of amity and peace which if they would grant he would turn his arms against the Picts and Scotts, and drive them quite out of the Island. He quickly obtain'd beleif from the easy nature of Vortigern, as if his intentions were sincere. Where∣upon a Meeting is ordain'd between the Brit∣tains and Saxons, with this caution, that each King should be attended with only three hundred, and those unarm'd: at which Meeting they were to treat of the conditions of peace.
3. The place appointed for this fatall Assembl•• was a plain neer Sorbiodunum (or Old Salsbury) a Citty seated in the Province of the Belgae, in which still remains a mo∣nument of a dismall Tragedy. For these being mett on both sides, a great Feast was prepared for the Brittains, at which the articles of agreement were to be ratified by mutuall promises and oathes.
4. But toward the end of the Feast, when they were dissolv'd in wine, Hengist on a sudden calld aloud, To arms: which was the watchword agreed on among the Saxons. Whereupon they immediately drew out short swords which they had conceald under their cloathes, and quickly slew their unarmed guests the Brittains. Yet in that Tragedy one memorable example of cou∣rage was perform'd by a Brittish Noble man, if Geffrey of Monmouth may be beleived. For Eldol the valiant Governour (Consul) of Glocester (Claudiocestriae) snatching up a stake by chance lying near, slew seaventy of the Saxons with it.
5. A Monument, not long after rais'd by the Brittains, continues to this day the memory of this most barbarous and per∣fidious Tragedy. This is that which is Vul∣garly calld Stone-henge on Salsbury plains, where in a space of ground compass'd with a ditch, are placed as in a threefold crown, stones of an incredible vastnes, some of them twenty eight feet in height, and seaven in breadth, over many of which other great stones are placed a crosse. The report is, saith Camden, that Ambrosius Aurelianus, or his brother Vther Pendragon by the help and art of Merlin the famous Magi∣cian, rais'd this Monument in memory of the Brittains treacherously slain by the Saxons at a conference. Though others deliver that this was a magnificent Sepulcher rais'd to Ambrosius Aurelianus himself slain near this place: from whom likewise the town of Ambresbury, not far distant, took its name.
6. In this slaughter the Saxons took Vor∣tigern prisoner, and the year following, saith Mathew of Westminster, threatning him with death they bound him in chains, and for his life requir'd of him to deliver up severall of his Citties and munitions. Who quickly granted whatsoever they demanded, so he might scape with his life. This being con∣firm'd by oath, they gave him his liberty: and first of all they seys'd on the Citty of London: then Yorck and Lincoln, likewise Winchester: all which Provinces they wasted, killing the miserable Brittains like Sheep. They destroyed to the ground all Churches and buildings belonging to Ecclesiasticall persons: they killd the Preists near the Altars: they burnt with fire all Books of Holy Scripture: and heaped earth on the sepulchers of Mar∣tyrs. Such religious men as could scape their fury repaired to desarts, woods and rocks, carying with them the Relicks of Saints. Vortigern therfore seing so horrible destruction, retir'd into the parts ••f Wales (Cambria) and there inclos'd himself in a town calld Geno∣rium.
7. But the three Provinces with which Vortigern redeem'd his life, are thus better sett down by Mamlsburiensis, Of old time, saith he, the Eastern and Southern Saxons, and the Eastern Angli were subjects to the King of Kent. For those Provinces Hengist who first raign'd in Kent obtain'd of Vorti∣gern King of the Brittains, not by open warr but treachery. These Provinces contain Essex, Sussex, Surrey, Norfolk and Suff••lk, inhabited by the people which in the Ro∣mans time were calld Trinobantes, Regni and Iceni.