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Anglo

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A.D. 449. This year Martianus and Valentius succeeded to 27. Extracts the Empire, and reigned seven years. And in their days Hengist and Horsa, invited by Vortigern, king of the Britons, Saxon landed in Britain on the shore which is called Ebbsfleet; at first in aid of the Britons, but afterwards they fought against them. King Vortigern gave them land in the southeast of this country, on condition that they should fight against the Picts. Then they fought against the Picts and had the victory wheresoever they came. They then sent to the Angles, desired a larger force to be sent, and caused them to be told the worthlessness of the Britons, and the excellence of the land. Then they soon sent thither a larger force in aid of the others. At that time there came men from three tribes in Germany, — from the Old Saxons, from the Angles, from the Jutes. From the Jutes came the Kentishmen and the Wightwarians, that is, the tribe which now dwells in Wight, and that race among the West Saxons which is still called the race of Jutes. From the Old Saxons came the men of Essex and Sussex and Wessex. From Anglia, which has ever since remained deserted betwixt the Jutes and the Saxons, came the men of East Anglia, Middle Anglia, Mercia, and all Northumbria.

Their leaders were two brothers, Hengist and Horsa: they were the sons of Wihtgils; Wihtgils was the son of Witta, Witta of Wecta, Wecta of Woden; from this Woden sprang all our royal families, and those of the Southumbrians also.

A.D. 455. This year Hengist and Horsa fought against King Vortigern at the place which is called Æglesford, and Horsa was there slain, and after that Hengist obtained the kingdom, and Esc, his son.

A.D. 457. This year Hengist and Æsc, his son, fought against the Britons at the place which is called Crayford, and there slew four thousand men; and the Britons then forsook Kent and in great terror fled to London.

A.D. 477. This year Ælla and his three sons, Cymen and Wlensing and Cissa, came to the land of Britain with three ships, at the place which is called Cymenesora, and there slew many Welsh, and some they drove in flight into the forest that is named Andreds-lea.

A.D. 491. This year Ælla and Cissa besieged Andredsceaster, and slew all that dwelt therein, so that not a single Briton was there left.

A.D. 495. This year two Ealdormen came to Britain, Cerdic and Cynric his son, with five ships, at the place which is called Cerdicsora, and the same day they fought against the Welsh.

A.D. 519. This year Cerdic and Cynric obtained the kingdom of the West Saxons; and the same year they fought against the Britons where it is now called Cerdicsford. And from that time forth the royal offspring of the West Saxons reigned.

A.D. 547. This year Ida began to reign, from whence arose the royal race of Northumbria, and he reigned twelve years, and built Bamborough, which was at first inclosed by a hedge, and afterwards by a wall.

But, after all, we know very few of the circumstances of the settlement. It was in all probability much more gradual than is indicated by the writers just quoted; and of the date and nature of some of the settlements, as for instance that of the East Angles, not a single mention has come down to us.

The Germans before they came into England

II. THE NEW RACE

The settlement of Angles, Saxons, Jutes, and others in Britain in the fifth and sixth centuries was a part of a general series of migrations that took place from Germany westward during that period. A number of German tribes, such as the Goths, Vandals, Franks, and Burgundians, left their home land and, like the Angles and Saxons, came to settle in the various parts of the Roman Empire. It is a matter of interest, therefore, to find out what manner of men these Germans were before they left Germany. The Roman historian Tacitus wrote an

account of their habits about the end of the first century after Christ, and although these may have changed considerably in the intervening three hundred years, and although he knew but little of the three remote tribes which afterwards came to England, yet there is much in his account of the Germans that was evidently common to the whole race, and remained unchanged till the time of their settlements in Italy, Spain, Gaul, and Britain. Some of the more important sections of his Germania are the following:

Tacitus'

IV. I myself subscribe to the opinion of those who hold 28. Extracts that the German tribes have never been contaminated by in- from termarriage with other nations, but have remained peculiar Germania and unmixed and wholly unlike other peoples. Hence the bodily type is the same among them all, notwithstanding the extent of their population. They all have fierce blue eyes, reddish hair, and large bodies fit only for sudden exertion; they do not submit patiently to work and effort, and cannot endure thirst and heat at all, though cold and hunger they are accustomed to because of their climate.

VII. They choose their kings on account of their ancestry, their generals for their valor. The kings do not have free and unlimited power, and the generals lead by example rather than command, winning great admiration if they are energetic and fight in plain sight in front of the line. But no one is allowed to put a culprit to death or to imprison him, or even to beat him with stripes except the priests, and then not by way of a punishment or at the command of the general, but as though ordered by the god who they believe aids them in their fighting. Certain figures and images taken from their sacred groves they carry into battle, but their greatest incitement to courage is that a division of horse or foot is not made up by chance or by accidental association, but is formed of families and clans; and their dear ones are close at hand, so that the wailings of the women and the crying of the children can be heard during

Share of the people in government

Customs of

the Germans in war

the battle. These are for each warrior the most sacred witnesses of his bravery, these his dearest applauders. They carry their wounds to their mothers and their wives, nor do the latter fear to count their number and examine them while they bring them food and urge them to deeds of valor.

XI. Concerning minor matters the chiefs deliberate, but in important affairs all the people are consulted, although the subjects referred to the common people for judgment are discussed beforehand by the chiefs. Unless some sudden and unexpected event calls them together, they assemble on fixed days either at the new, moon or the full moon, for they think these the most auspicious times to begin their undertakings. They do not reckon time by the number of days, as we do, but by the number of nights. So run their appointments, their contracts; the night introduces the day, so to speak. A disadvantage arises from their regard for liberty in that they do not come together at once as if commanded to attend, but two or three days are wasted by their delay in assembling. When the crowd is sufficient they take their places fully armed. Silence is proclaimed by the priests, who have on these occasions the right to keep order. Then the king or a chief addresses them, each being heard according to his age, noble blood, reputation in warfare and eloquence, though more because he has the power to persuade than the right to command. If an opinion is displeasing they reject it by shouting; if they agree to it they clash with their spears. The most complimentary form of assent is that which is expressed by means of their weapons. XIV. When they go into battle it is a disgrace for the chief to be outdone in deeds of valor and for the following not to match the courage of their chief; furthermore for any one of the followers to have survived his chief and come unharmed out of a battle is lifelong infamy and reproach. It is in accordance with their most sacred oath of allegiance to defend and protect him and to ascribe their bravest deeds to his renown. The chief fights for victory; the men of his following, for their chief. If the tribe to which they belong sinks into the lethargy of long peace and quiet, many of the noble youths voluntarily seek other tribes that are still carrying on war, because

a quiet life is irksome to the Germans and they gain renown more readily in the midst of perils, while a large following is not to be provided for except by violence and war. For they look to the liberality of their chief for their war horse and their deadly and victorious spear; the feasts and entertainments, however, furnished them on a homely but liberal scale, fall to their lot as mere pay. The means for this bounty are acquired through war and plunder. Nor could you persuade them to till the soil and await the yearly produce so easily as you could induce them to stir up an enemy and earn glorious wounds. Nay, they even think it tame and stupid to acquire by their sweat what they can purchase by their blood.

XV. In the intervals of peace they spend little time in hunt- Customs in ing but much in idleness, given over to sleep and eating; all peace the bravest and most warlike doing nothing, while the hearth and home and the care of the fields is given over to the women, the old men, and the various infirm members of the family. The masters lie buried in sloth by that strange contradiction of nature that causes the same men to love indolence and hate peace. It is customary for the several tribesmen to present voluntary offerings of cattle and grain to the chiefs, which, though accepted as gifts of honor, also supply their wants. They are particularly delighted in the gifts of neighboring tribes, not only those sent by individuals, but those presented by states as such, choice horses, massive arms, embossed plates and armlets. We have now taught them to accept money also.

XVI. It is well known that none of the German tribes live in cities, nor even permit their dwellings to be closely joined to each other. They live separated and in various places, as a spring or a meadow or a grove strikes their fancy. They lay out their villages not as with us in connected or closely joined houses, but each one surrounds his dwelling with an open space, either as a protection against conflagration or because of their ignorance of the art of building. They do not even make use of rough stones or tiles. They use for all purposes undressed timber, giving no beauty or comfort. Some parts they plaster carefully with earth of such purity and brilliancy as to form a substitute for painting and designs in color.

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