Crayforde, in Saxon Creccanford, that is, the Ford, or passage ouer the water Crecca, now called Cray.

AFter the death of Horsa,* (of whome we haue spoken in Ailesford before) The Saxons made his brother Hengist their only King and leader. And he, minding foorthwith to shewe himselfe woorthie of his newely attayned Honour, and willing to supplie in himselfe the defect of his deceased Brother, pursued the Britons fiercely, and gaue them sundrie great encounters: in diuers of whiche, although he sped doubtfully, yet at the last méeting with them at Crayford, he slewe foure of their chief capitaines, and [ 457] so discomfited the whole number, that the Britons quite abandoned this Countrie, and with great feare fled to London before him. After this fight, the Britons not only neuer inuaded Hengist (as Ralfe Higden wri∣teth) but fled him like fire,* as the Saxon Hystorie repor∣teth: so that euen then, and not before, it might truely be saide, that he had gained the possession of the Kentish Kingdome. The place is named of the water Cray, whiche beginning at Orpington (vntruely so termed for Dorpendun, whiche signifieth the head,* or spring of the Hille water) runneth by Saint Marie Cray, Poules Cray, Fotescray, and Crayford (to all whiche it likewise giueth name) and commeth at length to Dartford, where it mingleth with the Riuer Darent, and so openeth into the Tha∣mise.