Next I find, that about sixtie yeeres from the landing of Hengist, [Anno Do. 509.] one Nazaleod, a mightie King amongst the Bretons, ioyned battell with Certicus, Soueraigne of the West-Saxons, and after long fight, with his owne death accompanied the ouerthrow of his armie. [519.] Yet, the Bretons, thus abandoned by fortune, would not so forsake themselues, but with renued courage, and forces, coped once againe with Certicus, and his sonne Kenrick, at [97 Certicesford, thogh equally destitute of successe as before.
[590.] Gurmund, an arch Pirate of the Norwegians, was called by the Saxons, out of his late conquered Ireland, to their aide, against Careticus king of the Bretons; whom he ouercame in battel, and inforced his subiects to seeke safegard by flight, some in Wales, some in Cornwall, and some in little Breteigne: since which time, they could neuer recouer againe their auncient possession of the whole Iland.
[688.] Howbeit, not long after, Iuor, sonne to Alane, king of the said little Breteigne, landed in the West parts, wanne from the Saxons, Cornwall, Deuon, & Somerset shires, by force of armes, and then established his conquest, by a peaceable composition with his aduerse partie.
[720.] Adelred, king of West-sex, inuaded Deuon and Cornwall, whom Roderick, king of the Bretons, and Blederick Prince of those prouinces, encountred and discomfited: [750.] which notwithstanding, processe of time reaued from, him, and added such strength to his enemies, that he was driuen to abandon Cornwall, and retire into Wales.
[809.] So, the Cornishmen quitting their libertie with their prince, stouped to the commaund of Egbert King of West-sex, and with their territorie (saith William Malmsburie) enlarged his confines.
[937.] Athelstane handled them yet more extremely; for hee draue them out of Excester, where, till then, they bare equall sway with the Saxons, & left onely the narrow angle on the West of Tamer riuer, for their Inhabitance, which hath euer since beene their fatall bound.
On their Reguli (as Vincentius deliuereth) he imposed an yerely tribute, of 20. li. in gold, 300. li. in siluer, 25. oxen, and hunting hounds and hawkes, at discretion.
[997.] To these afflictions by home-neighbours of bondage, tribute, and banishing, was ioyned a fourth, of spoyling by forrayne enemies: for Roger Houedon telleth vs, that the Danes landed in sundry places of Cornwall, forrayed the Countrey, burned the Townes, and killed the people.
[1068.] To whom succeeded in the like occupation, Godwin, and Edmond magnus, King Harolds two sonnes, discomfiting the forces opposed against them, harrowing Deuon and Cornwall, and then retiring with their prey into Ireland.
[113.] After the conquest, when K. H. the first inuaded. Griffin ap Conan Prince of Wales, he distributed his armie into three portions, one of which (wherein consisted the forces of the fourth part of England and Cornwal) hee committed to the leading of Gilbert Earl of Strigill.