For  the  Saxons  stretched  out  envious  hands  from  their  sea-
board settlements,  and  presently  the  whole  of  this  rich  country,
where  yet  lived  so  many  great  and  wealthy  families,  was  exposed
to  all  the  miseries  of  war.  The  towns  were  destroyed,  the  farms
ruined,  the  cattle  driven  away.  Where  was  now  the  wealth  of
this  famous  province  ?  It  was  gone.  Where  was  the  trade  of
Augusta  ?  That,  too,  was  gone.  Nothing  was  brought  to  the
port  for  export ;  the  roads  were  closed  ;  the  river  was  closed  ;
there  was  nothing,  in  fact,  to  send;  nay,  there  were  no  more
households  to  buy  the  things  we  formerly  sent  them.  They
►lived  now  by  the  shore  and  in  the  recesses  of  the  forest,  who
once  lived  in  great  villas,  lay  on  silken  pillows,  and  drank  the
wine  of  Gaul  and  Spain.
22  LONDON

'  Then  we  of  the  City  saw  plainly  that  our  end  was  come  ;
for  not  only  there  was  no  more  trade,  but  there  was  no  more
food.  The  supplies  had  long  been  scanty,  and  food  was  dear  ;
therefore  those  who  could  no  longer  buy  food  left  the  town,  and
sallied  forth  westward,  hoping  to  find  a  placeof  safety,  but  many
perished  of  cold,  of  hunger,  and  by  sword  of  the  enemy.  Some
who  reached  towns  yet  untaken  joined  the  warriors,  and  received
alternate  defeat  and  victory,  yet  mostly  the  former.
