The Coming Of The English
Modern English translation
Then gathered they an assembly and deliberated and counselled, what for them to do
might be, where for them might be help to be sought to avoid and to shove back
such fiercer raids and such more frequent ones of the north people. And then it pleased them
all together with their king (Vortigern he was called) that they the Saxons' people
beyond the sea parts to them in aid should call and invite. It known is that
that by God's might arranged was, that evil punishment should come upon the rejected ones,
as in the end of the events clearly shown is.
Then it was about four hundred years and nine and forty after our Lord's
incarnation, that Marcian Caesar the kingdom received and seven years held. He was
the sixth and forty from Augustus the Caesar. The Angle people and the Saxons' was
invited by the foresaid king, and into Britain came in three great ships;
and in the east part of this island a dwelling place received through the same king's
decree, who them hither invited, that they should for their native land strive and
fight. And they immediately fought with their enemies, who them often before
from the north had harassed; and the Saxons the victory won. Then sent they home
a messenger and commanded [him] to report this land's fruitfulness, and the Britons'
cowardice. And they then immediately hither sent a larger fleet of stronger warriors; and
it was an invincible host, when they together joined were. And them the Britons
granted and gave a dwelling place among them that they for the peace and safety of their
native land might fight and struggle with their enemies, and they them sustenance and revenue
allowed for their labour. Came they of three peoples, the strongest of Germany, that
of Saxons and of Angles and of Jutes. Of Jutish origin are Kent-men, and
Wight-settlers; that is the people that Wight the island inhabit. Of Saxons, that is from
the land that one calls Old Saxons, come East Saxons and South Saxons and
West Saxons. And of Angles come East Angles and Middle Angles and Mercians and all
the Northumbrians' race; [it] is the land that Angeln is named, between Jutes and
Saxons; [it] is said from the time that they thence departed until today, that it deserted
remains. Were the first of their leaders and war-chiefs two brothers Hengest and
Horsa. They were Wihtgils' sons, whose father was Witta called, whose father was Wihta
called, and of that Wihta the father was Woden named; of that stock many. tribes'
royal family [its] origin takes. Nor was then delay before they in droves came, more
bands of those peoples that we before mentioned. And that people that hither came, began
to wax and multiply so much that they were a great terror to the very
natives that them before hither had invited and called.
After this they then were allied for a certain time with the Picts, whom they before
through battle far away had driven. And then were the Saxons seeking cause and
opportunity for their breaking with the Britons. They informed them openly and said unless
they them more sustenance gave, that they would for themselves take and plunder
where they it find might. And immediately the threat with deeds fulfilled: they burned
and harried and slew from the east sea to the west sea; and them none withstood. Nor was
unlike the vengeance to that when formerly the Chaldees burned Jerusalem's walls and the
royal building with fire destroyed for God's people's sins.
might be, where for them might be help to be sought to avoid and to shove back
such fiercer raids and such more frequent ones of the north people. And then it pleased them
all together with their king (Vortigern he was called) that they the Saxons' people
beyond the sea parts to them in aid should call and invite. It known is that
that by God's might arranged was, that evil punishment should come upon the rejected ones,
as in the end of the events clearly shown is.
Then it was about four hundred years and nine and forty after our Lord's
incarnation, that Marcian Caesar the kingdom received and seven years held. He was
the sixth and forty from Augustus the Caesar. The Angle people and the Saxons' was
invited by the foresaid king, and into Britain came in three great ships;
and in the east part of this island a dwelling place received through the same king's
decree, who them hither invited, that they should for their native land strive and
fight. And they immediately fought with their enemies, who them often before
from the north had harassed; and the Saxons the victory won. Then sent they home
a messenger and commanded [him] to report this land's fruitfulness, and the Britons'
cowardice. And they then immediately hither sent a larger fleet of stronger warriors; and
it was an invincible host, when they together joined were. And them the Britons
granted and gave a dwelling place among them that they for the peace and safety of their
native land might fight and struggle with their enemies, and they them sustenance and revenue
allowed for their labour. Came they of three peoples, the strongest of Germany, that
of Saxons and of Angles and of Jutes. Of Jutish origin are Kent-men, and
Wight-settlers; that is the people that Wight the island inhabit. Of Saxons, that is from
the land that one calls Old Saxons, come East Saxons and South Saxons and
West Saxons. And of Angles come East Angles and Middle Angles and Mercians and all
the Northumbrians' race; [it] is the land that Angeln is named, between Jutes and
Saxons; [it] is said from the time that they thence departed until today, that it deserted
remains. Were the first of their leaders and war-chiefs two brothers Hengest and
Horsa. They were Wihtgils' sons, whose father was Witta called, whose father was Wihta
called, and of that Wihta the father was Woden named; of that stock many. tribes'
royal family [its] origin takes. Nor was then delay before they in droves came, more
bands of those peoples that we before mentioned. And that people that hither came, began
to wax and multiply so much that they were a great terror to the very
natives that them before hither had invited and called.
After this they then were allied for a certain time with the Picts, whom they before
through battle far away had driven. And then were the Saxons seeking cause and
opportunity for their breaking with the Britons. They informed them openly and said unless
they them more sustenance gave, that they would for themselves take and plunder
where they it find might. And immediately the threat with deeds fulfilled: they burned
and harried and slew from the east sea to the west sea; and them none withstood. Nor was
unlike the vengeance to that when formerly the Chaldees burned Jerusalem's walls and the
royal building with fire destroyed for God's people's sins.
