[Sidenote: Hengist purposeth at the first to conquere the Britains.]
Now Hengistus, being a man of great wit, rare policie, and high
wisedome, vnderstanding the kings mind, who wholie trusted to the
valiancie of the Saxons, & herewithall perceiuing the fruitfulnesse of
the countrie, presentlie began to consider with himselfe, by what
wiles and craft he might by little little settle heere, and obteine a
kingdome in the Ile, and so establish the same to him and his for
euer.
[Sidenote: _Polydor._]
Therefore first he endeuored with all speed possible to fense that
part of the countrie, which was giuen him and his people, and to
inlarge and furnish it with garisons appointed in places most
conuenient. After this he did what he could to persuade the king, that
a great power of men might be brought ouer out of Germanie, that the
land being fortified with such strength, the enimies might be put in
[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._]
[Sidenote: 18 Foists or plates saie the Scotish writers,
and 5000 men in the same.]
[Sidenote: The Saxons call these vessels Ceoles, or Kéeles, and our
old histories Cogiones.]
feare, and his subiects holden in rest. The king not foreséeing the
hap that was to come, did not despise this counsell tending to the
destruction of his kingdome, and so was more aid sent for into
Germanie: wherevpon now at this second time there arriued héere 16
vessels fraught with people, and at the same time came the ladie Rowen
or Ronix (daughter to Hengist) a maid of excellent beautie and
comelinesse, able to delight the eies of them that should behold hir,
and speciallie to win the heart of Vortigerne with the dart of
concupiscence, wherevnto he was of nature much inclined, and that did
Hengist well perceiue.
[Sidenote: The _Vitæ_ or _Iutæ_ are called Ibitri.]
[Sidenote: _Alex. Now._]
There came ouer into this land at that time, and soone after, thrée
maner of people of the Germane nation, as Saxons, Vitæ or Iutes, and
Angles, ouer the which the said Hengist and Horse being brethren, were
capteines & rulers, men of right noble parentage in their countrie, as
descended of that ancient, prince Woden, of wham the English Saxon
kings doo for the more part fetch their pedegrée, as lineallie
descended from him, vnto whome also the English people (falselie
reputing him for a god) consecrated the fourth daie of the wéeke, as
they did the sixt to his wife Frea: so that the same daies tooke name
[Sidenote: Wednesdaie, and Fridaie, whereof they came.]
of them, the one being called Wodensdaie, and the other Freadaie,
which woords after in continuance of time by corruption of spéech were
somewhat altered, though not much, as from Wodensdaie, to Wednesdaie,
[Sidenote: _Beda._]
and from Freadaie to Fridaie. The foresaid Woden was father to Vecta,
the father of Wergistus that was father to the foresaid Hengistus and
Horsus.
But now to rehearse further touching those thrée people which at this
time came ouer into Britaine out of Germanie. Of the Vites or Iutes
(as Beda recordeth) are the Kentishmen descended, and the people of
the Ile of Wight, with those also that inhabit ouer against the same
Ile. Of the Saxons came the east, the south, & the west Saxons.
Moreouer, of the Angles proceéded the east Angles, the middle Angles
or Mercies, and the Northerne men. That these Angles were a people of
[Sidenote: _Cor. Tacitus._]
Germanie, it appeareth also by Cornelius Tacitus, who called them
Anglij, which word is of thrée syllables (as Polydor saith:) but some
write it Angli, with two syllables. And that these Angli, or Anglij
were of no small force and authoritie in Germanie before their comming
into this land, maie appeare, in that they are numbred amongst the
twelue nations there, which had lawes and ancient ordinances apart by
themselues, according to the which the state of their common wealth
was gouerned, they being the same and one people with the Thuringers,
as in the title of the old Thuringers lawes we find recorded, which is
thus: "Lex Angliorum & Werinorum, hoc est Thuringorum," The law of the
Angles and Werinians that is to saie the Thuringers, which Thuringers
are a people in Saxonie, as in the description of that countrie it
maie appeare.
[Sidenote: _Polydor._]
[Sidenote: Rowen, or Ronowen Hengists daughter.]
[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._]
But now to the matter. Hengist perceiuing that his people were highlie
in Vortigernes fauour, began to handle him craftilie, deuising by what
means he might bring him in loue with his daughter Ronix, or Rowen, or
Ronowen (as some write) which he beléeued well would easilie be
brought to passe, bicause he vnderstood that the king was much giuen
to sensuall lust, which is the thing that often blindeth wise mens
vnderstanding, and maketh them to dote, and to lose their perfect
wits: yea, and oftentimes bringeth them to destruction, though by such
pleasant poison they féele no bitter taste, till they be brought to
the extreame point of confusion in déed.
[Sidenote: _Gal. Mon._]
A great supper therefore was prepared by Hengist, at the which it
pleased the king to be present, and appointed his daughter, when
euerie man began to be somewhat merrie with drinke, to bring in a cup
of gold full of good and pleasant wine, and to present it to the king,
saieng; Wassail. Which she did in such comelie and decent maner, as
she that knew how to doo it well inough, so as the king maruelled
greatlie thereat, and not vnderstanding what she ment by that
salutation, demanded what it signified. To whom it was answered by
[Sidenote: Wassail, what it signifieth.]
Hengist, that she wished him well, and the meaning of it was, that he
should drinke after hir, ioining thereto this answer, Drinke haile.
Wherevpon the king (as he was informed) tooke the cup at the damsels
hand, and dranke.
Finallie, this yoong ladie behaued hir selfe with such pleasant
woords, comelie countenance, and amiable grace, that the king beheld
hir so long, till he felt himselfe so farre in loue with hir person,
that he burned in continuall desire to inioy the same: insomuch that
[Sidenote: _Polydor._]
[Sidenote: _Fabian._]
shortlie after he forsooke his owne wife, by the which he had thrée
sonnes, named Vortimerus, Catagrinus, and Pascentius, and required of
Hengist to haue his daughter, the said Rowen, or Ronowen in mariage.
Hengist at the first séemed strange to grant to his request, and
excused the matter, for that his daughter was not of estate and
[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._]
dignitie méet to be matched with his maiestie. But at length as it had
béene halfe against his will he consented, and so the mariage was
concluded & solemnized, all Kent being assigned vnto Hengist in
reward, the which countrie was before that time gouerned by one
Guorongus (though not with most equall Justice) which Guorongus was
subiect vnto Vortigerne, as all other the potentats of the Ile were.
This mariage and liberalite of the king towards the strangers much
offended the minds of his subiects, and hastened the finall
destruction of the land. For the Saxons now vnderstanding the
affinitie had betwixt the king and Hengist, came so fast ouer to
inhabit héere, that it was woonder to consider in how short a time
such a multitude could come togither: so that bicause of their great
number and approoued puissance in warres, they began to be a terrour
[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._]
to the former inhabitants the Britains. But Hengist being no lesse
politike in counsell than valiant in armes, abusing the kings lacke of
discretion, to serue his owne turne, persuaded him to call out of
[Sidenote: _Gal._ saith he was Hengists sonne, and Ebusa
his vncles sonne.]
[Sidenote: Occa and Ebusa leaders of Saxons.]
Germanie his brother Occa and his sonne named Ebusa, being men of
great valure, to the end that as Hengist defended the land in the
south part: so might they kéepe backe the Scots in the north.
Héerevpon by the kings consent, they came with a power out of
Germanie, and coasting about the land, they sailed to the Iles of
Orknie, and sore vexed the people there, and likewise the Scots and
Picts also, and finallie arriued in the north parts of the realme, now
called Northumberland, where they setled themselues at that present,
[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm. de Regib._]
and so continued there euer after: but none of them taking vpon him
the title of king, till about 99 yéeres after their first comming into
that countrie, but in the meane time remaining as subiects vnto the
Saxon kings of Kent. After their arriuall in that prouince, they
oftentimes fought with the old inhabitants there, and ouercame them,
chasing away such as made resistance, and appeased the residue by
receiuing them vnder allegiance.
[Sidenote: _Fabian._]
[Sidenote: The great numbers of strangers suspected to the Britains.]
When the nobles of Britaine saw and perceiued in what danger the land
stood, by the dailie repaire of the huge number of Saxons into the
same, they first consulted togither, and after resorting to the king,
mooued him that some order might be taken for the auoiding of them, or
the more part of them, least they should with their power and great
multitude vtterlie oppresse the British nation. But all was in vaine,
for Vortigerne so estéemed and highlie fauoured the Saxons, and
namelie by reason of the great loue which he bare to his wife, that he
little regarded his owne nation, no nor yet anie thing estéemed his
owne naturall kinsmen and chiefe friends, by reason whereof the
[Sidenote: Vortigerne depriued.]
Britains in fine depriued him of all kinglie honour, after that he had
reigned 16 yéeres, and in his steed crowned his sonne Vortimer.
[Sidenote: _Gyldas._]
[Sidenote: _Beda._]
[Sidenote: _H. Hunt._]
Gyldas and Beda make no mention of Vortimer, but declare that after
the Saxons were receiued into this land, there was a couenant made
betwixt them and the Britains, that the Saxons should defend the
countrie from the inuasion of enimies by their knightlie force: and
that in consideration therof, the Britains should find them prouision
of vittels: wherewith they held them contented for a time. But
afterwards they began to pike quarrels, as though they were not
sufficientlie furnished of their due proportion of vittels,
threatening that if they were not prouided more largelie thereof, they
would surelie spoile the countrie. So that without deferring of time,
[Sidenote: The miserable destruction made by the Saxons in this land.]
they performed their woords with effect of deeds, beginning in the
east part of the Ile, & with fire and swoord passed foorth, wasting
and destroieng the countrie, till they came to the vttermost part of
the west: so that from sea to sea, the land was wasted and destroied
in such cruell and outragious manner, that neither citie, towne, nor
church was regarded, but all committed to the fire: the priests slaine
and murthered euen afore the altars, and the prelats with the people
without anie reuerence of their estate or degrée dispatched with fire
and swoord, most lamentablie to behold.
Manie of the Britains séeing the demeanour of the Saxons, fled to the
mounteins, of the which diuers being apprehended, were cruellie
slaine, and other were glad to come foorth and yeeld themselues to
eternall bondage, for to haue reléefe of meate and drinke to asswage
their extremitie of hunger. Some other got them out of the realme into
strange lands, so to saue themselues; and others abiding still in
their countrie, kept them within the thicke woods and craggie rocks,
whither they were fled, liuing there a poore wretched life, in great
feare and vnquietnesse of mind.
But after that the Saxons were departed and withdrawne to their
houses, the Britains began to take courage to them againe, issuing
foorth of those places where they had lien hid, and with one consent
calling for aid at Gods hand, that they might be preserued from vtter
destruction, they began vnder the conduct of their leader Aurelius
Ambrose, to prouoke the Saxons to battell, and by the helpe of God
they obteined victorie, according to their owne desires. And from
thence foorth, one while the Britains, and an other while the Saxons
were victors. So that in this British people, God (according to his
accustomed maner) as it were present Israell, tried them from time to
time, whether they loued him or no, vntill the yeare of the siege of
Badon hill, where afterwards no small slaughter was made of the
[Sidenote: So _Gyldas_ was borne in the yeare of our Lord 493.]
enimies: which chanced the same yeare in the which Gyldas was borne
(as he himselfe witnesseth) being about the 44 yeare after the comming
of the Saxons into Britaine.
Thus haue Gyldas & Beda (following by likelihood the authoritie of the
same Gyldas) written of these first warres begun betwéene the Saxons
and Britains. But now to go foorth with the historie, according to the
order of our chronicles, as we doo find recorded touching the doings
of Vortimer that was elected king (as ye haue heard) to gouerne in
place of his father Vortigerne.
* * * * *
_Vortimer is created king in the roome of his father Vortigerne, he
giueth the Saxons sore and sharpe battels, a combat fought betweene
Catigerne the brother of Vortimer and, Horsus the brother of Hengist,
wherein they were both slaine, the Britains driue the Saxons into the
Ile of Tenet, Rowen the daughter of Hengist procureth Vortimer to be
poisoned, the Saxons returne into Germanie as some writers report,
they ioine with the Scots and Picts against the Britains and discomfit
them._