to thee since thou hast had for thy instructor the "ost

elo?uent "aster of al"ost all Britain. Ta+e heed thereof lest that *hich 1olo"on noteth befall thee

*hich is :/ven as he *ho stirreth u# a slee#ing "an out of his heavy slee# so is that #erson *ho

declareth *isdo" unto a fool for in the end of his s#eech *ill he say ;hat hast thou first s#o+enI

;ash thine heart as it is *ritten fro" "alice O Jerusale" that thou "ayest be saved.< %es#ise not -

beseech thee the uns#ea+able "ercy of God calling by his #ro#het the *ic+ed in this *ay fro" their

offences( :- *ill on a sudden s#ea+ to the nation and to the +ingdo" that - "ay root out and dis#erse

and destroy and overthro*.< As for the sinner he doth in this *ise e!hort hi" vehe"ently to re#ent.

:And if the sa"e #eo#le shall re#ent fro" their offence - *ill also re#ent of the evil *hich - have saidthat - *ould do unto the".< And again :;ho *ill give the" such an heart that they "ay hear "e and

+ee# "y co""and"ents and that it "ay be *ell *ith the" all the days of their lives.< And also in the

&anticle of %euterono"y :A #eo#le *ithout counsel and #rudence - *ish they *ould be *ise and

understand and foresee the last of all ho* one #ursueth a thousand and t*o #ut to flight ten thousand.< ho*ever - for "y #art "ay not be of that singular fortitude in the s#irit and

virtue of our 4ord as to declare :To the house of Jacob their sins and the house of -srael their

offences>L and so long as *e shall re"e"ber that of 1olo"on :He *ho says that the *ic+ed are =ust

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shall be accursed a"ong the #eo#le and odious to nations for they *ho re#rove the" shall have better

ho#es.< And again :Res#ect not *ith reverence thy neighbour in his ruin nor forbear to s#ea+ in ti"e

of salvation.< And as long also as *e forget not this :Root out those *ho are led to death and forbear

not to redee" the" *ho are "urdered>< because as the sa"e #ro#het says :Riches shall not #rofit in

the day of *rath but =ustice delivereth fro" death.< And :-f the =ust indeed be hardly saved *here

shall the *ic+ed and sinner a##earI -f as - said thou scorn us *ho obey these te!ts the dar+ flood of

hell shall *ithout doubt eternally dro*n thee in that deadly *hirl#ool and those terrible strea"s of fire

that shall ever tor"ent and never consu"e thee and then shall the confession of thy #ains and sorro*

for thy sins be altogether too late and un#rofitable to one *ho no* in this acce#ted ti"e and day of

salvation deferreth his conversion to a "ore righteous *ay of life.

"%.And here indeed if not before *as this la"entable history of the "iseries of our ti"e to have

been brought to a conclusion that - "ight no further discourse of the deeds of "en> but that - "ay not

be thought ti"id or *eary *hereby - "ight the less carefully avoid that saying of -saiah :;oe be to

the" *ho call good evil and evil good #lacing dar+ness for light and light for dar+ness bitter for

s*eet and s*eet for bitter *ho seeing see not and hearing hear not *hose hearts are overshado*ed

*ith a thic+ and blac+ cloud of vices>< - *ill briefly set do*n the threatenings *hich are denounced

against these five aforesaid lascivious horses the frantic follo*ers of $haraoh through *ho" his ar"y

is *ilfully urged for*ard to their utter destruction in the Red 1ea and also against such others by thesacred oracles *ith *hose holy testi"onies the fra"e of this our little *or+ is as it *ere roofed in

that it "ay not be sub=ect to the sho*ers of the envious *hich other*ise *ould be #oured thereon. 4et

therefore God8s holy #ro#hets *ho are to "ortal "en the "outh of God and the organ of the Holy

Ghost forbidding evils and favouring goodness ans*er for us as *ell no* as for"erly against the

stubborn and #roud #rinces of this our age that they "ay not say *e "enace the" *ith such threats

and such great terrors of our o*n invention only and *ith rash and over'ealous "eddling. For to no

*ise "an is it doubtful ho* far "ore grievous the sins of this our ti"e are than those of the #ri"itive

age *hen the a#ostle said :Any one transgressing the la* being convicted by t*o or three *itnesses

shall die ho* "uch *orse #unish"ent thin+ ye then that he deserveth *ho shall tra"#le under his

foot the 1on of GodIL

"&.And first of all a##ears before us 1a"uel by God8s co""and"ent the establisher of a la*ful

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+ingdo" dedicated to God before his birth undoubtedly +no*n by "arvellous signs to be a true

#ro#het unto all the #eo#le fro" %an even to Beersheba out of *hose "outh the Holy Ghost

thundereth to all the #otentates of the *orld denouncing 1aul the first +ing of the Hebre*s only

because he did not acco"#lish so"e "atters co""anded hi" of our 4ord in these *ords *hich

follo*( :Thou hast done foolishly neither yet hast thou +e#t the co""and"ents of our 4ord thy God

that he hath given thee in charge> *hich if thou hadst not co""itted even no* had our 4ord #re#ared

thy reign over -srael for ever but thy +ingdo" shall no farther arise.< And *hat did he co""it *hether

it *ere adultery or "urder li+e to the offences of the #resent ti"eI o truly but bro+e in #art one of

God8s co""and"ents for as one of our *riters says :The ?uestion is not of the ?uality of the sin but

of the violating of the #rece#t.< Also *hen he endeavoured to ans*er as he thought( the ob=ections of

1a"uel and after the fashion of "en *isely to "a+e e!cuses for his offence in this "anner( :2ea -have obeyed the voice of our 4ord and *al+ed in the *ay through *hich he hath sent "e>< *ith this

rebu+e *as he corrected by hi"( :;hatD *ill our 4ord have burnt offerings or oblations and not rather

that the voice of our 4ord should be obeyedI Obedience is better than oblations and to hear+en unto

hi" better than to offer the fat of ra"s. For as it is the sin of soothsaying to resist so is it the offence of

idolatry not to obey> in regard therefore that thou hast cast a*ay the *ord of our 4ord he hath also

cast thee a*ay that thou be not +ing.< And a little after :Our 4ord hath this day rent the +ingdo" of

-srael fro" thee and delivered it u# to thy neighbour a "an better than thyself. The Triu"#her of

-srael truly *ill not s#are and *ill not be bo*ed *ith re#entance neither yet is he a "an that he should

re#ent>< that is to say u#on the stony hearts of the *ic+ed( *herein it is to be noted ho* he saith that

to be disobedient unto God is the sin of idolatry. 4et not therefore our *ic+ed transgressors *hile

they do not o#enly sacrifice to the gods of the Gentiles flatter the"selves that they are not idolaters

*hilst they tread li+e s*ine the "ost #recious #earls of &hrist under their feet.

"'. But although this one e!a"#le as an invincible affir"ation "ight abundantly suffice to correct

the *ic+ed> yet that by the "ouths of "any *itnesses all the offences of Britain "ay be #roved let us

#ass to the rest. ;hat ha##ened to %avid for nu"bering his #eo#le *hen the #ro#het had s#a+e unto

hi" in this sortI Thus saith our 4ord( :The choice of three things is offered thee choose *hich thou

*ilt that - "ay e!ecute it u#on thee. 1hall there befall thee a fa"ine for seven years or shalt thou flee

three "onths before thine ene"ies and they #ursue thee or shall there be three days8 #estilence in thy

landI< For being brought into great straits by this condition and *illing rather to fall into the hands of

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Gildas

God *ho is "erciful than into those of "en he *as hu"bled *ith the slaughter of seventy thousand of

his sub=ects and unless *ith the affection of an a#ostolic charity he had desired to die hi"self for his

country"en that the #lague "ight not further consu"e the" saying :- a" he that has offended - the

she#herd have dealt un=ustly( but these shee# *hat have they sinnedI 4et thy hand - beseech thee be

turned against "e and against the house of "y father>< he *ould have atoned for the unadvised #ride

of his heart *ith his o*n death. For *hat does the scri#ture after*ards declare of his sonI :And

1olo"on *rought that *hich *as not #leasing before our 4ord and he did not fill u# the "easure of his

good deeds by follo*ing the 4ord li+e his father %avid. And our 4ord said unto hi" Because thou hast

thus behaved thyself and not observed "y covenant and #rece#ts *hich - have co""anded thee

brea+ing it asunder> - *ill divide thy +ingdo" and give the sa"e unto thy servant. tortures and dolours shall hold the" as a *o"an in

labour so shall they be grieved every "an shall at his neighbour stand astonished burned faces shall be

their countenances. Behold the day of our 4ord shall co"e fierce and full of indignation and of *rath

and fury to turn the earth into a desert and brea+ her sinners in s"all #ieces fro" off her> because the

stars of heaven and the brightness of the" shall not unfold their light the sun in his rising shall be

covered over *ith dar+ness and the "oon shall not shine in her season> and - *ill visit u#on the evils

of the *orld and against the *ic+ed their o*n ini?uity and - *ill "a+e the #ride of the unfaithful to

cease and the arrogancy of the strong - *ill bring lo*.< And again :Behold our 4ord *ill dis#erse the

earth and he *ill stri# her na+ed and afflict her face and scatter her inhabitants> and as the #eo#le so

shall be the #riest> and as the slave so shall be his lord> as the hand"aid so shall be her lady> as the#urchaser so shall be the seller> as the usurer so shall be he that borro*eth> as he *ho de"andeth so

shall he be that o*eth. ;ith dis#ersing shall the earth be scattered and *ith sac+ing shall she be

s#oiled. For our 4ord hath s#o+en this *ord. The earth hath be*ailed and hath flitted a*ay> the *orld

hath run to nothing she is *ea+ened by her inhabitants because they have transgressed la*s changed

right brought to ruin the eternal truce. For this shall "alediction devour the earth. and *hoso shall deliver hi"self out of the

do*nfall shall be caught in the entangling snare( because the food'gates fro" aloft shall be o#ened

and the foundations of the earth shall be sha+en. ;ith bruising shall the earth be bro+en *ith

co""otion shall she be "oved *ith tossing shall she be sha+en li+e a drun+en "an and she shall be

ta+en a*ay as if she *ere a #avilion of one night8s #itching and her ini?uities shall hang heavy u#on

her and she shall fall do*n and shall not atte"#t to rise again. And it shall be that our 4ord in the

sa"e day shall loo+ on the *arfare of heaven on high and on the +ings of the earth *ho are u#on the

earth and they shall be gathered together in the bundle of one burden into the la+e and shall there beshut u# in #rison and after "any days shall they be visited. And the "oon shall blush and the sun be

confounded *hen our 4ord of hosts shall reign in 9ount 1ion and in Jerusale" and be glorified in the

sight of his seniors. their feet run into evil and "a+e haste that they "ay shed the innocent blood>

their thoughts are un#rofitable thoughts s#oil and confusion are in their *ays and the *ay of #eace

they have not +no*n and in their ste#s there is no =udg"ent their #aths are "ade croo+ed unto the"

every one *ho treadeth in the" is ignorant of #eace> in this res#ect is =udg"ent re"oved far off fro"

you and =ustice ta+eth no hold on you.< And after a fe* *ords :And =udg"ent hath been turned bac+

and =ustice hath stood afar oft because truth hath fallen do*n in the streets and e?uity could not enter

in> and truth is turned into oblivion and *hoso hath de#arted fro" evil hath lain o#en to s#oil. And our

4ord hath seen and it *as not #leasing in his eyes because there is not =udg"ent. and they shall be as chaff before the *ind and as the dust

*hich the *hirl*ind hath carried a*ay. 4et all goodness fail his children> let his eyes behold his o*n

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slaughter nor yet by our 4ord let hi" be redee"ed.< And a little after he saith of the sa"e "en :;ho

have ravenously ta+en the floc+ *ith the she#herd and driven a*ay the beast of the or#hans and

engaged the o! of the *ido* and deceiving have declined fro" the *ay of necessity. They have

rea#ed other "en8s fields before the ti"e> the #oor have laboured in the vineyards of the "ighty

*ithout hire and "eat they have "ade "any to slee# na+ed *ithout gar"ents> of the covering of their

life they have bereaved the".< And so"e*hat after*ards *hen he had thoroughly understood their

*or+s he delivered the" over to dar+ness. :4et therefore his #ortion be accursed fro" the earth> let

his #lantings bring forth *itherings> let hi" for this be re*arded according to his dealings> let every

*ic+ed "an li+e the unsound *ood be bro+en in #ieces. For arising in his *rath hath he overthro*n the

i"#otent. ;herefore truly shall he have no trust of his life> *hen he shall begin to gro* diseased let

hi" not ho#e for health but fall into languishing. For his #ride hath been the hurt of "any and he isbeco"e decayed and rotten as the "allo*s in the scorching heat or as the ear of corn *hen it falleth

off fro" its stubble.< And after*ards :-f his children shall be "any they shall be turned to the

slaughter and if he gather together silver as if it *ere earth and li+e*ise #urify his gold as if it *ere

dirt all these sa"e shall the =ust obtain. according unto their unclean

sins and after their ini?uities have - dealt *ith the" and turned "y face a*ay fro" the". learn ye

=udges of the bounds of the earth listen *ith your ears *ho +ee# "ultitudes in a*e and #lease

yourselves in the troo#s of nations. Because #o*er is given unto you fro" God and #uissance fro" the

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highest *ho *ill e!a"ine your actions and sift your thoughts. For that *hen ye *ere "inisters of his

+ingdo" ye have not =udged u#rightly nor +e#t the la* of =ustice nor yet *al+ed according to his *ill.

-t shall dreadfully and suddenly a##ear unto you that a "ost severe =udg"ent shall be given on the"

*ho govern. For to the "eaner is "ercy granted but the "ighty shall "ightily sustain tor"ents. For he

shall have no res#ect of #ersons *ho is the ruler of all nor yet shall he reverence the greatness of any

one because he hi"self hath "ade both s"all and great and care ali+e he hath of all> but for the

stronger is at hand a stronger affliction. Nnto you therefore O +ings are these "y s#eeches that you

"ay learn *isdo" and not fall a*ay fro" her. For *hoso observeth *hat things are =ust shall be

=ustified and *hoso learneth *hat things are holy shall be sanctified. very "any that "inister but "any of the" i"#udent>

cler+s she hath but certain of the" are deceitful raveners> #astors as they are called but rather *olves

#re#ared for the slaughter of souls for they #rovide not for the good of the co""on #eo#le but covet

rather the gluttony of their o*n bellies #ossessing the houses of the church but obtaining the" for

filthy lucre8s sa+e> instructing the laity but sho*ing *ithal "ost de#raved e!a"#les vices and evil

"anners> seldo" sacrificing and seldo" *ith clean hearts standing at the altars not correcting the

co""onality for their offences *hile they co""it the sa"e sins the"selves> des#ising the

co""and"ents of &hrist and being careful *ith their *hole hearts to fulfil their o*n lustful desires

so"e of the" usur#ing *ith unclean feet the seat of the a#ostle $eter> but for the de"erit of their

covetousness falling do*n into the #estilent chair of the traitor Judas> detracting often and seldo"

s#ea+ing truly> hating verity as an o#en ene"y and favouring falsehoods as their "ost beloved

brethren> loo+ing on the =ust the #oor and the i"#otent *ith stern countenances as if they *ere

detested ser#ents and reverencing the sinful rich "en *ithout any res#ect of sha"e as if they *ere

heavenly angels #reaching *ith their out*ard li#s that al"s are to be disbursed u#on the needy but of

the"selves not besto*ing one half#enny> concealing the horrible sins of the #eo#le and a"#lifyingin=uries offered unto the"selves as if they *ere done against our 1aviour &hrist> e!#elling out of their

houses their religious "other #erha#s or sisters and fa"iliarly and indecently entertaining strange

*o"en as if it *ere for so"e "ore secret office or rather to s#ea+ truly though fondly and yet not

fondly to "e but to such as co""it these "atters debasing the"selves unto such bad creatures> and

after all these see+ing rather a"bitiously for ecclesiastical dignities than for the +ingdo" of heaven>

and defending after a tyrannical fashion their achieved #refer"ents nor even labouring *ith la*ful

"anners to adorn the sa"e> negligent and dull to listen to the #rece#ts of the holy saints if ever they

did so "uch as once hear that *hich full often they ought to hear but diligent and attentive to the

#lays and foolish fables of secular "en as if they *ere the very *ays to life *hich indeed are but the

#assages to death> being hoarse after the fashion of bulls *ith the abundance of fatness and "iserably

#ro"#t to all unla*ful actions> bearing their countenances arrogantly aloft and having nevertheless

their in*ard senses *ith tor"enting and gna*ing consciences> de#ressed do*n to the botto" or rather


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to the botto"less #it> glad at the gaining of one #enny and at the loss of the li+e value sad> slothful and

du"b in the a#ostolical decrees be it for ignorance or rather the burden of their offences and sto##ing

also the "ouths of the learned but singularly e!#erienced in the deceitful shifts of *orldly affairs> and

"any of this sort and *ic+ed conversation violently intruding the"selves into the #refer"ents of the

church> yea rather buying the sa"e at a thigh rate than being any *ay dra*n thereunto and "oreover

as un*orthy *retches *allo*ing after the fashion of s*ine in their old and unha##y #uddle of

intolerable *ic+edness after they have attained unto the seat of the #riesthood or e#isco#al dignity

*ho neither have been installed or resident on the sa"e for usur#ing only the na"e of #riesthood

they have not received the orders or a#ostolical #ree"inence> but ho* can they *ho are not as yet fully

instructed in faith nor have done #enance for their sins be any *ay su##osed "eet and convenient to

ascend unto any ecclesiastical degree that - "ay not s#ea+ of the highest *hich none but holy and#erfect "en and follo*ers of the a#ostles and to use the *ords of the teacher of the Gentiles #ersons

free fro" re#rehension can la*fully and *ithout the foul offence of sacrilege underta+e.

$%.For *hat is so *ic+ed and so sinful as after the e!a"#le of 1i"on 9agus even if *ith other

faults he had not been defiled before for any "an *ith earthly #rice to #urchase the office of a bisho#

or #riest *hich *ith holiness and righteous life alone ought la*fully to be obtained> but herein they do

"ore *ilfully and des#erately err in that they buy their deceitful and un#rofitable ecclesiastical

degrees not of the a#ostles or their successors but of tyrannical #rinces and their father the devil> yearather they raise this as a certain roof and covering of all offences over the fra"e of their for"er

serious life that being #rotected under the shado* thereof no "an should lightly hereafter lay to their

charge their old or ne* *ic+edness> and hereu#on they build their desires of covetousness and gluttony

for that being no* the rulers of "any they "ay "ore freely "a+e havoc at their #leasure. For if truly

any such offer of #urchasing ecclesiastical #ro"otions *ere "ade by these i"#udent sinners - *ill not

say *ith 1t. $eter but to any holy #riest or godly +ing they *ould no doubt receive the sa"e ans*er

*hich their father 1i"on 9agus had fro" the "outh of the a#ostle $eter saying( :Thy "oney be *ith

thee unto thy #erdition.< But alasD #erha#s they *ho order and advance these a"bitious as#irers yea

they *ho rather thro* the" under foot and for a blessing give the" a cursing *hilst of sinners they

"a+e the" not #enitents *hich *ere "ore consonant to reason but sacrilegious and des#erate

offenders and in a sort install Judas that traitor to his 9aster in the chair of $eter and icholas the

author of that foul heresy in the seat of 1t. 1te#hen the "artyr it "ay be at first obtained their o*n

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#riesthood by the sa"e "eans and therefore do not greatly disli+e in their children but rather res#ect

the course that they their fathers did before follo*. And also if finding resistance in obtaining their

dioceses at ho"e and so"e *ho severely renounce this chaffering of church'livings they cannot there

attain to such a #recious #earl then it doth not so "uch loath as delight the" after they have carefully

sent their "essengers beforehand to cross the seas and travel over "ost large countries that so in the

end yea even *ith the sale of their *hole substance they "ay *in and co"#ass such a #o"# and such

an inco"#arable glory or to s#ea+ "ore truly such a dirty and base deceit and illusion. And after*ards

*ith great sho* and "agnificent ostentation or rather "adness returning bac+ to their o*n native soil

they gro* fro" stoutness to stateliness and fro" being used to level their loo+s to the to#s of the

"ountains they no* lift u# their dro*sy eyes into the air even to the highest clouds and as ovatus

that foul hog and #ersecutor of our 4ord8s #recious =e*el did once at Ro"e so do these intrudethe"selves again into their o*n country as creatures of a ne* "ould or rather as instru"ents of the

devil being even ready in this state and fashion to stretch out violently their hands not so *orthy of

the holy altars as of the avenging fla"es of hell u#on &hrist8s "ost holy sacrifices.

$&.;hat do you therefore O unha##y #eo#leD e!#ect fro" such belly beastsI as the a#ostle

calleth the". 1hall your "anners be a"ended by these *ho not only do not a##ly their "inds to any

goodness but according to the u#braiding of the #ro#het labour also to deal *ic+edlyI 1hall ye be

illu"inated *ith such eyes as are only *ith greediness cast on those things that lead headlong to vicesthat is to say to the gates of hellI ay truly if according to the saying of our 1aviour ye flee not

these "ost ravenous *olves li+e those of Arabia or avoid the" as 4ot *ho ran "ost s#eedily fro" the

fiery sho*er of 1odo" u# to the "ountains then being blind and led by the blind ye *ill both

together tu"ble do*n into the infernal ditch.

$'.But so"e "an #erchance *ill ob=ecting say that all bisho#s or all #riests according to our

for"er e!ce#tion are not so *ic+edly given because they are not defiled *ith the infa"y of schis"

#ride or unclean life *hich neither *e ourselves *ill deny but albeit *e +no* the" to be chaste and

virtuous yet *ill *e briefly ans*er.

;hat did it #rofit the high'#riest Hely that he alone did not violate the co""and"ents of our

4ord in ta+ing flesh *ith for+s out of the #ots before the fat *as offered unto God *hile he *as

#unished *ith the sa"e revenge of death *here*ith his sons *ereI ;hat one - beseech you of the"


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*hose "anners *e have before sufficiently declared hath been "artyred li+e Abel fro" "alicious

=ealousy of his "ore acce#table sacrifice *hich *ith the heavenly fire ascended u# into the s+ies since

they fear the re#roach even of an ordinary *ordI ;hich of the" :hath hated the counsel of the

"alicious and not sat *ith the ungodly< so that of hi" as a #ro#het the sa"e "ight be verified *hich

*as said of /noch :/noch *al+ed *ith God and *as not to be found< in the vanity forsooth of the

*hole *orld as then leaving our 4ord and beginning to halt after idolatryI ;hich of the" li+e oah

in the ti"e of the deluge hath not ad"itted into the ar+ of salvation *hich is the #resent church any

adversary unto God that it "ay be "ost a##arent that none but innocents or singular #enitents ought to

re"ain in the house of our 4ordI ;ho is he that offering sacrifice li+e 9elchisedec+ hath only blessed

the con?uerors and the" *ho *ith the nu"ber of three hundred *hich *as in the sacra"ent of the

Trinity delivering the =ust "an have overthro*n the deadly ar"ies of the five +ings together *iththeir van?uishing troo#s and not coveted the goods of othersI ;hich of the" hath li+e Abraha" at the

co""and"ent of God freely offered his o*n son on the altar to be slain that he "ight acco"#lish a

#rece#t of &hrist agreeable to this saying Thy right eye if it cause thee to offend ought to be #ulled

out> and another of the #ro#het That he is accursed *ho *ithholdeth his s*ord fro" shedding bloodI

;ho is he that li+e Jose#h hath rooted out of his heart the re"e"brance of an offered in=uryI ;ho is

he that li+e 9oses s#ea+ing *ith our 4ord in the "ountain and not there terrified *ith the sounding

tru"#ets hath in a figurative sense #resented unto the incredulous #eo#le the t*o tables and his

horned face *hich they could not endure to see but tre"bled to behold I ;hich of the" #raying for

the offences of the #eo#le has fro" the very botto" of his heart cried out li+e unto hi" saying( :O

4ord this #eo#le hath co""itted a grievous sin *hich if thou *ilt forgive the" forgive it> other*ise

blot "e guilty out of thy boo+IL

%).;hich of the" infla"ed *ith the ad"irable eal of God hath courageously risen to #unish

fornication curing *ithout delay by the #resent "edicine of #enance the affection of filthy lust lest

the fire of the *rath of God should other*ise consu"e the #eo#le as $hineas the #riest did that by

these "eans =ustice for ever "ight be re#uted unto hi"I ;hich of the" hath in "oral understanding

i"itated Joshua the son of un either for the utter rooting forth even to the slaughter of the last and

least of all the seven nations out of the land of #ro"ise or for the establishing of s#iritual -srael in

their #lacesI ;hich of the" hath sho*ed unto the #eo#le of God their final bounds beyond Jordan that

it "ight be +no*n *hat *as suited to every tribe in such sort as the aforena"ed $hineas and Jesus

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have *isely divided the landI ;ho is he that to overthro* the innu"erable thousands of Gentiles

adversaries to the chosen #eo#le of God hath as another Je#htha for a votive and #ro#itiatory

sacrifice slain his o*n daughter by *hich is to be understood his o*n #ro#er *ill i"itating also

therein the a#ostle saying :ot see+ing *hat is #rofitable to "e but to "any that they "ay be saved>< and the #sal"ist of the a#ostles :Their sound hath #assed throughout the *hole earthL and

bearing all those fa"ous flagons shining in the night *ith that "ost glittering fiery light *hich are tobe inter#reted the bodies of saint

Documents

Gildas, On the Ruin of Britain