Before the arrival of the Saxons, Germanus, Bishop of Auxerre, came twice into Britain to extirpate the Pelagian heresy, which had taken deep root. He founded several schools, among which those of Dubricius, Bishop of Llandaff, and Iltutus, a learned prelate, were the most famous. Dubricius had two schools, where he himself taught; one at Hensland, and another at Mockrost. Iltutus taught at Llan-twit. There was also at Bangor, in Cambria, a famous monastery where youth were educated. Into the public service of the Church Germanus also introduced the Gaulish rites and ceremonies.
St. Patrick, commonly called the Apostle of Ireland, has the reputation of having converted that nation to Christianity, although there is great reason to believe that Anatolias and Palladius preached the Gospel there before him.
Dubricius, Archbishop of Caerleon, was illustrious for his piety, learning, and connection with the above-mentioned schools; and, lastly, for his synod at Brevi, in Cardiganshire, against the Pelagians.
Petse, a native of Cornwall, was celebrated for his religion and learning; he gave his name to Petse Stow, since corrupted into Padstow.
Gildas of Badon, or Bath, was a scholar of Iltutus, and a monk of Bangor monastery. He was born in the year of the battle of Badon, according to Usher, in 520; other learned authorities contend, in 511. Gildas wrote a treatise, entitled "De Excidio Britanniæ," "Of the Destruction of Britain," wherein he boldly censures the British princes of his time—that is, those who, after the death of Arthur, divided the country into several petty states. From him chiefly it is that we know what passed among the Britons about the time he wrote, in 564. There is another history, or rather romance, under the name of Gildas, who is by some called Albanian, and supposed to be different from the Gildas now alluded to.
There is little doubt that the Christian prelates and priests were compelled to fly, wherever the Saxon supremacy was established; thus we find that Theon and Thodiac, Archbishops of London and York, retreated to Wales. Gildas, speaking of the awful scenes of devastation which ensued, says:—"From the east to the west, nothing was to be seen but churches burnt and destroyed to their very foundations. The inhabitants were extirpated by the sword, and buried under the ruins of their own houses. The altars were daily profaned by the blood of those slain thereon." The Venerable Bede, of the same race as the conquerors, expresses himself yet more eloquently:—"By the hands of the Saxons a fire was lighted up in Britain that served to execute the just vengeance of God upon the wicked Britons, as he had formerly burnt Jerusalem by the Chaldeans. The island was so ravaged by the conquerors—or rather by the hand of God making use of them as instruments—that there seemed to be a continual flame from sea to sea, which burnt up the cities, and covered the surface of the whole isle. Public and private buildings fell in one common ruin. The priests were murdered on the altars; the bishop with his flock perished by fire and sword, without any distinction, no one daring to give their scattered bodies an honourable burial."
In the midst of such harrowing scenes of murder and devastation, it is not to be wondered at that most records and chronicles which could have thrown light upon the early ages of the Church in Britain were destroyed, and that a mutilated and imperfect history alone remains to us. Another and equal cause of the obscurity which exists is the changing of the names, not only of towns, but whole provinces, as they passed under the dominion of the Saxon yoke. The time, however, at last arrived when the conquerors themselves were to be converted to the faith they had trampled on: in little more than half a century all Britain was brought within the pale of Christianity. Austin, or Augustine, as he is generally called, was the first who preached the Gospel to the idolaters in Kent, Paulinus to the Northumbrians, Birinus to the West Saxons, Wilfred to the South Saxons, Felix to the settlers in East Anglia; whilst other missionaries, equally zealous, succeeded in converting the inhabitants of the kingdom of Mercia.
CHAPTER VI.
Succession of Kings of Wessex till the Reign of Egbert, who first assumes the title of King of England.
The history of the earlier Saxon monarchs of Wessex is exceedingly obscure; of many, little more than the names are known. Cerdic, who arrived in Britain in 495, was crowned King of the West Saxons in 519, and died in 534, leaving his crown to his son Cenric. Cenric, who had greatly distinguished himself in the wars of his father, appears, after his accession to the throne, to have reigned in comparative peace. In 552 he fought a great battle, however, against the Britons, who had taken arms against him. He died in 560.
Ceawlin, his eldest son, succeeded him. This prince greatly added to his authority and possessions. He seized upon the kingdom of Sussex, after the death of Cissa, and was suspected of entertaining the ambitious project of reducing all England under his sceptre. This induced the other kings to form a confederacy against him, at the head of which was Ceolric. Being defeated, Ceawlin ended his days in obscurity.
Ceolric, his nephew, succeeded him; he died in 598.
This last-named prince was followed by his brother, Ceoluph, who defeated the South Saxons, and died in 611.
Cinigisil, the son of Ceolric, succeed him, and divided the kingdom with his brother Quicelm.
The two last-named princes obtained a great victory over the Britons in 614. Before the death of Quicelm, which took place in 635, he became a Christian: after his decease the kingdom was again united under Cinigisil, also a Christian, who henceforth reigned alone.
Cenawalch, his son, had to carry on a succession of wars with the kings of Mercia. Penda, whose sister he had divorced, drove him from his kingdom, and he remained in exile several years, but was afterwards restored, dying in 672. He left his crown to his widow, Saxburga.
This princess reigned little more than a year, when she died. Some historians contend she was deposed by her subjects, who disliked the idea of being commanded by a woman.
Cenfus for some time associated his son Escwin in the government, as well as Centwin, the brother of Cenawalch. On the death of the two former, the last-named prince reigned alone. In 682 he defeated the Welsh.
Cedwalla succeeded him. During the life of his predecessor, who was jealous of the great affection which the
