206 Anglo-Saxon Cemetery at Harnham. 
In order to elucidate the matter a little, it may be useful to 
refresh the reader’s memory by a slight sketch of the earliest 
introduction of the Saxons, particularly into this part of Britain. 
During the later years of the Roman occupation of the country, 
a number of Angles and Saxons had gradually found their way 
over to the Eastern and South-eastern coasts, and probably into 
other more central parts. Upon the Romans finally abandoning 
the island, these settlers were followed by organized bodies of their 
fellow-countrymen from the banks of the Rhine and the Elbe. 
About the year 450 the Jutes had formed the kingdom of Kent: 
in 473 the Angles had similarly established themselves in the 
middle and northern district : and between the years 493 and 519, 
the Saxons, led by Cerdic and Cynric, had founded the kingdoms 
of Essex, Middlesex, and Wessex. Of Wessex, Winchester was 
the capital. Oynric by degrees extended his dominion westward: 
defeating the Britons in a.p. 552 at Old Sarum, then called Searo- 
byrig, and by another victory at Dyrham near Bath, his son 
Ceawlin obtained possession of the three great Roman towns 
Glevum (Gloucester), Corinium (Cirencester), and Aquz Solis 
(Bath). The Christianity of the ancient British Church, long since 
fallen into a state of degradation, had been almost annihilated by 
the Heathenism of the Anglo-Saxon invaders. In a.p. 590 it was 
restored by the arrival of Augustine, and in course of time the 
whole country was once more converted. In a.p. 635 the West 
Saxons, under Cynegils, accepted the revived faith. He died a.p. 
643. On his death his son Cenwealh apostatized, and lost his 
kingdom: but was restored both to the church and his throne 
in A.D. 646, and died a.p. 672. 
“ There is, therefore,” as Mr. Akerman observes, “every reason 
to suppose that sometime in the reign of Cynegils, the Pagan 
mode of interment amongst his subjects ceased.” And though it 
is probable that Pagan customs would still linger amongst them, 
still he is of opinion that the Harnham graves exhibit too many 
traces of Heathen usage, to allow the supposition that the persons 
buried there could have been converted to the true faith. 
This view of the matter is confirmed by the further circumstance, 
that a very large grant of land chiefly to the south of Salisbury, and 
