HISTORY OF MARINE ARCHITECTURE.
216
of enterprise ; the meanest of their mariners was alike capable of handling anoar, of rearing a sail, or of conducting a vessel ; and the Saxons rejoiced in theappearance of a tempest, which concealed their design, and dispersed the fleetsof the enemy. After they had acquired an accurate knowlege of the mari-time provinces of the west, they extended the scene of their depredations, andthe most sequestered places had no reason to presume on their security. TheSaxon boats drew so little water, that they could easily proceed fourscore or anhundred miles up the great rivers. Their weight was so inconsiderable, thatthey were transported on waggons from one river to another ; and the pirateswho had entered the mouth of the Seine, or of the Rhine, might descend withthe rapid stream of the Rhone into the Mediterranean.”
Such was the origin of a people, who in times when Rome had by nomeans sunk into a contemptible state, insulted the coasts of her most valuablecolonies, committed the most serious depredations without fear either of reta-liation, or punishment, and, increasing daily and progressively in its power,compelled the greater part of Britain to submit to their yoke. Unknown tothe Romans by the appellation of Saxons till the fourth century, they soonrendered themselves formidable and terrible. Zosimus, speaking of them,observes, “ that they are inured to the toils of war, and that, on account oftheir courage and strength, they were justly esteemed the most warlike of allthe German nations.”
About the middle of the fifth century, the unwarlike Vortigern, then king ofBritain, embraced the fatal resolution of requesting the Saxons to deliver himfrom the inroads of the Piets and Scots, who were in the habit of making con-tinual inroads, and spreading desolation wherever their arms reached *. TheSaxons received the invitation with the utmost joy. According to the customof those times, ancient prophecies were remembered, foretelling that they should
* Witichind, a Saxon historian, who lived in the ninth century, in his history de gestis Saxonum,introduces the British ambassadors making the following speech before an assembly of the Saxons :—« Illustrious Saxons! the fame of your victories having reached our ears, the distressed Britons, harassedby the continual inroads of a neighbouring enemy, send us to implore your assistance. We have afertile and spacious country, which we are commanded to submit to you. We have hitherto livedunder the protection of the Roman empire, but our ancient masters having abandoned us, we know nonation more powerful than you, and better able to protect us. We therefore recur to your valour.Forsake us not in our distress, and we shall readily submit to what terms you yourselves shall think fitto prescribe to us.”
plunder