CHAP. II.

THE HEPTARCHY-ONE OF THE KINGDOMS GENERALLY PREDOMINANTTHE EIGHT BRETWALDAS-OFFA THE POWERFUL KING OF MERCIADISTRACTED STATE OF WESSEX-SIGEBERT-CYNEWOLF-CYNEARD -THE COMBAT AT MERTON-EGFRID AND KENWULF, KINGS OF MERCIA; Bertric and Egbert, oF WESSEX.

BUT, though the kingdoms of the Saxon Heptarchy in England continued for three hundred years to enjoy a separate existence and sovereignty, there was generally one of their monarchs, who, from superior ability, the favour of fortune, and many other causes, enjoyed a sort of preeminence, not perhaps well ascertained and marked out within certain limits, but rather a virtual superiority over the other sovereigns. This fact is evident from the agreement of all the historians, and it is explicitly stated in that valuable record of the times, the Saxon Chronicle ; King Egbert," such are the words of the Chronicle", "was the eighth king who was Bretwalda: Ella, king of the South Saxons, was the first who possessed this dominion the second was Ceaulin, king of the West Saxons; the third was Ethelbert, king of the Kentish men; the fourth was Redwald, king of the East Angles; the fifth was Edwin, king of the Northumbrians; the sixth was Oswald, who reigned after him;

66

This word means Sovereign lord, or Emperor.

the seventh was Oswy, Oswald's brother; the eighth was Egbert, king of the West Saxons."

It must not, however, be supposed, that the number seven accurately describes the separate Saxon monarchies established in this island. During a portion, at least, of the time which the Heptarchy lasted, there were eight separate states, whenever the two provinces of Northumberland, Deur and Berneich—or, in their Latinized form, Deira and Bernicia-were governed each by its own sovereign. On the other hand, it is equally certain, that, at different times, two or more of the other Saxon states were occasionally united, by a transient superiority of one or the other, under one king, at whose death the ill-cemented union gave way, and the separate states again enjoyed each its own government.

Of the Saxon kingdoms established in Britain, Kent, Sussex, Essex, and East-Anglia, though occasionally contending with the others for the preeminence, were on the whole so limited in extent, that they had little chance of establishing a dynasty which should unite the whole island under their dominion. The contest therefore for ultimate superiority lay between the larger states, Wessex, Mercia, and Northumberland; and it seems difficult to discover any peculiar advantages belonging to either of these, which gave it a better chance than the others of becoming predominant in the struggle. It remained therefore for some lucky conjuncture of affairs, or some prince of superior talents, to arise, who should give one of these states a preponderance over the other two, its rivals. Such a result seemed likely to be brought about by the powerful Offa, who governed Mercia during a long reign of thirty-nine

years, from A.D. 755 to 794. The state of Wessex, also, at this time was favourable to the designs-if the Mercian king had formed any-of universal sovereignty. The unhappy condition of the West-Saxon kingdom may be gathered from the tragic scenes which were enacted by its nobles. In 754-the year before Offa succeeded to the throne of Mercia-Sigebert seized on the government of Wessex, vacant by the death of Cuthred, but before the end of the year, his cruelty towards his subjects, together with that cowardice which so often is united with tyranny, rendered his rule no longer tolerable to his people, and Sigebert was driven into exile. The insurrection was headed by his own kinsman Cynewolf, and was sanctioned by a solemn decree of the West-Saxon Witenagemot, or Parliament, which deprived the exiled monarch for ever of the crown. In compassion, however, for this sudden reverse of fortune, there were still found some who adhered to the cause of the deposed king, and the county of Hampshire was given over to Sigebert in separate sovereignty. But this unworthy man was unable to cast off those habits which had before made him obnoxious to the people, or he had not learnt wisdom by experience. Among the very staunchest of his followers was one Cumbra, or Cumbran, who had adhered to him with unshaken fidelity; and the wretch, for whom he had shewn so much zeal, now requited his services by imbruing his hands in the blood. of his faithful servant. For this crime no motive has been assigned; and we may therefore believe that it was one of those wanton acts which have in all ages occasionally occurred to give a deeper Saxon Chron. 754. William of Malmesbury.

d Saxon Chron. 755.

A.D. 777-784.] BATTLE OF BENSINGTON—AFFRAY AT MERTON. 9

dye to the iniquity of tyrants. But an avenger of the murdered Alderman-for such was Cumbra's dignity— was not wanting. Cynewolf, the West-Saxon king, no doubt looked with satisfaction on an overt act, which lent him an excuse for putting a finishingstroke to the career of his hated rival. Sigebert was driven out from the province which had been assigned to him, and in the forest of Andred, like the prodigal son, is said to have found a subsistence in the company of the swine and the wild beasts. Here he dwelt some time, until a swine-herd, provoked probably by some petulance of the degraded but savageminded prince, at a place called Privett's flood", stabbed him to the heart with his knife.

The successful Cynewolf was thus the undisturbed sovereign of the West-Saxon kingdom; but it was not probable that a state, which had undergone so many intestine convulsions, should be able to cope with its powerful neighbour Mercia, led by a man of such talents and vigour as king Offa. Accordingly, in the twenty-fourth year of his reign, Cynewolf was worsted in a great battle, fought at Bensington against Offa, and the military power of the kingdom of Wessex was much shattered by this defeat. In the year 784, which was the thirty-first of Cynewolf's reign, another domestic tragedy threw a deeper shade over the royal family of Wessex. There was a prince-or Etheling, as the Saxon phraseology describes him-among the nobles of Wessex, whose increasing power gave alarm to the reigning king. This was Cyneard, a brother of the murdered Sigebert; and though so many years had now passed away without any attempt on the part of the Etheling to disturb the tranquillity of the state, yet Still called Privett, in Hampshire.

Cynewolf, for no apparent cause, compelled Cyneard to leave the country. The Etheling, yielding to the emergency of the times, departed without delay, as if acquiescing in his fate; but, as the sequel shewed, he had already determined, when an opportunity should occur, to take vengeance on his enemy for this unprovoked aggression. Such an opportunity speedily presented itself: Cynewolf was in the habit of paying visits to a female who lived at Merton. Soon after the expulsion of Cyneard, the king made a journey to Merton, accompanied by a very small escort. Tidings of this were soon carried to Cyneard, who had already assembled a band of desperadoes around him, and was only waiting to strike a blow at the tyrant who had injured him. The present opportunity was not to be let slip. The Etheling, gathering his band, beset the house' on all sides, before the thanes and followers of the king could prevent it. Cynewolf, hastily consulting with those who were about him, shut the doors, and prepared to parley with the enemy, whom he hoped to terrify by threats of punishment, or to mollify by fair language. Neither mode of acting succeeded, and Cynewolf perceived that he must owe his safety to his sword, until perchance his faithful thanes could come to his rescue. Taking his stand, therefore, at the door, he manfully defended himself for some time, until he beheld the Etheling among those who were assailing him. His indignation was roused at the sight, and he rushed upon him with that courage in which, whatever were his other failings, Cynewolf had never been deficient.

There is a slight difficulty here in reconciling the account given in the Saxon Chronicle with that of William of Malmesbury. The Chronicle says that Cyneard's band beset the very chamber in which the king was: Malmesbury makes them beset the house generally.