The Saxon Chronicle[1] and others of different dates allude to the fall of Andredesceaster, but, since they merely narrate its total overthrow, they are too concise to suit our present purpose so well as the copious statement of Henry of Huntingdon, which therefore we will quote:
"The kingdom of Sussex begins, which Ella governed long and most ably; but auxiliaries had joined him from his own country. . . . Belying, therefore, upon (his) large forces, he besieged Andredecester, a strongly fortified city. The Britons then collected like bees, and beat the besiegers in the day by stratagems, and in the night by attacks. No day, no night occurred wherein unfavourable and fresh tidings would not exasperate the minds of the Saxons; but, rendered thereby more ardent, they beset the city with continual assaults. Always, however, as they might assail, the Britons pressed them behind with archers, and with darts thrown with thongs; wherefore quitting the walls, the pagans directed their steps and arms against them. Then the Britons, excelling them in fleetness, ran into the woods, and again came upon them from behind, when they approached the walls. By this artifice the Saxons were long annoyed, and an immense slaughter of them was made, until they divided the army into two parts, so that while one part should storm the walls, they might have behind a line of warriors arrayed against the charges of the Britons. But then the citizens, worn down by long want of food, when they could no longer sustain the multitude of assailants, were all devoured by the sword, with the women and little ones, so that not an individual escaped. And because the foreigners had suffered such losses there, they so (utterly) destroyed the city, that it was never afterwards rebuilt. Only the desolate site as of a very noble city is pointed out to those who pass."[2]
Such is the relation of Henry of Huntingdon, a writer of the twelfth century. He does not give the precise date of the event, but places it somewhat after A.D. 490. The Saxon Chronicle assigns the year 490; others of our ancient authorities vary in some degree, though slightly. It may, and
- ↑ Gibson's ed. p. 15.
- ↑ Regnum Sudsexe incipit, quod Ella diu et potentissime tenuit; venerant autem ei auxiliares a patria sua. . . Fretus igitur copiis ingentibus obsedit Andredecester, urbem munitissimam. Congregati sunt igitur Britanni quasi apes, et die expugnabant obsidentes insidus, et nocte incursibus. Nullus dies erat, nulla nox erat, quibus sinistri et recentes nuntii Saxonum animos non acerbarent; inde tamen ardentiores effecti, continuis insultibus urbem infestabant. Semper vero dum assilirent, instabant eis Brittones a tergo cum viris sagittariis et amentatis telorum missilibus. Dimissis igitur mœnibus, gressus et arma dirigebant in eos pagani. Tunc Brittones, eis celeritate præestantiores, silvas cursu petebant: tendentibusque ad mœnia rursum a tergo aderant. Hac arte Saxones diu fatigati sunt, et innumera strages eorum fiebat, donec in duas partes exercitum diviserunt, ut dum una pars urbem expugnaret, esset eis a tergo contra Brittonum excursus bellatorum acies ordinata. Tunc vero cives diuturna fame contriti, cum jam pondus infestantium perferre nequirent, omnes ore gladii devorati sunt cum mulieribus et parvulis, ita quod nec unus solus evasit. Et quia tot ibi damna toleraverant extranei, ita urbem destruxerunt quod nunquam postea reædificata est. Locus tantum, quasi nobilissime urbis, transeuntibus ostenditur desolatus." —Hen. Hunt. Hist. Angl. lib. 2.
