A.D. 435. ALDBOENTO SEITDS TBOOPS TO ΒΒΙΤΑΓΝ*. Armorica, or Laecania, to entreat assistance for his brethren. The king of that country at that time was Aldroenus, the fourth successor of Conan, to whom the tyrant Maximus had given that kingdom. And he, when he saw that venerable man, received him with due honour. But the archbishop, relating the cause of his arrival, burst into tears, and said, "You r nobleness is sufficiently aware, Ο king, how Maximus, who conferred this kingdom on you and your predecessors, deprived our island of its soldiers, and also robbed it of its men and women of the highest rank, and wé and our fellowcitizens have suffered great misery, having become a mere object of prey and plunder to all nations. We are not only oppressed by the enemy, but we are dying of hunger, being deprived of every sort of food, except what we can obtain by our skill in hunting. " We, therefore, cut off from all other hope, approach your grace, Ο most serene king, imploring you to come in person to bring us assistance ; and to dispose of χ the kingdom, which will then be your due after you have expelled the barbarians, at your own pleasure ; and to govern the people, and to restore to its ancient state a country which in old time subjugated very distant kingdoms." And when the archbishop, in a very long speech, had said this and a great deal more, the king replied in the following manner :— " There was once a time when I would not have refused to receive the island of Britain, but now that disasters have fallen on it, it has become less valuable in my eyes, and odious in those of my nobles. But because my grandfathers and greatgrandfathers possessed that island, I give you my brother Constantine, and two thousand soldiers with him. And if God permit, he will deliver the country from its enemies, and, being invested with the crown, he will possess the kingdom, with honour and glory." The king had scarcely made an end of speaking, when the archbishop addressed Constantine, a man of great reputation as a soldier, in the following cheerful words :— " Christ is victorious ! Christ is king ! Christ is emperor ! May the grace of Christ, therefore, stand by the king of Britain, who is our defence, that he may restore our miserable island to its former dignity." In short, ships were made ready on the shore, and the number of troops that I have already stated was enlisted from the different parts of the VOI.. I. Ρ