The Britons heard this, and were full surely blithe; they drew themselves out of the woods, and out of the wilderness, by sixty, and by sixty, and by seven hundred, by thirty, and by thirty, and by many thousands—­when they came together, full good it seemed to them!  And the brothers brought to this land a numerous host, and here came before them these bold Britons, a numerous folk, who would it all avenge, that ere were over the woods wondrously scattered, through the mickle dread, and through the great misery, and through the mickle harm that Hengest wrought them, and who had murdered all their chief men with knives, with axes cut in pieces the good thanes!  The Britons held husting with great wisdom; they took anon Aurelie, the elder brother, in the noble husting, and raised him to be king.  Then were the Britons filled with bliss, blithe in mood who ere were mournful.  These tidings came to Vortiger the king, that Aurelie was chosen and raised to be king.  Then was Vortiger woe, and eft to him was worse!  Vortiger proceeded far to a castle, named Genoure, upon a high mount; Cloard hight the mount, and Hergin hight the land, near the Wye, that is a fair water (stream).  Vortiger’s men took all that they came nigh; they took weapons and meat, on many a wise; to the castle they brought as much as they cared for, so that they had enow, though it little helped them.  Aurehe and Uther were aware of Vortiger, where he was upon Cloard, inclosed in a castle.  They caused trumpets to be blown, their host to be assembled—­a numerous folk of many a land—­they marched to Genoure, where Vortiger lay.  A king was within, a king was without; knights there fought with fierce encounters; every good man made himself ready.  When they saw that they had not the victory, then a wondrous great force went to the wood; they felled the wood down, and drew to the castle, and filled all the dyke that was wondrously deep.  And fire they sent in, on every side, and called to Vortiger:  “Now thou shalt warm thee there, for thou slewest Constance, who was king of this land, and afterwards Constantine his son.  Now is Aurelie come, and Uther his brother, who send thee bale!” The wind wafted the fire, so that it burnt wonderfully; the castle gan to burn, the chambers there were consumed; the halls fell to the ground.  Might no man there against the fire make fight; the fire went over all, and burnt house, and burnt wall; and the King Vortiger therein he gan to burn; all it was consumed that therein dwelt!  Thus ended there, with mickle harm, Vortiger!

Then Aurelie had all the land in his hand.  There was the strong earl, named Aldolf, he was of Gloucester, of all knights skilfullest; there in the land Aurehe made him his steward.  Then had Aurelie, and Uther his brother, felled their foes, and were therefore the blither!  Hengest heard this, strongest of all knights; then was he afraid exceeding greatly.  He marched his host, and fled toward the Scots, and Aurelie the king went after him in haste.  And