Britons

Gesta Danorum (Books I-IX)

• attestation: Just as he was preparing to fight him. (The Danish History, > Book Two)

  "Just as he was preparing to fight him, he heard from a scout that the King of the Britons was at hand, and could not look to his front and his rear both at once."

• attestation: Britons: They went on, and the Britons came up, but broke away after the plunder which lay spread out before... (The Danish History, > Book Two)

  "They went on, and the Britons came up, but broke away after the plunder which lay spread out before them."

• attestation: It was not thought to be that they, who had first forced the Britons to fly, would lightly fly themselves. (The Danish History, > Book Two)

  "It was not thought to be that they, who had first forced the Britons to fly, would lightly fly themselves."

• attestation: Two retainers of Feng then accompanied him, bearing a letter graven on wood--a kind of writing material frequent in old times; this letter enjoined the king of the Britons to put to death the youth... (The Danish History, > Book Three.)

  "Two retainers of Feng then accompanied him, bearing a letter graven on wood--a kind of writing material frequent in old times; this letter enjoined the king of the Britons to put to death the youth who was sent over to him."

• attestation: On this errand they went into the forest, and, coming upon the array of an armed encampment belonging to the forces of the Britons, they halted in doubt, but hastily retraced their steps when the t... (The Danish History, > Book Five.)

  "On this errand they went into the forest, and, coming upon the array of an armed encampment belonging to the forces of the Britons, they halted in doubt, but hastily retraced their steps when the truth was apparent."

Celtic Folklore: Welsh and Manx

• attestation: Britons speken greet honour, (Celtic Folklore: Welsh and Manx > Volume I > Chapter II: The Fairies' Revenge)

  "Of which that Britons speken greet honour,"

Layamon's Brut

• attestation: The Britons heard that, where they dwelt in the pits. (Layamon's Brut)

  "The Britons heard that, where they dwelt in the pits;"

• attestation: In earth and in stocks they hid them like badgers, in wood and in wilderness, in heath and in fen, so that well nigh no man might find any Briton, except they were in castle, or in burgh inclosed fast. When they heard of this word, that Constantin was in the land, then came out of the mountains many thousand men. (Layamon's Brut)

  "in earth and in stocks they hid them like badgers, in wood and in wilderness, in heath and in fen, so that well nigh no man might find any Briton, except they were in castle, or in burgh inclosed fast."

• attestation: Ye shall have silver and gold, the best horses of this land, clothes, and fair wives; your will I will perform Ye shall be to me dear, for the Britons are hateful to me, loud and still I will do your will, if ye will in land hold me for lord. (Layamon's Brut)

  "ye shall have silver and gold, the best horses of this land, clothes, and fair wives;"

• relationship: Thus say thy men, where they sit together, because the twain brothers are both royally born, of Androein's race, these noble Britons; and thus thy folk stilly condemn thee. (Layamon's Brut)

  "And thus say thy men, where they sit together, because the twain brothers are both royally born, of Androein's race, these noble Britons;"

• attestation: I will advise thee of thy great need, that thou procure knights that are good in fight. (Layamon's Brut)

  "But I will advise thee of thy great need, that thou procure knights that are good in fight;"

• attestation: Thus thy folk stilly condemn thee. But I will advise thee of thy great need, that thou procure knights that are good in fight. (Layamon's Brut)

  "and thus thy folk stilly condemn thee."

• attestation: For such events the town had these three names. (Layamon's Brut)

  "and for such events the town had these three names."

• attestation: Now and evermore the name standeth there, and for no other adventure had the burgh the name, until that Danish men came, and drove out the Britons. (Layamon's Brut)

  "Now and evermore the name standeth there, and for no other adventure had the burgh the name, until that Danish men came, and drove out the Britons;"

• attribution: The third name they set there, and Lanecastel (Lancaster) it named; and for such events the town had these three names. (Layamon's Brut)

  "the third name they set there, and Lanecastel (Lancaster) it named;"

• attestation: When the Britons saw that sorrow was in the land, therefore they were sorry, and in their heart dreary, and proceeded to the king, the highest of this land, and thus to him said with sorrowful voice: "Listen to us, lord king, of our discourse. (Layamon's Brut)

  "When the Britons saw that sorrow was in the land, therefore they were sorry, and in their heart dreary, and proceeded to the king, the highest of this land, and thus to him said with sorrowful voice: "Listen to us, lord king, of our discourse;"

• attestation: They drew out the saexes, all aside. (Layamon's Brut)

  "They drew out the saexes, all aside;"

• attribution: The Britons shaped to the land a name for the shame of Saxish men, and for the treachery that they had done, and for that cause that they with knives bereaved them of life, then called they all the land East-Sex and West-Sex, and the third Middle-Sex. (Layamon's Brut)

  "The Britons shaped to the land a name for the shame of Saxish men, and for the treachery that they had done, and for that cause that they with knives bereaved them of life, then called they all the land East-Sex and West-Sex, and the third Middle-Sex."

• attestation: On each side thither they gan ride, many a noble man's son, for gold and for treasure. When he had together sixty thousand men, then assembled he the nobles that well could advise: "Good men, say me counsel, for to me is great need, where I might in wilderness work a castle, wherein I might live with my men, and hold it against Hengest with great strength, until that I might the better win my burghs, and avenge me of my enemies who felled my friends, and have all my kingdom wrested out of my hand, and thus driven me out, my full foes? (Layamon's Brut)

  "on each side thither they gan ride, many a noble man's son, for gold and for treasure."

• attestation: The Britons saw that, that mischief was in the land, and how the Saxish men were come to them. (Layamon's Brut)

  "The Britons saw that, that mischief was in the land, and how the Saxish men were come to them."

• attestation: That heard the Britons, that heard the Scots, they came to him riding, thereafter full soon. (Layamon's Brut)

  "That heard the Britons, that heard the Scots, they came to him riding, thereafter full soon;"

• relationship: The brothers brought to this land a numerous host, and here came before them these bold Britons, a numerous folk, who would it all avenge, that ere were over the woods wondrously scattered, through the mickle dread, and through the great misery, and through the mickle harm that Hengest wrought them, and who had murdered all their chief men with knives, with axes cut in pieces the good thanes! (Layamon's Brut)

  "And the brothers brought to this land a numerous host, and here came before them these bold Britons,"

• attestation: The Britons heard this, and were full surely blithe. (Layamon's Brut)

  "The Britons heard this, and were full surely blithe;"

• attestation: They drew themselves out of the woods, and out of the wilderness, by sixty, and by sixty, and by seven hundred, by thirty, and by thirty, and by many thousands—-when they came together, full good it seemed to them! And the brothers brought to this land a numerous host, and here came before them these bold Britons, a numerous folk, who would it all avenge, that ere were over the woods wondrously scattered, through the mickle dread, and through the great misery, and through the mickle harm that Hengest wrought them, and who had murdered all their chief men with knives, with axes cut in pieces the good thanes! (Layamon's Brut)

  "they drew themselves out of the woods, and out of the wilderness, by sixty, and by sixty, and by seven hundred, by thirty, and by thirty, and by many thousands—-when they came together, full good it seemed to them!"

• attestation: The Britons were bold, and proceeded over the weald. (Layamon's Brut)

  "The Britons were bold, and proceeded over the weald."

• attestation: Now thou shalt pay retribution, and lose thy friends. (Layamon's Brut)

  "Now thou shalt pay retribution, and lose thy friends;"

• attestation: With swords rushed towards them; and the Irish were naked. (Layamon's Brut)

  "with swords rushed towards them;"

• attribution: They called on their king: "Where art thou, nithing! why wilt thou not come hither? (Layamon's Brut)

  "they called on their king: "Where art thou, nithing!"

• attestation: When the Irish men saw, that the Britons were in conflict, they fought fiercely, and nevertheless they fell. (Layamon's Brut)

  "When the Irish men saw, that the Britons were in conflict, they fought fiercely, and nevertheless they fell;"

• attestation: He established peace, he established quiet, that each man might journey with from land to land, though he bare gold in his hand, of peace he did such things, that no king might ever ere, from that time that the Britons here arrived. (Layamon's Brut)

  "He established peace, he established quiet, that each man might journey with from land to land, though he bare gold in his hand, of peace he did such things, that no king might ever ere, from that time that the Britons here arrived."

• attestation: His kin in this land killed our ancestors, but now is the day come, that the Lord hath appointed, that he shall lose the life, and lose his friends, or else we shall be dead, we may not see him alive! (Layamon's Brut)

  "His kin in this land killed our ancestors, but now is the day come, that the Lord hath appointed, that he shall lose the life, and lose his friends, or else we shall be dead, we may not see him alive!"

• attestation: That thou art wide known, keenest of all kings. Thou hast won many kingdom all to thine own hand, there is no king in land that may thee withstand, king nor kaiser, in ever any combat. (Layamon's Brut)

  "that thou art wide known, keenest of all kings."

• attestation: Thou hast won many kingdom all to thine own hand, there is no king in land that may thee withstand, king nor kaiser, in ever any combat. (Layamon's Brut)

  "Thou hast won many kingdom all to thine own hand, there is no king in land that may thee withstand, king nor kaiser, in ever any combat;"

• attestation: If he is to him too dear, then will he lie, and say of him more honour than he is worth; no man is he so wicked, that his friend will not act well to him. (Layamon's Brut)

  "if he is to him too dear, then will he lie, and say of him more honour than he is worth;"

• attestation: So doth every man, that another can love. (Layamon's Brut)

  "So doth every man, that another can love;"

• attestation: This believed the Britons, that he will thus come, and look ever when he shall come to his land, as he promised them, ere he hence went. (Layamon's Brut)

  "This believed the Britons, that he will thus come, and look ever when he shall come to his land, as he promised them, ere he hence went."

• attestation: Swords exceeding long they plucked out of sheath. (Layamon's Brut)

  "Swords exceeding long they plucked out of sheath;"

• attestation: Man against man set shaft to breast; burnies there brake. (Layamon's Brut)

  "man against man set shaft to breast;"

• attestation: The land he through passed, and the burghs he consumed, goods he took enow, and much folk he there slew. And Riculf gan him ride against Arthur anon. (Layamon's Brut)

  "the land he through passed, and the burghs he consumed, goods he took enow, and much folk he there slew."

• attestation: Together they came, and fight they began. The Britons advanced to them--woe there was rife! (Layamon's Brut)

  "together they came, and fight they began."

• attestation: The Britons advanced to them--woe there was rife! (Layamon's Brut)

  "The Britons advanced to them--woe there was rife!"

• attestation: Heads flew on the field, faces paled; man against man set shaft to breast. (Layamon's Brut)

  "heads flew on the field, faces paled;"

• attestation: The knights told them of their conquests, and made their boast of mickle booty. Might no man say, were he man ever so skilled, of half the blisses that were with the Britons! (Layamon's Brut)

  "and the knights told them of their conquests, and made their boast of mickle booty."

• attestation: Might no man say, were he man ever so skilled, of half the blisses that were with the Britons! (Layamon's Brut)

  "Might no man say, were he man ever so skilled, of half the blisses that were with the Britons!"

• attestation: Said these words--wisest of all Britons!--"Leave ye, leave quickly these knights alive! They shall not in my court suffer any harm. (Layamon's Brut)

  "and said these words--wisest of all Britons!--"Leave ye, leave quickly these knights alive!"

• attestation: Some of our kin they had slain, and some with horses drawn to pieces. (Layamon's Brut)

  "Some of our kin they had slain, and some with horses drawn to pieces;"

• attestation: The Britons might not against him defend their land, but with strength they went in hand, and delivered him all their land. (Layamon's Brut)

  "The Britons might not against him defend their land, but with strength they went in hand, and delivered him all their land;"

• attestation: Thereafter soon all became his men. Some of our kin they had slain, and some with horses drawn to pieces. (Layamon's Brut)

  "and thereafter soon all became his men."

• attestation: With strength and with fight men do many wrongs; for Caesar sought Britain with bold strength. (Layamon's Brut)

  "With strength and with fight men do many wrongs;"

• attestation: There he would abide until he the sooth knew, where he might the emperor certainly intercept (or hostilely engage). The water hight Albe, where the bold king lay. (Layamon's Brut)

  "and there he would abide until he the sooth knew, where he might the emperor certainly intercept (or hostilely engage)."

• attestation: Was enraged the boldest of all kings, and ordered all his tents to be pitched in the fields; and there he would abide until he the sooth knew, where he might the emperor certainly intercept (or hostilely engage). (Layamon's Brut)

  "Then was enraged the boldest of all kings, and ordered all his tents to be pitched in the fields;"

• attestation: This knight answered before the emperor, and thus him said--the knight was wicked:--"Knights, return you back, and make known to your king, that the Britons are bold, but they are accounted worthless. (Layamon's Brut)

  "This knight answered before the emperor, and thus him said--the knight was wicked:--"Knights, return you back, and make known to your king, that the Britons are bold, but they are accounted worthless;"

• attestation: Each drew his sword quickly, and each slew his Roman; and afterwards their horses they turned, and held their way. (Layamon's Brut)

  "and each drew his sword quickly, and each slew his Roman;"

• attestation: Thus the earl gan to call keenly to his companions: "The Britons will us destroy, if we hence go, unless we the better begin ere we hence depart!" Even with the speech that the earl said, they turned them soon, wondrously prompt; and each drew his sword quickly, and each slew his Roman. (Layamon's Brut)

  "And thus the earl gan to call keenly to his companions: "The Britons will us destroy, if we hence go, unless we the better begin ere we hence depart!" Even with the speech that the earl said, they turned them soon, wondrously prompt;"

• attestation: The Britons advanced to them, and slew their horses, and many there took, and into the wood drew. Then was Petreius wrath, that his force was there the worse. (Layamon's Brut)

  "and the Britons advanced to them, and slew their horses, and many there took, and into the wood drew."

• attestation: The Britons followed them, and slew them behind. When the Britons were out of the wood, come out in the field, then withstood the Rome-folk with fierce strength. (Layamon's Brut)

  "and the Britons followed them, and slew them behind."

• attestation: The Britons on foot firmly against them stood, and the Romanish men fought riding; and the Britons advanced to them, and slew their horses, and many there took, and into the wood drew. (Layamon's Brut)

  "and the Britons on foot firmly against them stood, and the Romanish men fought riding;"

• attestation: He caused them to be buried with great pomp. But he caused three kings to bear Luces the emperor, and caused a bier to be made, rich and exceeding lofty. (Layamon's Brut)

  "he caused them to be buried with great pomp."

• attestation: After a while voices there stirred; wide men might hear the Britons' clamour, and gan to tell in speeches of many kind, how they would destroy Modred and the queen, and slay all the people that held with Modred. (Layamon's Brut)

  "Then after a while voices there stirred;"

• attestation: Was there sorrow with the good king; then were the British men therefore exceedingly dispirited. (Layamon's Brut)

  "then was there sorrow with the good king;"

• attestation: Were the British men therefore exceedingly dispirited. Then after a while voices there stirred. (Layamon's Brut)

  "then were the British men therefore exceedingly dispirited."

Vita Merlini

• attestation: Blood flows everywhere and people die on both sides until the Britons rally and defeat the Scots, driving them to flight (Vita Merlini > Merlin at War and in Madness)

  "Sanguis ubique fluit : populi moriuntur utrinque. At tandem Britones revocatis undique turmis Conveniunt pariter, pariterque per arma ruentes Invadunt Scotos, prosternunt vulnera dantes ;"

• attestation: The Britons fight civil wars and kindred battles; they allow churches of God to fall to ruin and drive sacred bishops to remote kingdoms (Vita Merlini > Merlin at War and in Madness)

  " Civiles acies, cognataque prælia miscent. Ecclesias Domini patiuntur habere ruinam, Pontificesque sacros ad regna remota repellunt."