Neverthelesse, as I contemne fables, so doe I imbrace, and take pleasure in the truth of History: and therefore, that which concerns the slaughter of the _British_ Nobility by treason of _Hengist_ commander of the _Saxons_, as of greater moment, and truth, I shall more fully relate. And _Geffrey Monmouth’s_ Authority in this treacherous slaughter of the _Britans_, though I respect not so much, as _Ninnius_, _Malmsbury_, _Sigebert_, and others that affirm the same; yet, because he was the first, after so many, and so ancient Authors, that father’d _Stoneheng_ their monument, and _A. Ambrosius_ founder thereof, and therefore must trace him, and his followers therein. I will give you the history likewise from him, and thus it was: _Hengist_, upon his return with new supplies into _Britain_, finding _Vortigern_ beyond expectation restored to the Crown, and withall greatly alienated in his affections towards him, prepared for his defence, with force of arms. But, whether he thought himself too weak; or, that he rather sought to be especially revenged on the _British_ Nobility, who had wholly unriveted his designs, or both; he thought it no difficult matter to delude him by a Treaty, whom formerly he had so easily beguiled with his Neece _Rowena_. To which purpose, he makes an overture, to compose the enmities betwixt them at a Parley; and the King accepting it, appoints _Ambresbury_ Town their meeting place, _Nec mora, statuta die instante convenerunt omnes intra nominatam urbem_ (saith _Geffrey_) _& de pace habenda colloquium inceperunt. Ut igitur horam proditioni suæ idoneam inspexisset_ Hengistus, _vociferatus est_, =Nemet oure saxas=: _& ilico_ Vortigernum _accepit, & per pallium detinuit. Audito ocyùs signo, abstraxerunt_ (i.e. _eduxerunt_) Saxones _cultros suos, & astantes principes invaserunt, ipsósque nihil tale præmeditantes jugulaverunt circiter quadringentos sexaginta inter Barones & Consules. The prefixed day being come, they all, without delay, met in the aforesaid Town, and began their Treaty for Peace; when therefore_ Hengist _saw fit time for execution of his intended Treason, he cried out, giving the word_, =Nemet oure saxas= (=Nem eowr seaxes= (saith Verstegan) that is, _Take your_ =seaxes=; a kind of crooked knives, which each of the _Saxons_ then carried closely in his pocket) _and forthwith seised upon_ Vortigern, _and held him by his robe. The_ Saxons _quickly hearing it, drew forth their knives, and fell upon the_ Britans _standing by, of whom, part Noblemen, part officers of State, expecting no such design, they slew four hundred and sixty. Quorum corpora beatus_ Eldadus _postmodum sepelivit, atque Christiano more humavit, haud longè à_ =Kaer-caradane=, _quæ nunc_ Salesberia _dicitur, in cœmeterio, quod est juxta cœnobium_ Ambrii. _Whose corpses holy_ Eldad, _according to custome, after Christian manner interred, not far from_ =Kaer-caradane=, _now called_ Salisbury, _in the Churchyard adjoyning to the monastery of_ Ambresbury.