of a place convenient for the purpose of building a citadel. Having, to
no purpose, travelled far and wide, they came at length to a province
called Guenet;(2) and having surveyed the mountains of Heremus,(3) they
discovered, on the summit of one of them, a situation, adapted to the
construction of a citadel. Upon this, the wise men said to the king,
"Build here a city: for, in this place, it will ever be secure against
the barbarians." Then the king sent for artificers, carpenters,
stone-masons, and collected all the materials requisite to building; but
the whole of these disappeared in one night, so that nothing remained
of what had been provided for the constructing of the citadel. Materials
were, therefore, from all parts, procured a second and third time,
and again vanished as before, leaving and rendering every effort
ineffectual. Vortigern inquired of his wise men the cause of this
opposition to his undertaking, and of so much useless expense of labour?
They replied, "You must find a child born without a father, put him to
death, and sprinkle with his blood the ground on which the citadel is to
be built, or you will never accomplish your purpose."

(1) V.R. You shall find a fortified city in which you may
defend yourself.

(2) V.R. Guined, Guoienet, Guenez, North Wales.

(3) V.R. Heremi, Heriri, or Eryri, signifying eagle rocks,
the mountains of Snowdon, in Carnarvonshire. The spot
alluded to is supposed to be Dinas Emrys, or the fortress of
Ambrosius.

41. In consequence of this reply, the king sent messengers throughout
Britain, in search of a child born without a father. After having