368.] In this state, with regard to the civil, military, and religious establishment, Britain, remained without any change, and at intervals in a tolerable state of repose, until the reign of Valentinian.

Then it was attacked all at once with incredible fury and success, and as it were in concert, by a number of barbarous nations.

The principal of these were the Scots, a people of ancient settlement in Ireland, and who had thence been transplanted into the northern part of Britain, which afterwards derived its name from that colony.

The Scots of both nations united with the Picts to fall upon the Roman province.

To these were added the piratical Saxons, who issued from the mouths of the Rhine.