England and Old English History - Anglo-Saxon History

"He is an English Warrior Leader. The grey sea stretches before him and his men. Their people stand behind, on grass escarpments, Seax in hand ready to hail their departure.

He turns and looks up at his people – perhaps for the last time, then puts on his White helm over his long hair. He turns to his young son Æsc, his mirror image and the light of the Warriors life and bides him farewell. But his heart is not heavy for he knows deep down he will see him again.

The warriors position themselves by each of the three keels boats, and begin to push them down the grass cliff whilst others move wooden blocks under the hull of each keel. The blocks are moved from the back to the front as each keel slides along. The keels pick up speed and enter the water. Warriors jump and climb on board. Sails are raised. One takes to the helm of the keel. The journey has begun. The folk on the escarpments above raise their Seax fighting knives in the direction of the journey. It is a gesture of farewell and to honour them.

A few days and nights of sailing across the dark seascape to the land of the Brythons. But not a journey that will worry these men, for they are of the fearsome North Sea tribes and know this water well. They know its winds, tides and treacheries. And their keels are well made.

Vortigern the High Lord of the Brythons has invited this English War Band to help fight some scrawny set of people called the Picts. These troublesome violent people have no idea what is coming across this misty water. But they soon will!

No sleep for the Sea Warriors. Jutland is a mere memory now. And soon on the fifth day they see the land of the Brythons begin to appear. The keels land at Ypwinesfleot in Kent. Each boat gently comes to rest on the shore.

The tall Warrior Leader is the first to drop into the waters edge. He has a silver white helm that covers his face. He wears a new leather tunic and trousers, chain mail, and a round shield. He has the Seax and Axe. His sword is well made and well balanced.

The water is cold, and he stops momentarily to get his footing. He looks down slightly, then glances sideways, as if he is looking at YOU from behind his helm in an all-knowing way. You cannot see his eyes but you know they are there. A true sea wolf this one, trained in the Germanic ways of war, and mercy is not one of them. Picts and Brythons!! He has fought much tougher more numerous enemies than these. Take his visor off and bare witness to the scars on his young face!

Brythons are there to greet him. They stand in the water with tall mastiffs. Vortigern is watching from up high assessing the nature of the new whelp that has arrived in his lair. One of the Brythons lets his war dog get too close. It snarls and barks and nearly bites. In a breathe from this English Warrior his Seax is out and the dog is down. The Brython staggers back in disbelief. Another English Warrior moves quickly forward to cover any reaction.

Without looking back the English Warrior Leader runs confidently forward through the water onto dry land, straight up towards Vortigern. His fellow noblemen look worried. They should be. For they had better not ‘Welsh’ on any deal with this tall Englishman!

The Warrior stops short of the waiting Brythons and looks at Vortigern. He removes his helm. Eyebrows rise. He announces his name - Hengest."