[...]
31. After the above-said war between the Britons and Romans, the assassination of their rulers, and the victory of Maximus, who slew Gratian, and the termination of the Roman power in Britain, they were in alarm forty years.
Vortigern then reigned in Britain. In his time, the natives had cause of
dread, not only from the inroads of the Scots and Picts, but also from the
Romans, and their apprehensions of Ambrosius.
In the meantime, three vessels, exiled from Germany, arrived in Britain.
They were commanded by Horsa and Hengist, brothers, and sons of Wihtgils.
Wihtgils was the son of Witta; Witta of Wecta; Wecta of Woden; Woden of
Frithowald; Frithowald of Frithuwulf; Frithuwulf of Finn; Finn of Godwulf;
Godwulf of Geat, who, as they say, was the son of a god, not of the
omnipotent God and our Lord Jesus Christ (who before the beginning of the
world, was with the Father and the Holy Spirit, co-eternal and of the same
substance, and who, in compassion to human nature, disdained not to assume
the form of a servant), but the offspring of one of their idols, and whom,
blinded by some demon, they worshipped according to the custom of the
heathen. Vortigern received them as friends, and delivered up to them the
island which is in their language called Thanet, and, by the Britons,
Ruym. Gratianus Aequantius at that time reigned in Rome. The Saxons
were received by Vortigern, four hundred and forty-seven years after the
passion of Christ, and, according to the tradition of our ancestors,
from the period of their first arrival in Britain, to the first year of
the reign of king Edmund, five hundred and forty-two years; and to that in
which we now write, which is the fifth of his reign, five hundred and
forty-seven years.
[...]
36. After the Saxons had continued some time in the island of Thanet,
Vortigern promised to supply them with clothing and provision, on
condition they would engage to fight against the enemies of his country.
But the barbarians having greatly increased in number, the Britons became
incapable of fulfilling their engagement; and when the Saxons, according
to the promise they had received, claimed a supply of provisions and
clothing, the Britons replied, "Your number is increased; your assistance
is now unneccessary; you may, therefore, return home, for we can no longer
support you;" and hereupon they began to devise means of breaking the
peace between them.
37. But Hengist, in whom united craft and penetration, perceiving he had
to act with an ignorant king, and a fluctuating people, incapable of
opposing much resistance, replied to Vortigern, "We are, indeed, few in
number; but, if you will give us leave, we will send to our country for an
additional number of forces, with whom we will fight for you and your
subjects." Vortigern assenting to this proposal, messengers were
despatched to Scythia, where selecting a number of warlike troops, they
returned with sixteen vessels, bringing with them the beautiful daughter
of Hengist. And now the Saxon chief prepared an entertainment, to which he
invited the king, his officers, and Ceretic, his interpreter, having
previously enjoined his daughter to serve them so profusely with wine and
ale, that they might soon become intoxicated. This plan succeeded; and
Vortigern, at the instigation of the devil, and enamoured with the beauty
of the damsel, demanded her, through the medium of his interpreter, of the
father, promising to give for her whatever he should ask. Then Hengist,
who had already consulted with the elders who attended him of the
Oghgul race, demanded for his daughter the province, called in English,
Centland, in British, Ceint, (Kent.) This cession was made without the
knowledge of the king, Guoyrancgonus, who then reigned in Kent, and who
experienced no inconsiderable share of grief, from seeing his kingdom thus
clandestinely, fraudulently, and imprudently resigned to foreigners. Thus
the maid was delivered up to the king, who slept with her, and loved her
exceedingly.
38. Hengist, after this, said to Vortigern, "I will be to you both a
father and an adviser; despise not my counsels, and you shall have no
reason to fear being conquered by any man or any nation whatever; for the
people of my country are strong, warlike, and robust: if you approve, I
will send for my son and his brother, both valiant men, who at my
invitation will fight against the Scots, and you can give them the
countries in the north, near the wall called Gual." The incautious
sovereign having assented to this, Octa and Ebusa arrived with forty
ships. In these they sailed round the country of the Picts, laid waste the
Orkneys, and took possession of many regions, even to the Pictish
confines.
But Hengist continued, by degrees, sending for ships from his own country,
so that some islands whence they came were left without inhabitants; and
whilst his people were increasing in power and number, they came to the
above-named province of Kent.
[...]
43. At length Vortimer, the son of Vortigern, valiantly fought against
Hengist, Horsa, and his people; drove them to the isle of Thanet, and
thrice enclosed them within it, and beset them on the Western side.
The Saxons now despatched deputies to Germany to solicit large
reinforcements, and an additional number of ships: having obtained these,
they fought against the kings and princes of Britain, and sometimes
extended their boundaries by victory, and sometimes were conquered and
driven back.
44. Four times did Vortimer valorously encounter the enemy; the first
has been mentioned, the second was upon the river Darent, the third at the
Ford, in their language called Epsford, though in ours Set thirgabail,
there Horsa fell, and Catigern, the son of Vortigern; the fourth battle he
fought was near the stone on the shore of the Gallic sea, where the
Saxons being defeated, fled to their ships.
[...]
After a short interval Vortimer died; before his decease, anxious for the
future prosperity of his country, he charged his friends to inter his body
at the entrance of the Saxon port, viz. upon the rock where the Saxons
first landed; "for though," said he, "they may inhabit other parts of
Britain, yet if you follow my commands, they will never remain in this
island." They imprudently disobeyed this last injunction, and neglected to
bury him where he had appointed.
45. After this the barbarians became firmly incorporated, and were
assisted by foreign pagans; for Vortigern was their friend, on account of
the daughter of Hengist, whom he so much loved, that no one durst fight
against him-in the meantime they soothed the imprudent king, and whilst
practising every appearance of fondness, were plotting with his enemies.
And let him that reads understand, that the Saxons were victorious, and
ruled Britain, not from their superior prowess, but on account of the
great sins of the Britons: God so permitting it.
For what wise man will resist the wholesome counsel of God? The Almighty
is the King of kings, and the Lord of lords, ruling and judging every one,
according to his own pleasure.
After the death of Vortimer, Hengist being strengthened by new accessions,
collected his ships, and calling his leaders together, consulted by what
stratagem they might overcome Vortigern and his army; with insidious
intention they sent messengers to the king, with offers of peace and
perpetual friendship; unsuspicious of treachery, the monarch, after
advising with his elders, accepted the proposals.
46. Hengist, under pretence of ratifying the treaty, prepared an
entertainment, to which he invited the king, the nobles, and military
officers, in number about three hundred; speciously concealing his wicked
intention, he ordered three hundred Saxons to conceal each a knife under
his feet, and to mix with the Britons; "and when," said he, "they are
sufficiently inebriated, &c. cry out, 'Nimed eure Saxes,' then let
each draw his knife, and kill his man; but spare the king, on account of
his marriage with my daughter, for it is better that he should be ransomed
than killed."
The king with his company, appeared at the feast; and mixing with the
Saxons, who, whilst they spoke peace with their tongues, cherished
treachery in their hearts, each man was placed next to his enemy.
After they had eaten and drunk, and were much intoxicated, Hengist
suddenly vociferated, "Nimed eure Saxes!" and instantly his adherents drew
their knives, and rushing upon the Britons, each slew him that sat next to
him, and there was slain three hundred of the nobles of Vortigern. The
king being a captive, purchased his redemption, by delivering up the three
provinces of East, South, and Middle Sex, besides other districts at the
option of his betrayers.
[...]
50. St. Germanus, after his death, returned into his own country. *At that
time, the Saxons greatly increased in Britain, both in strength and
numbers. And Octa, after the death of his father Hengist, came from the
sinistral part of the island to the kingdom of Kent, and from him have
proceeded all the kings of that province, to the present period.
Then it was, that the magnanimous Arthur, with all the kings and military
force of Britain, fought against the Saxons. And though there were many
more noble than himself, yet he was twelve times chosen their commander,
and was as often conqueror. The first battle in which he was engaged, was
at the mouth of the river Gleni. The second, third, fourth, and fifth,
were on another river, by the Britons called Duglas, in the region
Linuis. The sixth, on the river Bassas. The seventh in the wood
Celidon, which the Britons call Cat Coit Celidon. The eighth was near
Gurnion castle, where Arthur bore the image of the Holy Virgin,
mother of God, upon his shoulders, and through the power of our Lord Jesus
Christ, and the holy Mary, put the Saxons to flight, and pursued them the
whole day with great slaughter. The ninth was at the City of Legion,
which is called Cair Lion. The tenth was on the banks of the river Trat
Treuroit. The eleventh was on the mountain Breguoin, which we call Cat
Bregion. The twelfth was a most severe contest, when Arthur penetrated
to the hill of Badon. In this engagement, nine hundred and forty fell
by his hand alone, no one but the Lord affording him assistance. In all
these engagements the Britons were successful. For no strength can avail
against the will of the Almighty.
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