The Celt, the Roman, and the Saxon : a history of the early inhabitants of Britain, down to the conversion of the Anglo-Saxons to Christianity, illustrated by the ancient remains brought to light by recent research / by Thomas Wright.

Wright, Thomas, 1810-1877.

Date:: 1852

Credit: The Celt, the Roman, and the Saxon : a history of the early inhabitants of Britain, down to the conversion of the Anglo-Saxons to Christianity, illustrated by the ancient remains brought to light by recent research / by Thomas Wright. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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$principal Eoman towns of Kent seem to have passed into the possession of the Saxons peacefully. Heugest and Ilorsa are said to have first lauded at Ypwines-fleet [Ebhs-Jieet), and the Saxons no doubt immediately received Hutupise {Eichhorough) into their hands. Duroveruum they made their capital, and on that account it received the name of Cantwara-byrig, the city of the Kentishmen, now Canterbury; Dubrae and Kegulbium retained their original names, slightly changed into Dover and Reculver; and Durobrivae was called, it is said, from a chief who ruled over it, Hrofes-ceaster, the Chester or city of Hrof, now Rochester. Leaving the history of Kent, the Saxon Chronicle, taking up another set of traditions, tells us, that in the year 477, the Saxons, under iElla and his three sons, Cymen, Wlenciug, and Cissa, landed on the southern coast, at a place named, after one of the sons, Cymenes-ora [Keynor on Sehea), “ and there they slew many Welsh, and some they drove in flight into the wood that is named Andredes-leah,” the Eoman Silva Anderida. yKlla and his sons, like Hengest and Horsa, came in three ships. Here, again, eight years passed until the next great struggle between the followers of Hiilla and the Britons. In 485, HUlla fought against the Britons near the banks of the Mearcraedes-burna, and the battle is represented, in traditions gathered by a later writer, to have been obstinately fought, and to have had a doubtful result. For six years both parlies seem to have remained in ]>eace; and then, in 491, in consequence, it is said, of new arrivals from the continent, the Saxons recommenced the war, and ^Klla and Cissa laid siege to the ancient Eoman city of Anderida, which was called by the Saxons Andredes-ceaster. It is said to have been reduced by famine, and the Saxons, irritated at its long and obstinate defence, slew all the inhabitants. The massive walls of the ancient city are still seen at Pevensey. Thus was established the kingdom of the South-Saxons, or Sussex. Here the country was evidently dependent on the Eoman city, and was only con- quered when that city was taken. The other Eoman city, Eegnum, ])robably submitted without a siege, and received the name of Cissan-ceaster, the Chester or fortified town of Cissa, since softened down into Chichester. The Saxon Chronicle next informs us, that, in 405, another body of Saxons, under two chiefs, Cerdic and his son Cynric,$