s, with whom we will fight for you and
your subjects." Vortigern assenting to this proposal, messengers were
despatched to Scythia, where selecting a number of warlike troops, they
returned with sixteen vessels, bringing with them the beautiful daughter
of Hengist. And now the Saxon chief prepared an entertainment, to which
he invited the king, his officers, and Ceretic, his interpreter, having
previously enjoined his daughter to serve them so profusely with wine
and ale, that they might soon become intoxicated. This plan succeeded;
and Vortigern, at the instigation of the devil, and enamoured with
the beauty of the damsel, demanded her, through the medium of his
interpreter, of the father, promising to give for her whatever he
should ask. Then Hengist, who had already consulted with the elders
who attended him of the Oghgul(1) race, demanded for his daughter the
province, called in English, Centland, in British, Ceint, (Kent.) This
cession was made without the knowledge of the king, Guoyrancgonus,(2)
who then reigned in Kent, and who experienced no inconsiderable share
of grief, from seeing his kingdom thus clandestinely, fraudulently, and
imprudently resigned to foreigners. Thus the maid was delivered up to
the king, who slept with her, and loved her exceedingly.

(1) V.R. Who had come with him from the island of Oghgul,
Oehgul (or Tingle), Angul. According to Gunn, a small
island in the duchy of Sleswick in Denmark, now called
Angel, of which Flensburg is the metropolis. Hence the
origin of the Angles.

(2) V.R. Gnoiram cono, Goiranegono, Guiracgono. Malmesbury,
Gorongi; Camden, Guorong, supposed to mean governor, or
viceroy.

38. Hengist, after this, said to Vortigern, "I will be to you both a
father and an adviser; despise not my counsels, and you shall have no
reason to fear being conquered by any man or any nation whatever;
for the people of my country are strong, warlike, and robust: if you
approve, I will send for my son and his brother, both valiant men, who
at my invitation will fight against the Scots, and you can give them the
countries in the north, near the wall called Gual."(1) The incautious
sovereign having assented to this, Octa and Ebusa arrived with forty
ships. In these they sailed round the country of the Picts, laid waste
the Orkneys, and took possession of many regions, even to the Pictish
confines.(2)

(1) Antoninus's wall.

(2) Some M