Ecclesiastical History of the English Nation Ecclesiastical History of the English Nation, Book I Chapter XII
by Venerable Bede
THE BRITONS, BEING RAVAGED BY THE SCOTS AND PICTS, SOUGHT SUCCOUR FROM THE ROMANS, WHO,
COMING A SECOND TIME, BUILT A WALL ACROSS THE ISLAND; BUT THE BRITONS BEING AGAIN INVADED
BY THE AFORESAID ENEMIES, WERE REDUCED TO GREATER DISTRESS THAN BEFORE
FROM that time, the south part of Britain, destitute of armed soldiers, of martial
stores, and of all its active youth, which had been led away by the rashness of the
tyrants, never to return, was wholly exposed to rapine, as being totally ignorant of the
use of weapons. Whereupon they suffered many years under two very savage foreign nations,
the Scots from the west, and the Picts from the north. We call these foreign nations, not
on account of their being seated out of Britain, but because they were remote from that
part of it which was possessed by the Britons; two inlets of the sea lying between them,
one of which runs in far and broad into the land of Britain, from the Eastern Ocean, and
the other from the Western, though they do not reach so as touch one another. The eastern
has in the midst of it the city Giudi. The western has on it, that is, on the right hand
thereof, the city Alcluith, which in their language signifies the Rock Cluith, for it is
close by the river of that name.
On account of the irruption of these nations, the Britons sent messengers to Rome with
letters in mournful manner, praying for succours, and promising perpetual subjection,
provided that the impending enemy should be driven away. An armed legion was immediately
sent them, which, arriving in the island, and engaging the enemy, slew a great multitude
of them, drove the rest out of the territories of their allies, and having delivered them
from their cruel oppressors, advised them to build a wall between the two seas across the
island, that it might secure them, and keep off the enemy; and thus they returned home
with great triumph. The islanders raising the wall, as they had been directed, not of
stone, as having no artist capable of such a work, but of sods, made it of no use.
However, they drew it for many miles between the two bays or inlets of the seas, which we
have spoken of; to the end that where the defense of the water was wanting, they might use
the rampart to defend their borders from the irruptions of the enemies. Of which work
there erected, that is, of a rampart of extraordinary breadth and height, there are
evident remains to be seen at this day. It begins at about two miles' distance from the
monastery of Abercurnig, on the west, at a place called in the Pictish language,
Peanfahel, but in the English tongue, Penneltun, and running to the westward, ends near
the city Alcluith.
But the former enemies, when they perceived that the Roman soldiers were gone,
immediately coming by sea, broke into the borders, trampled and overran all places, and
like men mowing ripe corn, bore down all before them. Hereupon messengers are again sent
to Rome, imploring aid, lest their wretched country should be utterly extirpated, and the
name of a Roman province, so long renowned among them, overthrown by the cruelties of
barbarous foreigners, might become utterly contemptible. A legion is accordingly sent
again, and, arriving unexpectedly in autumn, made great slaughter of the enemy. obliging
all those that could escape, to flee beyond the sea; whereas before, they were wont yearly
to carry off their booty without any opposition. Then the Romans declared to the Britons,
that they could not for the future undertake such troublesome expeditions for their sake,
advising them rather to handle their weapons like men, and undertake themselves the charge
of engaging their enemies, who would not prove too powerful for them, unless they were
deterred by cowardice; and, thinking that it might be some help to the allies, whom they
were forced to abandon, they built a strong stone wall from sea to sea, in a straight line
between the towns that had been there built for fear of the enemy, and not far from the
trench of Severus. This famous wall, which is still to be seen, was built at the public
and private expense, the Britons also lending their assistance. It is eight feet in
breadth, and twelve in height, in a straight line from east to west, as is still visible
to beholders. This being finished, they gave that dispirited people good advice, with
patterns to furnish them with arms. Besides, they built towers on the seacoast to the
southward, at proper distances, where their ships were, because there also the irruptions
of the barbarians were apprehended, and so took leave of their friends, never to return
again.
After their departure, the Scots and Picts, understanding that they had declared they
would come no more, speedily returned, and growing more confident than they had been
before, occupied all the northern and farthest part of the island, as far as the wall.
Hereupon a timorous guard was placed upon the wall, where they pined away day and night in
the utmost fear. On the other side, the enemy attacked them with hooked weapons, by which
the cowardly defenders were dragged from the wall, and dashed against the ground. At last,
the Britons, forsaking their cities and wall, took to flight and were dispersed. The enemy
pursued, and the slaughter was greater than on any former occasion; for the wretched
natives were torn in pieces by their enemies, as lambs are torn by wild beasts. Thus,
being expelled their dwellings and possessions, they saved themselves from starvation, by
robbing and plundering one another, adding to the calamities occasioned by foreigners, by
their own domestic broils, till the whole country was left destitute of food, except such
as could be procured in the chase.
