THE SCENE: Once an exile, Hengist gained great power by marshalling the Saxon hordes to invade Britain. However, no run of luck can last forever, and eventually he was defeated by the great British hero Duke Eldol.
THE TEXT: In the same way Eldol rushed hither and thither, dealing deadly wounds to those who stood up to him; but whatever else occupied him, his heart was still set on the possibility of fighting hand-to-hand with Hengist.
As the various companies of troops moved forward in this direction and in that, by chance Eldol and Hengist were brought together, with no advantage to either of them, and they began to rain blows on each other. What men they were, and how much more war-like than the others! As each in turn slashed at the other with his sword, the sparks flew from his blows as if he were at once a source of thunder-claps and of lighting-flashes. For a long time it was not clear on which side lay the greater strength. At one moment Eldol pressed forward and Hengist yielded; and then Eldol drew back and Hengist advanced.
As they fought on in this way Gorlois, Duke of Cornwall, moved up towards them with the squadron which he commanded, harassing the enemy’s companies as he came. When he set eyes on Gorlois, Eldol gained a new assurance. He seized hold of Hengist by the nasal of his metal helmet and by exerting all his strength dragged him in among his own men. A great flood-tide of joy boiled up within him and he shouted at the top of his voice: “God has granted my prayer! Now, men, down with what is left of the Ambrones! Victory is in your hand! Now that Hengist is beaten, you have beaten them all!”
Thereupon Eldol took his sword, led Hengist outside the city, and packed him off to Hell by cutting off his head. Aurelius [the King], who was moderate in all that he did, ordered Hengist to be buried and a barrow of earth to be raised over his body, that being the pagan custom.
– Geoffrey of Monmouth, The History of the Kings of Britain, 12th Century AD
