'22 ROGER OF AVENDO VER. [A.D. 490. Aurelius took the city of Conan, where he rested three days ; then, calling together the chiefs he bade them give counsel what should be done with Hengist. Whereupon Eldad, bishop of Gloucester, and brother of duke Eldol, rose, and, commanding all to keep silence, he said, " Though every one of you should wish to let him go, I would myself cut him in pieces. For, as Samuel the prophet hewed in pieces Agag, king of Amalek, whom he had taken in war, saying to him, ' As thou hast made mothers childless, so will I this day make thy mother childless among women ;' so do ye in like manner to this man, who is another Agag." Drawing his sword, therefore, Eldol led him out of the city, and cut off his head. He was succeeded by his son Osric, surnamed JEsk, in the Saxon kingdom of Kent, from whom the kings of Kent are called iEskings to this day. For Vortigern had given that province to Hengist for his daughter, as has been said before ; and he possessed it for twenty-four years, as though by lawful inheritance. How Octa obtained mercy. In the year of grace 490, Aurelius Ambrosius led his army to York to reduce Octa, the son of Hengist. Distrusting his ability to hold the city against such a host, Octa adopted a prudent course, and going forth with the nobles that were with him, he gave up himself and them to the king with these words, " M y gods are conquered, and I am satisfied that thy God alone rules, since he has compelled so many nobles to come to thee. Receive us, therefore, and if you will not show us mercy, we are prepared to suffer whatever punishment you shall see good to inflict on us." Moved with the pity which was natural to him, Aurelius had mercy on them. Whereupon, Eosa, and the rest who had been dispersed, came and obtained the like mercy ; and the king gave them a district on the confines of Scotland, and made peace with them. Thence he proceeded to the monastery of Ambrus, near Kaercaradauc, now called Salisbury, where lay the nobles who had fallen victims to Hengist's treachery. He was moved to tears at the sight, and considering within himself how he could make the spot memorable, he gave orders that the prophet Merlin should be diligently sought, that with the aid of his counsel he might