7] In order to oppose their inroads, the Romans had established an officer, whom they called "Count of the Saxon shore;" and as the naval arts can flourish among a civilized people alone, they seem to have been more successful in repelling the Saxons than any of the other barbarians by whom they were invaded.

The dissolution of the Roman power invited them to renew their inroads; and it was an acceptable circumstance that the deputies of the Britons appeared among them, and prompted them to undertake an enterprise to which they were of themselves sufficiently inclined.[*] [* W.Malms, p.

8.] Hengist and Horsa, two brothers, possessed great credit among the Saxons, and were much celebrated both for their valor and nobility.

They were reputed, as most of the Saxon princes, to be sprung from Woden, who was worshipped as a god among those nations, and they are said to be his great grandsons;[*] a circumstance which added much to their authority.
[* Bede, lib.i.cap.15.Chron.

Sax.p.13.Nennius, cap.
28.] We shall not attempt to trace any higher the origin of those princes and nations.