The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-03-10

the Britons BY St. Paul OH = others believe, II was
introduced by Ban, the father of Carractacus, on
his return from Rome, where he had been
held az hostage for his son. Be this as 1t may,
British authors fix the date no later than A. ID. 81
or g. and make it later than the middle Of the
invasion, and to the period Of Ethelbsrt Saxon King
Of Kent in the sixth century, the ancient Britons
were far in advance OF the Saxons, both in religion
laws and civilization. The Romans, who were drawn
off to defend their empire elsewhere, induced the
flower of the British soldiers 10 go with them, who
returned. The Britons were left weak and de-
fenceless, and prey to the Picts and other foes.
Their king, Vortigern, (who was always eective,)
invited over the Saxons to enable them to defend
their country The latter became fathless to their
engagements united with the Picts, and in the end
conquered that part of England, Of which Wnches-
ter, and afterwards London, became the capital.
The Welsh, however, to the last, continued in full
and independent possession of the western half of
England. They called themselves the Cymru, pro-
nounced Cumre, or Cambria, in English,) and ap-
piled the name Of Cet to the Celidons (Caedonans)
Cet is said to mean shelter or covert, or people
who like the Picts sought shelter amidst the wild
forests of Scotland The term local designation
and not national general in its character Ancient
British history asserts that, in early times, there
were two military mgrations, under adventurous
leaders, who left Britain for the South OF Europe.
One, set down about the Adriatic, from whom the
Venetians descended, and the other settled IN
Galacia and Greece, but none returned. The Irish
Picts are said to have inhabited and come from the
shores of Denmark, crossed the German ocean, and
settled in the north of Ireland with colonies from
Scotland while the middle and southern parts OF the
island it is said were chiefly Ailesians, or Of Mile
sian origin, from Spain or Portugal. The Brit
ons called the Irish GTyddelsams, whose Ian
stand, with the exception of that spoken, per
haps, by the Pctish or northern portion. The true
term for the three who pcaceably set down in
England, as general term for oil, was that OF
ND nf Rof sIf norton
who lived in central Europe were called Cymri, or
Cymbrit, to overcome whom was made the boast Of
a Roman general st. David, whose birthday we
celebrate was Of royal descent and was said TO have
in 544 at the imputed age of LAG, and was buried in
his own Cathedral Of ST. David. Five hundred years
after his decease he was caIonized by Pope Caxtns
1t from three to four hundred years after the In
PRODUCTION Of Christianity among the ancient Brtons
before an attempt was made to Christianize the
Saxons. 1t is said that Pope Gregory, before his
elevation, some English youths exposed for sale
in the slave market Of Rome, and being struck with
their beauty exclaimed, mon ang1, sed dngeh
foreat s., essent Chistlani-" They would not be
English, but angels, had they been Christians" He
afterwards sent the monk St. Augustine or as call
ed by the Welsh st. Austin, TO convert the Saxons,
who landing on the Island of Thanet at the mouth
of the Thames sent for Ethelbert, King OF Kent,
who, with many of his people, became converts.
He then proceeded to visit the Britons,
where be was kindly received by the Welsh bishops;
DuJ on LIS claiming ODeuleHCe IrOW tuciH iof VIC
supremacy of the Pope, they utterly repudated it.,
and announced their firm determination never to
submit to any foreign sovereignty, in any matter
whatsoever. Pope Gregory had not introduced re
ligion into Wales and their ancient British laws
proclaimed the nalienable liberty Of conscience,
they stood by them. They had defended their laws
and liberty against Roman troops for four hundred
years and they were still resolved to resist all rule
from that quarter to the last This being announced
to Pope Gregory, the latter, through Austin, in
stgated the SaxOns under their two kings to attack
Wales, who destroyed the great seminary Of
learning at Bangor 1scoed, with some others, and
of North and South Wales with Cornwall under
Cadvan, and after him were chosen comman-
ders, who defeated the Saxons in fourteen
pitched battles, and drove them from the
country. Darkness brooded over Europe for cen
turtles, while the beacon lights Of civil and re-
ligous liberty continued to burn brightly amidst the
mountains Of the ancient Briton; and it is to this
day the proud boast of every Brton and his descen-
dants, that no victim for conscience sake was ever
offered up on the altar Of bigotry, or suffered mar
tyrdom by the gibbet the stake in their country
Their mountains never looked down upon the blood
stained plories and racks Of persecution or saw the
smoke ascend from burning bodies, expiring on the
blazing faggots, for defending the truth. Not 30
with Weshmen under Saxon and Norman
bigotry-sE John Oldcastlc, Baron Cobham)-
who was Weshman, and follower OF Wicklif, in the
reign of the papal Plantagenet, Henry ", and who
for preaching the reformation about two centuries in
advance Of Luther, was suspended in chains and
roasted to death over fire. The followers OF Wick
fe's doctrines were called Loards'' and found an
asylum and protection in Wales. John Rogers, who
suffered martyrdom at Smithfed, in London, in the
reign Of papal bloody Queen Mary, daughter OF Ca
tharine Of Aragon, was of Welsh family. 1t
was the Welsh bishops with Others who resisted the
papal mandates Of James the H., and who were sent
to The Tower; and being brought before the judges
one of whom PowelD was Welshman, they were
liberated and James was dethroned being superseded
by the Protestant Prince of Orange. In oil the civil
- 49, 49,
tyranny Of Saxon and Norman rulers had engendered
the Welsh always found on the side of the op-
preseed, and in favor Of civil and religious liberty
This national feeling sprung from the character of
the ancient British laws which sacredly secured the
rights Of conscience. Hence, when Christianity came
among the Brit0ns there was no persecution OF the
Druids Of the Christians, by the former Accord
ing to the rights Of conscience, each was left free,
and Drudism was silently and peaceaby superseded
by the better faith The boased common law Of Eng
land is mainly founded on the ancient British laws,
which MANY writer's say existed 500 years before
the Christian era. When Alfred the Great assembled
the throne, having expelled the Danes, in which
work he was assisted by Welsh regiments, he called
vensis, native Of Pembrokeshire, Wales, and edu'
Gated at st. Davids College. He repaired to Alfred 8
court with reluctance, but was well received and
loaded with Donors This eminent and learned man
aided Alfred in his literary abors and gave him 0
copy of the ancient British laws, compiled by the An
cient legislator Dyvnwal Noelmud, and translated by
Asser from the Welsh into the Latin language. These
Alfred translated into Saxon. The two then set
down, and compiled the celebrated code Of common
law called common from the fact of their having
been the first extended oil the seven Saxon Hep
tarchies Of England. Alfred also translated into
Saxon other British legal compilations, including
those Of MARSHA, Queen of Britain, wife of Cyhelyn
From the fact that many Of the most valuable prin
cples found in the English common law-euch q
the trial by jury the division Of government into the
executive Judicial, and legislative departments, and
making kings and generals electve-goes to prove
that those Of the formed the basis OF the other
The British laws embraced all the elements Of civil
and religious liberty, which can be ascertained
by examining an English translation of the
"Trads" by the Rev. Peter Roberts, Wclshman.
We have not found In our limited researches any
thing 10 compare with them. Plato's theory Of
Of government drawn up to1guide Dyonisius, King
of Syracuse, bear. some similarity TO them. The
laws of DyvIwal Moelmud were more humane than
the common laws adopted by Alfred. They were
probably considered, in some respects, too mild to
suit the wild and turbulent SaXons OF the Heptar
cEiA0 No ayatpm of laws he aonnlete that dO%a