f the nations,
which was to culminate in a new world and a new order of things. Small
wonder that bewildered folk, swept on and overwhelmed in the maelstrom
of world-wide turbulence, unknowing what must happen next, predicted and
believed that with the year 999 the end of the world would surely come.

They had good reason for such belief. At Rome the fierce tribes from
Northern Europe could no longer be held back. Goths, Vandals, Huns, each
in their own good time had joined in the attack. Rome the Mighty, the
Eternal, invincible as Fate, whose power no man believed could have an
end, was brought to bay at last, impotent, drained by internal sores,
goaded and tortured by foes without, with a horde of wolfish barbarians
snarling and snapping at her throat. From one distant province after
another her legions were called home. The fated twelve centuries of her
power were ended; the direst tragedy of history had begun.

Britain, with all her fear and hatred of the heavy Roman hand, had yet
been secure from outer harm while the strength of that hand was with
her. For in the north were skulking bands of Picts and Scots, lawless
and undisciplined, seized with the contagion of excitement which stirred
their neighbors. In the south were Saxons, the terrible men of the Short
Knives; about the coasts to east and south were bands of pirates, Jutes
and Saxons both. Driven from their own lairs, they could but seek new
resting-places; and Britain was the only spot where they might obtain a
foothold. These rovers the Roman legions had held long years in check;
yet it was told that soon the troops would be recalled to Rome's
defence. None believed that Britain would be left wholly to herself; for
Rome was too far away for her full peril to be brought home to those
whose own affairs kept their hands well filled. But in the tenth year of
the fifth century across the sea came letters from Honorius the
Emperor, urging the cities of Britain to provide for their own defence,
since Rome could no longer send them aid. And for Britain this was the
slow beginning of the end. There followed then invasion after invasion
of barbarians, which the cities, forever quarrelling among themselves,
were forced to unite in repulsing. The Saxons thus overcome, ended
usually by settling in Roman cities under Roman government peaceably
enough until the next attack by their countrymen, in which they
invariably joined. By the year 420 Angles and Saxons had gradual