Theexampleofarevolution，sorapidandsocomplete，maynoteasilybefound；butitwillexciteaprobablesuspicion，thattheartsofRomewerelessdeeplyrootedinBritainthaninGaulorSpain；andthatthenativerudenessofthecountryanditsinhabitantswascoveredbyathinvarnishofItalianmanners。
[Footnote142:Hocanno490AellaetCissaobsederuntAndredes—Ceaster；etinterfeceruntomnesquiidincoluerunt；adeoutneunusBritoibisuperstesfuerit，Chron。Saxon。p。15；anexpressionmoredreadfulinitssimplicity，thanallthevagueandtediouslamentationsoftheBritishJeremiah。]
[Footnote143:Andredes—Ceaster，orAnderida，isplacedbyCamdenBritannia，vol。i。p。258atNewenden，inthemarshygroundsofKent，whichmightbeformerlycoveredbythesea，andontheedgeofthegreatforestAnderidawhichoverspreadsolargeaportionofHampshireandSussex。]
[Footnote144:Dr。Johnsonaffirms，thatfewEnglishwordsareofBritishextraction。Mr。Whitaker，whounderstandstheBritishlanguage，hasdiscoveredmorethanthreethousand，andactuallyproducesalongandvariouscatalogue，vol。ii。p。235—329。
Itispossible，indeed，thatmanyofthesewordsmayhavebeenimportedfromtheLatinorSaxonintothenativeidiomofBritain。
Note:Dr。Prichard'sverycuriousresearches，whichconnecttheCeltic，aswellastheTeutoniclanguageswiththeIndo—Europeanclass，makeitstillmoredifficulttodecidebetweentheCelticorTeutonicoriginofEnglishwords。—SeePrichardontheEasternOriginoftheCelticNationsOxford，1831。—M。]
[Footnote145:Inthebeginningoftheseventhcentury，theFranksandtheAnglo—Saxonsmutuallyunderstoodeachother'slanguage，whichwasderivedfromthesameTeutonicroot，Bede，l。i。c。25，p。60。]
[Footnote146:AfterthefirstgenerationofItalian，orScottish，missionaries，thedignitiesofthechurchwerefilledwithSaxonproselytes。]
Thisstrangealterationhaspersuadedhistorians，andevenphilosophers，thattheprovincialsofBritainweretotallyexterminated；andthatthevacantlandwasagainpeopledbytheperpetualinflux，andrapidincrease，oftheGermancolonies。
ThreehundredthousandSaxonsaresaidtohaveobeyedthesummonsofHengist；^147theentireemigationoftheAngleswasattested，intheageofBede，bythesolitudeoftheirnativecountry；^148
andourexperiencehasshownthefreepropagationofthehumanrace，iftheyarecastonafruitfulwilderness，wheretheirstepsareunconfined，andtheirsubsistenceisplentiful。TheSaxonkingdomsdisplayedthefaceofrecentdiscoveryandcultivation；thetownsweresmall，thevillagesweredistant；thehusbandrywaslanguidandunskilful；foursheepwereequivalenttoanacreofthebestland；^149anamplespaceofwoodandmorasswasresignedtothevaguedominionofnature；andthemodernbishopricofDurham，thewholeterritoryfromtheTynetotheTees，hadreturnedtoitsprimitivestateofasavageandsolitaryforest。^150Suchimperfectpopulationmighthavebeensupplied，insomegenerations，bytheEnglishcolonies；butneitherreasonnorfactscanjustifytheunnaturalsupposition，thattheSaxonsofBritainremainedaloneinthedesertwhichtheyhadsubdued。AfterthesanguinaryBarbarianshadsecuredtheirdominion，andgratifiedtheirrevenge，itwastheirinteresttopreservethepeasantsaswellasthecattle，oftheunresistingcountry。Ineachsuccessiverevolution，thepatientherdbecomesthepropertyofitsnewmasters；andthesalutarycompactoffoodandlaborissilentlyratifiedbytheirmutualnecessities。Wilfrid，theapostleofSussex，^151acceptedfromhisroyalconvertthegiftoftheVpeninsulaofSelsey，nearChichester，withthepersonsandpropertyofitsinhabitants，whothenamountedtoeighty—sevenfamilies。Hereleasedthematoncefromspiritualandtemporalbondage；andtwohundredandfiftyslavesofbothsexeswerebaptizedbytheirindulgentmaster。
ThekingdomofSussex，whichspreadfromtheseatotheThames，containedseventhousandfamilies；twelvehundredwereascribedtotheIsleofWight；and，ifwemultiplythisvaguecomputation，itmayseemprobable，thatEnglandwascultivatedbyamillionofservants，orvillains，whowereattachedtotheestatesoftheirarbitrarylandlords。TheindigentBarbarianswereoftentemptedtoselltheirchildren，orthemselvesintoperpetual，andevenforeign，bondage；^152yetthespecialexemptionswhichweregrantedtonationalslaves，^153sufficientlydeclarethattheyweremuchlessnumerousthanthestrangersandcaptives，whohadlosttheirliberty，orchangedtheirmasters，bytheaccidentsofwar。WhentimeandreligionhadmitigatedthefiercespiritoftheAnglo—Saxons，thelawsencouragedthefrequentpracticeofmanumission；andtheirsubjects，ofWelshorCambrianextraction，assumedtherespectablestationofinferiorfreemen，possessedoflands，andentitledtotherightsofcivilsociety。^154Suchgentletreatmentmightsecuretheallegianceofafiercepeople，whohadbeenrecentlysubduedontheconfinesofWalesandCornwall。ThesageIna，thelegislatorofWessex，unitedthetwonationsinthebandsofdomesticalliance；andfourBritishlordsofSomersetshiremaybehonorablydistinguishedinthecourtofaSaxonmonarch。^155
[Footnote147:Carte'sHistoryofEngland，vol。i。p。195。HequotestheBritishhistorians；butImuchfear，thatJeffreyofMonmouthl。vi。c。15ishisonlywitness。]
[Footnote148:Bede，Hist。Ecclesiast。l。i。c。15，p。52。Thefactisprobable，andwellattested:yetsuchwasthelooseintermixtureoftheGermantribes，thatwefind，inasubsequentperiod，thelawoftheAngliandWariniofGermany，Lindenbrog。
Codex，p。479—486。]
[Footnote149:SeeDr。Henry'susefulandlaboriousHistoryofGreatBritain，vol。ii。p。388。]
[Footnote150:QuicquidsaysJohnofTinemouthinterTynametTesamfluviosextitit，solaeremivastitudotunctemporisfuit，etidcirconulliusditioniservivit，eoquodsolaindomitorumetsylvestriumanimaliumspeluncaethabitatiofuit，apudCarte，vol。i。p。195。FrombishopNicholsonEnglishHistoricalLibrary，p。65，98IunderstandthatfaircopiesofJohnofTinemouth'samplecollectionsarepreservedinthelibrariesofOxford，Lambeth，&c。]
[Footnote151:SeethemissionofWilfrid，&c。，inBede，Hist。
Eccles。l。iv。c。13，16，p。155，156，159。]
[Footnote152:FromtheconcurrenttestimonyofBedel。ii。c。
1，p。78andWilliamofMalmsbury，l。iii。p。102，itappears，thattheAnglo—Saxons，fromthefirsttothelastage，persistedinthisunnaturalpractice。TheiryouthswerepubliclysoldinthemarketofRome。]
[Footnote153:AccordingtothelawsofIna，theycouldnotbelawfullysoldbeyondtheseas。]
[Footnote154:ThelifeofaWallus，orCambricus，homo，whopossessedahydeofland，isfixedat120shillings，bythesamelawsofIna，tit。xxxii。inLeg。Anglo—Saxon。p。20whichallowed200shillingsforafreeSaxon，1200foraThane，seelikewiseLeg。Anglo—Saxon。p。71。Wemayobserve，thattheselegislators，theWestSaxonsandMercians，continuedtheirBritishconquestsaftertheybecameChristians。ThelawsofthefourkingsofKentdonotcondescendtonoticetheexistenceofanysubjectBritons。]
[Footnote155:SeeCarte'sHist。ofEngland，vol。i。p。278。]
TheindependentBritonsappeartohaverelapsedintothestateoforiginalbarbarism，fromwhencetheyhadbeenimperfectlyreclaimed。Separatedbytheirenemiesfromtherestofmankind，theysoonbecameanobjectofscandalandabhorrencetotheCatholicworld。^156ChristianitywasstillprofessedinthemountainsofWales；buttherudeschismatics，intheformoftheclericaltonsure，andinthedayofthecelebrationofEaster，obstinatelyresistedtheimperiousmandatesoftheRomanpontiffs。TheuseoftheLatinlanguagewasinsensiblyabolished，andtheBritonsweredeprivedoftheartandlearningwhichItalycommunicatedtoherSaxonproselytes。InWalesandArmorica，theCeltictongue，thenativeidiomoftheWest，waspreservedandpropagated；andtheBards，whohadbeenthecompanionsoftheDruids，werestillprotected，inthesixteenthcentury，bythelawsofElizabeth。Theirchief，arespectableofficerofthecourtsofPengwern，orAberfraw，orCaermarthen，accompaniedtheking'sservantstowar:themonarchyoftheBritons，whichhesunginthefrontofbattle，excitedtheircourage，andjustifiedtheirdepredations；andthesongsterclaimedforhislegitimateprizethefairestheiferofthespoil。Hissubordinateministers，themastersanddisciplesofvocalandinstrumentalmusic，visited，intheirrespectivecircuits，theroyal，thenoble，andtheplebeianhouses；andthepublicpoverty，almostexhaustedbytheclergy，wasoppressedbytheimportunatedemandsofthebards。Theirrankandmeritwereascertainedbysolemntrials，andthestrongbeliefofsupernaturalinspirationexaltedthefancyofthepoet，andofhisaudience。^157ThelastretreatsofCelticfreedom，theextremeterritoriesofGaulandBritain，werelessadaptedtoagriculturethantopasturage:thewealthoftheBritonsconsistedintheirflocksandherds；milkandfleshweretheirordinaryfood；andbreadwassometimesesteemed，orrejected，asaforeignluxury。LibertyhadpeopledthemountainsofWalesandthemorassesofArmorica；buttheirpopulousnesshasbeenmaliciouslyascribedtotheloosepracticeofpolygamy；andthehousesoftheselicentiousbarbarianshavebeensupposedtocontaintenwives，andperhapsfiftychildren。
^158Theirdispositionwasrashandcholeric；theywereboldinactionandinspeech；^159andastheywereignorantoftheartsofpeace，theyalternatelyindulgedtheirpassionsinforeignanddomesticwar。ThecavalryofArmorica，thespearmenofGwent，andthearchersofMerioneth，wereequallyformidable；buttheirpovertycouldseldomprocureeithershieldsorhelmets；andtheinconvenientweightwouldhaveretardedthespeedandagilityoftheirdesultoryoperations。OneofthegreatestoftheEnglishmonarchswasrequestedtosatisfythecuriosityofaGreekemperorconcerningthestateofBritain；andHenryII。couldassert，fromhispersonalexperience，thatWaleswasinhabitedbyaraceofnakedwarriors，whoencountered，withoutfear，thedefensivearmoroftheirenemies。^160
[Footnote156:Attheconclusionofhishistory，A。D。731，Bededescribestheecclesiasticalstateoftheisland，andcensurestheimplacable，thoughimpotent，hatredoftheBritonsagainsttheEnglishnation，andtheCatholicchurch，l。v。c。23，p。
219。
[Footnote157:Mr。Pennant'sTourinWalesp。426—449hasfurnishedmewithacuriousandinterestingaccountoftheWelshbards。Intheyear1568，asessionwasheldatCaerwysbythespecialcommandofQueenElizabeth，andregulardegreesinvocalandinstrumentalmusicwereconferredonfifty—fiveminstrels。
TheprizeasilverharpwasadjudgedbytheMostynfamily。]
[Footnote158:Regiolongelatequediffusa，milite，magisquamcredibilesit，referta。Partibusequideminillismilesunusquinquagintagenerat，sortitusmorebarbarodenasautampliusuxores。ThisreproachofWilliamofPoitiersintheHistoriansofFrance，tom。xi。p。88isdisclaimedbytheBenedictineeditors。]
[Footnote159:GiraldusCambrensisconfinesthisgiftofboldandreadyeloquencetotheRomans，theFrench，andtheBritons。ThemaliciousWelshmaninsinuatesthattheEnglishtaciturnitymightpossiblybetheeffectoftheirservitudeundertheNormans。]
[Footnote160:ThepictureofWelshandArmoricanmannersisdrawnfromGiraldus，Descript。Cambriae，c。6—15，interScript。Camden。p。886—891，andtheauthorsquotedbytheAbbedeVertot，Hist。Critiquetom。ii。p。259—266。]
BytherevolutionofBritain，thelimitsofscience，aswellasofempire，werecontracted。Thedarkcloud，whichhadbeenclearedbythePhoeniciandiscoveries，andfinallydispelledbythearmsofCaesar，againsettledontheshoresoftheAtlantic，andaRomanprovincewasagainlostamongthefabulousIslandsoftheOcean。OnehundredandfiftyyearsafterthereignofHonorius，thegravesthistorianofthetimes^161describesthewondersofaremoteisle，whoseeasternandwesternpartsaredividedbyanantiquewall，theboundaryoflifeanddeath，or，moreproperly，oftruthandfiction。Theeastisafaircountry，inhabitedbyacivilizedpeople:theairishealthy，thewatersarepureandplentiful，andtheearthyieldsherregularandfruitfulincrease。Inthewest，beyondthewall，theairisinfectiousandmortal；thegroundiscoveredwithserpents；andthisdrearysolitudeistheregionofdepartedspirits，whoaretransportedfromtheoppositeshoresinsubstantialboats，andbylivingrowers。Somefamiliesoffishermen，thesubjectsoftheFranks，areexcusedfromtribute，inconsiderationofthemysteriousofficewhichisperformedbytheseCharonsoftheocean。Eachinhisturnissummoned，atthehourofmidnight，tohearthevoices，andeventhenames，oftheghosts:heissensibleoftheirweight，andhefeelshimselfimpelledbyanunknown，butirresistiblepower。Afterthisdreamoffancy，wereadwithastonishment，thatthenameofthisislandisBrittia；
thatitliesintheocean，againstthemouthoftheRhine，andlessthanthirtymilesfromthecontinent；thatitispossessedbythreenations，theFrisians，theAngles，andtheBritons；andthatsomeAngleshadappearedatConstantinople，inthetrainoftheFrenchambassadors。FromtheseambassadorsProcopiusmightbeinformedofasingular，thoughnotimprobable，adventure，whichannouncesthespirit，ratherthanthedelicacy，ofanEnglishheroine。ShehadbeenbetrothedtoRadiger，kingoftheVarni，atribeofGermanswhotouchedtheoceanandtheRhine；
buttheperfidiousloverwastempted，bymotivesofpolicy，topreferhisfather'swidow，thesisterofTheodebert，kingoftheFranks。^162TheforsakenprincessoftheAngles，insteadofbewailing，revengedherdisgrace。Herwarlikesubjectsaresaidtohavebeenignorantoftheuse，andevenoftheform，ofahorse；butsheboldlysailedfromBritaintothemouthoftheRhine，withafleetoffourhundredships，andanarmyofonehundredthousandmen。Afterthelossofabattle，thecaptiveRadigerimploredthemercyofhisvictoriousbride，whogenerouslypardonedhisoffence，dismissedherrival，andcompelledthekingoftheVarnitodischargewithhonorandfidelitythedutiesofahusband。^163ThisgallantexploitappearstobethelastnavalenterpriseoftheAnglo—Saxons。Theartsofnavigation，bywhichtheyacquiredtheempireofBritainandofthesea，weresoonneglectedbytheindolentBarbarians，whosupinelyrenouncedallthecommercialadvantagesoftheirinsularsituation。Sevenindependentkingdomswereagitatedbyperpetualdiscord；andtheBritishworldwasseldomconnected，eitherinpeaceorwar，withthenationsoftheContinent。^164
[Footnote161:SeeProcopiusdeBell。Gothic。l。iv。c。20，p。
620—625。TheGreekhistorianishimselfsoconfoundedbythewonderswhichherelates，thatheweaklyattemptstodistinguishtheislandsofBritiaandBritain，whichhehasidentifiedbysomanyinseparablecircumstances。]
[Footnote162:Theodebert，grandsonofClovis，andkingofAustrasia，wasthemostpowerfulandwarlikeprinceoftheage；
andthisremarkableadventuremaybeplacedbetweentheyears534
and547，theextremetermsofhisreign。HissisterTheudechildisretiredtoSens，whereshefoundedmonasteries，anddistributedalms，seethenotesoftheBenedictineeditors，intom。ii。p。216。IfwemaycreditthepraisesofFortunatus，l。
vi。carm。5，intom。ii。p。507，Radigerwasdeprivedofamostvaluablewife。]
[Footnote163:PerhapsshewasthesisterofoneoftheprincesorchiefsoftheAngles，wholandedin527，andthefollowingyears，betweentheHumberandtheThames，andgraduallyfoundedthekingdomsofEastAngliaandMercia。TheEnglishwritersareignorantofhernameandexistence:butProcopiusmayhavesuggestedtoMr。RowethecharacterandsituationofRodoguneinthetragedyoftheRoyalConvert。]
[Footnote164:InthecopioushistoryofGregoryofTours，wecannotfindanytracesofhostileorfriendlyintercoursebetweenFranceandEnglandexceptinthemarriageofthedaughterofCaribert，kingofParis，quamregiscujusdaminCantiafiliusmatrimoniocopulavit，l。ix。c。28，intom。ii。p。348。ThebishopofToursendedhishistoryandhislifealmostimmediatelybeforetheconversionofKent。]
IhavenowaccomplishedthelaboriousnarrativeofthedeclineandfalloftheRomanempire，fromthefortunateageofTrajanandtheAntonines，toitstotalextinctionintheWest，aboutfivecenturiesaftertheChristianera。Atthatunhappyperiod，theSaxonsfiercelystruggledwiththenativesforthepossessionofBritain:GaulandSpainweredividedbetweenthepowerfulmonarchiesoftheFranksandVisigoths，andthedependentkingdomsoftheSueviandBurgundians:AfricawasexposedtothecruelpersecutionoftheVandals，andthesavageinsultsoftheMoors:RomeandItaly，asfarasthebanksoftheDanube，wereafflictedbyanarmyofBarbarianmercenaries，whoselawlesstyrannywassucceededbythereignofTheodorictheOstrogoth。Allthesubjectsoftheempire，who，bytheuseoftheLatinlanguage，moreparticularlydeservedthenameandprivilegesofRomans，wereoppressedbythedisgraceandcalamitiesofforeignconquest；andthevictoriousnationsofGermanyestablishedanewsystemofmannersandgovernmentinthewesterncountriesofEurope。ThemajestyofRomewasfaintlyrepresentedbytheprincesofConstantinople，thefeebleandimaginarysuccessorsofAugustus。YettheycontinuedtoreignovertheEast，fromtheDanubetotheNileandTigris；theGothicandVandalkingdomsofItalyandAfricaweresubvertedbythearmsofJustinian；andthehistoryoftheGreekemperorsmaystillaffordalongseriesofinstructivelessons，andinterestingrevolutions。
ChapterXXXVIII:ReignOfClovis。