THE SAXONS IN ENGLAND.
[book i.
a considerable movement took place among the
tribes that inhabited the western coasts of Ger-
many and the islands of the Baltic sea. Pressed
at home by the incursions of restless neighbours,
and the urgency of increasing population, or yield-
ing- to the universal spirit of adventure, Angles,
Saxons and Frisians crossed a little-known and
dangerous ocean to seek new settlements in ad-
jacent lands. Familiar as we are with daring deeds
of maritime enterprise, who have seen our flag float
over every sea, and flutter in every breeze that
sweeps over the surface of the earth, we cannot
contemplate without astonishment and admiration,
these hardy sailors, swarming on every point, tra-
versing every ocean, sweeping every æstuary and
bay, and landing on every shore which promised
plunder or a temporary rest from their fatigues.
The wealth of Gaul had already attracted fearful
visitations, and the spoils of Roman cultivation had
been displayed before the wondering borderers of
the Elbe and Eyder, the prize of past, and incen-
tive to future activity. Britain, fertile and defence-
less, abounding in the accumulations of a long
career of peace, deserted by its ancient lords, un-
accustomed to arms1, and accustomed to the yoke,
ɪ This is asserted both by Gildas and Nennius, and it is not in itself
improbable. The Romans did sometimes attempt to disarm the na-
tions they subdued : thus Probus with the Alamanni. Vopisc. cap. 14.
Malmsbury⅛ account of the defenceless state of Britain was probab∕y
not exaggerated. He says ∙. “ Ita cum tyranni nullum in agris praeter
Bemibarbaros, nullum in urbibus praeter ventri deditos Teliquissent, Bri-
tannia omni patrocinio iuvenilis vigoris viduata, omni exercitio artiunι
exinanita, Conterminarum gentium inhiationi diu obnoxia fuit.” Gest.
Reg. lib. i. § 2.
CH. I.]
SAXON AND WELSH TRADITIONS.
at once invited attack and held out the prospect of
a rich reward : and it is certain that at that period,
there took place some extensive migration of Ger-
mans to the shores of England 1. The expeditions
known to tradition as those of Hengest, Ælli, Cissa,
Cerdic and Port, may therefore have some foun-
dation. in fact ; and around this meagre nucleus of
truth were grouped the legends which afterwards
served to conceal the poverty and eke out the
scanty stock of early history. But I do not think
it at all probable that this was the earliest period
at which the Germans formed settlements in Eng-
land.
It is natural to believe that for many centuries
a considerable and active intercourse had prevailed
between the southern and eastern shores of this
island, and the western districts of Gaul. The first
landing of Julius Caesar was caused or justified by
the assurance that his Gallic enemies recruited their
armies and repaired their losses, by the aid of their
British kinsmen and allies 2 ; and the merchants of
the coast, who found a market in Britain, reluc-
tantly furnished him with the information upon
which the plan of his invasion was founded3. When
* Prosper Tyro, a.d. 441, says, “ Theodosii xviii. Britanniae usque
ad hoc tempus variis cladibus eventibusque Iatae [? Iaceratae] in di-
tionem Saxonum rediguntur.” See also Procop. Bel. Got. iv. 20. The
former of these passages might Iioweverbe Understoodwithout the as-
sumption of an immigration, which the movements of Attila render
probable.
2 Bell. Gal. iii. 8. 9; iv. 20.
3 Especially the Veneti : eτoιμoι yt∖p ησav κωkveιv τov els τηv βρeτ-
τavικηv πλuυv, χpωμeι>oι τω eμπoplω. Strabo, bk. iv. p. 271. Conf. Bell.
Gall. iv. 20.