ons, not for their being seated out of Britain, but because remote from that Part of it, which was possess'd by the Britons; two Inlets of the Sea lying betwixt them, one of which runs in far and broad into the Lands of Britain, from the Eastern Ocean, and the other from the Western, tho' they do not reach to touch one another. The Eastern has in the midst of it the City Guidi. The Western has on it, that is, on the Right Hand thereof, the City Alcluith, which in their Language signifies the Rock Cluith, for it is close by the River of that Name. On account of the Irruptions of these Nations, the Britons sending Meflengers to Rome with Letters in mournful manner, pray'd for Succours, and promis'd perpetual Subjection, provided, that the impending Enemy might be drove farther off. An arm'd Legion was immediately sent them, which arriving in the Island, and engaging the Enemy, flew a great Multitude of them, drove the reft out of the Territories of their Allies, and having deliver'd them from most cruel Oppreffion, advis'd to build a Wall between the two Seas, across the Island, that it might secure them, and keep off the Enemy; and thus return'd home with great Triumph. Islanders, raising the Wall they had been direEted, not of Stone, but Sods, as having no Artift capable of fuch a Work, made it of no use. However they drew it for many Miles between the two a Bays or Inlets of the Seas, we have spoken

The

spoken of; to the end that where the Defence of the Water was wanting, they might defend their Borders from the Irruptions of the Encmies, by the Help of the Rampart. Of which Work there erected, that is, of a Rampart of an extraordinary breadth and height, there are evident Remains to be seen to this Day. It begins at almost two Miles Distance from the Monastery of bÆbercurnig, (Abercurnig) on the West, at the Place in the Pittish Language, call'd Peanfahel, but in the English Tongue, Penneltun, and running to the Eastward, ends by the City Alcluith. But the former Enemies, when they perceiv'd that the Roman Soldiers were gone, immediately coming by Sea, broke into the Borders, bearing all down before them, and as if it had been ripe Corn mow'd, trampled and over-run all Places. Hereupon Messengers are again sent to Rome, imploring Aid in mournful Manner, left their wretched Country should be utterly extirpated, and the Name of a Roman Province so long renowned among them, being overthrown by the Wickedness of foreign Nations, might grow contemptible. A Legion is fent again, which arriving unexpected in Autumn, made great Slaughter of the Enemy, obliging all thofe that could escape, to fly beyond the Seas, whereas before, they were wont yearly to carry off their Booty without any oppofition. D 3

Then

b Abercurnig, i. e. Aber (oftium) corronis fluvius, a Monastery, where is now Abercorncastle, near which the Wall is said to begin at a Place call'd Penuelton, from the Pictim Word, Penvael, the head of a Wall; it is now called Wallroun.

• Kirk St. Patrick.

Then the Romans declar'd to the Britons, that they could not for the future undertake such troublesome Expeditions for their fake, advising them rather to handle their Weapons, and undertake the Charge of engaging their Enemies, who would not prove more powerful than themselves, unless they were dejected with Cowardice; and in regard, that they thought it might be some Help to their Allies, whom they design'd to abandon, they built a strong Stone d Wall from Sea to Sea in a strait Line between the Towns that had been there built for fear of the Enemy, and where Severus had caft up the Trench. The which Wall still famous, and to be seen, they built at the publick and private Expence, being affifted by a Number of Britons, eight Foot in breadth and twelve in heighth, in a strait Line from East to Weft, as is still visible to the Beholders. That being finish'd, they gave that dispirited People notable Advice, with Patterns to fur nish them with Arms. Besides they built Towers on the Sea Coast to the Southward, at proper Distances, where their Ships were, be

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This Wall of Severus, is by Buchanan confounded with that of Adrian. It was so near Bede's Place of Residence, and so firm, that he is not particular in its beginning or ending, which Cambden has accurately trac'd. It begins at Bulness upon the Irish Sea, and crossing the Counties comes to a small Village call'd Walls-end, near Tinmouth, it is visible for many Miles together, standing entire, except the Battlements, within fide is a military Way mention'd by Bude. Bish p Gibson obferves Bede's Description to be fo just, that even now, for the generality, it is the Height Bede mentions, and the Breadth is generally eight Feet, always more than seven.

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because there also the Irruptions of the Barbarians were apprehended, and so took leave of their Friends as never to return again. They being gone home, the Scots and Picts, underfanding that they had declar'd they would come no more, speedily return'd, and growing more confident than they had been before, fecur'd to themselves all the Northern and farthest Part of the land, as far as the Wall. Hereupon a timorous Guard was plac'd upon the top of the Wall, where they pin'd away Day and Night with fearful Hearts. On the other fide the Enemy ply'd them with hooked Weapons, by which the cowardly Defendants being miferably dragg'd off the Wall, were dafh'd against the Ground. In short, forfaking their Cities and Wall, they fled, and were difpers'd. The Enemy pursues, the Slaughter increases, more cruel than all the former; for the wretched Natives were torn in pieces by their Enemies, as Lambs are by wild Beafts, Thus being expell'd their Dwellings and small Poffeffions, they supply'd their imminent Danger of famishing, by robbing and plundering one another, adding to their Calamities occafion'd by Foreigners, by their domeftick Broils, till the whole Country was left destitute of all forts of Food, except the Support of wild Beafts.

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e of this miserable Estate of his Countrymen, Gildas feems very movingly to complain, but Bede not touch'd with the Feelings of the Britons, the he has taken the Relation from him, bas express'd it not with so much Tenderness, b & in feverer Terms.

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CHAP. XIII.

That during the Reign of Theodofius, the Younger, in whose Time Palladius was Sent to the Scots that believ'd in CHRIST, the Britons begging Assistance of Etius, the Conful, could not obtain it.

N the Year of the Incarnation of our Lord

IN

423, Theodofius, the younger, next to Honorius, being the 45th from Auguftus, taking the Government upon him, held it twenty fix Years. In the 8th Year of his Reign, Palladius was first sent by Celestin, Bishop of the Roman Church to the Scots that believ'd in CHRIST. In the 23d Year of his Reign, Ætius, a renowned Perfon, being also a Patritian, had his third Confulship with Symmachus. To him the wretched Remains of the Britons sent a Letter, which began thus. To a Etius, thrice Conful, the Sighs of the Britons. And in the

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fe

a In fome Copies of Gildas, whence Bede took this, it is Agitio tertio Consuli, in others the Numerals are omitted, and in one Æquitio Conf. as Mr. Cambden obferves; In Jome Latin Copies it is, à Boëtio Consule, Mr. Selden is of Opinion, that this Person was really no Conful, but cali'd so only by our Historians, who complimented all great Romans promiscuously with that Title. But it was neither Egitius, nor Equitius, but Etius, who was Conful with Symmacus, however, Bede here seems to be out, in saying he was engag'd with Bleda and Attila, for Bleda, according to Profper,

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