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HISTORY OF MARINE ARCHITECTURE.

the vessels themselves, and the collection of the troops which they weredestined to transport, would permit.

Their arrival placed Hengist in so formidable a situation, as to permit hisacting in some measure offensively against those Britons themselves, whose causehe had undertaken to defend. Still, however, he found it necessary to keepterms with the too credulous Vortigern ; and in the midst of his complaints,some of which he adopted his own peculiar mode of redressing, representedthe fearful danger which was to be apprehended from the future attacks of theScots and Piets in such striking colours, that permission was, without hesita-tion, granted him to add a still farther reinforcement to his band of followers,which bore a much stronger semblance to an army of invaders, than it did to atroop of friends. This addition to the Saxon soldiery more than doubled thewhole of the force which had previously reached the British shore, providedthe ships were of the same dimensions, and equally freighted. The third fleetconsisted of no less than forty sail, under the command of two chiefs whohad distinguished themselves by their valour, and whose fidelity, as well aszeal, for the cause of depredation, w'as additionally secured by the near con-sanguinity in which they stood to Hengist himself.

The system of conquest now seriously commenced. The newly arrivedauxiliaries fixed themselves in Northumberland, while Hengist and his ownfollowers were equally attentive in securing the peace of the southern parts :this was a convenient and synonymous, but less offensive term than that ofconverting them to their own use, would have been. The ceremony paidtill this time to the king, of asking his permission for the introduction ofany new supplies, was now laid aside. Ships arrived, and troops were pouredin, in such numbers, that the population of Saxony itself was very materiallydiminished. The war which now commenced with the utmost fury on bothsides, was carried on with varied success. If the Saxons surpassed the Britonsin military skill, the latter were still superior in numbers : they fought underthe command of Vortimer, son to Vortigern, who was deposed, with thatcourage bordering on fury, natural to men who considered themselves engagedin the defence of their dearest rights, and whose existence, as well as that oftheir wives and children, depended on their own prowess. The Saxons, onthe other hand, fought only for plunder; and the savage ferocity of the invader,consequently, often sunk before the honest patriotism of the native.

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