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accordingly did, and placed them in the same manner as they had been in
the mountain Killaraus, and thereby gave a manifest proof of the
prevalence of art above strength.
Chapter XIII. Pascentius brings in the Saxons against the Britons.
At the same time Pascentius, the son of Vortigern, who had fled over
into Germany, was levying all the forces of that kingdom against
Aurelius Ambrosius, with a design to revenge his fatherÕs death; and
promised his men an immense treasure of gold and silver, if with their
assistance he could succeed in reducing Britain under his power. When
he had at last corrupted all the youth of the country with his large
promises, he prepared a vast fleet, and arrived in the northern parts of
the island, upon which he began to make great devastations. The king,
on the other hand, hearing this news, assembled his army, and marching
against them challenged the enraged enemy to a battle; the challenge was
accepted, and by the blessing of God the enemy was defeated and put to
flight.
Chapter 14. Pascentius, assisted by the king of Ireland,
again invades Britain. Aurelius dies by the treachery of Eopa, a Saxon.
Pascentius, after this flight, durst not return to Germany, but shifting
his sails, went over to Gillomanius, in Ireland, by whom he was well
received. And when he had given him an account of his misfortune,
Gillomanius, in pity to him, promised him his assistance, and at the same
time vented his complaint of the injuries done him by Uther, the brother
of Aurelius, when he came for the GiantÕs Dance. At last, entering into
confederacy together, they made ready their fleet, in which they
embarked, and arrived at the city of Menevia. This news caused Uther
Pendragon to levy his forces, and march into Cambria to fight them. For
his brother Aurelius then lay sick at Winchester, and was not able to go
himself. When Pascentius, Gillomanius, and the Saxons heard of it, they
highly rejoiced, flattering themselves, that his sickness would facilitate to
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them the conquest of Britain. While this occurrence was the subject of the
peopleÕs discourse, one of the Saxons, named Eopa, came to Pascentius,
and said, ÒWhat reward will you give the man that shall kill Aurelius
Ambrosius for you?Ó To whom Pascentius answered, ÒO that I could find
a man of such resolution! I would give him a thousand pounds of silver,
and my friendship for life; and if by good fortune I can but gain the
crown, I promise upon oath to make him a centurion.Ó To this Eopa
replied, ÒI have learned the British language, and know the manners of
the people, and have skill in physic. If, therefore, you will perform this
promise, I will pretend to be a Christian and a Briton, and when, as a
physician, I shall be admitted into the kingÕs presence, I will make him a
potion that shall despatch him. And to gain the readier access to him, I
will put on the appearance of a devout and learned monk.Ó Upon this
offer, Pascentius entered into covenant with him, and confirmed what he
had promised with an oath. Eopa, therefore, shaved his beard and head,
and in the habit of a monk hastened to Winchester, loaded with vessels
full of medical preparations. As soon as he arrived there, he offered his
service to those that attended about the king, and was graciously
received by them; for to them nobody was now more acceptable than a
physician. Being introduced into the kingÕs presence, he promised to
restore him to his health, if he would but take his potions. Upon which
he had his orders forthwith to prepare one of them, into which when he
had secretly conveyed a poisonous mixture, he gave it the king. As soon
as Aurelius had drunk it up, the wicked Ambron ordered him presently
to cover himself close up, and fall asleep, that the detestable potion might
the better operate. The king readily obeyed his prescriptions, and in
hopes of his speedy recovery fell asleep. But the poison quickly diffused
itself through all the pores and veins of his body, so that the sleep ended
in death. In the meantime the wicked traitor, having cunningly
withdrawn himself first from one and then from another, was no longer
to be found in the court. During these transactions at Winchester, there
appeared a star of wonderful magnitude and brightness, darting forth a
ray, at the end of which was a globe of fire in form of a dragon, out of
whose mouth issued forth two rays; one of which seemed to stretch out
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itself beyond the extent of Gaul, the other towards the Irish Sea, and
ended in seven lesser rays.
Chapter 15. A comet presignifies the reign of Uther.
At the appearance of this star, a general fear and amazement seized
the people; and even Uther, the kingÕs brother, who was then upon his
march with his army into Cambria, being not a little terrified at it, was
very curious to know of the learned men, what it portended. Among
others, he ordered Merlin to be called, who also attended in this
expedition to give his advice in the management of the war; and who,
being now presented before him, was commanded to discover to him the
signification of the star. At this he burst out into tears, and with a loud
voice cried out, ÒO irreparable loss! O distressed people of Britain! Alas!
the illustrious prince is departed! The renowned king of the Britons,
Aurelius Ambrosius, is dead! whose death will prove fatal to us all,
unless God be our helper. Make haste, therefore, most noble Uther, make
haste to engage the enemy: the victory will be yours, and you shall be
king of all Britain, For the star, and the fiery dragon under it, signifies
yourself, and the ray extending towards the Gallic coast, portends that
you shall have a most potent son, to whose power all those kingdoms
shall be subject over which the ray reaches. But the other ray signifies a
daughter, whose sons and grandsons shall successively enjoy the
kingdom of Britain.Ó
Chapter 16. Pascentius and Gillomanius are killed in battle
Uther, though he doubted of the truth of what Merlin had declared,
pursued his march against the enemy, for he was now come within half a
dayÕs march of Menevia. When Gillomanius, Pascentius, and the Saxons
were informed of his approach, they went out to give him battle. As soon
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