The Origin of the English Nation. By H. Munro Chadwick.
(Cambridge University Press. 7s. 6d. net.)—Mr. Chadvrick's book deals with the history, social and other, of the tribes whose coming, to put the matter briefly, changed Britain into England. To ,a certain extent he disturbs theories which have been commonly taken for granted. In chap. 4 he examines Baeda's state- ment that the invaders came from " the bravest nations of Germany,—namely, from the Saxons, the Angles, and the Jutes." The Jutes are left substantially as we find them. They occupied Kent, though they soon called themselves Cantware, and Southern Hampshire, this settlement being soon absorbed in Wessex. The Angles and Saxons are combined into an ethnical unity which is designated Anglo-Saxon,—it is interesting to see this dis- credited term again taken into favour by the latest investigator. The special designation of Saxon Mr. Chadwick is disposed .to consider to indicate a ruling caste of "specifically Saxon origin." The most familiar of the traditions connected with the newcomers, the invasion of Kent by Hengist and Horse, is accepted in substance. A new light, however, is thrown on the personality of Hengist. Mr. Chadwick is disposed to identify him with the Hengist who occurs in the Beowulf story. He gets into trouble at home, and seeks refuge in Kent, where the British King receives him kindly. He undertakes to protect his host against the Picts, and sends for a body of his countrymen to help him. In the matter of chronology, "I am not inclined," writes Mr. Chadwick, "to regard any date before 441-2 as probable." We must be content with giving these specimens of a very learned and careful work.
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