AN ENGLISH SHIRE. 195 



another, composed entirely of Saxons, and under the 

 command of a certain dubious .ZElle, came to shore on the 

 spit of Selsea. It was from this last body that the 

 county took its newer name of Suth-Seaxe, Suth Sexe, 

 or Sussex. Let us first frankly narrate the legend, and 

 then see how far it may fairly be rationalised. 



In 477, says the English Chronicle written down, it 

 must be remembered, from traditional sources, four 

 centuries later, at the court of Alfred the "West Saxon 

 in 477, .ZElle and his three sons, Cymen, Wlencing, and 

 Cissa, came to Britain in three ships, and landed at the 

 stow that is cleped Cymenes-ora. There that ilk day 

 they slew many Welshmen, and the rest they drave into 

 the wood hight Andredes-leah. In 485, ^Elle, fighting 

 the Welsh near Mearcredes Burn, slew many, and the 

 rest he put to flight. In 491, .ZElle, with his son Cissa, 

 beset Andredes-ceaster, and slew all that therein were, 

 nor was there after one Welshman left. Such is the 

 whole story, as told in the bald and simple entries of the 

 West Saxon annalist. A more dubious tradition further 

 states that .ZElle was also Bretwalda, or overlord, of all 

 the Teutonic tribes in Britain. 



And now let us see what we can make of this wholly 

 unhistorical and legendary tale. Whether there ever was 

 a South Saxon king named .ZElle we cannot say; but 

 that the earliest English pirate fleet on this coast should 

 have landed near Selsea is likely enough. The marauders 

 would not land near the Eomney marshes or the Pevensey 

 flats, where the great fortresses cf Lymne and Anderida 

 would block their passage ; and they could not beach 

 their keels easily anywhere along the cliff-girt coast 



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