nor speak with any friend, ere he had to them sworn upon relic that was choice, that he would deliver them all this kingdom, in hand, burghs and castles, and all his kingdoms.  And all so he did, as it was deemed.  And Hengest took in his hand all this rich kingdom, and divided among his people much of this land.  He gave an earl all Kent, as it lay by London, he gave his steward Essex, and on his chamberlain he bestowed Middlesex.  The knights received it, and a while they held it, the while Vortiger proceeded over this land, and delivered to Hengest his noble burghs.  And Hengest forth-right placed his knights therein, the while much of the baser people lay in Sussex, 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.”