strain echoed again and again, thinking the British force to be much greater than it really was, were struck with a panic and fled, without striking a blow.

Thus, by the same means, aid was afforded against both spiritual and temporal enemies. The same individual, before his departure from the island, exerted his influence to strengthen the Church by the institution of schools, and monasteries, which seem to have been first founded with a view to the preservation of religious learning. Germanus is said to have founded the monastery of Bangor Iscoed, in North Wales, which was long in very high reputation. His services to the Church in those days were highly prized, and the remembrance of them is preserved in many parts of the kingdom, especially the south western, by his name "St. German" being that which distinguishes many of the churches.

CHAPTER VII.

DECLINE.

SAXONS. TEMPORARY OVERTHROW.

The

DIVISIONS and Heresies having sprung up in the British Church, the natural consequence was a great decay of real religion, among those who professed to be the followers of Christ. And for this a severe chastisement was to be inflicted-God would visit this defection of His people. punishment was brought about in a great measure by the withdrawal of Roman forces from the island, occasioned by the distracted state of the empire. The northern tribes of Picts and Scots took advantage of this circumstance, and made frequent incursions; and their incursions were rendered more successful, owing to the fact, that a large portion of the young men had been withdrawn from the country, being enrolled in the Roman armies, and led to the continent, to support the pretensions of various competitors for the imperial dignity, several of whom sprung from the army in Britain. Many of those soldiers never returned-a large body of them are said to have settled on the French coast, which from them received the name of Brittany.

There were also various rival communities, the kings of which contended one against another, and were therefore a more easy prey to their foreign foes. These causes produced great distress, and in their trouble they sent ambassadors to Rome, imploring that a province once so flourishing might not be left a prey to barbarians. The Romans, moved by their entreaties, sent a force to repulse the invaders, and built a wall from sea to sea, in the northern part of the kingdom, as a defence; the remains of this wall continue to the present time. The aid which was thus afforded was however of short duration, The Romans were in great difficulty, on account of the incursions of barbarians into the provinces nearer home, and were therefore quite unable to supply any help for those which were more distant. The Britons sought to them in vain. An epistle, called "The Groans of the Britons," is yet extant, in which they bewail their condition, saying, "The barbarians drive us back to the sea, the sea putteth us back upon the barbarians; thus, between two kinds of death, we are either slaughtered or drowned. We are the remnants of the Britons, and are your subjects, who, besides the enemy, are afflicted by famine and mortality, which at this time rageth extremely in the land." "Had the Britons," says Fuller, "been

CHAP. VII.]

ST. NINIAN.

63

as careful in bemoaning their sins to God, as they were clamorous in declaring their sufferings to the Romans, their requests in heaven would have been as graciously received, as their petitions on earth were carelessly rejected."

The effect of this state of things was, that Christianity declined; the ancient British heathenism, which had never been altogether extinct, began to regain its influence. Roman heathenism also lingered here, though not cherished with the same zeal, not having the old remembrances, and national feelings to support it. Yet it is an interesting feature in the history of the British Church, that in this its time of extreme trouble, it directed attention to the spread of the Gospel. "It was at this time, in the midst of their troubles, that the Britons sent a mission to the Picts then inhabiting the southern parts of Scotland. The leader of this mission was St. Ninian, whose name is still preserved in the traditions of that country. He is said to have converted many of that wild people from their idolatry, and to have founded a church, which was long the seat of other Bishops after him at Whithorn, on the coast of Galloway."

No doubt it was ordered by God's providence that Christianity should be planted in North Bri

tain, at the very time when it was nearly driven out from the South, that the means of its restoration might be at hand. It was from thence that there came forth those heralds of the Gospel, who, in a subsequent age, taught the greater part of our rude forefathers. This portion of the history of British Christianity, though in many respects unfavourable, has, in addition to the above, some valuable proofs of the existence of learning, zeal and piety. The names of several of its worthies are yet extant, and synods were held in which the Pelagian and other heresies were condemned.

But the cup of their sorrow was not yet full. When there was no longer any hope of assistance being received from the Romans, the Britons turned their requests to the Saxons, and other tribes on the continent. Hengist and Horsa, Saxon kings, were invited by the Britons and their king Vortigern, to come and help them, against the Picts and Scots. They succeeded in driving back those tribes, and having done so, and being pleased with the country, determined to settle in it. They first established themselves in Kent about the year 457, and by degrees extended their conquests; a long and arduous struggle took place between them and the Britons. King Arthur, who was famed for his military exploits, for a time checked their pro