he ships and regiments to defend them. The nation which
abandons her possessions is not far from downfall. Remember, when you
listen to those who advocate abandonment of our colonies, the example of
Rome.

5. AFTER THE ROMANS.

PART I.

The Romans left London. That was early in the fifth century; probably in
the year 410.

Two hundred years later we find the East Saxons in London.

What happened during this long interval of seven generations? Not a word
reaches us of London for two hundred years except once when, after a
defeat of the British by the Saxons at Crayford in the year 457, we read
that the fugitives crossed over London Bridge to take refuge within the
walls of the City. What happened during this two hundred years?[1]

We know what happened with other cities. Anderida, now called Pevensey,
was taken by the Saxons, and all its inhabitants, man, woman and child,
were slaughtered, so that it became a waste until the Normans built a
castle within the old walls. Canterbury, Silchester, Porchester,
Colchester--all were taken, their people massacred, the walls left
standing, the streets left desolate. For the English--the Saxons--loved
not city walls. Therefore, we might reasonably conclude that the same
thing happened to London. But if it be worthy of the chronicler to note
the massacre of Anderida, a small seaport, why should he omit the far
more important capture of Augusta?

[1] On this subject, see the author's book _London_ (Chatto & Windus).

Let us hear what history has to tell. Times full of trouble fell upon
the country. Long before the Romans went away the Picts and Scots were
pouring their wild hordes over the north and west, sometimes getting as
far south as the Middlesex Forest, murdering and destroying. As early as
the year 368, forty years before they left the country, the Romans sent
an expedition north to drive back these savages. Already the Saxons, the
Jutes and the Angles were sending piratical expeditions to harry the
coast and even to make settlements. The arm of the Roman was growing
weak, it could not stretch out so far: the fleets of the Romans, under
the officer called the 'Count of the Saxon Shore'--whose duty was to
guard the eastern and southern coasts--were destroyed and their
commander slain. So that, with foes on the eastern seaboard, foes in the
Channel, foes in the river, foes in the north and west, it is certain
that the trade of Augusta was declining long before