Chapter VI: Departure of the Romans

Adrian strengthens and extends the Roman fortifications--
Description of these ancient barriers, and the combats that took
place before them--Wall erected by the emperor Severus--He
marches into Caledonia, reaches the Frith of Moray--Great
mortality amongst the Roman legions--Severus dies at York--
Picturesque description of the Roman sentinels guarding the
ancient fortresses--Attack of the northern barbarians--Peace
of Britain under the government of Caracalla--Arrival of the
Saxon and Scandinavian pirates--The British Channel protected
by the naval commander, Carausius--His assassination at York
--Constantine the Great--Theodosius conquers the Saxons--
Rebellion of the Roman soldiers; they elect their own general
--Alaric, the Goth, overruns the Roman territories--British
soldiers sent abroad to strengthen the Roman ranks--Decline
of the Roman power in Britain--Ravages of the Picts, Scots,
and Saxons--The Britons apply in vain for assistance from Rome
--Miserable condition in which they are left on the departure
of the Romans--War between the Britons and the remnant of the
invaders--Vortigern, king of the Britons--A league with the
Saxons p. 50

CHAPTER VII.

BRITAIN AFTER THE ROMAN PERIOD.

Great change produced in Britain by the Romans--Its ancient
features contrasted with its appearance after their departure--
Picturesque description of Britain--First dawn of Christianity
--Progress of the Britons in civilization--Old British
fortifications--Change in the costume of the Britons--Decline
in their martial deportment--Their ancient mode of burial--
Description of early British barrows--Ascendancy of rank p. 56

CHAPTER VIII.

THE ANCIENT SAXONS.

Origin of the early Saxons--Description of their habits and arms
--Their religion--The halls of Valhalla--Their belief in
rewards and punishments after death--Their ancient mythology
described--Superstitions of the early Saxons--Their ancient
temples and forms of worship--Their picturesque processions
--Dreadful punishments inflicted upon those who robbed their
temples--Different orders of society--Their divisions
of the seasons--Their bravery as pirates, and skill in
navigation p. 64

CHAPTER IX.

HENGIST, HORSA, ROWENA, AND VORTIGERN.

Landing of Hengist and Horsa, the Saxon chiefs--Their treaty
with Vortigern and the British chiefs--The British king allots
them the Isle of Thanet as a residence, on condition that they
drive out the Picts and Scots--Success of the Saxons--Arrival
of more ships--Landing of the Princess Rowena--Marriage of
Vortigern and Rowena--Quarrel between the Britons and Saxons
--Description of their first battle by the old Welsh bards--
The Britons led on by the sons of Vortigern--Death of Horsa,
the Saxon chief--Rowena's revenge--Pretended reconciliation
of the Saxons, and description of the feast where the British
chiefs were massacred--Terrible death of Vortigern and the fair
Rowena p. 72

CHAPTER X.

ELLA, CERDRIC, AND KING ARTHUR.

Arrival of Ella and his three sons--Combat between the Saxons
and Britons beside the ancient forest of Andredswold--Defeat
of the Britons, and desolate appearance of the old forest town
of Andred-Ceaster after the battle--Revengeful feelings of
the Britons--Establishment of the Saxon kingdom of Sussex--
Landing of Cerdric and his followers--Battle of Churdfrid,
and death of the British king Natanleod--Arrival of Cerdric's
kinsmen--The Britons again defeated--Arthur, the British
king, arms in defence of his country--His adventures described
--Numbers of battles in which he fought--Death of king Arthur
in the field of Camlan--Discovery of his remains in the abbey
of Glastonbury p. 83

CHAPTER XI.

ESTABLISHMENT OF THE SAXON OCTARCHY.

Landing of Erkenwin--The establishment of the kingdom of Wessex
--Description of London--Arrival of Ida and his twelve sons
--The British chiefs make a bold stand against Ida--Bravery
of Urien--Description of the battle of the pleasant valley,
by Taliesin, the British bard--Llywarch's elegy on the death
of Urien--Beautiful description of the battle of Cattraeth by
Anenrin, the Welsh bard--Establishment of the kingdom of Mercia
--Description of the divisions of England which formed the Saxon
Octarchy--Amalgamation of the British and Saxon population--
Retirement of the unconquered remnant of the ancient Cymry into
Wales p. 90