History of the Anglo-Saxons, from the Earliest Period to the Norman Conquest: Second Edition — John Stuart Mill — John Shaqi
History of the Anglo-Saxons, from the Earliest Period to the Norman Conquest: Second Edition
John Stuart Mill · en
Great change produced in Britain by the Romans--Its ancient
features contrasted with its appearance after their departure--
Picturesque description of Britain--First dawn of Christianity
--Progress of the Britons in civilization--Old British
fortifications--Change in the costume of the Britons--Decline
in their martial deportment--Their ancient mode of burial--
Description of early British barrows--Ascendancy of rank p. 56
CHAPTER VIII.
THE ANCIENT SAXONS.
Origin of the early Saxons--Description of their habits and arms
--Their religion--The halls of Valhalla--Their belief in
rewards and punishments after death--Their ancient mythology
described--Superstitions of the early Saxons--Their ancient
temples and forms of worship--Their picturesque processions
--Dreadful punishments inflicted upon those who robbed their
temples--Different orders of society--Their divisions
of the seasons--Their bravery as pirates, and skill in
navigation p. 64
CHAPTER IX.
HENGIST, HORSA, ROWENA, AND VORTIGERN.
Landing of Hengist and Horsa, the Saxon chiefs--Their treaty
with Vortigern and the British chiefs--The British king allots
them the Isle of Thanet as a residence, on condition that they
drive out the Picts and Scots--Success of the Saxons--Arrival
of more ships--Landing of the Princess Rowena--Marriage of
Vortigern and Rowena--Quarrel between the Britons and Saxons
--Description of their first battle by the old Welsh bards--
The Britons led on by the sons of Vortigern--Death of Horsa,
the Saxon chief--Rowena's revenge--Pretended reconciliation
of the Saxons, and description of the feast where the British
chiefs were massacred--Terrible death of Vortigern and the fair
Rowena p. 72
CHAPTER X.
ELLA, CERDRIC, AND KING ARTHUR.
Arrival of Ella and his three sons--Combat between the Saxons
and Britons beside the ancient forest of Andredswold--Defeat
of the Britons, and desolate appearance of the old forest town
of Andred-Ceaster after the battle--Revengeful feelings of
the Britons--Establishment of the Saxon kingdom of Sussex--
Landing of Cerdric and his followers--Battle of Churdfrid,
and death of the British king Natanleod--Arrival of Cerdric's
kinsmen--The Britons again defeated--Arthur, the British
king, arms in defence of his country--His adventures described
--Numbers of battles in which he fought--Death of king Arthur
in the field of Camlan--Discovery of his remains in the abbey
of Glastonbury p. 83
CHAPTER XI.
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE SAXON OCTARCHY.