Well, howsoeuer it
came first to be inhabited, likelie it is, that at the first the whole
Ile was vnder one prince and gouernour, though afterwards (and long
peraduenture before the Romans set any foot within it) the monarchie
thereof was broken, euen when the multitude of the inhabitants grew to
be great, and ambition entred amongst them: which hath brought so manie
good policies and states to ruine and decaie.
The Romans hauing once got possession of the continent that faceth this
Ile, could not rest (as it appeareth) till they had brought the same
also vnder their subiection: and the sooner doubtlesse, by reason of the
factions amongst the princes of the land, which the Romans (through
their accustomed skill) could turne verie well to their most aduantage.
They possessed it almost fiue hundreth yeares, and longer might haue
doone, if either their insufferable tyrannie had not taken awaie from
them the loue of the people as well here as else-where; either that
their ciuill discord about the chopping and changing of their emperours
had not so weakened the forces of their empire, that they were not able
to defend the same against the irruption of barbarous nations. But as we
may coniecture by that which is found in histories, about that time, in
which the Romane empire began to decline, this land stood in verie weake
state: being spoiled of the most part of all hir able men, which were
led[1] awaie into forren regions, to supplie the Romane armies; and
likewise (perhaps) of all necessarie armour, weapon, and treasure: which
being perceiued of the Saxons, after they were receiued into the Ile, to
aid the Britons against the Scots and Picts then inuading the same,
ministred to them occasion to attempt the second conquest, which at
length they brought to passe, to the ouerthrow not onelie of the British
dominion, but also to the subuersion of the Christian religion here in
this land: which chanced (?s appeareth by Gildas) for the wicked sins
and vnthankefulnesse of the inhabitants towards God, the cheefe
occasions and causes of the transmutations of kingdoms, Nam propter
peccata, regna transmatantur ? gente in gentem.
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