and in Middlesex much of
the race, and in Essex their noblest folk. The meat they carried off,
all that they found, they violated the women, and God's law brake,
they did in the land all that they would.

The Britons saw that, that mischief was in the land, and how the
Saxish men were come to them. The Britons shaped to the land a name
for the shame of Saxish men, and for the treachery that they had done,
and for that cause that they with knives bereaved them of life, then
called they all the land East-Sex and West-Sex, and the third
Middle-Sex. Vortiger the king gave them all this land, so that a turf
of land did not remain to him in hand. And Vortiger himself fled over
Severn, far into Welsh-land, and there he gan tarry, and his retinue
with him, that poor was become. And he had in hoard treasure most
large, he caused his men to ride wide and far, and caused to be
summoned to him men of each kind, whosoever would yearn his fee with
friendship. That heard the Britons, that heard the Scots, they came to
him riding, thereafter full soon; on each side thither they gan ride,
many a noble man's son, for gold and for treasure. When he had
together sixty thousand men, then assembled he the nobles that well
could advise: "Good men, say me counsel, for to me is great need,
where I might in wilderness work a castle, wherein I might live with
my men, and hold it against Hengest with great strength, until that I
might the better win my burghs, and avenge me of my enemies who felled
my friends, and have all my kingdom wrested out of my hand, and thus
driven me out, my full foes?" Then answered a wise man, who well could
counsel: "Listen now to me, lord king, and I will show to thee a good
thing; upon the mount of Reir I will advise, that thou work a castle
with strong stone wall, for there thou mightest dwell, and live with
joy; and yet thou hast in thy hand much silver and gold, to maintain
thy people who shall thee help, and so thou mightest in life live best
of all." Then answered the king: "Let it be made known in haste, over
my numerous host, that I will go to the mount of Reir, and rear there
a castle."

Forth went the king, and the host with him; when they thither came, a
dyke they began soon; horns there blew, machines hewed; lime they gan
to burn, and over the land to run, and all west Welsh-land set in
Vortiger's hand; all they it took, that they nigh came. When the dyke
was dug, and thoroughly deepened, then began the