[Sidenote: Ella entred this land as _Matt. West._ saith ann. 477.]
In the time of the foresaid Aurelius Ambrosius, one Ella a Saxon with
his 3 sonnes Cymen, Plettinger and Cissa, came out of Germanie with
thrée ships, and landed in the south parts of Britaine and being
incountred with a power of Britains at a place called Cuneueshore,
discomfited them, and chased them vnto a wood then called
Andredescester, and so tooke that countrie, and inhabited there with
his people the Saxons which he brought with him, and made himselfe
king and lord thereof, in somuch that afterwards the same countrie was
[Sidenote: The kingdom of the Southsaxons dooth begin.]
named the kingdome of the Southsaxons, which had for limits on the
east side Kent, on the south the sea and Ile of Wight, on the west
Hamshire, and on the north part Southerie. This kingdome (after some)
began vnder the foresaid Ella, about the 32 yeere after the first
comming of the Saxons into this land, which by following that account,
should be about the second yéere of the reigne of Aurelius Ambrosius,
[Sidenote: 482.]
and about the yéere of our Lord 482. But other write, that it did
begin about the 30 yéere after the first comming of Hengist, which
should be two yéeres sooner.
William Harison differing from all other, noteth it to begin in the
fourth yéere after the death of Hengist, 4458 of the world, 2 of the
317 Olympiad, 1248 of Rome, 492 of Christ, and 43 after the comming of
the Saxons: his woords are these. Ella erected the kingdome of the
Southsaxons, in the 15 after his arriuall, and reigned 32 yéeres, the
chiefe citie of his kingdome also was Chichester, and after he had
inioied the same his kingdome a while, he ouerthrew the citie called
Andredescester, which as then was taken for one of the most famous in
all the south side of England. ¶ For my part I thinke my dutie
discharged, if I shew the opinions of the writers: for if I should
therto ad mine owne, I should but increase coniectures, whereof
alreadie we haue superfluous store. To procéed thereforr as I find.
About the ninth yéere after the comming of Ella, the Britains
perceiuing that he with his Saxons still inlarged the bounds of his
lordship by entring further into the land, assembled themselues
togither vnder their kings and rulers, and gaue battell to Ella and
his sonnes at Mecredesbourne, where they departed with doubtfull
victorie, the armies on both sides being sore diminished, and so
returned to their homes. Ella after this battell sent into his
countrie for more aid.
But now touching Hengist, who as ye haue heard, reigned as king in the
prouince of Kent, the writers of the English kings varie somewhat from
the British histories, both in report of the battels by him fought
against the Britains, and also for the maner of his death: as thus.
After that Vortimer was dead, who departed this life (as some write)
[Sidenote: _Polychron._]
[Sidenote: 457.]
in the first yéere of the emperor Leo, surnamed the great, and first
of that name that gouerned the empire, who began to rule in the yéere
of our Lord 457, we find that Hengist and his sonne Occa or Osca
[Sidenote: _Henrie Hunt._]
[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._]
[Sidenote: Creiford.]
[Sidenote: Britains ouerthrowne.]
gathered their people togither that were before sparkled, and hauing
also receiued new aid out of Germanie, fought with the Britains at a
place called Crekenford, where were slaine of the Britains foure dukes
or capteins, and foure thousand of other men, the residue were chased
by Hengist out of Kent vnto London, so that they neuer returned
afterwards againe into Kent: thus the kingdome of Kent began vnder
Hengist the twelfe yéere after the comming of the Saxons into
Britaine, and Hengist reigned in Kent after this (as the same writers
agrée) foure and twentie yéeres.
[Sidenote: _Polychron._]
It is remembred that those Germans which latelie were come ouer to the
aid of Hengist, being chosen men, mightie and strong of bodie, with
their axes and swoords made great slaughter of the Britains in that
battell at Crekenford or Creiford, which Britains were ranged in foure
[Sidenote: _Hen. Hunt._]
battels vnder their aforesaid foure dukes or capteins, and were (as
before is mentioned) slaine in the same battell. About the sixt yéere
of the said emperor Leo, which was in the 17 yéere after the comming
[Sidenote: Wipets field.]
[Sidenote: _Matt. West._]
[Sidenote: This battell was fought anno 473. as the same _Mat. West._
noteth.]
of the Saxons, Hengist and his sonne Occa or Osca fought at Wipets
field in Kent, néere to a place called Tong with the Britains, and
slue of them twelue dukes or capteins, & on the part of the Saxons was
[Sidenote: Wipet.]
[Sidenote: _H. Hunt._]
slaine beside common souldiers but onlie one capteine called Wipet, of
whom the place after that daie tooke name.
This victorie was nothing plesant to the Saxons, by reason of the
great losse which they susteined, as well by the death of the said
Wipet, as of a great number of others: and so of a long time neither
did the Saxons enter into the confines of the Britains, nor the
Britains presumed to come into Kent. But whilest outward wars ceassed
among the Britains, they exercised ciuill battell, falling togither by
the eares among themselues, one striuing against another. Finallié,
[Sidenote: Fortie Yéeres saith _H. Hunt._]
Hengist departed this life by course of nature, in the 39 yéere after
his first comming into Britaine, hauing procéeded in his businesse no
[Sidenote: By this it is euident that he was not driuen out of the
land after he had once set foot within it.]
[Sidenote: _Matt. West._]
[Sidenote: _H. Hunt._]
lesse with craft and guile than with force and strength, following
therewith his natiue crueltie, so that he rather did all things with
rigour than with gentlenesse. After him succéeded a sonne whom he left
behind him, who being attentiue rather to defend than to inlarge his
kingdome, neuer set foot out of his fathers bounds, during the space
of 24 yéeres, in the which he reigned.
About thrée yéeres after the deceasse of Hengist, a new supplie of men
of warre came out of Germanie vnto the aid of Ella king of Sussex, who
[Sidenote: The citie of Andredescester.]
hauing his power increased, besieged the citie of Andredescester,
which was verie strong and well furnished with men and all things
necessarie. The Britains also assembling togither in companies,
greatlie annoied the Saxons as they lay there at siege, laieng
ambushes to destroie such as went abroad, and ceassing not to giue
alarums to the campe in the night season: and the Saxons could no
sooner prepare them selues to giue the assalt, but the Britains were
readie to assaile them on the backs, till at length the Saxons
diuiding themselues into two companies, appointed the one to giue the
assalt, and the other to incounter with the armie of the Britains
without, and so finallie by that meanes preuailed, tooke the citie,
and destroied man, woman and child. Neither so contented, they did
also vtterlie race the said citie, so as it was neuer after that daie
builded or reedified againe.
* * * * *
_The east Angles kingdome beginneth, the arriuall of Cerdic and Kenric
with fiue ships of warre in this land, he putteth the Britains to
flight, the west Saxons kingdom begineth, Vter Pendragon made king of
Britaine, the etymon of his name, he taketh Occa and Osca the two
sonnes of Hengist prisoners, how Hector Boetius varieth from other
chronographers in the relation of things concerning Pendragon, he
falleth in loue with the duke of Cornewalls wife, killeth him, and
marieth hir. Occa and Osca escape out of prison, they freshlie assault
the Britains, they are both slaine in a foughten field, the Saxons
send and looke for aid out of Germanie, Pendragon is poisoned._