In the meantime came tidings into this land, that Aurelie was knight, who was named Ambrosie, and also was Uther, good knight and most wary, and would come to this land, and lead an army most strong.  This was many times a saying oft repeated; oft came these tidings to Vortiger the king; therefore it oft shamed him, and his heart angered, for men said it everywhere:—­“Now will come Ambrosie and Uther, and will avenge soon Constance, the king of this land; there is no other course, avenge they will their brother, and slay Vortiger, and burn him to dust; thus they will set all this land in their own hand!” So spake each day all that passed by the way.

Vortiger bethought him what he might do, and thought to send messengers into other lands, after foreign knights, who might him defend; and thought to be wary against Ambrosie and Uther.

In the meantime came tidings to Vortiger the king, that over sea were come men exceeding strange; in the Thames to land they were come; three ships good came with the flood, therein three hundred knights, kings as it were, without (besides) the shipmen who were there within.  These were the fairest men that ever here came, but they were heathens—­that was the more harm!  Vortiger sent to them, and asked how they were disposed (their business); if they sought peace, and recked of his friendship?  They answered wisely, as well they knew, and said that they would speak with the king, and lovingly him serve, and hold him for lord; and so they gan wend forth to the king.  Then was Vortiger the king in Canterbury, where he with his court nobly diverted themselves; there these knights came before the sovereign.  As soon as they met him, they greeted him fair, and said that they would serve him in this land, if he would them with right retain.  Then answered Vortiger—­of each evil he was ware—­“In all my life that I have lived, by day nor by night saw I never ere such knights; for your arrival I am blithe, and with me ye shall remain, and your will I will perform, by my quick life!  But first I would of you learn, through your sooth worship, what knights ye be, and whence ye are come, and whether ye will be true, old and eke new?”

Then answered the one who was the eldest brother:  “Listen to me now, lord king, and I will make known to you what knights we are, and whence we are come.  I hight Hengest; Hors is my brother; we are of Alemaine, a land noblest of all, of the same end that Angles is named.  In our land are strange tidings; after fifteen years the folk is assembled, all our nation-folk, and cast their lots; upon whom that it falleth, he shall depart from the land.  The five shall remain, the sixth shall forth proceed out of the country to a foreign land; be he man ever so loved, he shall forth depart.  For there is folk very much, more than they would desire; the women go there with child as the wild deer, every year they bear child there!  That is fallen on us, that we should depart; we might not remain, for life nor for