-ons, not for their being feated out of Britain, but because remote from that Part of it, which was poffefs'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 fignifies the Rock Cluith, for it is close by the River of that Name. On account of the Irruptions of these Nations, the Britons fending 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 fent them, which arriving in the Ifland, 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 moft cruel Oppreffion, advis'd to build a Wall between the two Seas, across the Island, that it might fecure them, and keep off the Enemy; and thus return'd home with great Triumph. Iflanders, raifing the Wall they had been dire&ted, 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 2 Bays or Inlets of the Seas, we have spoken

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fpoken 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 feen to this Day. It begins at almost two Miles Distance from the Monaftery of Ebercurnig, (Abercurnig) on the Weft, at the Place in the Pictish 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 fent to Rome, imploring Aid in mournful Manner, left their wretched Country should be utterly extirpated, and the Name of a Roman Province fo 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 efcape, to fly beyond the Seas, whereas before, they were wont yearly to car ry off their Booty without any oppofition. D 3 Then

Then the Romans declar'd to the Britons, that they could not for the future undertake fuch 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 fome Help to their Allies, whom they defign'd to abandon, they built a strong Stoned Wall from Sea to Sea in a ftrait 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 feen, 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 Eaft to Weft, as is ftill visible to the Beholders. That being finish'd, they gave that difpirited People notable Advice, with Patterns to furnifh them with Arms. Befides they built Towers on the Sea Coaft to the Southward, at proper Distances, where their Ships were,

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This Wall of Severus, is by Buchanan confounded with that of Adrian. It was fo near Bede's Place of Refidence, and fo firm, that he is not particular in its beginning or ending, which Cambden bas accurately trac'd. It begins at Bulnefs upon the Irish Sea, and croffing the Counties comes to a small Village call'd Walls-end, near Tinmouth, it is vifible for many Miles together, ftanding entire, except the Battlements, within fide is a military Way mention'd by Bude. Bifh p Gibfon obferves Bede's Defcription to be fo juft, that even now, for the generality, it is the Height Bede mentions, and the Breadth is generally eight Feet, always more than leven.

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, fpeedily return'd, and growing more confident than they had been before, fecur'd to themfelves all the Northern and fartheft Parts 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 fhort, forfaking their Cities and Wall, they, fled, and were difpers'd. The Enemy purfues, the Slaughter increafes, 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 fmall Poffeffions, they fupply'd their imminent Danger of famifhing, by robbing and plundering one another adding to their Calamities occa fion'd by Foreigners, by their domeftick Broils, till the whole Country was left deftitute of all forts of Food, except the Support of wild Beafts.

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Of this miferable Eftate 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, has exprefs'd it not with fo much Tenderness, b: in feverer Terms.

Снар. ХІІІ.

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

N the Year of the Incarnation of our Lord

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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, Palladi us was first fent by Celeftin, Bishop of the Ro man Church to the Scots that believ'd in CHRIST. In the 23d Year of his Reign, Etius, a renowned Perfon, being alfo a Patritian, had his third Confulfhip with Symmachus. To him the wretched Remains of the Britons fent á Letter, which began thus. To Etius, thrice Conful, the Sighs of the Britons. And in the

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a In fome Copies of Gildas, whence Bede took this, it iş Agitio tertio Confuli, in others the Numerals are omitted, and in one Equitio Conf. as Mr. Cambden obferves; In Jome Latin Copies it is, à Boëtio Confule, Mr. Selden is of Opinion, that this Perfon was really no Conful, but call'd fo only by our Hiftorians, who complimented all great Romans promiscuously with that Title. But it was neither Egitius, nor Equitius, but cius, who was Conful with Symmacus, however, Bede here feems to be out, in saying he was engag'd with Bleda and Attila, for Bleda, according to Profper,

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