[Gorzaloon]

And most of us are familiar with the idea that the English are descended from Anglo-Saxons, who invaded eastern England after the Romans left

I thought the Romans left about 430, and the Saxons invaded when the collpase of the Pax Romanae gave them the opportunity. The Angles were there already at the start of the Roman occupation. Did not a Roman say, upon seeing their complexion and hair color, "Not Angles, but Angels?"

[RobbyS]

It was Pope Gregory I, and he made the remark aboiut 500, in a Roman slave market. It was supposedly a motive for his support of the “Roman Mission” which begins English history proper.