sustained by the martiall prowesse of Vortimer, she found means that
within a while the said Vortimer was poisoned, after he had ruled the
Britains by the space of 6 or 7 yeares and od moneths.

¶ By the British historie it should séeme, that Vortimer before his
death handled the Saxons so hardlie, kéeping them besieged within the
Ile of Tenet, till at length they were constrained to sue for licence
to depart home into Germanie in safetie: and the better to bring this
to pas, they sent Vortigerne, (whome they had kept still with them
in all these battels) vnto his sonne Vortimer, to be a meane for the
obteining of their sute. But whilest this treatie was in hand, they
got them into their ships, and leauing their wiues and children behind
them, returned into Germanie. Thus far Gal. Mon. But how vnlikelie
this is to be true, I will not make anie further discourse, but onelie
refer euerie man to that which in old autentike historiographers
[Sidenote: _Will. Malmes._]
of the English nation is found recorded, as in Will. Malmes. Henr.
Hunt, Marianus, and others: vnto whome in these matters concerning
the dooings betwixt the Saxons and Britains, we maie vndoubtedlie and
safelie giue most credit.

William Malmes. writing of this Vortimer, or Guortigerne, and of the
warres which he had against the Saxons, varieth in a maner altogether
from Geffrey of Monmouth, as by his words here following ye maie
perceiue. Guortimer, the sonne of Vortimer (saith he) thinking not
good long to dissemble the matter, for that he saw himselfe and his
countriemen the Britains preuented by the craft of the English Saxons,
set his full purpose to driue them out of the realme, and kindled
his father to the like attempt. He therefore being the author and
procurer, seuen yeares after their first comming into this land, the