5.5. Vortigerne is restored to his regiment, in what place he abode during the time of his sonnes reigne, Hengist with his Saxons re|enter the land, the Saxons and Britains are ap|pointed to meet on Salisburie plaine, the priuie treason of Hengist and his power whereby the Bri|tains were slaine like sheepe, the manhood of Edol earle of Glocester, Vortigerne i [...] taken prisoner, Hengist is in possession of three prouinces of this land, a description of Kent. The fift Chapter.

Vortigerne is restored to his regiment, in what place he abode during the time of his sonnes reigne, Hengist with his Saxons re|enter the land, the Saxons and Britains are ap|pointed to meet on Salisburie plaine, the priuie treason of Hengist and his power whereby the Bri|tains were slaine like sheepe, the manhood of Edol earle of Glocester, Vortigerne i [...] taken prisoner, Hengist is in possession of three prouinces of this land, a description of Kent. The fift Chapter.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 _AFter all these bloudie broiles and tempestuous tu|mults ended,Matth. West. saith 461. Uortigerne was restored and set againe into the kingdome of Bri|taine, in the yeare of our Lord 471.471 All the time of his sonnes reigne, he had remai|ned 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 moun|teine called Cloaricus, which some referre to be buil|ded 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 Uortigerne was kept vnder the rule of certeine gouernors to him appointed in the towne of Caerlegion, and behaued himselfe in such com|mendable sort towards his sonne,Caerleon Arwiske. in aiding him with his counsell, and otherwise in the meane sea|son whilest his sonne reigned, that the Britains by reason thereof began so to fauour him, that after the death of Uortimer they made him king againe.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 3 Shortlie after that Uortigerne was restored to the rule of the kingdom, Matth. West. saith 4000. He might ea|si [...]ie returne, for except I be deceiued he was neuer driuen out af|ter he had once set foot within this Ile. Hengist aduertised ther|of, returned into the land with a mightie armie of Saxons, whereof Uortigerne being admonished, as|sembled his Britains, and with all speed made to|wards him. When Hengist had knowledge of the huge host of the Britains that was comming a|gainst him, he required to come to a communication with Uortigerne, which request was granted, so that it was concluded, that on Maie day a certeine num|ber of Britains, and as manie of the Saxons should meet togither vpon the plaine of Salisburie. Hen|gist hauing deuised a new kind of treason, when the day of their appointed méeting was come, caused e|uerie one of his allowed number secretlie to put in|to 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 this watchword should be vttered by him,Nempt your sexes, what if it were messes 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 Uortigerne, whom he willed to be apprehended, but not slaine.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 At the day assigned, the king with his appointed number or traine of the Britains, mistrusting no|thing lesse than anie such maner of vnhaithfull dea|ling, 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 communica|tion, Hengist meaning to accomplish his deuised purpose, gaue the watchword, immediatlie where|vpon the Saxons drew out their kniues,There died of the nobles of Britaine 450. as Gal. sattl [...] and sudden|lie fell on the Britains, and slue them as shéepe be|ing fallen within the danger of woolues. For the EEBO page image 82 Britains had no weapons to defend themselues, ex|cept anie of them by his strength and manhood got the knife of his enimie.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 3 Amongst other of the Britains,Ran. Cestren. Fabian. there was one Edol earle of Glocester, or (as other say) Chester, which got a slake out of an hedge, or else where, and with the same so defended himselfe and laid about him,Gal. saith 70. Matth. West. Ran. Cestren. that he slue 17 of the towne of Ambrie, now called Salisburie, and so sa|ued his owne life. Uortiger was taken and kept as prisoner by Hengist, till he was constreined to deli|uer 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 in|habit, as Sussex and other: the third was the coun|trie where the Estangles planted themselues, which was in Norfolke and Suffolke. Then Hengist be|ing in possession of those thrée prouinces, suffered Uortigerne to depart, & to be at his libertie.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 ¶William Malmesburie writeth somewhat other|wise of this taking of Uortigerne,Wil. Malm. during whose reigne, after the deceasse of his sonne Uortimer, no|thing was attempted against the Saxons, but in the meane time Hengist by colorable craft procured his sonne in law Uortigerne to come to a banket at his house, with three hundred other Britains, and when he had made them well and warme with often quaf|fing and emptieng of cups, and of purpose touched e|uerie 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 a|mongst their pots. The king himselfe was taken, and to redéeme himselfe out of prison, gaue to the Sax|ons thrée prouinces, and so escaped out of bondage.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 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 the yéere of our Lord (as some write) 476, about the fift yéere of Uortigerns last reigne: but after other, which take the beginning of this king|dome of Kent to be when Hengist had first gift ther|of,476. 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 southeast Southerie, and vpon the west London, vp|on the northeast the riuer of Thames aforesaid,Kingdome of Kent. and the countrie of Essex.