- Pellitus
Pellitus was a Spanish astrologer of the
seventh century , who worked forEdwin of Northumbria , in the account given byGeoffrey of Monmouth .Pellitus was engaged for Edwin's struggle against
Cadwallon ap Cadfan . [From translation at Wikisource [http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/History_of_the_Kings_of_Britain/Giles_1848_Book_12] :"For there was come to him from Spain a very skilful soothsayer, named Pellitus, who, by the flight of the birds and the courses of the stars, foretold all the disasters that would happen. By these means Edwin, getting knowledge of Cadwalla's return, prepared to meet him, and shattered his ships so that he drowned his men, and beat him off from all his ports."] After Pellitus was assassinated by Brian, nephew of Cadwallon, [ibid., "...he thrust himself in among the crowd of poor people, in that part where Pellitus was placing them. And the same moment he got access to him, he lifted up his staff, and at once gave him a stab under the breast which killed him."] military matters went much worse for Edwin, who was killed at theBattle of Heathfield , in633 .Notes
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