THE THIRD CHAPTER.

[Sidenote:  Hengist purposeth at the first to conquere the Britains.] Now Hengistus, being a man of great wit, rare policie, and high wisedome, vnderstanding the kings mind, who wholie trusted to the valiancie of the Saxons, & herewithall perceiuing the fruitfulnesse of the countrie, presentlie began to consider with himselfe, by what wiles and craft he might by little little settle heere, and obteine a kingdome in the Ile, and so establish the same to him and his for euer.

[Sidenote:  Polydor.] Therefore first he endeuored with all speed possible to fense that part of the countrie, which was giuen him and his people, and to inlarge and furnish it with garisons appointed in places most conuenient.  After this he did what he could to persuade the king, that a great power of men might be brought ouer out of Germanie, that the [Side note:  Wil.  Malm. 18 Foists or plates saie the Scotish writers, and 5000 men in the same.  The Saxons call these vessels Ceoles, or Keeles, and our old histories Cogiones.] land being fortified with such strength, the enimies might be put in feare, and his subiects holden in rest.  The king not foreseeing the hap that was to come, did not despise this counsell tending to the destruction of his kingdome, and so was more aid sent for into Germanie:  wherevpon now at this second time there arriued heere 16 vessels fraught with people, and at the same time came the ladie Rowen or Ronix (daughter to Hengist) a maid of excellent beautie and comelinesse, able to delight the eies of them that should behold hir, and speciallie to win the heart of Vortigerne with the dart of concupiscence, wherevnto he was of nature much inclined, and that did Hengist well perceiue.

[Sidenote:  The Vitae or Iutae are called Ibitri. Alex.  Now.] There came ouer into this land at that time, and soone after, three maner of people of the Germane nation, as Saxons, Vitae or Iutes, and Angles, ouer the which the said Hengist and Horse being brethren, were capteines & rulers, men of right noble parentage in their countrie, as descended of that ancient, prince Woden, of whom the English Saxon kings doo for the more part fetch their pedegree, as lineallie descended from him, vnto whome also the English people (falselie [Sidenote:  Wednesdaie, and Fridaie, whereof they came.] reputing him for a god) consecrated the fourth daie of the weeke, as they did the sixt to his wife Frea:  so that the same daies tooke name of them, the one being called Wodensdaie, and the other Freadaie, which woords after in continuance of time by corruption of speech were somewhat altered, though not much, as from Wodensdaie, to Wednesdaie, [Sidenote:  Beda.] and from Freadaie to Fridaie.  The foresaid Woden was father to Vecta, the father of Wergistus that was father to the foresaid Hengistus and Horsus.