This writer, after justly noticing that the narrative of the "querulous" Gildas, consists chiefly of declamation, proceeds to hold up to ridicule the absurd caricature which Gildas has drawn of the British nation, and which has been so implicitly copied.

"When the Romans had departed, according to Gildas, the tetri greges, the hideous herds of Scots and Picts, differing in manners, but alike in their avidity to shed blood; their furci feros vultus, their villainous countenances more covered with hair than their bodies with garments; these men, emerging from their currachs, confidently seize all the northern and extreme part of the island up to the wall: on this was the garrison; a set of men slow to fight, unable to fly; silly beings with trembling hearts, who on their stupid seats wasted away their flesh day and night. In the mean time, the hooked darts thrown up from chains were incessant, by which the most miserable citizens, drawn from the walls, were dashed upon the ground. What a picture for Hogarth to exhibit! A set of hairy half-naked savages, grim as any thieftaker, throwing up their chained weapons incessantly without the wall, while on this side sat a parcel of timid, trembling, consumptive wretches, like so many shaking mandarins, waiting stupidly for the hooks to rear them into the air, and to brain them on the ground. Shall we honour this with the name of history?"

We, however, have no direct evidence of the defection of the Britons from their allegiance to the Roman emperor. On the contrary, considering their peaceful habits, their ignorance of military tactics, their dangerous situation, perpetually exposed to piratical invaders, and the ferocious incursions of the northern tribes, and their various motives for desiring a continued connection with a military people, to whom they were attached by ties of interest and intermarriage, it appears more probable that they were abandoned to their affliction rather than that they seceded in triumph. Indeed Mr Turner acknowledges that particular districts may have sought aid of the Romans, but contends that such instances are not applicable to the whole island.

It is generally supposed that the Romans finally quitted Britain in the year of the Christian era 446, which was 501 years after their first descent upon the island, and 403 years after their first settlement in the country.

The events that immediately succeeded the abdication of the Romans are involved in obscurity. The dangers which surrounded the abandoned Britons seem, however, to have aroused their energies, and a determination was evinced to defend their country. But the same turbulent, irrascible, and unyielding disposition which has always distinguished the Celtic race, was again displayed. Civil discord soon pervaded the island, which was divided into thirty independent republics, besides a great cluster of regal chiefs, who eagerly contended for the mastery. Northumberland was then governed by a king, as well as the adjoining countries. But while the strength of the country was wasted in civil conflicts, the Picts and Scots defeated the separate armies of the petty chiefs who opposed them, and desolated the northern borders. During these disastrous scenes of quarrelsome ambition, a report was propagated that the Scots and Picts were advancing for another attack. Awed by the impending evil, the turbulent chiefs met in council, to concert a plan for repelling and preventing such frequent and fatal invasions. Vortigern, a powerful chieftain, recommended the employment of a band of Saxon warriors, and to his advice the infatuated chiefs acceded.

ANGLO-SAXON HISTORY

OF

NORTHUMBERLAND,

URING the decline of the Roman empire, the Saxons, a Gothic tribe that inhabited the north-eastern parts of Germany, had maintained a course of piratical depredations injurious to the maritime coasts of Britain, and in the fourth century their numbers and power were augmented by a confederation of many small states, whose nominal distinctions were lost in the Saxon name. But the only allies of the Saxons connected with the history of this county, were the Jutes and Angles; the former of which inhabited South Jutland, while the latter resided in the district of Anglen, in the duchy of Selswick*.

The maritime situation which the Saxons occupied; the encreasing weakness of Rome; and the successful adventures of the Francs, generated and nourished their eagerness for piratical enterprize. Such was their skill or prodigality of life, that they traversed the British ocean in light skiffs framed of oziers, and covered with skins sewed togethert. They fearlessly launched their predatory vessels, and suffered the wind to blow them to any foreign coast, indifferent to the result. They even pre

* The reader who is desirous of further information on this era of our national and local history, is referred to the History of the Anglo-Saxons, by the able and judicious Mr. Turner, to whose researches the writer is greatly indebted. The Reverend John Lingard has also successfully investigated this memorable period, in his Antiquities of the Anglo-Saxon church. His History of England may likewise be perused with advan tage. Many critical remarks on the Saxon geography of this island are presented in Mr Whitaker's History of Manchester.

+ In the fifth century the Saxon chiels, or keels, or ships of war, had assumed a more formidable appearance, and were constructed of more solid and lasting materials. The Saxons of this period calculated their force by ships, and from several passages in the Ancient Chronicles it has been inferred, that each ship car ried eighty warriors, Bede I. 15. Gildas c. xxiii.

1

ANGLO-SAXON HISTORY OF NORTHUMBERLAND.

29

ferred embarking in a storm that might shipwreck them, because at such a season their victims would be unguarded. Their whole time was alternately devoted to indolence and to rapine. To earn by labour what might be acquired by force, they deemed unworthy the spirit of a freeman. They were as dreadful for their gigantic stature and strength, as for their vehemence and valour. After a successful enterprize the tenth of their wretched captives were massacred as the devoted victims of their terrible superstition. The habitual ferocity of these adventurers explains impressively the peculiar horror which was every where excited by their sudden and unexpected aggressions. The emperor Julian pronounced them the most formidable of all the nations on the shores of the western ocean*.

The first band of Saxons which, agreeably to the council of Vortigern, was invited to Britain, was commanded by Hengist, a reputed descendant of Woden, the god of wart, and who had been bred in the Roman armies. His followers were few, but their skilful movements and irresistible attacks quickly discomfited the northern hordes, and the Scots were scattered in every direction from Lincolnshire to the banks of the

* Jul. Orat. 1. Sidon, viii. 6. The ferocity of the Saxon character would seem to suit better the dark and melancholy physiognomies of Asia and Africa, than the fair, pleasing countenances by which our ancestors are described. But there is no colour, climate, nor constitution, that governs the moral character so permanently as the good or evil habits and discipline to which it is subjected. The Saxons, however, possessed the germs of many amiable qualities. Time mellowed their barbarous fierceness into a firm and temperate courage, while from their ardent temper arose an expansive genius, which, though sometimes fantastic, was eminently serviceable to morals and manners.

+ The mythology of the Saxons is interwoven with our language. From the objects of their worship the days of our week have derived their names. The first and second they dedicated to the Sun and Moonhence Sunday and Monday; the third and fourth were dedicated to Tuisco and Woden-hence Tuisco's-day and Woden's-day; the fifth, sixth, and seventh, in like manner, to Thor, Frea, and Seator-hence Thors-day, Freas-day, and Seater-day. Brand.

The Scots had now assumed an important character on the busy stage of our island. Their annals and their origin, which have been much disputed, merit some notice. The Scoticæ gentes, or Scotch people, were first mentioned by Porphry about the end of the third century. It appears they were originally Gaelic Celts, who in early ages migrated from the western shores of Britain into Ireland. After having long made predatory incursions upon the Roman territories on the south-west of Scotland, they settled in Kintyre; and half a century after the conquest of Northumberland by the Saxons, they had colonized Argyle, when a bloody struggle of 340 years ensued between them and the natives, which terminated in the extinction of the Pictish government, and the union of the Picts and Scoto-Irish, under Keneth Mac Alpin, in 843. But the united kingdom was not mentioned under the Latin designation of Scotia, or the Saxon name of Scotland, until near a century after this epoch. With the predominance of the Scots, the Scoto-Irish, Gaelic, or Earse dialect, came into use instead of the Cambro-British, or native speech, but was gradually superseded in the Lowlands by the Anglo-Saxon. The use of the Cambro-British is still preserved in Wales, and the Gaelic in Ireland and the Highlands of Scotland. The appellation Sceite or Scot, signifies in the Gaelic dispersed or scattered, and was characteristic of their passion for enterprize. Claudian, Orasius, Gildas, and Bede, considered Ireland as the proper country of the Scots. Indeed, during the middle ages, Ireland was generally known by the name Scotland. These facts are historically demonstrated by Camden; Epistolæ, ed. 1691, p. 360; and by Whitaker; Genuine Hist .of Britons, p. 283.

Wear. The Saxon leaders observing in this expedition the fertility of the soil, and the weakening dissentions of the natives, conceived more lofty projects of ambition, which led them to encourage every band of Saxon rovers to unite with their fortunes. The ambitious views of the Saxons soon became evident; but the Britons made an obstinate though unsuccessful resistance. The bloody struggle lasted upwards of a hundred years; but the civil feuds and warring interests of the Britons at length ensured their subjection to their fierce and numerous invaders*. Among the heroes who successively appeared in the defence of the Britons, Arthur is the most famous for the boldness and success of his achievements. But the rays of light are small and faint that lead us through this dark and dreary period of time; we only know, that in a slow progression of conquest, the nations comprized under the title of AngloSaxons, were established in the island under eight different governments, which have been improperly denominated the Saxon heptarchy.

In the year 454, Octa, the brother of Hengist, in defiance of the natives, settled on the north side of the Tyne, and then cleared the country of the Britons as far as the Humber. This conquest he and his successors held as a fee of the crown of Kent, which had been assumed by Hengistt. The Picts joined the northern Saxons in attacking the indignant Britons, who were now aided by the Scots. The tide of conquest continued to fluctuate till the year 547, when Ida, an Anglo-Saxon, who commanded forty ships, landed at Flamborough. This prince, like the other Saxon monarchs, derived his descent from Woden. After many severe conflicts, he succeeded in driving the Northumbrian Britons from the vicinity of the coast. His dominions consisted solely or chiefly of the country called Bernicia, which was the Saxon name of that district which lies north of the river Tyne, or wall of Severus, and which extended, during some periods of the Saxon power, as far as the Edinburgh Frith.

This first king of Bernicia erected the fortress of Bambrough, opposite the Fern Islands, in a situation remarkably strong and conspicuous; and, in honour of his queen, Bibba, gave it the name of Bibbanburght. Ida held the crown independent of any other potentate, but he firmly maintained the alliance which his nation had made with the Picts. His reign was full of warfare, for the Cimbri, Scots, and the adjacent Britons, joined in frequent incursions on his territories, ravaging his frontiers by flying parties, and, after marking their hasty passage with blood and rapine, retreated again with equal rapidity to their impenetrable fastnessess in the mountains and forests.

The patriotic Britons who struggled with Ida and his Angles in these northern districts, engross the largest share of the bardic lay. The provinces north of the Humber,

* The British writers have invented a fable to account for the first settlement of the Saxons without the admission of conquest. Hengist appointed a meeting of peace-weapons were not to intrude. The perfidious Saxon counselled his friends to conceal their swords under their garments, and, at his signal, to use them against the Britons. The conference began; the horns of festivity went round; when, at the terrible exclamation of " Nemeth yare seax," (draw your daggers), out rushed the Saxon weapons; the disarmed Britons fell before the execrable assassins, and three hundred of the bravest chiefs are stated to have perished. But there is no clear evidence to support this pretended event, which has escaped the notice of Gildas, a British and almost a contemporary writer.

+ Rapin I. 249. Seldon Tit. Hon. 511.

Bede iii. 6. Chron. Sax. p. 19.

Deira, and Bernicia, were possessed by three sovereigns, who were bards, and whose memories have been consecrated in imperishable verse. Ida is characterized with the appellation of Flamzwyn, or Flame-bearer, an epithet of dismal sound, as it may imply the devastations which accompanied his progress. On a Saturday he hastened and spread his legions to surround the chiefs of Gozen and Reged. He presumptuously demanded submission and hostages. The gallent Owen exclaimed, "Rather let the gash appear;" and Chenau declared he would be a lion hewed with a hatchet before he would give hostage to any. Urien indulged their ardour; he commanded the banners to ascend the mountains; the streams reddened; the ground was strewed with blood; but the event of the struggle is not clearly expressed.

The energetic genius of Aneurin*, the Northumbrian bard of splendid song, has recorded another manly struggle. The British force was a confederation of the princes between the wall and the Frith of Clydef. Three hundred and sixty-three of the warriors wore the golden torques. But alas! the sweet mead was too profusely quaffed; the carousal which should have awaited the victory unhappily preceded the battle. The consequence was dreadful; the sword of the Angles mowed down the inebriated warriors. Of the three hundred and sixty-three nobles who rushed to the conflict, three only survived it. This succession of conflicts is sufficient to refute the opinion of the cowardice and weakness of the Northumbrian Britons. Like their fathers of old, they were vanquished in detail.

560. Having successfully defended the integrity of his kingdom for twelve years, Ida was slain in battle by Owen, the gallant Briton. He was succeeded in his kingdom by Adda, who reigned seven years, during which period Ælla, one of the chieftains who came over with Ida, acquired the sovereignty of the province of Deira. The reigns of the five immediate successors of Adda were short, and without any

* Aneurin's noble heroic poem on this important event is printed in the Welsh Archaiology, (vol. v. 1) with another composition by the same princely poet, entitled 'Odes to the Months.' After Aneurin lost his possessions in Northumberland, some old documents and traditions say, that he took refuge in the famous monastry Iltutus, in the country of the Silures, where he died about A. D. 570. Besides Aneurin, Taliesin, Merlin, and Llwarch, were all British poets, who deplored in sublime strains the misfortunes of their country.. Europe in that age could not supply such poets, either for invention and energy, or for elegance and richness of language.

+ When the Britons were compelled to resign Northumbria to the warlike Saxons, they retired westward, and joined the Selgova, the Novates, and the Damnii, which, with the Otadini and Gadeni tribes, had formed the Romanized province of Valentia. These Britons now erected a kingdom called Cambrence, or Cumbrense, but oftener the kingdom of Strathclyd. It extended from the Irthing, the Eden, and the Solway, on the south; to the Loch Lomond on the north; and from the Irish Sea and the Frith of Clyde, which washed its western shores, it ranged eastwards to the limits of the Merse and Lothian. Dunbarton was the capital. Notwithstanding the perpetual attacks of the Picts, Saxons, and Scoto-Irish, this British kingdom maintained its political existence for some time after the Pictish government had fallen. The Catrail, or Pictwork Ditch, which extends from the Peel Fell in Northumberland, to Galashiels, a distance of 45 miles, is supposed to have been raised by the fugitive Britons of Northumberland, as a line of defence against the invading Saxons. It appears to have been a vast fosse at least 26 feet broad, having a rampart on either side of it from eight to ten feet high. Catrail, in the British language, means The Partition of Defence.