Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Legend Of The Introduction Of Masons Into England.
two most cruel Nations , the Scots and Piets . And at length were forced to send their Ambassadors with Letters and lamentable Supplications to Rome , ; requiring Aid and Succour from , thence , upon Promise of their continual Fealty ; so that the Romans would rescue them out of the Hands of their Enemies . Hereupon the Romans sent unto them a Legion , which coming into this Island , and encountering with the Enemies , overthrew a great
Number of them , and drove the rest out of the Frontiers of the Country ; and so setting the Britains at Liberty , conselled them to make a Wall , extending all along between the Two Seas ; which might be of Force to keep out their evil Neighbours ; and then returned home with great Triumph . But the Britains wanting Masons , builded that Wall , not of Stone , as they were advised , but made it of Turf ; and that so slenderthat it served little or
, nothing at all for their Defence . And the enemy perceiving that the Roman Legion was returned home , forthwith arrived out of their Boats , invaded the Borders , overcame the Country , ( and as it were ) bare down all that was before them .
" Whereupon Ambassadors were speedily despatched to Rome , lamentabl y beseeching that they would not suffer their miserable Country to be utterl y destroyed . Then again another Legion was sent ; which coming upon a sudden , made a great Slaughter of the Enemy , and chaccd him home even to his own Country . These Romans at their Departure told the Britains plainly , that it was not for their Ease or Leisure , to take npon them any more such long and laborious for their Defence : And therefore bade ihem
Journeys practice the Use of Armour and Weapons , and learn ¦ to withstand their Enemies ; whom nothing else did make so strong , as their faint Hearts and Cowardice . And forsomuch as they thought that it would be no small Help and Encouragement unto their Tributary Friends , whom they were now forced to forsake , they builded for them a Wall of hard Stone from the West Sea to the East Seadirectly along by those Citieswhich were made here and there
, , to keep out the Enemies , in the selfsame Place where Severns the Emperor had before cast his Trench ; The Britains also putting to their helping Hands , as Labourers . This Wall they built Eight Foot thick in Breadth , and Twelve Foot in Hei ght , right as it were by a Line , from East to West ; as the Ruins thereof remaining in many Places till this day do make apjiear .
" Which Work thus perfected , they ( the Romans ) give the People strai ght Charge to look well to themselves : They teach them to handle their Weapons , and they instruct them in Warlike Feats . And left by the Seaside , Southwards , where their Ships lay at Harbour , the Enemy should come on Land , they made up sundry Bulwarks , each somewhat distant from the other ; and so bade them farewel , as minding no more to return . This happened in the Days of the Emperor Theodosius , the younger , almost Five hundred Years after the first arrival of the Romans here , about the Year after Christ ' s Incarnation ccccxxxiv .
" The Britains after this , continuing a lingring and doubtful War with the Scots and Picts , made choice of Vortiger to be their King and Leader : which Man , as saith Malmsbury , was neither valorous of Courage , nor wise of Counsel , but wholl y given over to the unlawful Lusts of his Flesh . The People likewise , in short time , being grown to some Quietness , gave themselves to Gluttony and Drunkenness , Pride and Contention , Envy , and such
other Vices , casting from them the Yoke of Christ . In the mean Season a bitter Plague fell among them , consuming in short time such a Multitude that the Quick were not sufficient to bury the Dead . And yet the Remnant remained so hardened in Sin , that neither the Death of their Friends , nor Fear of their own Danger , could cure the Mortality of their Souls . Whereupon a greater Stroke of Vengeance ensued npon the whole sinful Nation . For being
now again infested with their old Nei ghbours , the Scots and Picts , they consult with their King Vortiger , and send for the Saxons . 2 D 2
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Legend Of The Introduction Of Masons Into England.
two most cruel Nations , the Scots and Piets . And at length were forced to send their Ambassadors with Letters and lamentable Supplications to Rome , ; requiring Aid and Succour from , thence , upon Promise of their continual Fealty ; so that the Romans would rescue them out of the Hands of their Enemies . Hereupon the Romans sent unto them a Legion , which coming into this Island , and encountering with the Enemies , overthrew a great
Number of them , and drove the rest out of the Frontiers of the Country ; and so setting the Britains at Liberty , conselled them to make a Wall , extending all along between the Two Seas ; which might be of Force to keep out their evil Neighbours ; and then returned home with great Triumph . But the Britains wanting Masons , builded that Wall , not of Stone , as they were advised , but made it of Turf ; and that so slenderthat it served little or
, nothing at all for their Defence . And the enemy perceiving that the Roman Legion was returned home , forthwith arrived out of their Boats , invaded the Borders , overcame the Country , ( and as it were ) bare down all that was before them .
" Whereupon Ambassadors were speedily despatched to Rome , lamentabl y beseeching that they would not suffer their miserable Country to be utterl y destroyed . Then again another Legion was sent ; which coming upon a sudden , made a great Slaughter of the Enemy , and chaccd him home even to his own Country . These Romans at their Departure told the Britains plainly , that it was not for their Ease or Leisure , to take npon them any more such long and laborious for their Defence : And therefore bade ihem
Journeys practice the Use of Armour and Weapons , and learn ¦ to withstand their Enemies ; whom nothing else did make so strong , as their faint Hearts and Cowardice . And forsomuch as they thought that it would be no small Help and Encouragement unto their Tributary Friends , whom they were now forced to forsake , they builded for them a Wall of hard Stone from the West Sea to the East Seadirectly along by those Citieswhich were made here and there
, , to keep out the Enemies , in the selfsame Place where Severns the Emperor had before cast his Trench ; The Britains also putting to their helping Hands , as Labourers . This Wall they built Eight Foot thick in Breadth , and Twelve Foot in Hei ght , right as it were by a Line , from East to West ; as the Ruins thereof remaining in many Places till this day do make apjiear .
" Which Work thus perfected , they ( the Romans ) give the People strai ght Charge to look well to themselves : They teach them to handle their Weapons , and they instruct them in Warlike Feats . And left by the Seaside , Southwards , where their Ships lay at Harbour , the Enemy should come on Land , they made up sundry Bulwarks , each somewhat distant from the other ; and so bade them farewel , as minding no more to return . This happened in the Days of the Emperor Theodosius , the younger , almost Five hundred Years after the first arrival of the Romans here , about the Year after Christ ' s Incarnation ccccxxxiv .
" The Britains after this , continuing a lingring and doubtful War with the Scots and Picts , made choice of Vortiger to be their King and Leader : which Man , as saith Malmsbury , was neither valorous of Courage , nor wise of Counsel , but wholl y given over to the unlawful Lusts of his Flesh . The People likewise , in short time , being grown to some Quietness , gave themselves to Gluttony and Drunkenness , Pride and Contention , Envy , and such
other Vices , casting from them the Yoke of Christ . In the mean Season a bitter Plague fell among them , consuming in short time such a Multitude that the Quick were not sufficient to bury the Dead . And yet the Remnant remained so hardened in Sin , that neither the Death of their Friends , nor Fear of their own Danger , could cure the Mortality of their Souls . Whereupon a greater Stroke of Vengeance ensued npon the whole sinful Nation . For being
now again infested with their old Nei ghbours , the Scots and Picts , they consult with their King Vortiger , and send for the Saxons . 2 D 2