Vortigern then reigned in Britain. In his time, the natives had cause of
dread, not only from the inroads of the Scots and Picts, but also from
the Romans, and their apprehensions of Ambrosius.*

* These words relate evidently to some cause of dispute
between the Romans, Ambrosius, and Vortigern. Vortigern is
said to have been sovereign of the Dimetae, and Ambrosius
son to the king of the Damnonii. The latter was half a
Roman by descent, and naturally supported the Roman
interest: the former was entirely a Briton, and as naturally
seconded by the original Britons.

In the meantime, three vessels, exiled from Germany, arrived in
Britain. They were commanded by Horsa and Hengist, brothers, and sons of
Wihtgils. Wihtgils was the son of Witta; Witta of Wecta; Wecta of Woden;
Woden of Frithowald; Frithowald of Frithuwulf; Frithuwulf of Finn; Finn
of Godwulf; Godwulf of Geat, who, as they say, was the son of a god,
not(1) of the omnipotent God and our Lord Jesus Christ (who before
the beginning of the world, was with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
co-eternal and of the same substance, and who, in compassion to
human nature, disdained not to assume the form of a servant), but the
offspring of one of their idols, and whom, blinded by some demon, they
worshipped according to the custom of the heathen. Vortigern received
them as friends, and delivered up to them the island which is in
their language called Thanet, and, by the Britons, Ruym.(2) Gratianus
Aequantius at that time reigned in Rome. The Saxons were received by
Vortigern, four hundred and forty-seven years after the passion of
Christ, and,(3) according to the tradition of our ancestors, from the
period of their first arrival in Britain, to the first year of the reign