Hearken to my instruction, it shall be to thee lief, for I wish
chiefly to help counsel thee. Thy court hate thee on my account, and I
am detested for thee, and thee hate kings, earls and thanes; they fare
in thy land with a host exceeding strong. If thou wilt avenge thee
with much worship, and do woe to thy enemies, send after my son Octa,
and after another, Ebissa, his wed-brother. These are the noblest men
that ever led army; and give them of thy land in the north end. They
are of mickle might, and strong in fight; they will defend thy land
well with the best; then mightest thou in joy thy life all spend, with
hawks and with hounds court-play love; needest thou never have care of
foreign people." Then answered Vortiger--of each evil he was
ware--"Send thy messengers into Saxland, after thy son Octa, and after
thy friends more. Cause him to know well, that he send his writs after
all the knights that are good in fight, over all Saxland, that they
come to my need, and though he bring ten thousand men, all they shall
be welcome to me." Hengest heard this, fairest of all knights, then
was he so blithe as he was never in his life.

Hengest sent his messengers into Saxland, and bade Octa come, and his
wed-brother Ebissa, and all of their kindred that they might gain, and
all the knights that they might get. Octa sent messengers over three
kingdoms, and bade each brave man speedily to come to him, who would
obtain land, or silver or gold. They came soon to the army, as hail
that falleth, that was to wit, with three hundred ships. Forth went
with Octa thirty thousand and eke more, brave men and keen; and
Ebissa, his companion, afterwards arrived with numberless folk, and he
led to wit an hundred and fifty ships; thereafter arrived five and
five, by six, by seven, by ten, and by eleven; and thus the heathen
warriors they arrived toward this land, to the court of this king, so
that this land was so full of foreign people, that there was no man so