Bede Ecclesiastical History Book I Chapter Twenty
St. Bede the Venerable
Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglorum:The holy Bishops, after assisting the Britons, by imploring the divine aid, to overcome their enemies in battle, return home to their native country.
The History of the Primitive Church of England.
Book I, Chapter XX
Translated by Rev. William Hurst, 1814.
Chapter XX
The holy Bishops, after assisting the Britons, by imploring the divine aid, to overcome their enemies in battle, return home to their native country.
At this juncture, the Picts and the Scots with united forces made war on the Britons: who, being thus necessarily compelled to meet them in the field, and fearing for the event as judging themselves unequal to the contest, earnestly entreated the holy prelates to assist them; who, hastening to them as they had promised, raised their drooping spirits so much, that it seemed as if a powerful army had been sent to their succour; and Christ, by means of these apostolical leaders, aided them in the warfare.
This happened during the holy time of Lent, which the presence of the priests caused to be so religiously observed, that, by their daily preaching the word of God to the people, many of them were converted, who eagerly ran to receive the grace of baptism from them. The greatest part of the army earnestly begged to be admitted to the sacred laver of regeneration on this occasion. A kind of church is immediately formed of green branches, in which they celebrate the day of our Lord's resurrection, with as much devotion, during this military campaign, as if they had been peaceably residing in a city. The army, still wet with the baptismal water, marches forward with a lively faith; and though they have no confidence in their own strength, yet they firmly hope, by the help of God, to obtain the victory.
The hostile army, having been informed that things were in this posture, advanced with great alacrity, as confident of success against an unarmed multitude. But, fortunately, their approach was timely discovered by those who had been sent to watch their motions: and, when the paschal solemnity was over, the greater part of the forces, just come from the font, preparing to arm and carry on the war, Germanus declared he would be the leader in battle. He selected the most active, examined the situation of the country, and observed, that the way by which the hostile forces were expected to pass was a valley surrounded by hills. Here he drew up the undisciplined troops, and placed himself at their head. And now an immense multitude of the ferocious Saxons [error for "Scots"?] are discovered, by those whom the Britons had placed in ambuscade, approaching; on which Germanus, the standard-bearer, exhorts them all, and instructs them to repeat the watch-word, which they should hear him pronounce, in as loud a voice as they could raise and then fall on their enemies; who thinking their approach was not expected, marched forward in the greatest confidence of success, and without any precaution. Then the prelate cried out, "Alleluja, alleluja, alleluja!" An universal cry of the same word followed, and the encompassing hills resounding the echo, the enemy was struck with terror, fearing not only that the neighbouring rocks, but even the very hills were falling upon them; and so great was their panic, that they thought they could not run away fast enough. They dispersed in all directions, throwing down their arms, and thought themselves fortunate, if they could escape the danger without them. Many of them also were drowned in the river which they had to pass in this precipitate flight.
The inoffensive army of the Britons, with exultation, see the victory granted to them without any trouble, by the visible interposition of the Almighty, who thus took vengeance on their enemies. They collected the scattered spoils, and with great devotion celebrated the festivity of this victory, granted them from heaven. The holy prelates also rejoiced and triumphed at the sight of their foes, vanquished without bloodshed , rather by faith than by force of arms.
Having thus settled the affairs of the island, and secured its tranquillity by the defeat of all enemies, visible and invisible, they took their departure. Their own merits, and the intercession of the blessed martyr, St. Alban, obtained for them a prosperous voyage; and a favourable gale wafted them over to their own country, and restored them to their joyful people.
