THE SAXONS.

25

But Hengist andKorsa, perceiving, from their chapeasy victory over the Scots and Picts , with whatfacility they might subdue the Britons themselves,who had not been able to relist those feebleinvaders, were determined to conquer and fightfor their own grandeur, not for the defence oftheir degenerate allies. They sent intelligenceto Saxony of the fertility and riches of Britain;and represented as certain the subjection of apeople, so long disused to arms, who, being nowcut off from the Roman empire, of which theyhad been a province during so many ages, hadnot yet acquired any union among themselves,and were destitute of all affection to their new liber-ties, and of all national attachments and regards 5t .

The vices and pusillanimity of Vortigern, theBritish leader, were a new ground of hope; andthe Saxons in Germany, following such agreeableprospects , soon reinforced Hengist and Horsa with50co men , who came over in seventeen vessels.

The Britons now began to entertain apprehensionsof their allies, whoso numbers they found con-tinually augmenting; but thought of no remedy,except a passive submission and connivance Thisweak expedient soon failed them. The Saxonssought a quarrel by complaining, that their sub-sidies were ill paid, and their provisions with-drawn ": And immediately taking off the masse,they formed an alliance with the Picts and

3! Chron. Sax. p. 12. Ann. Eeverl. p. 49.

" Rede, lib. 1. cap. 15. Nennius, cap, 35. Gildas,§. 2Z.