Page:Sussex Archaeological Collections, volume 6.djvu/119

 The Saxon Chronicle 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.""

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 490. The Saxon Chronicle assigns the year 490; others of our ancient authorities vary in some degree, though slightly. It may, and