I HE SAXON S,

3i

succours, he fought, in the year 508, a desperate c h a p.battle with the Britons, commanded by Nazan- *•L.eod , their leader, who was victorious in thebeginning of the action , and routed the wing inwhich Cerdic himself commanded. But Kenric,who had prevailed in the other wing, broughttimely assistance to his father, and restored thebattle, which ended in a complete victory gainedby the Saxons Nazan-Leod perished, with5000 of his army: But left the Britons moreweakened than discouraged by his death. Thewar still continued , though the success was com-monly on the side of the Saxons, whose shortswords and close manner of fighting gave themgreat advantage over the missile weapons of theBritons. Cerdic was not wanting to his goodfortune; and in order to extend his conquests,he laid siege to Mount Badon or Banesdown nearBath, whither the most obstinate of the discom-fited Britons had retired. The southern Britonsin this extremity applied for assistance to Arthur,

Prince of the Siltires, whose heroic valour nowsustained the declining sate of his country .

This is that Arthur lo much celebrated by tfiesongs of Taliessm , and the other British bards,and whose military achievements have beenblended with so many fables as even to giveoccasion for entertaining a doubt of his real

H. Hunting, lib. 2 . Itliehverd, lib. 1 . Citron. Sax.

p. 17.

4 ‘ Hunting, lib. 2.