who shall guard the king preciously through all things. And afterwards
the others shall depart to their land, with peace and with amity,
again to Saxland; and I will remain with the best of all men, that is
Vortiger the king, whom I love through all things." The tidings came
to the Britons how Hengest them promised; then were they fain for his
fair words, and set they peace and set amity to such a time that the
king on a day would see this folk. Hengest heard that, fairest of all
knights; then was he so blithe as he was never ere in life, for he
thought to deceive the king in his realm. Here became Hengest
wickedest of knights; so is every man that deceiveth one, who benefits
him. Who would ween, in this worlds-realm, that Hengest thought to
deceive the king who had his daughter! For there is never any man,
that men may not over-reach with treachery. They took an appointed
day, that these people should come them together with concord and with
peace, in a plain that was pleasant beside Ambresbury; the place was
Aelenge, now hight it Stonehenge. There Hengest the traitor either by
word or by writ made known to the king, that he would come with his
forces, in honour of the king, but he would not bring in retinue but
three hundred knights, the wisest men of all that he might find. And
the king should bring as many on his side bold thanes, and who should
be the wisest of all that dwelt in Britain, with their good vestments,
all without weapons, that no evil should happen to them, through
confidence of the weapons. Thus they it spake, and eft they it brake,
for Hengest the traitor thus gan he teach his comrades, that each
should take a long saex (knife), and lay by his shank, within his
hose, where he it might hide. When they came together, the Saxons and
Britons, then quoth Hengest, most deceitful of all knights: "Hail be
thou, lord king, each is to thee thy subject! If ever any of thy men
hath weapon by his side, send it with friendship far from ourselves,
and be we in amity, and speak we of concord; how we may with peace our