HISTORY OF ENGLAND,

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H a P. resistance, and by the fatigues and dangers which*' they had sustained, redoubled their efforts againstthe place, and when masters of it, put al! theirenemies to the sword without distinction. Thisdecisive advantage secured the conquests ofÆila,who assumed the name of King, and extended hisdominion over Sussex and a great part of Surrey.Fie was stopped in his progress to the east by thekingdom of Kent: In that to the west by anothertribe of Saxons, who had taken possession of thatterritory.

These Sdxons, from the situation of the coun-try, in which they settled, were called the West-Saxo.ns, and landed in the year 495, under thecommand of Cerdic, and of his son KenricThe Britons were, by past experience, so muchon their guard, and so well prepared to receivethe enemy, that they gave battle to Cerdic thevery day of his landing; and though vanquished,still defended, for some time, their liberties againstthe invaders. None of the other tribes of Saxonsmet with such vigorous resistance, or exertedsuch valour and perseverance in pushing theirconquests. Cerdic was even obliged to call forthe assistance of his countrymen from the king-doms of Kent and Sussex, as well as from Ger-many, and he was thence joined by a fresh armyunder the command of Porte, and of his sonsBleda and Megla ": Strengthened by these

4! Will. Malm. lib. t. cap, i.p. 12, Chron. Sax. p. 15.Chron. Sax. p. 17.

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