length they brought to passe, to the ouerthrow not onelie of the British
dominion, but also to the subuersion of the Christian religion here in
this land: which chanced (às appeareth by Gildas) for the wicked sins
and vnthankefulnesse of the inhabitants towards God, the cheefe
occasions and causes of the transmutations of kingdoms, Nam propter
peccata, regna transmatantur à gente in gentem.

The Saxons obteining possession of the land, gouerned the same, being
diuided into sundrie kingdoms, and hauing once subdued the Britons, or
at the least-wise remooued them out of the most part of the Ile into od
corners and mountaines; fell at diuision among themselues, and
oftentimes with warre pursued ech other, so as no perfect order of
gouernement could be framed, nor the kings grow to any great puissance,
either to mooue warres abroad, or sufficientlie to defend themselues
against forren forces at home: as manifestlie was perceiued; when the
Danes and other the Northeasterne people, being then of great puissance
by sea, began misserablie to afflict this land: at the first inuading as
it were but onelie the coasts and countries lieng neere to the sea, but
afterwards with manie armies they entred into the midle parts of the
land. And although the English people at length came vnder one king, and
by that meanes were the better able to resist the enimies; yet at length
those Danes subdued the whole, and had possession thereof for a time
although not long, but that the crowne returned againe to those of the
Saxon line: till shortlie after, by the insolent dealings of the
gouernours, a diuision was made betwixt the king and his people, through
iust punishment decreed by the prouidence of the Almightie, determining
for their sinnes and contempt of his lawes, to deliuer them into the
hands of a stranger; and therevpon when spite and enuie had brought the
title in doubt, to whom the right in succession apperteined, the
Conquerour entred, and they remained a prey to him and his: who plucked