Randolph County journal. [volume] (Winchester, Randolph County, Ind.) 1855-1862, 1858-02-25

"a
barity, and burned all the towns and
villages in their course, so that the
poor people were fain to apply to
Rome FOR aid. In the letter they sent
they complain of their hard lot in
pitiful terms. 1.-The barbarians," say
they, ION the one hand drive US into
the sea, the sea on the other hand
forces US back upon the barbarians, so
that we have only the hard choice
left us Of perishing by the sword or
by the waves" But Rome was deaf
to the call; she was herself in mortal
extremity. Aid was then solicited in
other quarters, and ENJOYS were dis
patched to Hengist and Horsa, Saxon
Princes, who claimed to be descended
from the god Wooden, and who were
the most renowned warriors of war
like race their assistance was readily
obtained, the more so as they had al
ready contemplated descent upon the
island. The Picts were soon defeated
and driven back by the superior skill
and improved weapons of the Saxons,
who were then asked to leave, but on
such terms that their services might
again be secured if needed. But they
refused. They had seen too much of
the beauty and fertility of the country
to be easily persuaded to leave it, and
the brothers determined to remain, sent
home for reinforcements which soon
arrived to the number of five thousand
men. Seeking occasion for quarrel,
which was of course found, they de-
feated the natives in numerous engage
ments, and, though Horsa was slain,
Hengist founded the kingdom of Kent.
For many years, hordes Of Saxons in
vaded England till not less than seven
kingdoms were erected in that part of
the island.
The Saxons may be considered as
representatives of the Teutonic or Ger
man races, as the Gaul or the Briton
was of the Celtic. Their origin is lost
amidst the mists of antiquity, but it is
supposed that they came from the
neighborhood of the Black Sea, and,
crossing the Steppes of Poland and
the forests of eastern Germany, set
tied in the North.
AS a people, they were brave and
uncultivated, possessing a fierce and
savage mythology-blunt and rude
in their bearing-loving adventure
courting danger for the very love of
it-holding women in honorable esti-
mation--each man tenacious Of his
rights--his house his castle--the sea
his home and his chosen battlefield.
The three fundamental principles of
his religion were, Devotion to God,
Justice to man, and Intrepidity in
fight. Coward was the most offensive
cpithet that could be applied to him.
He was Aaxen haired. blue eyed. fair
skinned, and portly in shape; indeed
his personal beauty was SO remarka-
BILE, that when st. Augustine first saw
some of them prisoners in Rome, he
exclaimed aloud: mon Angli, sec
D Angeli," and determined that hence.
forth he would devote himself to thu
task of covcrting them to Christianity
[ With strong hand and clear head
: they came in such numbers as either
> to swallow up or to drive into tn,
> mountains of Wales or the wilds o
0 Cornwall the former inhabitants of tn,
, country. BY their overwhelming en-
: ergy, mental and physical, they buriet
S what was left OF Roman civilization
II in the same grave with British bar
l. bariSm.
1t From this time till the Norman in
|, vasion, familiarly known as the "Con
is quest" repeated irruptions of anothe
l, race, Of the same family as the Saxons
d took place. This people, whose an
le cestors had settled further North tha
ID the Saxons, increased there so rapid
S, that the country was unable to SUI
re port them. Then, as the Saxon ha
r. done, and as many others in thos
's days did, they set out in search Of
at new home. Their sca-kings ravago
n every accessible coast; they even pei
Mt ctratcd into the Mediterranean. an
be were the boldest sailors of the az
IS, Partly by force. and partly from d
vi visions among the Saxons, they mar
ut aged to place three kings upon Il
ed throne Of England But, though thu
ht far successful, they remained scpara
Is. TO great extent from the mass Of u
th people, till the iron hand Of Villa
We crushed Dane and Saxon into one n
at distinguishable mass, and the wo
N. Saxon" became for centuries a ter
'e- of reproach. In character the Dal
n resembled the Saxon. but was mo
IL fiery and spirited. These two rae
in have transmitted their peculiar trai
lily of character to their posterity Wi
more faithfulness than can be said