free in his kingdom.

When that he was an old man, then came illness on him; the illness
laid him down, sick was Uther Pendragon, so he was here sick seven
years. Then became the Britons much emboldened, they did oft wickedly,
all for absence of dread. The yet lay Octa, Hengest's son, bound in
the prison of London, who was taken at York, and his comrade Ebissa,
and his other Ossa. Twelve knights guarded them day and night, who
were wearily oppressed with watching, in London. Octa heard say of the
sickness of the king, and spake with the guardsmen, who should keep
him: "Hearken to me now, knights, what I will make known to you. We
lie here in London fast bound, and ye many a long day have watched
over us. Better were it for us to live in Saxland, with much wealth,
than thus miserably here lie asleep. And if ye would in all things
accomplish this, and do my will, I would give you land, much silver
and gold, so that ever ye might richly rule in the land, and live your
life as to you shall be liefest of all. For ye shall never have good
gifts of Uther, your king, for now full soon he will be dead, and his
people all desert, then will ye have neither, the one nor the other.
But bethink you, brave men, and give to us your compassion, and think
what were lief to you, if ye thus lay bound, and might in your land
live in joy." Very oft Octa spake so with these knights. The knights
gan to commune, the knights gan to counsel, and to Octa they said full
still: "We shall do thy will." Oaths they swore, that they would not
deceive. It was on a night that the wind went right; forth went the
knights at the midnight, and led forth Octa, and Ebissa, and Ossa,
along the Thames they proceeded forth into the sea; forth they passed
into Saxland. Their kindred came towards them with great flocks
(forces); they marched over all the land, as to them was liefest, men
gave them gifts and land; men gave them silver and gold Octa bethought
him what he might do; he thought to come hither, and avenge his
father's wounds. They procured a host of innumerable folk, to the sea
they proceeded with great threats, they came to Scotland; soon they
pushed on land, and greeted it with fire; the Saxons were cruel, the
Scots they slew; with fire they down laid thirty hundred towns; the
Scots they slew, many and innumerable.

The tidings came to Uther the king. Uther was exceeding woe, and
wonderfully grieved, and sent in to Loeneis, to his dear friends, and
g