But to procéed, Vortimer being thus aduanced to the gouernment of the
realme, in all hast made sore warre against the Saxons, and gaue vnto
them a great battell vpon the riuer of Derwent, where he had of
[Sidenote: The riuer of Derwent.]
them the vpper hand. And the second time he fought with them at a
[Sidenote: Epiford.]
place called Epiford, or Aglisthrop, in the which incounter Catagrine
or Catigernus the brother of Vortimer, and Horsus the brother of
Hengist, after a long combat betwixt them two, either of them slue
other: but the Britains obteined the field (as saith the British
[Sidenote: The Ile of Tenet.]
historie.) The third battell Vortimer fought with them néere to the
sea side, where also the Britains chased the Saxons, & droue them into
[Sidenote: _Hen. Hunt._ Colemoore.]
the Ile of Tenet. The fourth battell was stricken néere to a moore
called Colemoore, the which was sore fought by the Saxons, and long
continued with great danger to the Britains, because the foresaid
moore inclosed a part of their host so stronglie, that the Britains
could not approch to them, being beaten off with the enimies shot,
albeit in the end the Saxons were put to flight, & manie of them
drowned and swallowed vp in the same moore. Beside these foure
[Sidenote: _Fabian_. Tetford in Norfolke. Colchester.]
principall battels, Vortimer had diuers other conflicts with the
Saxons, as in Kent and at Tetford in Norfolke, also néere to
Colchester in Essex: for he left not till he had bereft them of the
more part of all such possessions as before time they had got, so that
they were constrained to kéepe them within the Ile of Tenet, where he
oftentimes assailed them with such ships as he then had. When Ronowen
the daughter of Hengist perceiued the great losse that the Saxons