text:
Mon, Feb 07, 2011 | The Rubin Report | By Barry Rubin
Egypt and the Egyptian Revolt: Old Myths and New Myths
Nothing is more fashionable than hindsight. Here are some myths forming this week.
1. New myth: Egypt proves that stability doesn't work.
Let's see: The Egyptian regime has lasted 59 years and is still in power as I write. Sounds relatively stable to me. The U.S.-Egypt alliance has now lasted about 22 years. It was a successful policy even if it is going to end now.
Yes, things change but the fact that a strategy or policy doesn't succeed permanently does not mean it was a failure. For another example, consider the Israel-Turkey alliance.
2. Mubarak's downfall was inevitable.
Well, he's still president as I write this. What was inevitable is that an 82-year-old man is not immortal and he will not remain mortal that much longer either. Just because there are demonstrations in Cairo calling for the regime to fall doesn't mean that the regime must or will fall.
Ask the Iranian regime about that one.
Incidentally, Tunisian President Ben Ali was 75 when he was overthrown; Mubarak is 82. Old dictators need to give way to younger dictators. Look at Syria, when Hafiz al-Assad prepared well for his departure from the scene. And now young Bashar is doing just fine.
3. The Egyptian upheaval shows that the United States should not support so many dictators.
Can you name any dictators the United States supports now in the Middle East? How about South America? We are no longer in the 1980s. U.S. policy around the world supports remarkably few dictatorships. Of course, all the regimes on the other side, America's enemies, are dictatorships.
4. Being in power moderates revolutionary Islamist movements.
Can you name any? Because there is a list of examples to disprove this claim.
5. All problems in the world are Israel's fault.
Why bother to answer that one, the people who believe it won't listen any way.
6. All problems in the world are the fault of the United States.
If you hear this then you must be sitting in a university class, or even an elementary school class.
Or reading an editorial in a major U.S. newspaper, in this case the Washington Post:
"It's worth remembering what has led to the rise of Islamic extremism and anti-American rage in the Middle East. Arabs see Washington as having supported brutal dictatorships that suppress their people. They believe that it ignored this suppression as long as the regimes toed the line on American foreign policy."
It is hard to remember what is a fabrication. On one hand, which "brutal dictatorships" has the United States supported? I can only think of two possible countries in that category: the shah's Iran and Sadat-Mubarak Egypt. But wait!
What about all the "brutal dictatorships that suppress their people" that the United States opposed? Qadhafi/Libya, Nasser/Egypt, Sudan, Syria, Iraq/Saddam Hussein, Islamist Iran, Gaza/Hamas. There are far more brutal dictatorships that suppress their people that were anti-American.
Did the United States get any credit for its opposition to these regimes among the masses? No. And there's more: The anti-American regimes are more brutal than the pro-U.S. ones. In Hama in 1982 the Syrian government murdered between 10,000 and 30,000 civilians. The Iraqi dictatorship murdered tens of thousands of Kurds.
It is understandable that Usama bin Ladin and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad blame America for everything. Why should Americans echo those lies?
Here's one example: The anti-American Nasser sent Muslim Brotherhood leaders to concentration camps, tortured them and executed them. Sadat led the Brotherhood function again, in practice if not legally. Sure, he and Mubarak arrested and harassed Brotherhood members but who was really brutal?
The problem is that Western elites expect gratitude for being nice and attribute hostility to something they must have done. The ideology, search for a scapegoat, and outright demagoguery of your enemies dictate their attitudes toward you.
I'm starting to wonder whether Western media and intellectual elites are too dumb to survive.
7. This is the State Department's fault.
Absolutely not. It's the White House's fault. At the State Department, whatever its shortcomings, they still understand diplomacy: maintain credibility; take into account cultural differences; ensure deterrence; find out what's going on before you jump in; act privately and quietly; and don't tell a beleagured ally:
You're fired! Now pack your bags and get out! Oh, by the way, on second thought, please ensure a smooth transition!


text:
This third Book having to tell of accidents as various and
exemplary, as the intermission or change of Government hath any where brought
forth, may deserve attention more than common, and repay it with like benefit to
them who can judiciously read: considering especially that the late civil broils
hath cast us into a condition not much unlike to what the Britans were
then in, when the imperial jurisdiction departing hence left them to the sway of
thir own Counsels; which times by comparing seriously with these later, and that
confused Anarchy with this intereign, we may be able from two such remarkable
turns of State, producing like events among us, to raise a knowledge of our
selves both great and weighty, by judging hence what kind of men the Britans
generally are in matters of so high enterprise, how by nature, industry, or
custom fitted to attempt or undergoe matters of so main consequence: for if it
be a high point of wisdom in every private man, much more is it in a Nation to
know it self; rather than puft up with vulgar flatteries, and encomiums, for
want of self knowledge, to enterprise rashly and come off miserably in great
undertakings. The Britans thus as we heard being left without protection
from the Empire, and the Land in a manner emptied of all her youth, consumed in
Warrs abroad, or not caring to return home, themselves through long subjection,
servile in mind, sloathful of body, and with the use of Arms unacquainted,
sustain'd but ill for many years the violence of those barbarous Invaders who
now daily grew upon them. For although at first greedy of change, and to be
thought the leading Nation to freedom from the Empire, they seem'd a while to
bestirr them with a shew of diligence in thir new affairs, som secretly aspiring
to rule, others adoring the name of liberty, yet so soon as they felt by proof
the weight of what it was to govern well themselves, and what was wanting within
them, not stomach or the love of licence, but the wisdom, the virtue, the labour,
to use and maintain true libertie, they soon remitted thir heat, and shrunk more
wretchedly under the burden of thir own libertie, than before under a foren
yoke. Insomuch that the residue of those Romans which had planted
themselves heer, despairing of thir ill deportment at home, and weak resistance
in the field by those few who had the courage, or the strength to bear Arms,
nine years after the sacking of Rome remov'd out of Britain into France,
hiding for haste great part of thir treasure, which was never after found. And
now again the Britans, no longer able to support themselves against the
prevailing Enemy, sollicit Honorius to thir aid, with mournful Letters,
Embassages and vows of perpetual subjection to Rome if the Northern
Foe were but repuls't. He at thir request spares them one Legion, which with
great slaughter of the Scots and Picts drove them beyond the
Borders, rescu'd the Britans, and advis'd them to build a Wall cross the
Iland, between Sea and Sea, from the place where Edinburg now stands to
the Frith of Dunbritton, by the City Alcluith. But the material
being only Turf, and by the rude multitude unartificially built up without
better direction, avail'd them little. For no sooner was the Legion departed,
but the greedy spoilers returning, land in great numbers from thir Boats and
Pinaces, wasting, slaying, and treading down all before them. Then are
messengers again posted to Rome in lamentable sort, beseeching that they
would not suffer a whole Province to be destroy'd, and the Roman name, so
honourable yet among them, to become the subject of barbarian scorn and
insolence. The Emperor, at thir sad complaint, with what speed was possible
sends to thir succour. Who coming suddenly on those ravenous multitudes that
minded only spoil, surprise them with a terrible slaughter. They who escap'd,
fled back to those Seas, from whence yearly they were wont to arrive, and return
lad'n with booties. But the Romans who came not now to rule, but
charitably to aid, declaring that it stood not longer with the ease of thir
Affairs to make such laborious voyages in pursuit of so base and vagabond
robbers, of whom neither glory was to be got, nor gain, exhorted them to manage
thir own warfare; and to defend like men thir Country, thir Wives, thir
Children, and what was to be dearer than life, thir liberty, against an Enemy
not stronger than themselves, if thir own sloth and cowardise had not made them
so; if they would only find hands to grasp defensive Arms, rather than basely
stretch them out to receave bonds. They gave them also thir help to build a new
Wall, not of earth as the former, but of stone (both at the public cost, and by
particular contributions) traversing the Ile in direct line from East to West
between certain Cities plac'd there as Frontiers to bear off the Enemy, where Severus
had wall'd once before. They rais'd it 12 Foot high, 8 broad. Along the South
shoar, because from thence also like hostility was fear'd, they place Towers by
the Sea side at certain distances, for safety of the Coast. Withall they
instruct them in the art of Warr, leaving Patterns of thir Arms and Weapons
behind them; and with animating words, and many lessons of valour to a
faint-hearted audience, bid them finally farewell, without purpose to return.
And these two friendly Expeditions, the last of any hither by the Romans,
were perform'd, as may be gather'd out of Beda, and Diaconus, the
two last years of Honorius. Thir Leader, as som modernly write, was Gallio
of Ravenna; Buchanan, who departs not much from the Fables of his
Predecessor Boethius, names him Maximianus, and brings against him
to this Battel Fergus first King of Scots after thir second
suppos'd coming into Scotland, Durstus King of Picts, both
there slain, and Dioneth an imaginary King of Britain, or Duke of Cornwall,
who improbablie sided with them against his own Countrie, hardlie escaping. With
no less exactness of particular circumstances, he takes upon him to relate all
those tumultuarie inrodes of the Scots and Picts into Britain,
as if they had but yesterday happen'd, thir order of Battel, manner of fight,
number of slain, Articles of Peace, things whereof Gildas and Beda
are utterly silent, Authors to whom the Scotch Writers have none to cite
comparable in Antiquity; no more therefore to be believ'd for bare assertions,
however quaintlie drest, than our Geofry of Monmouth when he
varies most from authentick storie. But either the inbred vanity of some, in
that respect unworthily call'd Historians, or the fond zeal of praising thir
Nations above truth hath so far transported them, that where they find nothing
faithfully to relate, they fall confidently to invent what they think may either
best set off thir Historie, or magnifie thir Countrie.
The Scots and Picts in manners differing somwhat from
each other, but still unanimous to rob and spoile, hearing that the Romans
intended not to return, from thir Gorroghs, or Leathern Frigats pour out
themselves in swarms upon the land, more confident than ever: and from the North
end of the Ile to the very wall side, then first took possession as inhabitants;
while the Britans with idle Weapons in thir hands stand trembling on the
Battlements, till the half-naked Barbarians with thir long and formidable Iron
hooks pull them down headlong. The rest not only quitting the Wall but Towns and
Cities, leave them to the bloodie pursuer, who follows killing, wasting, and
destroying all in his way. From these confusions arose a Famin, and from thence
discord and civil commotion among the Britans: each man living by what he
rob'd or took violently from his Neighbour. When all stores were consum'd and
spent where men inhabited, they betook them to the Woods, and liv'd by hunting,
which was thir only sustainment. To the heaps of these evils from without, were
added new divisions within the Church. For Agricola the Son of Severianus
a Pelagian Bishop had spread his Doctrine wide among the Britans
not uninfected before. The sounder part neither willing to embrace his opinion
to the overthrow of divine grace, nor able to refute him, crave assistance from
the Churches of France: who send them Germanus Bishop of Auxerre
and Lupus of Troyes. They by continual preaching in Churches, in
Streets, in Fields, and not without miracles, as is writt'n, confirm'd som,
regain'd others, and at Verulam in a public disputation put to silence
thir chief adversaries. This reformation in the Church was beleev'd to be the
cause of thir success a while after in the field. For the Saxons and Picts
with joint force, which was no new thing before the Saxons at least had
any dwelling in this Iland, during the abode of Germanus heer, had made a
strong impression from the North. The Britans marching out against them,
and mistrusting thir own power, send to Germanus and his Collegue,
reposing more in the spiritual strength of those two men, than in thir own
thousands arm'd. They came, and thir presence in the Camp was not less than if a
whole Army had com to second them. It was then the time of Lent, and the
people instructed by the daily Sermons of these two Pastors, came flocking to
receave Baptism. There was a place in the Camp set apart as a Church, and
trick'd up with boughs upon Easter-day. The Enemy understanding this, and
that the Britans were tak'n up with Religions more than with feats of
Arms, advances, after the Paschal Feast, as to a certain Victorie. German
who also had intelligence of thir approach, undertakes to be Captain that day;
and riding out with selected Troops to discover what advantages the place might
offer, lights on a Valley compass't about with Hills, by which the Enemy was to
pass. And placing there his ambush, warns them that what word they heard him
pronounce aloud, the same they should repeat with universal shout. The Enemy
passes on securely, and German thrice aloud cries Halleluia; which
answered by the Souldiers with a sudd'n burst of clamour, is from the Hills and
Valleys redoubled. The Saxons and Picts on a sudden supposing it
the noise of a huge Hoast, throw themselves into flight, casting down thir Arms,
and great numbers of them are drown'd in the River which they had newly pass'd.
This Victory, thus won without hands, left to the Britans plenty of
spoile, and to the person and the preaching of German greater authority
and reverence than before. And the exploit might pass for current, if Constantius,
the Writer of his life in the next age, had resolv'd us how the British
Army came to want baptizing; for any of Paganism at that time, or long before,
in the Land we read not, or that Pelagianism was re-baptiz'd. The place
of this Victory, as is reported, was in Flintshire by a Town call'd Guid-cruc,
and the River Allen, where a field retains the name of Maes German
to this day. But so soon as German was return'd home, the Scots
and Picts, though now so many of them Christians, that Palladius a
Deacon was ordain'd and sent by Celestine the Pope to be a Bishop over
them, were not so well reclaim'd, or not so many of them as to cease from doing
mischief to thir Neighbours, where they found no impeachment to fall in yearly
as they were wont. They therefore of the Britans who perhaps were not yet
wholly ruin'd in the strongest and South-west parts of the Ile, send Letters to Aelig;tius,
then third time Consul of Rome, with this superscription; To &Aelig;tius
thrice Consul, the groanes of the Britans. And after a few words thus: The
barbarians drive us to the Sea, the Sea drives us back to the barbarians; thus
bandied up and down between two deaths we perish, either by the Sword or by the
Sea. But the Empire at that time overspread with Hunns and Vandals,
was not in condition to lend them aid. Thus rejected and wearied out with
continual flying from place to place, but more afflicted with Famine, which then
grew outrageous among them, many for hunger yielded to the Enemy, others either
more resolute, or less expos'd to wants, keeping within Woods, and Mountainous
places, not only defended themselves, but sallying out at length gave a stop to
the insulting Foe with many seasonable defeats; led by some eminent person, as
may be thought, who exhorted them not to trust in thir own strength, but in
Divine assistance. And perhaps no other heer is meant than the foresaid
deliverance by German, if computation would permit, which Gildas
either not much regarded, or might mistake; but that he tarried so long heer,
the Writers of his life assent not. Finding therefore such opposition, the Scots
or Irish Robbers, for so they are indifferently term'd, without delay get
them home. The Picts, as before was mentioned, then first began to settle
in the upmost parts of the Iland, using now and then to make inrodes upon the Britans.
But they in the mean while thus ridd of thir Enemies, begain afresh to till the
ground; which after cessation yields her fruit in such abundance, as had not
formerly bin known for many Ages. But wantonness and luxury, the wonted
companions of plenty, grow up as fast, and with them, if Gildas deserve
belief, all other vices incident to human corruption. That which he notes
especially to be the chief perverting of all good in the Land, and so continued
in his days, was the hatred of truth, and all such as durst appear to vindicate
and maintain it. Against them, as against the only disturbers, all the malice of
the Land was bent. Lies and falsities, and such as could best invent them, were
only in request. Evil was embrac'd for good, wickedness honour'd and esteem'd as
virtue. And this quality thir valour had, against a foren Enemy to be ever
backward and heartless; to civil broils eager and prompt. In matters of
Government, and the search of truth, weak and shallow, in falshood and wicked
deeds pregnant and industrious. Pleasing to God, or not pleasing, with them
weighed alike; and the worse most an end was the weightier. All things were done
contrary to public welfare and safety; nor only by secular men, for the Clergy
also, whose Example should have guided others, were as vitious and corrupt. Many
of them besotted with continual drunkenness; or swoln with pride and
willfulness, full of contention, full of envy, indiscreet, incompetent Judges to
determine what in the practice of life is good or evil, what lawful or unlawful.
Thus furnish'd with judgment, and for manners thus qualifi'd both Priest and
Lay, they agree to chuse them several Kings of thir own; as neer as might be,
likest themselves; and the words of my Author import as much. Kings were
anointed, saith he, not of Gods anointing, but such as were cruellest, and soon
after as inconsiderately, without examining the truth, put to death by thir
anointers, to set up others more fierce and proud. As for the election of thir
Kings (and that they had not all one Monarch, appears both in Ages past and by
the sequel) it began, as nigh as may be guess'd, either this Year or the
following, when they saw the Romans had quite deserted thir claim. About
which time also Pelagianism again prevailing by means of some few, the British
Clergie too weak, it seems, at dispute, entreat the second time German to
thir assistance. Who coming with Severus a Disciple of Lupus that
was his former associate, stands not now to argue, for the people generally
continu'd right; but enquiring those Authors of new disturbance, adjudges them
to banishment. They therefore by consent of all were deliver'd to German;
who carrying them over with him, dispos'd of them in such place where neither
they could infect others, and were themselves under cure of better instruction.
But Germanus the same year dy'd in Italy; and the Britans
not long after found themselves again in much perplexity, with not slight rumour
that thir old troublers the Scots and Picts had prepar'd a strong
invasion, purposing to kill all and dwell themselves in the Land from end to
end. But ere thir coming in, as if the instruments of Divine justice had bin at
strife, which of them first should destroy a wicked Nation, the Pestilence
forestalling the Sword left scarce alive whom to bury the dead; and for that
time, as one extremity keeps off another, preserv'd the Land from a worse
incumbrance of those barbarous dispossessors, whom the Contagion gave not leave
now to enter farr. And yet the Britans nothing better'd by these heavy
judgments, the one threatn'd the other felt, instead of acknowledging the hand
off Heaven, run to the Palace of thir King Vortigern with complaints and
cries of what they suddenly fear'd, from the Pictish invasion. Vortigern,
who at that time was chief rather than sole King, unless the rest had perhaps
left thir Dominions to the common Enemy, is said by him of Monmouth to
have procur'd the death first of Constantine, then of Constance
his Son, who of a Monk was made King, and by that means to have usurp'd the
Crown. But they who can remember how Constantine with his Son Constance
the Monk, the one made Emperor, the other Cæsar, perish'd in France,
may discern the simple fraud of this Fable. But Vortigern however coming
to reign, is decipher'd by truer stories a proud unfortunate Tyrant, and yet of
the people much belov'd, because his vices sorted so well with theirs. For
neither was he skill'd in Warr, nor wise in Counsel, but covetous, lustful,
luxurious, and prone to all vice; wasting the public Treasure in gluttony and
riot, careless of the common danger, and through a haughty ignorance,
unapprehensive of his own. Nevertheless importun'd and awak'd at length by
unusual clamours of the people, he summons a general Council, to provide some
better means than heretofore had been us'd against these continual annoyances
from the North. Wherein by advice of all it was determin'd, that the Saxons
be invited into Britan against the Scots and Picts; whose
breaking in they either shortly expected, or already found they had not strength
anough to oppose. The Saxons were a barbarous and heathen Nation, famous
for nothing else but robberies and cruelties done to all thir Neighbours both by
Sea and Land; in particular to this Iland, witness that military force which the
Roman Emperors maintain'd heer purposely against them, under a special
Commander, whose title, as is found, on good record, was Count of the Saxon
shoar in Britain; and the many mischiefs done by thir landing heer, both
alone and with the Picts, as above hath been related, witness as much.
They were a people thought by good Writers, to be descended of the Sacæ,
a kind of Scythian in the North of Asia, thence call'd Sacasons
or Sons of Sacæ, who with a Flood of other Northern nations came into Europe,
toward the declining of the Roman Empire; and using Pyracy from Denmark
all along these Seas, possess'd at length by intrusion all that Coast of Germany
and the Nether-lands, which took thence the name of old Saxony,
lying between the Rhene and Elve, and from thence North as far as Eidora,
the River bounding Holsatia, though not so firmly, or so largely, but
that thir multitude wander'd yet uncertain of habitation. Such guests as these
the Britans resolve now to send for, and entreat into thir houses and
possessions, at whose very name heertofore they trembl'd afar off. So much do
men through impatience count ever that the heaviest which they bear at present,
and to remove the evil which they suffer, care not to pull on a greater: as if
variety and change in evil were also acceptable. Or whether it be that men in
despair of better, imagine fondly a kind of refuge from one misery to another.
The Britans therefore, with Vortigern, who was then
accounted King over them all, resolve in full Council to send Embassadors of
thir choicest men with great gifts, and saith a Saxon Writer in these
words, desiring thir aid. Worthy Saxons, hearing the fame of your
prowess, the distressed Britans wearied out, and overprest by a continual
invading Enemy, have sent us to beseech your aid. They have a Land fertile and
spatious, which to your commands they bid us surrender. Heertofore we have liv'd
with freedom, under the obedience and protection of the Roman Empire.
Next to them we know none worthier than your selves; and therefore become
suppliants to your valour. Leave us not below our present Enemies, and to ought
by you impos'd, willingly we shall submit. Yet Ethelwerd writes not
that they promis'd subjection, but only amity and league. They therefore who had
chief rule among them, hearing themselves entreated by the Britans, to
that which gladly they would have wish't to obtain of them by entreating, to the
British Embassy return this answer. Be assur'd henceforth of the Saxons,
as of faithful friends to the Britans, no less ready to stand by them in
thir need, than in thir best of fortune. The Embassadors return joyful, and with
news as welcome to thir Countrie, whose sinister fate had now blinded them for
destruction. The Saxons, consulting first thir Gods (for they had answer,
that the Land whereto they went, they should hold 300 years, half that time
conquering, and half quietly possessing) furnish out three long Gallies, or
Kyules, with a chos'n company of warlike youth, under the conduct of two
Brothers, Hengist and Horsa, descended in the fourth degree from Woden;
of whom, deify'd for the fame of his acts, most Kings of those Nations derive
thir pedigree. These, and either mixt with these, or soon after by themselves,
two other Tribes, or neighbouring people, Jutes and Angles, the
one from Jutland, the other from Anglen by the City of Sleswich,
both Provinces of Denmark, arrive in the first year of Martian the
Greek Emperor, from the birth of Christ 450, receav'd with much good will
of the people first, then of the King, who after some assurances giv'n and tak'n,
bestows on them the Ile of Tanet, where they first landed, hoping they
might be made heerby more eager against the Picts, when they fought as
for thir own Countrie, and more loyal to the Britans, from whom they had
receav'd a place to dwell in, which before they wanted. The British Nennius
writes that these Brethren were driv'n into exile out of Germany, and to Vortigern
who reigned in much fear, one while of the Picts, then of the Romans,
and Ambrosius, came opportunely into the Hav'n. For it was the custom in old
Saxony, when thir numerous off-spring overflow'd the narrowness of thir bounds,
to send them out by lot into new dwellings, wherever they found room, either
vacant or to be forc't. But whether sought, or unsought, they dwelt not heer
long without employment. For the Scots and Picts were now come
down, som say, as far as Stamford in Lincoln-shire, whom, perhaps
not imagining to meet new opposition, the Saxons, though not till after a
sharp encounter, put to flight; and that more than once: slaying in fight, as
some Scotch Writers affirm, thir King Eugenius the Son of Fergus.
Hengist percaeving the Iland to be rich and fruitful, but her Princes and
other inhabitants giv'n to vicious ease, sends word home, inviting others to a
share of his good success. Who returning with 17 Ships, were grown up now to a
sufficient Army, and entertain'd without suspicion on these terms, that they
should bear the brunt of War against the Picts, receaving stipend and
some place to inhabit. With these was brought over the Daughter of Hengist;
a Virgin wondrous fair, as it is reported, Rowen the British call
her: she by commandment of her Father, who had invited the King to a Banquet,
coming in presence with a Bowle of Wine to welcome him, and to attend on his Cup
till the Feast ended, won so much upon his fancy, though already wiv'd, as to
demand her in mariage upon any conditions. Hengist at first, though it
fell out perhaps according to his drift, held off, excusing his meanness; then
obscurely intimating a desire and almost a necessity, by reason of his augmented
numbers, to have his narrow bounds of Tanet enlarg'd to the Circuit of Kent,
had it streit by donation: though Guorangonus till then was King of that
place: and so, as it were overcome by the great munificence of Vortiger,
gave his Daughter. And still encroaching of the Kings favour, got furder leave
to call over Octa and Ebissa, his own and his Brothers Son;
pretending that they, if the North were giv'n them, would sit there as a
continual defence against the Scots, while himself guarded the East. They
therefore sayling with forty Ships eev'n to the Orcades, and every way
curbing the Scots and Picts, possess'd that part of the Ile which
is now Northumberland. Notwithstanding this they complain that thir
monthly pay was grown much into arrear; which when the Britans found
means to satisfie, though alleging withall that they to whom promise was made of
wages, were nothing so many in number, quieted with this a while, but still
seeking occasion to fall off, they find fault next, that their pay is too small
for the danger they undergo, threatning op'n Warr unless it be augmented. Guortimer
the Kings Son perceaving his Father and the Kingdom thus betray'd, from that
time bends his utmost endeavour to drive them out. They on the other side making
League with the Picts and Scots, and issuing out of Kent,
wasted without resistance almost the whole Land eev'n to the Western Sea, with
such a horrid devastation, that Towns and Colonies overturn'd, Preists and
people slain, Temples, and Palaces, what with fire and Sword lay alltogether
heap'd in one mixt ruin. Of all which multitude, so great was the sinfullness
that brought this upon them, Gildas adds that few or none were likely to
be other then lew'd and wicked persons. The residue of these, part overtak'n in
the Mountains were slain; others subdu'd with hunger preferr'd slavery before
instant death; some getting to Rocks, Hills and Woods inaccesible, preferr'd the
fear and danger of any Death before the shame of a secure slavery; many fled
over Sea into other Countries; some into Holland, where yet remain the
ruins of Brittenburgh, an old Castle on the Sea, to be seen at low water
not far from Leiden; either built, as Writers of thir own affirm, or
seis'd on by those Britans in thir escape from Hengist. Others
into Armorica, peopl'd as som think, with Britans long before;
either by guift of Constantine the Great, or else of Maximus
to those British Forces which had serv'd them in Forein Wars; to whom
those also that miscarried not with the latter Constantine at Arles;
and lastly, these exiles driv'n out by Saxons, fled for refuge. But the
antient Chronicles of those Provinces attest thir coming thether to be then
first when they fled the Saxons, and indeed the name of Britain in
France is not read till after that time. Yet how a sort of fugitives who
had quitted without stroke thir own Country, should so soon win another, appears
not; unless joyn'd to som party of thir own settl'd there before. Vortiger
nothing better'd by these calamities, grew at last so obdurat as to commit
incest with his daughter, tempted or tempting him out of an ambition to the
Crown. For which beeing censur'd and comdemn'd in a great Synod of Clercs
and Laics, and partly for fear of the Saxons, according to the
Counsel of his Peers he retir'd into Wales, and built him there a strong
Castle in Radnorshire by the advice of Ambrosius a young prophet,
whom others call Merlin. Nevertheless Faustus, who was the Son
thus incestuously begott'n under the instructions of German, or some of
his Disciples, for German was dead before, prov'd a religious man, and
liv'd in devotion by the River Remnis in Clamorganshire. But the Saxons,
though finding it so easy to subdue the Ile, with most of thir Forces, uncertain
for what cause, return'd home: when as the easiness of thir Conquest might seem
rather likely to have call'd in more. Which makes more probable that which the British
write of Guortemir. For he coming to Reigne, instead of his Father
depos'd for incest, is said to have thrice driv'n and beseig'd the Saxons
in the Ile of Taneth; and when they issu'd with powerful supplies sent
from Saxony, to have fought with them fowr other Battels, wherof three
are nam'd; the first on the River Darwent, the second at Episford,
wherin Horsa the Brother of Hengist fell, and on the British
part Catigern the other Son of Vortiger. The third in a Feild by Stonar
then call'd Lapis tituli in Tanet, where he beat them into thir
Ships that bore them home, glad to have so scap'd and not venturing to land
again for 5 years after. In the space wherof Guortemir dying, commanded
they should bury him in the Port of Stonar, perswaded that his bones
lying there would be terror enough to keep the Saxons from ever landing
in that place: they, saith Ninnius, neglecting his command, buried him in
Lincoln. But concerning these times, antientest annals of the Saxons
relate in this manner. In the year 455. Hengist and Horsa fought
against Vortigern, in a place called Eglesthrip, now Ailsford
in Kent; where Horsa lost his life, of whom Horsted, the
place of his burial, took name.
After this first Battel and the Death of his Brother, Hengist
with his Son Esca took on him Kingly Title, and peopl'd Kent with Jutes;
who also then or not long after possess'd the Ile of Wight, and part of Hamshire
lying opposite. Two years after in a fight at Creganford, or Craford,
Hengist and his Son slew of the Britans four Cheif Commanders, and
as many thousand men: the rest in great disorder flying to London, with
the total loss of Kent. And 8 years passing between, he made new Warr on
the Britans; of whom in a Battel at Wippeds-fleot, 12 Princes were
slain, and Wipped the Saxon Earl, who left his name to that place,
though not sufficient to direct us where it now stands. His last encounter was
at a place not mention'd, where he gave them such an overthrow, that flying in
great fear they left the spoil of all to thir Enemies. And these perhaps are the
4 Battels, according to Nennius, fought by Guortemir, though by
these writers far differently related; and happ'ning besides many other
bickerings, in the space of 20 years, as Malmsbury reck'ns. Nevertheless
it plainly appears that the Saxons, by whomsoever, were put to hard
shifts, being all this while fought withall in Kent, thir own allotted
dwelling, and somtimes on the very edge of the Sea, which the word Whippeds-fleot
seems to intimat. But Guotemir now dead, and none of the courage left to
defend the Land, Vortigern either by the power of his faction, or by
consent of all, reassumes the Government: and Hengist thus rid of his
grand opposer, hearing gladly the restorement of his old favourer, returns again
with great Forces; but to Vortigern whom he well knew how to handle
without warring, as to his Son in Law, now that the only Author of dissention
between them was remov'd by Death, offers nothing but all terms of new league
and amity. The King both for his Wives sake and his own sottishness, consulting
also with his Peers not unlike himself, readily yeilds; and the place of parly
is agree'd on; to which either side was to repair without Weapons. Hengist,
whose meaning was not peace, but treachery, appointed his men to be secretly
arm'd, and acquainted them to what intent. The watch-word was Nemet eour
Saxes, that is Draw your Daggers; which they observing, when the Britans
were throughly heated with Wine (for the Treaty it seems was not without Cups)
and provok'd, as was plotted, by som affront, dispatch'd with those Poniards
every one his next man, to the number of 300. the cheif of those that could do
ought against him either in Counsel or in Field. Vortigern they only
bound and kept in Custody, untill he granted them for his ransome three
Provinces, which were called afterward Essex, Sussex, and Middlesex.
Who thus dismist, retiring again to his solitary abode in the Country of Guorthigirniaun,
so call'd by his name, from thence to the Castle of his own building in North-Wales,
by the River Tiebi; and living there obscurely among his Wives, was at
length burnt in his Towre by fire from Heav'n at the Praier, as som say, of German,
but that coheres not; as others, by Ambrosius Aurelian; of whom as we
have heard at first, he stood in great fear, and partly for that cause invited
in the Saxons. Who whether by constraint or of thir own accord after much
mischeif don, most of them returning back into thir own Country, left a fair
opportunity to the Britans of avenging themselves the easier on those
that staid behinde. Repenting therefore, and with earnest supplication imploring
divine help to prevent thir final rooting out, they gather from all parts, and
under the leading of Ambrosius Aurelianus, a vertuous and modest man, the
last heer of Roman stock, advancing now onward against the late Victors,
defeat them in a memorable Battell. Common opinion, but grounded cheifly on the British
Fables, makes this Ambrosius to be a younger Son of that Constantine,
whose eldest, as we heard, was Constance the Monk: who both lost thir
lives abroad usurping the Empire. But the express words both of Gildas
and Bede, assures us that the Parents of this Ambrosius having
heer born regal dignity, were slain in these Pictish Wars and commotions
in the Iland. And if the fear of Ambrose induc'd Vortigern to call
in the Saxons, it seems Vortigern usurp'd his right. I perceave
not that Nennius makes any difference between him and Merlin: for
that Child without Father that propheci'd to Vortigern, he names not Merlin
but Ambrose, makes him the Son of a Roman Consul; but conceal'd by his
mother, as fearing that the King therfore sought his life; yet the youth no
sooner had confess'd his parentage, but Vortigern either in reward of his
predictions, or as his right, bestow'd upon him all the West of Britain;
himself retiring to a solitary life. Whose ever Son he was, he was the first,
according to surest Authors, that led against the Saxons, and overthrew
them; but whether before this time of after, none have writt'n. This is certain,
that in a time when most of the Saxon Forces were departed home, the Britans
gather'd strength; and either against those who were left remaining, or against
thir whole powers, the second time returning obtain'd this Victory. Thus Ambrose
as cheif Monarch of the Ile succeeded Vortigern; to whose third Son Pascentius
he permitted the rule of two Regions in Wales, Buelth, and Guorthigirniaun.
In his daies, saith Nennius, the Saxons prevail'd not much:
against whom Arthur, as beeing then Cheif General for the British
Kings, made great War; but more renown'd in Songs and Romances, then in true
stories. And the sequel it self declares as much. For in the year 477. Ella
the Saxon, with his three Sons, Cymen, Pleting, and Cissa,
at a place in Sussex call'd Cymenshore, arrive in three Ships,
kill many of the Britans, chasing them that remain'd into the Wood Andreds
Leage. Another Battell was fought at Mercreds-Burnamsted, wherein Ella
had by far the Victory: but Huntingdon makes it so doubtful, that the Saxons
were constrain'd to send home for supplies. Four year after dy'd Hengist
the first Saxon King of Kent; noted to have attain'd that dignity
by craft, as much as valour, and giving scope to his own cruel nature, rather
than proceeding by mildness or civility. His Son Oeric surnam'd Oisc,
of whom the Kentish Kings were call'd Oiscings, succeeded him, and sate
content with his fathers winnings; more desirous to settle and defend, then to
enlarge his bounds: he reign'd 24 years. By this time Ella and his Son Cissa,
beseiging Andredchester, suppos'd now to be Newenden in Kent,
take it by force, and all within it put to the Sword.
Thus Ella 3 years after the death of Hengist, began
his Kingdome of the South-Saxons: peopling it with new inhabitants, from the
Country which was then old Saxony, at this day Holstein in Denmark,
and had besides at his command all those Provinces which the Saxons had
won on this side Humber. Animated with these good successes, as if
Britain were become now the field of Fortune, Kerdic another Saxon Prince,
the tenth by Linage from Woden an old and practis'd Souldier, who in many
prosperous conflicts against the Enemy in those parts, had nurs'd up a Spirit
too big to live at home with equals, coming to a certain place which from thence
took the name of Kerdic-shoar, with 5 Ships, and Kenrick his Son,
the very same day overthrew the Britans that oppos'd him; and so
effectually, that smaller skirmishes after that day were sufficient to drive
them still furder off, leaving him a large territory. After him Porta
another Saxon with his two Sons Bida and Megla, in two
Ships arrive at Portsmouth thence call'd, and at thir landing slew a
young British Nobleman, with many others who unadvisedly set upon them.
The Britans to recover what they had lost, draw together all thir Forces
led by Natanleod, or Nazaleod, a certain King in Britain,
and the greatest saith one; but him with 5000 of his men Kerdic puts to
rout and slaies. From whence the place in Hantshire, as far as Kerdicsford,
now Chardford, was call'd of old Nazaleod. Who this King should
be, hath bred much question; som think it to be the British name of Ambrose;
others to be the right name of his Brother, who for the terror of his eagerness
in fight, became more known by the Sirname of Uther, which in the Welsh
Tongue signifies Dreadful. And if ever such a King in Britain there were
as Uther Pendragon, for so also the Monmouth Book surnames him,
this in all likelyhood must be he. Kerdic by so great a blow giv'n to the
Britans had made large room about him; not only for the men he brought
with him, but for such also of his friends, as he desir'd to make great; for
which cause, and withall the more to strengthen himself, his two Nefews Stuf,
and Withgar, in 3 Vessels bring him new levies to Kerdic shoar.
Who that they might not come sluggishly to possess what others had won for them,
either by thir own seeking or by appointment, are set in place where they could
not but at thir first coming give a proof of themselves upon the Enemy: and so
well they did it, that the Britans after a hard encounter left them
Maisters of the field. And about the same time, Ella the first South-Saxon
King dy'd; whom Cissa his youngest succeeded; the other two failing
before him.
Nor can it be much more or less then about this time, for it was
before the West-Saxon Kingdome, that Uffa the 8th. from Woden
made himself King of the East-Angles; who by thir name testifie the
Country above mention'd from whence they came in such multitudes, that thir
native soil is said to have remain'd in the daies of Beda uninhabited. Huntingdon
deferrs the time of thir coming in, to the ninth year of Kerdic's Reigne:
for saith he, at first many of them strove for principality, seising every one
his Province, and for som while so continu'd making petty Warrs among
themselves; till in the end Uffa, of whom those Kings were call'd Uffings,
overtop'd them all in the year 571, then Titilus his Son, the Father of Redwald,
who became potent.
And not much after the East-Angles, began also the East-Saxons
to erect a Kingdom under Sleda the tenth from Woden. But Huntingdon,
as before, will have it later by 11 years, and Erchenwin to be the first
Kerdic the same in power, though not so fond of title,
forbore the name 24 Years after his arrival; but then founded so firmly the
Kingdome of West-Saxons, that it subjected all the rest at length, and
became the sole Monarchie of England. The same year he had a Victory
against the Britans at Kerdics-Ford, by the River Aven: and
after 8 years, another great fight at Kerdics Leage, but which won the
day is not by any set down. Hitherto hath bin collected what there is of
certainty with circumstance of time and place to be found register'd, and no
more then barely register'd in annals of best note; without describing after Huntingdon
the manner of those Battels and Encounters, which they who compare, and can
judge of Books, may be confident he never found in any current Author whom he
had to follow. But this disease hath bin incident to many more Historians: and
the age whereof we now write, hath had the ill hap, more then any since the
first fabulous times, to be surcharg'd with all the idle fancies of posterity.
Yet that we may not rely altogether on Saxon relaters, Gildas, in
Antiquity far before these, and every way more credible, speaks of these Wars in
such a manner, though nothing conceited of the British valour, as
declares the Saxons in his time and before to have bin foyl'd not
seldomer then the Britans. For besides that first Victory of Ambrose,
and the interchangeable success long after, he tells that the last overthrow
which they receav'd at Badon Hill, was not the least; which they in thir
oldest annals mention not at all. And because the time of this Battell, by any
who could do more then guess, is not set down, or any foundation giv'n from
whence to draw a solid compute, it cannot be much wide to insert it in this
place. For such Authors as we have to follow, give the conduct and praise of
this exploit to Arthur; and that this was the last of 12 great Battells
which he fought victoriously against the Saxons. The several places
writt'n by Nennius in thir Welch names, were many hunder'd years ago
unknown, and so heer omitted. But who Arthur was, and whether ever any
such reign'd in Britain, hath bin doubted heertofore, and may again with
good reason. For the Monk of Malmsbury, and others whose credit hath
sway'd most with the learneder sort, we may well perceave to have known no more
of this Arthur 500 years past, nor of his doeings, then we now living;
And what they had to say, transcrib'd out of Nennius, a very trivial
writer yet extant, which hath already bin related. Or out of a British
Book, the same which he of Monmouth set forth, utterly unknown to the
World, till more then 600 years after the dayes of Arthur, of whom (as Sigebert
in his Chronicle confesses) all other Histories were silent, both Foren and
Domestic, except only that fabulous Book. Others of later time have sought to
assert him by old legends and Cathedrall regests. But he who can accept of
Legends for good story, may quickly swell a volume with trash, and had need be
furnish'd with only two necessaries, leasure and beleif, whether it be the
writer, or he that shall read. As to Artur, no less is in doubt who was
his Father; for if it be true as Nennius or his notist avers, that Artur
was call'd Mab-Uther, that is to say, a cruel Son, for the fierseness
that men saw in him of a Child, and the intent of his name Arturus
imports as much, it might well be that som in after ages who sought to turn him
into a Fable, wrested the word Uther into a proper name, and so fain'd
him the Son of Uther; since we read not in any certain story, that ever
such person liv'd, till Geffry of Monmouth set him off with the
sirname of Pendragon. And as we doubted of his parentage, so may we also
of his puissance; for whether that Victory at Badon Hill were his or no,
is uncertain; Gildas not naming him, as he did Ambrose in the
former. Next, if it be true as Caradoc relates, that Melvas King
of that Country which is now Summerset, kept from him Gueniver his
Wife a whole year in the Town of Glaston, and restor'd her at the
entreaty of Gildas, rather then for any enforcement, that Artur with
all his Chivalry could make against a small Town defended only by a moory
situation; had either his knowledge in War, or the force he had to make, bin
answerable to the fame they bear, that petty King had neither dar'd such an
affront, nor he bin so long, and at last without effect, in revenging it.
Considering lastly how the Saxons gain'd upon him every where all the
time of his suppos'd reign, which began, as som write, in the tenth year of Kerdic,
who wrung from him by long Warr the Countries of Summerset, and Hamshire;
there will remain neither place nor circumstance in story, which may administer
any likelyhood of those great Acts that are ascrib'd him. This only is alleg'd
by Nennius in Arturs behalf, that the Saxons, though
vanquish'd never so oft, grew still more numerous upon him by continual supplies
out of Germany. And the truth is that valour may be overtoil'd, and
overcom at last with endless overcomming. But as for this Battell of Mount Badon
where the Saxons were hemm'd in, or beseig'd, whether by Artur
won, or whensoever, it seems indeed to have giv'n a most unboubted and important
blow to the Saxons, and to have stop'd thir proceedings for a good while
after. Gildas himself witnessing that the Britans having thus
compel'd them to sit down with peace, fell thereupon to civil discord among
themselves. Which words may seem to let in som light toward the searching out
when this Battell was fought. And we shall find no time since the first Saxon
War, from whence a longer peace ensu'd, then from the fight at Kerdics
Leage in the year 527. which all the Chronicles mention, without Victory to Kerdic;
and give us argument from the custome they have of magnifying thir own deeds
upon all occasions, to presume heer his ill speeding. And if we look still
onward, eev'n to the 44th year after, wherin Gildas wrote, if his
obscure utterance be understood, we shall meet with very little War between the Britans
and Saxons. This only remains difficult, that the Victory first won by Ambrose,
was not so long before this at Badon Seige, but that the same men living
might be eye-witnesses of both; and by this rate hardly can the latter be
thought won by Artur, unless we rek'n him a grown youth at least in the
daies of Ambrose, and much more then a youth, if Malmsbury be
heard, who affirms all the exploits of Ambrose to have bin don cheifly by
Artur as his General, which will add much unbeleif to the common
assertion of his reigning after Ambrose and Uther, especially the
fight at Badon, being the last of his twelve Battels. But to prove by
that which follows, that the fight at Kerdics Leage, though it differ in
name from that of Badon, may be thought the same by all effects; Kerdic
3 years after, not proceeding onward, as his manner was, on the continent, turns
back his Forces on the Ile of Wight; which with the slaying of a few only
in Withgarburgh, he soon maisters; and not long surviving, left it to his
Nefews by the Mothers side, Stuff and Withgar; the rest of what he
had subdu'd, Kenric his Son held; and reigned 26 years, in whose tenth
year Withgar was buried in the Town of that Iland which bore his name.
Notwithstanding all these unlikelyhoods of Artur's Reign and great
acheivments, in a narration crept in I know not how among the laws of Edward
the Confessor, Artur the famous King of Britans, is said
not only to have expell'd hence the Saracens, who were not then known in Europe,
but to have conquer'd Freesland, and all the North East Iles as far as Russia,
to have made Lapland the Eastern bound of his Empire, and Norway
the Chamber of Britain. When should this be done? from the Saxons,
till after twelve Battells, he had no rest at home; after those, the Britans
contented with the quiet they had from thir Saxon Enemies, were so far
from seeking Conquests abroad, that, by report of Gildas above cited,
they fell to civil Wars at home. Surely Artur much better had made War in
old Saxony, to repress thir flowing hither, then to have won Kingdoms as
far as Russia, scarce able heer to defend his own. Buchanan our
Neighbour Historian reprehends him of Monmouth and others for fabling in
the deeds of Artur, yet what he writes thereof himself, as of better
credit, shews not whence he had but from those Fables; which he seems content to
believe in part, on condition that the Scots and Picts may be
thought to have assisted Arthur in all his Wars, and atchievments; wherof
appears as little grownd by any credible story, as of that which he most counts
Fabulous. But not furder to contest about such uncertainies.
In the year 547. Ida the Saxon, sprung also from Woden
in the tenth degree, began the Kingdome of Bernicia in Northumberland;
built the Town Bebbanburg, which was after wall'd; and had 12 Sons, half
by Wives, and half by Concubines. Hengist by leave of Vortigern,
we may remember, had sent Octa and Ebissa to seek them seats in
the North, and there by warring on the Picts, to secure the Southern
parts. Which they so prudently effected, that what by force and fair proceeding,
they well quieted those Countries; and though so far distant from Kent,
nor without power in thir hands, yet kept themselves nigh 180 years within
moderation; and as inferiour Governors, they and their off-spring gave obedience
to the Kings of Kent, as to the elder Family. Till at length following
the example of that Age; when no less then Kingdoms were the prize of every
fortunat Commander, they thought it but reason, as well as others of thir
Nation, to assume Royalty. Of whom Ida was the first, a man in the prime
of his years, and of Parentage as we heard; but how he came to wear the Crown,
aspiring or by free choise, is not said. Certain enough it is, that his vertues,
made him not less noble then his birth, in War undaunted, and unfoil'd; in peace
tempring the aw of Magistracy, with a naturall mildness he raign'd about 12
years. In the mean while Kenric in a fight at Searesbirig, now Salsbury,
kil'd and put to flight many of the Britans; and the fourth year after at
Beranvirig, now Banbury, as some think, with Keaulin his
son put them again to flight Keaulin shortly after succeeded his father
in the West-Saxons. And Alla descended also of Woden, but by
another line, set up a second Kingdom in Deira the South part of Northumberland,
and held it 30 years; while Adda the son of Ida, and five more
after him reign'd without other memory in Bernicia: and in Kent, Ethelbert
the next year began. For Esca the son of Hengist had left Otha,
and he Emeric to rule after him; both which without adding to their
bounds, kept what they had in peace 53 years. But Ethelbert in length of
reign equal'd both his progenitors, and as Beda counts, 3 years exceeded.
Young at his first entrance, and unexperienc'd, he was the first raiser of
civill War among the Saxons; claiming from the priority of time wherin Hengist
took possession here, a kind of right over the later Kingdomes; and thereupon
was troublesome to thir Confines: but by them twise defeated, he who but now
thought to seem dreadfull, became almost contemptible. For Keaulin and Cutha
his Son, persuing him into his own Territory, slew there in Battel, at Wibbandun
2 of his Earls, Oslac, and Cnebban. By this means the Britans,
but cheifly by this Victory at Badon, for the space of 44 years ending in
571, receav'd no great annoyance from the Saxons: but the peace they
enjoy'd, by ill using it, prov'd more destructive to them then War. For being
rais'd on a sudden by two such eminent successes, from the lowest condition of
thraldome, they whose Eyes had beheld both those deliverances, that by Ambrose,
and this at Badon, were taught by the experience of either Fortune, both
Kings, Magistrates, Preists, and privat men, to live orderly. But when the next
Age, unacquainted with past Evils, and only sensible of thir present ease and
quiet, succeeded, strait follow'd the apparent subversion of all truth, and
justice, in the minds of most men: scarce the lest footstep, or impression of
goodness left remaining through all ranks and degrees in the Land; except in
some so very few, as to be hardly visible in a general corruption: which grew in
short space not only manifest, but odious to all the Neighbour Nations. And
first thir Kings, among whom also, the Sons or Grand-Children of Ambrose,
were fouly degenerated to all Tyranny and vitious life. Wherof to hear som
particulars out of Gildas will not be impertinent, They avenge, saith he,
and they protect; not the innocent, but the guilty: they swear oft, but perjure;
they wage War, but civil and unjust War. They punish rigorously them that rob by
the high way; but those grand Robbers that sit with them at Table, they honour
and reward. They give alms largly, but in the face of their Alms-deeds, pile up
wickedness to a far higher heap. They sit in the seat of Judgment, but goe
seldome by the rule of right; neglecting and proudly overlooking the modest and
harmless; but countenancing the audacious, though guilty of abominablest crimes;
they stuff thir Prisons, but with men committed rather by circumvention, then
any just cause. Nothing better were the Clergy, but the same pass or rather
worse, then when the Saxons first came in; Unlerned, Unapprehensive, yet
impudent; suttle Prowlers, Pastors in Name, but indeed Wolves; intent upon all
occasions, not to feed the Flock, but to pamper and well line themselves: not
call'd, but seising on the Ministry as a Trade, not as a Spiritual Charge:
teaching the people, not by sound Doctrin, but by evil Example: usurping the
Chair of Peter, but through the blindness of thir own worldly lusts, they
stumble upon the Seat of Judas: deadly haters of truth, broachers of
lies: looking on the poor Christian with Eyes of Pride and Contempt; but fawning
on the wickedest rich men without shame: great promoters of other mens Alms with
thir set exhortations; but themselves contributing ever least; slightly touching
the many vices of the Age, but preaching without end thir own greivances, as don
to Christ; seeking after preferments and degrees in the Church more then after
Heav'n; and so gain'd, make it thir whole study how to keep them by any Tyranny.
Yet lest they should be thought things of no use in thir eminent places, they
have thir niceties and trivial points to keep in aw the superstitious multitude;
but in true saving knowledge leave them still as gross and stupid as themselves;
bunglers at the Scripture, nay forbidding and silencing them that know; but in
worldly matters, practis'd and cunning Shifters; in that only art and symony,
great Clercs and Maisters, bearing thir heads high, but thir thoughts abject and
low. He taxes them also as glutonous, incontinent, and daily Drunkards. And what
shouldst thou expect from these, poor Laity, so he goes on, these beasts, all
belly? shall these amend thee, who are themselves laborious in evil doings?
shalt thou see with thir Eyes, who see right forward nothing but gain? Leave
them rather, as bids our Saviour, lest ye fall both blind-fold into the same
perdition. Are all thus? Perhaps not all, or not so grosly. But what avail'd it Eli
to be himself blameless, while he conniv'd at others that were abominable? who
of them hath bin envi'd for his better life? who of them hath hated to consort
with these, or withstood thir entring the Ministry, or endeavour'd zealously
thir casting out? Yet som of these perhaps by others are legended for great
Saints. This was the state of Government, this of Religion among the Britans,
in that long calm of peace, which the fight at Badon Hill had brought
forth. Wherby it came to pass, that so fair a Victory came to nothing. Towns and
Cities were not reinhabited, but lay ruin'd and wast; nor was it long ere
domestic War breaking out, wasted them more. For Britain, as at other
times, had then also several Kings. Five of whom Gildas living then in Armorica,
at a safe distance, boldly reproves by name; First Constantine (fabl'd
the Son of Cador, Duke of Cornwall, Arturs half Brother by
the Mothers side) who then reign'd in Cornwall and Devon, a
Tyrannical and bloody King, polluted also with many Adulteries: he got into his
power, two young Princes of the Blood Royal, uncertain whether before him in
right, or otherwise suspected: and after solemn Oath giv'n of thir safety the
year that Gildas wrote, slew them with thir two Governours in the Church,
and in thir Mothers Arms, through the Abbots Coap, which he had thrown over
them, thinking by the reverence of his vesture to have withheld the murderer.
These are commonly suppos'd to be the Sons of Mordred, Arturs Nefew, said
to have revolted from his Uncle, giv'n him in a Battel his Deaths wound, and by
him after to have bin slain. Which things were they true, would much diminish
the blame of cruelty in Constantine, revenging Artur on the Sons
of so false a Mordred. In another part, but not express'd where, Aurelius
Conanus was King: him he charges also with Adulteries, and Parricide;
cruelties worse then the former; to be a hater of his Countries Peace, thirsting
after civil War and Prey. His condition it seems was not very prosperous; for Gildas
wishes him, being now left alone, like a Tree withering in the midst of a barren
field, to remember the vanity, and arrogance of his Father, and elder Brethren,
who came all to untimely Death in thir youth. The third reigning in Demetia,
or South Wales, was Vortipor, the Son of a good Father; he was
when Gildas wrote, grown old, not in years only, but in Adulteries, and
in governing full of falshood, and cruel Actions. In his latter daies, putting
away his Wife, who dy'd in divorce, he became, if we mistake not Gildas,
incestuous with his Daughter. The fourth was Cuneglas, imbru'd in civil
War; he also had divorc'd his Wife, and tak'n her Sister, who had vow'd
Widdowhood: he was a great Enemy to the Clergy, high-minded, and trusting to his
wealth. The last, but greatest of all in power, was Maglocune, and
greatest also in wickedness; he had driv'n out or slain many other Kings, or
Tyrants; and was called the Island Dragon, perhaps having his seat in Anglesey;
a profuse giver, a great Warrior, and of a goodly stature. While he was yet
young, he overthrew his Uncle, though in the head of a compleat Army, and took
from him the Kingdom: then touch't with remorse of his doings, not without
deliberation took upon him the profession of a Monk; but soon forsook his vow,
and his wife also, which for that vow he had left, making love to the wife of
his Brothers Son then living. Who not refusing the offer, if she were not rather
the first that entic'd, found means both to dispatch her own Husband, and the
former wife of Maglocune, to make her marriage with him the more
unquestionable. Neither did he this for want of better instructions, having had
the learnedest and wisest man reputed of all Britain, the instituter of
his youth. Thus much, the utmost that can be learnt by truer story, of what past
among the Britans from the time of their useless Victory at Badon,
to the time that Gildas wrote, that is to say, as may be guess't, from
527 to 571, is here set down altogether; not to be reduc't under any certainty
of years. But now the Saxons, who for the most part all this while had
bin still, unless among themselves, began afresh to assault them, and ere long
to drive them out of all which they yet maintain'd on this side Wales.
For Cuthulf the Brother of Keaulin, by a Victory obtain'd at Bedanford,
now Bedford, took from them 4 good Towns, Liganburgh, Eglesburh,
Besington, now Benson in Oxfordshire, and Igncsham;
but outliv'd not many months his good success. And after 6 years more, Keaulin,
and Cuthwin his Son, gave them a great overthrow at Deorrham in Glostershire,
slew three of thir Kings, Comail, Condidan, and Farinmaile,
and took three of thir Cheif Cities; Glocester, Cirencester, and Badencester.
The Britans notwithstanding, after some space of time, judging to have
outgrown thir losses, gather to a head, and encounter Keaulin with Cutha
his Son, at Fethanleage; whom valiantly fighting, they slew among the
thickest, and as is said, forc'd the Saxons to retire. But Keaulin
reinforcing the fight, put them to a main rout, and following his advantage,
took many Towns, and return'd lad'n with rich booty.
The last of those Saxons who rais'd thir own acheivments to
a Monarchy, was Crida, much about this time, first founder of the
Mercian Kingdom, drawing also his Pedigree from Woden. Of whom all to
write the several Genealogies, though it might be done without long search,
were, in my opinion, to encumber the story with a sort of barbarous names, to
little purpose. This may suffice, that of Wodens 3 Sons, from the Eldest
issu'd Hengist, and his succession; from the second, the Kings of
Mercia; from the third, all that reign'd in West-Saxon, and most of
the Northumbers, of whom Alla was one, the first King of Deira;
which after his death, the race of Ida seis'd, and made it one Kingdom,
with Bernicia, usurping on the Childhood of Edwin, Alla's
Son. Whom Ethelric the Son of Ida expel'd. Notwithstanding others
write of him; that from a poor life, and beyond hope in his old Age, coming to
the Crown, he could hardly by the access of a Kingdom, have overcome his former
obscurity, had not the fame of his Son preserv'd him. Once more the Britans,
ere they quitted all on this side the Mountains, forgot not to shew some
manhood; for meeting Keaulin at Wodens Beorth, that is to say, Wodens
Mount in Wiltshire, whether it were by thir own Forces, or assisted by
the Angles, whose hatred Keaulin had incurr'd, they ruined his
whole Army, and chas'd him out of his Kingdom, from whence flying, he dy'd the
next year in poverty; Who a little before, was the most potent and indeed sole
King of all the Saxons on this side Humber. But who was cheif
among the Britans in this exploit, had bin worth remembering, whether it
were Maglocune, of whose prowess hath bin spok'n, or Teudric King
of Glamorgan, whom the regest of Landaff recounts to have bin
alwaies victorious in fight; to have reign'd about this time, and at length to
have exchang'd his Crown for a Hermitage; till in the aid of his Son Mouric,
whom the Saxons had reduc'd to extremes, taking armes again, he defeated
them at Tinterne by the River Wye; but himself receav'd a mortal
wound. The same year with Keaulin, whom Keola the Son of Cuthulf,
Keaulins Brother succeeded, Crida also the Mercian King
deceas'd, in whose room Wibba succeeded; and in Northumberland, Ethelfrid,
in the room of Ethelric; reigning 24 years. Thus omitting Fables, we have
the view of what with reason can be rely'd on for truth, don in Britain,
since the Romans forsook it. Wherein we have heard the many miseries and
desolations, brought by divine hand on a perverse Nation; driv'n when nothing
else would reform them, out of a fair Country, into a Mountanous and Barren
Corner, by Strangers and Pagans. So much more tolerable in the Eye of Heav'n is
Infidelity profess't, then Christian Faith and Religion dishonoured by
unchristian works. Yet they also at length renounc'd thir Heathenism; which how
it came to pass, will be the matter next related.
The End of the Third Book.
Gordd Cymru for
other great Websites
Copyright © 2000 Gordd Cymru. All Rights Reserved.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Debian Linux
Debian GNU/Linux is one of the most popular server operating systems. It is distributed with access to repositories containing thousands of software packages ready for installation and use. These packages are distributed under free software / open source licenses. Debian is known for strict adherence to the Unix and free software philosophies.
- Free Software
- Complete sourcecode available
- Huge installationbase, millions of servers installed
- Indipendent consultancy support available
- Light requirement for Hardware
DN-Systems offers complete coverage of the Debian Core System for different Server and Business Application.
Typical use cases
- Mail-Server (SMTP, POP3, IMAP4, Webmail)
- DNS and Infrastrukture Server (Files, DNS, WINS)
- Mail-Replay and Anti-SPAM System
- Proxy Server (Transparent or Reverse-Proxy)
- Apache Web and Application Server
- Telephony and VoiceApplication Server
- Development Server (cvs,subversion,...)
- Security Server (SnortSensor, WLan Sensor, Sniffer
- Compliance Application (Syslog-Server, NTP Time Server
DN-Systems offer professionel and independet consultig and is a offical listed Debian Consultant in Germany and the United Arab Emirates.
We do offer emergency, forensic as well regular consulting services on Debian GNU/Linux.
Onsite and remote technical support is available of hour basis as well.


text:
|Fedora 8.0.1 XFS Tune on HW RAID for Max Write Throughput?
|"Alex Madarasz" <List.XFS@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
|Fri, 14 Dec 2007 12:38:47 -0500
We're building a new Fedora 8.0.1 Linux system to stream data from a 250Msps ADC to disk, and want to start tuning the system configuration for maximum XFS write performance. To date, without any significant effort at tuning our Fedora 7 dev system, we're seeing 250MBps write with 8-bit samples and ~ 300MBps write with 16-bit samples. We want to push the tuning as far as we can go with this architecture before we start looking at other hardware options. Looking at various other tuning pages on the Web finds few that are interested in maxing out sequential writes to very large arrays while using SAS HW RAID with big fast SAS drives too. HW: HP ML350 G5 - 2 x Dual-Core Intel 5160 Xeon (3GHz, 1333 FSB) CPUs - 8GB dual-interleaved memory - HP Smart Array E200i (cciss) embedded PCI-E RAID ctrlr - 128MB cache - 2 x WD RE2 500GB 7200RPM SATA drives - HW RAID 1 - ext3 root LVM and Linux system partitions - HP Smart Array P400 (cciss) PCI-E x8 RAID ctrlr - 512MB cache - 8 x HP/Seagate 300GB 15000RPM SAS drives - HW RAID 0 logical disk - Dedicated xfs data partition - 250Msps ADC on 64-bit/100MHz PCI-X XFS Tuning Options? - HW RAID0: - Array/logical disk HW RAID stripe size? - Cache enabled (some reports that cache s/b turned off?)? - xfs mkfs / mount options? - External Log? - How big a partition on the E200i? - mkfs / mount options? ...? Thanks for any tips, -- Alex
|<Prev in Thread]
|Current Thread
|[Next in Thread>
|Previous by Date:
|Undeliverable mail:, MAILER-DAEMON
|Next by Date:
|[PATCH 1/2] cleanup fix handling, Christoph Hellwig
|Previous by Thread:
|Undeliverable mail:, MAILER-DAEMON
|Next by Thread:
|Re: Fedora 8.0.1 XFS Tune on HW RAID for Max Write Throughput?, Eric Sandeen
|[Date] [Thread] [Top] [All Lists]


text:
Jose Rizal (book)
Jose Rizal: Life, Works and Writings of a Genius, Writer, Scientist and National Hero is a book written by Gregorio F. Zaide and Sonia M. Zaide. It was published by All-Nations Publishing Co., Inc. in 1999.
About the book
This best-selling biography of Dr. Jose Rizal - the National Hero of the Philippines - has been used by several generations of Filipinos in schools and colleges. It is not updated with certain interesting features like: "Who made Rizal the National Hero, and why?" This book tells why Rizal became a hero for everyone - his family, the Spaniards, the Americans and of course, the Filipinos. The Philippines is unique in having a national hero who is not a militarist or a rebel. Rizal was an "ilustrado", a product of the Enlightenment, who dreamed of reforms for his native people. He wielded the pen as mightily as a sword, and his ideas, which are found in his novels, essays, letters and poems, eventually caused his political martyrdom. Rizal is now acknowledged as the greatest man of the Malay race, the apostle of nationalism in Asia, and, of course, the national hero of the Philippines.
Highly readable and well-researched, this book has become a classic reference and textbook on Rizal since 1961. It is now issued in a special hardbound edition for the Philippine Centennial of Nationhood. One of the national best-selling books in the Philippines, this biography was written by the unique father and daughter team of Gregorio and Sonia Zaide.
A classic biography of the Philippines' National Hero, this book revises the previous edition written for the Jose Rizal Centennial with fresh insights, new data, and new appendices. One of the best-selling books on Rizal, this volume contains new information about the conditions in Rizal's times, the attempt on his life in Dapitan, his prophetic views about the Philippines, and other data. In particular, it corrects the impression that Rizal had been a "colonial-made hero," and affirms that he was a hero for all seasons and for all people – Filipinos, Spaniards, and Americans, Germans, Austrians, Malays, Indonesians, etc. His famous diary, essays, letters, and also poems are found either in excerpt or in entirety. His famous novels and incomplete works are also discussed within.
- a college lecturer.
External link
- Booklat at ThePOC.net
- Zaide, Gregorio F. and Zaide, Sonia M. Jose Rizal: Life, Works and Writings of a Genius, Writer, Scientist and National Hero. Quezon City: All-Nations Publishing Co., Inc., 1999.
Original content from WikiPilipinas. under GNU Free Documentation License. See full disclaimer.


text:
Rebekah has a new daughter, born in January to a surrogate mother.
In January 2014, a driver hit and killed a six year old girl.
But it wasn't until January that Shriver learned that the child, whom she'd presumably known for many years, was his.
In January, ASOS recalled the product because it contained radioactive materials -- but only now has the news come out.
The English site launched in January, and now Random House has released it as a collection of the best anecdotes.
These presumably came into general use on January 1st, 1916.
Morris saw and fully admitted all this; and yet she stayed on till the end of January.
The birth of the Princess Elizabeth occurred January 28, 1635.
But January was so far away that no one thought of starting an argument on the subject.
To-day for the first time since January 3, I have opened a Greek book.
late 13c., Ieneuer, from Old North French Genever, Old French Jenvier (Modern French Janvier), attested from early 12c. in Anglo-French, from Latin Ianuarius (mensis) "(the month) of Janus," to whom the month was sacred as the beginning of the year (see Janus; cf. Italian Gennajo, Provençal Genovier, Portuguese Janeiro). The form was gradually Latinized by c.1400. Replaced Old English geola se æfterra "Later Yule." In Chaucer, a type-name for an old man.


text:
The New [email protected] Portal is now operational.
Stage One of the new [email protected] portal has been developed in response to the future needs of the College in the 21st Century. The portal now not only improves existing services, but creates a suitable platform to expand future services including: Document centre, digital student portfolios, collaboration tools and other teaching, learning and parent communication services.
Stage One:
- Incorporation of existing services within the new [email protected] Portal.
- Improved Single Sign-on processes for Parents and Students
- Password Reset/Forgotten Password Utility for Parents
Stage Two:
- Document Centre for Parents, Teachers and Students
- Collaboration Tools/Cloud Services for Students (Wikis, Blogs etc)
- New Assessment Calendar for Middle School and Senior School Students
- New Parent/Teacher Interviews Booking System
Stage Three:
- Digital Student Portfolio system
Parent Information:Information will soon be sent to every Parent about the upgrade requirements of our portal. For Parents, the core requirements are:
- Parents must know their login username. This is your 5 digit College Parent Code/Id number.
- Parents must have provided the College with a valid email account prior to using the system. If you have not provided your email account, the login will fail. Please contact our Office on (07) 4124 5411 during office hours.


text:
Since 1981, National Crime Victims' Rights Week has challenged the nation to extend its vision of crime victims' rights, while providing services to reach every victim of crime.
MADD celebrates this important week by honoring the advocates who help our organization serve one victim every nine minutes. Across the country, our trained Victim Advocates provide vital support to individuals affected by drunk and drugged driving.
This year's theme, Extending the Vision: Reaching Every Victim, aligns perfectly with MADD's goal to serve more victims of drunk and drugged driving, but to do this, we need more volunteer victim advocates. You can help by becoming a MADD Victim Advocate or by spreading the word about MADD's victim support services.
You can also support crime victims by helping to protect VOCA funding by contacting your lawmakers today. Assisting crime victims is a critical service and VOCA provides a reasonable, fair and cost effective way to assist Americans in their hour of need.
If you are a victim, call MADD's 24/7 Victim/Survivor Support Line at 1-877-MADD-HELP (877-623-3435) to speak with a victim advocate at no cost, or send us an email at firstname.lastname@example.com.


text:
Log Message: ----------- Refine extended protocol transactions. The extended protocol messages require that a FlushMessage is sent to "terminate the operation". With one message per flush, extended protocol transactions can be quite taxing. To ease this, reorganize the extended query transactions so that the base single message transactions can be easily inherited to create compound transactions with a single Flush. Three new compound transactions appear at the end of client3. Also, remove the unused rob.notices list from client3.Transaction. Modified Files: -------------- pq/src: client3.py (r1.4 -> r1.5) (http://cvs.pgfoundry.org/cgi-bin/cvsweb.cgi/python/pq/src/client3.py.diff?r1=1.4&r2=1.5) pq/test: client3.py (r1.3 -> r1.4) (http://cvs.pgfoundry.org/cgi-bin/cvsweb.cgi/python/pq/test/client3.py.diff?r1=1.3&r2=1.4)
Next: From: Tom Lane Date: 2005-08-11 22:53:41 Subject: pgsql: EINTR return from connect() should be treated exactly the same as Previous: From: James William Pye Date: 2005-08-11 22:03:40 Subject: python - pq: Use () instead of tuple(), and make Describe, Close, and


text:
|Profiling Serial Killers
|Submitting Dean
|Stan Silverman
|Submitting College
|Summit College -- Mike Jalbert x6374
|Departments Generating the Proposal
|Publ Svc Tech
|Objection Deadline
|Proposal Status
|Proposal Withdrawn
|Proposal Last Updated
|May 15, 2006 by SC dean's ofc Sally Ryan
|Effective Date
|Fall 2007
|Brief Summary of Proposal
|We propose to add this course as an elective. This course is currently being taught as a current topic with good enrollments and requires no additional resources. This course is expected to continue to generate interest in large numbers of students as an elective.
|Type of Proposal
|Program changes
|Graduate School Endorsement Status
|To be reviewed
|Graduate School Endorsement Updated
|Institutional Research Status
|To be reviewed
|IR Status Updated
|Library Status
|To be reviewed
|Library Status Updated
|Distance Learning Review Committee Status
|Not required
|DLRC Status Updated
|General Education Advisory Committee Status
|Not required
|GEAC Status Updated
|April 20, 2006 by FA Dudley Turner
|Resource Requirements
|Under development
|Resource Requirements Updated
CPS Menu


text:
It only takes a minute to get started. Fill out our simple sign up form and login to the site.
This step is elective but will dramatically multiply your chances of getting interest from other members on the website. Write about yourself, your hobbies and upload any nice photographs of yourself.
Utilise our website's cutting-edge search to spot members who fulfill your requirements. Or just leaf through listings and spot folks that arouse your interest.
Found someone who interests you? Drop them a line or just a wink and see what they say. With a little luck you'll be on your way to uncover that special someone for you.
It only takes a few minutes


text:
Apaches used what was once a marshy ciénaga as a water hole for centuries.
It lives chiefly in the marshy jungles, and on the banks of lakes and rivers in India.
Behind this fringe of marshy land you see the finest country in the world.
The earth here was bare of undergrowth and sloped sharply down into a marshy ravine.
The reeds by the marshy shore were frost-glittering and clattered faintly.
It is situated in a marshy plain near the banks of the little river Ewenny.
It was deep, dark, marshy around the shores, and full of alligators.
Black hellebore grows in marshy grounds, and may be had at the herb shops.
It's nonsense to think of that marshy land ever being valuable.
The foreshore at Caman is low and marshy where the salt water covers the outer edge of the delta.


text:
Anyone Try Jas Musicals Tablas?
Discussions about the Indian percussive instruments.
Moderators: povster, s1owpoke, cabernethy, coughcapkittykat
Post Reply
2 posts • Page 1 of 1
- Posts: 18
- Joined: Tue Mar 29, 2016 7:35 pm
Anyone Try Jas Musicals Tablas?
I'm thinking about ordering online from them has anyone tried their tablas?
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Thu Sep 29, 2016 9:58 pm
Re: Anyone Try Jas Musicals Tablas?
Yep - my dayan (C pitch) is from Jas and plays like a dream. Is a great shop - excellent craftsmanship and good care while importing, and the owner is absolutely in it for the right reasons.
Post Reply
2 posts • Page 1 of 1
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest


text:
By David J. Lynch, USA TODAY
Troubled Spanish banks and North Korean saber-rattling have been added to the list of investor worries this week, leading to sharp losses in financial markets around the world.
Although overseas stocks recovered some on Wednesday, markets in Hong Kong, Tokyo, Madrid and Paris all reported one-day losses of about 3% on Tuesday, the latest day of losses. In the U.S., the Dow Jones industrial average closed below 10,000 on Wednesday after giving up gains earlier in the day.
WEDNESDAY MARKETS: U.S. stocks lose steam, turn lower
The upheaval probably isn't finished. "We're in for a fairly unsettled period," says John Ryding, chief economist at RDQ Economics.
On the Korean peninsula, tensions rose to the highest in years. North Korea's official news agency said Pyongyang was cutting all ties to neighboring South Korea until President Lee Myung-bak, who earlier redesignated the north as his country's "principal enemy," leaves office in 2013. One day earlier, Lee had barred North Korean ships from South Korea's territorial waters in retaliation for the North's role in torpedoing a South Korean Navy warship on March 26.
If Tuesday's global flurry did not open an entirely new chapter in the nearly 3-year-old financial crisis, it was at least a reminder that the ongoing economic recovery is likely to be anything but smooth. "We are in a very difficult situation that is going to fester for a very long time. And the markets are recognizing this," says Uri Dadush, a former World Bank economist.
On Wednesday, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, fresh from U.S.-China talks in Beijing, arrived in London for discussions with European officials about the regional debt crisis. He leaves behind mounting worries in Asia about the increasingly tense Korean confrontation. Later in the day, he is to fly to Frankfurt for a working dinner with Jean-Claude Trichet, governor of the European Central Bank.
The most recent series of dominos began falling on May 22, when the Spanish government took control of CajaSur, a small savings bank that had resisted a last-ditch merger. The tiny institution, owned by the Catholic Church and wrecked by bad property loans, held less than 1% of the banking system's assets. But it's representative of a fragmented Spanish banking system with too many players and too much bad debt.
WORLD STOCKS: Latest numbers
ECONOMIC OUTLOOK INDEX: Forecasts solid growth through October
Tuesday, four other Spanish banks reached preliminary agreement to merge some operations, one day after the International Monetary Fund publicly called for "urgent and decisive action" to address the country's banking woes. Spain has established a 99 billion euro fund to restructure the banking system, but needs to move faster, the IMF said. The fund expires at the end of June.
Overall, the Spanish banking system, especially the larger commercial banks, has sufficient capital to ride out anticipated losses, according to the IMF. But the number of smaller savings banks needs to be thinned. In Spain, as elsewhere in Europe, investors have little public data on the exposure of individual institutions to troubled loans.
"We know (the problem) is big. But we don't have a lot of detail on individual banks," says Dadush, now with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
European banks are lagging behind their U.S. counterparts in recognizing their losses from toxic securities. Last fall, the IMF said U.S. banks had absorbed 60% of their expected losses, while European banks had made provisions for just 40%.
Europe has yet to execute anything like the 2009 "stress tests" conducted by U.S. authorities. "A comprehensive and transparent bank-by-bank 'diagnostic' based on conservative assumptions on asset valuation and prospects could usefully be carried out," the IMF said.
On May 9, European leaders unveiled a nearly $1 trillion rescue package to defend the continent's banks from a simmering debt crisis in Greece. Ryding says stock markets are in for a period of volatility until the dimensions of the European financial remedy become clearer. German officials Tuesday indicated they were considering extending a ban on short selling financial stocks to all German stocks, a move that has underscored the spotty nature of European policymaking.
Eyes on Spain
Though the focus in recent weeks has been on Greece, the stakes are much higher in Spain. The Iberian nation's external debt — both public and private — is $1.1 trillion, almost five times what Greece owes foreign investors. Spanish borrowers owe more than $220 billion to banks in both Germany and France. If they're unable to fully repay those loans, Europe's most important banks would confront massive losses. The fear is that could lead to a renewed credit squeeze in Europe while destabilizing still-fragile global capital markets.
"Spain is definitely a big deal," said Marc Chandler, global head of currency strategy at Brown Bros. Harriman.
European banks already are finding their routine borrowing more costly. The three-month U.S. dollar London Interbank Offered Rate reached 0.54% Tuesday, its highest mark since July and an indication of financial channel stress.
Investor angst has mounted steadily in the past two weeks. The cost of insuring a notional $10 million in Spanish government debt rose to $245,900 Tuesday, vs. $137,833 on May 12. Insuring a similar amount of Irish government debt hit $250,545, while the cost of protecting Portuguese debt is $345,000.
The euro meanwhile dipped to $1.23, down more than 13% this year. A strong dollar is good news for U.S. travelers, but it erodes the bottom lines of U.S. multinationals. As the euro drops, so does the value of European earnings translated back into dollars.
Heavy-equipment maker Caterpillar, for example, said last month that it booked an additional $142 million in first-quarter sales compared with the same period in 2009, thanks to the stronger euro and Brazilian real during that period. The weaker euro now likely will eat into the Peoria, Ill.-based manufacturer's sales figures this quarter.
About 47% of the earnings in the Standard & Poor's 500-stock index is derived from foreign operations, and 14% comes from Europe, says Sam Stovall, market strategist for S&P.
In Asia, dollar strength — on the back of euro weakness and the exchange of rhetorical blows by Korean antagonists — appears to have triggered an official response. At one point Tuesday, the dollar had gained more than 5% against the South Korean won when rumors of Korean Central Bank won-buying to the tune of $3.5 billion to $4 billion hit trading floors, according to Brown Bros. Harriman. Central banks in the Philippines and Indonesia also reportedly stepped in to support their currencies against the buffed-up greenback.
Also weighing on Asian currencies is a pullback by risk-averse investors. As foreigners exit markets from Seoul to Jakarta, their selling drives down local currencies. This month, foreigners sold more than $5 billion in South Korean stocks — roughly half of their total purchases the first four months of 2010, says Chandler.
Likewise, amid anti-government clashes in the streets of Bangkok, foreigners dumped $1.4 billion in Thai stocks. That figure exceeded total foreign purchases in the first four months this year.
In the U.S., for the moment, there are reasons for a more upbeat view. The Conference Board's consumer confidence index rose to 63.3 in May from 57.7 in April, its third-consecutive monthly gain. Investors also are anticipating good news on June 4 — a gain of 500,000 new jobs in the next non-farm payrolls report.
Tuesday's tumult also was a windfall for the U.S. Treasury, which auctioned $42 billion in two-year notes and $33.4 billion in 28-day Treasury bills. Investors looking for safety flocked to the auction, pushing yields down — saving taxpayers. Uncle Sam paid just 0.73% to borrow money for two years, the lowest figure ever.
The mix of good and bad news has some analysts wondering what all the fuss is about.
"I think this is overblown," says Paul Kasriel, chief economist for Northern Trust. Spain, Portugal and Greece account for just 3.8% of global GDP, he says. And, he says, it's unlikely that Spain will default. Most of the Spanish borrowing is private, not government.
Barry Ritholtz, CEO of research firm Fusion IQ, says the Dow's recent slump was overdue after a 70% rebound in the past 14 months. He thinks the market's retreat is nearly at an end; he anticipates a "soft patch" — but nothing worse — in the U.S. economy's recovery.
"It's like a toddler learning to walk. When Mom and Dad let go of their hand, they may stagger a bit," he says. "It doesn't mean they're going to go back to crawling."
Guidelines: You share in the USA TODAY community, so please keep your comments smart and civil. Don't attack other readers personally, and keep your language decent. Use the "Report Abuse" button to make a difference. Read more.


text:
It only takes a minute to get started. Fill out our simple sign up form and login to the site.
This step is up to you but will drastically boost your chances of getting interest from other Christian members on the site. Tell people about yourself, your pasttimes and upload a nice photo of yourself.
Utilise our website's sophisticated search to spot members who fulfill your criteria. Or just scan through listings of Christian singles and spot people that appeal to you.
Identified someone who you find interesting? Send them a message or just a wink and find out if they're interested in you. With a little luck you'll be on your way to finding that special someone for you.
It doesn't take long


text:
Are you "local" and searching for a fabulous long weekend break? * Or maybe you're type the US, Canada, Australia or elswehere and are planning a European your?
Adam's friend, Lee Cherry, is the photographer that shot the include art for Adam's recently released Acoustic Live! EP. He is also responsible for the photos in Adam's 2011 calendar that recently sold out. Now Lee's wife, Scarlett Cherry, is producing an EP known as "Labor of Adore" and they are attempting to raise funds to create the album independently.
Leave it to Mother to deliver a small viewpoint. The objective of the film was to remind us that an unforgettable Luke bryan concert tickets was in the functions. Then I thought, as reviewers, would we have been in such awe of these Concerts, or would we dismantle the flaws and declare that Michael Jackson's glow at age fifty experienced pale? Most likely. Part of me is grateful none of us will get the chance.
Though it may not appear like a large offer, hearing tinnitus is actually a signal that you have done damage to your ears. You may not be able to listen to the sounds in particular frequencies accurately. And if you luke bryan concert tickets would usually expose yourself to loud seems that could trigger tinnitus, you truly improve your chances of encountering hearing loss.
Bumblefoot: I didn't know. You didn't know what to Luke Bryan Concert Tickets expect, and that's the factor. I just kept an open thoughts about it all, something can occur, and what ever occurs is gonna occur and it's not for me to try to manage the world and just whatever is heading to be is how it's intended to be.
Eminem's comeback is marked with an additional humorous, celeb stuffed video clip that includes Jessica Simpson, Tony Romo and Bret Michaels. In his new video clip, Eminem makes fun of Jessica Simpson more than gaining weight. There has been no reaction from the Simpson camp, but it ought to be something along the lines of "You're a small late, buddy". Jessica Simpson is back again to looking great and fit, appears like Eminem was a day late and a greenback short.
Sam's Enjoyable City is the only waterpark located in Pensacola. They have four main slides, and several other smaller sized types for kids to play on. Also included is the area is an amusement park with several rides, an arcade, restaurant, build-a-bear shop, Luke Bryan Concert Tickets and a bounce space that kids can perform in. If you're looking to destroy some time in the spring or summer, the waterpark is a great for kids. During the colder months, it does near down, but the rest of the rides and games remain open up yr spherical. You can study my complete evaluation of Sam's Fun Metropolis right here.
8) Walking the aspect streets offers its personal storytelling. Verify out the architecture, wrought ironwork on the homes and plaques and you'll have your personal pleasant strolling tour.
|Last Resume Update
|November 9, 2015
|United States