This single idea ruined Britain.

Constantine, a native of this island, one of those shadows of imperial majesty, no sooner found himself established at home than, fatally for himself and his country, he turned his eyes towards the continent.

Thither he carried the flower of the British youth,--all who were any ways eminent for birth, for courage, for their skill in the military or mechanic arts; but his success was not equal to his hopes or his forces.

The remains of his routed army joined their countrymen in Armorica, and a baffled attempt upon the Empire a second time recruited Gaul and exhausted Britain.
The Scots and Picts, attentive to every advantage, rushed with redoubled violence into this vacuity.

The Britons, who could find no protection but in slavery, again implore the assistance of their former masters.