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On the Ruin of Britain

St Gildas, tr. Williams, 1899

Growth of crimes among the Britons · The coming of the enemy suddenly made known

It was the invariable habit of the race, as it is also now, to be weak in repelling the missiles of enemies, though strong to bear civil strifes and the burdens of sins; weak, I say, to follow ensigns of peace and truth, yet strong for crimes and falsehood. The shameless Irish assassins, therefore, went back to their homes, to return again before long. It was then, for the first time, in the furthermost part of the island¹, that the Picts commenced their successive settlements, with frequent pillaging and devastation.

Growth of crimes among the Britons

During such truces, consequently, the ugly scar is healed for the deserted people. While another more poisonous hunger was silently growing on the other hand, and the devastation quieting down, the island was becoming rich with so many resources of affluence that no age remembered the possession of such afterwards: along with these resources of every kind, luxury also grew.² It grew, in fact, with strong root, so that it might fitly be said at that same time: such fornication is actually reported as is not even among the gentiles. But it was not this vice alone that grew, but also all to which human nature is generally liable: especially the vice which to-day also overthrows the place that appertains to all good in the island, that is to say, hatred of truth together with those who defend it, love of falsehood together with its fabricators, undertaking evil for good, respect for wickedness rather than for kindness, desire of darkness in preference to the sun, the welcoming of Satan as an angel of light. Kings were anointed, not in the name of God, but such as surpassed others in cruelty, and shortly afterwards were put to death by the men who anointed them, without any enquiry as to truth, because others more cruel had been elected. If, however, any one among them appeared to be of a milder disposition, and to some extent more attached to truth, against him were turned without respect the hatred and darts of all, as if he were the subverter of Britain; all things, those which were displeasing to God and those which pleased him, had at least equal weight in the balance, if, indeed, the things displeasing to him were not the more acceptable. In this way that saying of the prophet which was uttered against that ancient people might be applied with justice to our country: Ye lawless sons, he says, have forsaken God and provoked the Holy One of Israel to anger. Why will ye be stricken any more when ye add iniquity? Every head is weak and every heart grieving; from the sole of the foot to the crown there is no soundness in it.

The coming of the enemy suddenly made known

In this way they did all things that were contrary to salvation, as if there were no remedy to be supplied for the world by the true Healer of all men. It was not only men of the world who did this, but the Lord’s flock itself also and its pastors, who ought to have been an example to the whole people; they, in great numbers, as if soaked in wine through drunkenness, became stupified and enervated, and by the swelling of animosities, by the jar of strifes, by the grasping talons of envy, by confused judgement of good and evil, were so enfeebled that it was plainly seen, as in the present case, that contempt was being poured out upon princes, and that they were led astray by their vanities and error in a trackless place, and not on the way.

Notes

Insulae. The word has been taken as meaning Anglesey, and so furnishing evidence for a late date to this part of the De Excidio. This view connects the Picti of the present passage with the Gwyddyl Ffichti and Picti of late Welsh legends; see Academy, September 28th and November 16th, 1895. The sense seems fixed by c. 19, where we find almost the same words as here: “Omnem aquilonalem extremamque terrae partem pro indigenis muro tenus capessunt.” Extrema pars insulae must have the same meaning as extrema terrae pars, and the emphasis cannot but be on extrema, which is quite inappropriate as applied to Anglesey. Moreover, insula, everywhere else in Gildas, has no meaning except Britain. The Picts acquired, in the extreme part of Britain, settled possession of lands that were more south, i.e., nearer the Wall of Hadrian, than heretofore. Paulus Diaconus adds, concerning this settlement: nec ultra exinde hactenus valuerunt expelli. Historia Romana, xii, 17 (Droysen, M. Ger. H.).
It is impossible to tell what amount of definite fact there may be in this description of prosperity and moral decay. Though the style makes us suspicious, yet as the years of plenty were subsequent to 446, the old men of Gildas’ childhood and youth must have moved in the living tradition of them.