Note 9 — Chapter I · SAXON AND WELSH TRADITIONS.

This is asserted both by Gildas and Nennius, and it is not in itself improbable. The Romans did sometimes attempt to disarm the nations they subdued: thus Probus with the Alamanni. Vopisc. cap. 14. Malmsbury’s account of the defenceless state of Britain was probably not exaggerated. He says: “Ita cum tyranni nullum in agris praeter semibarbaros, nullum in urbibus praeter ventri deditos reliquissent, Britannia omni patrocinio iuvenilis vigoris viduata, omni exercitio artium exinanita, conterminarum gentium inhiationi diu obnoxia fuit.” Gest. Reg. lib. i. § 2.