449
449 Manchester
Baines
narrates, on the authority of Geoffrey of Monmouth, the successes of
Aurelius Ambrosius against the invading Saxons. Octa was conquered at
York, and "Ebissa, who had probably occupied Manchester while Octa was
stationed at York, also submitted; but on the death of Ambrosius they
revolted and took Overbrough, Walton-le-Dale, Manchester, and Warrington. They
were defeated and captured at York." Even If it were possible to accept Geoffrey
of Monmouth as a sober chronicler, or to separate the grains of tradition from
the mass of fable which appears equally hopeless - it must be further confessed
that Geoffrey makes no mention of Manchester in his narrative. He does not say
that Manchester was part of the lordship or kingdom of Eosa, Ebusa,or Ebissa, as
the chief is variously styled. He merely says that it was "the country bordering
upon Scotland." The conqueror of Ebussa is the legendary Uther, the
father of King Arthur.