The Holinshed Texts (1587, Volume 2, p. 78 with companion text)

5.3. Hengistus the Saxon shooteth at the crowne and scepter of the kingdome by craftie and subtile practises, a great number of forren people arriue in Britaine for the augmen|tation of his power, of the faire ladie Rowne his daughter, whereof Wednesdaie and Fridaie tooke their name, of the Iutes, Saxons, and Angles, Vortigerne being inflamed with the loue of Hengists daughter forsaketh his owne wife and marrieth hir, Vortigerne giueth Hengist all Kent, the Saxons come ouer by heaps to inhabit the land, the Bri|tish nobilitie moue the king to auoid them, he is depriued of his kingdome, the miserable destruction made by the Saxons in this land, skirmishes betwixt them and the Britains. The third Chapter.

Hengistus the Saxon shooteth at the crowne and scepter of the kingdome by craftie and subtile practises, a great number of forren people arriue in Britaine for the augmen|tation of his power, of the faire ladie Rowne his daughter, whereof Wednesdaie and Fridaie tooke their name, of the Iutes, Saxons, and Angles, Vortigerne being inflamed with the loue of Hengists daughter forsaketh his owne wife and marrieth hir, Vortigerne giueth Hengist all Kent, the Saxons come ouer by heaps to inhabit the land, the Bri|tish nobilitie moue the king to auoid them, he is depriued of his kingdome, the miserable destruction made by the Saxons in this land, skirmishes betwixt them and the Britains. The third Chapter.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 _NOw Hengistus,Hengist pur|poseth at the first to con|quere the Britains. being a man of great wit, rare poli|cie, and high wisedome, vn|derstanding the kings mind, who wholie trusted to the va|liancie of the Saxons, & here|withall perceiuing the fruit|fulnesse of the countrie, pre|sentlie began to consider with himselfe, by what wiles and craft he might by little settle heere, and obteine a kingdome in the Ile, and so establish the same to him and his fore euer.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 3 Therefore first he indeuored with all speed possiblePolydor. 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 our of Germanie, that the land being fortified with such strength, the enimies might be put in feare, and his subiects holden in rest. The king not fore|séeing 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: where|vpon now at this second time shere arriued héere 16 vessels fraught with people, wil. Malm. 18 Foists or plates saie the Scotish wri|ters, and 5000 men in the same. and at the same time came the ladie Rowen or Ronix (daughter to Hen|gist) 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 Uortigerne with the dart of concupiscence,The Saxons call these ves|sels C [...]ol [...]s, or Kéeles, and our old histo|ries Cogio|nes. wherevnto he was of nature much inclined, and that did Hengist well perceiue.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 There came ouer into this land at that time, and soone after, thrée maner of people of the Germane nation, as Saxons, Vitae or Iutes, and Angles, o|uer the which the said Hengist and Horse being bre|thren,The Vitae or Iutae are called Ibitti. Alex. Now. were capteines & rulers, men of right noble parentage in their countrie, as descended of that ancient prince Woden, of whom the English Saxon EEBO page image 79 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 of them, the one being called Wodens|daie, and the other Freadaie, which woords after in continuance of time by corruption of spéech were somewhat altered,Wednesdaie, and Fridaie, whereof they came. though not much, as from Wo|densdaie, to Wednesdaie, and from Freadaie to Fridaie. The foresaid Woden was father to Uecta, the father of Westgistus that was father to the foresaid Hengistus and Horsus.Beda

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 3 4 5 But now to rehearse further touching those thrée people which at this time came ouer into Britaine out of Germanie. Of the Uites or Iutes (as Beda recordeth) are the Kentishmen descended, and the people of the Ile of Wight, with those also that in|habit ouer against the same Ile. Of the Saxons came the east, the south, & the west Saxons. Moreo|uer, of the Angles procéeded the east Angles, the middle Angles or Mercies,Cot. Tacitus. and the Northerne men. That these Angles were a people of Germanie, it appeareth also by Cornelius Tacitus, who called them Anglij, which word is of thrée syllables (as Po|lydor saith:) but some write it Angli, with two syl|lables. 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 re|corded, which is thus: Lex Angliorum & Werinorum, hoc est Thuringorum, The law of the Angles and We|rinians that is to saie the Thuringers, which Thurin|gers are a people in Saxonie, as in the description of that countrie it maie appeare.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 But now to the matter.Polydor. Hengist perceiuing that his people were highlie in Uortigernes fauour,Rowen, or Ronowen Hengists daughter. be|gan to handle him craftilie, deuising by what means he might bring him in loue with his daughter Ro|nix, or Rowen, or Ronowen (as some write) which he beléeued well would easilie be brought to passe, bi|cause he vnderstood that the king was much giuen to sensuall lust,Wil Malm. 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.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 A great supper therefore was prepared by Hen|gist, at the which it pleased the king to be present, and appointed his daughter,Gal. Mon. 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 great|lie thereat, and not vnderstanding what she ment by that salutation, demanded what it signified. To whom it was answered by Hengist,Wassail, what it signifieth. 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.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 Finallie, this yoong ladie behaued hir selfe with such pleasant woords, comelie countenance, and ami|able grace, that the king beheld hir so long, till he felt himselfe so farre in loue with hir person, that he bur|ned in continuall desire to inioy the same: insomuch that shortlie after he forsooke his owne wife, by the which he had thrée sonnes,Polydor Fabian. named Uortimerus, Ca|tagrinus, 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,Wil. Malm. for that his daughter was not of estate and 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 iustice) which Guorongus was subiect vnto Uortigerne, as all other the potentats of the Ile were.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 This mariage and liberalitie of the king towards the strangers much offended the minds of his sub|iects, 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 togi|ther: so that bicause of their great number and ap|prooued puissance in warres, they began to be a ter|rour to the former inhabitants the Britains.Wil. Malm. But Hengist being no lesse politike in counsell than vali|ant in armes, abusing the kings lacke of discretion, to serue his owne turne, persuaded him to call out of Germanie his brother Occa and his sonne named Ebusa, Gal. saith he was Hen|gists sonne and Ebusa his vncles sonne. Occa and E|busalcaders of Saxons. being men of great valure, to the end that as Hengist defended the land in the south part: so might they keepe backe the Scots in the north.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 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 vex|ed 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, and so continued there euer after: but none of them taking vpon him the title of king, Wil. Malm. de Regib. 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 of|tentimes fought with the old inhabitants there, and ouercame them, chasing away such as made resis|tance, and appeased the residue by receiuing them vnder allegiance.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 When the nobles of Britaine saw and perceiued in what danger the land stood, Fabian. The great numbers of strangers sus|pected to the Britains. 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 Uortigerne so estéemed and highlie fauou|red 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 rea|son whereof the Britains in fine depriued him of all kinglie honour,Uortigerne depriued. after that he had reigned 16 yéeres, and in his steed crowned his sonne Uortimer.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 3 Gyldas and Beda make no mention of Uortimer,Gyldas. Beda. H. Hunt. but declare that after the Saxons were receiued in|to this land, there was a couenant made betwixt them and the Britains, that the Saxons should de|fend the countrie from the inuasion of enimies by their knightlie force: and that in consideration ther|of, the Britains should find them prouision of a vit|tels: wherewith they held them contented for [...]. But afterwards they began to pike quarrels, as though they were not sufficientlie furnished of their due proportion of vittels, threatening that if they EEBO page image 80 were not prouided more largelie thereof, they would surelie spoile the countrie. So that without defer|ring of time, they performed their woords with effect of deeds,The mise|rable destruc|tion made by the Saxons in this land. 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 e|state or degrée dispatched with fire and swoord, most lamentablie to behold.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 Manie of the Britains séeing the demeanour of the Saxons, fled to the mounteins, of the which di|uers 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 vnqui|etnesse of mind.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 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 Bri|tains, 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 eni|mies:So Gyldas was borne in the yeare of our Lord 493. which chanced the same yeare in the which Gyl|das was borne (as he himselfe witnesseth) being a|bout the 44 yeare after the comming of the Saxons into Britaine.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 Thus haue Gyldas & Beda (following by likelihood the authoritie of the same Gyldas) written of these first warres begun betwéene the Saxons and Bri|tains. But now to go foorth with the historie, accor|ding to the order of our chronicles, as we doo find recorded touching the doings of Uortimer that was elected king (as ye haue heard) to gouerne in place of his father Uortigerne.

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5.64. Vortigerne.

Vortigerne.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 Vorti|gerne 446THus was Vortigerne choſen and made king of Brytain, in the yere of our Lord .446. third Cõſulſhip of Aetius, 1197. of Rome .4. of the 305. Olympiade .4112. of the worlde, the Dominicall letter going by F, the Prime by ten, whiche fell about the .xxj. yeare of the Emperour Valenti|nianus, the ſame yeare that Meroueus began to raigne ouer the Frenchmen.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 Before hee was made king, he was Earle or Duke of the Geuiſſes, a people which helde that part of Brytaine where afterwardes the weſt Saxons inhabited.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 Nowe after that Vortigerne had with trea|ſon, fraude, and greate deceyte, at length at|teyned that for the whiche hee had long looked,Hector Bo. hee fyrſte of all furniſhed the Tower of Lon|don wyth a ſtrong garriſon of menne of warre.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 Then ſtudying to aduaunce onely ſuch as he knew to be his eſpeciall friendes and fauourers, he ſought by all meanes how to oppreſſe other, of whoſe good will hee had neuer ſo little miſtruſt,415 namely thoſe that were affectionate towardes the lynage of Conſtantine he hated deadly, and de|uiſed by ſecrete meanes which way he might beſt deſtroy them: but theſe his practiſes being at the firſt perceyued, cauſed ſuche as had the gouer|nance of the two yong Gentlemen with all ſpeede to get them ouer (as yee haue heard) into Bry|tayne Armorike, there to remaine out of daun|ger wyth theyr Vncle the King of that lande,Fabian. and dayly did dyuerſe of the Brytaynes, that knewe themſelues to bee in Vortigerne his diſ|pleaſure ſayle ouer vnto them, whiche thyng brought Vortigerne into great doubt and feare of his eſtate.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 It chaunced alſo the ſame tyme, that there was greate plentye of corne, and ſtore of fruite,Gildas. the lyke whereof had not beene ſeene in manye EEBO page image 111 yeares before, [...]entie of [...]ealth accom| [...]nied with [...]re of ſinnes. and therevpon enſued ryote, ſtrife, lecherie, and other vyces right heynous, and yet accounted as then for ſmall or rather none offen|ces at all.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 Theſe abuſes and great enormities, raigned not onely in the temporaltie, but alſo in the ſpiri|tualtie and chiefe Rulers of the ſame: ſo that euerye man turned the poynt of his ſpeare (euen as if he had conſented of purpoſe) agaynſt the true and innocent perſon.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 The Commons alſo gaue themſelues to vo|luptuous luſt, drunkenneſſe, and ydle loytering, whereof followed fighting, contention, enuie, and much debate.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 Of this plentie therfore inſued great pride, and of this abundaunce no leſſe hautineſſe of minde, whereupon followed great wickedneſſe, lacke of good gouernment and ſober temperancie, and in the necke of theſe as a iuſt puniſhment, death and mortalitie, ſo that in ſome Countreys vneth the quicke ſuffiſed to burie the dead.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 And for an augmentation of more miſchiefe, the Scottes and Pictes hearing howe theyr Countreymen through the falſe ſuggeſtion of Vortigerne had beene wrongfully and moſt cru|elly put to death at London,Hector. Bo. Scottes and Pictes inuade the Brytayne. beganne wyth fyre and ſworde to make ſharpe and cruell warre agaynſt the Brytains, waſting their Countrey, [figure appears here on page 111] ſpoyling and burning their townes, and giuing them the ouerthrowe in a pight fielde, as in the Scottiſh hyſtorie more plainly appeareth.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 To be briefe, the Brytaynes were brought into ſuch daunger and miſerie, that they knewe not what way to take for remedie in ſuch pre|ſent perill, likely to bee ouerrunne and vtterlye vanquyſhed of their enimies.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 In the meane tyme Vortigerne not onely troubled with theſe imminent euilles, but fearing alſo the return of the two brethren, Aurelius Am|broſe, and Vter Pendragon, began to conſider of the ſtate of things, and eſteeming it moſt ſure to worke by aduice, called togither the Lordes and chiefe men of the Realme to haue theyr counſaile and opinion howe to proceede in ſuch a weightie buſineſſe: and ſo debating the matter with them, meaſured both his own force, and alſo the force of his enimies, and according to the condition and ſtate of the tyme, diligently conſidered & ſearched out what remedy was to be had and prouided.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 At length after they had throughly pondered al things, the more part of the nobles with the king alſo were of this minde, that there could be no bet|ter way deuiſed, than to ſende into Germanie for the Saxons to come to theyr ayde: The whiche Saxons in that ſeaſon were highly re|nowmed for theyr valyauncie in armes, and ma|nifolde aduentures heretofore atchieued. Gildas. VVil. Malm. Beda. The Saxons ſent for. And ſo forthwith Meſſengers were diſpatched in|to Germanie, the which with money, giftes, and promiſes, might procure the Saxons to come to the ayde of the Brytaynes agaynſt the Scottes and Pictes.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 The Saxons glad of this meſſage, as people deſirous of entertaynment to ſerue in warres, chooſing forth a piked companie of luſtie yong mẽ vnder the leading of two brethren Hengiſt and Horſus,10000. hath Hector Bo. Gildas & Beda mention onely but of .3 plates or gallies, but Hector Bo. hath .30. 449 VVil. Malm. got them abourde into certain veſſels ap|poynted for the purpoſe, and ſo with all ſpeede directed their courſe towardes great Britain.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 This was in the yeare of our Lorde .449. and in the ſecond yeare of Vortigerns raigne, as the moſt autentike wryters both Brytiſh and Eng|liſhe ſeeme to gather, althoughe the Scottiſhe wryters, and namely Hector Boetius doe varie herein, touching the iuſt accounte of yeares, as to the pervſers of the wrytings aſwel of the one as the other may appeare. But William Ha|riſon taketh it to bee in the fourth yeare of his EEBO page image 112 raigne whereto Beda ſeemeth to agree, who no|teth it in the ſame yere that Martianus the Em|perour beganne to rule the Empyre, which was (as appeareth by the conſularie table) in the Con|ſulſhippe of Protogenes and Auſterius, and thirde yere of Meroueus king of France.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 Theſe Saxons thus arryuing in Brytayne, were curteouſly receyued, and heartily welcomed of King Vortigerne, who aſſigned to them places in Kent to in habite, and forthwith ledde them agaynſt the Scots and Pictes, which were entred into Brytaine, waſting and deſtroying the Countrey before them.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 Herevpon comming to ioyne in battail, there was a ſore fight betwixt the parties for a while, but at length when the Saxons called to re|membraunce that the ſame was the day whiche ſhoulde eyther purchaſe to them an euerlaſting name of manhoode by victorie, or elſe of reproche by repulſe,Scootues [...] qui [...] [...] the [...] beganne to renew the fight with ſuche violence, that the enimies not able to abyde theyr fierce charge, were ſcattered and beaten down on [figure appears here on page 112] eche ſide with great ſlaughter.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 The King hauing got this victorie, highlye rewarded the ſtraungers according to their well deſeruings, as by whoſe prowes he had thus van|quiſhed his enimyes,Henric. Hut. whiche as ſome write were come as farre as Stanfourde, and vſed at that tyme to fight wyth long Dartes, and Speares, whereas the Saxons fought onelye wyth long ſwordes and Axes.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 2 There bee that haue written howe the Sax|ons, were not ſent for, but came by chaunce into the Ile,Calf. Mon. and the occaſion to be this: There was an auncient cuſtome amongſt the Engliſh Sax|ons a people in Germanie, as was alſo at the firſt among other Nations, that when the multi|tude of them was ſo increaſed, that the Coun|trey was not able to ſuſtayne and finde them, by commaundement of their Princes, they ſhoulde chooſe out by lottes a number of yong and able perſonages, fitte for the warres, which ſhould go forth to ſeeke them newe habitations: and ſo it chaunced to theſe, that they came into great Bri|taine, and promiſed to ſerue the king for wages in his warres. But by what meane ſoeuer they came hither, truth is, that Hengiſtus being a man of great wit, rare policie, and high wiſdome, was their Captaine,Hengiſt pur|poſeth at the firſt to con|quere the Bry|taynes. who vnderſtanding this Kings minde, which now wholy truſted to the valiancie of the Saxons, and herewith perceiuing the fruit|fulneſſe of the Countrey, ſtreight wayes began to conſider with himſelfe, by what wyles and craft he might by little and little ſettle here, and obteine a kingdome in the Ile, and to eſtabliſh the ſame to him and to his for euer.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 Therefore firſt he indeuoured with all ſpeede poſſible to fence that part of the Countrey which was giuen to him and his people,Polidor. and to enlarge and furniſh it with gariſons appointed in places moſt conuenient.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 After this he did what he could to perſwade the king, that a great power of men might be brought ouer out of Germanie, that y^e land being fortified with ſuch a ſtrength, the enimies might be put in feare, and his ſubiects holden in reſt.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 The King not foreſeeing the happe that was to come, did not deſpiſe this counſell contriued to the deſtruction of his Kingdome, and ſo was more ayde ſent for into Germanie: wherevpon now at this ſeconde tyme there arriued here.

VVil. Mal 13.

[...]oy [...] pla [...]es ſaye the Scottiſh wryters, and M. men in [...] ſame.

The Saxons call theſe V [...]|ſels Cooles, Keeles, and [...] old hyſtori [...] Cogi [...].

xvj. veſſels fraught with people, and at the ſame time came the Ladie Rowen or Ronix, daughter to Hengyſt, a Mayde of excellent beautie and come|lyneſſe able to delite the eyes of them that ſhoulde behold hir, and ſpecially to win the heart of Vor|tigerne with the dart of concupiſcence, whervnto he was of nature much inclyned, and that did Hengeſt well perceyue.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 There came ouer into thys lande at that tyme and ſoone after, three manner of people of the Germaine Nation, as Saxons, Vita (or EEBO page image 113 Iutes, [...]e Vitae or [...]e are called [...]ri. [...]lex. Now. and Angles, ouer the whiche the ſayde Hengiſt and Hors beeing brethren, were Cap|taines and rulers, men of right noble parentage in theyr Countrey, as diſcended of that aunci|ent Prince W [...]den, of whom the Engliſh Sax|on kings doe for the more part fetche theyr pede|gree as lineally deſcended from him, vnto a whom alſo the Engliſh people falſely reputing him for a God) conſecrated the fourth day of the weeke, as they did the ſixth to his wyfe fr [...]e, ſo that the ſome dayes tooke more of them, the one beeing called Wodenſday, [...]edneſday, [...]d Fryday, hereof they [...]me. and the other F [...]readay, which wordes after in continuance of time by corrupti|on of ſpeech were ſomewhat altred, though not much, as from Wodenſday, to Wedneſday, and from Freaday to Fryday.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 [...]da.The foreſayde Woden was father to Vecta, father to Wetgiſlus, that was father to the fore|ſayd Hengiſtus and Horſus.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 But nowe to rehearſe further touching thoſe three people whiche at this time came ouer into Brytayne oute of Germanie of the Vites, or Iutes, (as Beda recordeth) are the Kentiſhmen diſcended, and the people of the Ile of Wlight, with thoſe alſo that inhabite ouer agaynſte the ſame Ile.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 Of the Saxons, came the Eaſt Saxons, the South Saxons, and Weſt Saxons.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 Moreouer, of the Angles proceeded the Eaſt Angles, the middle Angles, or Mercies, and the Northren men.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 That theſe Angles were a people of Germa|nie,Cor. Tacitus. it appeareth alſo by Cornelius Tacitus, who calling them Anglij, which worde is of three ſil|lables, (as Polidore ſayth:) But ſome wryte it Angli, with two ſillables.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 And that theſe Angli, or Angli [...] were of no ſmall force and authoritie in Germanie before their comming into this lande, may appeare in that they are numbred amongeſt the twelue na|tions there, whiche had lawes and auncient or|dinaunces a part by them ſelues, according to the whiche the ſtate of theyr common wealth was gouerned, they beeing the ſame, and one people with the Thoringers, as in the tytle of the olde Thuringers lawes wee finde recorded, whiche is thus, Lex Angliorum & VVerinorum, hoc eſt, Thuringorum. The law of the Angles and VVe|rinians that is to witte the Thuringers, (whiche Thuringers are a people in Saxonie, as in the deſcription of that Countrey it may appeare) is this.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 Polidor.But nowe to the matter. Hengiſt perceyuing that his people were highly in Vortigernes fa|uour, beganne to handle him craftily, deuyſing by what meanes hee mighte bring him im loue with his daughter Ronix,Rowen, or Ronowen Hengiſtes daughter. or Rowen, or Rono|wen (as ſome write) which he beleeued wel would eaſily be brought to paſſe, bycauſe he vnderſtoode that the King was much giuen to ſenſuall luſt,VVil. Malm. which is the thing that often blindeth wiſe mens vnderſtanding, and maketh them to dote, and to loſs theyr perfite wittes, yea, and oftentymes bringeth them to deſtruction, though by ſuche pleaſant poyſon, as they feele no better taſte tyll they be brought to the extreeme poynt of confu|ſion in deede.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 A greate Supper therefore was prepared by Hengiſt, at the whiche pleaſed the King to be preſent.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 Hengiſt appoynted his daughter when eue|rie man beganne to bee ſomewhat [...]er [...]ie wyth winke,Gal. Mon. to bring in a Cuppe of Golde full of good and pleaſant wine, and to preſent it to the King ſaying, VVaſſail. Which ſhee did in ſuch comely and decent maner, as ſhe that knewe howe to doe it well ynough, ſo as the King marueyled great|lye thereat, and not vnderſtanding what ſhee ment by that ſalutation,Waſſail, what it ſignifieth. demaunded what it ſig|nified. To whom it was aunſwered by Hingiſt, that the wiſhed him well, and the meaning of it was, that he ſhould drinke after hir ioyning ther|vnto this anſwere, drinke haile. Wherevpon the king (as he was enformed) tooke the cuppe at the Damſels hand, and dranke.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 Finally this yong Ladie behaued hirſelfe with ſuch pleaſant wordes, comely countenaunce, and amiable grace, that the king behelde hir ſo long, till he felt himſelfe ſo farre in loue with hir perſon, that he burned in continuall deſyre to enioy the ſame: inſomuch that ſhortly after he forſooke his owne wife, by the which he had three ſonnes,Polidor Fabian. na|med Vortimerus, Catagrinus, and Paſcentius, and requyred of Hengiſt to haue his daughter, the ſayde Rowen, or Ronowen in mariage.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 Hengiſt at the firſte ſeemed ſtraunge to graunt to his requeſt, and excuſed the matter,VVil. Malm. for that his daughter was not of eſtate and dignitie meete to be matched with his maieſtie. But at length as it had beene halfe agaynſt his will hee conſented, and ſo the mariage was concluded and ſolemnized, all Kent beeing aſſigned vnto Hengiſt in rewarde, the whiche Countrey was before that tyme gouerned by one Guorongus, (though not with moſt equal iuſtice) which Guo|rongus was ſubiect vnto Vortigerne, as all other the Potentates of the Ile were.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 This maryage and liberalitie of the King towardes the Straungers, muche defended the myndes of his ſubiectes, and haſtened the fi|nall deſtruction of the lande. For the Saxons nowe vnderſtanding the affynitie had betwixte the King and Hengiſt, came ſo faſt ouer to in|habite here, that it was wonder to conſider in howe ſhorte a tyme ſuche a multitude coulde come togyther: ſo that bycauſe of theyr greate EEBO page image 114 number and approued puiſſaunce in warres, they began to be a terrour to the former inhabitants the Brytaynes.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 VVil. Malm.But Hengiſt beeing no leſſe politike in coun|ſaile than valiaunt in armes, abuſing the kings lacke of diſcretion, to ſerue his owne turne, per|ſwaded him to call out of Germanie his brother Occa and his ſonne named Ebuſa,Gal. ſayth he was Hengiſts ſonne, and E|buſa his vn|cles ſonne. Occa and E|buſa leaders of Saxons. beeing men of great valure, to the ende, that as Hengiſt defended the lande in the South parte: ſo mighte they keepe backe the Scottes in the North.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 Herevpon by the Kings conſent, they came with a power out of Germanie, and coaſting a|boute the lande, they ſayled to the Iles of Ork|ney, and ſore vexed the people there, and like|wyſe the Scottes and Pictes alſo, and final|ly arriued in the North partes of the Realme, nowe called Northumberlande, where they ſet|led themſelues at that preſent, and ſo continued there euer after: but none of them taking vppon him the tytle of King,VVil. Malm. de Regib. till about .99. yeares after theyr firſt comming into that Countrey, but in the meane time remayning as ſubiects vnto the Saxon kings of Kent.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 After theyr arryuall in that Prouince, they oftentymes fought with the olde Inhabitaunts there, and ouercame them, chaſing away ſuch as made reſiſtance, and appeaſed the reſidue by recey|uing them vnder allegiance.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 When the Nobles of Brytayne ſaw and per|ceyued in what daunger the lande ſtoode, Fabian. The great nũ|bers of ſtraun|gers ſuſpected to the Bry|taynes. by the dayly repayre of the huge number of Saxons in|to the ſame, they firſt conſulted togither, and af|ter reſorting to the King, [...] mooued him that ſome order might be taken for the auoyding of them, on the more part of them, leaſte they ſhoulde with their power and great multitude vtterly oppreſſe the Britiſh Nation. But all was in vayne, for Vortigerne ſo eſteemed and highly fauoured the Saxons, and namely by reaſon of the great lo [...]e which he bare to his wife, that hee lyttle regar|ded his owne Nation, no nor yet anye thing e|ſteemed hys owne naturall kinneſmen and [...] friendes, [...] depriued. by reaſon wherof the Brytains in [...] depriued him of all kingly honor, after that he had raigned .xvj. yeares, and in his ſtead crowned his ſonne Vortimer.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 Gildas and Beda make no mention of Vor|timer,Gilda. Beda. H. [...] but declare howe after that the [...]|ons were receyued into thys lande, there was a couenaunt made betwixte them and the Brytaynes, that the Saxons ſhoulde defende the Countrey from the inuaſion of enimyes by theyr Knightly force: and that in conſide|ration thereof, the Brytaynes ſhould finde the [...] prouiſion of vy [...]ayles: wherewith they helde their contented for a time.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 But afterwardes they beganne to pyke qua|relles, as thoughe they were not ſufficiently fur|niſhed of their due proportion of vytayles, threat|ning that if they were not prouided more large|ly thereof, they would ſurely ſpoyle the Coun|trey.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 And withoute deferring time, they perfour|med their wordes with effect of deedes, beginning in the Eaſt part of the Ile, and with fire & ſword paſſed forth waſting and deſtroying the Coun|trey [figure appears here on page 114] tyll they came to the vttermoſte parte of the Weſt:The miſerable deſtruction made by the Saxons in this lande. ſo that from Sea to Sea, the lande was waſted and deſtroyed in ſuche cruell and outragious manner, that neyther Citie, towne, nor Churche was regarded, but all committed to the fyre: the Prieſtes ſlaine and murthered euen afore the Aulters, and the Prelates with the people without any reuerence of their eſtate or EEBO page image 115 degree, diſpatched with fire and ſworde, moſt la|mentably to beholde.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 Many of the Brytaynes ſeeing the demea|nour of the Saxons, fledde to the Mountaynes, of the whiche dyuerſe beeing apprehended, were cruelly ſlaine, and other were glad to come forth and yeelde themſelues to eternall bondage, for to haue reliefe of meate and drinke to aſſwage theyr extremitie of hunger.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 Some other got them out of the realme in|to ſtraunge landes, ſo to ſaue themſelues, and o|thers abyding ſtill in theyr Countrey, kept them within the thicke Wooddes, and craggie Rockes, whether they were fledde, lyuing there a poore wretched lyfe, in great feare and vnquietneſſe of mynde.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 But after that the Saxons were departed and withdrawne to theyr houſes, the Brytaynes began to take courage to thẽ againe, iſſuing forth of thoſe places where they had lyen hid, and with one conſent calling for ayde at Gods hande, that they might bee preſerued from vtter deſtruction, they beganne vnder the conduct of theyr leader Aurelius Ambroſe, to prouoke the Saxons to battaile, and by the helpe of God they obteyned the victorie, according to theyr owne deſyres. And from thence forth, one while the Brytaynes, and an other while the Saxons were victors, ſo that in this Brytiſh people, God (according to hys accuſtomed maner) as it were preſent Iſraell, tryed them from tyme to tyme, whether they lo|ued him or no, vnto the yeare of the ſiege of Badon hill, where afterwardes no ſmall ſlaugh|ter was made of the enimies: whiche chaunced the ſame yeare in the whiche Gildas was borne, (as he himſelfe witneſſeth, [...]o Gildas was [...]orne in the feare of our Lord .493. being aboute the .xliiij. yeare after the comming of the Saxons into Brytaine.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 Thus hath Gildas and alſo Beda (follo|wing by likelyhoode the authoritie of the ſame Gildas) written of theſe firſt warres begonne be|twene the Saxons and Brytains.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 But nowe to goe foorth with the Hyſtorie: according to the order of oure Chronicles, thus wee finde recorded touching the doings of Vor|timer that was elected King (as yee haue hearde) to gouerne in place of his father Vorti|gerne.