[Sidenote: 471.]
[Sidenote: _Matth. West._ saith 461.]
After all these bloudie broiles and tempestuous tumults ended,
Vortigerne was restored and set againe into the kingdome of Britaine,
in the yeare of our Lord 471. All the time of his sonnes reigne, he
had remained in the parties now called Wales, where (as some write) in
that meane time he builded a strong castle called Generon, or
Guaneren, in the west side of Wales nere to the riuer of Guana, vpon a
mounteine called Cloaricus, which some referre to be builded in his
second returne into Wales, as shall be shewed hereafter. And it is so
much the more likelie, for that an old chronicle, which Fabian had
sight of, affirmeth, that Vortigerne was kept vnder the rule of
[Sidenote: Caerleon Arwiske.]
certeine gouernors to him appointed in the towne of Caerlegion, and
behaued himselfe in such commendable sort towards his sonne, in aiding
him with his counsell, and otherwise in the meane season whilest his
sonne reigned, that the Britains by reason thereof began so to fauour
him, that after the death of Vortimer they made him king againe.
Shortlie after that Vortigerne was restored to the rule of the
kingdom, Hengist aduertised therof returned into the land with a
[Sidenote: _Matth. West._ saith 4000.]
[Sidenote: He might easilie returne, for except I be deceiued he was
neuer driuen out after he had once set foot within this Ile.]
mightie armie of Saxons, whereof Vortigerne being admonished,
assembled his Britains, and with all speed made towards him. When
Hengist had knowledge of the huge host of the Britains that was
comming against him, he required to come to a communication with
Vortigerne, which request was granted, so that it was concluded, that
on Maie day a certeine number of Britains, and as manie of the Saxons
should meet togither vpon the plaine of Salisburie. Hengist hauing
deuised a new kind of treason, when the day of their appointed méeting
was come, caused euerie one of his allowed number secretlie to put
into his hose a long knife (where it was ordeined that no man should
bring anie weapon with him at all) and that at the verie instant when
[Sidenote: Nempt your sexes, what if it were messes.]
this watchword should be vttered by him, "Nempt your sexes," then
should euerie of them plucke out his knife, and slea the Britaine that
chanced to be next to him, except the same should be Vortigerne, whom
he willed to be apprehended, but not slaine.
At the day assigned, the king with his appointed number or traine of
the Britains, mistrusting nothing lesse than anie such maner of
vnfaithfull dealing, came vnto the place in order before prescribed,
without armor or weapon, where he found Hengist readie with his
Saxons, the which receiued the king with amiable countenance and in
most louing sort: but after they were a little entred into
communication, Hengist meaning to accomplish his deuised purpose, gaue
the watchword, immediatlie wherevpon the Saxons drew out their kniues,
[Sidenote: There died of the nobles of Britaine 460 as _Gal._ saith.]
fell on the Britains, and slue them as shéepe being fallen within the
danger of woolues. For the Britains had no weapons to defend
themselues, except anie of them by his strength and manhood got the
knife of his enimie.
[Sidenote: _Ran. Cestren._]
[Sidenote: _Fabian._]
Amongst other of the Britains, there was one Edol earle of Glocester,
or (as other say) Chester, which got a stake out of an hedge, or else
where, and with the same so defended himselfe and laid about him, that
[Sidenote: _Gal._ saith 70.]
[Sidenote: _Matth. West._]
[Sidenote: _Ran. Cestren._]
he slue 17 of the Saxons, and escaped to the towne of Ambrie, now
called Salisburie, and so saued his owne life. Vortiger was taken and
kept as prisoner by Hengist, till he was constreined to deliuer vnto
Hengist thrée prouinces or countries of this realme, that is to say,
Kent &Essex, or as some write, that part where the south Saxons after
did inhabit, as Sussex and other: the third was the countrie where the
Estangles planted themselues, which was in Norfolke and Suffolke. Then
Hengist being in possession of those thrée prouinces, suffered
Vortigerne to depart, &to be at his libertie.
[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._]
¶ William Malmesburie writeth somewhat otherwise of this taking of
Vortigerne, during whose reigne, after the deceasse of his sonne
Vortimer, nothing was attempted against the Saxons, but in the meane
time Hengist by colorable craft procured his sonne in law Vortigerne
to come to a banket at his house, with three hundred other Britains,
and when he had made them well and warme with often quaffing and
emptieng of cups, and of purpose touched euerie of them with one
bitter tawnt or other, they first fell to multiplieng of malicious
words, and after to blowes that the Britains were slaine, euerie
mothers sonne so yéelding vp their ghosts euen amongst their pots. The
king himselfe was taken, and to redéeme himselfe out of prison, gaue
to the Saxons thrée prouinces, and so escaped out of bondage.
Thus by what meane soeuer it came to passe, truth it is (as all
writers agrée) that Hengist got possession of Kent, and of other
countries in this realme, and began to reigne there as absolute lord &
gouernor, in
[Sidenote: 476.]
the yéere of our Lord (as some write) 476, about the fift yéere of
Vortigerns last reigne: but after other, which take the beginning of
this kingdome of Kent to be when Hengist had first gift therof, the
same kingdome began in the yéere 455, and conteined the countrie that
stretcheth from the east Ocean vnto the riuer of Thames, hauing on the
[Sidenote: Kingdome of Kent.]
southeast Southerie, and vpon the west London, vpon the northeast the
riuer of Thames aforesaid, and the countrie of Essex.
* * * * *
_The heptarchie or seuen kingdoms of this land, Hengist causeth
Britaine to be peopled with Saxons, the decaie of Christian religion,
the Pelagians with their hereticall and false doctrine infect the
Britains, a synod summoned in Gallia for the redresse thereof, the
Scots assist the Britains against the Saxons, who renew their league
with the Picts, Germane and Lupus two bishops of Germanie procure the
British armie to be newlie christened, the terror that the Britains
vnder bishop Germans fortunate conduct draue into the Saxons by the
outcrie of Alleluia, and got the victorie, bishop Germane departeth
out of the land, and to redresse the Pelagian heresie commeth againe
at the clergies request, he confirmeth his doctrine by a miracle,
banisheth the Pelagians out of the land, the death of Germane, murther
requited with murther._