That they were much more broken and reduced than any other nation which had fallen under the German power I think may be inferred from two considerations.
First, that in all other parts of Europe the ancient language subsisted after the conquest, and at length incorporated with that of the conquerors; whereas in England the Saxon language received little or no tincture from the Welsh; and it seems, even among the lowest people, to have continued a dialect of pure Teutonic to the time in which it was itself blended with the Norman.

Secondly, that on the continent the Christian religion, after the Northern irruptions, not only remained, but flourished.

It was very early and universally adopted by the ruling people.

In England it was so entirely extinguished, that, when Augustin undertook his mission, it does not appear that among all the Saxons there was a single person professing Christianity.
[Sidenote: A.D.

500] The sudden extinction of the ancient religion, and language appears sufficient to show that Britain must have suffered more than any of the neighboring nations on the continent.