As this story touches upon history to a certain extent, perhaps too much licence has been taken with Ethelbert’s movements in bringing him as far west as the Severn Valley. The union between the Britons and Saxons was suggested by the historical league formed between the Britons and those Saxons who revolted against the detested Ceawlin, and, settling in the valley of the lower Severn, took the name of Hwiccan. The date of this league was 592—eleven years after the destruction of Uriconium which in the following story is placed about 578. Some liberty, also, has been taken with the date of Ethelbert’s marriage with Bertha, which took place in 584.
It seems hardly necessary to say that Banba and Fail are old bardic names for Ireland. And that the cities Gloucester, Cirencester and Bath were known in Roman days as Glevum, Corinium and Aque Sulio.
S. Kevin is known also as S. Coemgen.
The date of the Convocation at Druimceta is difficult to discover, but must have been during the reign of S. Columba’s friend, King Aedh, 572-599.
Dedicated to my Nephews and Nieces.
CONTENTS.
| Chapter. | Page. | |
|---|---|---|
| [I.] | From the Britons’ appeal to Aëtius—Commander of the Roman Armies, 446 A.D. | [11] |
| [II.] | Gléand dé | [21] |
| [III.] | From the Epistle of Gildas the most ancient BritishAuthor | [29] |
| [IV.] | Many a branch of the race of Conn is in the land of Banba of smooth grass(Book of Lecan) | [37] |
| [V.] | Why Ethne hates the Christians | [50] |
| [VI.] | The Sacred Heart of Hibernia | [60] |
| [VII.] | Into the Arms of Moloch | [69] |
| [VIII.] | Ethne again as Leader | [79] |
| [IX.] | To the North | [88] |
| [X.] | Bards of Hibernia | [98] |
| [XI.] | Saint Columba | [114] |
| [XII.] | The Fair | [122] |
| [XIII.] | Man and Woman | [134] |
| [XIV.] | Leader of the Kymry | [149] |
| [XV.] | The Black Horse | [158] |
| [XVI.] | Ethelbert of Kent | [172] |
| [XVII.] | Ethne’s Error | [181] |
| [XVIII.] | England’s First Christian Queen | [189] |
THE DRUIDESS.
CHAPTER I.
“The barbarians drive us to the sea; the sea drives us back to the barbarians; between them we are exposed to two sorts of death; we are either slain or drowned.”