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018 - Book IX Part 2 Arthur's coronation · History of the Kings of Britain

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Speaker 1: Book nine, Part two of History of the Kings of
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Speaker 1: Britain by Geoffrey of Monmouth, translated by Aaron Thompson and J. A. Giles.
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Speaker 1: This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Chapter eleven.
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Speaker 1: Arthur subdued Norway, Daisia, Aquitaine, and Gaul. After this, having
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Speaker 1: invited over to him all persons whatsoever that were famous
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Speaker 1: for valor in foreign nations, he began to augment the
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Speaker 1: number of his domestics, and introduced such politeness into his
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Speaker 1: court as people of the remotest countries thought worthy of
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Speaker 1: their imitation, so that there was not a nobleman who
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Speaker 1: thought himself of any consideration unless his clothes and arms
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Speaker 1: were made in the same fashion as those of Arthur's knights.
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Speaker 1: At length, the fame of his munificence and valor spreading
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Speaker 1: over the whole world, he became a terror to the
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Speaker 1: kings of other countries, who grievously feared the loss of
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Speaker 1: their dominion if he should make any attempt upon them.
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Speaker 1: Being much perplexed with these anxious cares, they repaired their
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Speaker 1: cities and towers, and built towns in convenient places, the
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Speaker 1: better to fortify themselves against any enterprise of Arthur when
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Speaker 1: occasion should require. Arthur, being informed of what they were doing,
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Speaker 1: was delighted to find how much they stood in awe
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Speaker 1: of him, and formed a design for the conquest of
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Speaker 1: all Europe. Then, having prepared his fleet, he first attempted
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Speaker 1: Norway that he might procure the crown of it for Lot,
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Speaker 1: his sister's husband. This Lot was the nephew of Sicelin,
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Speaker 1: king of the Norwegians, who being then dead, had appointed
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Speaker 1: him his successor in the kingdom. But the Norwegians, disdaining
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Speaker 1: to receive him, had advanced one Rikulf to the sovereignty,
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Speaker 1: and having fortified their cities, thought they were able to
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Speaker 1: oppose Arthur. Wohlgen, the son of Lot, was then a
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Speaker 1: youth twelve years old, and was recommended by his uncle
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Speaker 1: to the service of Pope's Applicius, from whom he received arms.
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Speaker 1: But to return to the history. As soon as Arthur
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Speaker 1: arrived on the coast of Norway, King Riculf, attended with
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Speaker 1: the whole power of that kingdom, met him and gave
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Speaker 1: him battle, in which, after a great loss of blood
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Speaker 1: on both sides, the Britons at length had the advantage,
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Speaker 1: and making a vigorous charge killed Rikolf and many others
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Speaker 1: with him. Having thus defeated them, they set the cities
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Speaker 1: on fire, dispersed the country people, and pursued the victory
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Speaker 1: till they had reused all Norway, as also Dasha under
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Speaker 1: the dominion of Arthur. After the conquest of these countries
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Speaker 1: and establishment of Lot upon the throne of Norway, Arthur
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Speaker 1: made a voyage to Gaul, and, dividing his army into
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Speaker 1: several bodies, began to lay waste that country on all sides.
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Speaker 1: The province of Gaul was then committed to Floro, a
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Speaker 1: Roman tribune who held the government of it under the
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Speaker 1: Emperor Leo. Upon intelligence of Arthur's coming, he raised all
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Speaker 1: the forces that were under his command and made war
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Speaker 1: against him, but without success, for Arthur was attended with
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Speaker 1: the youth of all the islands that he had subdued,
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Speaker 1: for which reason he was reported to have such an
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Speaker 1: army as was thought invincible, and even the greater part
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Speaker 1: of the Gallic army, encouraged by his bounty, came over
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Speaker 1: to his service. Therefore, Floro, seeing the disadvantages he lay under,
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Speaker 1: left his camp and fled with a small number to Paris.
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Speaker 1: There having recruited his army, he fortified the city and
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Speaker 1: resolved to stand another engagement with Arthur. But while he
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Speaker 1: was thinking of strengthening himself with the military forces in
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Speaker 1: the neighboring countries, Arthur came upon him unawares and besieged
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Speaker 1: him in the city. When a month had passed, Floro,
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Speaker 1: with grief, observing his people perish with the hunger, sent
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Speaker 1: a message to Arthur that they two alone should decide
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Speaker 1: the contest for the kingdom in a duel. For being
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Speaker 1: a person of great stature, boldness, and courage, he gave
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Speaker 1: this challenge in confidence of success. Arthur was extremely pleased
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Speaker 1: at Flulu's proposal and sent him word back again that
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Speaker 1: he would give him the meeting which he desired. A
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Speaker 1: treaty therefore being on both sides agreed to. They met
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Speaker 1: together in the island without the city, where the people
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Speaker 1: waited to see the event. They were both gracefully armed
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Speaker 1: and mounted on admirably swift horses, and it was hard
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Speaker 1: to tell which gave greater hopes of victory. When they
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Speaker 1: had presented themselves against each other, with their glances aloft,
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Speaker 1: they put spurs to their horses and began a fierce encounter,
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Speaker 1: but Arthur, who handled his lance more warily, struck it
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Speaker 1: into the upper part of Flalo's breast, and, avoiding his
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Speaker 1: enemy's weapon, laid him prostrate upon the ground, and was
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Speaker 1: just going to despatch him with his drawn sword. But Floro,
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Speaker 1: starting up on a sudden, met him with his lance couched,
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Speaker 1: wherewith he mortally stabbed the breast of Arthur's horse and
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Speaker 1: caused both him and his rider to fall. The Britons,
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Speaker 1: when they saw their king lying on the ground, fearing
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Speaker 1: he was killed, could hardly be restrained from breach of
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Speaker 1: covenant and falling with one consent upon the Gauls. But
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Speaker 1: just as they were upon rushing into the Lists, Arthur
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Speaker 1: hastily got up, and, guarding himself with his shield, advanced
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Speaker 1: with speed against Floro. And now they renewed the assault
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Speaker 1: with such rage, eagerly bent upon one another's destruction. At length, Floro,
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Speaker 1: watching his advantage, gave Arthur a blow upon the forehead,
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Speaker 1: which might have proved mortal had he not blunted the
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Speaker 1: edge of his weapon against the helmet. When Arthur saw
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Speaker 1: his coat of mail and shield red with blood, he
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Speaker 1: was inflamed with still greater rage, and lifting up his
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Speaker 1: caliburn with his utmost strength, struck it through the helmet
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Speaker 1: into Floro's head and made a terrible gash. With this wound,
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Speaker 1: Floro fell down, tearing the ground with his spurs, and expired.
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Speaker 1: As soon as this news was spread through the army,
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Speaker 1: this citizens ran together, and, opening the gates, surrendered the
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Speaker 1: city to Arthur. After the victory, he divided his army
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Speaker 1: into two parts, one of which he committed to the
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Speaker 1: conduct of Earl, whom he ordered to march against Guitard,
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Speaker 1: commander of the Pictavians, while he, with the other part,
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Speaker 1: should endeavor to reduce the other provinces Hul. Upon this
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Speaker 1: entered Aquitaine, possessed himself of the cities of that country, and,
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Speaker 1: after distressing Guitard in several battles, forced him to surrender.
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Speaker 1: He also destroyed Gascony with fire and sword, and subdued
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Speaker 1: the princes of it. At the end of nine years,
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Speaker 1: in which time all the parts of Gaul were entirely reduced,
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Speaker 1: Arthur returned back to Paris, where he kept his court, and,
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Speaker 1: calling an assembly of the clergy and people, established peace
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Speaker 1: and the just administration of the laws in that Kingdom.
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Speaker 1: Then he bestowed Neustria now called Normandy, upon Bedver his butler,
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Speaker 1: the province of Anderngavia upon Caius his sewer, and several
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Speaker 1: other provinces upon his great men that attended him. Then,
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Speaker 1: having settled the peace of the cities and countries there,
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Speaker 1: he returned back in the beginning of spring to Britain.
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Speaker 1: Chapter twelve, Arthur summoned a great many kings, princes, archbishops, etc.
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Speaker 1: To a solemn assembly at the City of Legions, upon
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Speaker 1: the approach of the Feast of Pentecost. Arthur, the better
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Speaker 1: to demonstrate his joy after such triumphant success, and for
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Speaker 1: the more solemn observation of that festival, and reconciling the
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Speaker 1: minds of the princes that were now subject to him,
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Speaker 1: resolved during that season to hold a magnificent court, to
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Speaker 1: place the crown upon his head, and to invite all
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Speaker 1: the kings and dukes under his subjection to the solemnity.
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Speaker 1: And when he had communicated his design to his familiar friends,
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Speaker 1: he pitched upon the City of Regions as a proper
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Speaker 1: place for his purpose, for besides its great wealth above
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Speaker 1: the other cities, its situation, which was in Glanwargenshire, upon
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Speaker 1: the River Usk near the Severn Sea, was most pleasant
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Speaker 1: and fit for so great a solemnity. For on one
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Speaker 1: side it was washed by that noble river, so that
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Speaker 1: the kings and princes from the country trees beyond the
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Speaker 1: sees might have the convenience of sailing up to it.
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Speaker 1: On the other side, the beauty of the meadows and groves,
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Speaker 1: and magnificence of the royal palaces with lofty gilded roofs
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Speaker 1: that adorned it, made it even rival the grandeur of Rome.
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Speaker 1: It was also famous for two churches, whereof one was
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Speaker 1: built in honor of the martyr Julius and adorned with
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Speaker 1: a choir of virgins who had devoted themselves wholly to
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Speaker 1: the service of God. But the other, which was founded
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Speaker 1: in memory of Saint Aaron his companion and maintained a
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Speaker 1: convent of canons, was the third metropolitan church of Britain. Besides,
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Speaker 1: there was a college of two hundred philosophers, who, being
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Speaker 1: learned in astronomy in the other arts, were diligent in
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Speaker 1: observing the causes of the stars, and gave Arthur true
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Speaker 1: predictions of the events that would happen at that time.
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Speaker 1: In this place. Therefore, which afforded such delights, were preparations
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Speaker 1: made for the ensuing festival. Ambassadors were then sent into
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Speaker 1: several kingdoms to invite to court the princes both of
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Speaker 1: Gaul and all the adjacent islands. Accordingly, there came Ugusar,
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Speaker 1: King of Albania now Scotland, Urian King of Urif, Kadwaluluir,
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Speaker 1: King of the Venedotians now called the North Walesmen, Sata
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Speaker 1: King of the Domitians or South Walesmen, Cador, King of Cornwall.
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Speaker 1: Also the archbishops of the three metropolitan sees London, York
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Speaker 1: and Dubricius of the City of Legions. This prelate, who
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Speaker 1: was Private of Britain and Legate of the Apostolic Sea,
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Speaker 1: was so eminent for his piety that he could cure
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Speaker 1: any sick person by his prayers. There came also the
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Speaker 1: consuls of the principal cities, viz. Morvid Consul of Gloucester,
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Speaker 1: Myron of Worcester, Annaarat of Salisbury, Arthgal of car Guite
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Speaker 1: or Wargwit, Zugin of Legacestor Cursalon of chysest Kinmare, Duke
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Speaker 1: of Doroburnia, Gallac of Salisbury, o Genius of Bath, Johnthal
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Speaker 1: of Dorchester, Boso of Riddoch, that is Oxford. Besides the
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Speaker 1: consuls came the following worthies of no less dignity Danaut Map,
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Speaker 1: Papo Cheneus Map, Coyl, Perudo map, Erda, Gwifl Map, Nogite,
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Speaker 1: Regin Map, clant Hedelen, Mappe, Delauc, Kinkar Map, Bagan, Kimare,
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Speaker 1: Gubaranian Map, Gouit, clophout Rupmanoton, Kimbalm Map, Trunaut, Kathlaius map, Catl, Kinlich,
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Speaker 1: map Naton, and many others too tedious to enumerate. From
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Speaker 1: the adjacent islands came Guillemar, King of Ireland, Malvasius, King
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Speaker 1: of Iceland, Doldavius, King of Gothland, Gonpasius, King of the Orkneys,
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Speaker 1: Lot King of Norway, Ascilius, King of the Dacians. From
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Speaker 1: the parts beyond the seas came Holding King of Routini, Leodogarius,
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Speaker 1: Consul of Bologna, Bedford, the Butler, Duke of Normandy, Berelius,
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Speaker 1: King of Kenemania, Caius, the Sewer Duke of Vandergavia, Guitard
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Speaker 1: of Pictavia. Also the Twelve Peers of gaure whom Guerinus
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Speaker 1: Carna tentis brought along with him, Earl Duke of the
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Speaker 1: Armorican Britons, and his nobility, who came with such a
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Speaker 1: trade of mules, horses and furniture as it is difficult
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Speaker 1: to describe. Besides these, there remained no prince of any
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Speaker 1: consideration on this side of Spain who came not upon
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Speaker 1: this invitation, and no wonder when Arthur's munificence, which was
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Speaker 1: celebrated over the whole world, made him beloved by all
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Speaker 1: the people. Chapter thirteen a description of the royal pomp
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Speaker 1: at the coronation of Arthur. When all were assembled together
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Speaker 1: in the city upon the day of the solemnity, the
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Speaker 1: archbishops were conducted to the palace in order to place
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Speaker 1: the crown upon the King's head. Therefore dubricious inasmuch as
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Speaker 1: the court was kept in his diocese, made himself ready
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Speaker 1: to celebrate the office, and undertook the ordering of whatever
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Speaker 1: related to it. As soon as the king was invested
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Speaker 1: with his royal habiliments, he was conducted in great pomp
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Speaker 1: to the metropolitan Church, supported on each side by two archbishops,
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Speaker 1: and having four kings vis of Albania, Cornwall, Demesia and Venedotia,
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Speaker 1: whose right it was, bearing four golden swords before him.
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Speaker 1: He was also attended with a concert of all sorts
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Speaker 1: of music, which made most excellent harmony. On another part
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Speaker 1: was the Queen, dressed out in her richest ornaments, conducted
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Speaker 1: by the archbishops and bishops, to the temple of Virgins,
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Speaker 1: the four queens, also of the kings last mentioned, bearing
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Speaker 1: before her four white doves according to ancient custom, and
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Speaker 1: after her there followed a retinue of women, making all
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Speaker 1: imaginable demonstrations of Troy. When the whole procession was ended,
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Speaker 1: so transporting was the melody of the musical instruments and voices,
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Speaker 1: whereof there was a vast variety in both churches, that
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Speaker 1: the knights who attended were in doubt which to prefer,
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Speaker 1: and therefore crowded from the one to the other by turns,
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Speaker 1: and were far from being tired with the solemnity, though
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Speaker 1: the whole day had been spent in it. At last,
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Speaker 1: when divine service was over at both churches, the King
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Speaker 1: and Queen put off their crowns, and, putting on their
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Speaker 1: lighter ornaments, went to the banquet. He to one palace
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Speaker 1: with the men, and she to another with the women.
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Speaker 1: For the Britons still observed the ancient custom of Troy,
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Speaker 1: by which the men and the women used to celebrate
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Speaker 1: their festivals apart when they had all taken their seats.
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Speaker 1: According to precedence, Caius the sewer in rich robes of ermine,
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Speaker 1: with a thousand young noblemen, all in like manner, clothed
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Speaker 1: in ermine, served up the dishes from another part bed.
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Speaker 1: For the butler was followed with the same number of
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Speaker 1: attendants in various habits, who waited with all kinds of
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Speaker 1: cups and drinking vessels. In the queen's palace were innumerable waiters,
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Speaker 1: dressed with a variety of ornaments, all performing their respective offices, which,
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Speaker 1: if I should describe particularly, I should draw out the
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Speaker 1: history to a tedious length. For at that time Britain
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Speaker 1: had arrived at such a pitch of grandeur that, in
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Speaker 1: a loundant of riches, luxury of ornaments, and politeness of inhabitants,
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Speaker 1: it far surpassed all other kingdoms. The knights in it,
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Speaker 1: that were famous for their feats of chivalry, wore their
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Speaker 1: clothes and arms all of the same color and fashion.
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Speaker 1: And the women, also no less celebrated for their wit,
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Speaker 1: wore all the same kind of apparel, and esteemed none
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Speaker 1: worthy of their love, but such as had given a
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Speaker 1: proof of their valor in three several battles. Thus was
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Speaker 1: the valor of the men, and encouragement for the women's chastity,
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Speaker 1: and the love of the women, a spur to the
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Speaker 1: soldier's bravery Chapter fourteen. After a variety of sports at
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Speaker 1: the coronation, Arthur Amply rewards his servants. As soon as
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Speaker 1: the banquets were over, they went into the fields without
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Speaker 1: the city, to divert themselves with various sports. The military
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Speaker 1: men composed a kind of diversion in imitation of a
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Speaker 1: fight on horseback, and the ladies, placed on top of
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Speaker 1: the walls as spectators, in a sport of manner, darted
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Speaker 1: their amorous glances at the courtiers, the more to encourage them.
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Speaker 1: Others spent the remainder of the day in other diversions,
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Speaker 1: such as shooting with bows and arrows, tossing the pike,
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Speaker 1: casting of heavy stones and rocks, playing at dice in
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Speaker 1: the like, And all these inoffensively and without quarreling. Whoever
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Speaker 1: gained the victory in any of these sports was rewarded
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Speaker 1: with a rich prize by Arthur. In this manner were
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Speaker 1: the first three days spent, and on the fourth all who,
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Speaker 1: upon account of their titles, bore any kind of office
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Speaker 1: at this solemnity, were called together to receive honors and
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Speaker 1: preferments in reward of their services, and to fill up
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Speaker 1: the vacancies in the governments of cities and castles, archbishoprics, bishoprics, habbys,
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Speaker 1: and other posts of honor. Chapter fifteen, a letter from
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Speaker 1: Lucius Tiberius, General of the Romans to Arthur, being read.
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Speaker 1: They consult about an answer to it, but sent to Bricius,
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Speaker 1: from a pious desire of leading hermit's life, made a
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Speaker 1: voluntary resignation of his arch episcopal dignity, and in his
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Speaker 1: room was consecrated David, the King's uncle, whose life was
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Speaker 1: a perfect example of that goodness which, by his doctrine
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Speaker 1: he taught in place of Saint Sampson, Archbishop of Dole,
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Speaker 1: was appointed with the consent of Earl the King of
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Speaker 1: the Armorican Britons, Telianus, a famous priest of clandaff a
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Speaker 1: person highly recommended for his good life and character. The
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Speaker 1: Bishopric of Sylvester was conferred upon by Garnius, that of
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Speaker 1: Winchester upon Duarnius, and that of Alclad upon Eladinius. While
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Speaker 1: he was disposing of these preferments among them, it happened
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Speaker 1: that twelve men of an advanced age and venerable aspect,
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Speaker 1: and bearing olive branches in their right hands for a
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Speaker 1: token that they were come upon an embassy, appeared before
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Speaker 1: the King, moving towards him with a slow pace and
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Speaker 1: speaking with a soft voice, and after their compliments paid,
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Speaker 1: presented him with a letter from Lucius Tiberius in these
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Speaker 1: words Lucius Procurator of the Commonwealth to Arthur, King of Britain,
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Speaker 1: According to his dessert, the insolence of your tyranny is
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Speaker 1: what fills me with the highest admiration, and the injuries
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Speaker 1: you have done to Rome still increase my wonder. But
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Speaker 1: it is provoking to reflect that you are grown so
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Speaker 1: much above yourself as wilfully to avoid seeing this, Nor
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Speaker 1: do you consider what it is to have offended by
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Speaker 1: unjust deeds a senate to whom you cannot be ignorant
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Speaker 1: that the whole world owes vassalage for the tribute of Britain,
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Speaker 1: which the Senate had enjoined you to pay, and which
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Speaker 1: used to be paid to the Roman emperors successively from
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Speaker 1: the time of Julius Caesar, you have had the presumption
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Speaker 1: to withhold in contempt of their imperial authority. You have
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Speaker 1: seized upon the province of the Allah Brooch and all
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Speaker 1: the islands of the Ocean, whose kings, while the Roman
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Speaker 1: power have prevailed in these parts, pay tribute to our ancestors.
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Speaker 1: And because the Senate have agreed to demand justice of
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Speaker 1: you for such repeated injuries, I command you to appear
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Speaker 1: at Rome before the middle of August the next year,
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Speaker 1: there to make satisfaction to your masters, and undergo such
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Speaker 1: sentence as they shall in justice pass upon you, which
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Speaker 1: if you refuse to do, I shall come to you
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Speaker 1: and endeavor to recover with my sword what you, in
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Speaker 1: your madness have robbed us off. As soon as the
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Speaker 1: letter was read in the presence of the kings and consuls,
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Speaker 1: Arthur withdrew with them into the Giant's Tower, which was
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Speaker 1: at the entrance to the palace, to think what answer
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Speaker 1: was fit to be returned to such an insolent message.
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Speaker 1: As they were going up the stae Cador, Duke of Cornwall,
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Speaker 1: who was a man of merry disposition, said to the
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Speaker 1: King in Joko's manner, I have been till now under
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Speaker 1: fear lest the easy life which the Britons leads by
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Speaker 1: enjoying a long peace, might make them cowards and extinguish
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Speaker 1: the fame of their gallantry by which they have raised
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Speaker 1: their name above all other nations. For where the exercise
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Speaker 1: of arms is wanting, and the pleasures of women, dice
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Speaker 1: and other diversions take place, no doubt what remains of virtue, honor, courage,
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Speaker 1: and thirst of praise will be tainted with the rust
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Speaker 1: of idleness. For now almost five years have passed since
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Speaker 1: we have been abandoned to these delights, and have had
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Speaker 1: no exercise of war. Therefore, to deliver us from sloth,
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Speaker 1: God has stood up the spirit of the room to
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Speaker 1: restore our military virtues to their ancient state. In this
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Speaker 1: manner did he entertain them with discourse till they were
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Speaker 1: come to their seats, on which, when they were all placed,
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Speaker 1: Arthur spoke to them. After this manner, Chapter sixteen, Arthur,
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Speaker 1: holding a council with the kings, desires every one of
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Speaker 1: them to deliver their opinions. My companions both in good
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Speaker 1: and bad fortune, whose abilities, both in council and war,
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Speaker 1: I have hitherto experienced the present exigence of affairs. After
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Speaker 1: the message which we have received requires your careful deliberation
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Speaker 1: and prudent resolutions, For whatever is widely concerted is easily executed. Therefore,
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Speaker 1: we shall be the better able to bear the annoyance
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Speaker 1: which Lucius threatened to give us, if we unanimously apply
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Speaker 1: ourselves to consider how to overcome it. In my opinion,
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Speaker 1: we have no great reason to fear him when we
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Speaker 1: reflect upon the unjust pretense on which he demands tribute
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Speaker 1: of us. He says he has a right to it
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Speaker 1: because it was paid to Julius Caesar and his successors,
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Speaker 1: who invaded Britain with an army at the invitation of
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Speaker 1: the ancient Britons when they were quarreling among themselves, and
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Speaker 1: by force reduced the country under their power when weakened
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Speaker 1: by civil dissension. And because they gained it in this manner,
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Speaker 1: they had the injustice to take tribute of it, for
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Speaker 1: that can never be possessed justly, which is gained by
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Speaker 1: force and violence. So that he has no reasonable grounds
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Speaker 1: to pretend we are of right as tributaries. But since
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Speaker 1: he has their presumption to make an unjust demand of us,
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Speaker 1: we have certainly as good reason to demand of him
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Speaker 1: tribute from Rome. Let the longest sword therefore determine the
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Speaker 1: right between us. For if Rome has decreed that tribute
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Speaker 1: ought to be paid to it from Britain on account
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Speaker 1: of its being formerly under the yoke of Julius Caesar
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Speaker 1: and other Roman emperors, I for the same reason now
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Speaker 1: decree that Rome ought to pay tribute to me, because
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Speaker 1: my predecessors formally held the government of it. For Bellinus,
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Speaker 1: that glorious King of the Britons, with the assistance of
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Speaker 1: his brother Brennius, Duke of the Atherbroche, after they had
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Speaker 1: hanged up twenty noble Romans in the middle of the
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Speaker 1: market place, took their city and kept possession of it
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Speaker 1: a long time. Likewise, Constantine, the son of Helena, as
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Speaker 1: also Maximian, who were both nearer of blood to me
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Speaker 1: and both wore the crown of Britain, gained the imperial
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Speaker 1: throne of Rome. Do not you, therefore, think that we
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Speaker 1: ought to demand tribute of the Romans As for Gaul
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Speaker 1: and the adjacent islands of the ocean. We have no
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Speaker 1: occasion to return them any answer, since they did not
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Speaker 1: defend them when we attempted to free them from their power.
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Speaker 1: As soon as he had done speaking to this effect,
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Speaker 1: hul King of the Armorican Britons, who had the precedence
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Speaker 1: of the rest, made an answer in these words. Chapter seventeen.
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Speaker 1: The opinion of Herl King of our Morrica concerning a
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Speaker 1: war with the Romans. After the most profound deliberation that
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Speaker 1: any of us shall be able to make, I think
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Speaker 1: better advice cannot be given than what your Majesty, in
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Speaker 1: your great wisdom and policy, now offers. Your speech, which
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Speaker 1: is no less wise than eloquent, has superseded all consultation
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Speaker 1: on our part, and nothing remains for us to do
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Speaker 1: but to admire and gratefully acknowledge your Majesty's firmness of
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Speaker 1: mind and depth of policy, to which we owe such
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Speaker 1: excellent advice. For if upon this motive you are pleased
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Speaker 1: to make an expedition to Rome, I doubt not, but
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Speaker 1: it will be crowned with glorious success, since it will
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Speaker 1: be undertaken for the defense of our liberties and to
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Speaker 1: demand justly of our enemies what they have unjustly demanded
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Speaker 1: of us, for that person who would rob another deserves
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Speaker 1: to lose his own by him against whom the attempt
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Speaker 1: is made. And therefore, since the Romans threatened us with
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Speaker 1: this injury, it will undoubtedly turn to their own loss
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Speaker 1: if we can but have an opportunity of engaging with them.
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Speaker 1: This is what the Britons universally desire. This is what
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Speaker 1: we have promised us in the Cibiline prophecies, which expressly
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Speaker 1: declare that the Roman Empire shall be obtained by three
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Speaker 1: persons native of Britain. The oracle is fulfilled in two
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Speaker 1: of them, since it is manifest, as your Majesty observ'd
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Speaker 1: that those two celebrated princes bellin Us and Constantine governed
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Speaker 1: the Roman Empire, and now you are the third to
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Speaker 1: whom this supreme dignity is promised. Make haste, therefore to
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Speaker 1: receive what God makes no delay to give you, to
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Speaker 1: subdue those who are ready to receive your yoke, and
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Speaker 1: to advance us all who for your advancement will spare
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Speaker 1: neither limbs nor life. And that you may accomplish this,
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Speaker 1: I myself will attend you in person with ten thousand men.
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Speaker 1: Chapter eighteen, the opinion of Orgasall. When Hul concluded his speech, Orgasall,
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Speaker 1: king of Albania, declared his good affection to the cause.
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Speaker 1: After this manner, I am not able to express the
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Speaker 1: joy that has transported me since my Lord has declared
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Speaker 1: to us as designs, for we seem to have done
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Speaker 1: nothing by all our past wars with so many impotent princes.
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Speaker 1: If the Romans and Germans be suffered to enjoy peace,
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Speaker 1: and we do not severely revenge on them the grievous
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Speaker 1: oppressions which they formerly brought upon this country. But now,
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Speaker 1: since you are at liberty to counter them, I am
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Speaker 1: overwhelmed with joy and eagerness of desire to see a
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Speaker 1: battle with them, when the blood of those cruel oppressors
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Speaker 1: will be no less acceptable to me that a spring
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Speaker 1: of water is to one who is parched with thirst.
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Speaker 1: If I shall but live to see that day, how
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Speaker 1: sweet will be the wounds which I shall then either
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Speaker 1: receive or give. Nay, how sweet shall be even death itself,
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Speaker 1: when suffered in revenging the injuries done to our ancestors,
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Speaker 1: in defending our liberties, and in promoting the glory of
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Speaker 1: our king. Let us then begin with these poltroons and
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Speaker 1: spoil them all of their trophies by making an entire
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Speaker 1: conquest of them. And I, for my share, will add
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Speaker 1: to the army two thousand horse Besides Foot Chapter nineteen,
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Speaker 1: they unanimously agree upon a war with the Romans. To
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Speaker 1: the same effect, spoke all the rest, and promised each
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Speaker 1: of them their full quota of forces, so that, besides
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Speaker 1: those promised by the Duke of Armorica, the number of
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Speaker 1: men from the island of Britain alone was sixty thousand,
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Speaker 1: all completely armed. But the kings of the other islands,
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Speaker 1: as they had not been accustomed to any cavalry, promised
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Speaker 1: their quota of infantry, and from the six provincial islands
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Speaker 1: viz Ireland, Iceland, Gothland, the Yorkneys, Norway and Dasia were
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Speaker 1: reckoned one hundred and twenty thousand. From the duchies of Gaul,
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Speaker 1: that is, of the Routini, the port Unians, the Estrusians,
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Speaker 1: the Canomanni, the Angadavians and the Picctavians were eighty thousand consulships.
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Speaker 1: Of those who came, along with Grindia's Carnateensis twelve hundred. Altogether,
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Speaker 1: they made up a hundred and eighty three thousand, two
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Speaker 1: hundred besides foot, which did not easily fall under number.
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Speaker 1: Chapter twenty, Arthur prepares for a war and refuses to
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Speaker 1: pay tribute to the Romans. King Arthur, seeing all unanimously
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Speaker 1: ready for his service, ordered them to return back to
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Speaker 1: their countries with speed and get ready the forces which
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Speaker 1: they had promised, and to hasten to the general rendezvous
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Speaker 1: upon the calands of August at the mouth of the
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Speaker 1: river Barber, that from thence they might advance with them
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Speaker 1: to the borders of the Alabroges to meet the Romans.
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Speaker 1: Then he sent word to the emperors by their ambassadors
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Speaker 1: that as to pay contribute, he would in no wise
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Speaker 1: obey their commands, and that the journey he was about
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Speaker 1: to make to Rome was not to stand the award
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Speaker 1: of their sentence, but to demand of them what they
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Speaker 1: had judicially decreed to demand of him. With this answer,
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Speaker 1: the ambassadors departed, and at the same time also departed
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Speaker 1: all the kings and noblemen to perform with all expedition
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Speaker 1: the orders that had been given them. End of Book nine,
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Speaker 1: Part two